“Is mother alright?”
“Yes. It is about Robert.”
“He told you about our stupid fight?”
His tone, his request that she go to their home, added to her deep understanding of what drives Robert, brought to her the certainty that Robert has left. She drove far above the speed limit (police ignoring her law-breakings, frantically clearing the road ahead of her, as they did not know that Vincent is keeping her safe), her mind churning and her spirit sinking as she imagined a world without her Robert in it, so that by the time she arrived she thought she had faced the worst that could happen.
Her mother rushed to her and tried to hold her in her arms. Cherine gave her a few seconds and turned to Alki, searching his face. He nodded. “He’s gone koukla mou. I don’t know where, but he has left.”
In a very small voice, “Forever?”
She let him hold her as he led her into the house and seated her. “He said so. Cherine, he said he is leaving because he loves you.” He spread his arms in resignation. “He refused to tell me where he is going.” The despair that filled her showed her she had not faced the worst that could happen. She’d still believed she could find him and convince him to return. “He asked me to pass on a message. He apologised for taking your anniversary gift with him. He said it brought…I’m so sorry Cherine.”
Marian, in her direct way tore at Cherine’s heart. “You knew how desperately he wanted a child, the age gap would not have mattered if you had given him a son or daughter.”
“I couldn’t mum, I couldn’t.”
“Why not.”
“I was afraid.” She could not admit to her mother that she had feared Robert would love their child more than he loved her and she also had not wanted the special closeness they had to be disrupted. She thought of it as her one selfishness and she was ashamed of it.
Robert knows how resourceful Cherine can be when she is determined, so he did not catch a flight. He caught the fast train to Salonica and from there he caught a flight to England. He then took a bus across to France, went to Belgium and caught a flight to Nairobi. He was the only Englishman on the flight and on arrival he was taken into a backroom where an officer interrogated him.
The officer was a Cherinian and had been briefed by Meli. “Wewe na joua…” The officer changed his mind, talking to him in Kiswahili did not sound right, considering the lies he had to tell. “You British voted against us, demanding the United Nations reduce our food assistance. You do not care if our people die, but you want to visit our country?”
Robert thought quickly, hiding the fact that he did not know what the officer was talking about. “That is why I came. I oppose the decision of my government.”
“You came here to show your sympathy?”
“That is right.”
“Then you will not mind if we ask CNN to interview you. Let your people know you see that we have been wronged.”
“”I…don’t think I will be here long enough. I am catching the next flight to Dar es Salaam.”
The officer hid his amusement and arranged for Robert to be on the next flight. Having a non-Cherinian Robert in Kenya would only cause problems, why not let the Tanzanians handle him, he asked himself.
“I’m an artist. Can you suggest a fairly cheap hotel out of the city, somewhere I can paint nature?” Dommi secretly prompted the customs official and Robert ended up at our favourite hotel. John was warned and he saw to it that none of the staff revealed that they recognise him. Hettie took care of it from the government side.
[ The way the two of them were feeling was messing us up. They both felt despair, but they handled it in completely different ways. For all of us, sharing more closely with Cherine was far more interesting, but I stuck to Robert, for I have hurt him so many times and I needed to understand how it is he comes bouncing back filled only with love. I guess I expected him to react differently as a Normal, which would give me a deeper insight of his psyche.]
Cherine collapsed internally, all her childhood fears surfacing. Our childhood fears are the most difficult to handle, for they cannot be reasoned with, that is why they play such a strong role throughout our lives. When she woke up from a few hours sleep after the second night without Robert, she was changed. Gone were the vacillating fears and indecision. She made a cup of coffee and taking pen and paper she started to form a plan for finding him again. She did not suffer any doubts; once she found him she knew she would convince him he is being unreasonable, destroying the only beauty in both their lives because of his fears.
At her insistence Alki pulled some strings and he ‘found out’ for her that Robbie had flown out of Salonica for London. She immediately flew to London.
“Is Dominique in please? This is Cherine Teller.”
“Come up.” The buzzer sounded and she pushed the door.
As she opened the door of the lift and saw Dominique, Cherine wondered for the hundredth time how Robert could have loved her after loving someone as beautiful and sophisticated as Dominique. She waited for Dominique to finish fussing as all Greek women do, and once they had coffee and biscuits she told her about Robert leaving.
“He has not called on us.”
“I didn’t come here with that hope. Dominique, your father has a lot of contacts in London, could he find out if Robert is still here or whether he flew out? I don’t want the detectives I use to waste weeks looking for him if he left.”
*Meli?*
*Help her find out he went to France. She’s on her own from there.*
“Patera?” Elias and Claire came out and Cherine had to hug and kiss cheeks while they welcomed her. Dominique told them why Cherine had come and Elias stroked his chin while he thought.
“I’m not certain who I can call, but my secretary is very efficient, she’ll know. I’ll instruct her tomorrow morning. Where is your luggage, you must stay with us.”
“Thank you, but I’ve already got a room at the Mayfair.”
“You should not have done that! You know you are always welcome here.”
“I think she needs to be on her own patera.”
Claire answered, “That is exactly why she should not be alone. Cherine, we will go out for supper together, I doubt you’ve had a proper meal since Roberto left.”
John could not do anything to help Robert directly, so he had a talk with the old woman. At first she was impatient of his schemes, but then a picture of Robert as he stood by his child bride in the bush of magic ignited a faint spark of empathy for him. (Arthur, I’m using a bit of imagination here as there is no way I could or would dare to try to share her thoughts or emoting).
From a distance Robert did not realise what she is, but as he came closer he identified her as a local. He was drawn out of himself by the sight of her, he had never seen such a wizened old person. As he drew close to her, an arm snaked out and drew a sign in the sand.
“M’zungu, do you believe in magic?”
“For some.”
“Not for you?”
“No, none for me.”
“Do you believe in demons?”
“No.”
“The land of Africa cannot help you, she only helps those who love her. You do not love our world.”
Robert was shaken by her observations, but tried to hide his vulnerability. “I did not ask the land to help me.”
“Would you prefer the lands of the spirits? Do you believe they would help you?”
“Perhaps.” He closed his eyes. “If it is dark there and I can forget.”
She laughed with disdain. “It is there that you cannot forget. There you will see clearly your sacrifices. Sacrifices that were not yours to make.” She shook her stick at him. “You do not believe in magic, but your life is full of it. You say there are no demons, but you are filled with them. Bah! You white people are blind.” Cursing her aches she got to her feet and walked into the bush.
Robert felt his legs crumbling, so weak that he could not stand. He collapsed onto the sand and for the first time tears coursed down his cheeks. Hours later he made his way to his bungalow and collapsed on his bed. For two days and nights he did not leave his room.
Elias returned to his apartment early, pretending with a smile that he was pleased at his success. “Cherine, you were right, Roberto has left England. He left for France on the same day he arrived. He went by bus.”
“France!” Her dismay as she realised the truth nearly broke her. “Dominique, he is not in France, he doesn’t like the French, he only went there to hide his destination. How will I find him now?”
“If he doesn’t want to be found, perhaps you should allow him the time he needs to be alone.”
“I have a contact in France. I’ll ask him to find out if Roberto is still in France. He’ll meet you at the airport. Cherine, have you got enough money with you to travel all over the world? Here.” He took out a roll of notes. “I guessed you might be determined to follow him. You can repay me when you return with him.”
“Cherine?” Dominique looked worried. “I took the initiative on your behalf and called Nicko. My brother has agreed to travel with you. You need someone to help you question officials and you only speak Greek and English.” Meli did not comment, even she would never contradict Dommi when she is determined.
They flew to Paris the next morning and Eddie met them at the airport. Since everyone taking part had agreed from before to share, I transferred my sharing to him for a short time and insulted him by digging deeper. I saw this as the opportunity to see how he feels, now that he has his powers and Cherine and Robbie do not. He sent me a flicker of amusement that told me he’d understood my motive without it angering him (he actually had the thought that I was being typically a Samantha!).
“I’m pleased to meet you Mrs Teller. Nicko, as always, you are escorting a rare beauty.” Cherine decided she likes the old man with his goatee beard. He exuded not only charm but a warmth, like an uncle.
“It was kind of you to help Mr Mansfield. Have you discovered the whereabouts of my husband?”
“All I can tell you is that he is probably not in France. As you know, passports are not needed within Europe so he might have crossed over into a neighbouring country. The Securité have checked with all hotels and boarding houses and, unless he slept in the open or with friends, he is not here.” He smiled gently. “Do not be discouraged Mrs Teller, if he has boarded an aeroplane anywhere within Europe we’ll find him.”
Eddie and Hettie have a beautiful apartment in Paris and Eddie insisted they stay with him. Despite her anxiety and pain, Cherine was impressed by the antiques and sheer luxury. Not even Alki lives like this and she felt as if she’d stepped into a magazine article that shows how the truly wealthy live. Four days later, when she woke up to the maid bringing in a salver with croissants and coffee, she saw a note. ‘We have good news for you.’
Within minutes she was dressed and rushing to the livingroom. Eddie had another cup of coffee waiting for her as he seated her. “As you presumed, he did not waste time, he immediately left for Belgium and caught a flight from there for Nairobi. Do have your coffee Mrs Teller, the next flight is only this afternoon, if it is not already fully booked.”
Let’s go back a few days again.
Robert thought of ignoring the knock on his door, he had already ordered the maid to leave him alone and was slightly irritated that she would not listen. Since it is contrary to his nature to be rude, he opened the door to find a man standing there.
“Mr Teller, the management are worried. Are you well?”
“I am, thank you. I just wish to be left alone, that is why I placed the ‘Do Not Disturb’ card on the doorknob.”
The man entered. “The room needs to be aired and you have not eaten anything for two days. My name is John and I am one of the cooks here. Please have a shower Mr Teller and I’ll prepare a nice steak for you. Even if I say so myself, I make the best steaks in all of East Africa. Get ready and I’ll bring it to your verandah, as I think you need a bit of sun.”
“You are one bossy son-of-a-bitch!”
“Yes sir, I am.” Robert looked at him, saw his grin and burst out laughing.
One laugh, a good meal in his stomach and Robert rebounded! Is life really that simple for him?
He used the hotel transport to go to the city and bought some material for painting. The choice was rather limited, but he was determined to paint, so he took whatever he found. He hired a taxi and returned to the hotel.
John brought him a two litre coke in an ice bucket and watched as Robert set up his easel. He saw Robert quickly sketch in the outlines of a female face and, smiling, he left. Within minutes Robert was totally absorbed in his painting and the day passed without him giving in again to his depressing thoughts.
“Another steak sir?”
“If you are preparing it for me. John, do you have a good white wine?”
“The best sir.” He leant over and whispered, “I have to say so Mr Teller, but it is good. Dry sir?”
Robert examined the rest of the guests and was surprised at the variety of nationalities. They were all Cherinians and we’d wanted to give people from everywhere a chance to take part. That was why Robert does not have television in his bungalow and those in public areas avoid any stations that make reference to us or the aliens. All newspapers were removed and even as he walked in the city we’d influenced him so that he looked away when he came across newspaper vendors. Robert and Cherine were not meant to leave Athens and even there they were supposed to stay at home or, at worst, go to Kefalari only. The change in Meli’s plans has cost us a lot of favours from governments and ordinary people. I’d say the media felt we are the most indebted to them for keeping quiet (can you believe it, our own media companies also felt the same way!) and we’d had to (through Hettie) agree to interviews afterwards.
Robert still took long walks and had his dark thoughts, but as the painting began to challenge him, he spent more time on it. He is painting a portrait of Cherine as an adult, at her present age. He is determined not only to capture the spirit, but also retain the childlike beauty of her soul - as he thinks of it. We’ll have to delay Cherine’s arrival, for this is already promising to be the best portrait of hers as an adult we’ve ever seen. Perhaps of all of us, it is Jade who is the most impressed and determined to do whatever is needed for him to finish it.
Cherine and Nicko arrived in Nairobi and straight after securing their rooms they went to the British Embassy. They checked and told them they have no record of Robert arriving in Nairobi. They promised to check with immigration and notify them at their hotel.
“I doubt they’ll do much for us, we better organise our own search.” Cherine agreed with Nicko and they found a detective agency. Nicko hired them, but Cherine had a feeling that the man would do nothing, protracting his search to increase his fees. She took out a wad of cash and placed it on the table. “This bonus is yours if you find him within two days.”
We tried hard to time it so that Cherine would arrive as Robert was putting his final finishing touches to her portrait. She was rushed through customs and immigration, Nicko staying behind to collect their luggage. The taxi she used was being driven by a Cherinian and even if the engine had died on him it would have carried on moving. She arrived at the hotel and John was waiting for her. He quickly led her to Robert's bungalow and told her to walk around it to the front, facing the ocean.
As Cherine came around to the point where she could see him, she froze. The habit of a lifetime has taught her not to disturb him while he is painting, so she remained quietly watching, her heart flooded by the obvious love that had gone into her portrait. He made his final minute adjustment and put down his brush. He stepped back for a final appraisal and twisting his lips in dissatisfaction, he sat down, placing his head in his hands.
Cherine was careful to only step on the soft white sand until she was immediately behind him. She froze as he raised his head to look at the painting again.
“Oh my Cherine, my sweet love, how will I live without you?”
“Is it really that impossible to live with me? Robert, why have you never brought me to such a lovely place?” Bravely she put the smile he adores on her face as he swirled around to stare at her.
“Are you really here or have I gone mad?”
“I thought you went mad about me years ago.”
“Yes, twenty six years ago.” His trembling hand reached out and she took it. “You still love me?”
She knelt by him. “Much more than that eight year old girl ever did.”
Now comes the twist in their tale and I promise you Arthur, it is a real shocker.
After they went through the full gamut of emotions, from tears to crazy laughter and wild kisses, they made love. Of course we stopped sharing with all other Cherinians at this point. It was out of this world, love was the source of the flames that erupted like a volcano in their bodies and neither of them retained the presence of mind to use technique. They blindly thrust their bodies at each other until they exploded in a mind searing orgasm.
Cherine had used their separation to force herself to think of all she’d feared and as they made love she desperately yearned for a child. Their need was so strong that neither of their healers could prevent what happened. Cherine is expecting! Arthur, she is pregnant with our first son!
They do not know she is expecting nor that it is a son. All of Cherindom does though and everyone is in shock and celebrating. We could not help ourselves when we sensed what was happening and discovered that the spermatozoon that invaded her ova was for a male child and broadcast our joy, fear, shock.
It has been decided they deserve some time together as they are. We’d like to wait until Cherine discovers she is expecting a child, but without her healer she won’t know for a month or so. We’ll have to play it by ear.
They spent two weeks in Tanzania and returned home. Apart from shopping for the necessities and one visit to Alki and Marian, they stayed at home, making love as often as they could and talking about the past until they reached the stage where they could discuss their future. Cherine helped half-convince Robert that the difference in their ages does not and will never matter.
Cherine suspected and got a kit from a pharmacy. When it showed a positive result she bit her lip as tears filled her eyes. She sat alone in the bathroom until she knew that all her fears had dissolved in her joy and she went out to tell Robert. The look on his face was all she could have dreamt of.
They are like a couple in the throes of first love. Robert is so tender and afraid for her that it brings tears to her eyes. We’ve waited another ten days for them to return to something approaching sanity, but had to give up, so we are bringing them back to us tomorrow. We are glad they spent that last night making love and adoring each other.
Meli waited until they’d had their coffee, toast and honey on the verandah and as Cherine sat with her head on Robert's shoulder while he smoked, Meli walked up the hill to them. They saw her coming and wondered who she is.
Robert went to their door to find out what Meli wants. “Hello Robert, may I come in to talk with you and Cherine?”
“Certainly.” He asked as he led her through the house, “Have we met before?” Meli giggled. He turned to Cherine, “Love, she wants to speak to both of us.”
“You are…?”
“Melina. My full name is Melina Teller.” The blocks dissolved and Cherine gave a little cry as she sank to her knees. Robbie was instantly at her side.
“Spend the rest of the day together, but please come back to us tonight. We can’t wait to show you how much we’ve missed both of you.” He nodded and turned his attention back to Cherine, not noticing Meli jump back to us.
They spent the day with love flooding their hearts as they examined their adventure. Then they spent the rest of the day filled with fear. A son! Cherine does not want him and was prepared to order her healer to abort him, but Robbie would not allow her.
For those sticklers who want exact dates, our son was conceived on the 28th of May, PC26.
Not our joy, not the delirious love of Robbie, not the celebrating of all Cherinians could convince Cherine to be happy. In desperation she came up with her craziest ever idea.
“Robert, place me in stasis for a hundred years. Use that time to grow stronger. All our family must grow as strong as they can before the war starts.”
“Not war my love, just a time of exile. I’ll do it if Samantha can think of a way for me to join you. I cannot live a day, never mind a century without you. Cherine, if I did, I would only grow weaker, not stronger.”
“I thought it was going to happen hundreds of years from now.”
“Now is his time my love.”
“My son Cherine! Yes.” He looked at us and tried to imagine him making love to us and cringed. We all burst out laughing. He shook his head. “I’ll just have to grow up, I refuse to hurt our son.”
Bernadine came up with the best idea. “What if two of us also have children. We could then let our daughters be his lovers and wives.”
Robbie was awfully tempted, even though he refused. The idea has stuck in our minds, but we’ll have to wait and see. The truth is that though all of us will love him and make love with him, Robbie is and always will be our prime love. Our son will feel that and be hurt. He needs to be somebody’s prime.
The Sparklers are urgently vetting every soul, those they choose passed on to their Thinkers and to Solomon. They do not feel they have found the one to be our son. I had a crazy idea and discussed it with Allan. What if we search for the unborn soul of an Allan in another reality? Allan did not like the idea and argued against it, claiming all Allans and Arthur are not the right material for a son of Cherine. I then came up with an idea that had him in tears. We discussed it as a family and everyone agrees. Arthur, if we could we would choose from your reality but we can’t, so we’ll have to choose an alternate soul of your father. How fitting that you as our ultimate father have your father as our son. Unfortunately Allan’s father of this reality has been born to a Cherinian couple Allan chose (he also did not want to make love to his father).
He’s decided not to say anything else. I guess he doesn’t know what to say. One thing is for certain, our son will be loved for being who he comes from just as much as for being our son.
The body of our son is ready for a soul so it is urgent we bring him to us right now. For the first time ever Robbie has left with Solomon only. Sorry, I have to stop writing, they have returned!
Not only the people of our home world know. All the realities we’ve been to have learnt that we are about to have a son. They all want to be present at the joining of soul and body. RT has arrived and our twin family is here with us, the other Robert looking quite confused and worrying that his loves might also decide they want a son. All aliens feel the same way as the Terrans and our skies have filled with spaceships (many of them also carrying Terrans from other realities). Cherine went against Robbie’s wishes and fully linked the Fegorians. She told him that if they cause any problems we’ll deal with them at that time, it would not be fair that they be the only ones not present. We are urgently teaching them how to project and feel comfortable in Terran bodies while Robbie prepares the setting for his son.
Robbie has stunned our world and all the media are making a big thing of it - some for us and many against us. Robbie announced that he wants Bruce and Sally Erst to be our sons’ godparents. They were already in Freddie and they accepted.
Robbie provided special platforms for the media as there are far too many of them for us to accommodate them on the ground. He did make clear to them that it is highly unlikely their cameras will record the arrival of the soul, but they do not seem to care.
Since she became pregnant, Cherine cannot change back to being a little girl, so this is the first time so many will see what she looks like as an adult. As an aside, I wonder how the art critic will feel when he realises he tried to hit on the Cherine. Lol, I’d love to see his face.
Robbie and Cherine walked out of the house arm in arm. Another rare picture for everyone - Robbie in a suit and tie. He led her to the silvery crystal ambo and helped her lie down on it. The Sparklers and Kinytians crowded the sky as they sank as close as they could without blocking the cameras. Solomon appeared above Cherine, ‘holding’ a Sparkler in his hands. Robbie gave the longest speech he has ever given, welcoming our son and then he stepped aside for Solomon to sink closer to Cherine.
“Have you given your son a name Mr Teller?”
“No. He will choose his own name in a few months.”
It is amazing how many questions reporters are able to think up. Robbie and, later, Cherine, answered them patiently with smiles on their faces. A few reporters tried to corner me, but I found it easy to avoid them. They then went after Goldi, asking her whether our son will be locked within our family and whether we will marry him also.
“Experience has shown us that Cherinian sons do not wish to stay within the family. They feel the need to head their own family. For as long as he remains a child we will love him as part of our family. Once he has his own family ties with wives of his own, he will be as sons of all families are.”
Of course they wanted her to define what she meant by ‘love him as part of our family’ but Samuel, Alki and Manoli ran interference for her and she escaped. I’m just glad they did not ask Robbie, as he is more likely to have given an explicit answer.
With so many millions attending we could not have catered for them without the help of hundreds of suppliers from various realities donating everything we needed. Music played in every corner of Freddie and people danced, ate and drank the entire night through. Another first was the physical appearance of RT with Freddie. They stuck together during their stay, greeting everyone and having a good time. Robbie finds it funny (odd) that they like each other.
Cassie just had to upset Robbie. She suggested that someday RT should project as a girl and have Freddie’s baby. The rest of us thought it was funny and clever of her.
Whatever crying Cherine indulged in, whatever fears she had, now they belong to the past. No baby of ours is borne with anything less than joy. Oh, I’ve got to mention this - Cassie scored again. One night, as we were making love, she looked at Cherine and squealed, “You’re growing a penis!” - everyone fell for it and looked. She got buried beneath a ton of pillows and this time even Robbie threw one.
“When Solomon and I collected his soul, I asked Solomon to bring him into me. I felt him Cherine and we shared. I explained what had happened, that he had died and is to be reborn as my son if he wishes. I allowed him to look through my memories of Arthur so that he understands why we feel honoured. During the hours we communicated, one thing struck me. He said that he had always known his son is special. The trouble is I was too closely linked to him for me not to sense he was not being strictly truthful. He spent his entire life believing only in his second son.”
“Dad! I wish you hadn’t told me, you know I’ll have to write it in the diary.”
“Arthur knows love, he’s told us or at least hinted the same thing.”
“It is not the same Robbie, suspecting something is not the same as knowing.”
Robbie had to have an argument with Hettie, so they left Freddie. Earth is going through major upheavals despite all we can do to cushion them. One of those groups who desperately need help are all those who were in the medical profession. Robbie decided that we have to provide those of a monetary worth below a sum he mentioned, with a good income. Understandably Hettie was upset as we are also financing a lot of other projects that are draining us. Robbie remained adamant, even when she explained we would have to cut back on education and funding orphanages so that they can provide a better environment for the kids.
“That is a stopgap solution Hettie and it is about time it changes. For gods sake, I don’t expect all Normals to become Cherinians, but surely we have provided the example they need to evolve?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Orphans are not the responsibility of the State. They are the responsibility of every man and woman on this planet. Do whatever is necessary, you may even commit me to interviews or lectures, but we have to make people aware of how much they stand to gain by adopting children.”
Her pragmatic mind said to her it can never happen, but her practical side saw a huge benefit in us trying. Even if a percentage of the children are adopted it will release funds for other urgent projects. She gave in and promised to do her best.
Robbie is not as oblivious to Hettie’s problems as she thinks and he had a meeting with the Anadir and explained his problem. The reason why Robbie feels so strongly about helping everyone from the medical profession? He says that even those who were not good at it, did good - and we must never turn our backs on those who do good, even if it causes us problems. Since we usually say that about those who do bad (which is supposedly more politically correct) it was refreshing to hear him twist the usual saying into something more fair and realistic. They immediately asked him to use as much of their funds as he needs. Hettie’s face was quite a sight when Robbie told her. She paid him back for all the times he’s kissed her.
* * * * *
Spetsas has earned a place on the world stage and is admired and loved all over the world. He also has a large number of enemies, but they dare not try to harm him because they know he is favoured by the Cherinians. We see him on television so often that we no longer exclaim over it. Robbie decided to visit him. He jumped them to a taverna where there would not be any reporters, just the local villagers.
Spetsas was in an expansive and brave mood, or else, who knows. “Roberto, I must confess to you, there are times late at night that I recall what you did to me and I itch to pay you back. I daydream of finding ways to do so. I know it is foolish of me, but I am too old to grow up.”
“You still see the blame as mine only?”
“Not only, but yes, to a large extent. All I did was eagerly come to you to help you earn the admiration of the entire world and you made a fool of me, stealing my money.”
Robbie always keeps his face gentle while he is with Spetsas. This was one time he had to struggle to do so. He sipped his wine, brushed his lips with his napkin. “You just might get your chance to make your dreams come true.”
