We don’t have to get all of them, bringing in our Cherinian policemen would stop most of them, but I would prefer to know who they are. There might be some with talents we don’t know about and all those I love would remain at risk if we don’t identify them and learn to counter their powers.
Samantha, my last reason is going to vex you. Since we first grew as a group we’ve held to a dream that we would be creating a society that does not require laws, armies or police forces. Only that way can everybody be totally free, only subject to their empathy and good conscious. The situation is not serious enough for me to abandon our dream - are you certain you want to?”
Despite the wisdom of all he said, Robbie still finds it just as hard as the rest of us to turn down my idea and I sense him trying to find ways to justify changing his mind. As for me, I’m used to a large number of my ideas being consigned to the wastepaper basket, but this one did hurt a bit extra because I was so certain I’d found an answer that would save my loves and friends so much anguish. I do not forgive myself for the pain I caused all of them, Cherine especially, because of not thinking things through before speaking and setting their hearts alight with hope.
Her parents allow us to spend time with her whenever we can and she is responding to our emoting, her own gifts growing nicely. We do not want her to become a Cherinian baby, only to develop the gifts that are natural to her at this stage. At least, all she is sensing is positive and she has no reason to try to block herself. I think we will have to visit a different reality for her to live among Normals a month or two of each of her years. The problem is where, she is and will remain for years too vulnerable to any Ipohin on the Earths where there are Cherinians. What about Orgg’s reality! All we’ll have to do there is make certain no Ipohin visit while she is there. It would be a more gentle introduction to Normals and the large number of Cherinians would shield her to an extent.
To return to Robbie for a moment. At the end of each day, whoever spent time with baby Cherine shares with him. More often than not, that is Cherine, and she enjoys sensing him because she knows that his reaction to her as a baby is mostly because of his love for her and his identifying the baby with the way he imagines she would have been if he’d met her at that age. We’re all grateful that he did not. Imagine if he’d been a neighbour of theirs and friend of the family. Cherine would not have fallen in love with him.
Oh boy! Arthur, you’re going to laugh. Both Robbie and Cherine responded instantly to what I wrote and they want the Spartans to recreate the town she grew up in for our Cherine to meet Robbie there as a baby. I think we are all going to spend our time there enchanted by both of them.
She giggled and said you might be right…and then jumped to his lap to be cuddled, even as she laughed at him in her mind. Right, you’ve stirred the pot, now go back to being a good author and write without interrupting.
This is turning into the funniest and most amazing experience. Before I write about Michael and family, I just have to tell you first of the funny problem we had. Everyone wanted to come, even Freddie! Can you imagine our Freddie-world without any humans (apart from the first crew of the CherInguel ships who can’t leave) and no Freddie to run the place? What would it be like when we return? The only solution, since our world would be too vulnerable to attack if we are all missing for months, was to carry Freddie into the Spartan World. Once there we will have to hide Freddie so that our baby Cherine only sees what is normal from Earth.
Robbie raised an eyebrow when Michael lit a cigarette. “This family is a bad example for everyone.”
Michael gave a sardonic grin. “That is what all my followers say.”
“How are you hiding your absence from them?”
“Why should I? They visit their families so why shouldn’t I? Anyway, once I decided to emulate my mother Empathia, I found it ridiculously easy to do whatever I want.”
“Me!? What did I do?”
“Haven? Do you have any idea? Something to do with some little baby insisting she’ll fight on your side, but if you lose you win?”
“She drove me crazy! Are you certain you want to do that to them?”
He shrugged. “Why not, they drive me crazy with their stupid ideas.” He looked serious. “I told them what you are about to do, since I know you will not keep it a secret. Most of them thought I was brilliant in wanting to come. They expect me to damage my mother when she is a baby, destroying you all when you lose her.”
“You can tell them the protector, both your father and Vincent, remained vigilant the entire time.”
Angrily he shook his head. “I told them to find themselves another leader if they expect me to harm my family. I suggested I might then rejoin you in the fight against them. They all fear me far more than they fear you father, so they were quick to withdraw their request.”
“Don’t you need them to trust you Michael?”
“None of them trust anyone, not even their closest friends and family.” I thought I saw a bitter look in his eyes, but behind it was an echo of pain. “When I killed because my word was broken, it convinced them that, though I have powers close to yours but still weaker, I am stronger because I don’t have the same ethics blocking me from using them.”
“You don’t see it the same way?”
His voice and shoulders were tense as he shot back, “Do you?” As Robbie stared at him without speaking he slumped. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for, you’ve never shown you doubt me.” He nodded to himself. “That has been my greatest fear during my absences.”
“It is easy to doubt myself, as you know I do. It is just as easy for you to doubt yourself son, but, it is impossible for me to doubt you. You may only fear that I do if you grow to doubt me.”
He needed Ahní to hold him but Goldi pre-empted her, jumping onto his lap. She stared into his eyes from close up and with a spasm he let go of his fears as his arms tightly wrapped themselves about her. He gave us a weak grin. “Are we going to watch our father seduce a baby?”
Robbie laughed, “You mean, to watch a baby Cherine seduce me?”
“Oh, that’s happened lots of times, it’s your turn now.” Cherine did not manage to keep her cheeky look for long as he sent her waves of a love that seemed to be exploding in his mind.
The Spartans did not hide Freddie, they disguised him so that he would appear to us as our moon. All other worlds (plus the majority of the Spartans themselves) became the stars in our night sky. One of the rocks floating in the sky was made to look like our sun.
Because Robbie is unpredictable and curious about everything, whatever his age, the land we stood on became a sphere, the same size as our Earth. From the air it could be seen that the continents looked exactly like ours, even to the lights of cities, but, it was mostly illusion, the details only becoming real as and if needed.
Although she was (actually) born within London, she was conceived and lived in a place outside, until she moved to Greece. The reason she was taken to London was because it was a difficult pregnancy for Marian and the local doctors feared complications.
Roughly, London excluded, the map is the area the Spartans reproduced, giving millions from all species the opportunity to take part. I think everyone else is secretly hoping Robbie will decide to visit London, giving millions more of them the opportunity to join in. From the family, only those needed are taking part, the rest of us helping to share with all species.
For the first time ever a Wirm is taking part. When he took on his Terran body we all felt our tummies flutter with fear. He is a boy of the same age as Robbie, about fifteen, and is supposed to be his best friend. The reason why we became afraid? Because of his eyes. All you have to do is look into them and the warmth and sweetness of his personality is felt so strongly that you love him. We do not want our Robbie falling in love with anyone apart from Cherine, never mind with a boy!
Dommi thought quickly and told Goldi to become a girl of the same age as them. She had to tone down her looks so that she looks fairly ordinary, the regular girl-next-door prettiness and sweetness - until you look into her violet eyes. It meant she also had to have a family, which roles were allocated to a male and female Muyzith. They are broadcasting so much nervousness that we decided we’d made the right choice for them.
Cherine kissed us ‘goodbye’ and turned into a baby of about three months. Dommi with Rosie entered her mind and blocked off most of her memories and gifts. Robbie was so delighted by the sight and feeling of her that they had a difficult time shutting down his gifts. They only left him an extra dose of empathy, but they left his stubbornness in full. This should make for an interesting experience. Marian, her mother, could not play her role as she would only recall being married to her previous husband, so an alternate couple who are still married and in love with each other had to become daddy and mummy.
Eric and Marian Blake entered their home carrying Cherine in a carry cot. “It feels good to be home again. It brings back so many memories.”
“Shh. Don’t speak of the past, stay in character.” She smiled. “It does feel good.”
Hearing them, Dommi decided she’d been wrong to allow them to also keep their memories so, with their consent, she blocked them, predisposing them towards thinking in defined ways and taking certain actions.
Cherine’s eyesight had sharpened so that she was able to recognise that she was in familiar territory. She gurgled to herself joyfully, spit bubbling on her lips.
“She is such a happy baby, I wish I knew why she cries so often without reason.”
They went about their normal lives, feeding Cherine when she needed to be fed, changing her and slowly increasing her hours of staying awake during the day. As long as both of them were with her and they stayed at home, she was content. Her little mind did not wonder why she no longer felt unhappy feelings from around her, nor why the other feelings that upset her, such as anger, envy, hate had disappeared. Eric sometimes worried about being unemployed, but with the dole plus all the expenses of having a baby being covered by social security, there wasn’t the sense of urgency required to send him out looking for a new job. He would read the newspaper employment ads every day and philosophically decide to wait until something more suitable turns up.
From the house next door, young Robert could often be seen by her parents walking out with his artist materials, off to search for something new to inspire him.
“Do you think young Robert will become a great artist? It would feel strange if he does.” She chuckled. “Imagine us someday, old and wrinkled, telling everyone he grew up next to us.”
Eric frowned. “That’s strange! He’s never shown me anything of his work. I better ask or he’ll think I’m not interested or I don’t think he’s any good at it.”
“His mother says he’s brilliant.”
The next day they were invited over to the Tellers for tea (that not being tea and scones but what we call supper). Everyone oohed and aahed over Cherine and then the women taking Cherine with, went to the kitchen while the men chatted about soccer. <We had to record old games for the tv ‘station’ to broadcast, along with news and other soapies and films.>
Robert arrived and greeted the men on his way upstairs to his bedroom.
“Ahh, young man, would you mind showing me some of your paintings?”
“They’re not really good enough yet.” He saw he’d have to give in from the tightening of his fathers’ lips. “My best ones are upstairs if you want to see them.”
When they came down, Eric told Wilfred he is certain Robert has talent. Rose called for Robert from the kitchen. “Would you mind looking after the baby, the kitchen is not a good place for a baby.”
Politely he offered, but asked with a grin, “What do I do if she pees?”
