Nunya replied, “You think it has been well enough tested, then?”
“I don’t know. Have the Grannies been babying it?”
“No, Boss, they haven’t. They’ve been working it hard. They haven’t done any mud tests, but I did those before I ever gave it to you.”
“Really?”
“Mud, dust, whatever I could think of. Couldn’t get it to break, so I figured it was good enough to let you try it. I didn’t think about the Grannies, but I’m glad you did. I want it tested hard before people depend on it.”
I said, “I like your attitude, Nunya. Thanks for caring so much.”
She replied, “You, and everybody else here have been nothing but nice to me, even when I was being a brat. You’re my family, now, like it or not.”
“We like it fine, Nunya.”
John said, “That’s the truth. You’re good help. I do have a question, though.”
I said, “Look out, Nunya, here it comes.”
“Do you think you could build a bigger version of this, with more power? A carbine?”
Nunya replied, “You mean something like an M4?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“You’ll have to wait until I’ve finished Grandma Cachi’s 25 sized pistol. She asked first.”
I said, “Let me guess. It has to fit the place in her hat where she keeps her Beretta?”
“Yep. Miniaturizing some of that stuff is a pain.”
“If you get stuck, see if Taz can help.”
“You don’t think he would mind?”
“It’s about as close to ‘James frickin’ Bond’ as he’s likely to get for a while. He’d be happy to.”
John said, “This has been fun and all, but I probably should get back.”
I asked, “How long till Nikki wakes up?”
Nunya said, “Oh no! Mrs. Wilson got hurt?”
“She fell and hit her head. Dixie assured me she will be fine.”
John fiddled with his watch. He said, “It says she’ll be ready in a few minutes. We better get cleaned up and get there.” I cleaned the pistol, and then got washed up. We grabbed a transit and went to medbay. Dixie met us at the door, and said, “Good, you’re here. She’s nearly ready to wake up.”
We went back to where the autodoc was, and John looked over the display. He said, “Here we go.” He put in the code to wake her and stepped back. I stepped up, to be there when she woke. She came around, and said, “Who are you? Where are the students I was guiding? Are they safe?”
I didn’t know what to say, I was so confused. Then she said, “I got you, Caveman. I got you good.”
I replied, “Have you met my dog?”
“Oh yes, she’s a sweetie. Did she have her pups yet?”
I said, “It’s so good to see that you’re alright.”
“What happened, anyway?”
“Bunch of Squirrels jumped in, we had to go greet them. As I understand it, you fell and hit your head while we were maneuvering.”
“Did you get the Squirrels?”
“Safe in the brig, and their ships are in the landing bay. Dee is working on their Commander.”
“Dee? That’s new.”
“She has help. Grandma Cachi.”
“Poor man. He doesn’t have a chance. Your kids are hungry. Do you suppose we could fix that?”
“I think we could find a cure around here somewhere.” She got dressed, and we headed to the galley. Janet was serving. She asked, “Mrs. Wilson, are you okay? I heard you had to go to medbay.”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just hungry.”
“We have the cure for that. Have a seat.” I realized I had been busy enough I missed lunch. I asked Nikki, “Did you remember to have lunch? I think I forgot.”
“I did. You were going to slow down, don’t you remember?”
“I suppose I was. Can I help it the stars rained Squirrels today?”
“No, I suppose not. You better eat up, knowing you, it’ll be another big day tomorrow.”
We both chowed down. When we were finished, Snitz was waiting. I asked, “Gene, did you call him?”
“No, Boss. He just showed up.”
I looked at Nikki. “I think I’m ready to call it a day. How about you?”
“Sounds like a plan. Do you think it will work?”
“Doubtful, but it’s worth a try, don’t you think?”
“I suppose. Meet you at the cabin?”
“Just one thing, before you go.”
When the tonsil hockey was finished, she took off, and Snitz and I headed for the grass room. Shockingly, we managed to take care of business, and make it back to the cabin without finding anyone with a problem. Nikki had managed to stay awake, so there was a great deal of practice to catch up on. Snitz still thought I needed to be up and about at the usual time, however. Jim was waiting in the grass room. “Morning, Boss. How are you this fine day?”
“Curious what has you so chipper, mostly.”
“Just being able to enjoy life again. Janice is a wonder.”
“That’s plenty. I don’t need to know about any of that.”
“I just meant she always manages to find the bright side of things. The other is pretty special, though.”
“I have no doubt. As ornery as she is, with all the experience she has, yessir, you’re a lucky man.”
“I don’t know that it’s so much luck, as throwing in with the right crazy hillbilly.”
“John is good to have around.”
“C’mon, Bob. Don’t give me that modest act.”
“I just don’t see how you can give me any credit for you and Janice getting together.”
“You patched us both up enough to care about such things again, for starters.”
“John done the patching, as I recall.”
“And who was in the air before I fell over, when I got snakebit?”
“Let’s go eat. I don’t want to argue with you.”
We headed
