The Shasta Caper, Chapter Forty-Three is now posted on ImagineNation http://johnpirilloauthor.blogspot.com/

Chapter Forty-Three

Samuel stood outside the beautiful home that Meagol and Darrell lived in. It was stately, but very unique. They has passed about three homes on their way from the entrance to the Hollow Earth to here and each home occupied about a mile of land. 

"It's not our nature to squash up together." Darrell  had explained. "Not that we don't like our neighbors...which I think goes on a lot on your uppercrust level. Down here, we are all brothers and sisters."

Jimbo in his usual brash manner said. "I thought incest was not a good thing."

Darrell had laughed, causing Jimbo to blush angrily.

"Jim, not that kind of brother and sister."

Samuel had grinned. Jimbo, might, just might someday learn not to stick his foot in his mouth. But then who was he to talk, he'd tasted his stockings many a time already on the way to becoming the detective and man he was.

"So there aren't that many of you living here?" Nanny had asked, her curiosity picqued by the giant's remarks.

"Actually, there are millions and millions." He explained patiently. "Just not squeezed together. We have cities too, but mostly they are underground. Except for Shamballa, which is our one and only city that rises above the earth."

"The floating city?" Nanny asked.

"No. That..." Darrell fell silent a moment, then eyed the others. "We are a patient people. As long as those who visit come in peace and do no harm here, then we tolerate them. Even though that can be...quite painfull...some times."

"How so?" Jimbo asked.

Darrell eyed Samuel, who glanced at Al, who nodded. "It's this way, Jimbo, the higher a vibration that a being raises to, the more painful it becomes to be around beings who are negative. Sometimes to the point where it's like cutting off your own arm."

Jimbo eyed Sambo thoughtfully a moment. "That's why you usually black out when you have your pastlife visions, isn't it?"

Samuel didn't know quite how to respond to that, but Darrell saved him from doing so. "The visions are not what creates the pain, Jim, it's the bodies he inhabits when he's in them."

Jimbo shook his head. "This is just way too much high and mighty stuff for this humble Texan to digest."

Nanny patted Jimbo's tummy. "Especially when it's used to be stuffed with thick hamburgers and steaks, I bet."

Jimmy gave her a scowl. She laughed and gave his arm a quick hug. He lightened up, but shifted slightly to separate them, which didn't go unnoticed by Nanny, but she held on anyway, causing him to be considerably uncomfortable for a time, until he finally gave up.

Samuel could always tell when his friend was letting go, because his thick eyebrows would stick together like mating caterpillars when he was being stubborn or angry, and then separate when he let go of the emotions.

"So why Nazis then?" Jimbo finally asked. The question which had been burning away at him for hours now.

"They are not...Nazis." Meagol had finally spoken up. "That confused race of Germans ceased to exist once World War Two ended."

"A big Thank You, God for that one." Nanny said, crossing herself.

"Actually, they are their children." Meagol went on.

That caused both Samuel and Jimbo to stop walking and stare at him.

He shrugged. "We have always hoped that in our vibrations, that eventually they would change."

"And now?" Samuel asked.

"And now..." Darell glanced at Meagol and both brothers exchanged sad looks.

"That will be discussed at the Council Meeting later."

And so they had plunged further through the fields of flowers and forest green until they had reached their home.

Samuel sighed when he thought about all that had happened to this point in time. Lady Marantha, 

whom they'd still heard no more about, but somehow was connected to this place and to...he glanced at Nanny, who felt his awareness on her and looked across at him, trying to figure out what was on his mind.

 

Samuel said no more.

They crossed over an arched bridge that could have been straight out of a fairy tale, all speckled with jewels and gold that arched over a babbling brook, where all kinds of rainbow colored fish swarmed about, finning one direction then another, as they nibbled at moss on the water floor of the brook, or leapt into the air to catch an insect that got too close.

Which made Samuel smile. Even Paradise had insects. He wondered if it also had poisonous ones.

"No, it does not, Samuel." Darrel answered, looking at Samuel, who gave him a blank look for a moment, then grinned. 

"I forgot you guys can..."

"Read minds?" Meagol finished for him.

Samuel barked with laughter. For the first time since they'd launched on this crazy investigation he felt actually like he belonged somewhere.

Meagol smiled back at him. "Good."

He said no more.

They continued along their forest path, then through another field of golden flower, flushed with honey bees and  blue birds that were as tiny as hummingbirds and sucked at the nectar of the flowers with long bills.

"It's like being in the Land of Oz." Nanny sighed happily.

"Yes. And no wicked witch." Jimbo added. "Unless you count the...Nazis." He glared at Darrell to differ with him. 

Darrell ignored him, the hint of a smile on his lips.

Nanny slowed them down as they were about to leave the field. She ran out into it, having spotted an especially large flower. She plucked it and smelled it a long time, then ran back and motioned to Darrell. He leaned down and she slid the flower into the lapel of his shirt. He smiled as she ran back and did the same for Meagol.

Jimbo again began thinking about her in more romantic terms.

Samuel could see it and shook his head. Some things never change.