“And you all thought the self serve animal buffet outside was weird,” Barret called out when he and Billy entered the kitchen and interrupted whatever conversation was taking place at that time, “you should have seen this thing....”
Barry and his three supper guests had eaten by now, but they had left all the fixings on the table for the two boys. As was hinted at earlier, it was simple leftovers and sandwiches.
“It was a plant, see,” Billy continued on Barret’s behalf, spitting a little in his excitement, “but it wasn’t planted....”
“No,” Barret bounced back in, “no roots you see, and it was running around the yard....”
“Yeah, it was jogging around on two big leaves....”
“And it was about this high,” Barret said holding his hand at waist level. “Hey, that’s probably what you saw at the window.”
Billy considered the possibility, “Maybe,” he said.
Out of everybody present the first one to comment on Billy’s and Barret’s experience was Barry; he spoke calmly.... and almost convincingly.
“That’s our runner bean,” is what he said.
This in turn was followed by silence.
“Yeah,” he continued, “he has to run around to create energy. It supplements the energy from the sun so he can produce more beans. He’s a bit of a show off really, a bit of an overachiever.”
Again with the silence.
“When he’s ready to be picked he usually comes to the back door and stands like this....” Barry raised his arms to the side as the example, “....then we.... pick his beans.”
The silence was broken.
“Are you serious?” Barret said without trying to sound rude but failing.
Barry confirmed his story with a definite “Yes.”
“Does he have nice beans?” Gabby asked with a smirk.
“He does actually, best I’ve ever tasted.”
“And if you asked him where his travels have taken him,” Billy carried on, “he could say ‘Oh, I’ve bean here, I’ve bean there, I’ve bean pretty much everywhere, heck.... I’ve even bean to the Plain of Three Pillars’.”
“He’s obviously bean a handy plant to have around,” Barret added.
“No doubt you’ve bean enjoying the fruits of his labour, too, huh Barry?”
Barry chose to yawn in response and then said quietly, “Should I get used to this sort of behaviour from you lot?”
After the laughing had stopped Bilson entered the kitchen and announced his impending success.
“I believe I have almost done it,” he said clearly and proudly.
“Yay,” Cetra cheered, happy as usual.
Though altogether there were mixed emotions around the room.
“Are you sure?” Barret questioned, “I mean, I’m not letting him go if it’s just an experiment.”
“My boy,” Bilson assured him, “of course it’s an experiment, I don’t think anyone has ever been sent back to a defunct plain before, but rest assured, it is an experiment where the outcome is obvious.... but contained.... like mixing sodium metal with water,” he shrugged, “Don’t worry, he will either go or stay. It’s not like he could be cut in two and one portion goes back to England and the other remains here....”
“Alright,” Rod said loudly and abruptly, “I must say you’re yet to convince me.”
Bilson’s bottom lip dropped a little, “Well, I haven’t finished yet,” he said.
“So how much longer do you think grandpa?” Barry asked.
Bilson took a moment to think and pick at some leftover food, “I will work tirelessly into the night if I have to,” he said with a great deal of enthusiasm.
“Crack on then,” Billy added.
“Very well,” Bilson agreed and exited the kitchen.
Their eyes followed Bilson’s back until it was out of sight; then they all nodded and hummed at one another.
“Well,” Barry said and grinned. He watched on as Billy and Barret set about putting together their own supper.
“What shall we do now, young Barry?” Rod asked amongst the clatter of utensils and mastication of food, “How do you plan on entertaining us?”
“Ah....” Barry started by waving a finger in the air, a thought had just occurred to him. “Here’s the thing, see; at the moment I have two orders in for Shpeggs, now normally I would wait until Brock was available to come with me, but seeing as how you’re all here, why not throw you in the deep end and see if you can swim. Consider it a training exercise.”
“I’m up for that,” Barret grunted through a mouth full of mush.
On the opposite side though, Cetra showed a little more curiosity when she asked, “What is a Shpegg?”
Ah yes.... what is a Shpegg?
“Now where would the fun be in telling you that already?” was Barry’s answer. “But if we go this evening I can make the supply early and keep two customers very happy.”
“And that’s very important,” Barret added.
“For sure, you know where I’m coming from,” Barry agreed. “But Billy, It’s not mandatory that you come along, although you’re definitely welcome to.”
“So where are we going?” Billy answered enthusiastically, wholly investing his excitement in the adventure.
They were going to the Plain of Eighty Eight Pillars.
One interesting fact about #88 was that it had wandering magnetic poles, a problem which limited the plain’s ability to sustain any long term life other than that which may have been lucky enough to adapt to the fluctuating magnetic field surrounding it. This instability also created a less than desirable environment for H.M.E to function correctly, in fact, it darn well messed it up entirely to the point of uselessness.... except for a period of fifty three seconds every fifty three minutes when the poles actually came into alignment with one another and stabilised. In this fifty three second window H.M.E registered as normal and transportation was attainable.
“So how do you know when that is?” Gabby asked.
“I don’t,” Barry said, “I stand out there pressing eighty eight for as long as it takes. It happens eventually.”
Rod shook his head, “Crude I suppose, but effective.”
“Yeah that’s just great,” Barret said, “but what are these creatures that have adapted all about?”
“Now, why spoil that surprise?” Barry answered.
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN