Peabody and the Host
By Vic James
vicjames2@hotmail.com
Copyright 2013 by Vic James
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You can see a list of my stories under my name at http://www.nifty.org/nifty/frauthors.html
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.