Chapter Twelve

  ‘Oh, you’ve brought me shrubs!’ said Susan from her hospital bed.

‘These are called flowers and on Earth it’s traditional to bring them when visiting someone in hospital’ Jimi said, smiling. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m the only patient they’ve got so I’m an object of curiosity - they never leave me alone! They’re looking through the history books to find out how to treat a bullet wound. It’s close to my spine so they’re being extra careful before committing themselves to surgery’

‘Does it hurt much?’

‘Only when I laugh - you get into any trouble with the programme?’

‘Nope, after I brought you here I went back and it was as if nothing had ever happened! They ignored me, just asking if I wanted to go back in the next few days or not - it was spooky.’

‘Guess the space ships were never sent because the skull is still here?’

‘Must be - I’ll go back and check it out when you’re out of surgery. I’ve got a lot of questions, but at least I know Jimi Hendrix still existed’

‘That’s typical, your first thought is about a musician!’

‘Not just a musician, he’s…’ Jimi trailed off, knowing she was just messing with him.

‘I’m so sorry about Gradski’

‘Yeah, he was something wasn’t he? Blasting away with his Tommy gun, I’m gonna miss that madman’ 

‘Jimi, do you know what a McGuffin is?

‘A what?’ he said sitting down next to the bed.

‘A McGuffin is an object used in stories as a focus for a quest or at the centre of a mystery - like the crystal skull in our little adventure’

‘Like we were characters in a story?’

‘Exactly!’

So what are you saying?’ he said quizzically

‘Well, I don‘t know really - but suppose we‘re not the only people who are entertained by that beautiful, terrifying place we call Earth?’

‘You mean another race from another planet?’

Yes, and suppose we were being manipulated by them the same way we use Earth as entertainment?’

‘That‘s too fantastical for me - have you started reading science fiction now?’

‘Think about it, wasn‘t it a hell of a coincidence that the Lakota arrived here just after we were given the skull on Earth two hundred years earlier?’

‘That‘s the trouble with time travel - it does your head in. But there‘s no way I‘m gonna believe my life is being manipulated by little green men on a far away planet in another galaxy etc, etc.’

‘OK, have it your own way. You done with time travel after you’ve seen your mother one more time?’

Jimi contemplated and said after a pause: ‘I was wonderin’ what Spartacus could do with 100 medieval long bows against that monster Crassus?’

‘Jimi - NO, I mean it, N, O.’

So, here he was, in a waiting room again. They were confident that the bullet would be removed from Susan’s back without complications - but he had to be sure. Then he would return to see the consequences of what he had done - what kind of world had the Lakota made? And then he heard her voice. He was sure it was Looks Far. She said: ‘They’re watching you’. Jimi turned slowly.

Shamshi shot back in his seat.

‘What’s the matter?’ said his companion.

‘Didn’t you see that? He looked right at me, like he could see me!’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, that’s impossible - unless there really is something supernatural about the crystal skull’

Tiglath did his impression of a spooky howl.

‘Very funny, but I tell you he saw me’

‘But how? The skull is just a piece of crystal that we left on Earth as a joke. Earthmen will believe anything!’

‘We better keep a close watch on those two - with her intelligence and his courage if they ever suspect something they’ll never give up until they find the truth’

‘You expecting a knock on your door one dark winter’s night?’ said Tiglath laughing.

THE END

Chapter Eleven

  A Lakota warrior and a mafia gangster walked under the arched legend that read: ‘Museum of Humankind’. The other visitors didn’t know whether to be amused or scared as they walked down through the main entrance hall. Scanning the corners and alcoves they cautiously proceeded.

‘They haven’t acted yet - there’s no panic’ said Gradski

‘There’s gonna be - let’s set off the fire alarm so no bystanders get injured’

‘Good idea, but won’t that warn the bad guys that something’s up?’

‘Better than having to live with the death of a child in the cross fire’

‘You’re expecting a real fire fight ain’t ya - wish I’d put on a clean shirt’ said Gradski nervously. 

Jimi smashed the glass on the alarm. People immediately started to calmly walk out. 

Then they heard a scream. 

‘It came from up there’ said Jimi pointing at the stairway.

Quickly and silently the two friends mounted the staircase - one each side.

A gun shot ricocheted on the wall just ahead of them. They both crouched instinctively. 

‘Is that you, you murderin’ Indian’ Al’s voice boomed.

‘Yeah, I come to get educated here regularly’ said Jimi with a snarl.

‘We’ve got your little girl friend - so don’t be doing anything stupid. We’re just gonna head out like regular people and leave this goddamned planet’

‘Come on down - we won’t shoot’

‘You got someone with you then, Jimi?’

‘Just another culture lover like me’

They backed away as Susan appeared just ahead of Al who was holding a gun to her head. Two of his henchmen followed - but where was the other one?

Suddenly Susan kicked Al in the shin and leapt forward. Al collapsed but the two other men raised their pistols. The rat-a-tat-tat of the machine gun rang out, taking down one of the men in a blizzard of blood red mist. Jimi heard the bullet from the other man’s gun whiz past his ear. He fired, hitting him in the groin. He howled pitifully before Gradski finished him off with another hail of bullets. He was smiling in triumph at Jimi when a fountain of blood erupted from the side of his head. As Gradski fell Jimi turned and saw the missing member of Al’s gang taking aim at him! Fanning the hammer, he emptied the colt. As the smoke cleared he saw his adversary holding his neck and desperately trying to breathe. Coughing up his soul he died in a sprawled heap. Quickly Jimi ducked into an alcove, expecting to be killed by one of Al’s bullets. It was quiet, he peered around the corner - Al was gone! Susan’s body lay just above Gradski’s on the stairs. Jimi was overcome with rage: ’I’m gonna kill you Al Swearengen’ he shouted, reloading clumsily.

‘Come and get me then, you red skinned heathen - you started this little fracas. I tried to get that damned machine to take me back so I could wait for you when you arrived with the guns for your murdrein’ people. I coulda killed you right there and none of this would’ve happened. But it must be programmed to just one time of arrival - and Susan arrived two hours after you did! Two measly hours, otherwise those Injuns would all be dead instead of the brave 7th cavalry’

Al was right, thought Jimi, the pods were dialled in to just two points in time - destination and return. Thank the god’s that Susan arrived after he had delivered the guns. Susan!

‘Listen you bastard, how about settling this thing - man to man’ he shouted.

‘You mean for us to face off?’

‘How about it, unless you’re scared of a redskin?’

‘Move back down to the foot of the stairs, I’ll meet you down there’

Jimi backed down carefully. He backed up about 20 feet and waited for Al.

Suddenly Al came running down the stairs firing wildly.

Jimi dived into a roll and fired from the floor. His bullets found their mark, crumpling Al’s waistcoat. He looked at Jimi with eyes wide with hatred as he fell, head first, to the shiny floor. As he did so a transparent spherical object tumbled from a bag strapped to Al’s back. The skull rolled towards Jimi and rested, glowing, with it’s eye sockets looking directly into Jimi’s. 

Chapter Ten

  Jimi sat with the cream of the elite of Makossa. They were waiting for the aliens to begin negotiations. He was still dressed in his Lakota buckskins which represented a startling contrast to his grey suited colleagues. They had no idea why he was there and ignored him as much as they could. Jimi had no idea why he was there either; greeting aliens was always done by a specialist team with many years of experience. Although they had never been confronted with such a menacing presence on the home planet before. Why had they demanded his presence? As soon as they entered he knew why. Unmistakably Lakota they walked into the conference room with the swagger of their race.  Jimi’s stomach churned - what had he done? Immediately they focused on Jimi, whose anachronistic costume would have provoked amusement in any other context. The leader of the assembly arose to greet them but was ignored.

‘So it is true, Twelvetrees is an alien time traveller’ said American Horse.

Jimi got up nervously: ‘I’m Twelvetrees - I’m only half alien from either way you look at it. Who are you and why are you here?’

‘I am American Horse, I believe you met my great, great grandfather’

There was mumbling from the other members of the greeting committee. 

‘I had that honour, I welcome you American Horse’

‘200 years ago you helped our people when our need was greatest, now we come to find out why you have betrayed us’

Jimi was shocked by the accusation: ‘How have I done this?’

‘We have made peace with the white man for many moons, but now they reach for their weapons of war once again. They have the power of the Skull of Thoka which we gave to you on the promise it would never return. I did not believe these stories but your presence here confirms the legends which have been told by our camp fires for generations’

Suddenly, without a shadow of doubt, Jimi knew what had happened.

‘I have not betrayed you, and I can prove it if you give me just a few hours’

‘We owe you that much, Twelvetrees, but if you do not return with your proof within twelve Earth hours we will destroy this place, even though it gave you the means to help our people all those years ago, that is all I have to say’

Jimi began to leave but paused and turned: ‘Just one thing, have you heard of Jimi Hendrix?’

There was a confused silence as they looked at each other. Then one of the braves raised his hand: ‘I, I have, great one - he rocks’

  The chevy’s tyres squealed in protest as Jimi floored the accelerator. 

‘Damn you to hell, Al Swearengen!’ He shouted above the roar of the rat motor.

He knew it must have been Al that had stolen Susan’s pod, and probably at this very moment he was taking the skull from the museum. He must have hidden it and then got himself killed leaving the skull to be discovered by some archaeologist many years later. He must get there soon before he lost him back in time on Earth. And what was happening to Susan?

The Chevelle roared through the quiet streets of the Makossan capital, startling the residents who peered through their windows at the strange sight.

He came to an abrupt halt in a cloud of dust outside the museum entrance. There were two pods parked there! He had Jimi’s pod as well - that meant Al had three of his goons with him. He might be able to deal with Al, but four of them? In his haste he had left his rifle in the Programme’s dressing room. He only had the colt. Suddenly there was a tap on his window. Jimi jumped out of his skin.

‘Hiya Chief, what’s up?’

It was Gradski.

‘How the hell did you get here?’ he asked with relief.

‘Heard that roaring hunk of metal you use to travel explode past the café where I was having a quiet cup of coffee and figured if you was in that much of a hurry something was really going down. Can I help?’

‘It’ll be dangerous, you got a weapon?’

Gradski raised a Thompson sub machine gun out from under his coat: ‘You didn’t think I could resist the opportunity offered by your fabricator, did you?’

‘There are probably four armed and very dangerous men in the museum and I have to stop them stealing something - our planet depends on it’

‘Something to do with those spaceships parked in our faces?’

‘You got it Gradski, let’s go and winkle them out of there, but watch where you’re pointing that thing’

‘Just like old times then’

Chapter Nine

  American Horse was not impressed by the planet Makossa. It loomed before him on the screen looking cold and grey. So this was the home of the time travellers and the legendary Twelvetrees. He had heard the stories as a child, never imagining that he was the warrior who would discover the truth, or otherwise, of the legend. Nearly 200 years ago, the story said, the great medicine man had given his people the means and the heart to fight the white invaders. A treaty was finally agreed, and enforced by the Lakota, that restricted the Europeans to the land east of the Mississippi. But the border was always tense; the whites were a restless race, always living in the future and not the present. The United Tribes had made alliances with other indigenous peoples in South America, Africa and Australia. Everywhere the European expansion had been controlled - but war was threatening once again. The Lakota knew their enemy had a source of great power that was destabilising the power balance. It was believed by some that the Makossans had betrayed Twelvetrees and given the Crystal Skull of Thoka to the Europeans. Why had this happened? If he had to, he would destroy this meddling race of aliens and their time travelling technology.

‘We cannot find any military installations on the planet, Sir. It looks as if they’re completely defenceless. What are your orders?’

‘Get into close formation and go down into the atmosphere above the main population centre. We’ll make a show of force before we attempt to communicate. Be on your guard, this culture is far in advance of us so we do not know what to expect - but then, of course, neither do they’

                                      ****************************************************

  Jimi and Susan sat in his father’s travel pod waiting for the engines to come online. This thing had not been used for 20 years and would need coaxing back to life. He had promised to return as soon as he could but he feared the alarm call to return might have something to do with his activities - he had, after all, broken almost every law of time travel! He didn’t know if there were any prisons on Makossa, but if there wasn’t they’d probably build one just for him!

‘So who was the pretty little Indian who couldn’t take her eyes off you?’ Susan enquired.

‘Oh you mean Looks Far - I think I’ll come back and marry her’

Susan spluttered until she saw the wicked smile on his face.

‘Well I think your mother would approve’ she said sniffley.

‘Check the levels of charge will you. We better get back quickly because they might shut down the programme and you, me, mother and Looks Far would be stuck in that cabin for god knows how long’

This thought stimulated Susan into activity. He turned to her:

‘How come, after all your excitement, that you haven’t even glanced at the skull?’

‘I’m a bit nervous of it. Look what it did to Al’

‘Looks Far has looked into its eyes and been OK - she says it only magnifies what is already in your heart. Like mother says, it can turn you into a monster if there’s only darkness in your soul’

‘Well that’s great for little Miss Looks Far, but what might it do to a Makossan?’

‘Tell you what, I’ll drop you off at the museum first so you can deliver it into the safe hands of the boffins. Then I’ll go and face the music at the Programme’

‘You think its all about you then?’

‘Everything’s about me, didn’t you know’

He dropped Susan at the museum and hit the ‘auto return switch’. Within moments he was surrounded by personnel, all of whom looked at him like he had two heads. Dr. Sprokane made his way through the small crowd.

‘Hey, Doc how’s it hanging?’ said Jimi trying to break the obvious tension.

‘You mean you don’t know?’

‘Know what?’

‘Look to your left’ said the doctor pointing to the window.

Hanging in the air outside were three massive spaceships. Jimi swallowed hard.

‘Who are those guys?’

‘Aliens, hundreds of them and their asking for you’

Chapter Eight

  They continued the journey up the mountainside as soon as dawn broke. Jimi was pretty sure who had stolen Susan’s pod - something he would have to deal with if, and when, he caught up with his mother. Two Moons might just be hiding out from Al Swearengen in the old family cabin they used in the summer. It  would be bleak up there this time of year but if he was her that’s where he would go - if it wasn't his mother who had taken the pod! The clouds were low and heavy with snow as they made their way. Susan was getting restless and he correctly anticipated her next question.

‘Is it much further, my butt is getting numb’

‘Too much reality for a city girl?’ he said, smugly

‘I should be in a buggy with a fringe on top, like the lady I am. Not slumming it on the back of a stolen nag with a renegade injun’

‘Quit complaining - the cabin’s just around that hill’

His heart was in his mouth as they rounded the bend. My God, there was smoke rising from the chimney; the question now was - who was at home?

‘We better walk the rest of the way, we don’t know who’s inside.’ Jimi said cautiously. 

‘Lock and load, baby’ said Susan

‘No shooting unless I do, OK?’

‘Yes, master Jimi’

They made their way up to the cabin, carefully using the trees for cover. They were close now.

‘You see anything?’ She asked excitedly

‘Not a damn thing - the window is all misted up’

‘We gonna knock on the door?’

‘Hell, no. You circle around the back and fire a shot. There’s only one door and we’ll see who comes out’

She did as he asked and a minute later a shot rang out, echoing among the hills.

To his surprise a figure he recognized emerged - it was Looks Far!

He approached - the ‘45 drawn in case there was someone else inside with a gun on her.

She saw him and shouted out: ‘Come in Twelvetrees, we've been waiting for you’

Was his mother inside? He stepped up on to the veranda towards the smiling Lakota.

‘Go inside, there’s someone who’s waited a long time for you.’

He didn't even see her properly in the gloom of the interior before they were embracing tearfully. Jimi thought his heart would burst. 

‘Let me take a look at you, my Jimi’

It was like he was a boy again as he saw her little frame silhouetted in front of the fire. 

‘You’re OK, mother?’

‘I am now, my son’

‘I didn't know what to think when I had no word from you for so long’

‘I’m sorry Jimi, my heart was broken when your father died and I didn't want to upset you even more with my grief and then this other matter came up’

‘You mean the skull?’

They were interrupted

‘Hey, how long are you gonna leave me out here in the goddamn freezing snow?’ asked Susan peering into the cabin.

‘YOU!’ said his mother.

Susan looked sheepishly at Jimi

‘You found her then. I, I’ll wait outside’

‘Why is SHE here Jimi?’

‘It’s kind of a long story, but she’s been helping me. Can she come in to warm up?’

‘You want her here?’

‘She’s in trouble mother, somebody has stolen her travel pod’

‘You know what she’s done?’

‘Time travel sometimes does crazy things to Makossans - you know that mother. It was all just a big adventure to her’

‘And I did kind of help you out with Al. He would of got a lot nastier if I hadn't come up with the plan to wait for Jimi’ Susan said quietly.

‘You put my son in danger and you want my thanks?’

‘I knew Jimi could handle him’ Lied Susan

Looks Far entered and beckoned Susan to the fireside. Two Moons ignored her and turned to Jimi: ‘I hear you have given rifles to Spotted Elk and they have started a new war’

‘I have’

‘As a scientist I can’t approve of what you've done - your father taught me that. But I understand why you did it. Our people have so much to offer mankind but the Europeans can’t see that. We are only in the way of their idea of progress. I pray that what you have done will bring an end to the persecution but I fear it might just mean more death.’

Her words made Jimi feel ashamed of his arrogance but not of what he had done. 

‘There’s something I want you to do for me Jimi’

‘Anything mother’

‘Take the skull to Makossa. Your scientists must analyse its power. It must not remain here - any human with that kind of power will become a monster’

‘Why don’t you come with me?’

‘I must stay with my people’

At that moment a shrill alarm pierced the air. It was coming from both his and Susan’s communication devices.

‘What does it mean, my son?’

‘It means that we must return to Makossa immediately’ 

Chapter Seven

Deadwood was in uproar - the people panicking to get out of town before the terrible vengeance would be visited on them. Jimi was not convinced that their fears were well founded; probably just a panic reaction to the unexpected news. He followed Susan to where she said his horse and guns had been left. They entered the livery stable and she pointed to the chestnut: ’There you go Jimi - just like I said’

‘Why didn’t you go with Al?’ he asked.

‘I wasn’t invited. He’s much more concerned to get his gold out of the bank before the Sioux arrive than worry about an ex-partner’

‘So what are you going to do now?’

‘That kinda depends on you - you wouldn’t leave a defenceless woman to the mercy of ravaging savages would you?’ She said smiling.

‘Why should I care. You shot me’

‘Oh, get over it will you - it was only a stun cartridge’

‘Al wouldn’t have been using stun cartridges. You set me up hoping to get to my mother’

‘I told you, I was named after a femme fatale and that’s the kind of thing we do’ 

She was still smiling and deep down Jimi was finding this new Miss Truly very exciting.

‘That’s a real bad attack of Makossan role playing’ he said.

‘You can talk - medicine man’

‘OK, where’s your pod? - I’ll take you there and no further’

‘Why, thank you, good sir. It’s a few miles north in the woods’

‘Jump up then’

They weaved their way through the evacuating Deadwoodians. He had never seen so many bushy moustaches before - even on some of the women! They passed the famous marshal Seth Bullock trying, and failing, to keep some kind of order in the exodus. Jimi hoped this cesspit that polluted the sacred Black Hills would burn and never be rebuilt. Finally they cleared the town limits and started into the woods. 

‘This the right direction?’ he inquired

‘Yeah, I marked a tree near where I parked’

‘Why haven’t you got a homing device?‘

’This is my first trip - give a girl a break, I forgot, alright?’

‘That’s great, half the Souix nation rampaging through these woods anytime soon and we’re looking for Susan loves Al carved on a tree’

‘You’re jealousy is showing again - look over there’

They rode up to the tree and Susan dismounted. Carved on the trunk was ‘Home’. Susan felt around trying to touch the cloaked pod.

‘It’s not here Jimi’

He dismounted and joined the search.

‘Damn it woman, you sure this is the place?’

‘You see the carving’

‘Well it’s getting dark, I suppose we better make camp and figure out what to do with you’

‘Oh, goody, I love camping out’

Jimi groaned with exasperation. 

He had managed to shoot a small deer and they sat watching it roast on a spit above the fire. Their insulated traveller’s suits kept them warm in the cold winter night air.

‘This sure is a beautiful planet. Do you think Makossa was ever like this?’ said Susan wistfully. 

‘Perhaps, many thousands of years ago. The Lakota believe this place is the centre of the world’

A distant wolf howled. Susan shuffled to his side.

‘Don’t worry, he won’t bother us - not with the fire. Even bears stay away from fire’

‘You mean there are bears here?’

‘You scared cowgirl?’

‘A little bit - I’m glad you’re here, I’m sorry I shot you’

‘Just don’t do it again. I kinda wish I hadn’t shot anyone either. I keep seeing the barman’s face as he died. Guess I’m not much of a warrior’

‘What are we going to do Jimi?’

‘I lived with my parents in a cabin not far from here, there’s a chance my mother’s there but she’s not going to be pleased to see you is she?’

‘Guess not, do you think she’s got it there?’

‘What is it with you and the skull? It’s only carved crystal you know’

‘Still a sceptic then, you wait, Jimi Twelvetrees, you just wait and see’

Chapter Six

‘Aren't you pleased to see me?’

Perhaps he was hallucinating because of the injury.

‘How, why?’ Was all he could say.

‘Why should you boys have all the fun? I got interested by hearing your stories and, well, Dr. Sprokane was only too pleased to help so I came to see for myself’

He sat up and a stab of pain shot down the side of his head. She saw him flinch:

‘Sorry about that Jimi, but you were killing everything in sight so I had to fire’

‘You shot me!’

‘Only a little bit’

‘You bitch, how’d you learn to shoot?’

‘I’m not very good - I was aiming at your heart’ She lied.

‘How long have I been here?’

‘A couple of days - we didn't know when you were gonna come out of it’

‘That murderous son of a bitch awake?’

A man’s voice boomed. It could only be Al Swearengen.

‘Be nice Al’ said Susan

‘Nice? You said he was new to gun play - not a walking killing machine. Two of my men dead and already rotting and you tell me to be nice, I oughta…’

‘Now, remember why we brought him here’

‘You brought me?’

‘ Poor Jimi, you haven’t a clue what’s really going on have you?’

‘Why don’t you tell me, calamity Susan’

She smiled and looked at Al.

‘We might as well tell him since you let her get away and our plan went with her’

‘My mother?’

‘Yes, Al here, was trying to get her to tell him where she’d hidden it but she’s one tough little lady. I said you were coming here soon so we just waited - if we had you she would tell us anything’

‘I can’t believe you used me like this’

Susan put her head to one side and sighed.

‘ OK, OK so I used you too, but what in the hell does my mother have that you all want so desperately?’

‘The Crystal Skull of Thoka’

There was a silence until Jimi began to laugh. He stopped abruptly because it provoked the pain again. 

‘You can’t be serious - nobody believes in that old myth any more’

‘Your mother does - and so does Al here. Tell him Al’

‘A few years ago one of my men digging in the Black Hills found it. He brought it to me - he didn’t know what to do with it. I thought I’d put it behind the bar for decoration then one night…’ His voice trailed off.

Jimi looked at Susan.

‘One night Al was looking at it and it began to glow. The next day they found him in a trance and had to throw water on him to bring him round.’

‘What did you see?’

‘Everything’

Again there was silence.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Everything - Makossa, you, time travel, all of it. I thought I was mad until Susan came and confirmed it all. The power of knowing everything is overwhelming - like seeing the world for the first time. Then your father stole it from me. He said the goddamn Indians should have it. I must get it back’

Al’s eyes were wide and unblinking - Jimi had seen that look before.

‘Imagine it Jimi - to see the skull for real. Now that’s an adventure’ Susan enthused.

‘Is that all this means to you - an adventure?’

‘Well that’s why Makossans come here isn’t it? 

‘Speaking of Makossa, are you going to tell the Programme about any of this? You know what they’ll do don’t you - send someone back to undo what I’ve done. Then you’ll never see the skull’

‘Don’t worry Jimi, I’m not gonna say anything and anyway they don’t care what happens to Earth. And I don’t think they would dare undo anything you've done - you’re half Makossan and it’s illegal to change any Makossan’s timeline’

Jimi hadn’t thought of that.

Suddenly they were interrupted 

‘Boss, boss, the Sioux are coming.’

‘Calm down man - who’s coming?’

‘The Injuns, thousands of ‘em. They’ve just massacred the entire 7th Cavalry and their coming here to murder us all in our beds’

‘Nice going Jimi’ Said Miss Truly.

Chapter Five

  He got to Deadwood on the second evening after departing from the reservation. The chestnut mare he had ‘borrowed’ from the US cavalry was not fast but durable. The army saddles were unforgiving and Jimi decided to stretch his legs a little before venturing into town. Groaning, he shook his legs to get the blood flowing again. He had had time to ponder the events at the butte when the warriors arrived for the guns. Looks far was with them and he felt her eyes on him during his demonstration of the rifles. Like revolutionaries the world over during the 20th century they took to the AK immediately. They raised their heads high and were warriors again. He gave them more than enough ammunition and wished them good luck with the war. Looks Far came up to him and looked into his eyes: ‘Do you know what you are doing, son of Twelvetrees?’

‘Yeah, I’m giving hope and pride back to our people’ he said, almost defiantly.

‘Can such things ever be achieved by war?’

‘Would you rather be dead?’

‘Ah, that’s always the question isn’t it? To kill to live, to make war for peace - there must be another way’

He understood how she got her name. She had a gaze that was somehow fixed on something that nobody else could see - in the far distance.

‘I wish there were, believe me Looks Far. But now I must go to find my mother. I hope we meet again to speak of such things’

‘Goodbye Twelvetrees - I hope you find what you seek’

What did she mean by that? He had the feeling she knew much more than she was saying  about this whole business. But now was not the time to try to understand the cryptic words of a woman, however wise and beautiful she was. He had to be a man of action - cool and decisive. Perhaps he should practice a bit more with the revolver? Hell, if he couldn’t shoot by now he never would. He mounted thinking ‘You think you’re tough Al Swearengen but wait until you get a look at me!’

The doors of the saloon creaked behind him as he strode to the bar. It was just about empty with a few people scattered among the tables - no one stood at the bar. 

‘Whiskey please’

The bar keep looked up, wiping a glass. 

‘We don’t serve no ‘skins in here’

Jimi beckoned him. As he approached Jimi grabbed the back of his neck and slammed his face into the bar. 

‘Give me a whiskey, I won’t ask again’

‘Sure, sure thing Chief’ He struggled up to get the bottle.

‘Is Al Swearengen here?’

Suddenly he saw the reflection, in the mirror behind the bar, of a man with a rifle on the balcony above. He turned, crouched and drew the colt, all in one movement. 

Their shots were simultaneous - the mirror shattered and the man fell from the balcony. Jimi turned to see the barman reaching for a shotgun. Again the colt spat out its deadly contents. The barman froze with confusion as the hole in his forehead oozed a thin trickle of blood. He fell like a sack of coal does into a cellar. A fog of smoke hung in the air with the savoury smell of cordite. Crack! Jimi was spun like a top and fell heavily onto his back. As consciousness faded he saw the small feet of a woman next to his ear.

‘Hey, Al, I think he’s coming around’

The voice was familiar. He opened his eyes and struggled to focus.

‘Hello baby’ said Susan Truly.

Chapter Four

  ‘How did you get in here - are you spirit or man?’

‘I am a man, Great Chief Spotted Elk. I come with a message from Wovoka’

Another person in the gloomy lodge moved into the fire light. ‘Shall I call for your braves father?’

Spotted Elk was not easily frightened and he shook his head: ‘How do I know you are not a Manitou?’

‘My name is Twelvetrees, you knew my father’

‘You lie, Twelvetrees was a white man’

‘My mother is Lakota’

The Chief sat down and took up his pipe again: ‘I did not know Twelvetrees had a son with Two Moons’

‘I was taken away to be educated in the East’

He nodded for Jimi to sit: ’I loved them both, now speak Wovoka’s words’

‘Do not believe this stranger Father - he lies’

Looks Far’s eyes glinted with anger.

‘Forgive my daughter, son of Twelvetrees, she has no respect when men are talking. We live in troubled times’

‘You must judge me by what I tell you. Wovoka has had a vision and you must not go South until you have the powerful medicine that I bring’

‘I have told no one of my decision to go south - truly these are the prophet’s words’

‘Tomorrow send Short Bull and Kicking Bear to the Butte just north of here. I will be there to give them rifles that you have never seen before - they will defeat the wasicu’ 

‘Father do not let him talk of war, we are so few and another war will destroy us all’ 

‘I promise you that 100 braves with these rifles will be unbeatable - the Great Spirit has willed it so. If you do not fight you will all die at a place called Wounded Knee Creek where Custer’s men will get their revenge for the Little Big Horn’

Looks Far was about to speak again but the Chief raised his hand to quieten her. 

‘I know what is in the white man’s heart - Sitting Bull knew as well before they killed him. We will fight, but when and where?’

‘I leave that to you great Chief - I can tell you that the Seventh will be at Wounded Knee five days from now’

‘Will you smoke with me?’

‘I will but first I must know of my parents. My father was murdered but what has happened to my mother?’

‘My daughter knows of it - speak’

‘So a woman must speak now?’

Spotted Elk rolled his eyes in exasperation.

‘A man called Swearengen took her to Deadwood ‘

Jimi was dumbfounded: ‘Al Swearengen?’

‘You know this man?’

‘Kind of - what did he want my mother for?’

‘He believed she had something that belonged to him - that’s all I know’

‘Thank you - I will smoke now’

Jimi smoked and answered what questions he could but his mind was on Al Swearengen and Deadwood. He only knew of this man from a TV series that the humans had made in the early 21st century. From the portrayal he was glad he had brought his colt ‘peace maker’ with him. What could his mother have that Al would be interested in? He had looked forward to joining the fight at Wounded Knee but he must go immediately to Deadwood. He would show them how to use the Kalashnikovs and then head out. He wished he had practiced more with the revolver - he couldn't very well take a semi automatic rifle into town. This would be a test of his courage for sure. If he had to, he would kill - wouldn't he?

Chapter Three

  As the humans say: ‘It was raining cats and dogs’ On Makossa the rain was pink - something to do with the copper in the hills. He drove slowly, didn’t want to get stopped by ‘the feds’ with what he had in the boot. Most of them just laughed at his Chevy, an outlandish ride compared with the silent soulless fusion boxes most people used for transport. Why cats and dogs? He’d have to ask someone when he got there. The fabricator looked like a small computer anyway so he didn’t have to disguise it too heavily. Just insulated some of the more incriminating circuitry and hoped they’d be distracted by his appearance. Dressed as a Lakota warrior he looked, according to Susan ‘like a prize fighter on the way to a fancy dress party’. She was not happy, accusing him of keeping secrets from her and only being with her to get on the programme. He knew she said most of this because she was frightened for him but she was right. Miss Truly did make really good eggs though. He was not proud of using her but she had been convinced by his sorrow and anger that she must help him. The soldiers of the 7th Cavalry had murdered his father while he was trying to negotiate a better deal for Spotted Elk’s people. They said he had a gun but his father had never used one in his life. The people at the Travel Programme were told he’d had a heart attack - why his mother told them that was unclear to him. Perhaps she thought they would order her back if they knew the truth but would not order a widow to do anything after a ‘natural’ death. Where the hell was she? He had heard nothing for almost an entire year! If she too was dead he would make them pay - not just for his parents but for all the insults and massacres over the years. He didn’t care that the timeline would be changed, probably dramatically, and the results were unpredictable. The morality of playing god with another species’ life and times gave him no pause - look at what they had become. Two world wars, the Holocaust, Global Warming - the list of crimes was unending. Anything he did could not possibly make things any worse. Perhaps if he could help this culture he so loved survive then the Earth would be a better place? His first instinct on hearing the news of his father’s death was to ask the Programme to let him travel back to before the tragedy so that he could warn his father and so avert his death. But they believed it to be a natural death and would allow no interference with the timeline of our species because of the fear of unpredictable consequences to our culture generally. My visit could only occur post mortem. He parked his Chevelle, giving it one last roar by flooring the accelerator. He would be replacing 500 horses with one soon. 

  Dr Sprokane greeted him and led the Lakota medicine man Twelvetrees to the embarkation centre. As he had hoped they only briefly examined his accessories, assuming the technology to be for use in his anthropological work. He was strapped into the pod and wished good luck in his adventure - it was all very everyday and perfunctory. He took a deep breath as the countdown elapsed and a buzz of technology took him surfing back into Earth history. The song of a bird of some sort greeted him as the pod door slid open automatically. Snow crunched under his uncertain foot falls. The scenery was breath taking. He was on a butte which overlooked the Cheyenne river. Down below he could just about make out figures within, what must be, the ‘Indian Reservation’ or concentration camp as Jimi thought of it. A tear slithered down his cheek as he imagined his parents seeing this sight for the first time. Now all he had to do was convince Spotted Elk that he was an emissary from Wovoka with powerful ’medicine’ to defeat the ’white eyes’. His Lakota was good but would it be good enough? He had always wondered if he really was a brave man - that’s one question that would be quickly answered. Above all he must stop his people going south just yet. They must not enter wounded knee creek without the fire power he had brought. He was startled by a war cry and realized it was him! 

Chapter Two

  Spotted Elk sat, almost entirely obscured by the smoke from his pipe, in his lodge thinking. His responsibility was great and he sometimes wished for the carefree days of his youth when the white man was still just a bogey man that frightened children. Now the news of the death of the great Sitting Bull weighed heavily on his heart. Was he to be next? And his people, were they to be murdered when he was gone? The prophet Wovoka had sent no word and he had began to wonder if he too was just another pretender. He would wait one more day and then he must tell his people that they would go south to join Red Cloud at the Pine Ridge Reservation. They would not dare murder such a great chief, who had been to Washington to see the White Father, and his people would be safe there. How he hated the reservation tobacco but he must smoke one more pipe - this was winter and he knew that not all of his people would survive the journey, including himself. A decision had been made. But where was the Great Spirit? 

                                                          ********************

  Susan Truly was getting domesticated. She had lived with Jimi for a couple of months now and was actually beginning to enjoy this simulated ’Human lifestyle’. He was almost entirely human in his character and emotions and she had been faking it until recently. But now she was ’getting it’ and would be reluctant to go back to indigenous cultural norms. The breakfast was underway when the telephone rang. She loved this retro culture and picked up the receiver: ’The Twelvetree residence, to whom am I speaking?’

‘Cut the crap girly and put the chief on’

Her heart sank, it was Gradski and with him it was always bad news.

‘Please hold the line, I’ll go and see if he’s awake’

He laid sprawled across the bed dreaming about her, she hoped.

‘Wakey, wakey, time to get up’

 He groaned.

‘That Gradski is on the phone - shall I tell him to crawl back under his stone?’

‘What, who? No, no I’ve gotta speak to him - I’ll be right down’

She resumed frying the eggs after informing Gradski that the Chief would be down in a moment. He came down and she could hear a muffled conversation. Was he keeping secrets from her? Why was he lowering his voice?

‘Morning Miss Truly - you sleep ok?’

‘Why must you call me that - what’s wrong with Susan?’

‘I just like the sound of Miss Truly. Where did you get that name anyway?’

‘Oh she was a character in a novel I read once, you know, one of those Femme Fatales’

‘Really, I didn’t know you read crime novels’

‘There’s a lot about me you don’t know and vice versa; for instance, how do you know that creep Gradski?’

‘Oh, he’s alright when you get to know him’

‘Not going to tell me then?’

‘We used to race together back in the day, you know, that illegal space racing stuff - satisfied?’

‘I guess, but I still don’t like him’

‘Give me eggs woman, I’ve got to meet him in an hour and you know I’m rubbish without your eggs in the morning’

  Damn that Gradski, he thought as he made his way to their meeting. He’s gonna blow the whole thing if he keeps up this cloak and dagger stuff. Still, if he’s got the gizmo this should be our last meeting. There he was, and yes, he was dressed like a mafia hood from the 30’s - god, what a twat! 

‘Hiya chief, want to buy a gun?’

‘Yeah I do and if you call me chief again you’re gonna be the first person I shoot’

‘Lighten up man, you sure got outa the wrong side of bed this morning’

Jimi couldn’t help laughing. ‘Where’d you get this stuff Gradski?’

‘Hey you’re a valued customer so I do my research. I know you like all that human talk’

‘You got it?’

‘Have I ever let you down? This baby will fabricate any weapon from Earth history - what was it again? An OK 47 or something?’

‘AK 47 - how many will it make?’

‘As many as you want - this thing is so charged up it’ll make thousands and create a whole lot of cheerleaders while its doing it’

‘Thanks man’ Jimi said with a seriousness that surprised Gradski.

‘Sure thing chief - sorry, I mean Jimi. We square now?’

‘You bet, just don’t make me have to save your life again - I got things to do. See ya’

He walked away knowing he would never see Gradski again. Maybe he’d never see anyone again. But first things first, he had to find a way to smuggle this thing with him to 19th century America for Spotted Elk.

Jimi Twelvetrees ( A Novel )

  He suspected that waiting rooms all over the galaxy were identical to this one. A twilight zone that all of us have to traverse sooner or later. The décor was functionally plain and there, on a low table, were the publications that nobody ever read. Even here, although taken up, the reader was too preoccupied with the reason he was there to digest any of it. And the other ‘waiters’ always had the same expression of frustration mixed with anticipation. At any given moment, he mused, there must be millions of people all over the world waiting for their lives to begin. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice: ‘Twelvert Rees please’ He was used to the mispronunciation of his name he didn’t correct the voices’ owner on the way in. His host greeted him in an extravagant avuncular language. He could tell immediately he was not liked. ’Ah, Mr. Twelvetrees is it? How nice to finally meet you’ 

‘And you, Dr. Sprokane, it’s nice to finally be here’

The doctor shifted awkwardly in his seat ‘ Yes, sorry for the delay but we have so many wishing to take advantage of our services. You are lucky you were recommended by an esteemed colleague here otherwise…’

‘Yes Miss Truly was very kind to help me with my application, she believes my motives are scientific as well as the desire to fulfil a long held ambition’

‘Yes some of my colleagues were a little confused by this, can you elaborate?’

‘My father, as you know, was an anthropologist with a great knowledge of, and love for, the planet Earth and its human inhabitants. He even went as far as renaming himself and our family in the style of the Native Americans he studied there - I suppose you could say he went native. Ever since childhood I’ve been steeped in Lakota culture and it has long been my ambition to go there and revisit where my father once was and continue his work. My motives, then, are a mixture of the personal and the scientific.’

‘Is your first name derived from…’

‘Yeah, Jimi Hendrix - I know that name is not to be mentioned here. One of your little mistakes?’

He clearly was unwise to mention the infamous incident. The Doctor straightened in his chair: ‘ It’s hardly our fault that a researcher forgot, or ignored, the rule about taking conscious enhancing drugs and believed himself to be human. And can we be blamed that our race is particularly adept at playing the electric guitar?’

Jimi could not suppress a smile which did not improve the doctor’s humour. 

‘I cannot understand why our own traditional names are not sufficient - all this obsession with human culture has gone too far’

‘You’re probably correct doctor but when am I to go?’

‘Let me see now, ah yes, we have a slot in three weeks’

Jimi let out a slow whistle ’That soon eh? Guess I better start packing’

‘You’ve passed all the physical and psychological tests and signed the disclaimer - all we ask is that you keep a low profile. Don’t make any movies or write any books will you?’ 

‘You mean like Gene Roddenberry?’

The doctor sighed heavily ‘We’ve had 27,023 successful transports but the only two that any one remembers are Hendrix and Roddenberry. The Klingons will never forgive us for the wrinkly foreheads - as if we are responsible for him creating a fiction out of our fact. Anyway no one on Earth believes those stories are true - except for an obscure sect called The Nerds’

‘Ok then doc, I’ll see you in three weeks’

He walked down the corridor and gradually the realisation that this thing was really going to happen started to pump up his heart rate. 

‘So Mr. Twelvetrees, how’d it go?

‘Ok, I guess, your Dr. Sprokane is a piece of work ain’t he? He’s got a real hard on for you Miss Truly’

‘You jealous Jimi?’

‘Nah, he’s not your type - he’s intelligent’

She punched him and he grabbed her, crushing her slightly, the way he knew she liked.

‘Looks like I’m  gone baby, that’s one crazy reality check’ 

She started to laugh.

‘What’s so funny Miss Truly?’

‘Oh, I was just imagining the look on Dr. Sprokane’s face if he knew why you were really going. To avenge your father and find your mother and, oh yes, the little matter of changing Earth’s history for ever’