The First Love Of Alipang Havens

(Note that an author mentioned here is real)

Chapter 87: Hoping It Lasts

The blizzard which had delayed Emilio's entry into the Enclave moved far enough east that a huge load of snow fell right onto the railway that led into Wyoming Sector. Alipang's party thus had to stay over in Rapid City for a night while exile workteams were organized to clear the affected stretch of the route. Avery and Lenore Glass made room for Melody, Baby Douglas, Mrs. Cantu, Kim and Esperanza to sleep at their apartment, while Daffodil Ford fitted Alipang, Wilson and Brendan into his lodgings.

Before splitting up for these sleeping arrangements, the travellers and their hosts had dinner together at what had been the Overseers' dining facility. Melody Havens Vasquez found herself the object of bemused curiosity on the part of Bailey and Moonrose, who had joined the group at Daffodil's urging. The two "non-breeder" ladies were impressed against their will by the degree of learning this primitive _married_ woman displayed on every subject of discussion that came up, including microbiology and space exploration. When Alipang told them that Melody, like himself, had been homeschooled, the diplomats were that much more astounded. But they managed to refrain from rudely blurting out how surprised they were; this self-control was helped by the fact that they were not eager to admit that this Biblical was obviously better educated than either of them.

The nearest thing to an awkward moment that came up during this meal was nothing to do with the difference between Christians and Fairness Party hacks. Melody, on a random impulse, said to her brother: "Here's something you might have left out of letters for simple considerations of it being personal, but I just have to ask you now. Has Harmony got a boyfriend by now?"

Alipang, Moonrose and Bailey all knew enough about Daffodil, that they noticed and understood when he looked as if he had been struck. Alipang was quick to answer Melody: "She has perfectly decent admirers; it isn't their fault if they don't happen to be _exactly_ what she's looking for in a husband."

Later, when there was a chance, Daffodil thanked Alipang for not being more explicit.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

The railroad tracks were usable the next day. Since their train would pass through Casper to reach Sussex, Alipang and Kim knew that they could not be so selfish as NOT to hand Melody over to her eagerly-waiting mother. At the same time, Alipang's own household could not reasonably stay at Eric and Cecilia's house themselves, because they were aware that the Havens patriarch and matriarch were just then helping to house a number of Texas Rangers while other accommodations for those Rangers were being organized. Therefore, prior to arriving in Casper, Melody spent as much of the train trip as possible sitting directly in Alipang's lap, enjoying his powerful arms cuddling her, and talking with him about old times in Smoky Lake.

A late lunch in Casper, at least, was doable. Alipang, Kim and their children thus got to see Emilio and be introduced to some of his detachment members. Then it was on to Sussex.

Arriving after dark, they were met at their house by Peter and Lucinda Tomisaburo. "I fixed up some food for you," Lucinda informed them. "A dish with trout and cabbage; I call it Cowboy Sushi."

"And I've got you well stocked with firewood," added Peter. "Also, Al, a little present for you: an old paperback science-fiction book I turned up in an unused basement. It's titled There Will Be Dragons, written by someone called John Ringo."

Standing nearby, Kim quickly joked, "Is there another sci-fi author named Paul George? And maybe one called Simon Garfunkel?"

"Not that I know of; and I never heard of _this_ writer otherwise. But from a glance, it seems like an entertaining novel."

"Well, thanks, Pete. On the _very_ few occasions when I don't have Al occupied with me or the kids at night, he'll doubtless be happy to read this."

Before going to bed that night, Alipang had a look at the new firewood Mr. Tomisaburo had given them. The logs were cut with startlingly clean cuts, hardly even a splinter at the ends. Alipang had to wonder what manner of saw his friend had used; but he didn't dwell on this for long. With the children good and tired from travel, he and Kim were going to have a night with a fair certainty of no offspring bothering them...and they both intended to use this time for something more rewarding than reading a sci-fi novel, or studying the techniques of cutting firewood.

 
Yes, that book is a real one, and later you'll see why I thought it cool for Alipang to read it. The bit with the firewood is for the readers' benefit, to remind them of the interesting little device that Agent Tomisaburo carries around.
 
Alipang made up for lost time with dental patients, even giving a free cleaning to one of the recently-arrived Forest Rangers (as a goodwill gesture, not being forced to do so). Kim resumed homeschooling for Wilson, Esperanza and Brendan, and contrived more than once to talk by telephone with Melody. At the first church service they attended after Melody's arrival, Pastor Ionesco gave a message about King Cyrus, liberator of the Jews, the only non-Israelite in the Old Testament to be referred to as an anointed one of God.

Then came the day when the pastor of Sussex Gospel Church received exciting news which he hastened to relay to Alipang, coming in person through mostly snow-cleared streets to the Havens house to tell it in person.

"I just heard from Henry Spafford! An Agriculture Department worker who dropped in at the Grange Hall hurried the news on its way by calling to my landline phone from her dataphone. Henry himself is at Irina Stepanova's house and clinic, with the Rosenbaums and the Ugartes. It seems Yitzhak Rosenbaum was bringing his daughter and son by train to spend more time with Henry after Huldah had been home for awhile, but Yitzhak fell sick on the train. Seems to be pneumonia. They had come near enough by then to resort to Dr. Stepanova for help; the Hanleys took them in a sleigh from the train station to her place."

It was plenty to take in, but this didn't stop Alipang from asking a question: "If the Rosenbaums and the Ugartes are all in the Crazy Woman Creek area, who's watching all their sheep?"

"Some Grange riders, I think. We'll find out more when Forest Ranger Carrasco drives in."

"Iago Carrasco? The man I had at the office the other day?"

Peter Ionesco nodded. "He's going to give us a ride out there; says he owes you a favor for the excellent dental care."

"Well, I'll be glad to see Henry again, and if I can do anything to help take care of his future father-in-law, I'll be glad to; but what exactly makes this so urgent as to let us ride in a motor vehicle? Is old Mr. Rosenbaum in _really_ bad shape?"

The pastor couldn't answer this. But when the Forestry Service overlander pulled up, Ranger Carrasco provided more information at the same time as Alipang was packing up some of the same belongings he had so recently _unpacked_ after the return from his latest time in Rapid City.

"One way or another, everything seems to have been straightened out for Citizen Spafford to commence domestic partnership with Citizen Rosenbaum. But Citizen Rosenbaum wanted Citizen Rosenbaum to--oh, gutflak, Dr. Havens, you really _are_ right about this Citizen-Citizen routine being too much sometimes. _Yitzhak_ Rosenbaum wanted his daughter _Huldah_ Rosenbaum to have something called a dowry. So he sold his sheep, and gave part of the money he made to his daughter. That meant he and his son Yakov weren't tied down to the winter pastures in Graybull Valley, and they were both coming east with Huldah. Beltran and Phoebe Ugarte were worried about Yitzhak's health, so they got Grange volunteers Porter Hennepin and Gabe Ellison to watch _their_ sheep for a few days, and accompanied the Rosenbaums. Good thing; their presence made it easier to get help when it became clear that the old man was ill.

"What I hear is that Dr. Stepanova is confident Yitzhak will recover; but he himself keeps saying he knows he's going to die, and he wants to see his daughter partnered before he becomes one with the universe..."

Alipang had been able to figure out by now that this Forest Ranger was not a fellow Christian.

"So he wants a commitment ceremony to happen right there, quickly as possible," Carrasco went on. "Henry Spafford wants you to be one of the witnesses, and he invites Pastor Ionesco to act out the formalities. Agriculture Ombudsman Wisebadger is going to be there too. The roads are good enough now that we'll make pretty good time...."

Kim was understanding, and with Wilson's help she would be able to hold the fort. So it was that Alipang and the pastor were soon luxuriating in a vehicle that had a heated interior, as they headed for Dr. Stepanova's home.

 
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I haven't been very clear about time, but more than a week has passed since we last saw Henry and Huldah, and she HAS become a believer offstage.
 
The Russian lady's combined house and clinic emerged into view among the trees in the last of the daylight. "I have to get back to my regular duties as soon as you and your belongings are out of the truck," Ranger Carrasco told Alipang and the pastor. "But Citizen Spafford has arranged for some of the animal companions of his domestic collective to be on hand as a means for you to get back to Sussex tomorrow."

"You're saying we can ride back on Spafford family horses, right?" asked Pastor Ionesco. "That's what I said," the Forest Ranger assured him.

Repeated thanks to Carrasco had barely been spoken before he wheeled it back to the main road. Out the front door of the house came John and Lynne Wisebadger.

Hurrying up to the new arrivals, John and Lynne gave hugs of greeting to Alipang and to Pastor Ionesco respectively. "Peter, I believe God has provided His perfect will for Henry," Lynne declared. "Huldah is _such_ a sweetheart, and I'm convinced she means it about receiving the Messiah!"

John then told the two arrivals: "Doctor Stepanova has got plenty of pneumonia and hypothermia patients here, thanks to this harsh weather. I've already asked the triumvirate to see if they can get the Party to end the practice of denying most exiles electrical power on weekends. Right now, Lynne and I are helping Irina to look after the patients besides Yitzhak. We already got to hear the Apache love story, so now it's going to be your turn."

This house at least, being in effect a small hospital, had heat all week. Alipang was heartily grateful to get inside out of the cold weather he would always hate. Irina Stepanova hastily greeted him and the pastor, so harried that she spoke to them in Russian without thinking of it: "Dobro pozhalovat! Khotyelos bwi, shtobwi ya mogla boltat, no zd'yess slishkom m'nogo bolnykh!" ("Welcome! I wish I could chat, but there are too many sick people here!") Then she hustled the Wisebadgers back into their work of assisting her.

Leah Spafford, Henry's pre-teen sister, appeared and beckoned the newcomers toward a staircase. "Henry's upstairs. Mom and Dad and the kids couldn't be here; they're helping to care for some sick people on the outlying farms, who couldn't easily be brought here. But they're indulging Mr. Rosenbaum's wishes for a quick wedding for his daughter, _just_ in case he really does die. The Ugartes have got an emulsion-film camera and an analog tape recorder, so they can preserve some sight and sound of the ceremony for us."

A minute later, in the upstairs room where a small crowd was packed in around the bedridden Israeli-born sheepherder, Pastor Ionesco was rapidly introducing himself to Phoebe and Beltran Ugarte, and to Mr. Rosenbaum and his young son Yakov. Henry, meanwhile, exuberantly embraced his Filipino friend, saying, "God bless you for coming, Al! I know it's a sacrifice for you to travel in this lousy weather for anything less than a literal life-and-death need...."

"Life and death it literally is!" rasped Yitzhak from where he lay. "Death for me, but life for my Huldah."

Leaning past Henry, Alipang told the Jewish gentleman, "May you prove to be exactly half right." An instant later, he found Henry directing his attention to the bride.

Huldah Rosenbaum looked sweet indeed, despite wearing purely practical clothing. As Alipang looked in her direction, she was talking quietly with the pastor; and then her brother placed over her shoulders a shawl that looked somehow very Jewish. Turning her dark-eyed gaze upon her bridegroom's apparent best man, she spoke in her pleasing deep voice:

"Thank you so much for coming, Dr. Havens. I'm sorry that your wife couldn't also join us."

"Just like Henry's parents, Kim has others to look after," Alipang told her. "But I trust that _all_ of us, your father included, will have many other opportunities to be together."

"Amen!" replied the girl, glancing at her haggard father, then looking at Alipang once more. "This shawl is wedding dress enough for me, because it's the one physical memento I have of my mother."

 
"She also has 'something new' for the wedding," interjected Leah, gesturing toward Huldah in a prompting fashion. The shepherd girl obligingly lifted one leg of her jeans, to reveal that she had high moccasin-boots on her feet. The boots went most of the way up to her knees; above them, thermal underwear could be glimpsed.

"My Dad made those as a gift for her, when she stayed those days with my folks," Henry explained. "Mom took the measurements of her feet. What's more, Huldah complied with one Apache tradition: she fed and watered my horse as a sign of accepting me."

"Accepting him!" Huldah laughed. "I practically kidnapped him! But Leah was in on the abduction plot; she was the one who told me about the custom with the man's horse."

Taking all this in, Alipang turned to the bride's brother. "Yakov, how are you holding up with all that's going on?"

The boy looked at his supine father, then at the Granger-dentist. "As long as Papa gets this dying idea out of his head, with everything else I'll be happy. A history lesson I've even gotten out of it."

In Alipang's mind there flickered the memory of a conversation in which he had mentioned to Henry some historical information that could have relevance in a discussion of how Judaism related to Christianity. "History? Would you mean something about the origin of the Pharisees?"

The boy, taller than Alipang though only about the same age as Alipang's son Wilson, replied, "Exactly. Henry talked to my sister, and later to Papa and me, about how the Pharisees arose when the Maccabees failed."

Yitzhak roused himself to speak again. "More than that there was to it. Both righteous and successful were Judah Maccabee and his glorious brothers; but their descendants did not live up to their example. Corrupted their Hasmonean line became, within two or three generations. Because of this did the Pharisees band together, to try to restore pure faith in Israel. Only good were their intentions when they began; but a Southern Baptist or Catholic I don't need to be, to see that over time the Pharisees _also_ became corrupted."

As Yitzhak rested his lungs from saying this much, a brief spontaneous hush fell on the room--till Huldah softly broke it. "One movement of men after another set out with good intentions, only to fall victim to the flaws of men. The dry facts of this history we knew, but Henry spoke of this with a fresh outlook, bringing out a _meaning_ in the events." She then looked at her tall bridegroom.

"I did my best," said Henry, "to explain to them that, after even two genuinely spiritual movements in post-Exilic Israel had failed to keep their integrity, it was time for God to offer something _different_ to His people--not just one more movement, but an _intervention_ of a different kind altogether. Like the place in Isaiah where He says there was no man to do the job, so His own arm brought Him victory."

Huldah nodded gravely. "His own arm. Not a tool _wielded_ by His arm, but His arm, part of His own self. Convinced I became that this was meant _more_ literally than we always heard from the rabbis...that an _actual_ part of God was the Messiah Who was sent."

Pastor Ionesco did what Alipang was hesitating to do--questioned Yitzhak directly at this point. "Yitzhak, I understand that you approve of your daughter marrying Henry. What about her becoming a believer in, in Yeshua?"

"A stiff-necked man I don't want to think I am," the old shepherd answered. "The Apache boy spoke earnestly, and with some logic. So Gideon's fleece I'm putting on the threshing floor."

"And this means what?" asked Alipang.

"It means that I have always wanted to die sooner than be otherwise than Jewish. But even this late in the day, I could realize that something was wrong with my boasting of Jewishness, when at the God of Israel I was so angry. Henry here, a Gentile, has been so kind and good-natured all the time, that hard it was for me to put up the usual automatic barriers against his reasoning. So my fleece on the threshing floor is about whether I die soon. If die soon I do, it means that God doesn't want me to follow Huldah into this Messianic business. I will simply go to my Eudora, and it will be for God to decide what He thinks of Huldah's marriage." He paused again to rest; and when he did so, Alipang felt an inspiration coming to him.

"Sir, forgive me if I ask a personal question; but I think I see something about your conflict of emotions. Your wife, obviously, passed away without having joined--this Messianic business. Are you thinking that if your tradition _was_ wrong to deny the divinity of Jesus, that it's too late for your wife to benefit by _your_ understanding the truth, and you don't want to be separated from her in eternity?"

With this, Alipang had all three Rosenbaums staring at him--with none of them noticing that Beltran and Phoebe had their tape recorder going and were taking photos of the moment.

"Something like that," Yitzhak sighed.

Alipang sighed more loudly. "Sir...if, only as a what-if, we were to suppose that your wife was lost in Hell, _would_ it do her any good for you to join her there? If anything, would she not only feel _worse_ from knowing that you were also lost? But I don't see any need to _assume_ she is lost. Based on what I know of God's gracious character, and based on the things I hear about near-death experiences...I believe it can happen that He speaks to people's hearts even if other people aren't _aware_ that He is doing so. Which means that, _knowing_ you would one day meet Henry, God could have spoken to Mrs. Rosenbaum _before_ she passed away...so that it could end up that you joining in what your daughter is joining in, is precisely the way that you _will_ end up in the same place as Mrs. Rosenbaum."

A kind of tension appeared in Yitzhak; Beltran and Phoebe were afraid that he was going to have a sudden fit of anger. But instead, the old man spoke like someone confronted with a miracle: "Doctor Havens.... HOW DID YOU KNOW?"

Alipang looked no less baffled than the older man. "How did I know what?"

"About Eudora! About the time, not a week before she died, when she said to me, 'Yitzhak, dear, I have the strangest feeling as if God wants to tell me something!' More she could not easily say to me, because already in my mood of resenting God I was, for the troubles besetting Israel. But from then till her day of death, all the time this look she had, as if from God she really was hearing something, and still she was trying to figure it out. And now, and now... all the way certain I can't be, but I _feel_ almost as if Eudora were standing at _your_ elbow, Doctor Havens, nodding in agreement with what you're saying. So maybe if in the next five hours I don't die...." He had to rest again at this point. Henry drew near to check his pulse, and seemed satisfied that it was all right.

The next outburst was from Huldah. Without warning, she exploded in weeping, flung her arms around Alipang's neck, and sobbed on his shoulder, gasping out words in Hebrew.

Understanding what his sister was brokenly saying, Yakov told Henry, "Huldah is talking to our Mama, saying that now she believes Mama _does_ see us here. And she's thanking your friend."

Tears appeared in the sturdy Apache's own eyes. "Thank you, Yakov. And Huldah won't be the only one thanking my friend."
 
Huldah pulled herself together, and conferred quickly with the pastor while Henry took over the job of hugging Alipang. The group in the crowded room finally shifted its focus back to the intended ceremony. Yakov Rosenbaum ran downstairs to see if John and Lynne could get away from patient care for at least a few minutes, and so they could. Thus Henry would have both of his closest pals in the Grange Association witnessing his wedding.

Although true marriage licenses no longer existed in the Diversity States, Dr. Stepanova had contrived to get four physical copies made of a document which soon would be signed, on all copies, by Henry, Huldah, and at least four witnesses. The document attested that the principal signatories intended to regard themselves as bound together by force of law for life. When signed, one of the copies would be kept by John, in his Ombudsman capacity. Beltran Ugarte held on to these papers, as Peter Ionesco began speaking in his pulpit voice:

"Friends, let us thank God that it still is _possible_ for us to observe such a ceremony as this, and thank God that there still are persons who _want_ to join in a covenant of love which conforms to God's commandments. Those who think that any and every association people can invent is equal to this, have not understood the beauty of the Lord's design.

"Those who know me, know that I never tire of citing the Book of Ruth at weddings. Scripture does not tell us whether Ruth was as lovely to behold as Huldah here is, or whether she was as drab-looking as a female version of ME. But we know that Boaz took a liking to her for her _conduct_ in the daily living of life; he liked her for her loyalty to Naomi, for her willingness to follow the true God, and for her upright and honest character overall. We have no cause to believe that his _initial_ behavior toward Ruth had any connection at all with a romantic or sexual attraction toward her.

"Henry Spafford certainly did not _begin_ his acquaintance with the Rosenbaum family for any reason involving attraction to Huldah. But he did begin with a generous attitude like that of Boaz; and as Ruth came to love Boaz because of his goodness, so Huldah has come to love Henry for HIS goodness.

"We who follow Yeshua the Messiah, can see how admirably Boaz prefigured our Savior. Boaz did not _need_ Ruth, and Yeshua does not _need_ any of us. But Boaz _chose_ to go out of his way to be kind and helpful to Ruth; and Yeshua went _very_ far out of His way to do all of us good...."

The wedding went very well, with no sign that Yitzhak was displeased by anything that had been said or done. Plans were already afoot to enable Yitzhak and Yakov to live near Henry and Huldah, even to start a new flock of sheep in the Crazy Woman Creek area. For the present, the honeymoon of the newlyweds would have to consist of being provided a bedroom at the nearby farm of the same elderly couple whom Henry had saved from freezing to death during his vision quest.

Alipang reflected that at least Henry and Huldah would not have gangsters trying to kill them, as had happened to Alipang and Kim on _their_ wedding night.

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

The next afternoon, as he and Alipang were riding back toward Sussex on the horses lent to them by the Spaffords, Pastor Ionesco remarked, "I remember when the secular establishment used to foam at the mouth anytime anyone dared to suggest that any Jewish person might even _consider_ believing in Jesus."

"It had nothing to do with the movers and shakers of pop culture loving the Jews," Alipang replied; "it was _only_ because they _hated_ Christianity."

Pastor Ionesco nodded. "That's plain to see, from the way they approved of throwing Israel under the bus. And you know what? I believe--and I hear that John Wisebadger has talked to Yitzhak about the same thing--that the reason why God allowed America to fall so low, is _because_ our country turned chicken, and wouldn't stand by Israel." This was as political as the pastor had allowed himself to be in Alipang's hearing.

"I know it's part of the reason, anyway," said Alipang. "But since the Beast of Revelation doesn't _seem_ to have crowned himself as world emperor yet, the recent events around us tempt me to hope that there could yet be one more divine reprieve coming."

"Like the removal of the Overseers?"

"That, and the Party increasing employment opportunities for exiles, without turning this into slave labor so far. And for sure, them allowing my sisters to visit inside the fence!"

"We'll pray that it really is a relaxation of the iron fist--maybe even for long enough to let Henry and Huldah raise a few children."

"Amen to that, Pastor."
 
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Copperfox said:
"But Citizen Spafford has arranged for some of the animal companions of his domestic collective to be on hand as a means for you to get back to Sussex tomorrow."

"You're saying we can ride back on Spafford family horses, right?" asked Pastor Ionesco. "That's what I said," the Forest Ranger assured him.
Click to expand...

That's funny.:D
 
Henry and Huldah both had saved themselves for just one person.

This did in fact result in a _little_ extra time needed for adjustment on their wedding night, which was also very mildly complicated by their difference in height.

But it didn't take them long to figure out what they needed to figure out.

So if this narrative were concerned to examine more closely what passed between the Apache brave and the Jewish-American princess on that night, the reader would only have it further confirmed that _neither_ spouse found any cause at all to regret having followed Yitzhak's urging that they marry sooner rather than later.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Their hosts provided a sumptuous breakfast, when the new Mr. and Mrs. Spafford finally emerged from seclusion to eat it. Later, Blake and Dorcas Hanley came by with their sleigh, to transport Henry and Huldah to the Spafford homestead.

The honeymooners were riding along snuggled under three layers of bearskins, when Mrs. Hanley looked over her shoulder at them and teasingly asked, "So, did you two do any _talking_ last night?"

"Glitches, woman, don't call ME blunt anymore!" laughed Blake.

Henry was not quick to reply to the question, so Huldah fielded it: "We did. Much of it was about having babies. I want to have them soon and often; we have more than enough 'non-breeders' in this country. But Henry is worried about bringing children into the world as it is today."

With that, now Henry had to say something for himself. "Things were already stinky in America when my little brother and little sisters were born, but I never thought _then_ of it being a bad idea for more children to exist."

"Why does it feel different now?" asked Dorcas.

"Because now the responsibility is _mine_ for what happens to any child Huldah and I have. It'll be my duty to do all I can to protect them, as well as Huldah, from danger. Which is just fine, if I have a fair chance of being _able_ to protect them. But in this place--probably only _more_ so if we were outside the fence--you have a regime which delights in making us _powerless_ to protect anyone from anything."

"Except against grizzlies," Blake offered. Henry was not amused.

"I can't imagine _anything_ worse," the Apache went on, "than for Huldah to be in mortal danger, crying out to me for help, and for me to have NO WAY of being able to do her any good at all. The Fairness Party _wants_ men to be trapped in that powerlessness, you can be certain of it. And with us having children, that would mean _additional_ loved ones for me to be unable to protect."

As if not wanting the Hanleys to think she and Henry had already fallen into discord, Huldah now interjected: "We went over all this during the night, in between--I mean when we felt like talking, and in the morning too. And I told Henry that I firmly believe that our _still_ trying to keep life going is a _victory_ over the oppressors. I believe that the rulers are even _more_ pleased if we allow our fear to isolate us from each other and make us give up trying. So, like the way people used to talk about 'not letting the terrorists win,' I intend to make _full_ use of the policy that exiles are allowed to have babies. And every new child who _does_ get to enjoy even _some_ time of being loved by us, is a blow struck against those meshugganahs with sewers for brains and ice-floes for hearts."

There was silence then, except for the sounds of the horses drawing the sleigh over the snow. At last, Henry leaned over to kiss Huldah, and said, "Have I told you yet today how much I love you?"

* * * * * * * * * * *

There was light left when they reached the Spafford property. Henry immediately noticed that now, next to his own cabin, there stood an insulated tent, like the one in which he had first met Huldah, only larger.

"A committee of your friends got together to provide that for you," Huldah explained. "If our wedding hadn't been stepped up, you would have known about it before the honeymoon. Anyway, it's for a practical purpose: to store all of your workshop items that can safely be kept outside your cabin. Because now you need more space _inside_ the cabin; it's my _house_ now."

Henry nodded pensively. "Sure, I can move practically all my gear out there. Living in a society where _nobody_ steals from each other does have at least a few advantages."
 
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Chapter 88: A Chinese Remedy

Colonel Hsiao Luo-Sher of the Greater Chinese Aerospace Force, the officer who had assisted in reaching an understanding with India prior to the information-raid on the Righteous Crescent Islamic Bank in Zurich, was on leave... nominally. In practice, he was being allowed _some_ amusement, in civilian clothes, while carrying on covert business in the Diversity States. Part of his job had already been performed: meeting in person with several informants in the Southeast, Inland Southern and Mid-Atlantic Federal Districts of the D.S.A., picking up whatever they could report about Chinese officials under suspicion for Triad connections.

The reason why information about Chinese officials might be sought in America was because many thousands of highly-placed Chinese loved slumming in the former Western superpower, being entertained by servile Americans the way Hong Kong residents had once fawningly entertained Westerners. One form of entertainment they liked to attend was the Pan-Fantasy Fairs which were the offspring of America's past Renaissance Festivals.

And one such fair was now being held, in late February, on the campus of the Jane Fonda Peace College, which occupied what had formerly been Arlington Cemetery.

Hsiao's initial walk around the campus confirmed the impression he had formed from fairs he had visited in Tampa and Fayetteville: that they were calculated to make a virtue out of necessity in the energy-stingy conditions of the D.S.A. By making a point of play-acting a pre-industrial setting, the entertainment union which managed the sites would not have to ask Sustainable Energy for any uncommon allotment of electrical power. Knowledge of the fair's layout and events came from a physically printed brochure, not from any data device. There was no weather control in operation here; the outdoor environment was in its natural winter state, though in the Washington area there was no snow now. What was done outdoors, was suited to the outdoors; what called for comfort, was done inside the college buildings. After all, from everything Hsiao had heard about the Peace College, its curriculum provided even _less_ education than this fair would.

Requiring no electricity at all, a dunking booth was set up. Male and female victims, wearing late-model divers' drysuits which were customized to look like fantasy creatures, would be dropped into tanks of chilly water if patrons hit a lever with a thrown baseball. Baseballs were in abundant supply for Pan-Fantasy Fairs, professional baseball having been done away with upon the downfall of the United States. Hsiao, as a kung-fu discipline, periodically immersed himself in water outdoors in winter _without_ any protective costume; but compared to the softness of so many Americans, he could feel at least a little respect for these watertank-sitters for enduring _even_ a bit of discomfort.

In another area were ice sculptures, created by teams of schoolchildren in the Diversity Pioneers. Naturally, every sculpting team was awarded an identical trophy, since "the collective was all." But while Hsiao was a single man and no prude, he could have wished that the forms taken by some of those ice sculptures had not been...so _aggressively_ adult. No matter what their country has become, he told himself, those are still children, and shouldn't be preoccupied with _that_ kind of subject matter so early in life.

But I can't deny that WE helped bring America to this.

At the approximate location where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier once had stood, a Oneness Priestess, in a robe that was warm but also elf-like in style, was conducting what the program said was "a commitment ceremony." From a glance in passing, the military man could not be sure how many persons were making a commitment, nor to whom or what they were committing themselves. Americans!

The first building the Colonel entered was one with food vendors. He bought vegan items, naturally, since nothing BUT vegan food was offered. Halfway through his meal, he spotted a Chinese-looking man walking by, whom he judged to be a Chinese-American, highly unlikely to be anyone of interest to his investigations. He addressed this man: "Excuse me, I haven't been to any fairs on this campus before. Can you tell me where the Arlington House is?"

The man pointed out one window. "It's that way, up the hill. It's the only building on campus that predates the founding of the Peace College; it has a colonnaded front. It's where Robert E. Lee once lived."

"Thanks. I don't want to miss meeting those movie stars who are supposed to be making an in-person appearance there."

 
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Yes. The original novel "The First Love of Alipang Havens" ends in the present calendar year, with Alipang and Kim just married. So the only way I _could_ show them older with several children was to jump into the future. And since I was doing that, I could scarcely _avoid_ speculating on what the world might become by 2025. Hence the sequel title, "The Possible Future of Alipang Havens."
 
The only reason why it seems decent is because I, the author, am tightly restricted in what I can describe on this family-friendly site. There is supposed to be plenty of disgusting, foul activity going on. The next installment with Colonel Hsiao will hint somewhat more strongly at it, while still (relax, Mods!) keeping inside the perimeter of good taste. If I ever get this made into an audiobook for the general market, that version WILL tell rather explicitly what is REALLY going on all around the Colonel.

In fact, I will now retroactively insert in the existing installment ONE modest hint of the filth.
 
Colonel Hsiao had barely stepped out the door of the eating place before an entertainer intercepted him. It was an attractive Scandinavian-looking girl, wearing a parka whose lowered hood revealed her circus-like painted face and multicolored hair. She was juggling five tennis balls at once, in a style that incorporated the moves of the old game of hacky-sack: at intervals, she would bounce a ball upward with her knee or her instep. She was good enough that the Colonel found he positively enjoyed watching her routine. He was hoping, however, that she was not leading up to offering him a different kind of amusement.

Hsiao was not without his appetites, and he had in fact pleasured himself with American women many times on visits to the Diversity States, including the current visit. But he had only done so when he was convinced that the women were genuinely willing, not feeling themselves under any kind of compulsion. And this woman had a certain desperate look about her, which...

The girl spoke her first words to him: "Do you like what you see?" She edged closer to him; then she suddenly made one of her tennis balls bounce off his left shoulder, and recovered it without losing control of the others. "I'm a big fan of Beijing opera, and I've picked up some of their circus skills. My name's Quasar Henderson, what's yours?"

"Hsiao Luo-Sher. I'm in your country on business, but I always enjoy a Pan-Fantasy Fair." He said this much because he didn't want to snub the girl; but Quasar took more encouragement from his words than he had intended. Gathering in her tennis balls, she slid still nearer to the Chinese.

"We do them to please people. And you won't find anyone more pleasing than I can be." In a motion as fast as her juggling, she unzipped her parka, which fell away to let him see that she had less on beneath it than he would have thought. "Let me be YOUR fantasy."

Hsiao's reaction was neither immediate acceptance, nor definite rejection. Rather, he held up his right arm, and with his left hand activated a device worn on his right wrist. "You are definitely a charming young lady," he told Quasar; "and I hope to treat you in a manner of which you will not complain. But I need your cooperation first. Bring your face close to this voiceprint reader, and speak some simple and true statement."

The juggler was taken aback; but Hsiao's voice and body language were not threatening, so she did as he asked, saying, "My name is Quasar Henderson; I am in my second year at the Jane Fonda Peace College, majoring in Alternative Domestic Structures."

Hsiao looked at a display on his device, nodded, then looked at Quasar once more. "Now, answer this question: what is your true motive--or, if having more than one motive, what is your most important motive--in singling me out for your attention?" Seeing her becoming nervous, he added, "You don't have to be afraid, I won't be angry at you no matter what you say."

She swallowed, regained command of herself, and told him, "Chinese men turn me on; they're so much more self-confident than American men are anymore."

An instant later, Hsiao laughed. "Our voiceprint lie detectors are highly sophisticated, you know; they not only separate lies from truth, but can even tell us when there's a gray area between. You have a more important motive than what you said, but you were not altogether insincere about your feelings toward Chinese men." He brought from a pocket a small electronic money-disk. "Here, touch this at the same time I do.....Good. This will work for you now. I've just given you the equivalent of two hundred forty-five of your hemispheric pesos. Tell your superiors that I don't blame them for wanting to know more about my business in America; I would want the same in their place. They'll find out more soon enough, and it will not mean any disaster for them." He shook hands with her, as she stared in uncertainty. "Now you must excuse me, I have to go see your visiting movie stars. If later you feel yourself in the mood to seek some pleasure simply as two people, your superiors will be able to tell you where to find me."

And the Colonel was on his way just like that, leaving the amateur spy to put her parka back on. In just the time between parting with Quasar and reaching the Arlington House, he was approached six more times with offers of intimate entertainment in various forms, but brushed them off. He liked the juggler better.

 
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