"Hong Kong," he remarked, "I assisted some Chinese security people on a drug raid. Nice to see you again, captain!" He turned to one of the men. "She's a government agent. Have someone take her to the commercial airport and see that she has a ticket home. Ship her things home to her. But she's not to be harmed in any way."
"What a disappointment!" the man muttered, "She's wondrous in bed!"
"I know!" The Ancient One answered. "And the one with the blue and the brown eye. Take her with her. She's not that interested in men, and if she tries that with the girls she's going to end up lunch!"
One of the men turned to that woman and snapped "Hai!" The woman quickly joined the security agent who muttered "Don't get any ideas, honey!" Everyone laughed.
"Get the trucks!" The Ancient One snapped. Three trucks pulled up outside the hangar. The Ancient One picked up a strobe light, winged skyward, and the others followed. They twisted and turned through the hills. Finally The Ancient One landed. The parties parked the trucks and followed him up a narrow path. There were the remains of an ancient fortress. The Ancient One rolled aside a stone revealing a doorway. They entered. Four crystal coffins were arranged about the room. At the end of each was a bowl of stone holding putrid remains. "The coffins aren't heavy," The Ancient One remarked. "Four men can easily carry them. Slip a pole through those slots and they'll lift right out. But wait a minute. I'd better waken them first. If one of them should suddenly waken and find herself in a strange place she might attack before explanations can be made."
Everyone stepped back. The Ancient One held out his hand and a blue glow filled each coffin. There was a popping sound, and they opened. Six young women in their teens climbed out, their naked bodies shimmering in all the lights. "Oh!" one of them muttered, "You!"
"Yes," The Ancient One snapped, "Me! You have to be moved. There's a lot of trouble in this region now, constant battles. Sooner or later people are going to find your hiding place. I've arranged for some people for you to live with. They will have some problems that it will be very easy for you to solve for them. You'll get to play quite a bit, and they'll keep you safe while you're sleeping. But you only play with those that you are told you can play with."
The girls looked at each other. "We don't want to be separated," one of them remarked. "We've always been together."
"These people constantly travel," The Ancient One assured. You'll be together often. I'm quite sure you'll find it very pleasant. You'll have everything you'll need."
The girls all nodded. "I've got a question," Durga asked.
"What?" The Ancient One sighed.
"Why are there two whites, two Asians, and two coloreds? They're each obviously of different races."
Before The Ancient One could answer one of the girls did. "Our mother liked a great variety of food, and she sometimes played with them for some time before she ate them. We each have different fathers. "
"Oh!" Durga moaned. "They're black widows!"
"Yes," The Ancient One answered. "Their mother came here many ages ago. As she always obeyed the rules I never bothered her, and as her daughters do also, I have always protected them. We must get going! Do you wish to return to your coffins, or would you prefer to be out for awhile?"
One of the girls went over and carressed the arm of one of their benefactors. "Can we just have fun," she asked, "without playing?"
"Certainly!" The Ancient One answered.
"I've got just one more question," Durga put in. "What are these things?" She pointed to the bowls at the end of the coffins.
Again, one of the girls answered. "That's where we put the parts that we don't eat, the stomach and the intestines as a gift to our gods. The smell keeps things away."
"Well you're going to have to dispose of them in another way, from now on," Durga snapped.
The girls all sighed, bowed, and in perfect unison said "Yes, warrior mother! We understand!"
Robes were brought for the girls, the coffins were loaded into the trucks, and they headed off. When everybody was loaded on the planes and were departed Durga looked at The Ancient One. "What?" The Ancient One asked.
"Have you got any more of them hidden some place?" Durga asked.
"No," The Ancient One answered. "Taking care of six of them is quite enough! And we may have to move them to another world in a few years."
Durga gave a mischevious smile. "They only eat men, right?" she remarked.
"Right!" The Ancient One answered.
"Too bad!" Durga replied. "I'd like to have had them stop off in Alaska."
The Ancient One began to roar with laughter, fell to his knees, and continued to chuckle for some time.
"I actually got you to laugh?" Durga teased.
"That was good!" The Ancient One managed as he gained his feet, "That was really good! Come on! Now that we're gettin' back into the action there's somethin' else I want to do."
They took flight with The Ancient One still chuckling.