Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 11:54:41 -0600
From: Vic James <vicjames2@hotmail.com>
Subject: Peabody and the Host - 10

                      Peabody and the Host
                          By Vic James
                      vicjames2@hotmail.com
                   Copyright 2013 by Vic James

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                               Ten
   Fon  put  on a breather and used a rock cutter to enlarge  the
tunnel  connecting  their home to the tunnel to  Peabody's  Park.
Cavern  seven was about three kilometers away. That  was  a  long
boring  walk.  He left the rock cutter and took off the  breather
and started run-jumping to Peabody's Park.
   Ban approached him.
   "Peabody is sick," Fon said.
   "Is it serious?"
   "Lin  doesn't think so. He thinks he overextended himself.  He
and I finally did it."
   "He  also  had sex with Mun and me. And probably Lin and  Lan,
too. Lin is probably right." Ban sighed.
   "I have figured out how Peabody will get to the park."
   "How?"
   "I am buying him an automobile."
   "Really? Gasoline powered?"
   "No.  Electric. It is very attractive. I think  he  will  like
it.  I  need to test it under Mars gravity first. I am  going  to
Earth to pick it up."
   "Should this tunnel be wider? How wide is the automobile?"
   "Less than two meters. The ends of the tunnel need to be  wide
enough to turn it around. Say five meters."
   Ban went to Peabody's quarters.
   "How is he, Lin?"
   "He  is still asleep. He is smiling in his sleep, so I am sure
he is dreaming of me."
   "Or me."
   "Or me.
   "Lan, I need to go to Earth."
   "I hate to leave Peabody."
   "It is for Peabody. We are picking up something for him."
   "It's  fine,  Lan. Go to Earth." That's easy for you  to  say,
Lan  thought. "I promise to contact you if his condition  changes
at all. There is no sign of illness, so don't worry."
   As  they  walked  to  the shuttle, Lan asked,  "What  are  you
giving him?"
   "An electric sports car."
   "Where will he drive it?"
   "To Peabody's Park."
   They  boarded the shuttle and left. Lan didn't want to be away
from  Peabody  long,  so he took them there near  maximum  speed,
forty  percent of light speed. The shuttle used three times  more
fuel at that speed. He knew was wasting fuel, but he didn't care.
Eventually, Ban could make more.
   They  landed and Lan saw the automobile in the hangar. Peabody
would love it, he was sure.
   John Drake was waiting for them.
   "Here it is, Ban, a Tesla Roadster. It is slightly used.  They
aren't  producing them right now. It is in perfect  condition.  I
promise you he will love it."
   It  was  bright yellow with a black top. "It is a  convertible
which   means  you  can  remove  the  roof  over  the   passenger
compartment. It won't be raining on Mars."
   Lan  retracted the seats in the shuttle and extended a doorway
to the ground.
   "Drive it into the shuttle, will you?"
   "I  bought one more thing for you." He pointed out an electric
motorcycle.
   "I  don't know how it will behave in low gravity, but it could
be used in narrower tunnels."
   "Thank you, John. It was a very good idea."
   John drove the car and then the motorcycle onto the shuttle.

   Frup!  Lan  wished he had thought of the car. He  was  certain
Peabody  would  like it. He liked it. He wondered  if  Ban  would
replace him as a favorite. Ban did it with Aracatal. But he  knew
Peabody  best. He ought to be able to think of the best gift.  He
thought about Peabody's home next to the park. Then he remembered
the  dog.  How  could he forget Peabody's dog? He even  mentioned
getting  him one to Pon! But what if Peabody didn't want  it?  He
was pretty sure Peabody would like it. If Peabody didn't want the
dog, the employees could find it a home.
   "Ban, I need to see Abbott Mills."
   "OK. I will wait here."
   Lan  walked  to  Abbott's office. He hoped he was  there.  The
door to his office was open and Lan walked in. Abbott was sitting
at  his  desk looking at a computer. Lan saw Abbott had a picture
of him on his desk. That made him uncomfortable.
   "Lan!  What a wonderful surprise!" Then he whispered,  "Please
say  you want to make love again." Lan hated when he called their
sex  making love. He didn't love Abbott and he had told him  that
many times. He liked Abbott and he wished Abbott just liked him.
   "I need a favor. You have a dog, right?"
   "Yes, Tina."
   "There are different kinds, right?"
   "Oh,  yes. Many, many kinds. Plus there are mixes of different
breeds."
   "I saw a picture of one, but I don't know what the breed is."
   "We  can  look  it  up on the computer."  Abbott  got  on  his
computer and then asked, "What color?"
   "White."
   "What size?"
   Lan  held  his hands apart for what he thought was  the  size,
based on the picture with Robert.
   "Small to medium, size, then.
   "Here you go. These are some breeds that match."
   Lan pointed to one.
   "That  is  a  West Highland White Terrier, commonly  called  a
westie. One of my neighbors has one. She is very sweet. The  dog,
not the neighbor."
   "I need one."
   "Hmm." He searched on the computer for several minutes.
   "There  is a breeder near here. Only about fifteen miles  from
here."
   "Will you call them and see if they have them?"
   "What age? Do you want a puppy?"
   "What's a puppy?"
   "Baby."
   "I don't know. What do you think?"
   "I would recommend an older puppy."
   "Will you call?"
   "Of course."
   Abbott  dialed  and waited. Lan hoped he was doing  the  right
thing.  Peabody needed more than food and sex. Maybe  this  would
make him happy.
   "Hi.  I'm  looking  for a westie pup," Abbott  said  into  the
phone.
   "How old?" Abbott asked.
   "Four  months  is  perfect," Abbott said.  Lan  hoped  it  was
perfect.  He  knew Peabody didn't want them competing  with  each
other, but if Ban was, how could he not?
   "Right now, if it is possible."
   "OK.  My  name is Abbott Mills. I will see you soon." He  hung
up the phone.
   "Do  you want to go look at them, Lan? You can wear your usual
disguise."
   "I don't know anything about them," Lan said
   "You  can  make  sure he doesn't hate you." That  was  a  good
reason,  Lan thought. If the dog hated him, it wasn't  travelling
to Mars.
   "I  need  the other things the dog will need. Do they eat  the
same food as humans?"
   "They can, but there is special food made for dogs."
   "We need some. What else will he need?"
   "A  collar,  a leash, bowls to eat and drink from.  There  are
other things which can wait a while. We can pick up the things he
needs right away today."
   "Great. Thank you, Abbott."
   "You know I would do anything for you."
   "I know, but I have a spouse now."
   "Your spouse has five other spouses."
   "I know but that doesn't change biology."
   "What do you mean?"
   "I  cannot  get  an erection with anyone but my  spouse.  It's
biological.  Once we accept a host we imprint on them.  Before  I
didn't  have  one, and it had been so long since  Aracatel  died,
that  I  could get an erection with you." Abbott looked  doubtful
and then smiled.
   "I  don't suppose you will let me try?" Lan thought. It  might
solve his Abbott problem.
   "You can if you would like."
   Abbott smiled and walked over closed his office door.
   Then  he  knelt in front of Lan. He felt for Lan's  prick  and
then  took it into his mouth. He sucked for a while, but  nothing
happened. Abbott ran his hands over him and tugged on his  balls.
There was no reaction. Finally, Abbott gave up.
   "Oh, Lan. I hope he is worth it."
   Lan  thought  about shouting "He is!", but he needed  Abbott's
help.
   "He is giving us a future. It is worth it, don't you think?"
   Abbott sighed and said, "Yes."
   Then he asked, "Is the sex good?"
   It  was  incredible, but he didn't think he should tell Abbott
that. "Yes, it is as good as it was with us," Lan lied. Sex  with
Abbott  had been about as exciting as masturbation. Abbott wasn't
a host.
   "Well, I'm sorry for me, but glad for you.
   "Let's go look at the dog," Abbott said.
   They  stopped at the room with the costumes. Lan put on  baggy
pants, shoes that were designed to make his feet look more human,
a baggy long-sleeved shirt, sunglasses, a hat, and a scarf around
his  neck  and face. Lastly he put on gloves that hid  his  extra
thumb. Lan was already warm and the clothes heated him up fast.
   He  told Ban he would be gone a few minutes. Then they  walked
to  the  limo and paged the driver. He ran up to them and  Abbott
told  him  where they were going. They got in the limo and  drove
off. Lan turned the air conditioning on high.
   Lan  was  worried about Peabody. He was sick, maybe he  needed
something. But Lin and his brothers were there. Lin didn't  think
it  was  serious, and he should know. Abbott didn't talk and  Lan
was grateful.
   They pulled up in front of a house in a residential area.
   "Why don't I go in and see about it. If I think he will do,  I
will bring him here."
   "That's fine, Abbott."
   A  woman  was  waiting on the front porch with a  dog.  Abbott
introduced himself.
   "This  is  Oscar. As I said on the phone, he  is  a  few  days
short  of  four months old. He has had his shots  and  he  is  on
heartworm medication." Abbott grinned. He was absolutely  certain
there were no mosquitos to give Oscar heartworms on Mars.
   Abbott squatted and said "Hello, Oscar!"
   Oscar  wagged  his  tail. Abbott petted  him  and  then  said,
"Sit." Oscar sat. Abbott picked him up and Oscar licked him.
   "You  are  the  sweetest thing, aren't you?"  Abbott  said  to
Oscar.
   "He  is  very affectionate. We were planning to keep him,  but
my husband lost his job and we need the money. Oscar comes from a
good  bloodline  without the skin problems you sometimes  see  in
them. That is one of the reasons we are charging six hundred.  As
you can see, he hasn't been neutered."
   Abbott  figured he could pay more than the dog was worth.  Lan
wouldn't care.
   "I  am purchasing him for someone in the limo who doesn't wish
to  be  seen.  I need to get his approval before I  can  purchase
him."
   "I'm sorry. I'm going to need the money before I will let  you
put  him in the car. If he doesn't want Oscar, I'll give you your
money back."
   "That's  fine."  He  handed her six hundred  dollars.  The  he
picked Oscar up and walked to the limo. Oscar licked him again.
   The driver opened the door and Abbott got in the car.
   "This is Oscar, Lan."
   Oscar immediately began sniffing Lan.
   "Hello, Oscar," Lan said.
   Abbott  petted  him and said, "You pet them  like  this."  Lan
watched  and  then tried. He petted him and even  he  could  tell
Oscar enjoyed it.
   "He seems to like you," Abbott said.
   "I like him."
   "Shall we buy him?" Oscar climbed over on Lan's lap.
   "Definitely. I like him."
   "Lan,  these people are having problems. Would you be  willing
to pay a little more than they are asking?"
   "How much do you want to give them?"
   "They  are asking six hundred. I thought about giving  them  a
thousand. That would be four hundred more."
   "That's  fine. You can give them a lot more if you want.  This
is a very inexpensive gift."
   Abbott got out of the car.
   "He loves Oscar and Oscar seems to love him."
   "He wants me to pay you more."
   "You are kidding."
   "No.  He's  a little eccentric." Abbott gave her four  hundred
more.  The woman got tears in her eyes so he added four more  one
hundred dollar bills. Her eyes widened.
   "It  was  nice meeting you. I promise Oscar will have  a  good
home."
   "Thank you. Thank you!" she said as Abbott got in the car.
   "Wait! I'll get you his toys."
   She  went  back in the house and came out a few minutes  later
with a grocery bag containing toys.
   They  stopped  at  a grocery store and Abbott  bought  several
bags of dog food and the other things they would need. He thought
about  all  that poop. It would be indoors, he shuddered  at  the
thought,  so  he bought plastic bags and rolls of  paper  towels.
Then  he bought some room deodorizer and carpet cleaner. He  went
back  to  the  pet aisle and got treats and rawhide. He  couldn't
think of anything else so he checked out.
   "I  think this will give you what you need for a few weeks.  I
tried to think of everything you would need."
   "Thank you, Abbott."
   Oscar  was  sitting on Lan's lap. Abbott loaded  most  of  the
things  in  the trunk. He brought the collar and leash  with  him
when he got in the back seat. He put the collar on Oscar.
   "Shoot!  I forgot food and water dishes. I'll be right  back."
He went back into the store and bought them, too.
   Once he put them in the trunk, they headed back.
   When  Lan  brought Oscar to the shuttle, he thought Ban  would
fall over.
   "What? Who? What?"
   "It's a dog. It is the same kind Peabody had before."
   Ban  recognized  a  competition when he saw one.  Clearly  Lan
felt  threatened.  That  made Ban happy.  It  meant  Lan  thought
Peabody would love Ban's two gifts.
   "Do  you want to hold him?" Lan asked him. "He is really  very
sweet."
   Ban looked doubtful and Lan laughed.
   Lan  stroked  Oscar  and showed Ban. Ban  held  his  hand  out
hesitantly.  Oscar sniffed it. Ban stroked his head  and  Oscar's
head. Oscar nuzzled his hand when he stopped.
   "Hello Oscar. My name is Ban. I think he likes me, Lan."
   "I think he is like Peabody and he likes everyone."
   "You may be right."
   "Do you want to hold him?"
   Ban  took  him  from Lan and Lan got in the pilot's  seat.  He
pushed the button to have the roof of the hangar open. He set the
ship to be invisible and they took off.
   Lan headed back at maximum speed again.
   "Where do you want to put the car and motorcycle?" Lan asked.
   "In the tunnel to Peabody's park."
   "Are you going to give both gifts now?"
   "I  guess not. We don't want him to know about the park, yet."
Ban  definitely  felt  out maneuvered. The dog  would  live  with
Peabody. His gifts had no purpose...yet.
   "True."
   "I think I will wait."
   "You could give him the motorcycle now. He can ride it in  the
shuttle corridor."
   "True."
   Ban looked down at Oscar. Oscar was sniffing him.
   Halfway  to Mars, Oscar wanted down. Ban put him on the  floor
and watched as he smelled everything.
   They  arrived,  and Ban said, "Pull up alongside  the  freight
elevator. I'm going to hide the car for now."
   "Very well."
   When  they stopped, Ban realized he knew nothing about driving
automobiles.  He stared at the vehicle wondering what  to  do.  A
lifter. That was it.
   "Let's  go see Peabody. I'll bring a lifter later to  get  the
car off the shuttle."
   "I hope he is all right."
   "We all do."
   "We  only  need one bag of food, but we need all of the  other
things," Lan said.
   He  picked the bags of things and one bag of food up. Then  he
realized  he  couldn't  carry Oscar.  They  were  his  gifts.  He
couldn't ask Ban to carry them. He could take Oscar now and  come
back for the food...or, he could negotiate.
   "Would you like to say Oscar is from both of us?" Lan asked.
   Ban  was suspicious. Ah, he thought. Lan wants the car  to  be
from both of us.
   Even  Ban liked Oscar. Lan was right, he was sweet. He  almost
certain Peabody would love him.
   "And the car is from both of us?" Ban asked.
   "That would seem fair. Do you think so?"
   "Yes. That is fine."
   "Let's go."
   Ban  carried  Oscar. He thought that was very  considerate  of
Lan.