Kniam: A Terraneu Novel (16 page)

“It all comes down to this
Mr. McPherson. We need the use of the portal, and the portal is on the little
knoll down the way. I know that you own the land all around here. We need your
co-operation to have access to the portal since it is only active for ten
hours, every six months. We came through about two, almost three hours ago.
Which means we are running out of time to get back.”

“Whit a tale you hae spun
Amber.” Mr. McPherson stared…Amber broke in.

“We have money to barter.
They have gold and platinum in the bag on the floor.” Kniam reached and put the
bag on the table to show Mr. McPherson. Amber knew that it wasn’t going to be
money that decided him. So wasn’t surprised when he just shrugged.

“The money isn’t to buy your
B&B, it’s to buy your services, and the supplies Kneus will need to get the
women here to Scotland.” Amber leaned forward, “We are offering you a second
chance. To lose fifty, sixty years and be young again. Not only that, you would
live for another eight hundred to a thousand years.”

Mr. McPherson snorted, “Why
would ah want tae do 'at? If ah believed ye…which I’m nae sayin’ ah do!”

Amber pounced, “Don’t you
want to see your great-grandchildren? Your great-great-grandchildren?”

“Careful lass, ye ken hoo
sick Mairi is!” Mr. McPherson snapped.

“I do know.” Amber stated,
“We are offering the second chance to you. If you stay here and help Kneus to
get settled, secure the portal which would mean closing the B&B, and if
everything is up and running to Kneus satisfaction, you will come through the
portal in six months…if you choose to.” Amber dropped the gauntlet, she was
sure he would be unable to resist picking up. “Also, we are offering a second
chance for Mairi. She will go through the portal today, with Kniam and myself.
She would be given the medical treatment I received, which will cure her of
every defect. Would you pass on a second chance for her?” Amber knew he
wouldn’t he loved her too deeply, “She will be in a society that worships
females. They are desperate to have mates, and she will have her pick of the
finest men I’ve ever met. They will clamor for the chance to win her affection.
Kniam can tell you more about the men of his world, but I warn you…a decision
has to be made. If you agree we need to get Mairi here as quickly as possible,
then to the portal. All of this while doing as little damage as we can.”

Mr. McPherson looked to
Kniam, “Teel me abit yer men.”

Kniam shrugged, “We are
bound by our genetic code to have honor and value life. We live on a world that
is peaceful and plentiful. We have no females, but we are quick learners and
will do what it takes to survive if we can bring them from Earth. We would
never hurt a female, or set her aside for another. We want only to make the
females happy, and would do whatever it takes to accomplish that.”

“Weel dornt give them all
th' cards loon!” Mr. McPherson joked! “Ye do need mah help if 'at is hoo ye go
abit wit' yer females!”

Amber breathed a huge sigh
of relief. Mr. McPherson was going to help. She didn’t know how long it would
take to work out the details, but it was going to work. She was almost giddy
with happiness.

“First things first, we need
to get Mairi from the hospital, and moved here. I’m not sure how long the
process can take. Would it be faster to just ask for a day visit, then just
tell them you took her to America for better treatment or something? Or can you
take her out for longer visits? We have to arrange to get to the portal before
it closes, and Mairi is part of our deal with you.” Amber was talking so fast,
she wasn’t sure Mr. McPherson could understand.

“Mairi is at assisted
livin'. They said ah coods brin' 'er haem fur hospice, Ah jist need tae caa
them.” He whispered softly.

“We have no time to waste
then. We need to arrange to get her here, as fast as possible. The B&B
needs to close. How many guests do you have and can they be sent elsewhere?”

“Ah can arrange rooms fur
them elsehwaur, whit else dae ye need me tae do?”

Amber looked to Kneus, then
nodded at Mr. McPherson. This was going to be his home for the next year or
two, he might have some thoughts on what he wanted done. She was anxious to get
Kniam, Mairi, and herself to the portal!

“I am Kneus.” He held out
his hand for Mr. McPherson to shake. “I have been chosen to stay here to
arrange for the females. I would be very appreciative of any help you can give
me.”

“Callum McPherson.” The men
shook hands, “You may call me Callum…”

“Mr. McPherson...make that
call and get Mairi here.” Amber didn’t want to be rude, but that was the
priority. Whatever it took, they needed her here in the next four hours at the
latest. If she didn’t get here, they would never make it back to the portal
with her. From the sounds of it, they wouldn’t have six months to try again.
Amber and Kniam would be forced to leave without her and time was ticking.

Mr. McPherson jumped into
action. He could move fast and get things done when he wanted too.

He called and arranged for
Mairi to be brought to the B&B. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and
pulled a few strings. It ended up that they could get her ready and dropped off
in four hours. That was going to be cutting it close. Then he informed his
guests that there was an emergency, and arranged for rooms at a nearby
“upgraded” spa resort so there wasn’t too much grumbling.

Kniam planted himself in
front of one of the computers Mr. McPherson offered for his guests and asked
her how it worked. She had shown him how to “Google” something. He learned
really fast, so she left him to his own devices. She had something she wanted
to do.

Sneaking into Mr.
McPherson’s office she used his phone. She dialed Jen and waited. When Jen
answered with a tentative, “Hello?”

“Jen it’s me…Amber!”

“Amber, oh my god…where are
you? Are you ok?” Jen was frantic.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m in
Scotland, but I won’t be here for much longer.’

“What the hell is going on
Amber, you disappeared…”

Amber interrupted her
friend, “Listen Jen, I’m older than you…positively ancient and I need you to
listen.” It was an old joke they always told each other. “I ran off with a
really hot guy, I’m in love with him…I’m having sex all over with him!” well that
much was true, just not in Scotland, “He is so smoking hot, and he has friends
that you have to meet.” This part was true, Jen would make a perfect mate for
Thian. “You need to come to Scotland, but I won’t be back until December, we
are going on a trip…Stay at the same place I stayed. A really nice guy named
Mr. McPherson is running it. I will send you the money to come!” Amber wanted
Jen to have the same second chance at life they were giving Mairi and Mr.
McPherson. She deserved it. “I won’t take no for an answer Jen, I mean it. The
ticket will be there on December 20
^th
! Be ready for the trip of a
lifetime!” Amber laughed, that part was true too, and she could honestly say it
was the trip of a lifetime!

“Ok Amber, I will plan for
it.” Jen sounded tired.

“Swear it Jen! Swear on your
mother that you won’t let anything stop you from taking that trip!” Amber knew
if Jen swore on her mother it was a done deal…she held her breath.

“I swear it on my
mother…damn Amber, don’t get your panties in a bunch or anything!” Jen teased.

“I’m not wearing any!” Amber
teased back.

“Now there really is nothing
that will keep me from meeting this mystery man. If he can keep you out of
underwear he must be hot!”

Amber heard Kneus returning
with Mr. McPherson so hurried to end the conversation, “I’ve got to go Jen.
Just remember to look for that ticket! Write it down in your planner, and get
here in December! Miss you, and see you in six months.” Amber quickly hung up.
She had talked with Kneus about bringing Jen here to Scotland, and he already
had her information. She would double check before leaving for the portal that
he still had Jens address, just in case.

She headed back to where she
had left Kniam, he was still muttering to himself while clicking away on the
Internet. She settled herself on the sofa in the living room, and let herself
drift to sleep. It had been an eventful day, and she was worn out.

~*~*~*

“Amber…Amber!”
Who was that saying her name. She needed to focus but couldn’t remember why.
Talk about Deja vu. Being on Earth really was draining her system. She was just
as groggy here as she had been on Antilles. Maybe even more so. It took her a
few seconds to get her bearings, then she sat straight up almost bumping Kniam
in the face.

“Sorry
Amber, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Kniam leaned back to giver her space to
sit up. “The Earth female is here. We need to prepare her for the move back to
the portal. They got her here in three of your Earth hours, so we have gained a
little bit of time.” Kniam looked over his shoulder, a frown on his face.

Amber
sat up straighter still, and looked over her shoulder at the portable medical
bed they had Mairi on. The poor woman looked as bad as she expected. They had a
head covering on, and but you could tell that she didn’t have any hair left
from whatever treatment they had tried. Her face and body were gaunt, dark
rings under her eyes. She was skeletal thin, and Amber was suddenly worried
that Mairi didn’t even have hours to get her to the portal. Her breathing
alternated between a choking rattle, and a gurgling sound. Amber had walked
around until she could gently hold Mairi’s hand. It was just as she knew it
would be, ice cold. She took in a sharp breath at the coldness, and she was
assailed with the sudden smell of sickness you associate with hospitals and
nursing homes.

“We
don’t have any time to lose. We need some type of vehicle that can get us to
the fork in the path the fastest.”

Kniam,
Kneus and Mr. McPherson had all been talking quietly. Making plans for the
B&B’s transformation into Earth to Terraneu Central Station maybe. When she
broke in that they needed transportation for Mairi, Mr. McPherson stepped over.

“Ye
can tak’ th’ four wheeler.” He reached under the counter and got two sets of
keys. “
We will follaw
tae say uir good-byes
.”

Kniam
was given the task of holding Mairi as still as possible, while Amber followed
Kneus and Mr. McPherson. When they reached the fork in the path, they parked
their four-wheelers off to the side. Kneus and Mr. McPherson would use them for
the return trip to the B&B.

Kniam
led the way forward with Mairi in his arms. Amber quickly followed at his
heels. She heard, “Noo wait a min’…” she looked over her shoulder at Mr.
McPherson being carried like a sack of potatoes by Kneus.

“It
is the fastest way, and I know you will want to say good-bye to your
grand-daughter.” Kneus explained, “I can let you walk if you prefer, but time
is urgent.”

“Ner’
min’ that!” Mr. McPherson grumbled…crossing him arms across his chest he just
swung there as the younger man hurried to keep up. “When ah go ben thes’
portal, ye jus’ bide en!”

Amber
yelled over her shoulder, ‘Yes Mr. McPherson…when you come through to Terraneu
you can show them a thing or two!” Amber laughed over his disgruntlement, but
only just a little. Having gotten to the age of forty-six before being changed,
she could just imagine what it was like for Mr. McPherson at his age.

They
marched along with Mr. McPherson grumbling every now and then, Kneus was
starting to breathe a little heavy at the extra load. Kniam wasn’t affected at
all at having to carry Mairi, she just didn’t weigh enough to burden him. Amber
was trying to keep up with her shorter legs, so was also breathing a bit heavy.

The
device Kniam was carrying beeped, and he made a slight change in their
direction. The beeping became louder as they went, until finally they were in
the little clearing. The six foot circle was like a pool of ice on the ground.

Kneus
put Mr. McPherson down, with an “Ohhh…thes is it?” the older man looked around
questioningly.

Kniam
was doing calculations on his tablet, “Yes, you need to say your farewells, so
Amber and I can go through.”

Mr.
McPherson got misty eyed as he gently stroked Mairi’s head. “
Mairi lassie, ah will see ye
suin! Ah ken ye can make it, dae 'at fur me!” He bent down was giving her
gently kisses on the forehead, “Ah loove ye lassie!”

Amber felt a tear run down
her cheeks, and knew she was going to have a complete break down if they didn’t
get out of there. Clearing her throat, she said…”If we have enough time once we
are through, we will try to send a message back that it worked. That way you
won’t worry for the next six months.”

“Th' necklace she is
wearin'. When she went aff tae college in America,
Ah gae it tae 'er tae
remin' 'er ay haem
.”
Mr. McPherson showed Amber the necklace Mairi was wearing.

Amber gave Mr. McPherson a
huge hug, “Thank you for everything! It is going to work out, I just know it
will.” She moved over to Kneus next.

“Thank you in advance for
getting Jen here. If anyone can do it, I know you can.” She gave him a kiss on
the cheek that had Kniam frowning, and moved over to the portal.

“See
you in six months!”

Kniam held Kneus’s gaze for
a few moments, it seemed neither brother knew what to say. Then with a voice
like a croaking frog Kniam said, “Brother, none of our people can ever thank
you enough for the sacrifice you are making here.”
 
He looked over at Mr. McPherson, “Please help Kneus to succeed
here. Keeping him safe is the top priority for me, we need females desperately
on Terraneu…but not at the expense of my brother.”

“Ah will keep heem safe, we
will make thes wark! Ah tryst…” Mr. McPherson gave one last loving glance at
his granddaughter then backed away.

Kniam pushed buttons on his
tablet…Amber did the finger wave at Kneus and Mr. McPherson…FLUSH!

She was actually getting
used to this…then she blacked out.