Spreading Seeds Saga 07

I kissed Denise and pulled her upright, after Charlotte had pulled her hand out. She grinned at me and said breathlessly, "I hope we didn't embarrass you, Josh. I didn't know she was going to do that," she looked at Charlotte who was washing her hands in the shower, "You surprised me, how did you know?"

Charlotte looked at her, "Oh I keep my eyes out for the signs."

I pulled Denise's face to me and kissed her softly, "How does the story end?"

Denise looked up and laughed, "Well me and Wilma Patterson, she was a warm up girl who I grabbed out of the hall to rev ole' Bill up whilst I took a breather. Well she was washing Bill's dick and said how she didn't like a furry man, 'You know how they scratch you?' Well I said, 'Maybe if we shaved him he'd feel different?'"

Denise smiled and chuckled, "Wilma and I shaved him all over, except his eyebrows," she grinned evilly at me, she paused and added, "That would have been mean!"

I laughed, "Yeah, that would have been mean."

Denise stood, went to the shower and pulled the rope, she rinsed off her ass and smiled at me, "You just hold yourself at the ready until after dinner. I'll be real good to you," she rinsed her breasts, pulling her nipples out and teasing them until they stood out of her dark breasts like flags.

I helped Charlotte dry her back, she put her towel around my shoulders and pulled me close to her, "Oh Josh, I feel so bad about not being able to welcome you with my best. It is positive anguish!" she rubbed her naked flesh against me and made me feel the anguish. I almost decorated her belly with sperm!

I grasped her head in both hands, my fingers pressed to her soft warm ears, and I kissed her softly, "Charlotte, It's enough to be able to hold you and know where you are. I don't know how many times I thought of you and wondered just where you were at that moment," I wrapped her in my arms and she snuggled to me, rocking slowly from side to side. Soon I felt her warm tears on my chest.

We held each other for a while, until Denise said, "Come on, we'll miss the second sitting."

We arrived at the mess tent in time for the second sitting. The mess tent was a large geodesic structure covered in canvas strips about two meters wide. The strips came over the top of the tent from all angles and were pegged to the ground around the tent so that there were air circulation spaces between them. Inside you could see the dome was built of bamboo poles tied together with wooden disks at the centers of the triangles.

The tent was full of people coming and going around the trestle tables. The chairs were X shaped directors chairs made of tent canvas and bamboo. I don't know why they called them that, there must have been a reason.

Amelia, Gloria and Linda were all ready there and were eating with Robin Jennings and Jack Osblatt. "There he is!" Linda said and stood up, waving at me from the one table that was on the platform that shared the same level as the serving area. Down on the ground level, enlisted dining, on the platform the Officers. I smiled, the Engineers were Army after all.

I led Charlotte and Denise over and introduced them to Amelia, Linda and Gloria. "Major Funston is in charge of the engineer team that's been here since last winter and this is Charlotte Jenkins, my oldest and dearest friend," I held Charlotte's chair as she sat smiling at Linda.

I sat between Charlotte and Linda and was real pleased with my seat until I realized that I was swinging my head back and forth as Charlotte and Linda conversed.

Charlotte smiled wide eyed at Linda, "Josh tells me that you are carrying his child?"

Linda blushed, "Yes first trimester. I'm very excited."

Charlotte stood and motioned me to get up and change places with her. I was happy to oblige because the food was being served. The beef in a highly spiced tomato and 'veg ordinaire' gravy was served with tortillas.

I dug in while Linda inquired, "I've been assured that you have a good hospital in Davis."

"Oh yes best in the world," Charlotte said beaming at Linda.

"Well, I'm relieved to hear that." Linda said, clutching Charlotte's hand on the table.

The bustle of the crowd seemed to echo under the dome, if the surfaces had been harder, it would have made conversation difficult, if not impossible.

Amelia looked around the two of them at me and said, "Where did you get off too? I see you've bathed." She was grinning at me and winked.

I said, "Well I took the mules down to pasture, and Jack," I gestured in his direction, "Well he sent two girls down to look after them and I had a swim with them."

"Some of the girls like to camp down by the river to watch over the stock. It is a nice place," Jack explained.

"Excellent pasture too, compared to what we've seen in the last three days," I said.

"My girls planted alfalfa, last winter all around here while we were surveying." Denise said to Amelia.

Amelia nodded and responded, "Josh has planted alfalfa around his oats mostly as a buffer. It certainly has attracted the deer."

Robin asked, "Do you harvest a lot of game." She sipped at her tepid tea.

Amelia looked at her and said, "We selectively cull to decrease depredation, and protect our harvests. We have been eating more elk and venison as a variation of our normal diet."

"Which is?" Robin asked.

Amelia laughed, "Well we eat a lot of goat and mutton, but we have pork and beef as well."

"And they eat a lot of squash and corn," I interjected. I grinned at Amelia and Linda. "It's true?"

Amelia nodded, "Our green houses have a lot of varieties, but most times we eat simply." She turned to me and said, "So after you talked to the girls in the pasture, where did you go.

I gave her a straight face and said, "Then I bathed with Charlotte and Denise. Denise told me a tale of Redding, while I shaved."

By now Amelia was smiling and held up her hand, "No, don't explain Josh," she started laughing and that got everyone else laughing, but Gloria and me, who looked at each other. Gloria, who was seated opposite and down the table on Robins right, shrugged and shook her head.

After a long moment, the mirth subsided and Amelia started to eat for two. Everybody else joined her and the sounds of heavy grazing predominated.

Charlotte and Linda were having their own conversation between them and almost whispering. I ate, I mean it had been a stressful couple'a weeks, and good tucker had been light.

Sue came in and took the last seat at the table. She was smiling as she unrolled her napkin and said, "So when do you want to leave for Davis, Jack?"

Jack smiled at Sue and said, "How about day after tomorrow, because the engineers will be going back with us. Is that okay with you, Denise?" Jack dipped his tortilla and took a bite.

"Yeah, we've expended all our material and the Camp is established." Denise responded. "We've been just doing detail work and my girls want to go home. It's lonely here."

Gloria who was seated next to Robin across from Amelia, wiped her chin and said, "It's going to be lonely here after you go Major."

Amelia grinned at her, "I'll miss you too, Gloria. I expect to be gone two or three years and when I get back, I'll come see you. In the meantime, look after Josh, will you?"

Gloria grinned and said, "I'll watch him like a hawk," and gave me a big smile complete with a leer that I had never seen from her before. It kind of surprised me and Charlotte caught it too.

"So how well do you know Josh, Gloria?" Charlotte asked.

Gloria looked at Charlotte and said, "Well..." She blushed and said, "No, I haven't... oh shit, I'm blushing."

Charlotte laughed and covered, "Oh I didn't mean to pry. It's just odd that one so young would be on such an adventure."

Gloria grinned at her, "Well Major Amelia said that it would be very good for me to see so I can tell the Sunshine girls what it's like outside."

"Sunshine girls?" Robin asked her.

Gloria grinned, "Yes, I'm head girl this year, and maybe next, since my birthday's in June. We're apprentice Scout Traders, or Bahia," Gloria nodded to Amelia and Linda, "really we just look after the mules."

Sue edged in and said, "Gloria is one of our brightest young leaders. Ginny gave them the name Sunshine Girls and the yellow shirts."

Gloria preened in her now washed and pressed shirt. It was a little faded and had some bear chili stains on her budding breast but she looked real pretty with her hair brushed out. She and Linda had obviously had some sleep.

"Bahia is their civil service," Sue said to Robin and Jack.

Amelia smiled, "No, not quite right, although most of our civil service force is Bahia. The Bahia is a philosophy. We believe that healthy communities are more prosperous and allow their citizens to live better lives. Community service is one of our tenets, so it is not uncommon for us to choose the Administration."

Robin looked at Amelia and said, "Would you talk to my girls, I mean about Burney? We know so little about what conditions are really like there. Some of the girls are having second thoughts, I'm afraid. If you could speak to them I'm sure that it would ease a few minds."

Amelia nodded, "Well I'd like to hear about Davis too, wouldn't you Linda?"

Linda nodded, "Oh yes, I've so many questions."

Robin was a little excited, "Oh let me arrange some things, is after dinner good?"

When Amelia nodded, Robin stood, "I'll go spread the word and see where we can find a suitable place." Robin left with only half her plate empty.

Robin hurried off and Jack leaned to me and said, "How about you come talk to the boys, Josh. The Steelheads are wondering too."

I turned to Charlotte and gave her a questioning look. She grinned and nodded. I turned to Jack and said, "Sure."

Denise cleared her throat and Charlotte said, "We all have to pay our respects to the Ambassador, Denise, as Commanding officer you should help answer her questions."

Amelia smiled and said, "I'm a civil engineer too."

Denise looked at Amelia and grinned, "Really, what kind of projects?"

Jack took that as his cue to leave and stood saying, "If you ladies will excuse me I'll gather the boys." He looked at me and said, "I'll get them in our tent, it's as cool a place as we'll find and we'll share a cervesa."

"Sure I'll be there in a minute," I said as Jack nodded to the women and left.

Charlotte passed me her leftovers and smiled at me. "You need seconds?"

I grinned at her and said, "It looks like I'll need all my energy," and accepted her plate.

Amelia looked across the table at Denise, "Well I do hydrology mostly and a lot of it is administrative since our infrastructure is mostly in place. I've been fascinated by what you've accomplished, how long have you been here?"

I finished up Charlotte's plate and heard, the cook yell out, "Seconds, if anybody wants 'em." I nodded to the women and got up to get another plate. While I was kissing the cook, I saw a few young dark haired girls busing the tables, when I got back to the table, I asked Charlotte, "Who are the girls, they aren't Corps?"

Charlotte looked around and said, "No they're subcontractor girls. They live here and keep up the camp when it is not occupied. They hardly speak English, they came from San Diego."

"That's not part of Nor Cal, is it?" Linda asked.

Denise shook her head, "No, most of the area south of the Grapevine is what they call California del Norte, we had to make a deal with them to use the Topock crossing. They claim every thing from thirty five degrees latitude south, so we made an agreement with them that they put in the permanent base and we'd lease space from them. They sent up a few settlers and we helped them but they still have a major challenge to make this place self-supporting."

"Grapevine?" Amelia asked.

Denise nodded and smiled, "It is a pass near Bakersfield at about thirty four, fifty latitude and where we have a trading post at Fort Tejon. Neither Nor Cal or del Norte claim it because it is on the Tejon rancho which was established in the 1700's and rode out the plague. They aren't really aligned with anyone, just want to do their thing, which is mostly cattle and it's too rough for anyone to want to change them."

Amelia asked, "So how many other pockets of humanity are left then?"

Denise looked at Sue, who nodded encouragingly and said, "Near as we can tell there are remnant populations in Central America and we don't know about any others. Del Norte is in contact with Guatemala and trades along the Mexican coast and up into the Gulf of California. There is very little trade on the pacific coast of Baja so San Diego is mostly fishing and water limited agriculture."

Linda and Amelia were smiling. "Go on, we are amazed that there are so many surviving," Amelia said.

"Well we haven't been able to receive any radio signals, for what 150 years?" Denise said looking at Sue who shrugged.

Amelia frowned, "You mean you didn't receive our transmissions?"

You have electricity?" Denise asked, aghast.

"Well yes, we use it to power our critical machinery and the vaults, and machine shop, You've seen Maria's shop, Sue? Amelia said grinning.

"And of course the kiln. When the machine shop is running," Linda added.

Sue nodded, "But the transmission of radio waves requires a surviving electronics base?"

Amelia smiled, "Well we do have radio transmitters and we all assumed that they were working. We didn't know that you had radios?"

Denise and Sue looked at each other and something passed between them, "Well we don't have any high powered transmission capability and barely have receivers left," Denise added. She shook her head, "I'm not up on our radio tech, like you I'm a civil engineer. Water projects and road construction mostly. I'm going home to Davis and take up an admin slot. I've spent too much time the bush." She grinned at Amelia and said, "I plan to have another baby and live in Davis from now on."

Amelia grinned, "I'm pregnant too. Do you know Able Drake?"

Denise looked at Charlotte then back to Amelia, "Yes, Mr. Drake is well known in Davis. Why?"

"He's the father."

"Really, congratulations. I've never met him personally, you understand, but I have seen him pointed out to me. Very handsome fellow," Denise said with a wink at Charlotte.

Amelia looked at Charlotte and asked, "Do you know Able, well?"

"He was my Masters adviser, and we worked together on a project or two. He's a great friend. I lost track of him when he took a tour of Redding and just saw him briefly when he passed through Davis on his way to Burney."

"Charlotte is a level nine Mother," I said smiling at Charlotte.

"You have children?" Linda asked frowning.

"No," Charlotte said, "A Mother of the House of Giving."

Amelia smiled at Sue and nodded, "Sue told us a little about the House of Giving. We don't have that sort of institution."

"No?" Denise asked, "Do you just do it in the street?"

Amelia laughed, "No, since the Nor Cal team has been in Burney we..." She blushed and added, "We do it in the bath house, or sometimes at home."

Denise grinned at me and I added, "The Bath house is kind of like the House of Giving, but without warmup girls."

"Warmup girls," Linda asked.

Charlotte frowned at me and smiled at Linda, "A warm up girl, as Josh calls them is a Mothers Assistant. She sees that the client has a completely satisfactory experience. Bathing, hair and copulation."

Linda looked at her, "You mean she joins in the, the act?"

Charlotte smiled, "Sometimes the client is satisfied without a man. We do not limit our natures."

Linda and Amelia shared a glance and a grin.

Charlotte turned to me and said, "I passed my tenth levels last month, Josh. Since you've been gone I had to concentrate on something."

I grinned and hugged her, "Wonderful Charlotte, your mother must be very proud."

Charlotte hugged me, "I just wish you had been there. I had to do the whole last chapter."

I held her to my chest and thought about the last chapter of the House of Giving manual and realized that someone else had done things to Charlotte that were only in my fantasies. She was in my arms now, so I concentrated on that.

Linda asked, "What are tenth levels?"

Charlotte smiled at her, "The knowledge of the House of Giving is divided into ten segments. As a girl passes thru them, she had to demonstrate her knowledge and understanding of the teachings of the House."

"Very few women get past the fourth level, there is a lot of psychology in it." Denise said.

Sue nodded, "I'm only third level, but that's fine with me." She grinned at me and laughed.

"So is the 'House' kind of like the men's Kiva?" Linda asked.

Charlotte smiled, "Well, it isn't as closed as the Kiva, but it serves the Goddess, you might say."

Linda laughed and said, "Josh gave me my first religious revelation on the way here."

Charlotte smiled and held my hand, "I taught him every thing he knows. Josh helped me through all my levels, but two. He's a sixth level himself."

Linda asked her, "How many levels in the Kiva?"

"Ten," Charlotte answered, "Able is Tenth level."

Amelia laughed and said, "He certainly is!"

Gloria asked, "So is that how you train your girls? I mean in sex?"

Charlotte nodded, "When a girl turns thirteen she enters the first level and really begins her training. Generally when she's eighteen she's passed her third levels and is free to breed. How do you train your girls?"

Gloria looked at Charlotte and then at Amelia and shrugged.

Amelia said, "We send the girls out on the Goat Trail, at thirteen, and teach them hygiene and they generally start picking things up on their own. We haven't had to worry about sexual issues since our men were sequestered and we practiced artificial insemination. When a girl gets to be about eighteen, she can join the Bahia or the Sisters, sometimes both.

"Sisters," Denise asked.

"The Sisters of Saphos, They are a social organization." Linda said.

"My sister, April, is one of their officers," Amelia said obviously proud of April's standing. "She's an engineer too, an architect really."

Denise smiled, "So these Sisters, are they lesbians?"

"Some are, some just had no alternative, if you know what I mean. Our men have just been released into the greater community. We don't know how that is going to change Burney, but there was a vote and I guess we will see what the future holds. So many things have changed in the last few months," Amelia said seriously.

Charlotte said, "I feel much better about going to Burney. I mean I was a little apprehensive, but I wanted to see Josh again." She squeezed my hand and Linda looked at her strangely.

"Do you, ah, love Josh?" Linda asked tentatively.

Charlotte laughed and kissed me, "Yes, I love Josh." She was looking at me with love, then turned to Linda, "Why? Do you love him too?"

Linda blinked and looked between Charlotte and myself and swallowed, "Yes, yes I surely do."

Charlotte hugged Linda and laughed, "Oh welcome to Davis, Linda. Josh's genes are as good as they come. I'm sure your baby will be free of the plague."

Linda held Charlotte and looked at me, then she smiled and hugged Charlotte. "I guess I should be thanking you."

Charlotte held Linda loosely but their breasts were almost touching, "You are perfectly welcome. I've made it my life's work to fight the plague and seeing you and Amelia both pregnant by Kiva boys, well it just is a blessing."

"Kiva boys?" Amelia asked, "That seems a little dismissive of your men."

I laughed, "Yeah we're men, you know."

Charlotte laughed and slapped me playfully, "I know, Josh," she turned to Amelia and said, "A Kiva boy, is a term of endearment really. It means a Kiva man," she looked pointedly at me, "that not only has good genes but really studies his craft. Not all our men do."