“The days for needing that are gone. They are conscious of the need to come to some agreement with you so they’ll negotiate. I bet they’ll sleep a lot easier once you sign.”
“You need to ask? Are you giving them power over you also, like Robbie did?”
“I wasn’t thinking of going that far.” We chuckled, but I agreed with him, even if Robbie does not. They are not the same as us and there will be power struggles Michael has to survive.
“Michael, I foresee some new problems. When Campbell hears of your overtures to the UN he will want to cut the same kind of deal. I don’t think they’ll agree and he might take action against them.”
“Sam, we now are more than eighteen million.” Robbie whistled. “That’s just in this reality. He only has about three million altogether in all realities.”
“Even if he only had fifty, the power he represents ensures he would be seen as a threat by the Normals. I don’t blame them, for I feel the same.”
“What are you suggesting?”
I widened my eyes. “Me!? I was only pointing out potential problems. You are the leader of your people, you’ll have to find your own solutions.”
“I can find one solution that will solve a lot of problems for me.” I stared back, wondering what he meant. “What if I take your sliver and help it grow and then create a body for her? I’d have my own Samantha to give me answers.”
He saw how I paled, probably felt me too, for he quickly knelt before me, taking hold of my hands. “I was teasing mother.”
I paraphrased Cherine, “No Samantha if she is not for a Robert. Michael, promise me.”
I sensed his hidden amusement. “How can I mother? Must I then interfere if you split for Arthur?”
I pretended he was being serious. “Is that it? Are you jealous that I’m willing to do it for him but not for you? Don’t you see that Arthur is special?”
“I’m not jealous mother. When and if it happens I’ll envy him, but that is all.”
After what Michael told us, we became curious. Robbie set up a number of web sites. On the first and common one, we listed links for visitors to go to alphabetically, in other words, if their name starts with the letter ‘A’ they go to the first link. At the ‘A’ link there was a place for them to enter a number. If they are a family of Cherinians they enter the total of them as one entry. If their baby was born or is to be born as a Cherinian, they include it. If not, they do not until the child is linked. It should also give us an idea how many single Cherinians there are. It is useful to know, for they represent an immediate growth of families as they are not likely to marry a non-Cherinian. On each of the sites was a link to sites where they could watch a running total. We gave a warning that it is delayed by about twenty seconds as the registering sites have to pass on the information and with large numbers registering at the same time we expect some delay. It was intended only for Terran Cherinians of our reality.
“When did this happen! How could we have grown so fast without us sensing it!”
“We would have been close to fifty million if we hadn’t lost so many to the Ipohin.”
“Baby, I’m happy with what we are.” The government were not. They had not realised how quickly we are growing. We are but a drop in the ocean of humanity, but our numbers do indicate we are growing fast.
Cherine snuggled into Robbie as he held her tightly. “This is my best wedding present ever!”
Later, as all our friends came to visit and exult with us, Bruce said, “If all those who want to be Cherinians were linked we could count ourselves in the billions. Was Samantha right, can we allow it?”
Robbie shook his head. “No, even if it were safe, I would not want that. The Normals need time to adjust and we owe it to them.” During the next week, many Cherinians reported the linking of more people. After that it slowed down again, back to our normal rate of growth.
For a long time Sparklers did not have healers. With ‘bodies’ that never grow ill, they have no need for them. When Solomon, while in a body, was able to call forth a healer and he found it existed thereafter even while he is in the void as a Sparkler, the other Sparklers went to their World, took on bodies and called for their own healers. Solomon and hundreds of Thinkers sent their healers to work with ours and as they grew into the millions and then tens and then hundreds of millions, they began patrolling our planet. If they sensed a Normal was ill or had been hurt, they would heal the person or else call for another healer if they did not have the knowledge to heal that person. It has become known what their healers are doing and on the rare occasion a Normal is able to see a Sparkler, they are greeted with joy.
Many people can see auras, which means they see beyond the range most people can. In the past, if they’d seen a Sparkler they’d thought of it as some kind of energy. Now that they know they are seeing Sparklers, they do so with joy and pride in their abilities to see them.
‘Our’ Sparklers have now taught the Spartans and travelled to other realities, teaching the Sparklers there. They do not limit themselves to realities we have been to. Any reality they find Sparklers in they teach them about the Cherinians and help them develop their own Worlds and Solomons. Whatever planets of material beings, Terran or otherwise, those Sparklers find, they concentrate on healing. If they see the souls of the dead suffer in the void, they help ease their transition so that they will be reborn with more of their memories. Each Sparkler ‘nation’ has gone on to teach Sparklers of other realities.
We knew about Sparklers healing, but the rest they never mention to us. On the night before the wedding, they asked us to make a short visit to their World. We arrived to find tens of millions of Normals from all nations and realities, the media with their cameras recording our arrival and, as we arrived, so did all the Cherinians and Ipohin of our reality. We were surprised to sense that Campbell and his followers came also. Alien Cherinians of all the species and realities we know were there in large numbers. The skies were filled by maybe billions of kaleidoscope Worlds.
Our family were placed on a platform for all to see. Solomon stood there with us. He raised his arms.
He glowed brightly and suddenly the skies above us filled with hundreds of millions of Solomons. I can only presume the numbers as they could not be counted.
Before Solomon explained, Robbie had already fallen to his knees as tears ran down his cheeks, his arms about Cherine, squeezing the breath out of her. Their feelings of rapture spread to us as we understood.
Solomon explained what they had done and what was/is happening in countless realities already. It took everyone’s breath away and people of all species wept in a daze. Solomon waited for a semblance of calm to return before he spoke again.
“All Sparklers rejoice at your reaction, for it means we have done well and acted as true Cherinians. Now we need the help of all Cherinians or else what we all see as a blessing could grow into a curse.” There was instant silence, all eyes fixed on him.
“All Sparklers have stopped searching for new realities for we have realised that our zeal drove us into acting without wisdom. The species we are helping on hundreds of millions of planets do not know about Cherine. They do not understand why they no longer sicken and die. They have not adjusted their birth rates to suit the changes and longer life spans we have brought them. We need teams of Cherinians of all species to join us for explaining to them and pointing out the dangers if we are to continue helping them.”
This is a dream far grander than any human has ever dared dream and it is fitting that our beloved Sparklers are the ones who brought it about. I doubt that one human will sleep this night and reports are already coming in of governments declaring the next three days a public holiday. The streets are filled with people in every city and it looks like our entire planet is celebrating with street parties.
Since we are not able to find one person to help with the wedding arrangements, Robbie asked that we postpone our wedding. Unanimously, without needing to confer, we refused. We jumped to the wedding platform to do the work ourselves. As others sensed us they joined in and by noon we were ready. All our caterers had thought the news meant we would be postponing so we had to jump to other realities, jumping a few days back in time, we ordered the food and drinks and jumping forward we collected everything and delivered it. Hettie let the governments know and then informed the media so that our guests turn up on time.
Robbie finds the weirdest times for indulging his sense of humour!
The wedding started as before. Robbie frowned, smiled and walked over to Alki. As he walked back a mist enveloped him. He stood still, inhaling as everyone went into a panic and Cherinians prepared to defend themselves and those close to them. Robbie smiled.
“Ahh, that smells nice.” With his amusement making his eyes sparkle he returned to Cherines’ side and Alki continued with the ceremony. It might not have been suitable and would have caused a bit of a scandal but we were very, very tempted to jump pillows to us for throwing at him.
Although the media recorded the wedding and the satellites passed it on to the networks, we did not expect anyone to watch. By now most people were drunk and dancing wildly. It was a lovely surprise when we learnt that everyone stopped to watch. Robbie’s prank was very popular with the masses and they thought he was hilarious!
Robbie walked up and down as they took their seats in our conference center. Refreshments had been prepared and placed before them and, uniquely, there were ashtrays for everyone. Freddie had arranged an upward draft to prevent non-smokers having to smell any smoke.
“Thank you for coming.” He smiled at them “There have been times you have made me feel this old.” He changed to look ancient and wizened, white hair tumbling over his shoulders. “Then, something happens to make me feel like this.” He projected again to look like a ten year old boy with eyes wide in wonder and awe. He changed back.
“Haven’t these last few days been days of wonder! I feel like a miracle has happened. To tell you the truth, I did not expect anything like this for hundreds or maybe thousands of years.” He paced up and down, his eyes showing he was lost within himself. He was at the one end of the room when he suddenly looked at them. “I’ve heard it said that it was a triumph, a great moment for all Cherinians. I say it is more than that. I ask and hope that it is also a moment for Cherinians and Ipohin to share as one family.
We are human beings which means we will have our differences throughout the centuries. I hope so.” At last he’d managed to startle them. “How else can either of us grow? If we allow our differences to lead to discussions and debates, instead of arguments, as long as both groups hold to a dream and yearn for the day Cherine is not just the Light but takes us with her, why should either of us differ on anything that could lead to a split that turns us into enemies?”
He went to his seat, lit a cigarette and sipped some coffee. He looked up, startled. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot to ask, does anyone disagree?” Michael chuckled and he must have shared with his team his amusement at Robbie’s theatrics, for they all chuckled. “Does anyone have any suggestions to help ensure our future develops the way we want?”
For a moment nobody spoke. Robbie and Michael, all of us, sensed one of Michael’s men wanting to speak but feeling unsure of himself, almost trembling at the audacity of his concept. Michael sent to him that he should speak. He stood up.
“I do not know if Michael and my people will like my idea so it is only a suggestion.”
“I agree, that’s all I’m asking for.”
“What if you permanently resigned your position as leader of the Cherinians, handing over to Samantha? If both Samantha and Michael acknowledge you as president of both groups or whatever title you want, would that not be a good way of declaring the Ipohin part of the Cherinian family - as you called us?”
I felt Robbie, I felt them all and called out in despair, “I’m not ready!”
Michael came to my defence, “I agree with her.” He glanced at the man who’d made the proposal and he sat down. “I like the idea and I am willing to some such cooperation if the rest of you feel the same way. However, not Samantha, my mother is not ready. We must wait until she has been to the world of the He’sses to save Le’sase. Have you any suggestions father, some compromise that would be acceptable to all?”
I was so relieved and grateful that I blurted out, “Could Robert take on both positions? Would the Ipohin trust him?”
“We came into existence because of him mother.”
“If Robert arrives at a decision you do not like, would you trust me to argue on your behalf?”
Michael turned to his group. “Would you prefer we discuss it on our own?”
We switched off all recording instruments and left them. We only went as far as the main entrance of the treehouse to wait for them. It is higher than the land before it and I stared at our world, the mountains on the other side blurred and misty blue. Cherine touched my arm. “Should you place another burden on him?”
“He bears that burden already for as long as Michael is their leader.”
Her face lit up. “He does! I had not thought of that.” She rejoiced at what this meant for our son and hugged me. “Thank you.” Robbie looked on without commenting, but when I glanced at him he gave me a smile.
“We feel the decision is too important for us to take without consulting with all our people. They need to have the reasoning explained to them and then be given time to understand and decide.”
“I should do the same. Shall we meet when we return from our honeymoon?”
“No.” Cherine said. “I want Michael with us. Either we delay our departure or they wait for him to return before holding their meeting.”
Michael smiled. “They are capable of presenting the concept without me being present mother.”
She turned to the others. “Do you really want to do the explaining or would you rather Samantha does on our return?”
One of the men half bowed to her. “You are wise. We’ll wait.”
“You do not mind Michael coming with us?” Gilli asked.
He tried to be gallant. “If I had the opportunity to spend some time with such beautiful…girls, I would not willingly miss it.”
Meli giggled. “It is not often a son is present at the wedding of his parents. To be present at their honeymoon is even rarer.”
We moved to a restaurant near the top of the treehouse and with a magnificent view adding to the beauty of our surroundings we enjoyed a meal. It was also an opportunity for us to get to know each other in relaxed surroundings.
The Spartans have kept their World within Freddie. It does not cause a problem since it does not take up any space and every single Sparkler World could fit, if they wanted to be with us. Out of respect for the Spartans and in appreciation of them standing by us during our ‘exile’, no other Sparklers came with.
All who had been with in Haven-R were with us as we jumped to Goldi Planet. Before we go down, we are preparing for a party. With Goldi Planet on our screens, no other place would be as appropriate. Cherine thought of it, so I won’t be blamed this time.
Arthur, this day all of us and our closest friends have gathered to celebrate your existence. It is also in gratitude for all you have done for us. We love you.
Robbie and Cherine intended for all us wives to go with. We demanded they have some time on their own. We offered one month. Being on their own would not be the same if we stayed in Freddie sharing with them, so we deliberately asked Freddie, while they were still with us, to take us to visit the Eqkee. Since there is a secret desire in both of them for some time alone, they agreed when we allowed Vincent to stay with us.
We spent a few minutes transporting enough food, drinks and cigarettes to last them over a month. We joked about pretending to forget to take coffee for him and he pretended to scowl at us. We then sat together for our last meal before sending them off. Dommi stared at Maria as she brought out our food.
“Maria, are you telepathic?”
“I am not.”
“Can you sense our emoting?”
“No.”
Dommi thought for a moment. “Can you sense Roberto’s thoughts?”
“No, he enters my mind when he wishes, but I cannot enter his.”
“It is time we did our own cooking and there are a number of restaurants we can go to if we get tired of our cooking. Please go with Roberto and Cherine.” We heartily endorsed her idea, though we did wonder who would be cooking. Surprisingly Robbie did not resist us and took her with them when they left. We asked Freddie to take a day or two and as we travelled, he showed on the screens the ever changing holographic pictures of the galaxies.
Iona was excited and ran up the leg of the table and stopped before Ahnì and Michael, swaying as she stared at them. “Will you allow my father and I to show you our world outside the city?”
“We would be honoured. Is it as beautiful as you are?”
“I am not beautiful.” She giggled. “Some people think I am a toy because they think I am made of metal.”
She swivelled so as not to look at Candy through her side eyes and turned back to him. “My parents did not enjoy seeing me an adult. Yes, the same.” Candy glared at her for a moment and then gave a droll grin.
When we arrived, we first went with all the Eqkee to the void to reinforce their souls. Back in our bodies again we dressed as colourfully as we could and jumped to Çutima (the city). They have kept the plot of land empty for us, avoiding even running across it in case we arrive suddenly. We waited for Griqkdik and the other leaders.
“Welcome. It has been too long an absence of friends.”
“Has it been five years?”
“Yes. You planned it? Where are Robert and Cherine? Our Cherine, she is well?”
We answered their questions and explained our delay in returning was deliberate. We have affected their civilisation, as the plethora of satellites in orbit proved, and we wanted enough time to have passed for any problems we could help with to become apparent.
“Griqi, you have a new child?”
With pride he unstrapped her, placing her before him. “We think she will be a male. We have named her Robert, although we call her Robiqua while she is so young. Now we have our own Cherine and Robert!”
Ahnì sat on the ground and put out her hand. “Hello Robiqua, I am Ahnì, daughter of Kikibiqua. The male next to me is my husband and he is the son of our Robert. His name is Michael. We want to be your sister and brother. Would you like that?”
Too shy to reply, Robiqua scuttled backwards until she was under her fathers head. He stroked her gently, relaxing her. Iona started playing with her, running by Ahnì’s hand, each time a little bit closer. As Robiqua chased her, Iona veered at the last moment and clambered up her arm. Robiqua ran up behind her before she realised what she was doing. She froze, staring up at Ahnì. Iona coaxed her, calling to her that it is safe, until the two of them were sitting side by side on Ahnì’s shoulder. Ahnì asked Iona a question, she answered and as they talked she asked Robiqua whether she liked Iona and shyly she was answered. Soon after that, the three of them were happily engrossed in their conversation.
“Cintiqua, you are well?” I was pleased she’d come out to meet us. The others politely talked to each other so I drew her aside. “Griqkdik told us it is possible that Iona is the same as you. Those with us say she needs special schooling, but they cannot provide it. Can you help?”
“She would need to stay here for about five years. It is a slow process Samantha.”
“I’m not comfortable with the idea. We could leave her and her parents here, jump Freddie forward five years, that is not the problem. What I’m worried about is her soul. What if staying here longer than for days enables your planet soul to reattach to her?”
“What of our other young ones on Freddie? What education are they being given?”
“We have an inter-species school, they all attend it, including Iona.” I gave her more details.
“Could she spend a few days here for us to test her?”
A thought crossed my mind and I laughed. “I should warn you, in years lived, Iona is probably older than you are.” The shock she emoted almost made me giggle.
“Spend some time with her and decide if she is as smart as you?”
It was agreed they would stay for three days in a home the government would provide them. I suggested to Iona she spends her time with Cintiqua as an adult. She refused and when she explained I almost laughed again. She fears she may become as all adult females and concentrate only on finding herself a male. I can understand her wanting to stay daddy’s little girl.
They have developed a worldwide television network and when the other cities heard we have returned, they invited us to visit them. Any excuse would not have been politically correct (it’s okay, this kind I don’t mind), so we advised them we will all meet in one area in a weeks time. Vincent spent days with their scientists designing a platform (more like a bubble city) and finding a suitably flat area he placed the bubble on stilts so as not to damage the plants. Being aware that all plants are connected to the planet soul makes us nervous about destroying even one plant. Television equipment were transferred to each city so that the populations all over the world could participate - they arrived at an early stage and we are told people everywhere sat glued to their television sets as they showed us preparing the bubble for our guests.
We found out that only the major cities are connected to the satellites. We purchased from them equipment (we paid with paintings, those of the Muyzith and Jade, that are in great demand) and connected the smaller towns and cities.
We thought it only fair that the leaders of Çutima City be the hosts with the Muyzith as co-hosts. The Muyzith, during their original visit had been to a number of cities and were thought of as a very highly advanced species. All other city leaders plus Cherinians would be guests.
It is just as well Robbie was not with as every city had prepared a speech and we spent most of the day listening to them. This was one of the occasions when being telepaths was a boon. We were able to chat, tease each other and even play games (Robbie would have loved seeing us playing mental scrabble), while appearing totally immersed in what each speaker had to say.
After the speeches there was considerable excitement among the Eqkee leaders. Griqkdik rushed to us to give us the news they were so excited about. A small city that had only been connected for the first time, announced they have developed a liquid that can be applied to their bodies to prevent the spore that is fatal from attaching to their bodies and growing internally. The ingredients are difficult to find as some of them come from rare plants, but with food machines they can manufacture enough for everyone. The food machines have not been popular as it is almost easier for them to harvest food than to dig and transport soil and mulch. We asked the leaders to estimate how many extra machines they would need for us to order from the CherInguel.
Each city state has developed its own musical style and dances. All the Wendys, Candys, Coral and Lua were happy to stay until the party ended. How did Lua come? Meli contacted her Gillian father and he called her to Meli’s world. From there she piggybacked, visiting from within Coral. I could not understand why they were so excited about the dancing since, with two legs only, I could not see how it could teach them anything. I’ve been told to wait and see.
Cheqkee (she is married but has no child yet) told us confidentially that all the parties we have been to are nothing like their real parties. She explained that they had to slow themselves down as they’d feared our slow movements and reactions could have caused accidents, hurting us.
Over breakfast next morning, Diana wondered aloud, “Isn’t it strange that the new discovery came out of a small and isolated city? It must be an experience to travel to a number of their cities. Imagine, each one developing their own technology, depending only on themselves! Could it be the medication is something like our natural medicines? Maybe they all had something like it, but forgot as the bigger cities developed sophisticated technology. No, that can’t be right, the small towns don’t have it.
“Do you think the information we’ve sent to their data banks about our history could affect them? What if they like our ideas on democracy and they try to change? Could having opposition parties lead to violence?”
“You don’t approve of democracy Tina?”
“I do, for us. Maybe even not for us if we find a good way of governing ourselves, with every individual accepting responsibility. If we could have an ideal government, it might work.”
Claudia disagreed. “Solace, we might develop the theory of an ideal government but it is impossible to find ideal people to run it. We have to keep on evolving balances and counter-balances, checks and counter-checks all the time, otherwise, even if we start off with some ideal state, we’ll soon drift away from it.”
Just thought I’d enter a small sample of how we sometimes talk. It is rare to have Diana initiate such a conversation, so it was sort of special for us.
“Have you had any successes at contacting your soul?”
“None. We ourselves are blind to it so we think it may only be possible through the assistance of outsiders.”
“We’ll do all we can. You have a gift that is a mystery to us and we envy you for it. Our scientists have been intrigued by your ability to vibrate yourselves through matter. Your people in Freddie volunteered to take part in a number of experiments. This led to an important discovery, we found out that you have two bodies. One made of matter and another made of energy. All species do, we can sometimes see ours as lights of differing colours, which we call an aura, but we cannot consciously manipulate them in the same way you can. It caused some amusement when our scientists told your people and they confirmed that they are aware of their energy body. This led to perhaps the most important development in understanding inter-species differences.
There are certain aspects to many species that differ from most other species, but because they are taken for granted, they are never mentioned. We are busy creating a ‘map’ of each species so as to make it easier to identify our differences. Perhaps it will facilitate our discovering why we are so different in many ways and help all species grow in awareness and abilities. Just as important is understanding why we are so similar in physiological and psychic ways.”
“You have discovered other ways in which we differ - apart from the obvious physiological differences?”
“Some that we can see and guess at the reasons, and others that we cannot. For instance, your ability to move at the speed you do. How are your nerves, if that is what your body has, able to transmit information so quickly? How are your muscles, again, if that is what you have, able to move at such a high speed? What about your eyes, with thousands of you rushing through your city, we’ve never seen any of you collide. You are able to see others running at high speed even while you are doing the same. That is staggering to us, for we cannot.”
“It is not our eyes, though I suspect ours are more efficient, our energy body is capable of sensing other energy bodies that are vibrating at high speed. Would your maps be made available to all species?”
“Of course, that is the purpose of it being created.”
“She is a ‘genius’?”
She showed her amusement. “High intelligence is required, but it is not enough by itself. A female must also have a keen interest in learning. That is what makes us unusual Allan. At the age of change, when the child becomes a full female, there are varying degrees of change in their ability or interest in abstract matters not related to being female. A good example is Cheqkee, thanks to having a father who is a scientist and his continual effort to stimulate her curiosity since she was an infant, she is almost the same as me but, she is not a ‘genius’. She has a wider range of interests and is more curious, but her central interests are now typical of most females. We have hopes that Iona will be more like me than Cheqkee.”
I had a hunch. “Why don’t you also examine her friend Sumçia?”
They did and she was a shock to them, turning their self-knowledge topsy-turvy. She is closer to being as Iona is than to Cheqkee. Their cultural bias of treating females in a different way is obviously partly responsible for their females being as they are. The question, for them, is, do they change their methods of education? Would it make their females happier? Would it make their males happier? As Cintiqua pointed out, she has no male and is unlikely to ever attract one. We had a meeting back in Freddie and decided we would not try to influence them one way or another, but the Eqkee children in Freddie will continue to be educated in the same way. If we see none of the future adult females can attract a male, we might even have to change that rule - if it is possible to do so for Cherinian Eqkee females.
Vincent returned from the future with hundreds of millions of new food machines. The basic units are much smaller than the normal version and only synthesise the liquid that protects from spores but the extension that sprays the liquid over their bodies takes up more space. We distributed them to all the cities and towns and we saw another example of how their logic seems to lead them all to the same conclusions. Instead of giving everyone a copy of the machine, they have been installed everywhere in their cities with a few kept free for those who leave the cities to collect certain plants or their extracts. Each fixed machine has a bin with matter in a box by it. They employ persons with the sole duty of ensuring the boxes are always full.
The area reserved for Eqkee in Freddie has space for a much larger population and we have only kept them at such a small number because of the food problems. The Unation scientists have improved our food machines so we offered to take another five hundred families. We prepared ourselves for the suffering and freed our new guests. It was worth it, for at least the children will have a large enough variety of their own species for them to grow up healthy (psychologically).
The Eqkee have a great love for stories, so when we were told that they had produced a story of our arrival and the great love of Allan (Kikibiqua) for Iona, we had to stay to watch it. Freddie was not the only one who recorded it and I’m certain Allan will be embarrassed by seeing it shown on hundreds of worlds. Since it included the arrival of ‘bodiless’ Cherine and her astronauts and ended with our departure after taking Iona and her parents to Freddie, we decided it might be a nice gesture to take a copy to Cherine - while also giving it to their media so that all the world can see how desperately and lovingly the Eqkee strove to save their lives. The Anadir offered to translate it into English, the local media studios should be able to translate into all the other Terran languages.
“We have decided that Iona and her friend would benefit by further training. A period of two years should suffice, is it possible?”
“Are there teachers who are especially trained to help her or is it a general education, including scientists and other people?”
“Mostly teachers, although others play a part.”
