I was surrounded by a species I’d never seen before reclining on tiered stands. One of them worked its way to me with a microphone on a headset.
Please let it be known to your family, we send greetings and eagerly await their next visit.”
The tone of their greeting suggested they expected me to leave immediately. I accepted the map, made a brief speech to thank them and jumped again.
I saw red-brown grass at my feet and further downhill a mass of sticklike beings obviously at war. They seemed to be efficient at killing each other. I glanced up and spoke aloud. “If I had a suspicious kind of mind I’d say you’ve sent me on another round of lessons old man.” Not getting an answer, I shielded myself and walked down the hill, aiming for the center of the battle. None attacked me, the fighting dying as I moved in. They separated into two parties, obviously each of them ready to attack, but wary of a creature that would dare walk into their battle on its own.
What was I supposed to do now? They were obviously sapient, if clothing and weapons truly proves it, but I did not have Claudia with me. They waited for some kind of sign from me, but I did not know what to do. I tried sensing them, but they were too alien for me to catch thoughts or images. All I received was their emoting, anger and puzzlement. Both groups drifted away from me and once they were a small distance from me they attacked each other again.
They must have been keeping a wary eye on me, for as I started to walk towards them again they stopped fighting. They shook weapons at each other and both groups walked off in separate directions. I guess they felt I was some un-quantified threat and did not wish to confront me.
Inter-reality jumping does drain me so I walked around examining the variety of plants and insects. I walked up a small rise and saw a town in the distance. It lay alongside a river and the land to either side was cultivated. I was in some kind of philosophical mood for I found myself wondering why so many species resort to warfare to solve problems that have little or nothing to do with survival. There was plenty of land, the river was wide and had enough water to supply a multitude of such towns, their fighting had to be for political leverage or religious reasons. I expanded my sheath and gathering some soil and plants I fed my food machine. I ate my steak sandwich with a coffee, enjoyed a cigarette and jumped.
I was facing a car and the driver obviously would not be able to stop in time. Instinctively I jumped. I beat my fist against a tree to prevent myself from crying. I’d arrived on an Earth within my time and with a Cherine and allowed my fear to lose it for me. I cursed the Screamer and tried to jump back.
“G’way - demon!”
At least he was of my species, though dressed in rough clothing that indicated he was a peasant from my past. He was obviously drunk and thought I was a demon. There was little reason for me to frighten him further so I gave a small bow and jumped, chuckling as I imagined him telling his village how he ordered a demon to leave and it obeyed. I arrived still chuckling, with my spirits somewhat recovered.
The land was marshy and I saw some miniature hippos. I had to walk awhile before the land rose. I looked around, saw a village and recognised where I was. This was Cyprus! I guessed I’d jumped a couple of thousand years into its past, for those hippos no longer exist and the village in the distance was not modern. I wondered how they would react to me, but I was also disheartened that my jumping was still throwing me out of time so wildly.
I projected to resemble the locals and came out of hiding as soon as they were out of sight. I walked in the direction they’d taken.
“Kalispera.” [good afternoon]
I was provided with a foul tasting mixture that I guessed contained goats milk. What else it contained I did not want to guess, for if the taste was anything to go by, the list could have included turds. In general I sensed the same friendliness Cypriots of my time exhibit, though they were more wary. Most of them returned to finishing their work of the day while an old woman led me by pulling at my sleeve and yammering away too fast for me to understand anything. She made me sit in front of a house and disappeared inside for a while. She brought out a rough and not too clean plate with meat on it. I wondered that she could afford to be so generous. A while later another younger woman came out. She was holding in her arms a boy of about six. The older woman yammered at the younger one, gesturing most emphatically. With fear in her eyes the mother placed her son by me.
I did not need to look into his big green beautiful eyes to sense his suffering. The mind was keen and he stared at me with curiosity. I ignored his withered legs, the lumps on his body and taking a twig I scratched an alpha. Slowly I taught him the first five letters of the Greek alphabet.
The two women were obviously disappointed and I guessed the old woman had thought I was one of their gods and had hoped I could heal him. They did not object to what I was doing and stayed sort of friendly, despite my being useless as they thought. They allowed me to sleep outside and I pretended not to notice the man who came secretly at night. I noticed he was carrying a small parcel that he left behind when he departed an hour later.
I stayed for two weeks, sometimes being visited by men trying to communicate with me, sometimes left alone for most of the day. Every morning the mother would bring her son to me and leave him with me the whole day. She saw to it that we had water and something to eat from those small parcels various men brought to her at night. She no longer expected anything of me and I guess was just pleased to have a companion for her son. Since they did not give me a name I called him Andrea and was amused when a week later I heard his mother call him by that name.
The boy was a fast learner and as I talked to him, he began to pick up some of my words. If the word resembled one he was familiar with he’d try to teach me how to pronounce it correctly. It took him over a week to learn by heart the alphabet. Then I began to teach him how to write simple words. I was pleased to feel how it excited him.
It took nearly two full weeks before the mother noticed that his lumps had grown smaller and his legs were straighter and filling out. I was embarrassed when she fell at my feet, grovelling as she spoke. I pulled at her until she looked up. I gestured my displeasure, demanding she sit by us.
The reason I’d ordered the healer to take its time was because I wanted to teach the boy to read and write. I hoped to start him off on a life that can elevate him beyond simple subsistence. As his health improved, he became less patient, feeling the need to be physically active, even though he could not stand or walk yet. I started to walk with him in my arms, talking all the time, explaining what we saw in simple terms. The wolves that caused the people so many problems carefully stayed a distance from me, perhaps sensing I had powers the others did not have. Anyway, they mostly went after stray stock and usually only attacked a human if it was a child alone.
Sometimes I’d speak in English if I was talking to myself. “You’re an ugly little boy with gorgeous eyes, but I love your mind. If only my girls could see you, I think they would love you. I can’t stay too long, how do we find someone willing to teach you?”
After three weeks I managed to explain to the mother that I had to leave for a short time, but that I would return. She prepared me a small parcel of travelling food and pleaded for me to return. I set off towards the east. I was hoping I’d find some more advanced people in what would be Larnaka or Nicosia.
I did worry about what I was trying to do. If this was a reality known to us, I could be changing their future. By that, I mean I would be splitting their reality, creating a new one. I cannot work out why that would be bad, but it still worries me.
In Larnaka I was told about a man they consider wise, but warned that he is not friendly. I decided that if he is to think of me as a god, I do not mind, as long as I get what I want.
When I approached his home I saw it was filthy, the earth before his house never brushed clean. Without speaking to him, ignoring his shouted order that I leave, I sat down, smoothed the earth before me and sketched the sun with the earth and other planets in orbit. I knew he would not be able to resist his curiosity and as I’d expected he came to stand over me. I pointed at the sun in the sky and then at the depiction of the sun I’d sketched. I patted the earth and pointed at it in the drawing, rotating my hand to show that it revolved around the sun.
He exclaimed with anger and patting the soil he pointed at the drawing of the sun and then indicated the sun (Earth of my drawing) revolving around the Earth. I shook my head and he swore at me. I gathered a shield around us and we rose into the air. At first he screamed in terror, trying to escape. As we rose to a height he became terrified of falling. It took some time for him to start paying attention to what I was showing him. When the Earth was a ball beneath us and the moon three times as large as seen from Earth, I showed him how the sun does not move, that the Earth does. We travelled towards the sun until we could see Venus as a small moon. Within the shield I drew again the sun and planets, but now my planets revolved and he understood. Since his interests included mathematics, I think the beauty of what he saw made sense to him. He asked many questions, but I could not explain.
Back on Earth I sketched the figure of a man. I pointed at myself. Then I drew a little boy. I gave him to understand he was my son. “Andrea. Teach.”
I returned to Andrea and spent another three months with him. I concentrated and we learnt to communicate. I tried to teach him that knowledge is important, but that it must be used with the heart so that only good comes out of it. His body healed, if he did not abuse it he would live far longer than anyone of that time. I tried to teach him about empathy and compassion, wanting him to learn that a true warrior protects, he does not destroy. We grew to love each other and it was with sorrow in both of us that we parted. I gave him one small gift to excite his mind. I carried him in the air to the old man.
“Teach Andrea, old man. Not only with the mind, use your heart also. He is much loved by me and I will return to see how well you taught him.” I paused dramatically. “Old man, if you are as wise as men say you are, look to learn from the child also. He has much to teach you.”
They value gold so I gave him most of what I’d gathered (some of it I left with the mother). I hugged Andrea and asked him to make me proud of him. I promised I will return to take him to meet his mother again and then I rose into the air and rushed towards the slopes of Mt Troodos. As soon as my feet touched the ground I took a deep breath, activated my sheath and jumped.
I nearly screamed. I was home! It turned out the timing was still slightly wrong, but basically I had arrived. Since the house was empty and I could not sense Freddie, he either had to be in the void or elsewhere. I did not mind the small error in time and I left my body.
Solomon met me. Robert, you have returned. Your body is safe?
*It is at home, I just arrived. Where are my family?*
*Before we speak, visit Adam, he’ll help, he did so with Samantha.*
*Sam!? What was wrong with her?*
*She was present when the Screamer attacked you. Go to Adam and we’ll meet on the island.*
As Samantha has recorded, he healed the damage, he shared with me what Sam had done and the effect on her and then we both went to the island. Solomon joined us there.
“I cannot stay long. Robert, Freddie is in Haven-R. Before you leave, will you share your experiences?”
“Sure, go ahead.” I welcomed him into my mind and opened my recent experiences to him.
“Adam, you have seen? It does not bode well for Cherinianism.”
I smiled. “The hard-heads and Dimitri? We’ll take care of that, I did promise their Samanthas.”
“This green aspect of the void, will you teach us?”
“Not yet Solomon, I must keep something to myself in case I need it to save my family from those who gained powers through a link, but use them for evil. I’d prefer to keep the development secret from Michael also.”
“He does not communicate with me often. You are aware that most Cherinians admire him?”
“He makes me proud to be his father.”
“I meant he could become a contender for your position as leader.”
“I would have to fight him Solomon, he is not wise enough yet. There is much I admire about him and acknowledge he is superior in, but he does not hold to our dream like Samantha does. If it comes to that, I’ll hand over to her. I doubt he’ll try to wrest the leadership from her.”
Solomon let my Wirm friend know I need her and she was waiting for me when I returned to my body. I greeted her, politely asked after her family, the wellbeing of their nest, the other families and only then explained why I needed her to wish me to Freddie. With her laugh of joy in my mind I arrived.
Total silence greeted me. I could see on their faces and in their hearts the strain they’d all been under and yet, they waited for Cherine. She stared at me, but did not seem able to speak, only a fine tremor betraying to the eye how she was feeling. Quickly I stepped to her and picked her up. She stared into my eyes until her body shuddered.
“Robert.”
“Shh love, it’s over, I’m back.”
I felt her make a supreme effort and she smiled at me. “Maria didn’t make you coffee.”
“She knows what she’s doing. She knows I first need to hug all of you.”
Within seconds I had little girls all over me and I pretended to fall, letting them clamber onto me, my face covered by kisses and the tears they now felt free to cry. When Maria brought my coffee they all entered my mind to share and they passed on my memories to everyone - only holding back how I became the green void.
Samuel pursed his lips as if relishing his thoughts. “At least this time he did not find a little girl and adopted a little boy instead. Girls, maybe he’s changing and won’t need all of you anymore. Don’t forget I’m free.”
Allan nodded. “Don’t let them get to you Samuel, they’d be very disappointed if you stopped dreaming.”
Jessie earnestly asked him, “Are you dreaming?”
He chickened out. “Only of you baby.”
I love it when everyone reacts to stress with humour. Even some of the aliens joined in and soon Freddie was a place of joy again. I hugged Alki and then my girls took me home.
Since Robbie returned we’ve stayed put because he does not want to direct a jump. He needs to first regain his confidence and that means he wants to try on his own, which none of us will agree to. On another matter, although it is so unlike him, he has not destroyed the equipment given to him. He will not allow anyone to examine them, but he’s keeping them for his solo jumps. Even after that he says, he’ll keep them as we might find ourselves in situations where they could save lives. Luckily his need to get Sheena and Efineh back forced him to allow Freddie to jump.
After kissing us, Sheena stood proudly listening as Periga told Robbie that they had given permission for an area to be seeded. They have built five small houses for couples to stay in while trying to conceive. Robbie tried to sense whether the people were unhappy about the decision. He felt that some of them had misgivings, but most of them were only nervous.
While everyone exchanged pleasantries I led Efineh to one side. “How was it?”
I was pleased when I only sensed a little pride in her when she replied, “I was good Sam. I enjoyed it and learnt a lot. I discovered I am capable of handling problems in a way that is good for them.”
I smiled. “I guess it won’t be that long before you return to help your people. Still afraid of Sebura?”
“Yes.”
I had an idea and laughed. “A pity you didn’t fall in love with Samuel King, he’d have taken care of Sebura.”
“Uh-huh, I’d rather handle him myself, I’m too happy with Irfan to be scared.”
A few of the Iktrians, Blacks and Whites, decided to stay home and new ones asked to come with. We helped them and soon we were ready to leave. We promised to be back soon and left for Haven-R.
Overall, life has been good to us, very good, so I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. However good life wants to treat us, it still cannot sit back and wait to accommodate us every time. Not when people like Arthur Campbell exist.
Vincent should not have come to our home, he should have gone to Allan. However, he is a Teller plus, as the protector, he had to come to us because our healers are the most experienced. As he arrived, he called for Robbie and we jumped to the bedroom. Lying on our bed was Ahnì, covered in blood. Goldi called for Allan and his girls while we rushed our healers to her.
“Robert, I have to enter her mind and you must come with.”
Jade did not wait, she left her body almost as fast as Robbie did. They did not find the essence of Ahnì inside and the way Vincent was rushing it was obvious he had not expected to find her waiting for them. Robbie called out to Vincent, asking what had happened. Vincent did not slow down as he answered. *A new talent discovered a species whose souls feed on the energy of souls. She had the power to contain them and bringing them to prime Earth released them within Ahnì’s inner worlds. She is weakening fast Robert, as you saw from the internal bleeding. Do not kill the souls, whatever form they take, or else their motes will spread within her. We have to send them to the void one by one.*
*How many Vincent?*
*I don’t know. They are not all in the mental world Ahnì finds herself in, they have spread to other worlds created out of dreams or potentials. We must first save her where the core of her is.*
The invading souls had assumed, thanks to Ahnì, the shapes of whatever nightmare creatures have frightened her during her life. She’d had the presence of mind to meld her healer with her and she healed from the damage inflicted on her very fast but still, she looked battered and was obviously failing. The invaders in her other mental worlds were stealing energy from there also, draining her. The healer was drawing energy from wherever healers do, but the creatures were siphoning the energy faster than it could be replenished and she was losing motes of her soul.
The invaders were determined to finish feeding off Ahnì because they sensed she was weakening but a number of them were attracted to the raw energy being emitted by the new arrivals. They attacked and Robbie quickly realised they were in trouble, not even Vincent was immune to them.
Angelica hid between the girls and allowed them to protect her as she huddled. Closing her eyes she concentrated, terrified of what she saw she had to do. She formed the spell within her mind and as it formed she pushed the girls away from before her and as she opened her mouth a black tornado of some kind of negative force rushed out of her.
With an obvious hunger for the invaders it rushed at them, drawing into itself each one it managed to contact. As soon as the others saw what was happening they angled their attacks, herding the creatures into the growing maw of the tornado, or whirlpool of negative energy.
They did not have time for Ahnì to recover. Holding her and sharing their energy with her, Robbie demanded she lead them to where she was being attacked. None of us consciously know of or are aware of the multitude of mental worlds we hold, but luckily Vincent could sense where the invaders were and guided them. The numbers in each world of her imagination were far lesser and Robbie and Vincent were able to carry them out to the void one by one without being damaged to a large extent. Ahnì hung limply between the girls until they had rid her of the last invader. They returned to Angelica who had remained in the first world.
“Robert, what must I do?”
“Can’t we take them to the void in your spell?”
Angel nearly panicked. “No, it would have to pass through Ahnì and would tear her soul or mind apart. Can you come as the void and sheath my spell in your energies?”
“No, I would kill her.”
“I can’t control it forever!”
Robbie asked, “Can you have it send them out one by one?”
“I’d have to reverse the spell, I’ve never tried that! Robert, even if I can, it will throw them all out at the same time.”
“Robert, Ahnì is too weak to withstand another attack.”
“We’ll find a solution Vincent, just give me a moment.”
Before anyone could protest, Vincent lost his form and as a shield of energy he surrounded the spell. Even as it tore at him, sucking him in, he managed to jump for the void.
Angelica screamed and went to the void. As she arrived she sent the release and the spell died, releasing the invaders who were now trapped within Vincent. They instantly attacked him.
Robbie ordered the girls away and faster than ever before he became the void. Urgently he surrounded the invaders and before they could suck his energy into them and grow stronger, he formed a stasis shield.
Even as the void Robbie could hardly see what was left of Vincent. He gathered every faint wisp and gently fed it with his own motes. The girls joined him, offering all they could with enough love to bring anyone back to life. Nothing stirred. Even the slivers they held were too ‘substantial’ for them to release them; they would only have torn what was left of Vincent. Slowly the energy grew, but there did not seem to be a mind within it. Robbie had to stay to protect Vincent from the void.
Eleni had stayed with her daughter and she took her time, allowing Ahnì to grow stronger from her own natural recuperative powers and from the motes and love Eleni had sheathed her in. A couple of hours later they both opened their eyes.
Ahnì wept, crying that Vincent should not have sacrificed himself for her.
“Ahnì, where is Michael?”
“He was fighting to save the others and himself.”
Cherine shook her head. “No, he can jump in time, he should have been here, he must be in trouble. Dommi, tell Robert I’ll go for Vincent afterwards, I have to save our son first.”
Before Dommi or any of us could answer she changed. As the Light, she jumped. While Cherine was gone, none of those trying to save Vincent returned. Cherine shared later, so here is how I saw it.
Cherine did not time jump, she event jumped. As she arrived she spread her powers over Michael, his family and allies. As far as they were concerned the battle died instantly.
Michael, his family and thirty seven other loyal Ipohin had formed a sphere of energy and fought from about a kilometre high in the sky. The powers lashing out at them from hundreds of attackers was devastating, but they were holding their own. They had lasted for two days when Cherine arrived.
Mankind had watched from afar; any jets, helicopters or vehicles on the ground approaching too close had resulted in the death of the unprotected Normals. The entire world had watched from their television sets as the battle was fought and they were terrified by the awesome exhibition of powers.
Suddenly a bright light appeared, swallowing Michael and his group. They claimed it was like a revolving sun with arms of fire reaching out to the attackers. Within seconds the war was at an end, all the attackers lying on the ground, their powers burnt out of them.
Cherine sensed the pain in her son, his need for rest and his even greater need to see Ahnì. She reached out and sent all of them to Freddie! She broke your protection Arthur! They all arrived in Freddie.
In a fury that Cherine could barely control she sent out a message that every Cherinian and Ipohin heard. “You cowards! I will not forgive you for this.” She jumped back to Freddie, left her body and went to the void.
*I’m sorry, I was still caught up in my anger. They left our son to die Robert! I’ll never forgive them.*
*He is alive?*
*Yes, he is in Freddie. Let me through Robert.*
Awed they watched her reach through the stasis shield, stealing back what had been taken of Vincent. She also got a sense of the person who’d brought them to Ahnì. It seemed like only seconds passed and Vincent lay in the void complete again. The Light dimmed and as Cherine again she fled into Robbie for an exchange of love and then they returned to us.
The moment Michael and his group appeared in Freddie, Ahnì and Michael jumped to each other. They clung tightly as each of them confirmed the other is unharmed. Not long afterwards the others returned from the void. Robbie stared at the group with shock, forgetting to kiss Candy as she sat on his chest. He stood up, holding her in his arm. “How?”
“The Light sent them to us Robert.” Dommi told him, as she gently caressed Cherine’s hair.
“Oh god!”
Within hours the atmosphere so unique to Freddie, the loving presence of family and friends, had healed all of them. We needed to be alone as a family, but we had an early supper at the taverna so that all could share for a while our rejoicing at having our loved ones with us.
“Father, I heard of your problem but there was nothing I could do to help. I thought I’d trust you to save yourself while I keep an eye on Campbell to prevent him causing any further damage.”
“You are also convinced he was behind the attack?”
Michael’s eyes burned brightly as he replied, “Yes.”
“He is a cunning bastard, he hides behind a smile while sending others to do his dirty work. What I don’t understand is how he disappears them.”
“That is not difficult father, he surrounds them with a shield of minds so that we only sense them, not those who attacked us. It is one of the facts that has convinced me Campbell is responsible - only he has the resources to provide that kind of protection.”
Cherine had recovered enough to leave the side of Robbie and her son, sitting by us in turn, so that we each had a chance to feel her love and hug her. She sat by me and I kept my voice low. “You’ve confused me.”
She gave a small smile. “You have questions?”
“Not as such. Cherine, if you can be so hard and implacable as the Light, I have misread what the future offers us.”
She frowned. “You mean as Arthur has been with us at times? Perhaps you need to rethink?”
“Obviously.” Now that she’d said it, I saw she was right, both of you confuse me.
She tugged at me with a soft smile. “Not tonight love, we need to all be together - I need it.”
The next report we received we learnt that Campbell reacted promptly to the actions of Cherine. He publicly announced that he is providing medical attention to those attacked by her and he is ensuring that they all have a home of their own with jobs to provide them and their families a decent lifestyle. Cherine’s attack had frightened many of his followers and they were wavering, thinking of deserting him, but his prompt action earned him their loyalty again.
He used a large piece of land he owned legally, for building a small town for those he was helping. Indirectly he was challenging the government, for he did not provide and have his plans approved. The government did not react.
“I have an idea. I’ll place a shield over his illegal town and announce that if they do not respect the laws of the country then they should not consider themselves part of it and have to stay in what was given to them.”
“Michael, if that has to be done, I’ll do it. Keep your Ipohin as mediators should it become necessary. I’m already considered a criminal so it will not damage our cause.”
“I disagree.”
Robbie nodded. “I thought you would Sam. Sometimes it is not good enough to only do what is right or wise in the short term. We have to nip his ambitions in the bud and show the Normals that Cherinians do stand by them.”
“The Normals will be the first to condemn your actions.”
He ignored me and did as Michael suggested. He even ignored Michael, for he’d come to agree with me. I calmed him. “Michael, dad often does things that seem to be wrong and they turn out to be right for the future of Cherinians. We’ll have to trust in his protector instincts.”
The media made a big thing of what Robbie did, a few tentatively suggesting he might be correct from a narrow point of view, but that his deed provided an excuse for others to grab pieces of the United States and declare themselves independent. They foresaw many problems arising out of this and condemned his unilateral action. The rest of the media just took a stand against Robbie, calling his action inhumane. It was not what I had intended, but our media companies also took a stand against us - and I am proud of them. It means they really are trying to be objective about reporting the news and in their commentaries.
The government acted swiftly, overnight passing a bill that changed the law, allowing anyone outside of cities to build their homes on land they own without requiring approval. They then demanded that the Cherinians remove the shield as they have no right to separate any part of their country or declare any such part as being separate. Robbie ignored them for a week of their time and then he removed the shield. Within weeks all countries amended their laws accordingly.
He shrugged. “I did advise them not to take any action against the others. I guess they felt it was safer for them to stand against me.”
The reappearance of Michael resulted in an enthusiastic growth of his followers - nearly all from the Cherinians. If we continue this way there won’t be any Terran Cherinians left soon. He now also has his own band of Normals who admire him and offer to help in any way they can.
A Robert sent on a message to our Robbie…from Feizal. He stated that they stand by us and whatever we need, all we have to do is ask. We grinned when he added greetings from his father to Goldi.
Nothing much has happened for this last month. We feel the need to be doing something, so Robbie decided to return to the teams and bring back some species. We jumped them four times, the first two times the Unation crew assisted them and the last two times only accompanying them as they jumped their ships on their own.
We decided to return to the Unation and Haven’s world in her reality. We jumped to five years after our last visit. We were welcomed and just about everyone was sheathed and jumped to the planet, just to be out of Freddie for a few days.
Their skies are still full of Unation ships from various realities and they do not need our help in any way - apart from creating another two hundred million bodies and reuniting them to their souls.
“Athia, my people have changed. They were never this soft.”
“Yes, the fire seems to have gone out of them.” Robbie looked thoughtful, but he did not say anything.
Robbie attended meetings, rarely speaking, but listening closely not only to what they said but to the way they spoke. He made a decision and asked to visit ‘our’ Unation ship.
“How much would it cost to buy from you a spaceship? Nothing as sophisticated as yours, but capable of exploring neighbouring systems.”
“You wish to purchase the vessel as gift to the Meéjeirans?”
“No, they will have to purchase it from me. They can pay me later, once they have colonised a world or two.”
They agreed and gave him details of the ship and settled on a number of tons of various metals.
“Thank you for allowing me to address you.” He then began to walk up and down, lost in his thoughts as he re-examined his planned words, until they started to wonder whether he’d forgotten them or was dealing telepathically with a problem in Freddie. He returned with a start. “I had couched what I had to say in words that would not give offence. I’ve changed my mind, you must be made to see what Haven has seen for them to be effective.
In my judgement you are declining as a species, you have lost the ambitions you should be dreaming of as a young species. You are not to blame, you’ve spent millions of years learning how to forget what you were. Then you return to life on a world where everything is provided for you. Those who are helping are obviously years in advance of you and their ways are gentle and you are responding to them in a like manner because you admire them.
As of today, I am asking all other species to limit their assistance to a further five years. Be careful of what you ask for during these remaining years, for after that, if you have to make sacrifices to grow, then you will have to make them. Get your hands dirty and build what you want for yourselves. Spark off new dreams in your young so that they remember there is a universe of knowledge they must earn for themselves. Teach them of how exciting and fulfilling it is to learn for yourself, instead of just building libraries to hold information others have made sacrifices to learn.
You have a lot to offer as a species if you revert to being the Meéjeirans of old. The Unation of your reality do not need another Unation species, they need a species that are growing and by growing, also awakening them again.
