Barn and Stars

She should have been exhausted.

She should have just crawled straight into bed.  But even though she was physically tired and worn out, her mind was still a whirl.

She ran outside to the barn, climbed the ladder to the loft, and looked out the open window.  She sat down on the fresh hay and looked out at the stars.  It was a clear night and she could make out the distant constellations.  She wondered what it would be like exploring those distant celestial bodies so far from the dreary, grinding routine of the farm.

It almost made the pain in her back recede.  Her red, chapped hands that so recently bled today were forgotten.  She was up before dawn and worked with her father and siblings until dark.  There was only work, rest and food.  The same routine, day after day, all year round, only interrupted by school or inclement weather.

But there had to be something more, she thought.  Something that made life more exciting, something that would challenge her mind and not just her body.  She folded her arms on her knees, laid her head down, and begin to tear up.

A moment later, she thought she saw a flash of light.  She looked up and saw a falling star, come crashing into the horizon just behind a nearby field.  Then she heard her name called from below.

"Tabitha!" he called, in a strong baritone voice.  He made the name sound very clipped and foreign. "Tab-eee-thuh!"  He called.

She looked down and saw standing in front of the barn Yul Brynner.  Not someone who looked like Yul Brynner, but THE Yul Brynner.  He stood there with his hands on his hips.  He was naked from the waist up, except for a purple sash. He had flowing pants that looked like a genie's or...or...the king of...something.  He had bare feet.  He had a a huge scabbard belted to his waist. His face had the look of grim determination and he was staring right up at her.

"Tabitha!" shouted Yul.  "It is time!  Come with me now!  I command you!  Instruct my children in western ways.  And who knows?  Some day I may dance with you!  Some day you might be my....consort!"  He reached out his hand to her.

She was frozen in fear and indecision.  How could this be happening? Was Yul Brynner even alive?

Before she could do anything, she heard a strange sound and a wavering image appear near Yul.  As it solidified, she knew who it was.  It was Captain James T Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, in his prime!

"Tabitha Steel?" he asked.  He looked up at her, a glint of a smile crossing his face.

"Y-y-yes?" she managed to stutter out.

"I am Captain James T Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.  I am here as a representative of the Federation to recruit you to join us on our five year mission, to boldly go where no man or woman has gone before, to explore space - the final frontier!"

"Oh, wow!  I can't believe this!" she said,  She looked at her hands - still rough and unhealed.  Her back still hurt like the dickens.  She pinched her cheek.  "Ow!"  She got up to come down from the loft.

Yul Brynner pulled a huge sword out of his scabbard.  He raised it up to smate Captain Kirk.  Kirk quickly whipped out his phaser and fired.  Yul Brynner collapsed to the ground.

Against her better judgement, she still came out of the barn towards the two men.  "Don't worry, Tabitha!  It was only on stun.  He'll be alright in a few minutes," said Kirk.  She just looked at Kirk, wide-eyed,  her mouth slightly open.

"Look, if you still want to go with the, uh, King here, that's fine.  Recruitment in the Starfleet is strictly voluntary.  But we have a fine crew.  I think you might enjoy assisting our Science Officer, Mr. Spock.  He could use a fine mind like yours."

"Mind?" she said.  That was all she needed.  She was sold.  "I am so there, Captain!  Ready to come aboard!"

"Welcome aboard, Ensign Steel!"  He reached out his hand, and she took it.  Her hand was immediately filled with a soothing warmth, and she could already feel her sore hand beginning to heal.  He put a cell phone shaped device near his mouth and spoke into it.  "Beam two aboard, Scotty!  We have our new recruit!"

A strange, wavery sound occurred again, and then they both vanished.





"Tabby!  TABITHA!"  Her father came up the ladder and saw Tabitha sleeping there in the loft.  "Tabby!"  She stirred from her deep sleep, and found that she was not on the Starship Enterprise.  "Tabby!  Did you sleep out here all night!"

"I-I guess so."

"Well, no matter.  You're already late for your morning chores.  No time to eat or change or dilly dally.  Let's get up and at 'em!"

The weariness of it all about did her in.  She got out of the barn and started to trudge to her chores.  Then she noticed on the ground an unusual object.  She picked it up and saw that it was an Ensign patch for a Starfleet uniform.  She was also startled that her right hand, the one Captain Kirk shook, was no longer red, no longer cut.

Yes, it was a hard slog.  But there it was.  A hint or hope of something else.  Not there yet, but certainly to be hoped for.  She stepped a little more lightly.

Live long and prosper!