Another tough day at work.... frustrations galore... couldn't seem to
get anything done. Decided to relax a bit in the gun room... but
without looking for the old man in the Mauser. Sat there for a few
minutes...just sort of spacing...when I heard his voice."
Good evening... " he said. "Tough day at the office?"
I jumped... startled by his unexpected comments.
"Where are you?" I asked
"In the safe, as always...:" he replied.
"I don't understand...How can I hear you ...don't I have to rub
you or something?".
"Not always.... if I feel you drawing me out, I can still be in
the safe while we talk. Is that a problem for you?"
"Well, no...I just....we always...you know...it's the first time
we've talked without me holding you in my hands, that's all."
"If it's a problem, you can take me out of the safe...doesn't
matter to me either way".
"No...this is OK" I said...."it's just different".
"Would you like another experience?" he asked? "Or would you like
to go back to the last one?"
"No...I don't want to go back....I'm still sore from the last time.
..and so is my wife! But I do have a question... why is there stuff...
you know... the water, rocks... pine needles... how do they get here?"
"They are part of the experience"
"But how do they get here?" I asked.
"They come back with you...they are part of you... the part of
you that is the experience... it's sort of difficult to explain..."
"So...these things become physical...when I come back with the
experience as part of me... these "things" just sort of peel off or
something?"
"I couldn't have said it better myself!" he said.
"This is really strange stuff!".
"Yeah...I guess. So...you don't want to go back?"
"No...I don't...once in that situation was plenty... thank you."
"Well, pick another gun and ."
"Wait a minute..." I interrupted. " Why don't you pick one this
time? But let me get ready first!"
There was silence for almost a full minute. "Ajjiberon??? are you
still there?" I asked.
"Yes....I'm still here...where else do you think I would be?" The
irritation in his voice was evident. "I'm thinking." he said.
"Sorry!"
"It's just that there are dozens of lifetimes of experiences to
sift through... it takes a minute....OK...are you ready?"
"Sorry...didn't mean to rush you...yes....I'm ready." I gripped
the arms of my chair...steeling myself for what was to come...
It was dark....I realised my eyes were closed. I could smell hay
...and perfume...and sex... SEX!...My eyes opened....I was having SEX!
I looked down at the young woman beneath me....she was georgeous! The
lightly tanned face of a farmer's daughter...golden blond hair....
melting into the hay....her eyes were closed...a smile on her lips
...lips a bit too red from cheap lipstick...flushed face...our rythem
was smooth...steady....she was firm under my touch.....the way only
youth is firm... when the end came...it swept over me like a flood...
left me trembling...I fell by her side....she turned to look at me
....I could see the deepest love in her eyes...blue eyes...we lay
there for a while...then I told her I must go....the tears flowed...
with my thumbs I wiped them away...rose...dressed....leaned over and
kissed her one last time. Reached for my K-98...slung it, and walked
from the barn. The rifles spirit told me he would never return...
would be dead before the week was out. It also told me the experience
was over...but I waited...walking down a dusty country road...visions
of a lovely young girl fresh in my mind....her scent still on my body
...uncertain days ahead....Enough....enough.
I jumped..."Ajjiberon!" I exclaimed.
"Yes?....
"That was....I was....SEX!"
"Yes....that's what it was alright".
"I wasn't expecting anything like that!"
"I know" he said. "I felt like you needed a break from fighting
and dying".
"But I didn't....."
"I know" he said. "you didn't think about memories we have other
than battles. We have lots of memories...carriers do lots of things
besides fighting and dying. It's just that we are Battle Spirits, and
those are our favorite memories....but we have others".
"No kidding!" I said. "That was a special memory for sure!"
"Glad you enjoyed it....goodnight".
"Goodnight Ajjiberon".
I rose from my chair...my legs felt weak...looked around for any
"things" that may have come back with me...couldn't find anything...
looked everywhere. Nothing. Turned out the gun room light... walked
through the den...the kitchen....stopped in the bathroom to take a
leak. Looked in the mirror...there were two stems of hay stuck in my
hair...a smear of too red lipstick on my lower lip...I looked down at
my feet...they were dusty....I grinned at myself in the mirror...I
heard my wife in the hallway..."are you about ready for bed Honey?"
she asked. I quickly reached for a washcloth....
"I'll be right there babe...."
I walked down the hall...grinning.
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