arvin Jr. watched as his Aunt Winifred finished writing her letter and attached it to a carrier pigeon's foot. As the bird flew off, he turned his attention to the trio who had brought him here; they were now approaching him and his relatives.“Move aside,” Iam Hamilstein demanded.
Marvin saw that his aunt had given Stein Boy an evil glare, but she did as asked – they all did. He had no idea what Stein Boy was planning to do, however.
Iam checked Narisa's body and then turned to David Fountain. “There's still time,” he said.
Time for what? Marvin Jr. thought.
David Fountain nodded. “Go ahead, Iam.”
“Wait a second…what are you doing?” asked Aunt Winifred.
“Just watch,” said David.
“But she's dead!” Winifred exclaimed as she turned to watch what Iam was doing. “What kind of sick joke is thi…”
Marvin also turned toward the scene and was astonished with what he saw. To his amazement, Iam Hamilstein was bringing Narisa back to life. How could this be possible? She was clearly deceased, and had been for nearly fifteen minutes.
Marvin Jr. turned to David Fountain for answers. “But how? How can someone dead be brought back to life?”
David chuckled. “My dear boy, Narisa was never dead – at least not yet.”
Marvin Jr. was stunned by this revelation. “But she wasn't breathing.”
“Oh, she was breathing all right,” David said. Realizing that Marvin did not believe him, he added, “Her bodily functions were reduced to their minimums. Her body was put in stasis, if you will.”
Marvin Jr. was still confused. None of this made sense. It was all gobbledygook to him.
“Let me put it this way,” David continued. “The energy ray that struck your cousin was designed to render all living organisms and mechanical beings useless for a time. Some humans and most mechanical beings – at least advanced cybernetics – are able to recover on their own. Those that are not, require resuscitation by a doctor or engineer…or someone who is quite familiar with the ray's effects – such as Hamilstein over there.”
Marvin glanced back to Iam and noticed that his cousin was now sitting up. She still looked a tad scorched, her hair was a complete mess, and she was coughing up phlegm. Other than that, she appeared as though she would recover.
When he turned his attention back to David, David continued. “I can tell you still don't know what I am talking about. I understand that it is hard to understand for primitives…I mean, a primitive society.”
Marvin Jr. was, indeed, more lost after the further explanation, but he was still interested in hearing what David had to say nonetheless. “Please continue,” he said.
“Oh,” David said with surprise. “Anyway, the type of weapon we use when we simply want to neutralize someone – or something – is known as a PIN gun. It stands for Proton and Ion Null-ray. It is a magnificent weapon really. The only unfortunate thing is that some creatures do die from it.”
“So my cousin could have died?”
“Uh…yes. But she's clearly recovering. As I said earlier, some humans recover on their own. Some do not. Those who do not…well, they do pass on without medical attention.” David's face became grim when he spoke. “However, we are working on a new model that will increase the chance of a human's survival.”
Marvin Jr. did not understand all the technical jargon – the PIN acronym simply went over his head – but he understood what the device was meant to do.
“But why develop a type of stun gun at all?” he asked. “Why not just develop a gun that takes out your opponent for good?”
David seemed stunned by Marvin's questions. “Hmm. I thought this society was against warfare?”
“It primarily is. I'm just trying to put myself in your shoes.”
“Ah, I see.” David stroked his goatee. “And what makes you think we don't have that kind of weaponry as well?”
“So you do?”
“Of course. However, we prefer to minimize casualties, especially when we are caught fighting amongst civilians. We are primarily a science team, after all.”
Marvin Jr. nodded. This all seemed so unreal to him. Just where did these people come from? Were there really societies on the planet that were so far ahead of Bowmania in technology? And how had they gone all these years unaware of it? Up until now, all visitors arrived in vessels that resembled their own technology. Something didn't seem right.
He was about to ask what country the PM Investigations team came from, when his aunt interrupted.
“Well gentlemen…and gentle ladies – hehe - now that our dear Narisa is back with us, why don't we go inside for some drinks? On the house of course!”
“That sounds like music to my ears,” said Freak Boy.
“Narisa should take to her bed,” David suggested. “She will need rest to fully recover.”
Marvin saw his cousin nod.
“Ok, Charlene, you help your sister to bed,” Aunt Winfred commanded. “Gentlemen, please follow me. I think you'll enjoy what we have to offer here.”
Marvin Jr. knew all too well what his aunt was referring to.
***
When they arrived at their table, Iam Hamilstein knew this was his kind of place. Although it was surely dated, the lack of technology did not make it any less to his liking. There was a band on stage – albeit playing acoustically, but still rocking out. More importantly, however, the establishment was filled to the brim with women – sexy women at that. They were all scantily clad and he now understood why the place was called House of Cats. Each was dressed in a sexy little cat costume. He laughed to himself.
The woman called Winfired surely noticed his pleasure. “Am I correct to suggest that you like what you see?”
Iam nodded.
“Any particular feline that you enjoy the most?”
Iam could not decide – they all looked beautiful.
“You see that door over there?” Winifred asked, motioning to a door to the left of the stage.
Iam nodded.
“That door leads to our lounge. It's for your more erotic entertainment.”
“I see.”
Iam truly found himself at home here.
Winfred beckoned two girls over to their table. “Ladies, will you kindly escort Mr. Hamilstein to the Cat Cage?”
The two girls giggled. They hooked their arms under Iam's and lead him from the table. Yep, his kind of place, he thought as they led him away.
***
Marvin Jr. shook his head. He knew Iam Hamilstein would be at home in his aunt's establishment. The House of Cats had it all: food, drink, music, strippers…and even prostitutes. He had no doubt in his mind that Iam would end up with at least one lady in his bed before the night was through.
Hamilstein had barely left the table when another familiar face filled his vacant seat. “Marvin Jr., so good to see you,” the new arrival said.
Marvin had not even realized that the music had stopped. Boyd Legasse was the House of Cat's main musical entertainer and hasd been for the better part of the last decade.
“Good to see you as well, Boyd,” Marvin said. “Taking a break?”
“Of course,” Boyd responded while motioning a waitress to the table. “The usual,” he told her.
Boyd's usual was rye whiskey on the rocks. It had to be five ice cubes and two shots of rye – anything else and the drink was going back. Fortunately, the waitress brought back the correct drink. He watched as Boyd gulped it down and signaled for another.
“Boyd, let me introduce you to my new friends.” Marvin Jr. made sure that David and Aaron were paying attention. “Gentlemen, meet Boyd Legasse…finest musician in all of Bowmania.”
“I must admit, for using primitive equipment, you sound amazing,” Aaron Rutherford said.
“Primitive?” Boyd asked. “I use all the latest.”
Marvin Jr. patted Boyd on the shoulder. “These gentlemen are not from around these parts. Just believe me when I say that their technology blows ours away.”
Boyd gave him a disbelieving stare, but said, “OK.”
“Boyd, meet David Fountain and Dr. Aaron Rutherford.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Boyd said while reaching across the table and shaking their hands. “So you are the boys that Lord Timotheus has hired?”
“You know about that?” Marvin asked.
“Of course. Timotheus and I go way back. In fact, he warned me that they may hit these parts.”
“I should have known…anyway, the third member of their team is in the back. His name is Iam Hamilstein, though it is doubtful that you will meet him tonight.”
“Yeah, few come out from the Cage until morning,” Boyd said chuckling.
Boyd's second drink arrived and he slugged that one back just as quickly as the first. “Now, if you'd excuse me, gentlemen.”
David and Aaron nodded at him.
“Perhaps I'll have the pleasure to speak with you further after my next set.” Boyd rose from the table and went back up on stage.
“That Boyd…always a character.”
Marvin Jr. had forgotten that his aunt was still at the table.
“So, gentlemen,” she said, “would you also like what your friend is having?” She giggled. “I can get you whatever you desire.”
Freak Boy looked a little tempted, but David declined for the both of them. “No, I think we'd rather have some food. I'm starved.” David looked around. “Surely a place like this has got to have some chicken wings.”
Winifred nodded.
“I'll take three dozen for myself…medium barbeque sauce if you have it.”
“Three dozen?” Winifred asked astonishedly. “Wow.”
“Lady, back home it wasn't uncommon for me to pack in another dozen or so.”
“And for you Mr. Rutherford?”
“Gimme six dozen – half in your hottest sauce and half honey-garlic.”
Marvin wished he could paint a picture of his aunt's face just then.
“No wonder they call you the Freak Boy!” she exclaimed. She called over the waitress to relay the order.
Before she could finish, Freak Boy added even more to the order. “Throw in an order of nachos as well.”
“My God,” Winifred said.
About twenty minutes later, the order arrived and both men proved that their stomachs could handle what their mouths had demanded. Marvin Jr. had a few nachos, but otherwise, the Freak Boy literally devoured what he had ordered. He knew one thing: he would not want to be sharing a room with these two men. He laughed to himself, remembering the scene at M&M Shipping after the beans.
Thinking about M&M Shipping brought back memories of his father once again. Why was it bothering him so much? Was he truly feeling guilt for leaving? That triggered another thought.
“Aunt Winnie,” he said. “Shouldn't you write Gee back and let him know the good news?”
“The good news?” she asked. “Oh shit, the GOOD NEWS!” She got up and gave him a hug. “Thank you, hunny – I forgot all about doing that.” She left the table to write her second letter to his cousin.
David Fountain and Aaron Rutherford were also getting up to leave the table.
“Retiring for the night?” Marvin asked them.
“Yeah,” David said while stretching. “That food has taken the energy from me. Nappy time.”
Freak Boy just stood staring.
“Ok, well I will see you in the morning.”
“I'm sure you will.”
Only they didn't.
During the night, two different letters of importance had been present at the House of Cats. The first was the follow-up letter that Winifred had written to her nephew, Pope Gee. It stated that there had been a huge mistake in her quickness to forge the first letter, and she apologized for putting her nephew through unnecessary grief. That letter was too late in arriving at the Covenant. Unbeknownst to Winifred, Pope Gee would already be on his way by the time the second letter arrived.
The second letter came from M&M Shipping. This one arrived in Marvin Jr.'s room shortly after midnight. It came from a resident who lived nearby the shipping yard – one who knew the Bowmans fairly well. She had been witness to a huge explosion that lit up the night sky earlier in the evening. After the commotion had settled down, she rushed over to see what had happened. She had discovered no one on the premises except for Marvin Sr.
Marvin Sr. was still alive when she found him, though barely. He instructed her to write his son a letter and to use their best bird to send the message. M&M Shipping had access to some of the fastest birds used for mail delivery. Most of these were reserved for sending mail overseas, but they were sometimes used in emergencies. Where pigeons usually took several days to deliver a piece of mail within the country, the faster birds – usually falcons – cut that time down significantly. This is the type of bird that Winifred should have used to get her messages to Gee, but she didn't have access to them.
Fortunately for Marvin Jr., he was also not tied down by more primitive methods. After reading the letter and wiping away his tears, he made his way downstairs. The main floor was still rocking, but he was able to sneak outside undetected. He made his way to the motorbikes that belonged to PM Investigations and was glad to see that Stein Boy had left the keys to his bike. Luckily for Marvin, he had watched closely when Iam operated his sexy beast. He turned the key and the monstrous bike roared to life. Given the state of David and Aaron, and knowing what activities Iam was currently engaged in, Marvin Jr. knew that he was in the clear. The music coming from Boyd Legasse and his band would drown out any noise Hamilstein's bike made.
Before departing, Marvin Jr. attached a note to David's bike explaining his need to borrow Iam's ride. He was not sure if they would follow him in the morning, but he figured they would. Surely they would, knowing that their ship had been destroyed – wouldn't they? He didn't worry about that for too long. Instead, he put the bike in to gear and sped off, praying that he could handle the beast and avoid crashing. His mind was focused on one thing: getting to his father in time to say goodbye.