We turned our attention back to the crazy Scots. It was just in time for the big finish. Robert MacDonald had a large delivery! Probably saving up.
We cruised around the lake for a while longer, then back to camp. A nice afternoon.
*****
Day 2 Evening
We walked up the bank and tried to act as casually as possible. I grabbed a beer and threw some wood on the coal bed in the fire pit. It was coming up on 4 and we’ll be eating soon. I set up the telescope. Much smoother than the last time! I put a rough polar alignment on it, started the mount computer, and put the thermal wrap on it. Dinner was salmon, salad, some pan-fried potatoes and bread. As always, after dinner, a bottle of scotch appeared for a ‘wee dram’! He had poured us glasses.
“How was your afternoon?” Elaine said with a mischievous look in her eye.
“Relaxing! We read for a while, then took a nap.” Paige answered in a nonchalant air. I almost scoffed but didn’t.
The thin mountain air doesn’t hold heat very long and the sun was going down. Mac had put on a digital camo, pullover hoodie. He walked back to his chair and sat. As he did, I saw a slight lump on his left hip. It was the butt of a pistol.
“Whatcha packin’ there sheriff?” I asked humorously. He looked at me for a second. He pulled a handgun out of a cross-draw holster and handed it to me.
“It’s a Colt Combat Commander. A little shorter than the 1911, but the same pistol.”
I released the magazine and set it aside. I pulled the slide back and brass checked the chamber. I had done this many times with Ed. I looked down slide, down the sights.
“Those are match sites. An armorer friend of mine put a bunch of high-end parts in the damn thing and it’s pretty accurate!”
“It’s nice! Really good balance, not as nose-heavy as the 1911.” I released the slide and handed it to Elaine. She hefted it for weight.
“I like this! It’s lighter than the 1911!”
“Shoots really nice. I have access to a private shooting range up in Petaluma. Someone’s farm. Maybe we should go sometime?”
I handed the piece back to Mac.
“You have a conceal and carry card, Mac?”
“Yeah. Federal. I can carry it anywhere.”
“Hard to get?”
“Took a little doing. I went to the main-side Provost Marshal’s office, filled out the paperwork and they printed me this.” He showed me the plastic ID with a flat, sarcastic smile.
“What did you need this for?” Elaine asked.
“I was doing a little of this, a little of that, and a little of something else!” He grinned.
“OK, got it!” She laughed.
“I’m also in charge of a recruiting station. In today’s political climate and some crazy stuff going down, the Marines do not want their recruiting station overrun!” He said, sipping some whiskey.
We talked for a long while. The moon finally went down and it was time for some sky-watching. Paige jumped in and wanted to know about all the alignment stuff and the basics of locating stars. She’s very intelligent and I love how excited she can get over the same geeky crap I do, but she would never acknowledge it! I loaded up star hop and the first item on the menu for tonight was Saturn. It was a very clear, low-lit night. The Milky Way arm was sharp and crisp, as were many of the constellations. We looked at a number of the Messier objects, double stars, planets, and a bunch of variable stars. We spent a couple of hours jumping all over the sky! The big finale was Rigel. Rigel, beta Orion, is a blue giant. With the correct eyepiece and filter, it can be a spectacular sight!
After an hour and a half of viewing, the day was catching up. We decided to pack it in and went to bed. I was out in minutes.
*****
Day 3, The Solstice
I was laying on my back when Elaine bumped my jaw with her head. The sun coming through the little screen window above my head was hidden and fluorescent. I heard movement from their side of the camp, got up and dressed. The front flap wasn’t zipped up completely and I looked out. Paige was walking down to the lake. She was wearing a white, short toga-looking thing. Her face toward the sun, which suddenly, burnt through the horizon clouds. Raising hands up with a golden crescent. From what I know about the Celtic magic type of stuff, this must be a Torc. It was some kind of Druidic neckwear. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but it sounds like she was getting her Witch on. Setting the Torc down, she sprinkled something out of a pouch on it, muttered a few words, and stood. She turned back up the bank and I waited for her to go back into her tent.
I went out and started the water for coffee. Mac stepped out of the tent, pulling on a hoodie. The women turned out and we sat, enjoying the morning and coffee. A container of scones appeared in Paige’s hands. They were lunged upon!
“Was that your solstice ritual this morning?” I directed at Paige.
“Yeah. Like the robe, did ya?”
“Very complimentary! Was that a Torc?”
“Yep. I had it made at a shop in Berkeley.” She answered.
“Is that required equipment for the serious Wiccan?” I teased.
“Pretty much! Can’t do spells without it!”.
“So, you have other rituals planned for tonight?” I inquired.
“The fire is burning. We have to keep it lit until dawn tomorrow, so just throw a log or two when you walk by. Tonight…….” She finished with her grin!
We ate breakfast and decided what to do. Paige and Elaine wanted to go out on the boat, which didn’t take much arm-twisting! We cruised all over the lake. Mac and I spelled each other on the helm. We fished a couple of schools of what looked like large fish, but they weren’t having any part of it! On one of the branches of the watershed, we found a cluster of little pine-covered islands. It was around noon and we were hungry! We were in the middle of a cluster of yellow pine, out of the wind. As the sun went over, the rays penetrated the pine branches in long, yellow, and diffracted beams.
Mac had the food unpacked, Paige with the wine uncorked. The conversation wandered and we ended up on the topic of life in California. We were discussing human behavior and Paige mentioned the book, Lord of the Flies. Mac laughed at a private joke.
“Where’d you go?” Asked Elaine.
“I have a theory on humanity.” He announced with the Mac grin.
“Oh, do tell! I’d pay good money to hear this!” I said. Paige laughed.
“So, I’m sure you are all familiar with the Atomic Doomsday Clock that came into existence in the 50’s? Well, I think man also has a Mad Max clock! Right now, we are probably about 60 seconds to midnight; Mad Max breakdown!”
“Really!” Elaine commented, not sure what to say.
“Say it’s not so!” I backhanded.
“Think about it. Man is basically a primate with highly developed frontal and temporal lobes. We’ve been living together socially for what, 6-7 thousand years? Since the Uruk or Sumer, or some shit? All we’ve really accomplished is refined ways to impress our will on each other! Over the years, man has created this veneer of civilization,” He took a bite of his sandwich.
“But that veneer chips off. Quickly at times!” He finished.
“Well, I must admit, that certainly describes the current social climate!” Elaine injected.
“Interesting. So where did you come up with this pearl?” I asked.
“One night, my posse and me was philosophizing, and this premise presented itself. We believe it holds water!” He replied in his usual confidence.
“Oh, I’m certain you do!” Paige offered with a belly laugh.
“We also ratified the Chimp-Bonobo Treatise.” He professed.
“Of course, I have to ask….” I replied.
“Bonobos and Chimpanzees are virtually identical, physically anyway. Socially, major differences in troop dynamics! The chimps: a male alpha runs the show! We’re talking about the big silver-back motherfuckers that look like mini Gorillas! Not the cute little monkey in the sailor suit eating a banana and shitting on the furniture! As the alpha, the big kahuna, he’s in charge of maintaining order in the troop, disciplining with necessary, making sure everyone is doing their job. When the troop is attacked; he organizes the defense, makes sure all the young and females are protected, etc. He also the arbitrator of sex: who gets to fuck who. He’s mated to the Beta, the oldest and strongest of the females.” He took a sip of beer.
“Monkey pussy?” I thought out loud. Elaine choked on her laugh.
“Yeah….monkey pussy! Now, with the bonobos, their groups are matriarchal and communal in decision-making. Hedonism is a first priority. Eating, sex, grooming, and relationships have the highest importance. Bonobos are one of the very few higher-order mammals that are bisexual in a mixed-sex group. The Bonobos are always getting their asses kicked by chimps, gorillas, large cats, and baboons. They’re slow to respond, and organize very poor defenses.” He paused and took out his pocket flask, taking a long draft.
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