“I thought you said no new powers were used.”
“We all have that ability Sam, it’s not a new power.”
Meli’s eyes came to life. “Robert, take whoever saw those two men with you and return to grab them. The one of them, he is the boy.”
“What?”
“The man outside, he sent his healer into the boy and once nobody could see him it turned him into a man, I mean it projected him as an adult.”
Meli was right! Robbie was almost brutal as he forced his way into the kidnapper’s mind. He saw what the man had intended, saw this was not the first time. He got time and place to return the other boy and then after burning out his gifts took him to the prison planet. You cannot imagine how beautiful the moment we returned the boys to their parents was, it brought tears to our eyes.
How did Meli solve the puzzle? She turned it into a story and imagined what kind of answer to the puzzle she would have used. Why that should help I don’t know, but I’m impressed.
Over the last few years, a volunteer force of Cherinians has developed. Some tease them by calling them the village gossips. To give an example: The above case, Cherinians jumped to all the alternate Earths we know and passed on the information so that if the alternate of that man is doing the same in their reality, he can be stopped.
When we first arrived we sensed that people were reacting more strongly to our presence than they usually do. It did disturb us that a larger percentage than normal emoted resentment. Robbie asked Robert what ias wrong. It looked like he was going to try to evade the question, but he knows our Robbie better than that.
“What happened on your Earth, it was re-broadcast here. I hear all the Teller families are facing the same reaction from the Normals.”
“They are blaming you?”
“Not exactly, they just think that if the prime Robert can turn his back on them it is just as likely we will.” He blushed. “I might as well tell you since you’ll hear of it from someone. Most people are saying you acted like a petulant child, allowing your anger because of one man who is generally not respected, to excuse you turning your back on the millions who have shown they love you. They are feeling hurt Robert.”
“I agree with them, I behaved very badly. I did want to apologise, but Sam wouldn’t let me.” They all turned to look at me, surprised. Even Samantha.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of how it would affect all the other families.”
Samantha asked, “You had a reason?”
“Yes, the prophecy, I want it to run its course so that it ends.”
“Rob, she might be right. If he had apologised maybe something else would have had to happen for him to turn his back on everyone.”
“For how long Sam?”
“Long enough for all the worms to crawl out into the open.” All of us were shocked by the bitterness we sensed in Jade. “Don’t you see, if they think we’re gone they’ll become brave.”
“Let’s go for a walk, I want to be alone with you.”
His voice was tender, “I do love, for me. Come on.” They walked off hand in hand. A few minutes later we saw him pick her up and they jumped to a beautiful beach on some island south of Borneo.
They arrived by some rocks. Robbie climbed up and sitting down placed her between his legs, pulling her back for her to lean against him. He did not say anything, allowing his heart to speak for him as the silver moon painted her reflections on the susurrating ocean. A cloud drifted across the moon and the ocean sparkled with green phosphorescent glitters.
“Sometimes you love me too much Jade. I’m no saint, you must allow me to remain fallible and human so that I can love you the way I do.”
She wanted to turn to look at him, but he had rested his arms over her shoulders, his clasped hands lying over her lower chest. “I don’t love you too much.” She only then thought on what he’d said. “You think I idealise you? Maybe I do, but it includes all that makes you human Robert.”
“If you cannot allow others to become angry with me when I do something to hurt them, then you are forcing me to try and be perfect.” He leant his head back against the rock, closing his eyes. He was silent for a time, drifting within a melancholic whirlpool, and then whispered softly, his pain asking himself mostly, “God, how are we going to last for millions of years?”
Jade did not know how to answer so she wisely kept quiet. She stopped feeling defensive, no longer worried he may be trying to teach her she must change. She turned her thoughts to him, how much pain he has suffered throughout his life and how he always responds with love. As the world revolved around them without them being a part of it, she sank deeper, doors of understanding opening within her, seeing how superficially she had known Robbie. It seemed that the deeper she sank into her thoughts, the wider the petals of her heart opened, her love for him blossoming like a bright flower blooming as the rays of the sun gently warm it after the rain. We withdrew as we sensed the tears on their cheeks, for such a love can hurt more than any other kind of pain, but it only belongs to the two who are experiencing it, who are growing closer to being one heart.
The whole coffee shop seemed to have become caught up in our emoting, our alternate family with tears in their eyes as they stared at our faces glowing in a rapture of love.
“Harmony: A harmonious state; congruity of parts with one another and with the whole.” Wendy closed the dictionary and put it down. She sighed. “Coral, I’ve been blind.”
“How?”
“There has been something missing from my music. I felt it but could not identify what element was missing. We are not computers, enjoying music in an aesthetically abstract manner. When we listen to music it affects our minds and emotions and yet I think I’ve been ignoring the body. It is all a loop. The mind orders what it hears intellectually, coloured by the emotions. Some of those emotions come from memories, some from dreams of what we ache for. In response they affect the body and it changes the chemicals in our brain - even in the body itself, affecting in turn the mind and emotions. Will you teach me to listen to how my body reacts to music? My healer is trying, but I think only you can show me the way to sense the complete picture.”
“You want to learn how to dance?”
“Not any specific steps love. I want to learn how to let go, lose myself in the music and allow my body to react freely without me directing it. Only then can my body teach and guide me as I write my songs.”
Robbie and Dommi looked into each others eyes and we felt the anticipatory awe as they tried to imagine what music we’ll be hearing from our Wendy. Dommi reached over to touch Wendy’s face.
“May I join you?” Jade asked.
“It will help you with your painting?”
“You said so yourself. Didn’t you say it would teach you to sense the complete picture?”
“The same is true for all of us. Coral, teach Wendy, Candy and Jade on their own and group lessons for the rest of us. Because of our gifts we’ve concentrated on our minds at the cost of our bodies.”
Claudia grinned. “Will it change how we sense sex?”
Dommi nodded. “Yes. Haven’t you realised that making love is a kind of dance?”
“I’m ready, when do we start.” Cassie said enthusiastically, making us all laugh.
Freddie suggested we take a look at an area within our tiny swamp. We had to take turns, for there is only one plant. Because of us not having a sun, it mutated and instead of yellow flowers it has a sort of pale greenish-blue petals. They are also almost diaphanous, giving the impression they are not natural, more likely created by a spell or a spider.
Afterwards I found my thoughts taking a different direction and I sat by myself on a tree log. Robbie and the girls floated over the swamp checking out the life within it. He left them and sat by me.
“When a family is as close-knit as ours is dad, when one of us grows, it seems to affect the rest of the family. Is it the same for Normals?”
“Rarely. That is why Normals talk about personal growth and rarely look to achieve group growth.”
“That’s sad.”
R: It may not be that obvious, but Samantha is the only one who often calls me dad. To her that side of our relationship remains very important.
To have said ‘he is the man I love as a little girl’ would have been factually true, but not have conveyed as effectively what I was trying to say.
They arrived with terabytes of articles, shows, news, letters from the public and so on dealing with our departure. As it was, when we were there, it was a mixed bag. Those from Normals who wanted us back were heart-warming, for they spoke emotionally. I don’t know if Michael left out the really virulent ones, but nothing really nasty was said by anyone. (Michael insists he did not.)
Robbie sighed with relief. “I think we should return to mend our fences.”
Michael briefly glanced at me. “It would pay us. Every time you do something that makes them love you, some of it rubs off on the Ipohin.” He grinned. “Even when we do something not strictly legal, the governments are more tolerant and ignore it.”
“You don’t want us to return yet?”
“It’s your choice dad. If it was me, I’d stay away a bit longer.”
“Give me one reason.”
“I’ve been careful not to interfere and some non-affiliated talents are starting to drift into groups. I’d like to see what their intentions are.” He was not smiling, but we felt a grim amusement. “I’ve also had to spend time in other realities, giving the impression I’m not that interested in the prime reality.”
“I noticed.” Cherine gestured at the computer screens.
During the day we usually split up into smaller groups and drift apart, rarely doing so at meal time also. While Michael is with us nobody wants to miss a second of his presence so we end up moving in one large group. Ahnì asked if they could take a trip through fairyland. I think they were surprised when not one of us joined them, allowing them this time alone.
While Michael was on the boat, Simito was with his parents and not that closely linked to his friend. Michael grabbed the opportunity to ask Robbie to take us to Simito’s home world. That night we jumped. Freddie had to have the help of a Wirm so as to go there directly.
Everyone went to the taverna even though we were not there yet. Their mass emoting was felt by us, waking us up. Troubled we looked around until we noticed what was on our bedroom screen. I can tell you, it gave us a fright. Even Robbie looked worried.
“Can I come to speak privately or do you want to get dressed first.”
“If it’s urgent come.”
“Don’t take too long.”
We did not bother dressing, each of us projecting ourselves dressed. Freddie appeared. “I’m having to refuse everyone permission to those wanting to leave Freddie, it would spoil your surprise.”
“Why are we so close to that sun?”
“We’re not in danger Robert. Space further out is full of spaceships.”
“Is Michael back yet?”
“The ship has docked and they are on deck staring at the screens.”
“I’ll take him, he hasn’t been inside them.” Haven took hold of his arm and jumped.
Their return was delayed as the captains wanted to put on their uniforms. In the meantime Freddie zoomed in on the two main spaceships and we saw they were not doing anything to help the fleet. As a matter of fact they were surrounded by small ships from the Unation.
When they returned we sensed they were all embarrassed - though Haven was trying to hide that she was also amused. The captains have obviously forgotten what Robbie is like for they stood stiffly as they reported.
They have repaired and brought back four species and this is the fifth system they are working on. Then they explained that they have lost all their fighters and the Unation ships are struggling to save their main spaceships.
“How many lives lost?”
“None. We have not lost our ships to hostile action. Robert, our ships are being eaten by a fungus.”
“What!”
“Our spaceships are the only ones constructed of unprotected metal. There is a spore in this system that eats through metal. We had to abandon our smaller fighters and concentrate on coating our two ships.”
Robbie grinned and then tried to look serious again. “Vincent, can you provide the scientists with a platform.” He explained to the captains. “I was amused because I sensed the excitement of the scientists, they felt just like children wanting new toys to play with. What they hope to do with the spore I have no idea. Will the Unation be able to coat your ships fast enough or do you need us to coat your ships with energy fields?”
“They are nearly finished. Thank you.”
“In that case, why not relax and join us for a drink.”
He explained why we had come here. “I thought you might want to effect an exchange of crew, you’ve been away from your families and homes for a long time.”
They were touched that we had come all this way in time and space for such a trite matter. I could not help thinking that it seems that even if people are Cherinians, the moment they put on uniforms, they start thinking like officers of the Normals. Robbie was not as forgiving and went into a speech about how the individual matters more than anything else.
The crew were asked and less than five percent wanted to return, the others were too caught up in what they were doing and the excitement of travelling at such a distance from their home solar system. Robbie visited a few of the Unation ships and assured they had no problems we left.
“Simito, go spend some time with your parents on your home planet.” He grinned at him. “Are you going to return with a bride?”
“I was hoping to spend my time with them as a child again.”
“Then do so.”
We had given Zenon an apartment near the top of the tree. Allan invited him to stay with them, but Zenon needs some time on his own. He does spend a lot of time with them and teases them about the way they make him feel. Because he spent his first years as part of Ahnì, he came to feel that they are his parents. The imps came up with some gags about people who feel they are their own parents, but they kept them for when we are alone. We don’t want to sour the way Eleni and Jessie feel about Zenon.
Baby Cherine is now much older than our Cherine was at the time she met Robbie, but we are not planning to take her home to link with her Robert, because we sense she is not as mature as Cherine was at eight years old. She came to the taverna with her parents. Since she has become a teenager she’s stopped sitting on Robbie’s lap and took a chair by him. “When this is over, can you take me home?”
His eyes are always filled with tenderness when speaking to her. “Are you ready for your Robert?”
“Is he ready for me?”
Robbie laughed. “Touché. There’s no reason to wait love and I think Michael will enjoy being with as a new Teller family comes together. We’ll be there in the morning when you wake up.” We hid our smiles as she got butterflies, but she leant over and kissed his cheek.
When it was only family, Alki, Allan and their families, Robbie asked, “Should we arrive when Robert is older?” He wanted Robert to be more mature but Cherine disagreed, so we all gave way to the only expert we have. We’ll arrive eight years after leaving.
We arrived to find Alki had taken control soon as Robbie had left. He saw to it that for his remaining school years Robert spent all the time possible with Nicko and his family. Every holiday longer than a week he was taken to Greece with them. We could feel that the two of them feel like father and son. Robert and Nicko have grown closer and over the years Dominique admitted to herself that she likes him, but she cannot imagine loving him as a husband.
They were all uncomfortable around their Cherine. Robert had been expecting to meet her as an eight year old and was at a loss as to how to treat her. From her side, she found him too immature for her after knowing all the Roberts she’s met.
We could not complain, each of them tried, but it was more out of a sense of duty or because they knew what life could be like for them if they become a family. We’ve screwed up this time. We suggested Alki take Cherine to his island so that they can grow closer. She loves our Alki (and the others she’s met) so she was happy to oblige. A week or so later she opened to him. “I don’t know what to do pappou. I want to love my Robert, but I don’t feel anything.”
“We’re all worried about that koukla mou, but we don’t expect you to love each other just because you should.” He looked thoughtful. “Did you know that I was given the memories of the prime Alki? That has given me the opposite problem, I love your mother, but I know she loves your father, so I too will have to remain without love.”
“Er…”
“Nai koukla mou?”
“I don’t think I should tell you.”
“Are you hinting they don’t love each other?”
“I think the tellings made her think about staying with dad. I don’t feel that either of them love the other. Maybe they are staying together because of me.”
“Would it be bad of me if I trick Robert and myself?”
“How do you trick yourself?”
“I don’t think I should tell you before asking Cherine.”
Late the next afternoon we visited them to have supper at the taverna we used to eat at. Cher and us made it easy for Cherine to be alone with her.
“If you could help us love each other, would you?”
“You are thinking of manipulating him?”
“And myself. I won’t do it secretly, he has to agree and want it.”
“That sounds intriguing, I’ve never managed to do it that way.”
“Would the Spartans create a Kolonaki for us? I was thinking that if you make me eight again and make your memories seem real and Robbie does the same for Robert, maybe we would love each other. Once we do and we come back, wouldn’t we still love each other?”
“I have no idea. Tell me how you feel when you are alone with Robert.”
“I think both of us can’t relax because we are afraid we won’t love each other.”
“Maybe instead of my memories you need those of a different Cherine. What about your mother? If she has the memories of my mother she could end up loving Alki.”
“I hope so, she’s not happy with dad.”
“I’ll discuss it with the family. Cherine, it would have to involve a lot of other people. They also have to agree.”
Cherine asked us, “What do you think?”
Robbie smiled, relieved. “I agree, she should not be given our memories. The closest Cherine to how she is would be the one I found when I was lost. I wanted to return to her anyway so why don’t we visit them. If they agree we can return here.”
“I think we should bring them all with us.” We all agreed with Empathia.
While everyone prepared for a trip, I jumped to the Blake’s. I did feel it should be Robbie, not me, but he does have the same effect on this Marian and she’ll refuse just because he interfered. Luckily she sort of likes me. I told them of their daughter’s idea and explained why we were leaving. “I have a personal question to ask you. I know it will upset you, but I still think I should. Do the two of you still love each other?”
“Of course we do!” I’d expected that knee-jerk reaction.
“Hmm, I guess we’ll have to find another Marian for your Alki. She’ll also have to play your role when they go through the Kolonaki experience.”
“She’s my daughter!”
Robbie did not know ‘where’ the reality is. He shared with his Wirm friend, they concentrated on the Cherine he wanted to go to and we were wished there. Freddie was prepared and the instant we arrived he jumped to the void. As Robbie had seen, it was empty. Leonidas sent some Spartans to search for the Sparklers and Anadir Worlds while we sat at the taverna waiting for Robbie to warn the others we have arrived.
Since it was office hours, he phoned Alki. “Patera, I am back. Shall we meet at your house later?”
His voice was trembling from excitement, “I’m leaving now, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Robbie had wanted to surprise Robert and Cherine by turning up at their home, but he decided Alki would enjoy telling them just as much. He walked the three blocks to the house of Alki and rang the bell. Cherine ran out and threw herself into his arms as everyone else followed her to the driveway to welcome him.
He cupped Dominique’s heart shaped face. “Are you happy?”
“Very.”
He knelt on one knee. “Wendy, you are so beautiful! Do you sing?”
“A little.” She was shy so he only shook her hand.
“We were not certain you would return, you worried us when you left without telling us you are leaving.”
Robbie apologised and then grinned. “As it seems to be usual with your reality, I am here to ask you for a favour. Shall we enter the house so that we can jump from there to Freddie? We don’t want to give any of the neighbours a heart attack.”
(Cherines present: Pest Cherine; Cher (unlinked) and our Cherine.)
After the welcome we listened to their news, helped them with a few small problems and promised to open doors to more gifts for them. We sensed a Hettie and Eddie and they were brought into the group. Aganthi and Theresa were found and linked but there is no Lucy. Claudia and Britta were collected and Socrati and Andrea. We went for Sonja. She was the most difficult to crack and had no interest in Socrati. We had to send Vincent to bring us our Sonja. Once she had shared and we’d projected Socrati to a younger man, she opened to him. They asked for a Samantha.
“Please refuse them Sam, they’re much too nice a family for a Samantha - she’ll just complicate their lives.” Our family thought she was funny, but theirs did not when I agreed to do as Cassie asked. With a laugh she gave in and asked me to split for them.
“I really think I shouldn’t Cassie, once you pointed it out I realised you were right.” Before she could get too upset I threw my arms around her as I agreed, hardly able to speak from laughing. (She chose to sleep with me that night and as I held her, I made certain she felt how much I love her - and my pleasure at outwitting her at her own game.)
The above took a few days so they had time to think about our request. Pest Cherine drew Cher in to their family so that she would feel how special it feels.
“We have an idea you might not like. Instead of doing it in the Spartan World, why don’t they take our places in our world?”
“Yes.”
“Alki?”
“If that is what my Cherine wants. I’d do anything to help another Cherine and Robert love each other - even if their Alki loses me some money.” After the teasing ended Robbie asked how we should go about it. They suggested it happen exactly as it did with them, except for Dominique. She would not have to be dead and she would be a little bit older.
Cherine asked, “How will that bring Dominique into the family?”
“Once you have given Cher pest Cherine’s memories she will want her. Alki can invite them to Ydra and she’ll make certain she gets her Dominique.”
Robbie turned to Dominique, but then decided to make his question more general. “Do all of you agree to manipulate yourselves this way?” They were all caught up in the excitement and agreed.
Since the new Robert is already an artist and has been designing web sites for Alki, he was able to move into his role directly. It started in exactly the same way, with Nicko discovering Robbie at the coffee shop. He wondered why Robert was not at work and after paying for Robbie’s coffee and toast they went to his house. Once they had some privacy Robbie confided that he was not their Robert. Allan had not published his books so they had to use a different excuse for dragging him in. None of the differences were impossible to handle and the fact that our Robbie was in charge and aware of the purpose helped a great deal.
Actually, it is just as well that Robbie was in charge, for none of them reacted in exactly the same way as their alternates so he had to improvise. With so many Cherinians of all species wanting to be present during these months it caused the Athenian officials some weird problems as they tried to work out why the center of the city is so severely overcrowded. We had to ban everyone from going to Ydra in their bodies.
I should have mentioned that before it began, Marian went to Cher’s parents. She spoke more openly than I had, told them a few truths about their relationship and asked the husband whether he is that selfish that he’ll stand in the way of true love for her. He was angered by her and walked out filled with bitterness. As he shared with us the coming together of Cherine and Robert he felt his Marian and saw how much she is loved and he changed, his bitterness a thing of the past only. To keep things nicely unbalanced he fell in love with a Cherinian woman who felt nothing for him (empathy does not make you love someone just because they love you) and for a while he was bitter again. His daughter by then was strong enough to take care of it herself.
Thanks in part to the exchanges of memories (a sort of imprinting?) the two new Cherines grew very close. We taught them how to jump to each others realities before we left.
“Aren’t you going to let our governments know we exist?”
“No, I’ve decided each new family deserve and need five years on their own, growing their Cherinian base solely by only those Cherine has linked. We’ll mess up your lives later.” What Robbie decided makes so much sense - and will lead to them also having a core of Cherinians they love and trust - that I don’t understand why we did not think of this before.
As a final gift, we helped them find their Maria in both realities, helped their healers create a new body for her and then, as a final gift to us, they formed their Kaleidoscope World. It seems that if we are present, Adam senses them so they matured very quickly while also strengthening all the Worlds of the Teller families.
Once we were back in Haven-R, Robbie checked the latest news.
“Can we give him two months?”
We arrived at the requested time and Simito instantly jumped to us. He came as a child so his love for Michael was shown more spontaneously. Once he’d calmed down, he became excited again, pleading with his friend for the two of them to take a walk in the wild country. Michael laughed as he agreed, looking forward to some time of innocent joy.
When they returned, Simito spent a day with his parents and then reverted to an adult. Robbie told him we will be spending a couple of weeks here and he should spend that time as an adult among his people.
The two weeks were nearly up when Michael whooped. Laughing from pure joy he asked Robbie to put off our departure. “Simito has met a girl he’s falling in love with.”
Two weeks later Simito asked whether he could bring her to Freddie. We agreed a time (that is very unusual for us, so he should have suspected) and were waiting for them when they arrived. Simito was just as surprised as his girl. In his honour, we’d all projected as Meéjeiran. We also wanted to see her through Meéjeiran eyes. We’ve seen and met numerous of their females so we appreciated her dainty beauty. We worried whether she would be strong enough to be his companion and sensed Michael planning to tell Simito he should not return with him. Cherine spent some time with her alone and told Michael to back off, she’s far stronger than she looks and will be exactly the love and wife Simito needs.
We explained to Simito that whether we wait here or in Haven-R makes no difference to us and he should take as long as he needs. Knowing we would be here for a while we relaxed and reverted to our normal schedules, enjoying a party at one of the ships or down on the planet now and then. At one of the parties, government officials told Robbie their ship has reported finding a new planet which interests them and it seems suitable for their species, so they are leaving to examine it from up close.
The deeper Simito loves Zwithinia, the less willingly he courts her. The thought of her going with him and being part of a way of life he considers destructive to the soul is anathema. Zwithinia is not a soul we created a body for. She was born on this planet and it is home to her. The thought of leaving it dismays her, as much as she is growing to love Simito.
“What is the custom Sim? Do you ask her to marry you or her parents?”
“Her. She will call for an Erbil to decide.”
“What is an Erbil, it did not translate.”
“When a female is asked to marry by a male known by the family for years, she alone makes the decision. Where he has only recently met her and is unknown, or she will have to leave the area, go to another city with him for instance, she calls for all who love her to a meeting. An Erbil includes, family, relatives, friends - anyone who loves her and will suffer due to her absence. They meet him as many times as they need to, are allowed to ask any questions they want to, however personal, and then advise her of their decision. It is not a final decision, that remains hers, but it is extremely rarely that a female will ignore the decision of her Erbil if they refuse the male.”
Robbie pulled a face. “If that had been true for us I’d still be single.”
Cherine quickly got rid of the pixie gleam in her eyes and tried to emote worry. “It sounds like a good system. Maybe we should adopt the same custom. Robert, why don’t we try it? We can have each of your wives call an Erbil to decide whether they should have married you. If their decision is negative we’ll have to annul the marriage. At least those who have a positive decision will stay married knowing it was the right thing to do.”
