Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker
Chapter 09

Beth explained cautiously about her body containing a compound that made her look the way she did. She said her blood had got into his wound and had started converting his own to look like Beth's.

"No fucking way," he cried. "You had better come up with a way to stop it and return me to my old self," he blustered, as he reached for his clothes.

"I can't do anything now," Beth explained. "The change has to go though to completion before any further changes can occur." Beth apologised.

"Completion?"

"Yes, although it looks like you have had a sex change, your body still has no vagina or uterus yet. Those changes take a little longer. You have an opening where your penis was, but its not a true vagina yet," Beth explained.

"Huh? How would you know, it feels bloody damn real to me," argued Martin trying to hold up his too big trousers.

"Believe me, I know. I wasn't a female when I started either," Beth admitted, feeling a little angry at his dismissal.

"You were a guy?" He screeched, looking shocked at her admission.

"Agent John Smith," Beth smirked, seeing Martin's pants drop as he released them to cover his breasts.

Martin blushed, whether from embarrassment at being stared at by a man while he bared his naked breasts, or the fact that he suddenly realised he'd covered his breasts in a typically feminine way when confronted by a man.

"You can't be a man, you are too feminine, too much like Beth talked and acted." Refuted Martin, shaking his head in denial.

"There's a certain bleed though of memories from the donor body, that determines how you act," Beth added.

"So could I impersonate you, live my life as a woman?" Martin asked reluctantly.

"No, remember I said the donor body. That was Beth. In time you would become her in every way as your body becomes hers. Even down to the memories." Beth laughed. " Just think of the ultimate irony of you becoming the woman you killed hating the Martin you were, for attacking her. In the meantime you'll sound like Martin until the changes are complete, unless you want to sound like me?"

"No!!!!!! You have to stop this; there must be a way as you are still yourself and not totally Beth."

"My friends can help stop the progress of the compound, before it takes you over, but you'll have to do what I say, understand?"

Martin stood undecided, trying to put his old shirt on before giving up and throwing it disgustedly to the floor.

"I think my clothes will fit you better," Beth suggested with a hint of a smile.

"Damn it all, you don't have any jeans?" Martin asked hopefully.

"Umm, I think you only selected these," Beth grinned, holding up some of her nicer dresses that Martin had gathered and thrown in the car.

"I can't wear those, I'm a guy," argued Martin, as he picked up his shirt again.

"A guy with boobs that looks exactly like me," scoffed Beth, enjoying having the tables turned. "These will fit and feel much better than those rough wool shirts you have. I'll put out something for you to wear, but remember no one else will see you, it's just us here," Beth insisted, as she got out a pair of panties and a bra along with a white slip and a dress. "If you need help just ask," Beth added as she went and started cooking the fish she had caught.

Beth watched Martin as he stood indecisively looking at the clothes laid out. Beth hid a smile as she took the fish to the stove, seeing Martin pulling a pair of her panties on. He grabbed at the bra as if it was going to bite him, before struggling to put it on. As he struggled to fasten the bra, Beth told him the alternate way of fastening it, until he learned the correct way.

"I don't want to learn the correct way," he muttered. "I want to get back to being a man again."

Martin pulled on the slip, shuddering as he did so. Beth wasn't sure if it was a shudder of revulsion or one of delight, maybe it was a bit of both. Once Martin donned the dress, Beth helped him zip it up. Martin looked at the shoes, but seeing they had heels, decided to go barefoot.

Beth opened another can of baby peeled potatoes, slicing them and frying them in a little butter, to add to the trout. Martin helped get some plates and forks, surprising Beth with his helpful manner. Maybe the testosterone in his body being converted into oestrogen was having a calming effect already.

Beth dished out the meal, and they both began to eat. Beth decided to take the bull by the horns and ask a question than had been bothering her.

"Martin, why all this," Beth asked waving her fork around at the room. "Why capture me...or Beth? What did you really have in mind?"

Martin paused in his eating, slowly swallowing before answering.

"We had some good times in the past, you... um I mean Beth and I," Martin began. "Beth was always looking for something new. Probably why she took up with me, oh she knew about me, my background, I was exciting I guess. Then when I wanted her to stop fooling around on me, she got mad at me trying to control her. She called the cops as a way to get me off her back," Martin paused, grabbing another mouthful of food.

"So you wanted revenge, is that why you killed her?" Beth asked, feeling uncomfortable.

"She cost me a lot of money, but I didn't really want to kill her. I got drunk and when she fought I saw red and popped her, in fact later when the cops said she was still alive, I was glad. I found I still had feeling for her," Martin said, as he pushed the empty plate aside.

"Okay, but kidnapping, that doesn't seem very consistent," Beth countered, trying to see where this was leading.

"I knew if I went back to prison with my prior conviction, my life would be as good as over. I'd be an old man before I'd get out, if I ever did. So I blew off the cops, and made my way to your place. I used the gun I stole to shoot out the lock of a pharmacy. I found some chloroform and used that on you. I knew you'd never go with me willingly, so I came up with this stupid plan, that's all turned to shit," he groaned, putting his head in his hands, the long hair falling forward concealing his face.

"So why all rough treatment?"

Martin looked up, brushing aside the hair with a very unmasculine flick of the hand. I guess you wouldn't know, but Beth was a bit of a kink, she loved the rough treatment. She was into bondage and loved being submissive. I was hoping she and I might rekindle the flame here, as this was one of her favourite places. She loved it when called her a bitch and man handled her."

Beth was shocked at this news, from what he could remember of her, Beth was always acted pretty normal and showed none of what Martin was telling her. Was she also rather submissive in manner, having got a fair portion of Beth's memories and traits, thinking back, she could see there were times that she acted in a submissive way, allowing Ted to call the shots as it were. Although having a sudden unsolicited sex change would leave anyone confused. Allowing Ted to guide her had been a way of coping with the situation. Being scared and confused, she had turned to the only rock she could trust, clinging to it in the hope she could weather the storm of the situation.

Beth thought of a plan, but it depended on Sara and Jenna skills. She decided to lay some cards on the table.

"Martin? You realise your life at the moment isn't worth shit. You have a prison sentence for the attack on Beth, now escaping custody, a deadly assault with a weapon and burglary. They will lock you up and throw away the key," Beth insisted, ticking off the charges on her fingers.

"So? What's your point, at the moment Martin doesn't exist," he answered, indicating his boobs and dress.

"If I left you as you are now, you could probably make a life as a hooker, with no identity that's the only job you'd get. There's the problem of the voice until I help or the change goes to completion when you'll end up sounding like me. Plus if you end up waiting till your mind becomes Beth's you might end up as a submissive bondage slave to some pimp," Beth argued her case.

"What have you in mind, me as your long lost sister, finally reunited?" Martin said resignedly.

"No, I need to be Beth alone with no complications. What if I can give you a new life, as a kid again, this time leading a better life?" suggested Beth, as she held her breath.

Martin was silent plucking at his dress in a distracted way as he considered her words. Beth saw his shoulders slump, before he agreed to it. Elated, Beth started making plans.

Ted was frantic, seeing there was still no news from the police. There had been an appeal on TV and in the papers for anyone who may have spotted Beth's car. Some sightings that had been reported had turned out to be false leads. Jenna was trying to be supportive to everyone in trying to keep peoples spirits up, but she did retire to her bedroom to weep when she was alone. The air of joy that had been in Jenna's home while Shelly was going through her changes had gone, replaced with a feeling of despair.

Work for Jenna was a necessary distraction from worrying about Beth, but it still wasn't enough as she checked her cell phone fore any messages. She had just put it down for the sixth time that day when it rang. Answering it, her heart burst as the familiar voice spoke hurriedly.

Beth was ringing from a payphone outside a store/service station about 40 minutes drive from the cabin. Martin stood nervously outside, listening to the conversation. Moving awkwardly in his hose and heels, he kept a wary eye out for any undue attention coming their way. That they looked like a pair of very attractive twins wasn't helping matters, and they had already got some appreciative glances from the grizzled owner of the place.

Beth was pleased to hear that Sara already had what she needed. She told Jenna that she was okay and that Martin had changed somewhat. Giving Jenna her list of things she needed and the instructions on how to find them, she then hung up before walking with Martin back to the car.

Jenna felt over the moon that Beth was safe. She rang Ted and told him that Beth was okay and for him to meet her at her place. She rang Sara as Jenna left work, after getting the okay from her boss.

The babble of conversation from those gathered stilled, as Jenna opened the door and walked inside. Removing her jacket and kicking her shoes off, Jenna told the others about the news from Beth. Plans were made and the casserole Shelly had made for dinner was put aside for another use. Placing some food and the casserole in Ted's car along with some collapsible camping beds, that Richard had, Jenna then brought her medical kit and cell phone, before she and Ted drove off.

Beth decided to go fishing. Colin had loved fishing, but never really had the time to do it. The lake was ideal and not being able to do anything till Jenna and Ted arrived, she figured why not. Martin grumped, but decided to come out and keep a watch out for bears. With his attitude and belligerence muted but his changed body and hormones, Beth wasn't worried about allowing his access to a rifle. Beth relaxed for the first time since her abduction managing to catch a brown and two rainbow trout. She would give them to Ted and Jenna for dinner as a treat.

It was early evening when they heard a car moving slowly through the trees. Martin grew nervous although the rifles were still in the cupboard on Beth's insistence. Beth allowed Martin to show the others in, grinning as she heard them cry out and hug Martin, thinking he was her. The look on their faces when they came inside to see another Beth was priceless, one that them looking from one to another. Martin spoiled the joke by speaking, his masculine voice spoiling the feminine image. Ted blushed red, which made Beth wonder if he'd tried to kiss Martin on the way inside.

"Hi Jenna, as you can see, we have ourselves a situation. We are going to put Martin through our FBI witness protection system in exchange for his silence on our Beth insertion operation," Beth explained, winking at Ted.

"This is Martin?" Jenna asked, keeping a neutral tone. She got out her gear and pulled out a syringe and walked to Martin.

"Hey what's with the needle?" Martin asked anxiously, looking at Jenna.

"It's okay, she just wants to blood type you," Beth reassured him.

"I'm O positive," protested Martin, eyeing the approaching needle with trepidation.

Jenna took a blood sample despite Martin's protestations; Beth thought there was a certain amount of satisfaction in the way Jenna jabbed Martin in the arm, as Martin winced.

Jenna then took the blood sample to her test kit and soon had confirmed the blood was O positive, much to Martin's disgust. A phone call to Sara was made and then Jenna relaxed, asking Beth what had happened. Beth filled both Ted and Jenna in on the situation while still sticking to the FBI scenario she had concocted.

"Who owns this place?" asked Ted, wondering about the likelihood of being interrupted.

"She does," Martin answered, pointing at Beth. "Um I mean Beth does...did," he amended remembering that the real Beth was dead.

"I do? I mean Beth does?" a surprised Beth gasped. "I never saw any mention of it in her papers."

"Yeah, she told me that she had grub staked an old guy who claimed he found gold here, in the river that feeds this lake. This was a few years before she met me," Martin said. "Beth was always doing something like this. Anyway the guy apparently took advantage of some old homestead law that was still on the books. He staked out 500 acres that includes the lake and the headwaters. He built this place and deeded it to Beth; I think the papers are in a box on the shelf in where the rifles are kept.

"So where's this guy now?" Ted asked.

"Don't know, maybe he died or got taken by a bear. From what Beth told me, he used to write her letters, every 6 months, then a year went by with none, so Beth came up here and stayed for a week and saw no sign of him. I think, looking at this place, he must have found something to build this and buy a generator and a pump for the water," theorised Martin.

Beth had found the metal box, but it was locked and there seemed to be no key. She did remember seeing a bunch of odd keys that didn't seem to fit anything in Beth's house, maybe they were the ones for the cabin and the deed box. Another call to Sara asking her to get them was made, before a tour of the place was organised. Ted was impressed with the lake and was disappointed that he couldn't try his hand at fishing just then.

"I've already caught your dinner," grinned Beth, showing them her catch. "You can try in the morning, okay? And I'll show you how it's done," she boasted, earning herself grass stained clothes as Ted chased her around the house in mock outrage, as he promised to show her what he could do. Beth tripped, accidentally or deliberately, in the long grass, allowing Ted to catch her. He plopped down beside her, where she lay laughing. Her laughing turned quickly into squealing as Ted tickled her unmercifully, saying that was for tricking him by sending Martin out to meet them.

"Did you kiss him?" she panted, getting some air back to talk.

"No you scamp, I hugged him, thinking he was you, but he jerked back when I went to kiss. I thought I was in trouble for not being there for you," Ted said with a look of pain in his eyes.

"There was nothing you could do." Beth said gently, pulling Ted's head down for a kiss. "If you'd taken my offer, you might be dead, if Martin had, had a weapon," Beth gasped, coming up for air.

"HEY! GIVE ME A HAND," yelled Jenna, as she struggled to get the camping beds out of Ted's car.

Guiltily, the two in the grass got up, brushing each other's clothes off, before running back to help with the unloading. Beth brought in the extra food, while Ted got the beds and started assembling them. Martin cleaned the fish and Jenna started cooking them. Shelly's casserole was popped into the stove and Martin and Beth had that, while the others enjoyed the fresh trout.

Ted asked if he could change Martin's to something more suitable to the form he now had. He cited that anyone did come unrepentantly it could raise questions if Martin couldn't talk in a female voice. Beth thought Ted just hated the guy and wanted him to feel more uncomfortable. Martin wasn't happy at all, figuring it was one more step away from being his old self, but Ted insisted, feeling some satisfaction in pushing Martin around, and punishing him for doing the same to Beth. Once Ted had manipulated Martin's throat, she sounded very bimbo-like with her new squeaky voice. Ted had gone overboard with the squeezing and Martin's efforts to undo it, by the same methods were in vain.

Having such a high female voice, meant Martin couldn't sound threatening anymore. His demands that his voice be lowered lacked any force and he was ignored. The polymer prevented any changes from female back to male, and with the voice firmly in the feminine range it resisted going lower. Martin found he could make it go slightly lower but pushing on her larynx, but it returned to its high tone as soon as her fingers left her throat. Given time it would lower to become a match to Beth's, but that was days away yet, time Martin didn't have.

Several bottles of wine were consumed during and after dinner when the rest of the evening was spent going over Beth's plans for Martin's demise and the details to have the police find Beth. Martin was disturbed at the gruesome details and left the discussion to go to bed, along with the rest of the bottle of Jim Beam. Jenna had brought several of Beth's nighties and Martin blushingly donned one before heading to one of the beds behind the curtain. Once a light snoring was heard coming from Martin and from her alcohol-assisted stupor, the conversation changed.

"Why do we need to go through with this elaborate scheme? Why not change Martin and Beth return on her own?" Argued Ted, as he saw the dangers in getting tripped up on details.

"Well, I've already done the return from the dead thing. Twice and that will really set alarms off," Beth explained. "Plus the police will be ever sniffing around us if there's not concrete evidence to his death. This plan will fall into a nice little pattern for them, putting the last piece of jigsaw together."

Calling it a night, Beth and Jenna got into nighties and decided that there was enough room on the other bed for them both, which would leave Ted on the camp bed set up against the door. Jenna spooned herself into Beth's back, while whispering how glad she was that Beth was okay. Beth turned to give her sister a chaste kiss before settling back; nice as it was to have her sister near, she wished she were sharing the bed with Ted.

Beth woke first. She eased herself out of the bed trying not to disturb Jenna as she slept. Getting dressed quickly she went over to Ted and shook him gently. He grunted and turned over, trying to pull back the blankets that Beth had pulled aside. Beth tried something else, not wanting to speak and wake the others. Ted woke to her kiss on his lips, reaching for her to bring her closer. She snuggled next to him, hoping the bed would bear their combined weights, while Ted kissed her sleepily.

"Come on, the fish are waiting," she whispered, catching his attention.

"Hey what are you waiting for, this is no time for playing doctors and nurses," Ted whispered back, while bounding out of bed covering Beth with the thrown aside blanket.

"Hey you! You'll need a doctor if this is all the thanks I get," hissed Beth, untangling herself from the blanket.

Ted winked as he pulled on his pants and threw on a shirt.

"Sorry love, I promise to behave when we're married," Ted whispered in her ear, before peeking her on the cheek.

"That will be the day, who'd marry you, you ungrateful lump?" snorted Beth with a laugh.

She was putting the blanket back on the bed, before the import of the words sank in. She tried to hide her blush as she attempted to move the bed aside. Ted came and helped as he found his footwear underneath.

Beth felt confused, had Ted meant to say that to her? She knew the possibility were there that they might eventually marry. It wasn't something she had seriously thought about, having so many other things to worry about. The thought of herself as a bride all dressed in white was a novel concept, not something, those born male, would have to deal with. Thinking of being the centre of attention as she swept down the aisle, made her feel excited at the prospect.

A poke from Ted, startled her out of her reverie, Ted was standing there grinning in that smug look as held a rifle and two rods in the crook of his arm

"Coming oh lady of the lake?" he said, bowing, and doffing an imaginary hat before him, signalling she proceed him out of the door.

She grinned, doing a mock curtsey as if she had full skirts on, and walked out the door, sweeping her imaginary gown past the doorway.

A low chuckle from Ted made her giggle and she stood while Ted came along side and took her hand in his. They walked down to the lake, not minding the early morning dew from the grass wetting their feet. Only the birdcalls broke the morning's silence as they moved along the shore of the lake. Finding a convenient fallen tree to rest the rifle against they both took a rod and cast into the tranquil waters. Minutes went by, interrupted by the whirr of reels and the swish of rods as they cast into the waters. Beth got a huge strike just before Ted managed to hook a fish as well. He brought his fish ashore while Beth struggled to make headway with hers. Ted took the bass he'd caught off the line and waited, watching Beth pull hers in. She grinned as she got the 5-pound Spring salmon on the shore. Ted helped ease it onto the pebbles edging the lake, as he grasped the line near the fish's head.

"Well done girl," he enthused. "I bow to your expertise," doing just that.

"There must be an outlet to the lake to have salmon," Beth speculated.

"Yeah, probably why the bears live around here, you know people would pay good money to come and fish here, I doubt many know of the existence of this lake," Ted agreed, as he landed a nice trout.

"No way, it's too nice to be spoiled like that, but I must admit I love this, it would make the perfect getaway from the city."

"True, but its nice to have the option," Ted replied.

"Lets take these back inside, and then we can walk around the lake," Beth suggested, seeing there was no point fishing anymore when they had enough for several meals.

Jenna was up when they brought the fish in. She grinned when she saw the salmon, suggesting they save it for lunch. She had started the stove up and shooed the pair out, saying that she'd fix breakfast for when they got back from their walk.

They started off; with Ted keeping the rifle as protection against any inquisitive bears that might interrupt their walk. They found the outlet of the lake where the water cascaded down a boulder-strewn gorge. They crossed it by stepping from one exposed rock to another without getting wet. Once on the other side, they could hardly pick out the cabin in its sheltered backdrop, only the faint wisp of smoke from the stove showed there were indeed people there. They had to wade across the river feeding the lake, the icy water, making them waste no time wading through the one-foot deep river.

Jenna had breakfast on the table when Ted and Beth got back. The walk had taken them an hour and they were famished. Martin was up and 'dressed.' Looking rather despondent as he plucked at his dress like it was contaminated.

Breakfast was over quickly, as the tasty fish vanished down appreciative throats. With Sara expected sometime mid morning, Jenna and Beth wandering around after breakfast. Beth carried the rifle after reassuring Ted that she could handle it. Ted wanted to come but had to stay at the cabin, seeing Martin wasn't in the mood to go exploring in his new getup.

Jenna talked, as they walked towards the lake, about how they had worried about her and the fears they had for her safety.

"Ted was a wreck, blaming himself for leaving you alone," Jenna confided. "We tried to tell him he wasn't to blame, but you know him. It didn't really help," she added sadly. "He really loves you, and I mean you, not the ghost from the past. When he talks about you, it's how brave you are coping with your life and how you're not just hiding away, but embracing life with a smile."

"Well, if it wasn't for Ted and his encouragement, it might have been another story," Beth confessed, giving Jenna a hug.

"You're still not regretting being a woman, are you? I mean now we have the means to turn you into a male if not back to Colin." Jenna asked worriedly.

"Not since I found out what sex is like as a female," blushed Beth.

"He he, oh you little.... minx," chortled Jenna, dancing round Beth. "So it is better as a woman?" Jenna asked inquisitively.

"Well it's not just the sex thing although I do think women get more out of it than men, whether that is part of what's built into men on an instinctive level, I'm not sure, I can only tell you how I felt. To put it in a car analogy, I used to be a solid old Studebaker, and now I'm a Masserati or a Lamborghini."

"The one with wings?" grinned Jenna.

"Yeah, pretty much," Beth laughed, getting the joke. "I feel light and agile, the basic controls are the same, yet it's far more responsive, plus there are lots of optional extras. Anyway, being Beth, I have far more friends like you and Shelly and Sara, and even the girl's at work are so much nicer to me now. I've gained some youth, as well as some new abilities, not to mention I'm fairly well off now. Then there's Ted," Beth sighed dreamily thinking of how Ted made her feel.

"I think I understand," Jenna commented quietly, seeing Beth's look.

((( After cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Jenna and Beth took a long walk in the woods. Ted insisted that Beth carry the rifle. )))(((Transition is needed between the arrival at the cabin and being back in the woods.)))

They made their way to the river feeding the lake and decided to walk up alongside it for a while, each in their own thoughts. About 200 yards up from where Beth and Ted had crossed the river that morning, they discovered signs that someone had been there. An old shovel, its blade pitted with rust lay on the shingle bordering the river. There was an old gold pan in the same condition next to it and what looked like a cradle, made of timber and metal sieve. It looked they had been abandoned ages ago. Circling the find to see if they could find anything else, Beth saw a track leading up towards the ridge of the rugged canyon. It was old and wove its way through the trees. In some places they lost it due to fallen debris, but always managed to find where it started again.

Jenna wondered if it would lead them to the guy that had built the cabin, but Beth pointed out it didn't look used. They came out of the trees, having climbed up above them. There was the trail going towards a slip in the hillside, where a substantial rock fall littered the slope. Anxious to find the end of the trail and end the mystery, they climbed up the hill to find a small lean too. It was no more than a few sheets of iron lent against the rocky side of the hill, forming a crude shelter big enough for a man to sleep under.

Beth looked first; holding the rifle ready, in case there was an animal in there. She saw a blanket and some assorted tools, and a small wooden box. There were signs that food had been kept there and there were a few unopened cans with no labels left sitting there. Going in, Beth and Jenna dragged the heavy box out, before opening it. They found it contained a dozen small bottles filled with gold, some sacks and a book. Beth took out the book, which was in fact a diary and gave it to Jenna to open. Beth tried to lift one of the sacks, grunting with the effort. Unfortunately, the age of the sack proved too much, and it split open making Beth tumbled backwards as the weight of the bag suddenly being gone, overbalanced her. The sight of the bag's contents made both girls gasp. Gingerly reaching in, they pulled out huge chunks of white quartz, riddled with thick ropey veins of gold.

They looked at each other, realising there was a fortune here. No wonder the box was heavy. Turning to the book, Jenna went though it skimming its contents. The diary was from the man who Beth had grub staked. It told of him finding alluvial gold in the river, and from its roughness, he knew the source was close by. He'd panned and used the cradle up the river until the gold petered out. He then went searching along the ridge, knowing the gold must have come down from the hillside of the river. It detailed the discovery of the gold and his staking the claim for the cabin the lake and the source of the gold. Including it in the homestead claim so that the gold would remain a secret. The gold had come from beneath a cliff that was very unstable. John Stewart, the man who wrote in the diary, told of how he feared for his life each time he went and chipped out more gold.

Excerpt from near the end of the diary:

"I fear for my life each time I chip away at the base of the cliff, but the gold is too rich to just ignore. I heard groans today as if the rock itself was crying out. I think tomorrow will be the last time I venture out. If I don't return and anyone finds this, please tell Beth Winslow of my fate, her address is listed in the front, half of what I found was for Beth. The other I leave for the finder, should I fail to delete this."

That was the last entry. Beth looked at Jenna, knowing in their hearts why john never returned. The slip they had seen must have buried him in tons of rock. They both walked over to where the start of the slip began and looked down at John's last resting place. Beth bent down to pick a flower to throw down the slip as a mark of respect, when she saw a piece of quartz veined with gold. She gasped, drawing Jenna's attention. Where the rock of the cliff had broken off it had revealed more of its weakened base, leaving a substantial quantity of gold laden quartz sitting exposed. Tossing the flower with a quick mental thanks down over the slope where John died, they then turned back to retrieve what they could carry of the gold on their way back to the cabin.

By the time they made it back it was 11 o'clock. Saying nothing about the gold, they stashed the bottles and the one sample of quartz beside the outhouse. Jenna started preparing the salmon for lunch, while Beth asked Ted how things were.

"It's strange seeing you, here, but knowing that it's not really you," Ted answered pointing at Martin as he lay on the camp bed dozing. "I feel odd, knowing I should hate the person inside, for what he did, but seeing him in your body, I can't work up any anger towards him."

"Honey, Martin isn't all bad," Beth admitted. "He's just made the wrong choices." Beth then revealed to Ted what Martin had revealed with regard to Beth's past.

"Wow! Um I don't suppose you like to be tied up in bed," laughed Ted as he tried to imagine it.

"Depends on who's doing the tying," winked Beth, giving Ted a poke in the chest.

A sudden tooting of a horn, interrupted Ted's reply, and the sound of several vehicles had them scramble outside for a look. First into view was Richards Buick; bouncing through the trees as it followed the signs Beth had left to help them find their way to the cabin. Behind it, came a camper van with Shelly driving. She waved merrily, as she pulled up next to the cabin. Jenna gasped as Cathleen sprang from the van with Maggie in her arms, followed by Donna and Sara.

"Looks like the gangs all here," laughed Beth.

"Hey! We weren't going to miss out on all the fun," argued Shelly, as she hugged Beth and her sister.

"I didn't think you were the outdoorsy type sis," laughed Jenna, as she led them inside.

"Hmmm, something smells great," Richard said, as he dropped some more gear inside the cabin.

Richard threw a can of cold beer to Ted, having taken one from the chiller box he'd brought in.

"I hope there's something in there for us girl's," Jenna muttered, spearing her husband with pointed look.

Beth looked longingly at Ted as he took a gulp of the beer. He saw her tongue lick her lips and offered her a taste. After her long walk, the mouthful of chilled beer tasted like ambrosia, as it washed away the dryness.

Martin came awake at the sound of beer being opened. He stood, startling the newcomers with his appearance, and hurried explanations were given, before they sat down to lunch. Richard got out several bottles of white wine for the ladies, although Martin decided another beer was his style. The children got soda pop and sandwiches, which Sara had prepared that morning, before they left.

Martin was very quiet, knowing that his life was going to change with the arrival of the others, as well as feeling embarrassed, looking like a woman. He ate little, preferring to drink beer. It wasn't surprising to see he got drunk rather quickly with his lighter body. Ted grabbed him before he passed out, placing him on the bed behind the curtain.

Jenna looked at Beth and nodded, as lunch was cleared away. The children were allowed to play outside, with Maggie, after being warned to stay close. Ted and Richard watched, the children while having the rifle close by. Beth went and retrieved several bottles and the lump of quartz, dumping it in Ted's lap while going and getting the rest. Jenna laughed at Ted's expression, as he realised what he was holding. Sara and Shelly, who had just brought out the polymer vials from the camper, were in awe at the sight of the gold.

Telling them of the find and that there was more, left everyone shocked. Happiness was tinged with sadness at the plight of John Stewart, the discoverer of the gold. Showing them the diary, reminded Shelly of the keys they had brought with them. Fetching them, they got out the box from the cabin and tried the keys. Managing o unlock it, they found the deeds to the land and a map to show the area that was claimed. There was another map, which showed the site of the gold on it. The gold was well within the borders of the claimed land, giving Beth clear title to the gold.

Sara left the rest to go inside and administer the polymer mix she had developed. Shelly and Jenna went along as well, while Beth was left reading the diary, while the men discussed the best way to sell the gold in a way that wouldn't bring undue attention to the idyllic getaway. The girls returned saying it was done, all they had to do was wait.

"How long before it starts working, and what age are you going to stop at?" asked Beth curiously.

I calculate about 3or 4 days to reduce her to age seven," Sara replied, hopefully.

"Will he still remember who he is?" Ted asked.

"I intend to call her Martinique from now on, its close enough to martin for her to respond to as she regresses. Most of her current memories will become hard to recall, as the brain gets younger. I think much of it will seem dreamlike as I reinforce her new name. I will use hypnotherapy if I have to, just to help her adjust to her new life. It will be useful to implant memories of her always being Martinique. Having Donna as a sister will help them both."

"Will you adopt her?" Beth asked feeling better that Martin wasn't going to be reduced to a baby.

"Yes, I have some connections that will help there," Sara answered, with a smile.

"So what's the next step?" Richard asked.

"Well, Richard will drive me back with Martinique back to Ted's house, where we'll stay out of sight till she finishes her transformation." Sara said, looking at Beth.

We will be setting up Martin's death and my discovery by the police," Beth continued, answering Richards's question.

"We'll need to get all the gold away from here and remove the signs of the equipment, just in case the police search comb is wider than expected," Ted added.

With that, everyone started work. Richard and Ted went to retrieve the gold and destroy or hide the cradle and the other tools John had used. The gold was packed away in the camper, as it had a sturdier suspension for the extra weight. Jenna took Martins old clothes rough stitching the shirt to the pants with some fishing line. His shoes were similarly fastened to the trouser legs, making a flattened sort of dummy. Ordinary balloons were blown up and stuffed down the trouser legs and inside the shirt itself, giving it a grotesquely human shape. It was then hung suspended off a tree branch near the lake. Richard and Ted relaxed after their struggle with the gold and went fishing. They caught about a dozen trout, several bass and another salmon. Putting some aside to take home, they used the rest to coat martin's clothes, smearing it with blood and put bits of fish in the pockets. Then they waited, for the bears to come.

Richard had left with Sara and Martinique, leaving Shelly and the kids to follow in the camper. That left just Jenna and Ted, along with Beth. Noises alerted them to the bear's arrival and they watched hoping the bears would do what they wanted. After an hour, they ventured out into the early evenings light. Walking down to the 'corpse,' they found the clothes had been pulled down and shredded and even one shoe showed bite marks. Carefully, trying not to disturb the area where the bears had scuffed the ground, they removed the fishing line and the remains of the balloons. Pouring some O positive blood on the clothes and leaving a pool of it under the pants they made a trail of blood leading away, taking part of the shirt to leave near the end of where the blood ran out. Leaving a fishing rod near the shore, once they were satisfied, they came back to the house and tied Beth to the bed again.

"I knew you were a hard worker," Ted quipped. "Always getting tied up in work," he added with a grin, as he kissed the helpless Beth on the mouth.

"Hmm wait till we get home, it will be your turn then," laughed Beth.

Jenna came up and gave Beth an injection, to help her sleep most of the next day, essential if Beth was to feel dehydrated when the police arrived. Beth tested her bonds before she dozed off, knowing she could escape if necessary.

Beth woke alone, some time in the late afternoon of the following day. She needed to go to the toilet, something she hadn't thought of in the rush of planning. She wondered how long before the police came in answer to the call that Richard was going to make.

Richard was going to report a sighting of her car heading along the road that ran out towards where the cabin was located. They had left Beth's car in among the trees, just off the road near where they drove to the cabin. It should be easily spotted from the road, as it was visible through the trees.

Beth was worried; they should have been here already. She didn't know that the police were following several other leads and hadn't got round to the report that Richard had phoned in anonymously. Beth's stomach was rumbling in protest at this time and her bladder was bursting. Time passed and Beth finally had to pee herself or burst. She felt like a baby wetting her clothes, and knew the smell was only one of the things she would have to bear with. As it dried, it started to itch, which made her squirm awkwardly trying to relieve it.

Ted was getting edgy; they had heard nothing from the police. He decided to ring and see if he could spur them on. Everyone else was trying to be busy, so the time would pass quicker, but they hovered around Ted while he was on the phone. Ted's body language said it all, before he had time to relay the news.

"They haven't found her yet, which means they haven't checked out that report you sent in Richard." Ted cursed quietly. "That means Beth is still tied up."

"Let me do something," Shelly insisted, picking up the phone.

Shelly waited; while she went through the rigmarole of getting through to the people she wanted.

"Look I want to report a dangerous driver," she said when got through. She went on to describe Beth's car, along with the licence plate number, saying it had passed her about 60 miles north of Wainscot on Forestry Road, going well over the limit. Shelly went on to say she saw no sign of it at the end of the road where it ends at the lumber camp. By the tone of the police, when she confirmed the licence number, she knew they had made the connection. She hung up without giving her details.

Beth slept uneasily, through another night, luckily, shaded as it was, the cabin didn't get hot, so although she was thirsty, it wasn't critical yet. The police had sent a car out to the lumber camp, but missed seeing Beth's car. They came back at first light, concentrating on the stretch of road between the camp and where it was last reported passing a car dangerously. About 10 am one officer spotted the car and radioed in the report. In half an hour, backup had arrived and they formed a search line heading into the trees. Five minutes later they found the cabin and surrounded it cautiously. One officer slowly crawled up to the window at the back of the cabin and quickly glanced in, before ducking down out of sight. He waved a signal to the others as he burst inside.

Beth snapped out of her semi conscious state, to see a policeman armed with a pump action shot gun, burst in. She didn't need to fake her sense of relief, calling for water as the man checked the rest of the room in a glance.

"Beth Winslow?" he asked, as he untied her bonds.

"Yes," she choked out with a throat dry as a board.

Helping her sit up, her stomach voiced its protests, which the man obviously noted.

"Where is Martin, your abductor?" He called, as he fetched a glass of water from the kettle to give her.

"I don't know. He tied me up a couple of days ago, saying he was going fishing." Beth stated, giving him the story she had planned.

The officer then went outside and Beth heard talking about doing a search of the surroundings. The man came back inside and asked more questions of what had happened, beginning at house where Martin had first grabbed her.

Beth stood up and started to kindle a fire in the stove, so she could heat some food. As she struggled to do it, the officer took over, helping Beth to a seat where she dazedly tried to overcome her weakness. She told him how to work the pump, and where the food she wanted was. He wanted to search the cabin for clues to Martin's whereabouts and tried to break into the rifle cupboard. Beth told him to stop, saying it was her cabin and there was nothing in there to help him. He looked like he might ignore her wishes, when a shout from outside caught his attention.

He left, leaving Beth to move and make some coffee and stir the baked beans that the officer had put on to cook. Beth was toasting some bread for beans when he returned grim faced. He accepted a cup of coffee, as she served herself some beans on toast. He started to say that they had found what had happened to Martin, but waited while she scarfed down the meal with a most unladylike manner. Once she had finished and was drinking her coffee, he told her about finding signs that a bear had taken Martin while he was fishing.

Beth acted shocked, but rallied with a quick comment, that he was an animal and deserved an animal's death. He nodded, understandingly, before asking her if he had molested her.

"No, but he had mentioned taking up where he had left off in our old relationship," she said bitterly, showing she wasn't a willing abductee. "Can you ring my friends to tell them I'm okay?"

"That's being taken care of Miss Winslow; they can meet you at the hospital."

"No hospitals thank you. I'm heading straight home," she told him in no uncertain terms.

"Okay, I give up, but will you let us drive you home, I can have one of the men drive your car home for you." The officer insisted, saying she wasn't fit to drive yet.

"Of course, and thank you," Beth said, smiling at the officer.

After the officer had helped Beth get her clothes packed and Beth had put the metal box with the deeds in with her belongings, he helped her to a squad car that had been driven up to the cabin.

 

To be continued in Chapter 10

 

Since 06/14/04