CALLING ON FAVORS
By; Gerald A. Polley
The Ancient One had to be careful. He could travel in his
spiritual form but he couldn't use his powers much.
However, he had to go to Europe and look for somebody. He
scouted around Greece for some time, was standing on a hilltop when
something hit him from behind and sent him tumbling. He recovered
quickly and was hit again. Finally, his attacker pinned him to
the ground and began to tickle him. Between chuckles The Ancient
One managed to cry out "Min! Stop that! Don't trigger my
powers. I can't control them." Roaring laughter erupted and the
tickling stopped. The Ancient One rolled over to see a huge man
laying beside him who had hoofed feet and the head of a bull. But
the rest of him was massive human.
"Creos!" the big man cried, "You're gettin' careless, old
one! What brings you to my neck of the woods?"
"Looking for you, old friend!" The Ancient One answered. "Need a favor."
"You name it!" the big man snorted. "Heard you've been
having trouble. Would be glad to come over to the red white and
blue and bang a few heads for you. You're the only one that ever
treated me with any kind of decency. You sent that alchemist to
hell that made the formula so humans could mate with animals. And
those three guys you hooked my mother up with were animal enough to
keep her satisfied the rest of her life. You know I'll do
anything for you. You only need to ask."
The
Ancient One smiled. "I can't waste your powers on my petty little
problems at home," he answered, "as important as they are, they're my
problems, and other people have to come forward and help me. It's
not for anyone else to do it. But I've got a problem over
here. There's somebody that's recruiting girls, offering them all
kinds of things if they go to The States then forcing them into
prostitution, killing anybody that tries to run away or report what's
going on. I'd like you to find him, take him out at this end of
the operation, make it real nasty so those he's working with get the
message. If they're willing and they're treated decently, we'll
let it be. But if you hurt the innocent we'll take you down."
The big man smiled. "I know several like that!" he answered. "Would be hard to tell which one!"
"Good!" The Ancient One grinned again. "Take 'em all out! Make a good lesson."
"Do my best," the big man answered.
"Oh! One other thing," The Ancient One continued, "any chance you
could make Vesuvius pop its cork, good size eruption?"
"Good possibility," the big man answered. "But I've got a feeling
it would be far more than you want, that it wouldn't just take out
Europe for several years, cripple everything, but it may even get into
Asia. And I know you're trying to establish good will
there. Might be a bad idea."
The Ancient
One sighed. "You're probably right," he answered. "It's something
we'll have to give very deep consideration. But maybe a few
rumbles to worry them."
The big man nodded.
"Give my regards to your lovely lady," he remarked. "Haven't
wrestled with her for a long time. Would enjoy a rematch!"
"Don't you ever get tired of getting your butt kicked?" The Ancient One asked.
"Not by her!" his friend answered. Both laughed joyously.
"Gotta get going," The Ancient One sighed. "Gotta have some nasty
tests on my physical form tomorrow. Not looking forward to it."
"Somebody's gonna wish they'd taken care of you!" the big man
roared. "They're gonna wish it very much!"
"Probably right," The Ancient One answered. "Let's just hope this world
isn't dying when they do. But you know you have a place. You're
an immortal like the rest of us. There's a couple of worlds that
would welcome your protection."
"I'd
rather go with the people of Greece to the stars," the big man
answered. "Make it happen, will you?"
"Do
my best!" The Ancient One assured. He got up, spread his
wings and soared away. The big man smiled watching him go and
muttered,
"Then it's taken care of, old
friend! Hmm, let's see! Where's those Russians?" He
quickly trotted off, looking one more time to the being soaring away.
"Yep!" he muttered, "Sure thing! Sure thing!"