Centaur of the Universe

[corjomc]

Francemir Residence
Pelham, NH
Sunday, January 24, 1999


    Quirke turned the lever which opened the large wooden doors into the stables. Ginger backed up when He entered but The Skipper trotted forward to greet Tom. He raised the shotgun. Skipper stared up the barrel at him.


    "This is crazy," Tom told himself, "It's not going to work, You don't want to shoot the Skipper."


    Quirke could hear Francko coming into the stables behind him. They were being followed by Dean and the rest of the Francemir family. Tom realized He had to act now.


    "Skipper is old," Tom told himself, "the whole situation is crazy maybe crazy is what you need to reverse it."


    Again Tom looked down the barrel. His eyes met with the horse. Other than being younger and a different color Tom's horse parts matched the Skipper to a tee. Tom gritted his teeth.


    "Sorry," He told the old stallion.


    Francko grabbed the gun. Tom yanked it back.


    "TOM!," Francko screamed, "DON'T!"


    Francemir pulled the gun again off target. Tom backhanded his friend and shoved them backwards. Dean came running up. Tom trained the gun again on the horse. Skipper was moving, reacting to what was going on outside his stall. Ginger began to whinny.


    In the distance sirens could be heard.


    "Dammit!," Tom pronounced as he made up his mind.


    Francko was quickly back on their hooves. They ran and body slammed Quirke. The gun fired. They both stumbled across the ground. The rest of the Francemir's entered the stable.


Sunshine Farm


    "We have to stop meeting like this," Tiffany Baylor told Tom as She put his arm in a sling.


    Tom sighed. He had fractured his left wrist and elbow. His right hand was cuffed to a post. That was courtesy of Derek Hanley who was also on the scene.


    "Using a gun without a license," Derek told his fellow Pelham alumn, "the other stuff Francko's folks aren't pressing any charges."


    "Do I need to be cuffed?," Tom questioned.


    Hanley laughed and freed Quirke. Tom shook his head. He was met with multiple aches. Tiffany told him She couldn't give painkillers. He smiled. That hadn't changed.


    "You were going to shoot that horse?," Jake Creech asked as He, Dean, and Stephen Miller came over.


    "That's insane," Miller told Tom, "did you really think that would work."


    Tom shrugged.


    "Where's Francko?," He asked embarrassed.


    "He . . .,errr, She, uh, they are back at their place," Dean told him.


    Quirke admitted He was getting desperate. The others had no solutions to offer.


    "It's cool being a centaur," Dean offered.


    "He can't sit on a toilet," Creech countered.


    "Or have a normal girlfriend," Miller added.


    Tom glanced over at Baylor. Hanley was chatting up the parademic. Tom groaned loudly. Tiffany excused herself and went to check on him.


    "I can't give you anything yet," She repeated.


    At the same time She ran her hand down Tom's equine spine. Baylor was petting him without thinking. Tom snorted without thinking. Hanley walked over and handed Tom his citation.


    "So drinks tonight?," Hanley asked Tiffany.


    "Barney's has kareoke," the paramedic told the policeman.


    "I love kareoke," Derek told her.


    Tiffany checked one more time on Quirke then got in the ambulance with her partner Barwell and drove off.


    "I hate kareoke," Hanley stated once She had left.


    He then told the guys He would be making Miss Baylor sing one way or another before the night was through. He then got in the cruiser with his partner Pedersen.


    "What an A-hole," Tom spat out as the cop car kicked up dirt as it sped off.


    'i think the paramedic liked you," Miller told Tom, "A shame really."


    "Hey," Creech laughed, "She should go with Tommy Boy here," he joked, "He's hung like a horse!"


    "Human-Centaur relations may prove difficult if not injurious to the human partner," Dean extrapolated.


    "I don't want to go out with anyone dumb enough to go out with 'Handsy' Hanley," Tom told his friends.


    "Go with the Purple girl," Creech suggested, "She's crazy, it'd be pure rodeo."


    "I would not get involved with someone who is acting the way Ms. Boyd is," Miller told Tom, "but Dean is correct about dating within your species."


    "Species?!," Tom blurted out, "I'm human guys!"


    Quirke told them someone would discover what was causing this. He told his friends they would discover a cure. If there was no cure it would go away of it's own accord.


    "Maybe a week," Tom argued, "A month . . ."

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Saturday, January 30, 1999

"You're holding it upside down," Cyndi Stone told Dean Dowell as He looked over the schematics to the editing equipment.

"Don't worry," Tom told Dean as He looked up from behind the rig they were assembling.

"Sorry," Cyndi bit her lip, "you said no talking."

Quirke laughed and told her maybe Dean needed to sit by and be quiet and She could help him assemble the computer editing system. Dean made a face. Stone smiled a big smile.

Quirke had spent the week logging his footage and getting cutaways shots. The B-Roll would help cover any cuts He had to make. He also got more interviews to get anything him and Maggyie Weisner may have missed. Most importantly, if He kept busy He did not have to think about the situation He was in or what had happened at Francemir residence.

"Really nice of Dr. Weisner to buy you this set up," Dean commented once He had swallowed his embarrassment.

"Well," Tom told his friend and Cyndi, "She wants Me to edit this project and there is no way I am fitting into the Tv studio."

Tom plugged in something in the back and asked Dean ifg anything came up on the screen. Dowell nodded that the screen was now showing color bars. Cyndi added the colors did not look right.

"S'okay," Tom told her, "We can fix that no problem," he explained, "right now I just need to know it's connected."

The three them had the system up and going by lunch.

"So no more VHS tapes?," Dean asked as Miller who showed up with some Wendy's for everyone.

"You mean SVHS tapes?," Tom asked and shook his head, "Still need them to record the action."

Miller had wrote down everyone's order and He read it back to them as He handed out the food. Quirke meanwhile explained that the big things gained by editing on a computer were the added versatility with the raw footage and the marked reduction in loss of quality every time the video was copied to something else. He added the Draco had gygabytes of space.

"A copy of a copy you mean," Miller asked after wiping his mouth of burger juice, "less degradation."

"Maggie sure spent a pretty penny," Dean added.

"Like I said," Tom repeated, "She wants these interviews done as quickly as possible."

"ASAP!," Cyndi chimed in remembering the acronym.

"Where's Francko?," Miller asked.

"Well Stephen," Dean explained, "Steven is still angry with Yosemite Sam Centaur so they have been staying at their home," He added, "y'know, the scene of the crime."

"Where's Creech?," Miller asked.

"Tom here," Dean told him, "sent our boy to run interference between Hanley and the beautiful paramedic."

Stephen Miller eyed his transformed friend.

"Two things Thomas," He started, "One, You are a centaur now," then Miller inhaled and added, "and Two, sending Creech to stop Hanley from," He paused glancing at the young Miss Stone before continuing, "getting his hands on Ms. Baylor is like sending the fox to guard the henhouse."

Tom blinked when Miller told him this. He had already told himself He had been stupid to think of shooting the Skipper. He had been even dumber to backhand Francko. Now with a vision of Tiffany Baylor shacking up with Creech forming in his head Tom was pretty sure He had a streak of dumb decisions going. He trotted over to the phone the Mullen family had in their riding hall so He could page Creech.

As He left his message two more people walked into the section where he had built the editing bay.

"He's right over there," the Centaured police officer, Sonya Shoemaker, told the new arrival to the farm.

"Oh my God!," Jennifer Glass exclaimed when She saw her ex-boyfriend, "Tom!"

Glass ran over and after a pause embraced Quirke tightly. Tom almost dropped his drink and potato. Miller and Dean looked on amazed at this turn of events. Cyndi looked on with, although She did not quite know the feeling yet, jealousy.

"Don't worry Tom," Glass told him confidently, "We are going find You a cure!"

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Tuesday, February 2, 1999

"Democracy?," Helen Fischer questioned the interviewer, "You don't vote yes or No on matters Mof common decency!"

Mrs. Fischer was the oldest of the transformed people staying at the Mullen family farm. A heated debate was taking place among the half-horse herd. Mr. Mullen had ordered all the people staying on his family farm to assemble at the paddock.

It was a four-legged folk only affair. The only two-leggers invited were Dr. Vijay Sindhu and Dr. Benjamin Weisner, and the Boniface family.

At least it got Jane Glass out of his hair for a while Tom mused.

The Mullens had talked to Dr. Sindhu and the Weisners. Mike and Kristie Mullen after conferring with the medical people had made their decision. They wanted to let everyone know all at once they would all be wearing horse blankets or the equivalent while staying at the Sunshine from this point on. The arguing soon began. Many demanded they vote on the idea.

Tom of course was recording all of this for Maggie. Cyndi trotted over to see if He needed help. Quirke smiled. She was a sweet kid. He began to worry that maybe He had spent too long watching her thrashing around in Little Island Pond before going in and rescuing her.

The thought was fleeting. His concentration turning back to the shot at hand. So many people with their thoughts on the matter. He was not the only one recording the discussion.

“Will the Horse Folk vote Yea or Nay,” WMUR-9’s Ray Brewer asked his bigger professional camera.

Although He was jealous of the rig the guy from channel Nine had brought to the Sunshine Tom got a shot of their setup. It would make good B-Roll for his projects.

“You old hag,” Erica Boyd shot back, “we are the avatars of the new age!”

“You’re freakin’ loon,” Fischer shot back, “and you need your medication!”

“You are ashamed of our blessing,” Boyd countered as She turned her Purple hindquarters to face the old woman, “You would hide our superiority!”

Both Quirke and the WMUR camera guy zoomed in on the action. Boyd started waving her tail. Mrs. Fischer asked that someone get the young woman’s parents. The oldest of the Mullen children, Robin, went over to deal with her.
Erica was wearing a Gold turtleneck sweater. She turned again to face Fischer. She threw off the sweater. Tom looked up from his camcorder. The WMUR had done the same at his field camera. They exchanged a glance and sighed.

“Erica!,” Robin yelled at the high schooler.

Mullen grabbed the turtleneck and did her best to cover up Boyd.

“I am the High Priestess of the Lord High Sea God Poseidon!,” Erica yelled while trying to evade Mullen, “He is coming!,” Boyd continued, “the New Age is upon us!”

In his periphery Quirke saw Detective Anaya motion over to Patrolman Shoemaker. They were both local cops. Sonya Shoemaker galloped over to deal with the situation. She was joined by one of the trainers at Sunshine Farm, Sara Hilliard, and Robin’s friends.

Tom looked over and Cyndi was laughing.

“She’s silly,” Stone told Tom.

“That’s one word for it,” Quirke responded.

“Ha Ha!,” Brian Boniface ran over and told Cyndi, “I don’t have to wear a horse blanket and You do!”

Cyndi turned and looked down at the annoying half canine child. She was 10, soon to be 11. She did not have take guff from this pipsqueak. She waved a fist at him. Brian the Dog-Boy laughed and ran away.

Tom panned the camera over at the people who were not currently wearing a blanket. Other than the High Priestess and Dog-Boy the newlyweds, Mr. & Mrs. Rice were living unencumbered. Cyndi and her Mother were also in the non-blanket camp. The guy who had accidentally killed his wife and his daughter also no blanket. Even one of Robin Mullen’s friends was sans cover.

Tom stopped the camera when it reached Francko. Steve also had no blanket. Francemir was talking with the Hayley Harper who Mother had been killed when the transformation had happened. Tom and Francko had not talked since the events at the Francemir stables. When Francko saw the camera was on him He turned so as to not be facing Quirke.

Tom brought the camera back to where the speakers were. They were at the same mic that He had used for the interviews. The SVHS tape had two audio tracks. One got the speakers while the other captured the nat sound.
“That’s it everyone,” the big Blonde guy who had arrived recently told everyone, “This not a voting situation, the Mullens want everyone to dress like humans and have some modesty.”

“And if we refuse?,” Erica the High Priestess demanded.

Detective Anaya trotted over to the microphone.

“Anyone who does not cover up will be arrested,” He informed the crowd, “for indecent exposure.”

“You can cover our beautiful blessings!,” Boyd hollered out, “but You can Never Take OUR FREEEDOM!”

Unfortunately for the self-appointed keeper of the new faith the others did not rally to her like the Scots to Mel Gibson. Instead She was escorted inside the riding hall so She could calm down.

With his arm in a sling Cyndi was very helpful breaking down the camcorder and tripod. She also helped with the microphone, stand, and cables. When Elena came over to collect her daughter Tom made sure to tell her how helpful Cyndi was.

“Well we have to go shopping for something stylish to wear,” Mrs. Stone told Quirke, “they want us to behave like humans by wearing horse blankets, really?”

She also thanked Tom again for saving her daughter at the pond. Quirke smiled. He could not help but think Cyndi’s Mom has got it going on. He watched her leave and headed to the newly built editing bay in the riding hall.

It was while trying to figure out how He would edit or work around Erica Boyd’s rated-R behavior that He had a visitor. It was difficult doing the editing one handed. Tom had to concentrate more. So as he was looking at that part of the footage that needed censuring He did not notice the person walk up to him. He almost had a double-heart attack.

“It didn’t work,” James Vanover said aloud.

James Vanover was a wealthy businessman. His wife Sandra was looking to be in the Olympics next year. Sandra had trained her whole life riding horses to get the chance to represent the USA in Sydney. Now James and Sandra were both half-stallions.

“What??,” Tom asked while fumbling to turn off the screen showing Erica the High Priestess.
James Vanover cleared his throat.

“Listen,” he explained, “My wife wants to win a Gold Medal next year in Australia,” Vanover then paused, “I want my wife back.”
“Okay . . .,” Tom replied.

“Earlier today,” Vanover paused again, “I euthanized both Akbar and Magnifico.”

Tom stared at the other afflicted centaur. Vanover told Quirke He had heard about his attempt to reverse their condition by shooting the horses He and his friend had most recently ridden. Seeing no other way Vanover decided to what Tom had been unable to do.

Nothing happened. His prize steeds, including the one Sandra rode in her competitions, they were both dead. He had killed them both and to no avail. He and his wife were did not return to being human. They were both still centaur. She was still male.

“I just wanted to let you know,” Vanover sighed, “You should let Dr. Sindhu and the veterinarians know as well.”
“Yeah,” Tom agreed thinking how close He had come to shooting Ginger and the Skipper.

He suddenly realized the situation He was now in with Francko was totally unnecessary. It need not be happening. Tom gritted his teeth.

“Don’t worry,” Vanover told Tom while placing a hand on his shoulder, “I am going to find the cure,” He announced confidently, “even if I have to burn through all my fortune to do so.”

[corjomc]

Gage Hill Pond

Pelham, NH

February 2, 1999



"Thomas J. Quirke," Tom thought to himself as night fell and He snuck off with the Vanovers, "Cameraman by day, Ninja Horse by Night!"



James Vanover had designed a system for collecting data en masse and organizing it. He then sold his company and went into semi-retirement a very rich man. His wife Sandra was an equestrian with dreams of competing in the 2000 Olympics. Neither were happy with their current situation.



They went past Little Island Pond through the woods and down the back roads. No one stopped them. The official quarantine was not being strictly enforced. No one in Pelham thought the Centaurification was contagious. Not after a week anyway.



The Vanover Estate was not as big building-wise as Francko's place but when the reached the end of the cul-de-sac it was located on Quirke could see they owned more property. All of Gage Hill Pond to be exact.



"We're here," Vanover told Tom as the entered the stables, "wipe your hooves."



Quirke stopped. He did as He was told. There were people both 2-legged and 4 already at their stables. Tom noticed that unlike the Mullen's farm there were no horses in these stables.



They had actually done it Tom thought to himself. This was concerning in many ways. One, it didn't work. That made Tom worry that maybe there was no way of reversing their situation. Two, it showed how ruthless this James Vanover fellow could be.



Tom winced. The memory of backhanding Francko and going to shoot Skipper replayed in his mind. He shook it off. He told himself He had been desperate. Francemir shouldn't have grabbed for the shotgun. He could have injured either or both of them.



"Tom Quirke," Vanover introduced him, "this is Amy Harte and her Father Bob."



Amy was now half stallion. She smiled and shook Tom's hand. Her father who was not transformed did the same. Mr. Harte told Tom that there was nothing to worry about. He assured him that James Vanover was going to fix everything.



"Well hopefully not everything dad," Amy told her father in her male voice.



Quirke eyed the other centaur. He wondered did She prefer being half horse? Maybe She preferred being a guy. Tom wondered if they turned Francko and him back to be human again would Steve remain a girl. Quirke began to think of how He could try to make amends with his friend.



The other centaur present trotted over and grabbed Tom's hand shaking it energetically.



"James tells Me you are videoing everything over at the Sunshine," Dean Schott told Quirke while pumping his hand.



"I am recording events for Dr. Weisner," Tom told his fellow transformed human.



"We will need copies of your video," another person stepped forward to tell Quirke.



"Amjt Patel," Schott introduced the nontransformed tech guy, "Jeet here is James' extra brain."



Patel glanced at the centaur and repeated that they required copies of the footage Tom was taking. He told Quirke that if they were to find the cure it was of the utmost importance. Tom could tell that Patel was awaiting a response.



To be honest Tom told himself He had not signed any contracts with Maggie. Still handing over her info without letting her know He was doing so did not seem legit. On the other hand He wanted a cure. Patel awaited a yes or no.



"Why," Tom asked after hemming and hawing, "Why can't you work together?"



Quirke was relieved. That was the best response. Also, working together would be the best way to do things. Keep it all in the open and find the cure.



"You are correct," Vanover trotted over and told Tom, "both You and the Weisners should be working for Me."



"If they get on board," Sandra added, "we will work this out all the sooner."



"We can't find a cure," another person in the stable put forth, "unless we know why it happened to begin with."



"It was the return of the Great and Powerful Poseidon," Vanover joked, "we are the avatars of the new millennium!"



Everyone here must have learnt of the rants of Erica Boyd. They all laughed at Vanover's joke.



"I am Ms. Vanover's coach, Ted, Ted Mitchell," the man who had just spoke told Tom, "You been shoed yet?"



"Shoed?," Tom asked.



"Yeah," Coach Mitchell asked, "Shoed and fed."



Tom had to admit He was hungry. The whole shoed thing kind of weirded him out. Was this guy actually offering to nail horseshoes on him? Quirke involuntarily retreated. Visions of him turning back to normal and having pieces of iron nailed into his feet made his mind scream.



Betty Mitchell, Ted's wife, entered the stable and she had brought food, A lot of food. Tom was devouring the meal when a truck pulled up. Two more centaurs exited from the trailer it was pulling. A pair of fillies.



Sandra Vanover galloped outside and hugged her friends. Both were bundle from the waist up for the weather. She lead them quickly inside to the warmth of the stables. They were fellow equestrians like herself.



"Romulus DeBerg," the first on with Red hair and thus Red horse half told Tom with an overly dramatic curtsy.



"Scott Scanlon," the other one told Tom as they trotted up and shook his hand.



"So Jimmy," DeBerg Smiled at Vanover, "Find the cure yet?"



Vanover smiled a knowing smile. He told DeBerg they had but unfortunately it did not work on Gingers. He hoped that was not an inconvenience.



"Must be the whole lacking a soul thing," DeBerg shot back, "are there any children around I could steal one or two from?"



Scanlon was not into the frivolity. He instead made a bee-line for the spread Mrs. Mitchell had laid out. The driver of the truck and the passengers walked over to Vanover. Tom noticed as they talked Vanover had motioned to him. Downing his fourth sandwich Quirke left the table, thanked Mrs. Mitchell, and went over to the new arrivals.



"So surgery may be the only way," the tall man Tom would learn was one Dr. Peter Foreman told Vanover.



"The upper half of your altered bodies can most likely survive independently," his nurse Abigail Walton added, "once separated from the horse section."



"Without legs?," Sandra Vanover asked with concern, "What about going the bathroom?"



"It's not the optimum option," Dr. Foreman admitted, "but it is an option."



Vanover reminded them that He also wanted his wife back in a womanly way as well. Walton informed him there were procedures for that as well. Vanover nodded while glancing at his wife and doing the calculations in his head.



Tom thought about it as well. Could his human half survive independently of the horse half? In his mind He could see himself hooked up to machines or in a wheelchair. On the plus side the world was built to help those who were in wheel chairs. It wasn't perfect, not by a long shot, but it was more accommodating than it was for people the size of a mythical creature.



He also wondered about going the bathroom. He didn't even want to think of the effects on his sex life. Quirke had pretty much given up on that anyway. Still having all that part of him permanently removed was a pretty scary proposition.



"They can build bigger doors," Tom finally told himself.



His thoughts were interrupted by Patel. He wanted an answer from Tom.



"Whatever Dr. Weisner is paying You," Patel told Tom, "James will double it."

[corjomc]

Gage Hill Pond
Pelham, NH
Wednesday, February 3, 1999

Groundhog Day had come and gone without infinitely repeating Tom noticed with a sigh of relief. He had gotten a lot more superstitious since the events of January 23rd. Honestly He thought could anyone blame him? Why should the insanity stop at centuarification?

“So Dr. Foreman will be in charge of the scientific part of our research,” James Vanover told everyone while standing in front of the whiteboard He had brought into the stables.

The whiteboard had things like ‘Scientific inquiry’, ‘Magic’, and ‘The End of the World’ written on it. Mr. Vanover was leaving no stone unturned in his quest for a cure. Quirke liked that. He didn’t like that Vanover wanted to keep his endeavor in this regard secret. Tom was not fully on board due to this factor.

“Rom,” Vanover turned to the Redhead, “I am putting you in charge of the mystical end of the investigation.”

“James,” his wife Sandra interjected in her awkward male voice, “What if this Boyd girl is actually onto something?”

“Is that the Purple nut cake?,” Dean Schott shot back.

“We all had the Stampede dream,” Sandra returned crossing her arms.

“It’s definitely worth looking into,” Vanover agreed with his wife.

“I nominate camera boy here,” Rom DeBerg told the room, “The Princess will eat up the chance to be on Tv and film!”

“Camera Boy?,” Tom questioned when He heard it.

“Sorry,” Romulus looked over his shoulder grinning at Quirke, “Camera Colt.”

Quirke frowned. They want him to spy on Maggie and now they want him to cozy up to his annoying neighbor. Erica Boyd was a winey pain before the event. She was infinitely worse now. Vanover met Tom’s gaze. Tom nodded.

“Dammit,” Tom thought internally after doing so.

“I will be collecting the reports from everyone,” Amjit stood up and informed the group before adding, “We also need to find out how this effecting the rest of the world.”

Catedral la Inmaculada Concepcion
Bolivar Square
Armenia, Columbia

Maria had ducked around the back of the Cathedral. Her life had become a living hell and she needed a break. She did not want anyone to see her smoking. Pleasure filled her as She inhaled the nicotine smoke.

The young woman thought of how many times She had brought pleasure to Father Figueroa and Father Moench right her hidden in the shadows of God’s house. She shuddered but was happy that was not going to be happening ever again. Figeuroa disgusted her. Moench was a monster.

Another puff later and her respite came to an end. A young girl who had not been injured in the giant earthquake that had torn through the town had found her. She pointed and called out.

“Ya está aquí la Monja Mula Padre Lucas!,” Anna Fernando called out smiling and pointing at Sister Maria Caterine Paguen.

Maria quickly threw down the cigarette She had been smoking and stamped it out with one of her front hooves. She stepped out to where Anna was standing. Fathers Figeuroa and Moench were staning in the street with many other of the parishioners. There was even a camera crew there filming.

The people enthusiastically gave Maria thanks for all the work She hadone to help rescue people and tend to those injured in the great disaster. A smile appeared on the Nun’s face.

“Three cheers for Sister Maria!,” Father Figeroa incited the crowd, “3 Cheers for the Angel of Armenia!”

Jaipur, India

Hubert Hammond Patel had been very happy to visit his Grandmother back in India. His father was intent on convincing Manu to leave her home and move with them to Quebec. Grandmother had been extremely reluctant to go. It was during this trip that they decided to go 2 hours out of their way and visit the Safari & Elephant Rides in Jaipur.

“How are we going to get back home?,” the now giant half elephant teen asked his also transformed Parents and Sister.

Zveçan, Kosovo Region

As He made his way between the trees Alexandre Peranovic had to laugh quietly. He had gone from the groups best horseman to a horse-man. He had no idea how it had happened but the whole squad were now centaurs.

They had been hunting for the KLA terrorists who had murdered Father Rasonovic. Suddenly early in the morning they while having breakfast they all started to glow. When it was over and done Alex found himself with a horse lower half that looked just like the body of his animal Pobeda (Victory).
The men who rode fillies had also become women.

They had decided to halt their search and had been on their way back to their village outside Mitrovica when a shot rang out. Alex’s friend Josip got hit in the temple. His four knees bent and He was dead before his hit the ground. There was no going back now. Captain Zorovic was furious. They were going to find the sniper and they were going to kill him.

Darkhan, Mongolia

It had been the greatest match of Kokpar ever played. Hundreds of the men magically changed into halfman, half horses had gathered to play in the lands traditional sport. Many were injured. Some had even been killed but in the end Tsendin Davanayar had lead his men to the victory.

The growing crowd cheered Tsendin’s name as He held what remained of the headless goat in the air. It was then that Davanayar looked around him and began to dream impossible things.

Kruger National Park
South Africa

Sbelo Sage had joined the Park Rangers to protect endangered animals from poachers. He was also there to find out if his commander Francois Snyk was in the pocket of the very poachers they were supposed to be stopping. His mission had became that much more difficult after January 23rd.

“Well,” his fellow ranger and centaur, Jerrel Van Der Wekken, told Sbelo, “If you didn’t want to become a filly you should have rode a colt or stallion boyo.”


Seoul, South Korea

Jiwon Le was still trapped in her 34th floor apartment. The authorities, her family, her friends, and her neighbors had all been very helpful and considerate. Only the building’s owner was being difficult. He would not allow any damage to be done to his building.

Jiwon also worried about her job as a dentist. She had missed over a week. Then She realized would She even fit in the clinic now? She did consider that then again this was a worldwide phenomenon. Would She have to be a dentist for only centaur clientele? Could She make a living doing that?

“Ms. Le,” the officer came in and awoke her from her thoughts, “the helicopter is enroute.”

Le looked out to see the aircraft coming towards her apartment. It was getting louder and louder. The harness they planned to use dangled below. Below the helicopter the street was full of onlookers. All wanting to see what would happen. For Better or Worse She steeled herself.

They’re calling me the Human Pegasus,” Le told the officer with a quick nod and a smile.

[corjomc]

Thomas J. Quirke Born 4/4/1974 Pelham, NH, USA Videographer, Funeral Home worker – Tom is seeking to find the “Cure” while also recording and documenting the strange phenomena.

NEW POVs
Sister Maria Caterine Paguen 11/19/1977 Armenia, Columbia, Nun, Sister Maria was forced to become a nun by her parents. She has since been molested by two of the priests there. She secretly hates the Church she belongs to. During the earthquake that struck 2 days after She got turned into a Centaur She helped save many people. She is being called the “Angel of Armenia”.

Hubert Hammond Patel 2/2/1982 Quebec City, QB, Canada, High School, Bert went on a trip to India to visit his Grandmother. While their he and his family rode elephants. They are now Elephantaurs. His birthday is on Groundhog Day.

Alexandre Peranovic, 10/18/1977 North Mitrovica, Yugoslavia, Wielder, Alex was part of a group hunting assassins when his squad got transformed. On their way back to HQ a sniper killed one of his friends in the squad. They are now hunting the sniper.

Sbelo Sage, 10/22/1966, Johannesburg, South Africa, Park Ranger, Sage was assigned undercover to the Rangers to find out if their commander, Francois Snyk, was being paid off by the poachers they are supposed to be stopping. He is now half human and half filly. He has a Wife and 3 year old Son.

Jiwon Le, 3/6/1976, Seoul, South Korea, Hotel Concierge Staff, Jiwon has been stuck in her apartment since transforming. They are going to get her out by helicopter. News crews are filming her extraction. She’s being hailed as the “Human Pegasus”.

Future POVs
The heir to the villa in Northern Italy
The innkeeper Down Under who is also a politician
We are Steel Samuri!, . . .well we were . . .
Joe at the Latoon Fairy Bush

[corjomc]

& Tsendin Davanayar

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm

Pelham, NH

Tuesday, February 3, 1999



"Something wrong Freshman?," Maggie Weisner asked noticing something going on in Quirke's head.



Tom was relieved She wasn't psychic. Part of him wanted to tell her that James Vanover was planning to have him spy on her progress dealing with Centaurification. Tom did not like being deceptive to friends or even aquaintences. Then again He really didn't like being a centaur either.



"We haven't reverted back to being human yet," Tom told the veterinarian.



"Thomas," Maggie stood up straight and responded in her full 'Dr. Weisner' voice.



A shudder went down Tom's spine. It traveled from his human body and across the equine one causing his tail to shake. It was the same voice her Father had used when He told Tom and his parents the fate of their beloved Buttercup. Tom wished one could mute what their ears were hearing.



"We may have to start entertaining the possibility that there is an outside chance that we may just may be unable to reverse the strange but fantastic transformations that have happened to us," Maggie told him in a long-winded fashion.



Tom swallowed. Maggie was hedging towards giving up He thought.



"It's the 20th century!," Tom blurted out.



"Almost the 21st Freshman," Maggie interjected, "although, technically, it's not really the the next millennia until 2001, actually."



"Whatever," Tom responded flustered, "we have space shuttles and microwaves we should be able to fix this."



Maggie went on to point out that mass transformation was something they were nowhere near performing and thus undoing it would be either difficult or impossible. She told Quirke to be prepared to accept their fate.



"On the plus side," Maggie smiled, "We are in on the ground floor of all of this, so, when I publish my paper on this it will put Me on the map," She told Tom adding, "and You can only profit from coming along for the ride."



"Uh," Tom stared, "Right."



Quirke excused himself. He decided to stick with Vanover. The tech millionaire wanted him to investigate his neighbor. Tom was pretty sure that Erica Boyd was quite mad. He had thought She wasn't quite right before her transformation. Still Vanover's right hand man, Amjit, had said even if there was only a 1% chance Quirke should check it out.



Tom grabbed a camera and tripod. He looked around for the self appointed High Priestess. Instead He found Cynthia Stone. The 10-year-old trotted up to him smiling.



"Do we have another interview?," She asked, "I was practicing how to hold a microphone with the dog boy's sister."



"Great," Tom responded before asking if Cyndi knew where Erica could be found.



Stone grabbed Tom's hand and started trotting across the snow to where Erica Boyd was in the woods with several of the other transformed teens. She wasn't wearing her blanket. Tom was only half surprised to see she was wearing Blue/Purple/Red bikini top.



"They're gonna get in trouble Mr. Quirke," Cyndi told Tom referring to half the teens not wearing blankets.



"True," Quirke nodded.



He and and Cyndi were wearing blankets. It was confusing to Tom how some people had just given up on the concept of covering their lower body. Horse or not He considered it a little perverse.



"Tom!," Erica called out waving when She spotted him and Cyndi.



Boyd started galloping to where Quirke was. The rest of the teens followed. Tom had to stop himself from shaking his head. His neighbor had followers.



"Have you come to record the Gospel of the Great Sea Lord?," Erica asked brimming with enthusiasm.



"Dr. Weisner wants me to record all aspects of the event," Tom amswered.



"Well," one of the now female Mullen twins announced, "Quirke's going to have video evidence of who is violating the public decency rules my Father has required here."



The twin talking was wearing a blanket. The other twin was not. The oldest of Mullen teens admonished her brother for being a snitch. She told Tom to only record them from the waist, human parts, up.



"It's a stupid rule," Erica announced shaking her fist, "Your Father is uncool and not down with the way the world is now and forever will be!"



"Poseidon is coming!," Hayley Hadley hollered.



Quirke blinked. When they had transformed Hadley's Dad had accidentally killed her Mother. Now this traumatized teen was being influenced by Boyd. Quirke made a note to do something about it when He got the chance.



Tom handed the tripod to Cyndi and She started putting it up. He put a SVHS tape in his camcorder and double-checked the settings. When He looked up Cyndi was showing Erica the proper way to hold the microphone.



"So," Tom smiled at the High Priestess after hitting record, "Tell Me about your God."





World Trade Park

Jaipur, Rathasthan



"It's like the Life of Brian," Bert Patel lamented.



The circus tents had been set up at Sobhit Park outside the giant mall. Bert and his family had been staying in said tents after becoming Elephantaurs. People had begun gathering outside theirs with offerings of prayers and food.



"Well at least your still a boy," his sister, Kharisma, lamented.



Bert turned from the opening in the large tent's door to his sister.



"You're a boy," He reminded her.



"D'uh," Kharisma replied while rolling her eyes, "that's what I mean!"



Both his Mother and Sister were male now as well as elephantaurs. Bert had not been able to figure out why. His Father was talking to a guy from the Canadian consulate. He was working on getting them home.



"What if we leave," Kharisma asked her brother, "and they end up curing everyone here?"



"If we didn't come here," Bert argued, "we wouldn't be in this boat."



They weren't the only ones here at Sobhit. There were half-horse people, half-mule people, and there was even a half monkey-dog running around the park. A helicopter hovered overhead. They had all been prodded and poked by an array of scientists. A news crew was videoing everything. They joined the people now worshipping them.



"At least the people praying to us brought food," Kharisma told Bert.



"True," He admitted as He had not eaten so much in his life this past week.



Patel walked over and peeked through the opening in the tent door. He shook his head. This could not be magic. He and his family weren't 'Blessed by Ganesha' or anything of the sort He told himself. What kind of idiot believed that sort of thing Patel asked himself.





Rashan, Kosovo



Aleksandre Peranovic moved through the trees. He told himself to keep moving. Go left, juke right. There was a sniper in these woods. Keep moving. Don't be an easy target. The term 'Stealthy Centaur' seemed an obvious oxymoron.



Alek was with his friends Milenko and Neman. They were leading Captain Zorovic's squad. They were on point hunting the man or men who had killed Josip. Alek kept his head on a swivel. Being a centaur made him and his squadmates bigger targets. Keep moving. Go right, juke left.



"What if we are walking into an ambush?," Neman Ivanoskaya whined, "this is how those bastards set up traps!"



Milenko Arunashvili turned to Neman and raised a finger to their lips.



"Just saying," Neman whispered loudly as He crossed himself, "we could be walking into a trap."



Alek considered that Neman was not necessarily wrong. He scanned between the trees and rock through the winding branches. Killers could be hiding anywhere. Still He moved forward. They could not let their fears allow the sniper to escape. Neman was probably wrong Alek told himself.



The young Serb put aside concern over being transformed. He tried not too think of how he was going to tell his family. His Mother was so afraid He woud be killed when He rode of with the Captain to avenge Father Nikola. He dared not think about it. He had to concentrate on the sniper.



"Look at this," Milenko whispered to Alek suddenly.



Alek turned pointing his gun in his friend's direction. Since their transformation Milenko sounded just like his older sister Terezia. The young Serb decided not to think about that either. Alek approached what Milenko had found. It was a path.



"What's that?!," MIlenko blurted out spinning and pointing his gun.



Alek had heard the noise as well. He and Neman turned ready to fire.



"Hey," Zarubi Datubic smiled, "wazzup?"



"We almost killed you Zubi!," Neman whispered angrily.



The squad member called Zubi Dubi by his mates shrugged and laughed. Alek sighed thinking they had almost obliterated Datubic. Zorovic lead the rest of the squad up to their position.



"Cover the flanks," the Captain ordered.



"Back to Mitrovica," Ivan Maksitic, the tax collector, told everyone when He saw the pathway, "or to Rashan."



"Home of the Xhamia Rashan," Ivan's younger brother Andrei mentioned the Mosque that predominated the village.



"To Rashan obviously," Zorovic answered as if it was a foregone conclusion.



Milenko and Alek again were on point. The squad cautiously approached the Kosovo village. Rashan was broken up into small groups of buildings due to the mountainous terrain. The Captain trotted up to address Alek and the rest of the squad.



"For centuries we suffered under the yolk of the invaders," Zorovic reminded his men, "unti finally the Turk were pushed back to Contantinople," He continued, "despite this the traitors remain."



Captain Davor Zorovic raised a hand in the direction of Rashan.



"The descendants of those who had betrayed Christ and his Church remain," He told his soldiers, "even now to this very day the traitors wish to steal away with pieces of a Free Serbia."



Aleksandre had heard these words before. Father Nikola was more fiery in his speeches than the Captain but He had said just the same things. The Priest told tales of tragedies and betrayals in Serbia's past and the traitors had killed him for it.



"The traitors in Rashan killed Nikola," Zorovic stated with a surety, "they killed Josip, and now, now my brothers it is the time for them to pay."

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm

Pelham, NH

Tuesday, February 3, 1999



"She's weird," Cyndi Stone replied with a look of concerned disbelief.



Tom laughed and nodded. The meeting of the Church of the Coming Age had ended with most of those in attendance leaving with Robin Mullens. Only Hayley Hadley had stayed with Boyd. Robin's younger twin brothers had argued to stay but when She threatened them with telling their father they gave up.



"We don't need them," Hayley said loud enough so those leaving could hear her.



"Don't worry," Erica replied smiling, "they will be back."



Tom watched all of this with growing disappointment. He had to admit part of him wanted his neighbor to have it all figured out. Boyd talked a lot but instead of making him feel She was leading everyone to the new tomorrow She came across as his flaky neighbor making it up as She went along.



"So what's next?," Quirke questioned Boyd, "reluctantly put your blankets back on and head back to the farm?"



Hadley turned and glared. Erica was still smiling when She looked behind Tom.



"They're going to stay with Me," Steve Francemir said and Tom spun on his hooves to turn around.



"Francko?," Tom blurted out, "What the Hell?"





County Automotive

Latoon, County Clare, Ireland



Rebuilding a transmission could be an arduous endeavor. Joey O'Brien delved into the work losing himself in the repair process. It was difficult putting a trainey back together but it could be done at a price.



"What's the price?." O'Brien wondered, "to be human again, to be a man again?"



"Joseph Peter O'Brien," the voice said aloud.



Joe turned around embarrassed recognizing Father Callahan's voice. He wiped his hands as the priest took in his new appearance. O'Brien had never felt so awkward.



"It's really true," The holy man muttered.



"Can you help Me?," Joe asked after a brief pause.



Father Callahan sighed and put his hands behind his back before starting to walk around O'Brien. The mechanic did not like the answer He was getting so far.



"Joseph my boy," Callahan sighed, "I am here to investigate whether what happened to you and the others is a miracle," the priest covered a cough then continued, "or something else."



Joe gave the priest a look. the worst thoughts entered his mind like shoppers going into a mall on Black Friday. The old smiled a disarming smile.



"Are you going to size me up for a stake and some flames??," O'Brien asked with concern.



Callahan told Joseph to not be silly. He told the transmogrified younger man He was not going to be burned alive. Callahan chuckled.



"The majority of witches and warlocks were hung," the Church investigator informed O'Brien.





Gallini Family Resort

Colle Isarco, Italy



The Cisalpine resort looked through the Italian Alpes into Austria. It had been in the family Gallini for centuries. Past from father to son one generation to the next. It had survived Napoleon. It had survived Mussolini. Novella Gallini trotted to the observation point and breathed in the mountain air into her stallion lungs.



Novella Gallini looked across the family estate. She started to laugh. Soon it would all be hers.





Blue Dingo

Sydney, Australia



Frasier Strickland above the patrons on the patio outside his tavern. He was watching the repair crew. When he transformed Strickland had been in the loo. The emergency services had to cut through the wall to get him out. Frasier was still arguing with his insurance people. It was only through his connections that Strickland was able to get out of the quarantine to be able to check out his bar.



"Hey Boss,"one of his waitresses, Amy White, called out, "Y'know, since you got the opening why don'tcha take advantage of that fact?"



Strickland looked over at White. She was always coming up with weird ideas. He asked her what She was getting at.



"Make the place centaur accessible," She told him, "just put in a big door."



Strickland put on a forgiving smile.



"You want my customers to walk through the Men's room to get into the Dingo?"



"No," Amy replied raising her index finger in the air, "we just continue being a one bathroom tavern."



"Ewwwww," Strickland responded making a face, "That's gross."



"What's gross about it?," Amy asked defending her idea like She usually did.



"Gents going in the ladies loo ya daft sheila," Strickland pointed out.



Amy looked at him blankly.



"Do you think us guys are always on target?," He asked, "Do ya think we always lift the seat?, I mean especially if we've had a few?, Really?"



"Well it would only be temporary," She argued while still looking disgusted by the mental imagery her Boss had created in her head.



"Temporary?," Strickland responded, "what??"



"Well until you build a new Men's restroom," Amy told him.



"What??," the disbelieving what He was hearing tavern owner repeated.



Amy went on to explain that just like regulations existed to help the handicap there would soon be regulations requiring entrances and egresses for the equinoid population.



"Are you calling Me handicap?," Strickland asked getting defensive.



Amy told him She was not. She told him She was being pragmatic.



"We'll see," Strickland muttered looking back to the workers repairing the wall.



"Better act quick," Amy responded with a smile, "Boss."

[corjomc]

Francemir Residence
Pelham, NH
T​uesday, February 3, 1999


    "Don't touch Me," Francko told Tom when He tried to pull his friend aside.


    "Sorry," Quirke told Francemir.


    The High Priestess Boyd and Hanley had gone ahead to the stables. Quirke had to find out why in the world Steve was joining Erica's Cult of Posiedon. Tom could not believe his friend was so desperate.


    "Listen," Francemir told him when pressed, "nothing else is working."


    Tom noticed Francko had crossed their arms as they answered. They kept glancing over to the main house. Quirke told his friend they had to keep trying. in a low voice He reminded Francko that Boyd was nuts.


    "It's the only choice," Steve told him while again glancing toward the main house.


    Quirke looked over to the home Frankco had grown up in then followed his friend to the stables.



Raghadan Palace
Amman, Jordan


    "What am I doing here?," the merchant Akmet El-Akbari desperately asked the others in the veterinary section of the Royal Stables.


    "You are here along with us," the Centaur with the posh accent told him, "in service to my cousins."


    Akmet reminded himself this was all too real.  He had become a camel like his ride Pogo. Just like Pogo from the waist down. Exactly the same except His camel parts were Black.


    The crowds in the capital had not reacted kindly.  Many saw the 'Black Camel Man' as some sort of person who was either cursed or possessed by evil, maybe both.  He had tried to flee.  An army patrol had caught him outside the Old Roman City.


    "We're in the Palace," Akmet reminded the large horseman.


    "He is Reza El-Ammani," the other centaur present told Akmet, "he is a distant relative to the King."


    "Mind yourself Soldier boy," El-Ammani smiled, "the blood of the Prophet flows through these veins."


    "Seeing what has happened to You," the other centaur snorted, "my doubts on that grow stronger and stronger."


    Akmet watched the other two glare at each other. Despite being a Black horse from the waist down Akbari found the female centaur to be quite beautiful. Akmet asked again why was He here.  A sinking feeling was growing inside him.


    "My dear friend with a hump," Reza turned to the merchant, "what has happened to us has happened to my dear cousins."


    Reza then told the other centaur that that proved even those with the bloodline of the Prophet could be afflicted with whatever it was that had happened to them. The female centaur grunted with dissatisfaction.


    "It's some sort of spell," Akmet posited, "It has to be, right?"


    Reza chuckled at the idea. The female centaur gave Akbari a look that made sure that Akmet knew She thought He was a moron. It was then a man with a clipboard entered Veterinary section.


    "Did you say spell?," the man asked as he entered.


    He introduced himself as Dr. Anwar Falawi, head veterinarian of the Royal Stables. Akmet repeated his original question.  Falawi nodded. He told Akmet that he had been taken to the stables because He was different from the other centaurs. El-Ammani He explained despite being illegitimate was still related to the Royals. He told Akmet that Sgt. Zaid Balbeh was here because He was not only half horse but had seen his sex change from male to female.


    "The three of you," Falawa furthered, "offer different aspects to the condition Me and my team are looking to reverse."


    "You should get an imam," Akmet told the man of science.


    Reza chuckled, Sgt. Balbeh grunted again. Dr. Falawa nodded.


    "All in good time," he told the merchant, "My team needs to run some tests first."


    Outside a truck pulled up.  Soldiers started to dismount weapons in hand. Falawa told the transformed to stay where they were as he went to the door. A colonel greeted the doctor.


    "We are here for the Princes," the officer told the veterinarian, "all of you are to come with us."


    "Me and my team," Falawa answered after clearing his throat, "answer to the King."


    "King Hussein is dead," the colonel informed, "You and your team are coming with us."



Minabu-Azami House
Okutama, Japan


    "You were the Steel Samuri," their transformed manager told the bandmembers.


    Aguri Hiramatsu was now a large Black centaur with streaks of Grey. The coloring matching the manager's hair at the time of his change.  The Members of Steel Samuri looked at the photo He was holding. It was to be the cover of their next album, End of the Age.


    In the photo each member was a different Horseman of the Apocalypse.  Lead singer, Sou Kunai, was Famine.  The guitarist, Seiya Morashita, was War. The drummer, Nobu Yamagishi, was Plague, and the bassist, Sou's younger brother Yukio, was Death.


    "See," their manager told them while trying to contain his excitemnt, "I was riding my Ronin and you were riding the fillies I got for him go stud with."


    "Hiramatsu-buchou," Seiya bowed to the manager of Paradigm Records, "We need a doctor, we need a cure."


    "I really don't think any of want to 'Go Stud' with Ronin," Nobu added with a laugh, "No offense, as I am sure He is delightful in equine circles."


    "We don't wish to continue as centaur or women," Sou added and his brother Yukio nodded.


Yukio as Death had dyed his hair White and had Black Skulls on it. The drummer had already had Blue hair with Yellow Stars and Red Moons.


    Sou had died his hair Green for the End of the Age tour Hiramatsu had planned. Green with Yellow X-es. Now He was a female centaur and his har was actually Green with Yellow X-es. So was the Horse half of his new body. Seiya as War had dyed his hair to be a World War II Rising Sun flag.


    "Boys . . .," Hiramatsu smiled then corrected himself, "Ladies, have you not heard the old saying?"


    "Life Sucks," Nobu put forth, "and then You Die?"


    Hiramatsu laughed.


    "No," He smiled again, "Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade!"

[corjomc]

Rashan, Kosovo
Saturday, February 3, 1999


They approached the first house quietly. Alek grimaced at the thought of a squad of half-horse men trying to be stealthy. When a dog started barking in the distance everyone froze in place. Everyone exchanged nervous glances. Zubi smiled his stupid grin. Alek looked to Milenko and Neman as he fingered the trigger on his rifle.


Everyone exhaled when someone yelled at the noisy mutt and it went quiet.


"Poor thing," Zubi Dubi laughed, "getting in trouble for doing it's job."


"Quiet Datubic," Captain Zorovic whispered harshly.


Zubi Dubi smiled and put a finger across his lips.


The small building was dark inside. No one was stirring. Zorovic motioned for the men to surround the outlaying home. Alek looked at the small door then back at his equine body. He wondered what they should do if the people inside just refused to come outside.


Zorovic looked over to the older Maksitic brother. The tax collector trotted up and knocked on the door. A light came on. A man with greying temples answered the door. Other people could be heard moving inside. A child started to cry. The man had a pistol. He handed it to Ivan Maksitic when he saw the automatic weapons the rest of the squad pointed at him.


"Everyone out," the Captain ordered sternly.


A man, his wife, two young sons and baby girl exited their home. Zorovic turned to Marko and Stefan. The pair pointed their weapons at the family. The operation was repeated three more times without a problem. The fifth house was a problem.


The old man in the fifth house refused to come out. The Captain made several threats but the old man still would not come outside. The younger Maksitic brother, Andrei, took out a lighter. the small flame flickered. The Captain nodded.


"That's going to defeat the whole idea of being stealthy," Neman whispered to Alek.


Aleksandre agreed. A burning house was sure to attract unwanted attention. Before either he or Ivanoskaya could argue Andrei had reached into the building and started a fire with some nearby curtains. The flames spread rapidly. Zorovic yelled for the old man to come out with his hands where they could see them.


"Did anyone bring marshmallows?," Zubi asked, "some hot chocolate perhaps?"


The old man stumbled out of the smoke coughing horribly. Damir Prekec grabbed the senior. Alek spun around to see the village of Rashan coming alive. People hurried to aid th village elder. Soon the rest of the village was taken prisoner.


The Captain told Alek, Neman, and Milenko to watch the primeter. The civilians were lead to the Mosque. At the Xhamia Rashan the older Maksitic brother, Ivan, ordered the men and women to be separated. Alek looked back at the men. One of them was the sniper He told himself. One of them had killed his friend Josip.


Josip Tomenic was always late on paying people back but overly generous when He eventully got around to it. Buy him a beer you would get three several months later. Lend him some tobacco He would buy you a pipe for Christmas. Alek recalled He had lent Josip some dinara. He was never going to that money or his friend alive ever again.


"Which one do you think it is?," Milenko asked as He he also looked over the


Both Alek and Neman shrugged. The younger Maksitic brother snorted.


"Slam all of them," He told the trio, "and we don't need to figure that out."


A noise distracted Alek. He turned to see several people on horseback fleeing from a barn.


"GET THEM!," the Captain screamed.


Alek, Neman, Milenko, and Damir galloped into the night after the escapees. Others opened up with their weapons. Rifles, pistols, and automatic gunfire filled the crisp night air and echoed through the rocks and crags.


"HALT!," Alek yelled out to no effect.


Aleksandre stopped and started firing. The others did the same. The escapees dropped.


Peranovic charged forward. He stopped when He saw the three centaurs laying in the snow. The oldest was badly injured. The younger man was clearly dead. The young woman was trying to help the older man back on his hooves.


"DON'T MOVE!," Neman yelled while leveling his gun at the survivors.


Milenko and Damir trotted up also with weapons raised. Alek checked to see if any of the Kosovan centaur were armed. The dead young man had a rifle across his back. He grabbed the weapon. He wondered if it had killed Josip.


"You're bleeding," Alek told the young woman as He saw her wounded shoulder when He went to check her for weapons.

"YOU BASTERDS!," the woman spat out at Alek and his squadmates.

Behind them in the direction of the Mosque people started yelling. Everyone turned in the direction of the Xhamia Rashan.The yelling was followed by gunfire and screaming. Gunfire that continued til the screaming stopped.

[corjomc]

Sunshine Farm
Pelham, NH
Sunday, February 4, 1999

“She squealed like a chipmunk,” Jake Creech happily informed his friends.

It was early Sunday morning. Quirke’s friends had met up with him at the Farm. Everyone except Francko. Francko was with their newfound cult.

Tom Quirke’s eyes narrowed. He did not like the idea of Derek Hanley hooking up with Tiffany the paramedic. The thought of it made his blood boil. His friend Creech went to run interference and make sure Hanley would not score with Ms. Baylor. Creech had done so by bedding the Redhead himself.

“Mission accomplished,” Creech announced, “You’re Welcome!”

“Everything okay?,” Stephen Miller asked as He pulled the horse blanket into place on Tom.

“Good job Creech,” Dean Dowell told Jake, “Hanley’s a jerk.”

“Best One-Night-Stand ever, eh?,” Tom asked his loud friend.

“One night?” Creech replied, “Nah, there’s more juice to be squeezed from those melons.”

He then went onto to describe the parts of Ms. Baylor He appreciated the most and why. Everyone laughed. Tom laughed to but felt his blood starting to boil.

“Enough already Jake,” Miller told him, “We have things to do,” The Blockbusters manager reminded Creech, “I have to be at the store by 9, 9:30 at the latest.”

Tom blinked and cleared his throat. He told the gang what was up.

“Dr. Weisner wants Me to video the service their holding here at the farm at 10,” he told his friends, “but the magnificently insane Erica Boyd is holding a counter ceremony at Little Island Pond.”

“She is holding a ceremony for Poseidon at a pond?,” Dean asked surprised, “If I was the Greek god I would be insulted.”

“Yeah,” Tom agreed, “anyways I am going to cover that so I need you,” He looked at Dean, “to cover the service here.”

“Me and You,” Creech interjected, “we will go and get the shots of the fruit loops getting their hooves wet.”

“Steven is really following Boyd?,” Miller asked not believing it possible.

“Francko’s family wants to believe that Boyd can somehow cure him,” Tom explained.

“That’s stupid,” Dean told everyone, “Boyd doesn’t want to cure everyone,” He then added, “She wants them to be the new lord and masters of the 21st Century.”

“Franko and his family are desperate,” Tom informed the group, “Mr. Francemir does not believe Maggie is doing enough to help Francko, or any of us.”

Quirke told Dowell that Cyndi would help him with covering Reverend Michaels from the Universalist Church and the sermon She had planned. Dean nodded and went over the equipment and settings with Tom before Quirke left with Creech. Miller headed off to work.

“Hey,” Creech offered to Tom as they made their way to Little Island Pond, “I have an idea.”

“Why don’t you hook up with Francko,” Creech added when Tom didn’t answer, “then I can grab Tiff and we can all go ona double date.”

“WhAt?!?,” Tom blurted out as He stopped in his tracks on the wooded path.

Creech laughed. He told Quirke what a great opportunity He had being a centaur in this brave new world.

“You’re a Stallion in a new race,” Creech laid out, “A stallion of the new centaur race,” he then further delineated, “a new race needs a population boom,” finally Creech smiled, “So get Booming!”

Tom stared at Jacob Creech. He wondered how long it would take for anyone to find his friends body under the ice of Little Island Pond after he beat his friend to death with a tripod and slid his lifeless body under the ice.

“Man,” Creech sighed, “If I was a centaur I’d be banging all the fillies, Dr. Weisner, Francko, Robyn and all her friends, Man.”

“Want to switch?,” Tom asked having decided murder was not a good way to start one’s Sunday morning.

“Hmmm,” Creech paused, “Do you think Erica can actually do that?”

Thoughts of Creech being in his body jumped into Quirke’s head. Tom immediately imagined that while Creech was going mega-stud that He would be already hooked up with Tiffany. Baylor would think He’s Creech. Jake had already got in with her and now He being in Creech’s body could keep the relationship going. Something his amorously adventurous friend was incapable of doing.

Wishful thinking was followed up by reason. Reason told Tom that Boyd was a nut and this was an impossibilty and He was being foolish. He was doomed fear told him regrettably to be a half human, half-horse and Baylor would probably end up marrying Creech who would cheat on her eventually.

Wishful thinking shot back that something impossible had just happened. They could not preclude it happening again. Reason sighed agreeing that perhaps they should try to establish the limits of the extraordinary event and its side effects. Fear just shook its head muttering it would not end well.

“Only one way to find out,” Tom told Creech and they reached the other centaurs gathered at the pond.


Fawls Bar
Ennis, County Clare, Ireland

Joe O’Brien waited outside the bar that kitty-cornered the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul. The winter coat kept his human half warm while the horse half seemed okay in the cold. Joe gave a polite wave and smile at anyone that came out to look at him.

“All the people who have been so reconfigured like yourself are staying in Castlefergus,” Father Callahan told Joe as He exited the bar and handed him a pint.

“Free wine and now Guinness?,” O’Brien laughed, “I really do prefer the Irish Inquisition over the Spanish.”

“No prefers the Spanish Inquisition!,” Callahan responded in a horrible Spanish accent.

O’Brien clinked his glass to the holy man’s.

“The wine like the holy water,” Callahan reminded Joe, “was blessed.”

Callahan had Joe attend Mass. After the service they tried every trick the pair could think of. He did not return to human form but neither did He sprout horns and start spitting fire and brimstone.

“It looks like for the time being you are going to be a pretty centaur,” Callahan lamented.

“What are you going to tell the higher ups?,” Joe asked curious to the priests thoughts.

“Joseph,” He shrugged, “I am going to tell them I believe this one goes under ‘Mysterious Ways’ and needs further observation.”

O’Brien didn’t like the sound of ‘observation’ but it was not the worst result He admitted to himself.

“All the people such as yourself are being moved to Castlefergus,” Callahan noted, “why haven’t you gone there?”

Joe made a displeased face.

“A farm?,” He protested, “I am not a horse, I do not want to be sent a modern day leper colony.”

Callahan told Joseph He was being hyperbolic. O’Brien answered with a shrug. He told the priest He was fine.

“My boss is letting me stay in the garage at night when it’s empty,” He revealed.

As they were talking they did not see the car stop and the man with the large unruly Brown beard get out. The large man made his way through the people gawking at Joe and presented himself to O’Brien and Callahan.

“No,” He told Joe in no uncertain terms, “this is not right,” the large fellow told them both, “the centaur are of Hellenic origin! What are you doing here in Eire?”

[corjomc]

So Steel Samuri need a new name.



Any suggestions for the up and coming Centaur Sensations?