The Kalispell Run

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Family held it wildest celebration in anyone’s memory.

Blade, Geronimo, Gremlin, and Star arrived at the Home a day after Hickok, Sherry, and Shane. Their collective homecoming prompted Plato to announce a special holiday. He was particularly elated because, with the generator taken from the Watchers in Thief River Falls and the equipment Geronimo had found in Kalispell, he was confident the Elders would discover the cause of the premature senility and a cure. Gremlin, claiming he knew something about the source of the senility, offered his assistance. The Family, while initially shocked by Gremlin’s appearance, soon accepted him into the fold, especially the younger children. They followed him everywhere, besieging him with constant questions and marveling at his features. Gremlin was thrilled at all the attention.

Geronimo was treated by the Healers. They pronounced him well enough to participate in the festivities, but advised him to take it easy.

Jenny smothered Blade with kisses and clung to him throughout the party.

Shane received a verbal tongue-lashing from his father and the Elders, but after Hickok stood up in his defense, extolling his courage and endurance, they desisted.

Jane, Shane’s girlfriend, professed her undying devotion for her “hero.”

The object of her admiration was confounded by his reception. He decided Hickok was right in his assessment of the opposite gender. Women were strange.

Nadine, Plato’s wife, took Star under her wing.

Toward midnight, three figures detached themselves from the laughter and the fun, the food and the drink, and walked to C Block, the infirmary, to visit the one Family member not able to attend the jubilee.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, reclining on a cot in a spacious room lit by a dozen candles, looked up as Alpha Triad entered the room.

“Sorry it took us so long to come see you,” Blade remarked. “You wouldn’t believe how busy we’ve been.”

“I understand,” Rikki informed him, smiling. “I am pleased you came, but shouldn’t you be with the others?”

“They won’t miss us for a spell,” Hickok said. “They’re singing and dancing and generally making fools of themselves.”

“How are you?” Geronimo solicitously inquired, staring at the bandage covering Rikki’s neck.

“Napoleon came close,” Rikki replied. “They tell me another inch and I would be in the worlds on high.”

“The Family doesn’t seem upset about Napoleon,” Blade mentioned.

“They’ve taken the news of his defection in stride.”

“Once they learned of his plans,” Rikki said, “all sympathy for the rebel died with him.” He pointed at Geronimo’s bandaged shoulder. “How are you doing?”

“As well as can be expected,” Geronimo answered. “It’s not too serious.”

“Speaking of Chrome Dome,” Hickok interjected, “they tell me you drove your fingers through his eye socket into his brain. Nice touch.”

“I can’t remember,” Rikki admitted. “It’s all a blur.”

“Yama and Teucer told us they thought you were dead when they found you,” Geronimo commented, referring to the other Warriors from Rikki’s Beta Triad.

Blade strolled to the doorway and stared outside. “Listen to them. They’re having the time of their lives.”

“They deserve it, pard,” Hickok stated. “I bet those Citadel creeps you told us about won’t leave us alone for long.

“Well be ready for them when they come,” Geronimo vowed.

“Yeah.” Blade glanced at Hickok. “Plato likes the idea of an alliance with the Moles, if it can be arranged. We still must travel to the Twin Cities again and bring back those people who want to join us.” He paused, reflecting. “At the rate we’re going, we could end up with a genuine confederation on our hands.”

“Wouldn’t the Watchers be surprised!” Geronimo deduced.

“All these folks backing our play is well and good,” Hickok declared, “but when it gets right down to it, the only ones I really trust to protect the Family, the only ones we can completely rely on, are the Warriors.”

“That’s why we’re here.” Geronimo grinned. “The safest, most boring occupation anyone could ask for.”

Blade, his arms folded across his massive chest, nodded. “Reminds me of something we read in one of the books in the library when we were kids.

How did it go? Oh, yes. All for one and one for all.”

“You got it, pard,” Hickok said, walking to the doorway and standing next to Blade. He nodded at Rikki. “I’ll come visit you again tomorrow,” he pledged.

“I heard about your new… companion,” Rikki stated. “Why don’t you bring her along? I’d like to meet her.”

“Will do.” Hickok stepped outside onto the front steps.

“Going somewhere?” Blade casually inquired.

“You better believe it,” Hickok replied. “I have some serious kissin’ to attend to, and my lips are rarin’ to go.”

“Need any help?” Geronimo offered, and the others laughed.

Hickok faced them, perched on the threshold, affectionately gazing at his three closest friends, and patted his Colts. “Thanks for wanting to help, but I can handle this mission by my lonesome. It’ll be a piece of cake. If I run into a mutate, though, I’ll be sure and give a yell.”

“If you bump into a mutate in the dark,” Geronimo quipped, “the poor thing would probably die of fright.”

Hickok, grinning, turned, inhaling the cool night air. He strolled toward the joyous gathering, reflecting. All for one, and one for all. It would make a dandy motto for the Warriors. He recalled another saying, a phrase imprinted on a wooden plaque hanging on one of the walls in his parents’ cabin when he was a child, and for the first time he experienced a real appreciation for the words and their meaning.

There’s no place like Home.