“To some it will not look good Sam, there will be a lot of gossip, especially among the Normals, when a telling is done for them.”
He wrapped his arm around me with a gentle possessiveness. “I’m jealous, even if you go as a male.” I understood he was agreeing, so I nestled against him, knowing he would feel the love in me.
Samuel was amused. “A large number of thieves are gay. Not necessarily by choice, it is difficult for them to find females willing to share their life. They’ll think I found myself a pretty young man.”
“I doubt they’ll think so once they get to know me.”
He laughed. “You are not going to be my little Sikloodu?”
We all knew he was not teasing me, he was having a go at Robbie. “If you think so, you will discover that this Sikloodu has a very painful sting.”
He laughed. “Fine, you’ll be my wasp then. I hope you can fight, a number of the men there are bound to challenge you.”
The girls (even from the other families) joined me in the bedroom as I experimented with the Kabetu body I would use. A few of them were disappointed with my final choice. I did not want to be big and muscular, I preferred small and lethally quick - like Jade. I like looking good, so I gave myself (what the Kabetu would consider) angelic features. Slim, good looking and with my natural sweetness, I was certain I would be a hit. When I said so, Haven laughed, “You will be hit, not a hit.”
“Give me some practice, attack me.”
She found herself on the floor and the quizzical look on her face was funny. She shrugged a shoulder as she raised herself. “You’ve improved your reactions.”
“Sam, it might not be a good idea being so small. If you beat some of the thugs, they’ll feel humiliated that they lost to you and look for the chance to stick a knife in your back.” Her observation, though it was valid, did not worry me. I want to have some fun this time and do some of the human things like showing off a bit. I chose the Kabeti name Tsina in honour of my sweet daughter.
As we prepared to jump, I asked Samuel to choose a spot at least an hours walk away from the town. My hand was already touching his so, as we arrived, I spun and threw him. He landed well, as I’d expected and looked up without speaking for a moment. He got to his feet.
“Let’s see how good you are when I’m expecting your attack.”
I laughed. “Come on Samuel, you were planning to do it to me, I was just quicker, that’s all.”
He was far quicker than I’d expected and obviously more experienced. I guess the twenty five years he spent alone on Kabeti forced him to learn how to protect himself. Still, out of seven throws I won the three. He dusted his hands, wiping them against his pants.
“I’m not looking forward to this. These men are used to being free and not answering to the law.”
“They don’t have to live in the city Samuel, they could become road monitors, guarding the traffic. They could have camps out in the bush.”
He shook his head. “It was also suggested by others. Who would they be guarding the travellers against? Wouldn’t it be against those from their gangs that refused to join them? They’ll not like that.”
“Explain that their job is to warn caravans and help the small family groups who cannot afford guards. The rest will continue to employ guards, until these men adjust and begin to take pride in their work. If the council refuses, Kiris or Rakil can employ them.”
“Then it seems we won’t be leaving soon. I’m glad I came, I’m already learning so much.”
He gave me a suspicious glance. “Such as?”
“I’d never realised what a pessimist you are.” He did not bother to answer; he could feel me.
This time Samkin was not challenged and we walked into the tavern. Kaproti was sitting at his table and he had drinks ready for us. I’d forgotten about the brew they think of as ale and warned my healer to keep me sober. As for the taste, I’d just have to grin and bear it.
“There were no worthy warriors on the other worlds so you returned, bringing one of their pretty boys with you?”
“Knowing I was going to have to look at your ugly face, I brought him to cheer me up. Where he comes from, the warriors are different from us, let us enjoy our drink and then he’ll demonstrate against two of your best men.”
I had to be careful, it would not do for me to sound like Samantha, a girl-child. I took off my travelling cloak and stood with my hands on my hips, assuming an arrogant pose deliberately. I did keep my voice soft. “Is he going to bring them from somewhere else? I only see men softened by too much drink and food.” I sent a frown to Robbie as I felt his presence, as the void.
Kaproti looked around at his men, laughing at them. “Do I have any brave men willing to take on a child?”
As I sipped at my drink I split my awareness, part of me listening to Samkin and Kaproti teasing and testing each other and part of me monitoring Kaproti. He puzzles me. I sense a mixture that should not co-exist. He is a hard man and whatever sentimentality and good humour he exhibits is calculated. On the other hand, he is not deliberately cruel and has a sense of what is just. I suppose he would have to if he wishes to remain the leader of a bunch of cut-throats. I have a feeling they might fear him, but the knowledge that he will treat and rule them fairly, according to their standards, is as much as they can expect of any leader of outlaws.
He placed his meaty hand on my arm and it felt like a blow. “Do you follow his rules - about killing?”
“Only if I can, I will not sacrifice my life for the sake of anyone intent on killing me - not even for you.”
His eyes narrowed, but he kept his hand on my arm. “Would you kill to save Samkin?”
“I would kill to save any life, if it is being threatened wrongly.”
He removed his hand and scratched at the tattered and swollen folds of his throat, digging in and scratching at the hidden dirt. “You should not have brought him Samkin, he belongs in a city where that kind of talk is safe and gives the impression he is tough.”
Samkin shrugged. “What could I do, he is headstrong and insisted on coming with. I’m indebted to him so I had to give in.” Samkin was being humorous, but Kaproti took it the wrong way.
“Ah, you owe him and brought him for us to dispose of him and your debt. That is what old friends are for.” Ruefully, Samkin sent, *Be careful, his men will be trying to kill you.*
As I drained my mug, two men stood up and everyone moved their tables and benches to make space for us. I watched them for a moment, knowing it will inflate their self confidence, and then joined them.
“Is this going to be a clean fight or is it one of those anything goes fights?”
“Fight!” As he spat the word at me he swung his fist.
I swerved, careful not to lean towards the other fighter, and as his arm flashed by me I pulled at it. Being off-balance he took a couple of teetering steps and with a shove I helped him crash into a bench. The other man was already reaching to encircle my waist so I took a quick hard step into him and collapsed to my knees, sinking out of his reach.
Naively I had planned to survive the fight without striking either of them. As they both closed in on me I knew I had to take the offensive. They actually hesitated as I swirled in place, moving down into a crouch as I did, and as I faced the one man my foot lashed out. The blow unbalanced me but I was expecting it and leant over with my one hand on the floor, pushing myself so that the completion of my turn brought my foot behind the other man. It hit him behind his knee and as he tried to adjust I rose with my elbow extended and hit him in the face.
For a moment I was distracted by the blood that sickened me and the other man hit me in the small of my back. In agony I fell to the floor. Instantly I rolled away from both of them, but the men in that direction extended their legs to force me away from them and back to my opponents.
My self confidence had taken a bruising. I had not sensed the man behind me about to hit me. I had no plan of action and I knew that both of them would not be as sensitive to pain, they’d fight just as effectively even if I hurt them. The fact that I’m a girl was also working against me, for there was a subversive feeling that I should have had a male championing me. As I’ve said, I’m not really a fighter.
It crossed my mind that I could use my healer to slow them, but my eyes met those of Samkin and I straightened, determined to win. All the training I’d undergone had been of a defensive nature and it had become second nature to pull my blows so as not to hurt my partner in training. I had to make a conscious decision to land each blow.
There is no way any un-enhanced Normal can fight a second generation Cherinian. I must have seemed to be a blur to them as I danced around them, striking blows that would weaken them. Within less than three minutes both of them were on the floor. Purposefully I strode over to the innkeeper and taking two mugs of brew I stood over the men. As they came to their feet I offered them the drinks.
“To a fight well fought.” The one accepted the drink, but the other lashed out to knock it out of my hand. I arranged it so that his hand hit the mug from the wrong direction and the brew flew into his face. As everyone laughed, I stepped away and returned to my table.
Samkin had demanded one room for us to share. He made himself comfortable on the one side of the bed and stared up at me. I grinned. “So, you can be an optimist at times?”
“We are both males and not even of our own species!”
I cocked my head, the grin still on my face. “Did you really hope to have the girls show in a telling that I shared a bed with you?”
“You would look more foolish if they showed that you slept on the floor.”
I had to awaken at the crack of dawn and change back to my Kabetu form so that Samkin would not have my absence to explain. He sat up, took a look at me and went back to sleep for another two hours. I spent most of that time sitting by the window imagining what it must have been like for Cherine to spend so many years in the form of Tserika. How ironic that little Cherine chose that name for herself.
“Your young dancer slept well?”
“As is his custom he slept on the floor, so I cannot answer you.”
Kaproti made a sad face. “Such a waste. He is very pretty.”
Samkin nodded, “He is a Sikloodu with a poisonous sting, don’t let his looks fool you.”
Kaproti turned to me. “You would sting me?”
Cassie should have been here, only she always has an instant response that nullifies the verbal two-edged sharp blade. Kaproti is too important for me to antagonise. I thought to evade him. “I’m waiting for the love of my life.”
He grinned. “Male or female?” I felt the laughter in Samuel’s mind, I’d walked into that one. If I answered ‘female’, the jokes about that in Freddie would never end. If I answered ‘male’, he would think I am willing to play his games.
“I prefer the opposite of what I am.”
He’d had his fun. He softened his voice, “Old friend, do you need to speak to me alone?”
As soon as the room was cleared, Samkin brought him up to date with the latest news from Rapperten. It might not have been obvious, but Samkin showed great skill in simplifying his tale and slanting the news to accentuate the points that would be of interest to Kaproti and influence him to make the correct decision. No mention was made of Cherinianism or any powers that would frighten a superstitious mind.
Kaproti was astounded. “That boy you brought with, what was his name, he brought such changes!?”
“His name is Kiris. The boy you speak of will soon be an adult and I prophesy for you, with his girl-child Nericha, the two of them will change your world for the better. If you came with me to Rapperten and walked among the poorest of the city, you would find it difficult to find any sick people. Just that change surely deserves our support?”
“He has taken over all the orphan children and does not make them work? How can he pay for it all?”
“He finds ways.”
He shook his head. “I was an orphan and preferred to live on the streets, despite the knives and hunger, than allow them to take me into their damn orphanage.”
“Kaproti, I ask as your friend, let us work together to end the existence of bandits. Every man will be given an honest job so that we can concentrate on improving life for everyone.” He shrugged, saying it before Kaproti could, “There will always be dishonest men and thieves, but we both know that many fled into the mountains out of desperation. Those, Kiris wants to give a second chance.”
“I am too old to change Samkin.”
“Rakil Isa Berrit is his representative? The gold miner! Why would a powerful and wealthy man like him agree to represent a child?”
“Not just Rakil.” He mentioned the names of other powerful men. “They all acknowledge him and Nericha as their leaders. They do so my fat old friend because they are caught by his dream, their spirits on fire with the visions Kiris offers. You know that such men are not fools, they would not follow anyone unless they saw that his dreams are practical and realisable.”
“Fine words my friend, but then you always were a dreamer. The dancer, is he related to Kiris?” I wondered how he would answer.
“As you and I.”
“Ahh. And you, are you related to the dancer?”
“Yes, in the same manner.”
Kaproti laughed. “So you see my pretty dancer, we are related. There would be no shame in sharing my bed. Think of me as your loving uncle.”
I smiled, a small tense smile, but my eyes stared at him seriously. “No shame uncle, not if I loved you. However, for me there would be shame if I shared my body with anyone but the one who waits for me. Samkin has been playing with me, trying to put me in a difficult spot - I am married.”
“She waits, dreaming of you in her bed alone?” He turned to Samkin. “Were you ever that young?”
“I was born old.”
“That is why I find you with children now? You wish to steal their youth to become a child again?”
I frowned, puzzled. Samkin saw. “My fat friend, the dancer is puzzled by you, he thinks of you as an uneducated savage. Tsini o Tsina, when I led the gang up in the mountains, Kaproti and I spent countless nights talking and he is a rough kind of philosopher. He can read and…he reads.” ‘Tsini’ means ‘dream’ and he was calling me ‘Tsina the Dreamer’ and it stuck. Dancer and Dreamer - neither of them anything like my true self. I guess the imps are going to have fun with them.
Kaproti cocked his head. “The men are impatient, our talk keeps them from their drink. Samkin, elder brother and friend, do not be miserly with your time, stay with us while I think of all we have said.”
He pulled a dirty trick on me. “We are not rushing off anywhere. Tonight Tsini o Tsina and I will demonstrate how we fight with staves.” He grinned. “The winner will fight you another night. I hope you have not grown too soft.”
Of course it was a dirty trick. He knew that I would not dare to win the fight, for they must continue to admire and respect him. However, this kind of fighting we do practice in Freddie and he knows he cannot match my agility and speed. I sent to Wendy, asking the girls to quickly choreograph our fight so that Samkin and I can practice secretly before this evening. Samkin heard me and countermanded my request, demanding we leave it to chance.
By evening the tavern had filled and many were annoyed. They love betting, but no one was willing to give odds, all of them certain I would lose. There were a number of groans about it not being fun if they could not bet. A middle aged male kept his eyes on me and I could almost hear his thoughts, it was that obvious he was trying to estimate the odds of my winning. I cheated and examined thoughts of others about him and discovered what I was searching for. He could keep a secret. I went to the door, nodding at him as I passed by him. A few minutes later he joined me outside.
“You wish to bet?”
“No.” I took out a small pouch and counted out some golden Rapperten coins. “Back me. Offer even money that I will last at least three minutes and two to one that I will win. Balance your bets so that you have enough to pay everyone if I lose. I guarantee I will last the three minutes.”
“Why should I do this for you?”
“Whatever coins remain are yours.”
“You expect to win?”
“Against Samkin! No, but I will last three minutes.” He nodded and took my money.
“Why are you betting then?”
“They will only laugh at me if I lose. However, people love those who won them money and proved them wise.” He did not even smile, just walked straight back into the tavern. I took a brief walk before returning, enjoying the scent of food from the tavern and the cloying scents of the almost tropical plants.
I cannot describe how difficult it is to lose without betraying the fact that I did so deliberately. I had to fight at close to my peak, but use tiny betraying shifts of my eyes, the raising or lowering of an elbow or the one foot moving slightly in preparation of twisting in a direction that the sharp eyes of Samkin would recognise and give him the edge. I did last just over four minutes, but I came out of the fight with sore ribs and bleeding knuckles. A whack on my shoulder hurt me and when my left arm would not raise the stave to defend myself, I conceded defeat. Samkin did not escape a few painful taps and we both looked worse for wear by the time mugs were thrust in our hands. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of men who came to commiserate and tell me I had fought valiantly. My one big prize, as far as I was concerned, was that I would not have to fight Kaproti. He is a vicious fighter (I found out) and I just might have had to beat the hell out of him to protect myself.
Kaproti called a general meeting and even the few women and children sat in a ring around us, listening with amazement to all he told them.
“I trust neither the councils of the cities nor the dreams of a child. Those of you from Dakost, you know that your cities are wealthy enough to banish hunger so that not one belly collapses like an empty purse or swells like a balloon. Why did you come here, hide in the mountains, living like animals until one of our gangs found you? Because they do not care.
I would have slain any man coming to me with such a story, such an obvious trap. Samkin was my leader for some time and I know that he has strange ideas, so I listened to him. I also know that he cares about us, even those who do not obey his rule about killing. Why should he trap us, he only has to lead the guards to our homes and they would be all around us, hiding in the grass and trees, waiting for his signal.” He gestured dramatically and everyone looked around nervously, as if expecting to catch sight of the guards.
“Tsini o Tsina, stand here before me.” I got up and went to him. “There are some who have long dreamt of returning home. I have seen how Samkin looks at you, do you offer yourself as hostage, your throat to be slit if those who follow Samkin do not return to show us both of you have spoken truly?”
He expected my teeth to retract as a sign of submission. Instead I stood before him proudly. “I will stay, to dream and dance as your guest until the day they return.” I gestured for him to rise to his feet. There was an angry murmur and I saw the gleam in his eyes as he rose. “Speak Kaproti, leader of the road guards, tell them all that I stay as your guest, with honour as a fellow warrior.”
Samkin took me aside before leaving and warned me that there are bound to be a thief or two who will challenge me to a fight to death or try to stab me in the back. I reassured him I would be careful.
“I can feel Robert, he will not allow you to be harmed.”
I laughed. “You don’t know him that well then, he will consider it a valuable lesson I need to learn. Don’t worry Samuel, this is an important moment, we are coming closer to making our dream come true and we dare not let anything go wrong. Which reminds me, I will pay you back for that stupid nickname you gave me.”
Kaproti probably did not consider me worth wasting more of his prestige on by inviting me to his table now that Samkin was gone. In my usual impetuous manner I’d acted foolishly by spending all my coins and would not be able to pay for the meal. I also now worried what would happen if I am asked to pay for my room the next morning.
I could sense that I was watched whenever I went for a walk, so I locked myself in my room very early that evening and jumped to the house of Kiris. When I confided in them my problem, explaining why I’d handed over my coins for the man to bet against me, Kiris thought it was hilarious. At least Nericha tried to hide her grin and took my side.
As it is with most men who’ve worked or connived their way up from the bottom of the ladder, Kiris keeps a small fortune in cash within his home. He brought me far too many coins so I took a few of them only and filled my purse again. “Thank you, but it would not be wise to be seen with too many coins in Thieves Town.”
With a look of chagrin he apologised. Nericha returned with a tray of food for me so I sat with them, eating and drinking as Kiris brought me up to date. He had good reason to be worried. Both his schools are full and the number of applicants he cannot accept are more than the number he has already accepted. He does not see how he can afford to build more schools. Since his orphanages include classrooms and teachers he has already overextended himself.
“Tserika will not mind finding more gold for you.”
“You mean Cherine, not little Tserika? That is not a good solution Samantha, there are many people who hate me and they are also capable of doing simple arithmetic. They have their spies and have a reasonably good idea of my income. If I spend far above my wealth they will become suspicious.”
It was my turn to try and hide my grin. I should have guessed that he’d be angling for a way to increase his wealth. Now that I’m sitting here, typing, I realise he is right. Solving his problem temporarily by giving him gold to pay for the schools would be very shortsighted. He has to grow his income.
Arthur, I’m really having fun, I’m enjoying everything about my time on Kabeti, even the heat, sweat, discomforts in general and the dangers. I feel challenged and more alive.
This is a few days later. After my last stint of typing, I spent the night with my loves and early in the morning I returned to my room in Thieves Town. As I arrived, my hearts lurched from shock and I exclaimed, “Jesus!!” Kaproti was half sitting up, on my bed, wide awake. My fear was out of what could have happened if I’d arrived where he is.
He did not move, just stared at me, carefully noting my reactions. I quickly recovered (outwardly) while I tried to work out what I should say. As if there was anything I could say to make him disbelieve his own eyes!
“It has troubled me for a long time, how did the little female arrive without us knowing. Is it magic you use? That is how Kiris has become so powerful?”
There was nothing friendly in his eyes and he did not even joke about them thinking he’d had his way with me. “They stand outside the door and have heard our voices.”
“I do not intend you any harm. Please speak to them, tell them to leave, that we have much to speak of in private.”
“If you were Samkin, brother and friend though I’ve considered him, I would not trust you after what I’ve seen.” He made as if to get up. “Perhaps I should open the door so that they hear clearly what you have to say. They all know we found the room empty.”
I shrugged. “I understand, you are afraid.” At the instant anger I stuck out my hand. “Prove to me that you are not. Touch me.”
As soon as we arrived, Freddie jumped to another reality. Robbie had made certain nobody else was in sight by the taverna. I pulled back and took a few steps away from him. “We will soon be back in my room and you will not be harmed in any way while you are here. You asked a question and this was the only way for me to answer you truthfully.”
Badly shaken, he showed he has a will of iron. “Where is this?”
“There is no way I can give you a short and simple answer. If you have the patience and courage to listen, let us sit at the table with a drink while I tell you our story and then you are free to ask all the questions you want.”
“Samkin comes from here!”
I nodded. “Yes, so does Tserika and many of the guards they had with them.”
“And Kiris?”
“No, he is from your world. Kaproti, you will only confuse yourself if you insist on asking your questions first. Let me tell you our story without interruptions and then ask all you want.”
“Be brief. My men will not wait for long and when they see you have cast a spell on me, they will kill you.”
I smiled, which upset him. “If this is a spell, I promise you, once you have heard our story, you will wish desperately that you are never freed of it.” I sat at the bench opposite where Maria had left a tankard of their brew. I was going to derive great pleasure from what I was about to confide in him, especially after the way he’d had his fun at my expense. “Sit and enjoy yourself. First of all, I’ll start off by telling you something that might not be that much of a surprise to you. I am not a male, I’m a female.”
“Your disguise is good. I still see a male. Even if you are too pretty.”
“Before Kiris met me, he read a book that examined some outrageous theories and he refused to believe them. The writer claimed that the stars are worlds, such as Kabeti is, and that there must be many different kinds of people that live on them. I am such a person, I come from a different world and in my natural body I do not look like this. Now let me tell you our story my way.” I waited for him to nod.
“The full story will be told to you later. This world, as you can see, is a small world. It is not really a real world, it is a ship that carries us from one star to another. We call our ship Freddie. There are many people from many stars living in here and most of them do not look anything like us. The leader of this world is my husband, a male called Robert. He wanted to celebrate his marriage to a wife of ours so we travelled, looking for a new world, one we had never been to before, so that they would both have unique memories of her first days. (Aven sent me, with a giggle, He succeeded and I had to restrain myself from grinning.) We arrived here and my husband left his body, coming to your world as a spirit so as to make certain it would not place his bride in danger if he brought her there.
I’ll be honest, what I told him was not the same as I’ve written here. How could it be? Most of what I wrote he would not have had a frame of reference for, so I changed it, bringing the story alive in a way that would suit his culture and education. It took hours and when I realised he was hungry, I led him on a short walk by the beach, took him to a temporary toilet Robbie put up for him and me (as a Kabetu) and when we returned, the table was laden with food and drink for us. It felt strange that I was being a Kabetu for so long while in Freddie, but I did not want to send him in a screaming race across our world to get away from me.
“You have heard too many strange things for you to understand much. Relax, take a walk if you want or, if seeing my family will not frighten you, allow me to call for them to join us. Kaproti, do not ask further questions, let this day pass, sleep and we will answer all your questions tomorrow.”
“You will return me?”
“I promised. Even if we stay here many days, when we return, for those outside the room, only minutes will have passed. If there is anything you need or wish to see, just ask.”
“Could I have some time alone? Then I would like to meet Tserika again.”
I did monitor his mood as he walked, just in case the shock was too severe. If I could afford to weep I’d have had tears in my eyes when I sensed a growing excitement in him. As with nearly all first-timers, he was mostly impressed by the treehouses. He did not recognise the spaceships in our skies for what they are and accepted them as strange fixtures of Freddie’s.
As he returned to a table already filled with mugs of brew and food, Tserika walked from the opposite direction, timing it so that she arrived just after he did. Kaproti stood up and she waved him down and sat with us.
“Our Samantha surprised all of us, we did not expect to see you here for a long time. I’m glad it worked out this way. Welcome.”
“You look as you did on my world.”
“I am being polite. This way you are familiar with the way I look.”
“Is it difficult to change to the way you really look? Are you as ugly as he says?”
“You tell me.” She grinned at the expression on my face and stood up. He could not prevent himself exclaiming as she changed back into our sweet little love. All signs of amusement were gone from her eyes as she asked solicitously, “Am I a monster to you?”
“I am a child, a six year old equivalent of a child of your race. If you like I can change to an adult.” Robbie decided he liked him when he replied he is more comfortable with her as she is.
If Arthur were writing for us, I bet Kaproti would have undergone a miraculous change, his heart opening to us. The truth is, he has remained terrified, believing that behind all he’s seen is a terrible kind of magic which is meant to enslave him. It is therefore understandable that he clung to his cynicism and fought us.
When I took him to the taverna the next morning it was to the sight of a large number of extremely ugly and soft looking aliens. I introduced him to Robbie and my loves. I’d taught him that we shake hands so he offered his to Robbie. “Are you an adult?”
“Yes. Just.” He qualified with a grin.
He nodded his head. “I understand, you are like Kiris, his twin spirit. Even in your preference for child lovers.”
I was pleased, thinking he was softening, allowing himself to consider thoughts he’d been closed to. Then Robbie made a terrible mistake. With laughter in his thoughts he asked Goldi to change to a Kabetu girl-child. When he saw and felt her particular charm, his mind snapped shut like a flytrap plant, spiky thoughts tearing at reason.
We no longer become despondent when this happens, we can empathise and accept that he needs time. However, I was getting tired of the male body and not being able to eat everything I love. I jumped home to change and dress. Within seconds I was back and as I sat Maria came out with a delicious breakfast for me. Since I had not known that I was going to change, she puzzled me. I came up with an answer that had my mind giggling at me like a little girl.
“I’ve worked out how you do it dad.”
“Do what?”
“This must have taken twenty minutes to cook and I only changed three minutes ago.” The girls had all quietened, curiously waiting for the punch line - my crazy theory. “You’ve worked out a way to enclose the kitchen in a time-interface so that it is as if she is in a different reality and has all the time she needs to be ready to surprise us.”
Robbie mulled over the possibility of Maria doing something like that while my loves, who’d understood my reason for the comment, teased me, each other and acted like a bunch of happy children. It worked. Kaproti slowly relaxed again.
Since Kiris had found the Elipians beautiful, we called to them and a small group of them came by the taverna to greet us and be introduced. Then Iona rushed to us, climbing the table to greet all of us. She was curious about Goldi and climbing up her arm settled on her shoulder to probe into the lacy folds of her throat, gaily chattering as she did so. By the time she went to Kaproti he had realised she is an intelligent person, not just our version of an insect. He was uneasy when she climbed to his shoulder, but as her mind hummed joyfully while she rubbed his cheek he soon accepted her. Cherine decided we’ve overloaded his mind and told everyone to leave.
“Normally we would ask you to stay with us until you become convinced that we are exactly what we told you we are, however, I’m going to give you a choice. Would you like to stay a few days or do you want to return home?”
“If I do, will you leave me alone or will you force me to return?”
“You’ll have to ask, and even then I’m not willing to guarantee it will be possible.”
