I was on the street when he (and I) first saw Anne. It was a shock to my system, my spirit soaring and my hearts racing as I imagined her to be a Cherine. Of course she was not, she still had two lives to live before becoming the personality I love, but still, I could not help thinking of her as Cherine. Just seeing her, sensing her, it filled me with happiness and a terrible longing for all my loves.
For most of the evening she was surrounded by men so I stayed away. After dinner the women retired to gossip and the men sat for a brandy and cigar. I excused myself and walked out for some fresh air. Anne was standing at the edge of the verandah staring into the night with a pensive look. As Christos I’d never noticed a sadness about her.
“Do you believe in magic and spirits?”
She half turned. “Are you claiming to be a spirit or a wizard?”
“Just a man with the ability to see some of the future now and then.”
She smiled. “And what do you see for me?”
“Rest your hand there so that I can touch it and I’ll let you know what I see.”
She thought I was playing a game, using a unique approach to chat with her. Amused, but curious as to what I would try to bamboozle her with, she let me touch her. As I talked I also tried to sense that which will make her a Cherine to draw some of her gift to strengthen me.
“I see that you will not marry an Englishman. You will have two children and the time you have as a family will be happy and filled with love. Your wine will be poured at tables where good wine is appreciated. Be brave little Anne, this life and all others to come will be worth living.”
“Little!” She laughed, for I was shorter than her. “You don’t see any place for you in my life?” She was shocked by what I’d said, but also puzzled. I had not said anything to make her feel she should be interested in me as a mate, to the contrary, I’d told her she would not marry an Englishman. The purpose of the manner I was approaching her did not make sense to her. At no time did she even entertain the possibility that I may indeed be foretelling her future.
I raised an eyebrow as I teased, “Perhaps in some future life?”
“You must be either a man of great patience or you do not find me interesting.”
“You are like the wine you produce, each life you live brings you closer to perfection. Already you are up there amongst the best vintages, but in a couple of lifetimes you will be the very best. I’ll wait.” I took my fingertips off her hand. “Anne, in all your lives you will know love. That is rare for any human being. Never fear love.” I bowed to her. “Please convey my apologies to our hosts, I must leave for it is time for me to leave South Africa.”
I was sorely disappointed when I felt nothing in her that I could draw energy from, but at the same time I was elated at having been with her. Her presence made my own Cherine feel all the more real and I could hardly wait to be with her again.
I returned to my rooms, tidied up and got rid of whatever I would not want others to see and then placed firmly within my mind the reality we used to call the rich Robert, saw myself arriving in his house at a specific date and time. I jumped.
I’d aimed slightly for the future, hoping to offset the error that delivered me further back in time. Stunned I found myself out on the street with energies shattering everything close by. I was in the middle of a psychic war!
An opening appeared before me. “Robert! For gods sake, get in man.”
“Who’s attacking you?”
“Does Campbell lead them?”
“Campbell? Good god, no! Someone just like him though, but much stronger.”
I stepped closer to the opening without entering. “Take my body in.” I left for the void.
I gathered layer after layer of energy around me and shot back to Earth. As I hovered over them I was able to see that they were not only under psychic attack. Advanced jet planes were attacking and missiles were falling. I sent the jets a few thousand kilometres further away in the direction they happened to be travelling and forced the missiles into space. I then sent an umbrella of energy to cover those below me and as the psychic attacks touched it I was able to trace their points of origin. I attacked, shutting doors in mind after mind. One mind I touched blasted me with an energy I’d never felt before and found myself spinning kilometres away from where I’d been.
Anything that can affect me as the void I have a healthy respect for, so I pulled back and considered the situation less impulsively. Suddenly the attacks ceased. I returned to where my body was.
“I think your arrival has shocked them, you’re supposed to be under attack and unable to leave to help us.”
I asked the date and unable to speak for a few moments I tried to adjust. I was one hundred and six years in my future. It seems that if I tried to go back or forward a short time, I wildly overshot my target. The other shock, this was more of a shock, was that I did not know this Robert and Cherine. They quickly realised my problem.
“You don’t know us! Robert, you brought us together.”
“I’m from the past.”
“Christ! You’re that Robert! No wonder you did not include in the tellings what happened during the years you were lost! You will only be meeting us in a few years - of your home time. You knew you would be coming here to what then would be our future. Robert, you better stay out of the fight, becoming the void is no longer enough, this man has powers the present prime Robert struggles to fight.”
I grinned at his Cherine, her link warming my heart. “A pity I did not tell you how I beat the shit out of him, it would have saved us a lot of time and trouble. Tell me, how have I grown stronger?” Cherine felt me and as he answered she put her hand in mine.
“You found a new level within the void.”
“Did I tell anyone how?”
“No, you returned from your trip with the ability.”
Cherine smiled as I said to her with the voice I use when teasing her, “I guess I’ll have to learn how.” I turned serious. “I did not see any Worlds or Sparklers in the void.”
“No Cherinian dares to create a World, we’ve had two of them attacked. As for aliens, you ordered them to leave all Earths nine years ago. Only you know where to find the Sparklers.”
I could not help asking, “Vincent is still around?”
“Yes, they remain allies of all Cherinians.” They? I decided not to ask.
A fear filled me. “What about the Normals? Have they been attacked, how many have been killed?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready to learn so much about my future. Robert, you’ve grown accustomed to all the changes because you lived through them. It’s too much for me.”
“Jump to the past Robert, from there you’ll find your way back. We cannot afford to have you killed trying to fight powers you know nothing about.”
I was not pleased when they told me they no longer have cigarettes, that they have to be purchased from the black market. At least some things never change - I guess you could call black markets an important institution that are part of our history. A woman I’d never met, but part of their family, reached out, a carton of cigarettes appeared in her hand and she handed it to me with a shy smile, “Your brand.”
“Thank you, what is your name?”
“Shirley.”
“Mmm, I’ve always liked the name, is that why he fell in love with you?”
They all laughed as Robert said, “He’ll never change, whatever danger he’s in.”
“Can you tell me of a better time to fill your heart with love?”
“Robert, if you can, find Richard in the past and ask him to join us at this time with his boys. Their gifts will help us survive.”
I sat back to leave for the void and Cherine violently shook my hand. “Don’t!”
“What? Why love?”
“You must not go to the void, he now knows you are here and will be expecting you to go there. He won’t be there alone.”
I felt like I was going to need the full carton just to get through that one day.
Cherine offered. “Why don’t you share my memories, then you’ll understand what you face.”
It was mighty tempting, to be so much a part of a Cherine again. “No, I’ll learn too much of my future. I’ll have to fight him blindfolded.”
The entire family passionately tried to change my mind. Their Alki stopped them. “This is the prime Robert, even if he is from the past. Roberto, you know he cannot do otherwise, a Cherine is at risk.”
I smiled fondly at their pappou, “Not only for your Cherine Alki, you are all precious.”
Hours passed and the family used this lull to restock themselves with whatever they were running short of and by resting they strengthened themselves again. I sat facing the ruins outside, smoking and drinking coffee as I tried to find a solution. I tried to imagine what my Samantha would do.
“What about Jesus and Christós?”
“They are under attack from alternate NH magicians.”
I sighed. “I thought that answer to our problems was too easy. I guess we’ll have to find a way to help them later. What does NH stand for?”
He looked like he was biting a lemon. “New Humans. They changed their name to New Superior Humans but we refuse to call them that.”
“That joke has been made many times Robert.”
“That’s okay my love, I’m famous for being corny.” At least this time I got some real laughter. “Samantha, no ideas?”
I felt her love reach deep into me and wondered, even as I gratefully filled my heart. “Your Samantha split herself for me.” She smiled. “Some of her is still part of me.”
I nodded. “Any ideas love?”
“If the Akiard kids and Samuel were here, we could end this war locally, immediately.”
“So? What else?”
“You have the sliver of the original Samantha. Does it include her memories of their joining? Could it show me, for us to join?”
“All of us?”
“Yes.”
A shivering of the air and a form took shape outside. I went into shock. “It can’t be!”
“He is their son Robert. First son of Hettie and Eddie from your reality.”
“Oh god no.” I felt the tears for my beloved friends fill my eyes. “Why?”
“At first he joined the Ipohin but broke away as his powers grew and he became more arrogant, his hatred for us forcing the Cherinians and Ipohin to become allies. Something has made him bitter and angry.”
“Robert Teller of the past, I know it is you. Come out, we need to talk.”
“It’s a trap Robert, don’t go.” His Cherine did not plead, only stared at me as tears filled her eyes.
I tried a bit of bravado. “Well, we know I did get back to my family.”
“Time is mutable Robert.”
Angrily I spat out. “Not for me. Arthur won’t allow it.” Reminded, eagerly I asked, “Did we manage to bring him to us?”
“That is the only thing you told everyone about your trip. Well, not told us, but ordered. We are not allowed to answer you.” As he spoke I tried to sense them, but there was such a strange mixture of emoting that I could only have worked it out by peeking at their thoughts. I shrugged, as if it did not matter to me that much.
“I better answer him.” I jumped outside their shelter. “You are the spitting image of your father. It did my heart good seeing you - for a moment.”
He gave a small tight smile and mixed in with the roiling of his powers I sensed a pain he was trying to hide from himself. “As a child I adored you. Robbie, you turned me against the Cherinians, you made me what I am.”
“How could I? God, you’re telling the truth!”
“You really loved me?” He nodded slightly. “Then you must have known me well. You know I cannot leave a Cherine in danger.”
“My promise. I will not attack them if they stop interfering.”
“A Cherine stop? Not likely is it? What is your name?”
“I chose to be named after his first friend, Dimitri. If I kill you it will change the past, how will that affect me?”
“Perhaps you’ll remain a Cherinian?”
I sensed a weariness and something else, as if he looked forward to what I’d said, as if it shed a load he reluctantly carried. I could not resist asking, “What did I do? Why do you hate me?”
“It is not the time to tell you. After I leave, the truce is over. I can kill you Robert, becoming the void will not save you.”
“I presumed as much. Dimitri, whatever I did, I must have loved you a lot, I can feel it. Goodbye son and good luck.”
As we’d been speaking an image had come to me. I remembered that time Samantha frightened us in the void. The instant I was back in the shelter I left for the void. Many were waiting for me but I ignored them as I became the void. Even there I was attacked, but I ignored them too, concentrating on what I was trying to do. I compressed and compressed until I must have only been a speck. It hurt like I was being crushed, but I forced myself to carry on. Suddenly something changed. I was filled with a light green light.
I sent my senses outwards, trying to find those who’d been attacking. I sensed them and they were insignificant, at another level where only the dying levels of my energy existed. I was the heart of the energy of the void!
Without thinking of it I found myself withdrawing, diving into the depths of my own existence. As I sank deeper and deeper I felt dark threads unravelling. As if I’d freed what they been holding, I exploded. When I came to, I knew time had passed without me being aware. It felt as if it had been millions of years while also being nothing more than the instant it takes for a thought to be created.
I jumped/flowed to Dimitri. He stood without moving as I looked around.
“Your mother must have decorated your home, it’s her style.”
He replied in a flat tone. “You succeeded.”
“Did you truly doubt I would?”
His shoulder slumped so slightly that I almost thought it was my imagination. “Now I’ll have to kill him.”
“Myself of the future? Dimitri, whatever power I now have, surely he will have grown? Why fight, allow me to mediate. If my future self was in the wrong, I will stand by you.”
“It is too late, too much has happened that cannot be undone - my father has sworn to kill me.”
I smiled. “Eddie? My gentle friend? Fine, so we allow him to kill you and I bring you back. Won’t that release him of his oath? Dimitri, however deep the poison of hate in you, you know you want to return to us. Why else allow me to enter the void?”
I laughed. “You’ve loved me son, you know the protector acts instantly to save those I love.”
“Yes, for any Cherine…”
“No, not for her, for you.”
He screamed and a bolt of energy struck at me. I was amazed, he’d actually hurt me. I dampened my energy so that he would not sense it.
Staring into his eyes, but keeping the look on my face as gentle as the feelings in my heart, I offered. “Dimitri, if it will rid you of your hate, strike again, I’ve opened myself to you.” He fled, jumping to wherever he hoped to find surcease from the emotions tearing at him.
“I did not follow him, he needs some time alone.” I took her hand. “Why is it that wherever I go I find tears to fill my heart with?”
She pulled her hand from mine and cupping my face she lightly kissed me. “Ask your Cherine.”
Samantha’s voice was soft but worried. “Robert, do not become emotional about him. Whatever you sensed, he is evil. He has killed thousands of Cherinians.”
“We’ve played that game before Sammy. One more time won’t hurt.” She bit her lip without answering. “I must return home, but I promise I will visit. I made a promise I intend keeping.” They all hugged and kissed me, Alki crushing my ribs. I kissed his cheek, wondering that I can love any man this much.
I was elated, but also afraid of my new knowledge and powers. It is a wonder therefore that I still exercised some caution. I did not jump to Freddie in Haven-R. I aimed for home where I could send a message for them to come to me.
As I arrived I felt my eyes tearing and with my first breath a fire exploded in my lungs. I lost consciousness very fast.
As I regained consciousness I heard a voice from a loudspeaker set into the ceiling. “…had to adapt his body your honour. It is a carbon based oxygen breathing alien and it seems to have teleported here for we cannot find any mechanisms that would have brought it to our world.”
“Where do you think it teleported from?”
“They must have a ship in space, since no mind can survive jumping interstellar distances.”
“As soon as it regains consciousness, call me.” The creature I could see through the glass talking, spoke to another. “Prime Security Ikstori, we must urgently find their ship to scan for evidence of what type of weapons they are armed with.”
“Our team are working on it your honour.”
While they discussed me I queried my healer. It assured me the changes to my metabolism were not irrevocable and could be reversed by it. I moved. “I apologise for any trouble I have caused you. I arrived on your world by accident.”
They turned to me and then looked at each other. “The translator works! Congratulations.”
“It uses a simple language your honour, they cannot be highly evolved. It is theorised that oxygen breathing creatures cannot evolve above a rudimentary level of intelligence.”
“It is not here. I left it behind on my world. Despite what I heard your colleague stating, I have crossed interstellar distances - perhaps galaxies and realities too, by teleportation. Most Cherinians can do the same.”
“That is what you call your species? As with most species, does your name allude to your being human beings of a certain solar system?”
I laughed. “This must be the weirdest first contact I’ve ever experienced. Cherinians or Cherinianism reflects a certain state of mind and there are hundreds of species already naming themselves Cherinians. If I may sit up I would feel more comfortable talking.”
“We saw no evidence that your body obstructs your method of speaking if you are prone. Lying down makes you feel more vulnerable?” Oh Sammy love, I thought to myself, where are you.
“You could say so.”
“Why?”
I did not reply, guessing I’d confused it with my stupid answer. I sat up and was pleased to find that my body still looked the same. “Do your species have souls? Do you go to the void?”
“A soul is an insubstantial part of the mind that does not belong to the body?”
“I’ve never heard it described quite that way, but you are correct.”
“It is theorised that all sapient creatures have souls. What is the empty place?”
“It is where souls go to when we die.”
“Your honour, reports suggest there is no ship within our system.” They seemed to lose interest in me and discussed the news as if I was not there. They were convinced my ship was out there somewhere and it was hiding. I had to remind myself to remain patient, for they had shown they are good people by saving me - or at the very least, they had an insatiable sense of curiosity about all lifeforms.
“Cherinian, have you any information to share with us?”
“I would need to know more about you, for me to presume so.”
“I think it has reached the limits of its abilities of conversing with us, should we assist it by a release?”
“Visually it is not very attractive, but we cannot hold that against it. I wish it would stop moving its eyes like that, it is making me feel nauseous.”
‘Your honour’ asked me, “Do you wish to teleport or do you wish us to assist in releasing you?”
“What do you mean by the word release?”
“Release you of that of course!” It gestured at me so I guess it meant my body.
“You might consider me prejudiced, but I like this body. I think I’ll teleport. If we are welcome I’ll try to return someday with Samantha, our friend of aliens.”
I blocked them off, warned my healer we were returning to an oxygen world (I hoped) and concentrated on where and when I wanted to be. I jumped.
“This area is off limits to the public, how did you get here?”
I was standing on a beach and the sun was high, close to noon I guessed. I wondered where I’d arrived this time. I saw people in the distance and walked over. “Good day, my name is Robert Teller. Where am I?”
“Hi, I’m Joseph. This here is Elleen. You are not with our group?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Do you know what a Cherinian is?”
“Hmm, can’t say I’ve heard that one before. Is it some kind of religion?”
“Yes. What year is it?”
“I say, are you suffering from amnesia?”
“Yes.”
“Oh dear, perhaps we better get you to a hospital.” He explained to the others, “I read that amnesiacs forget for a reason, some trauma their minds could not cope with. We could traumatise him by telling him the date.” Bitterly I thought to myself, what a prime example of the saying that a little bit of knowledge is sometimes more dangerous than ignorance.
They escorted me past some palm trees to their car. It was not a model I’d seen before but it did sort of look archaic. I saw a newspaper on the back seat and grabbed at it. It said 11th November 1949. I stepped away from them and jumped.
I found myself on another alien world, but did not see any sapient beings. From there I landed on an Earth obviously far in the future. I got out of there quickly when I noticed I was an object of interest to someone in a uniform. From there I found myself in Kefalari Square. I was ecstatic, at last!
I sat at a table and ordered a coffee and toasted cheese and ham. I did not have any money but I was not worried. If there are Cherinians they would be taking care of the bill and if there aren’t, I’ll just jump. I can return some other time to pay them.
“Robert? It is you?”
“Nicko! Thank god, I thought I was lost.”
“Lost? What are you doing in Greece? Last time you wrote you said you were moving to Siam to work for a publishing company. Don’t tell me they’ve already fired you!”
I felt like yelling from frustration. “Nicko, can you settle the bill for me and take me somewhere to talk privately?”
He took me home. I greeted his parents, was hugged by them, his mother brought out a tray filled with food that reminded me of my childhood visits. She insisted I eat because she said I looked too skinny and finally we were left alone.
“Where is Dominique?”
Instantly his face drained of colour and he looked extremely angry. “That was not tactful! You know she is dead.”
“Jesus, I’m sorry. Nicko, I’m not the Robert you know. I’m his alternate.”
“Are you on drugs?”
“Oh for gods sake! How did you pull this one over me, I didn’t see you hypnotise me? I could swear we are on top of a mountain. You’re still as corny as ever! Robert, we’ve all seen the fantasy movie about a bunch of mutants called Cherinians who take over the world.”
“We are on top of a mountain. Would you prefer the seaside?” I touched him again and we stood on a beach in Cyprus. I picked up some sand and dribbled it over his hand. “Now will you listen to me?”
“Fuck!” He was visibly trembling.
“Nicko, I am still the Robert who is a friend. I’m just not the Robert you grew up with, I have my own Nicko and we are still best of friends. Will you allow me to tell you my story and then answer my questions?”
Terrified of me he agreed. I told him briefly how it all started. “Now tell me…one moment, do you remember the name of the person who wrote about the Cherinians?” He gave me Allan’s name. “In which country does he live?”
“He lives in London.”
“Fine, let’s go meet him.” I jumped us to their apartment. Luckily they had the same apartment in this reality. I could sense that Nicko would refuse to come with me if I asked him to join me in my search for Allan so I asked the operator for Allan’s number, hoping he did not have an unlisted number.
He picked up the phone after the second ring. “Hi, I have a question to ask you. Why did you change the ages, Cherine was only eight when she met Robert.”
There was a long silence from the other end. “Who are you?”
“Robert Teller.”
He slammed the phone down on me. I called him back. “Meet me and I’ll prove it. I’ll tell you all about Samantha, Wendy, the Sparklers, anything you want to ask. Please, you choose the place.”
“Where are you?”
“In Mayfair, at the apartment of Nicko’s parents.” I grinned at Nicko. “He’s freaking out as I’m talking to you, he thinks I’m some kind of monster because I teleported him here.”
“Nicko? Nicko Spiropoulos? There is no such person, I made him up. Next thing I know you’ll claim he has a sister called Dominique.”
“Nicko, Allan says you don’t exist. Allan, I’ll give you the address, come over and find out the truth - if you dare.” That is a trick I’ve learnt from my Allan, he cannot resist a dare. Since the Screamer, this is the first time I’ve felt this good. If there is an Allan, there has to be a Robert and Cherine - and I’m going to get back their Dominique, as soon as I can travel in time safely.
Four hours later I’d talked myself hoarse with Nicko, but Allan had not arrived. Nicko brought us a beer each from the kitchen. “I don’t think he’ll come.”
“I’ve never known my Allan to back down from a dare - he’s stupid that way. My loves manipulate him all the time.”
“You don’t think much of him.”
