Maria was the most ecstatic to see her son and them all back again.
It was a long story out on the veranda - China, India, Southeast Asia,
Siberia and all.
        "Lord, Lord, mi Hooli, you have seen some world!" Ria went on,
hugging him and kissing his head some more. They all agreed it was very
good to be home. And it was feeling a lot like home to Jessica, and even
Felecia. They had come a long ole way, they were saying, kidding that
they could revive the Virginia Slims commercials as they toked on
Julian's puro.
        Jul and Ri told them about the millions that they had donated
themselves to the WPG and their own missions in the Yucatan. Jessy
praised them, "you guys are so beautiful..." and got up and kissed them
both.
        They listened to the concert. A lot of the "first weekenders" were
back that weekend to drum up volunteers to go to the capitols all over
the world for the demonstrations. There was a bunch more great new
music. Arnie showed up on stage and told about the great effort they
had just had in Asia and elsewhere for signatures, and told everyone
that he wanted millions there in Washington and in all the other capitols.
"LOTS of millions," he was "pomping" everyone "op" and getting
ovation after ovation. Government agents there were trying to get to
him, but his army kept them at bay, and then snuck Arn all around and
out of the Valley as the music got going again.
        After a while, back at Truchas, they all fed the animals, fowl and
other feathered critters, went down to the Quinoa field and weeded
(but left Evan's cannabis), looked around at the progress on the new
cabin when they came back up, then Jess wanted to see the mine.
        "Uh oh," Julian murmured. They all let our three go on up alone,
thinking they probably wanted to have sex, not pick.
        There was nothing but Silver everywhere as the guys made their
way to the big "room" and beyond. Kit climbed into the jewel cove and
the girls waited out in the room.
        "I bet there's more somewhere," Jess said, looking around with the
other lantern.
        "You're getting greedy," Flee taunted.
        "Naw I'm not....I just feel there's more. This is El Dorado...."
        "O P, cowgirl, that was just a legend...about the cup...or the sun
hitting the straw in the adobe walls of the Pueblos...don't tell me you
got another vision...."
        "Nope," Jess answered as she strolled into the shaft that used to
be the Platinum vein, "...but it just doesn't look like this mine's
finished."
        "O yeah, now I remember you taking that course in mining,"
Flece razzed her back, following behind.
        Jessy picked up a pick and took a swing into the Silver of one of
the side walls and said, "don't YOU wonder how thick this Silver is?!"
        "Jeeze, take it easy, my picky sister. I was kidding. I'm sorry I
could ever think of doubting you, OK?" Flee teased.
        "Fucker," Jess smiled and whacked into the wall as hard as her
body allowed and some Silver fell to the floor.
        "Hey! Don't get us rocked to death now, fucker," Flece kidded
and checked out the ceiling and braces as Jess took another hard whack
and boink! Yup! GOLD! A few little rocks had fallen out and there was
more in the wall! Flee was screaming as Jessy yelled for Kit, still
exploring the jewel cove. He tumbled out of the hole and ran through
the room to the shaft.
        "Awmigod...awmigod...AW MY GOD!..." he yelled as he came
running back to the girls and Jessy showed him the Gold. "How the
hell DO you DO this?!"
        "She gets mad," Flece sassed.
        They picked away together and it was looking like another vein.
So they sashayed on down the mountain together and made the
announcement on the veranda.
        "JESSICA! You're going to break my balls!" was Julian's first
comment among all the others' cries of disbelief and excitement. Maria
gave him a slap on the arm over it, though. They all went to the mine
to see it and decided to send for Jul's younger brother Pedro and his
family as the "kids" worked away on the Oro. The "elders" went back
down ahead to continue the celebration on the veranda, knowing there
would be plenty of time to mine and it being such a beautiful day up
there. They called Wally and he brought the family up to check out
the new vein that "Goldielocks" had found, plus to see the girls and,
O yeah, even Juli and Kit.
        Late that night our trio worked on the fourth message and all the
other accounting, comming and goings on. Canada and Mexico had
recognized the WPG. El Salvador and Honduras would be in the
morning, along with about 2o other countries all around the ball.
        The space development plan was gaining steam, the asteroid
argument sinking in, as well as the rest. If you care about Civilization's
survival at all, it's best to spread it around - at least into the solar
system - the consensus was flowing; or spend the money to develop a
25-year or more warning system. And governments have given us war
and prep for war, the PG'ers dug.
        The agriculture plan was gaining consideration too. Economists -
Greenspan and others - had worked up figures on GDP increase, crop
reserves and food prices based on the added arable land. There were
happy mc-numbers.
        Puter had found their new used twin - a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle
- and they made all the arrangements through North Air and it would be
in Taos within hours: $225,ooo - another great deal. I know, you're
wondering why they just didn't use the 401. Edge.
        Next day they rode up the mountain on the horses after getting
the shoes back on Orgasm and picnicked up on top, a radio brought
along, Santana leading the jam. And they rested up. After the sex. That
eve they were getting on their way to Taos to take the Citation and the
Eagle East, all the kids going for the demonstration. Jul, Mari, Wally
and DeAnn were staying to watch over the hacienda.
        Kit and Jessy had their very special adioses for Jul and Ria, not
knowing exactly when they would be back, though there was sure the
Gold to help get out.
        "And I know how much you want to be around for that, Waldo,"
Julian tweaked his ole pard as they all walked with Kit over to the shed.
        "I do, ole buddy. You know that," Cody smirked as he went
inside and got a couple sticks of dynamite and wrapped them up in
rags.
        "Goin' to start a revolution?" Julian snickered.
        "Ah...you never know, pard," Kit winked back and walked to the
Jeep and put the sticks in his flight case. And then it was final goodbys
as they all loaded into the wagons, then pulled out.
        At the airport, Jessica called Ginny for she and Craig to meet
them at the Cincinnati airport. What the hay, she figured, everybody
could be reasonable, and she didn't want Ginny driving around alone in
the middle of the night.
        There were a bunch of storms to poke their way around on their
way East. The guys in the Eagle, that is. They were staying below
18,ooo feet to not file IFR, which our guys couldn't legally do anyway.
They flew around the cells and squall lines and made it into Kentucky
a little low on fuel reserve, Kit feeling guilty about taking that kind of
chance.
        Kenja and Josh, with Evan, Stef, Sonia, 'Milio, Es and Phil all in
the Citation, had been parked on the ramp there for a good while, Josh
talking on the phone with his family as Kit, the girls and Juli taxied in,
splashing through the puddles dotting the ramp as the lightning flashed
throughout the sky.
        Jessy got out after shutdown and walked across the tarmac and
Ginny and Craig came out of the office to smother their girl in hugs
and kisses. Kit and Flee were staying in the plane. Juli decided to give
the guys more space and got out, made quick re-introductions with
Jess's folks, then went over to the jet while Jessy gave the line guys
refueling instructions, amazing Ginny and Craig. Then she led them
up into the cabin.
 

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