Mark McGinnis - The Simpleton

The sun was coming up before the last few Pashier arrived on the beautiful planet. Home again, they too moved off. Tow and Soweng stayed with them for a long while, but soon they were pulled away, responding to their own distant callings. Cuddy learned they would be sharing this life together, here, as a couple. That didn’t surprise him in the least. Their love for each other was clearly evident. After a heartfelt goodbye, Tow and Soweng headed off.

Cuddy yelled after him, “Will I ever see you again, Tow?”

Tow stopped and turned. “Yes, you and Brian are Pashier. Return here, when you know your special time has come.” He gave a final wave and walked on.

Cuddy watched until they too merged into the distant landscape.

“Wait! So you get to come back here? Be a part of this… this magic? What about your Earthly girlfriend? What is she supposed to do?”

Cuddy stared back at Jackie uncomprehending. “But I don’t have a girlfriend.”

She tilted her head sideways, making an exasperated expression.

Then he fully got what she was saying, as she slipped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his chest. “I love you, Cuddy… I always have.” He then confessed back his deep love for her as well. At that moment, he didn’t think he could be any happier.

From out his peripheral vision, he saw one last, brilliant light, streaking down from above. “Somebody’s late for the party,” Jackie said.

They both looked out to see who had arrived and found the figure was not a two-legged one. Then Cuddly heard a familiar, distant woof , and thought, I’d know that bark anywhere!

His beloved yellow lab, now running free, snatched up a stick even longer than he was. As his ghostly form appeared near by, Cuddy said, “Bring it here, boy!”

Jackie said, “Maybe one doesn’t have to be Pashier… you know… to take part in this?”

The orb, Cuddy, Jackie, Kyle, Tony, Brian, and last but not least Rufus reentered the familiar confines of the Evermore .

“I have one question,” Kyle said, following after Tony. “What happened to those Howsh ships? I expected them to swoop down on us at any second.”

Tony and Kyle, halting in their tracks, stared back at Cuddy. Jackie, already clanging around in the galley, stopped long enough to peer out.

Cuddy said, “I have no idea. I was afraid of the same thing.” He looked over to the AI orb. “Bob?”

“The Howsh fleet is gone.”

“They just left? When?” Jackie asked.

“Brian transported them away.”

“What? Brian did that?” Cuddy asked, total disbelief on his face. “How?”

“That is correct. Using his new Pashier kinetic powers… those ships are now five point eight light years distance away from Primara… away from us.”

All eyes turned to Brian. Cuddy realized that the brightly glowing, half human/half Pashier was levitating nearly a foot off the deck.

Brian smiled, a bit of his former cockiness returning, and said, “All those hours alone in that compartment… well, I’ve been practicing. Bob, the orb, helped me get started. First by levitating a bread crumb, then a pillow, then a pair of shoes. Eventually, I could levitate myself. My own body above the deck.”

“But… five enormous spaceships? Dude, you’re a badass!” Tony exclaimed.

Brian shrugged, “Maybe I am.”

Cuddy studied Brian’s wry crooked smile and wondered if his new, transcendent, ability was a good thing or not. Of course it is, he thought. He saved us from certain death, didn’t he?

A part of Cuddy wanted to believe the Howsh wouldn’t have attacked anyway. That Tow’s home movie—the incredible revelations of their shared past—would have made an impact. Would have given them pause. But how realistic was that? He had little doubt that the information had the capability to alter opinions—but the results could take a long time, perhaps years. It was a start.

“I’m starving!” Tony said, resuming his trek toward the galley.

“So where are we off to now, little brother? Or should I call you Captain Perkins from now on?” Kyle asked.

Cuddy shrugged. “We can head on back to Earth… I guess.”

The orb rose several feet higher into the air. “There are twenty-two other Pashier heritage pods within the galaxy. Several survived the decimation back on Mahli, while others are well hidden beneath the surface of another nearby planet. Some are confined within the holds of enemy spacecraft. Those pods must all be brought home… brought here, to Primara.”

“What’s going to happen to them if that doesn’t happen?” Jackie asked.

“In time, they will break down… turn to dust.” The orb continued, “Do not despair. I will pilot the Evermore, continuing on with my directives, once I have returned you back to Earth.”

“And if I should want to go with you?”

Cuddy was surprised—the question asked was from Tony.

“Me, too…” Kyle said.

Cuddy spotted Jackie, again peering out the galley, and looking at him with a bemused smile. Her brows were raised questioningly.

Thank you for reading The Simpleton .

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I am ever grateful for the ongoing fan support I receive for all my books. This latest book, my sixteenth —The Simpleton— came about through the combined contributions of numerous others. First, I’d like to thank my wonderful wife, Kim, for her never-ending love and support. She helps make this journey rich and so very worthwhile. I’d also like to thank my mother, Lura Genz, for her tireless work as my creative editor and a staunch cheerleader of my writing. I’d like to thank Mia Manns, for her phenomenal line and developmental editing… she is an incredible resource and friend. Others who provided fantastic support include: Lura and James Fischer, Sue Parr, Stuart Church, Eric Sundius, and Chris DeRrick.

Scrapyard Ship

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 1)

HAB 12

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 2)

Space Vengeance

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 3)

Realms of Time

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 4)

Craing Dominion

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 5)

The Great Space

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 6)

Call To Battle

(Scrapyard Ship series, Book 7)

Mad Powers

(Tapped In series, Book 1)

Lone Star Renegades

(Lone Star Renegades series, Book 1)

Star Watch

(Star Watch series, Book 1)

Ricket

(Star Watch series, Book 2)

Deadly Powers

(Tapped In series, Book 2)

Boomer

(Star Watch series, Book 3)

Glory for Sea and Space

(Star Watch series, Book 4)

Space Chase

(Star Watch series, Book 5)

The Simpleton

Copyright © 2016 by Mark Wayne McGinnis All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.