The police arrived in an SUV, outfitted with the paint and lights. They stopped at the locked gate, and looked at the camp clearing, noticing the motorcycle, truck, wolf, camp stove, and Steve, sitting on the ground looking back at them. Steve could see that they were talking between themselves and also using the radio, probably reporting back to a dispatcher.

Steve sighed, as the lights on the police SUV came on, and the voice over the PA sounded clearly though the silent forest clearing. "Do not move, this is the police." Animal stood up as if he understood that this was a dangerous moment, his posture was not friendly at all, as his ears fell back, his back arched slightly and his tail hung straight down. Steve could see the policemen get out, and they had armed themselves, the driver had his pistol out, and the passenger had the shotgun, both remained behind the opened doors. The PA spoke again, "If that dog attacks us we'll have to shoot him. Can you restrain him?"

Steve called to the wolf, "Come Animal, come here." Animal limped over to Steve, losing his agressive posture as he did so, and Steve ruffed his fur around his ears as he commanded, "Down Animal, lay Down." and Steve laid his arm on the wolfs neck as he felt Animal laying down next to him, "Good boy, you are such a gooood wolf." Then to the men outside the gate he said loudly so they could hear, "That is the best I can do without getting up and getting his collar and chain."

Steve could see the two men conferring together, and with the radio, then again the amplified voice boomed out, "Let's just stay like that for the moment, don't make any sudden moves and keep your hands where we can see them." Steve slowly lifted his hand from Animals back and positioned himself so that his hands were out where the men could see them. The wolf however had different ideas, and wanted to nuzzle under Steves arm with his head in Steves lap. Nothing to do but comfort Animal, and if those men were going to start shooting there was nothing Steve could do to protect his friend but try to keep the situation from escalating. After a few moments the voice sounded out again, "Where is that chain and collar?"

"In the back of the truck." called back Steve. In the meantime Animal had become more vigorous in his nuzzling and Steve was being buffeted about and in danger of being totally swarmed as the wolf tried to climb entirely in his lap, while licking at his face. Animal and Steve had often played just like this, and there was a comedic air to the sight that did not escape the attention of the men outside the gate and they grinned at each other as Steve tried to keep the wolf from laying him flat out, and to comply with the police order to keep his hands in view, with no sudden motions.

Steve could hear the amusement in the voice as it asked, "OK, do you have any weapons on you, or in the truck?"

"YES!!" yelped Steve as Animal finally worked himself into full play mode and was practically standing on Steves chest, licking at his face and nipping at his arms trying to fend off the play attack. "LOOK, This is getting silly, " Yelled Steve, "I have a rifle, DOWN Animal, damnit, DOWN, and a couple pistols, and a shotgun in the cab, but the fucking chain is in the back!"

"OK, " came the reply, and now it was obvious that both men could hardly contain the chuckles at the sight of the man rassling with the large wolf looking dog, and losing the contest at that." you can get up and get the chain, but be careful, we have you covered."

About fucking time thought Steve, as he rolled over and staggered to his feet, barely restraining Animal from leaping up to continue the game. He walked to the open back, thankful it was facing the gate, as there would be no suspicion that he was trying to hide or run from the men at the gate. Steve quickly found the collar and chain, and with a "Sit" command to Animal, got the collar fastened and the chain secured to the truck. "Stay." he said softly to the wolf, then "Now what?" he called to the men with the guns, now clearly pointed at him.

"Do you have any weapons on your person?" came the response.

"NO" Steve yelled back, "I'm on my own property going about my own business. What is this about anyways?" Of course Steve knew exactly what the problem was, and immediately knew that by claiming that he was the owner, who surely the men knew to be lying dead on a slab in a morgue was a mistake.

"Turn around with your hands on your head, and walk backwards toward us." The voice no longer had any trace of amusement, only deadly intent and suspicion.

Steve began walking backwards, hands on his head as instructed, but at an angle, purposely changing his position so that if those men fired, Animal would not be in the direct line of fire. As he moved he expected the voice to correct him any moment, but apparently the men were satisfied with his compliance until he got to a point where if he continued he would miss the gate entirely, then the voice, unamplified did correct him, and he straightened his course until he was backed against the gate.

"Ok, that's good there. Do you have the key to this gate?"

"Yes." Steve replied

"On you? where is it?"

"In my left front pocket."

"Any needles, knifes, sharp objects drugs or weapons in that pocket?"

"Nope, just my keys and some change."

Now the two men were talking to each other, "How ya wanna do this? I don't think I can get my arm through this gate, and I'm not real eager to have my arm stuck." "We could cuff him to the fence post here, maybe?" "Naw, that would still mean having one of our arms stuck through that fence. Maybe I can climb it while you cover me?"

Steve was beginning to get impatient with this foolery, he said, "Look, I can just get the damn keys and unlock the gate! You think I'm gonna try anything with both of you holdin down on me?? Jeez."

Steve could imagine the looks that the two police were exchanging at his outburst, then suddenly he didn't need to imagine seeing them at all, and he could see both of them quite clearly, and some bits of what each were thinking as well.

"That's an eight foot chain link fence," Steve continued, "I'm sure you could climb it, but c'mon, guys, I'll open the gate, and we can get on with whatever it is you think you gotta do from there." Steve could feel them loosening, neither one eager to climb over, or try to get the key from between the posts and gate. Steve slowly dropped his hand down, and got the key from his pocket, as he tried calming the men with nice easy thoughts, and it was working. He unlocked the gate, and braced himself as the two men swarmed in and tried to take him down.

Steve had thought of four options as he realized that he was going to have to deal with this situation somehow. First, he could just go, leaving a hole in the air, and a mystery that the authorities would investigate ruthlessly. Second, he could behave just as he had up to the point of backing into the gate, just another man, letting them take him to jail, to wait until whatever fate became him. Third, he could remain, but as a mist, a ghost with form but no solidity which would raise eyebrows, and at least as many problems as just going. The fourth option was to just stand firm, and demand to have them show a warrant, or some justification for the intrusion and arrest. That fourth option is what Steve elected to do. He found it amusing but perhaps a bit rash. In any case he now had two fully armed and trained police officers grappling with his limbs and body attempting to force him to the ground and place handcuffs on him. They were failing, completely. Nothing they did budged Steve in the slightest.

Now Steve could feel them becoming fearful and then quite angry. He stood as still as stone with a blank face, remembering the story that Garoo had related of the assassins who stole into his chambers and left frightened out of their wits. He smiled as he thought of the laughter of Garoo.

The two men were grunting, sweating, and cursing, then they both gave up and drew their weapons. So, thought Steve, "Here we are."

Steve began in a mild voice, "Now then, we have that done with. Just what is it that you want with me? I might be very cooperative if you will be so kind as to explain your business here. I have been quite cooperative, until you attacked me, without provocation."

The two men stared incredulously at the man that had withstood their most strenuous efforts. Each of them outweighed Steve by at least fifty pounds or more and towered over him by almost a foot. They were obviously very frightened, and very very angry. The radios that each wore crackled with questions, and one of them hoarsely replied that they had Steve at gunpoint, but could not take him into custody.

"You are under arrest!" one of the men panted, waving his pistol at Steve. "Put your arms behind your back and turn around!"

"Really?" said Steve, but he did turn, and he put his arms behind his back. "I suppose you have a warrant for my arrest?"

"We don't need a warrant for auto theft." said the other man as the handcuffs closed tightly around Steves wrists, more tightly than the situation called for thought Steve, as he turned again facing the men. "We can add trespassing, and resisting arrest as well."

"Hmm." said Steve as he handed the handcuffs back to one of the men. "Well, I could not have stolen my own motorcycle, assuming that is the 'auto theft' you refer to, nor could I be trespassing on my own property, and as for resisting arrest, well, if you had told me that I was under arrest, I may have been quite willing to come along peacefully. As things stand now, however, I was attacked on my own property, without provocation, and I'm not so willing to be peaceful about this situation."

Again Steve was swarmed by the two men, but only breifly, as he had decided that he was through playing, and went to where Animal was loudly proclaiming his intention to destroy two men who were attacking his partner. The wolf quieted almost immediately as Steve appeared next to him, and spoke a few soothing words to him.

The men were frantically trashing at each other on the ground as they fought with confusion a man who was no longer there. In a moment, they realized that they were merely grappling with each other, and each disentangled and after some moments gasping for breath, they got to their feet, each looking around to see where Steve had gone. When they saw him, one of the pistols rose and a finger began squeezing.

Steve knew he should not have remained visible, those bullets could never bother him again, but Animal was again in the direct line of fire, and Steve decided that he'd had enough of bully tactics. His hand closed over the barrel and jerked it up pointing at the sky as it fired. As Steve took the weapon, he did not notice the finger that came with it, but the man who lost that finger did, and he screamed as the pain hit him, then dropped to his knees holding his bloody hand with the other. Almost, the man failed to notice the bullets tearing though his body, as the other man fired and kept firing until his weapon was empty.

Disaster, carnage. Steve looked down as the man died at his feet, and watched as the spirit floated up, unseeing eyes, confused, in shock, then dissipating in the sunlight, gone.

"I'm sorry." Steve muttered to the man alive, staring at the lifeless body laying on the ground. Steve thought to himself, perhaps if I had waited a little longer, or just gone along at least to their car, shaking his head. There was no way for them to know how long it took for the driveway to begin filling with other cars with lights, sirens, and more men.

Garoo stood next to Steve. "This is bad. I'm sorry."

Steve didn't bother to look around, he knew that Garoo would not be visible. Nor did he have anything to say himself.

"Steve, let's gather up what you want to keep from here, and go." They both looked at the scene in the clearing below them, men were poking around the camp, and more were looking at the the fence perimeter from inside and out. Some were looking through binoculars at the forest surrounding Steves home. He would be spotted soon, if he did not move or become invisible.

"Where? This was my home, I wanted to live here, live out my life, build a cabin, retire and . . ." the unfinished sentence hung in the air.

"Steve, you died." came the response from Garoo after a short pause, respecting the mans feelings. "It's time to move on. Most people die, and they are gone, without a future. You have a future. You don't have to join us. I'll help you set up whatever you need, it's really nothing to me, we'd like you to join us, but you don't have to. I have helped others like you, who chose not to join us. Steve, we have to move, they will see you."

"Where?"

"My house in LA would be easiest at the moment, we can grab your wolf, your bike, and whatever you want from the truck, and be gone in an instant. I have 13 of us waiting to do this, all we need to know is what to take, and we'll be gone." Garoo allowed a mere note of impatience creep into his voice, but made no attempt to influence Steve otherwise.

"Ok" Steve replied, "Animal, my bike, and I'll fish out the stuff from the truck. I don't suppose I'll need any of my camp gear will I?"

"It would be best to leave anything that is not personal, taking only what has sentimental value, or what cannot be replaced easily." Garoo said easily, "We don't want to try and take it all, but you will want to keep things from your life that have meaning to you."

"Let's go then." said Steve sadly. Within moments he was rummaging through the truck, pointing out things to keep, handing out items, which would just vanish. Once in a while the rush of activity would stop as one of the men would come near the truck, then they would wander off, and no one noticed the weight of the truck decreasing, and then, looking around, Steve decided that there really wasn't anything else he had any emotional attachment to.

Animal, and the panhead chopper were the last items to vanish, without a trace. Then Steve, himself after a last look around the clearing, felt a hand grasp his and saw Miss Hardin, with a shy smile.

"Relax." she said softly, "I'm an expert at this."

Then Steve was gone as well.