Beast of the Rockies, 7

They arrive at the ranch, to much fanfare, steam whistles, brass bells and steam pistols are fired, welcoming Sir Laurence to the Crystal Geyser Ranch. Ka Boom! “What the, blue blazes, what was that” Sir Laurence yells. “That is our new cannon, Sir Laurence, We use it to shoot potatoes around the ranch.” “Why?” Asks Sir Laurence. “Wahl. Er just for…you know, the heck of it!” “Ok, Mark, I get it!” “Guess I will drink to that! But lets get this barrel unloaded, I have to refill my flask!” Sir Laurence jumps out and pulls the tail down on the wagon. “Ok, boys! Grab this barrel and get to drinking, the Orange Vodka is on me! He laughs, eyes Mark, and says, “This should be a night to remember buddy, that beef smells good! Let’s celebrate, I got a barrel of sapphires!” They settle in on logs and stumps around the fire, and carve up some beef, washing it down with Orange Vodka, straight up! “So, Sir Laurence, what is going on?” Asks Mark. “Well, ol pal, I have to tell you that I am into some serious business here now. And you can’t tell anyone about this! I am inventing a Sapphire Powered Steam Device, that is why I had to get all these stones, to complete my experiments. Here is the real bad news, President Cleveland is concerned about Germany, and he has secretly contacted me and asked for my help if I can get the device going, I may be a jewel thief, but I am a patriot also! With Science, I have to try to help this country if it all comes to war!” Mark, eyes gleaming, qauffs a HUGE draught of Orange Vodka, “Blazes Sir Laurence, that’s a bunch of Hogwash, ain’t it!” “Sure ol’ buddy, it’s just my usual ridiculous fantasies, and that is a fact!” Grins Sir Laurence. I mean, think about it, If I told you there would be devices flying to other planets one day, what would you say?” “Hogwash some more, Sir!” Yells, Mark, “You’re just drunk, ya skunk!” “Yea, well try this one on for size, ol’ pal, what if I told you there is an infinite number of Universes? And one day, devices will carry humans between them, just like we ride that Beast, and horses and buggies around?” Sir Laurence looks earnestly, but seriously drunkenly, into his friend’s eyes. “Only You could have such Fantasies, Sir, Belch, and a fine story you tell. But, seriously, your distillation skills, are much better than you prophetic skills!” “Ah, yes the Orange Vodka, it shall fuel the dreams, create a better society, I believe.” Sir Laurence is seriously intoxicated now: “Believe, Believe my friend, the future holds devices capable of travel unlike any thing we can imagine now, and a spaceship is just the little flying device that hardly seems more than a firefly. What is coming is huge ships, flying through space and time in a way we cannot imagine now, with our little dirigibles putting around the sky! “Your dreams, Sir, your, Belch,! Dreams, Believe, believe, believe…Ha, ha. Such fantastical campfire stories!” Quaffs Mark. “Well,”Reeling and stumbling, almost falling in the fire, “I go to my blanket!” “Arghh, Me Too, urgh!” Mark dribbles. “Good night!”