The Bovine Connection (16 page)

Angelica did her best to go on listening without bias.

“Angels,” Paul told her, “are always appearing during a major event and every time they are described almost to the tee like ‘
T
he Benevolent.’ I’m not saying they are what we consider to be angels; it’s just interesting to note similarities. Now don’t forget,
Angelica, even though you may not be in the South, you are surrounded by a bunch of God-fearing people. I did grow up in the Sou
th. I was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama
. I guess you could say the love of science and space is in my blood and that tends to change your beliefs somewhat.”

Angelica nodded in understanding.

“Anyway, being from the South,” Paul explained, “if there is one thing I know a little bit about, it’s the King James Bible. Now I am going way out on a limb here, but once again, let’s think about this semantically. Mary had Jesus by ‘Immaculate Conception.’ In other words, she was impregnated by God, a superior, all-knowing entity from Heaven. This miraculous event occurred during the night and while Mary was sleeping. And get this… an Angel appeared in the middle of the night to Joseph, Mary’s husband, to tell him of the event. Nice that the Angel took the time, and if it was a ‘Benevolent,’ it must have been very convincing because if I were Joseph I don’t know that I would have taken it that well… Strange coincidence, huh?” Paul shook his head, smiling inwardly as he took a sip of his beer.

Angelica’s lips went straight as she held his gaze. She was quiet. She looked unimpressed, but she was considering Paul’s hypothesis.

“So one could say, technically, she was the first historically documented human to be impregnated by a non-human or alien…” Paul paused for effect. “…if you believe the story. The definition of an alien in its purest form is someone ‘not from around here.’ God would qualify, wouldn’t He?”

Angelica nodded. “Wow, but…”

Paul interrupted her. “Now, I’m not saying I believe or don’t believe in what I have been taught my entire life, and I am certainly not trying to shake anyone’s religious faith, but start looking at the historical records of ancient civilizations. You will find clues everywhere, but you will have to understand that they were writing the accounts the only way they knew how to at the time with their limited knowledge.”

Angelica nodded trying to stay focused, but she was feeling her buzz. The third tequila shot was now sitting on the table in front of her.

“You better lower your voice while saying stuff like that. You just said God was an alien.” Angelica looked around the pool hall and then back toward Paul, catching a glimpse of the shot glass on the table. “Hey, where did that come from?” she said, surprised.

Angelica picked up the shot, swung her head back, and then slammed the glass down on the table. “Oops! I didn’t mean to put it down that hard,” she announced as she picked up the lime wedge and waved her pinkie finger at Paul before sucking the juice from it.

“Well Paul, I may be drinking but that was fascinating and made some sense, however… Well, as much sense as any other conversation I’ve had today,”
she mumbled. “Of course, I am a bit of an agnostic… I need to continue to investigate this interesting, and might I add-- controversial-- line of thinking.” Angelica’s words slurred.

“Hey, these benevolent beings… if they exist, where are they, and why don’t we hear more about them – Why are they so elusive?” Angelica smirked. “There’s a question for ya.”

Angelica laughed as she pushed the empty glass away… “I better not have any more of these! So, are they involved with creating hybrids?”

Paul thought for a moment. “I believe they are. Apparently, but it’s all speculation. I’ll just share what I’ve heard from other investigators.
‘The Benevolent’
created a group of hybrids on earth, and no one I’ve spoken to seems to have a clue why. I heard someone say that ‘The Benevolent’ do not support the grey race’s agenda, but will not interfere due to higher universal laws that we don’t understand. I don’t know for certain, but I often wonder if these hybrids have something to do with moving the world to a new and better horizon. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but isn’t that the whole symbolism around Man’s obsession with a God-like being from Heaven watching over us and
affecting our destiny? Of course, we have to be good little boys and girls to make it to this utopia we call Heaven, right?” Paul lifted his beer and took a sip. “All sounds crazy, huh?”

Angelica turned around for Matthew. He was putting his beer down to make a pool shot. Matthew glanced over at Angelica and caught her looking at him. She
smiled and waved. He looked suspiciously at her and waved back.

Angelica’s vision blurred, fully aware of her buzz again, she became slightly dizzy. She turned back to Paul and with wide eyes said “Whoa! Don’t let me drink anymore – from what I recall of Tequila, I could get a little wild.”

Paul grinned. “I’m sure no one would mind if you got wild. Look around you,” Paul chuckled.

Angelica refrained from rolling her eyes at Paul’s statement. Angelica
seemed
weary
as she looked down at her recorder to make sure the light was still on. She lifted her hand and pushed her hair back from her face, swaying from the alcohol. “Thank goodness
it’s on because I may not remember a word of this crazy conversation.” They both laughed. Paul smirked before taking a sip of his beer, observing her body language. The thought hadn’t occurred to him that she shouldn’t have any more alcohol.

Angelica leaned in closer, lowered her voice, and whispered, “Shew! How many shots have I had?”

Paul chuckled. “
I believe you’ve had three.
Well, see that gentleman right there?” Paul politely waved to a man at the bar looking their way, smiling deviously. “He
’s
sending them over to us.”

When Angelica made eye contact, the man
smiled seductively
. Angelica turned back around to Paul. “All rightly… I better not have anymore – seriously!” Angelica sat up straight and shivered.

“I have to say, this story will go down as one of my most bizarre.” Angelica looked down at her lap, shook
her head then looked innocently back up at Paul.
“
God knows…” Angelica searched for the right words. “Boy, you guys have vivid imaginations.”

“Well, that is funny, look at you! This is an interesting side of you, Angelica Bradley… I like it. How’s that tequila working for ya?”

Angelica turned and looked up to see Matthew standing beside the booth with a pool stick in his hand.

Sneering, she answered, “I’m doing just fine, thank you very much, Matthew. I have a slight buzz, but nothing I can’t handle. And how are you and the guys over there?” Angelica lifted her hand while holding a Corona Light and pointed her pinky finger at the pool table, then clumsily leaned into the back cushion of the booth.

Paul smiled at Matthew and shook his head.

Matthew peered down at Angelica, “You should eat something!”

“
But
I’m not hungry!” Angelica’s light blue eyes looked sleepy.

Matthew pursed his lips
and
glanced at Paul, “She hasn’t eaten all day.”

Angelica turned and looked inquisitively at the man at the bar, and then swung her head around and frowned, “There are some strange characters around here.
Hell, this town is strange... Bunch of crazies!
”
Angelica lowered her head and giggled.
“I feel like I’m in ‘The Twilight Zone,’” she mumbled.

Matthew glanced around the pool hall and then looked back at Angelica. “Can you play pool?”

“Well, I’ve played before. I can’t say I’m very good,” Angelica said as she laughed and turned to Paul. “When I was in college.” Angelica was slurring her words.

“Come on, play me a game,” Matthew said. Angelica reached down and turned off her recorder and put it in her purse before getting up from the booth.

Matthew lined up the balls and re-chalked his stick. Angelica looked around for a pool stick and started off to find one. Luke, one of the RUFA guys stepped in front of her and handed Angelica his.

“Here, it’s a good one and it’s already chalked.” Luke extended it out for Angelica to take it.

Angelica smiled and said “thank you,” then turned and swayed back to the table.

Luke looked at the other guys, pushed his chest out and smirked devilishly in an attempt to be funny, they all laughed. Luke was skinny, in his early-twenties with dirty blonde hair, a small face, small eyes and thin lips.

Matthew made the first shot and broke the balls. A solid-colored red ball went in. He continued to knock them in a few more times before finally missing. Angelica was up. The men were standing around one of the tall tables watching. Angelica was stunning. Her blonde hair fell down around her shoulders and up against her
pale, flaw-less
skin as she leaned over the pool table, exposing her cleavage.

The tequila had relaxed her into the sexier side of her personality, where she could freely feel her power as a woman and relax into it. She hit a striped ball and
it shot across the table right into a corner pocket. She jumped in excitement and clapped her hands. “Look, I hit it in!”

The men laughed. “You’re hilarious!” Matthew whispered and shook his head. “Let’s see if you can do it again,” he shouted over the music.

Angelica walked around the table as if she were
an old pro and sized up a few possible shots, then settled on an easy one. She hit another striped ball into the pocket and jumped in excitement again. “Yay, I forgot how fun this is!” She smiled at Matthew.

“Hey, you want to do another shot of Tequila?” She looked over at Paul standing by the other men who were too shy to speak to her.

Paul threw his hands up. “Sure, why not. How about you Matthew, you want another, as well?”

“No, I better not. I need to make sure this party animal gets back to the lodge safely.”

“Party animal?” Angelica narrowed her eyes flirtatiously, glancing up at Matthew while leaning over to make a shot. Matthew felt an odd sensation in that moment; he was starting to fall for Angelica. He thought she was beautiful,
interesting
and smart. He was pretty sure that the only thing he’d ever be to her was a friend. It was a common, reoccurring theme with him and beautiful women, he had concluded. Matthew leaned the pool stick against the bar stool.

Angelica barely grazed the corner of the eight ball. “Oh, I thought I had that one,” she announced, as she swung around to see Paul approaching with two shots, rimmed in salt and lime wedges.

“Here you go, lovely lady!” Angelica took the tequila, licked the salt from the rim of the glass, and shot it. Then she sucked the lime and made a pucker face.

“Shew, that was strong,” she shivered, and then she finished licking the salt from the rim. “You guys ever get out dancing?” Angelica started to sway to the music coming through the speakers. “What is this country song? I like it!” She started to sing the lyrics… “Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats…”

Matthew interrupted, leaned over, and whispered to Angelica. “
Okay,
we better be getting you back to the lodge before you do something you’ll regret in the morning.” The RUFA guys all started laughing.

“Wait who sings this?” Angelica looked inquisitive and pointed to the speaker hanging from the corner of the room, continuing to sway and sing along. “I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights…” She dramatically shot her arm up in the air with her index finger extended, and twisted her upper body.

A male voice shouted out the country singers name and another male voice shouted… “Hey, leave the lady alone! Can’t you see she’s having a good time?”

Everyone looked around to see a well-built, handsome cowboy in tight wranglers, a black tee shirt, and a black cowboy hat standing with a group of cowboys at the table beside them.

“No, it’s past this cowgirl’s bedtime, we best be going,” Matthew declared firmly.

Matthew walked over with Angelica’s purse under his arm and took the pool stick from her hand, and placed it on the table. He put Angelica arm inside his
allowing her to lean into him as they walked toward the door. Angelica turned back around, pulling Matthew with her, and yelled back to Paul and the guys. “Goodnight!” … while making eye contact with the good looking cowboy as she turned back around. “Wow, he was cute! Where did he come from?”