“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.”
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6581
“Would it be acceptable and possible for you to train teachers who would travel with us? We feel it might be an advantage for all female children travelling with us, or born in Freddie to study with them. We will pay the costs.”
They presented a number of teachers who wished to travel with us, we chose eight of them plus their families and closest friends, making a total of fifty four. We promised to return in two years time for them. They held parties for us and then we left for the Earth of ‘bodiless’ Cherine.
We guessed the governments would not be too happy to see us again and they did not disappoint us. They politely invited us, held receptions, interviewed us on television and so on, but without any enthusiasm. I’m not saying they did not make a show of welcoming us, but they do not know how to mute their emoting. They were surprised (so were the local Cherinians) to hear that our Robbie and Cherine are not with us. We only told them we’ve left the two of them alone to enjoy their honeymoon. It was fun watching their comments as their ‘experts’ analysed the situation.
We ignored protocol and presented the tapes made by the Eqkee, giving enough of a synopsis to excite the public. They showed it and from the comments, and the reaction of the public, it sounded to us like they are starting to consider the Eqkee as their best friends - in a condescending way, for after all, the poor things don’t have a soul! I still find it hard to believe how stupid people can be. Intelligent people did remind them that they do have souls, but the answer was, yes, but it is not theirs, as ours are. ‘God loves us more, that is why he gave each of us a soul’, was implied and even directly said by some religions.
The governments have set aside Kefalari for their Cherinians, the only members of the public allowed there are the tradesmen and shop owners. The rest are sent by various intelligence agencies. Cherine kidded around, making jokes about what an international flavour it gave. Their Samantha claimed that since spy agencies are called ‘intelligence’ it means they are surrounded by the highest concentration of intelligence in the world.
We invited our alts to Freddie and it was as if a weight had been taken off their souls. They were just like children in their enthusiasms and joy at not having to bear the fear and suspicions of the Normals for a while.
“How many Cherinians since we left?”
“We are about one hundred and sixty thousand.”
“That’s not bad!”
“We would have been more, but when we returned from your anniversary and they learnt that your Robert killed four children, we became mutant monsters again.”
“You have not corrected them?”
“We tried, but they don’t want to listen.”
“What if we invited the leaders to our reality?”
“I don’t think they are willing to risk a visit to Freddie, never mind going anywhere with us.”
Cassie offered her sort of idea, “Why don’t we leave Robert and Cherine here, go on to other realities and collect all the Teller families without their Robert and Cherine and go on to explore some new species. We can have our adventures while they concentrate on each other.” It was funny sensing how Jade for once was not amused by Cassie while we all were. She felt uneasy at the idea of so many Roberts being alone…
6582
“Robert, offer to bring the leaders from our reality. It would have been better if they’d come to our reality because we are popular at the moment but, even the reverse should go a long way towards mending fences. The other alternative is that we first go back to collect our Robert and Cherine, for him to deal with your problems.”
The whole family pretended horror at the idea of our Robbie interfering again - a pity we don’t feel comfortable enough with them to throw pillows. While their governments feverishly prepared for their alternates (they asked us to give them at least two weeks) we departed.
We asked the leaders of our governments to come with us to meet their counterparts of another Earth. Luckily we have whole villages of empty houses, for each of them wanted their families plus an entourage of security personnel, generals, ministers and so forth to come with. We balked at requests for us to transport official vehicles, horses for their honour guards and so on.
Everyone demanded I speak, even Hettie and Eddie not happy with what I had to admit.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for responding so promptly and positively. It is now my job to warn you we bought you along on false pretences.” I grinned at them. “We need you to mend some fences, they think our Robert is a monster.” I had Freddie show on his screens our previous visit in Cyprus and Kenya. There were a lot of chuckles and some of them outright laughed aloud.
Bruce, I think, won their hearts when he called out, “I think it is the duty of my erstwhile colleagues to warn them that Robert is not the one they should be worried about. It is only fair they learn to beware of you Samantha.” Chung loudly and most wholeheartedly seconded him.
We asked Freddie to take a couple of days to arrive as we were enjoying ourselves - we have never felt them so friendly and in such good humour. It was worth being teased just to feel them.
It had been arranged that each politician with his group be delivered at ten in the morning at whichever area the local governments designated within their capital city. We were to leave them there for three days and then both groups, locals and guests, would be transported to their United Nations.
While the entire world was swept up by excitement, we kept a low profile. Local Cherinians informed their Robert and Cherine that they were being inundated by requests to be linked. I do not know of any other species that makes such life-changing decisions on the spur of the moment, almost on a whim because of momentary public opinion.
Samantha came to my apartment as I was writing the above. She waited until I got us a cold drink. She was nervous so I smiled. “The best way is avoid the chitchat and plunge straight in.”
“I want us to share memories.” That seemed reasonable so I nodded. “Before you say yes, I think you should understand why. You split yourself for me and I still feel you are my prime. I can’t help feeling that way because I am incomplete, full of blank holes where there should be memories. Because of them, as I acquire new memories, I sense a growing apart. I don’t want that.
I know you have some personal memories, as I do, but there are other memories that only belong to you because you are part of prime Roberts’ family and they must be kept secret. Even if you take all those memories out, sharing the rest will help us grow closer while still remaining individuals.”
“Have you contacted your Le’sase?”
She asked me, “No. Did you split him also?”
“I was wondering about that.” We checked and it turned out that her suspicions had been justified. I had not split Le’sase when I’d split off part of my soul and personality - although, he probably exists in the holographic cells of her mind. If I’m right, it does not mean he exists as part of her soul and she can never access him.
“Will you?”
6583
“No, not Le’sase. Sam, if I did, he would be condemned to spending all eternity apart from his original self. As you know, we do intend healing his body and sending him back to living his own life.”
She accepted it, but I felt her sadness. “Is that why all Samanthas feel the same way I do?”
“What…what if I asked him to share his memories with you? Would that help?”
“That would be fairer than splitting him. Will you teach me how to find my own Hesina?”
“Hmm, another Samantha with a sense of humour? Is that wise?” She laughed and threw herself into my arms. I caressed her face, delighted that she is prettier than I am. “Before deciding about doing this with all Samanthas, let’s try it with just you. If it helps bring us closer, I’ll do it with all of them. I also want to feel closer to all of you.” I laughed. “There is one I cannot do it with. It is a pity.”
“Samuel?” She giggled. “I bet his wives wouldn’t thank you if you did.”
I shot back at her, making her laugh. “Will yours?”
We all welcomed Samantha to our bed with light kisses and hugs. Once she had relaxed we lay side by side and we opened our minds to each other.
Gina: My mother feels strange to us this morning. Not as a non-Samantha, perhaps a more concentrated and purer Samantha would be truer. We have spent hours trying to analyse what we think has changed. We decided, after Rosie pointed it out, that sharing has helped soothe away a lot of her hurts. She feels as if she has taken the same path as Cherine and is on her way to becoming The Light.
Gina frightened me - I can sense I am more relaxed, happier…but not the Light!
She was emoting her delight, as Hettie insisted, “You’ll have to do it Samantha, they asked for you.”
“I still think we should first bring back Robert and Cherine. He should give the speech - not me.” I was just being petty when I added, “You’re hoping I’ll fall flat on my face.”
Hettie is not the kind to whimper and cry, but I sensed a sadness come over her. “You still see me as Doris. How long Samantha, will it take another century for you to forget and forgive?”
I felt crummy, for there was a tiny element of truth in her accusation. “I will never forget! I’ve forgiven a long time ago, but I must never forget. None of us must ever forget, not even you. Hettie, how can we appreciate the person you are now, if we forget.” I could feel I’d hurt her, though I’d intended saying something nice. “Is the wonder of Sharipya not magical because we recall Noname? Aren’t the Inguel doubly precious because they started off as hostile to us? Hettie, we each have a corner of our souls that is a Doris. Knowing that becoming a Cherinian is possible despite that part of me makes it awesome. Without it I would be just a mutant with certain abilities and gifts or an angel - and probably very boring. Hettie, I’m saying I treasure what you are because of all of you, not just the sweet looking girl you are now. I was just being nasty because I’m afraid. I’m sorry.”
We hugged and I whispered by her ear, “It’s time for his soul. Have you arranged anything?”
“What kind of message would that be for our children Sam? It must come from our reality but otherwise we take our chances - all souls are equal when they are about to start a new life.”
6584
“See? I told you you’re special.”
Actually, that was the reason Bruce had suggested they ask me to make the speech. Eddie knows that as a Cherinian nothing can go wrong with her pregnancy, but he is a bundle of nerves. I guess after waiting three hundred years it is only natural. That was why it was nasty of me to blame Hettie, she was already feeling guilty at not doing what she considered her duty. Because Robbie is not present she feels even worse, as if she is letting him down. What I do not understand is why they demanded I go as a twelve year old. Bruce was grinning when he told me they want me to go as a butterfly. I wonder if he’ll still think it funny if I do go as a giant butterfly.
I pulled a face and shook my head. “I could swear I’m seeing double! Must be the pancakes I had for breakfast.” I’d asked the Spartans to monitor the public watching the broadcast. They let me know I’d amused them, their hostility relaxing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, when we first arrived here we discovered a number of differences that made this reality special. Your Cherine had not kept her gift a secret and though she had spent years being studied, she was not treated as a monster and when you sent your first ships into space you had the foresight to include her as crew.
This is the reality Arthur brought us to. This is the reality where he created a planet just for us, deliberately designed in honour of our most special Goldi. Here it was that we found the girl he actually saw in a dream. In this reality we met three wonderful species. In this reality the lives of each counterpart of those who’d suffered before becoming part of our family, their suffering was just that little bit more gentle. This to us is a beautiful reality.
Our Robert has often said he wants all realities to draw closer. He wants the differences between the peoples of all Earths to be cultural, resulting in new ideas, songs, poetry and art. He hopes we manage to preserve those differences while we grow as we learn how others think.
As a Cherinian and a girl, my dreams are simpler. All I ask for is the growth of our dream, countless realities filled with Cherinians who love all life. My dream is impossible, you too will have your Ipohin. It matters less than I’d thought, I too am being forced to grow so that I can include them within my dream.
The leaders of my Earth have asked me to extend an invitation to all your governments. Please return with us to our Earth to meet the government leaders of many other realities so that your input can help bring all Earths and their people closer. Meet our alien friends so that you can invite them to come to you and become your brothers and sisters, as they are for many of our worlds.”
Back in Freddie they all teased me, claiming I’d talked like a politician. What did they expect me to say?
We had to wait for the politicians to put their affairs in order, but we are now on our way to collect our Robbie and Cherine. We may be eager to see how the Normals react to Goldi’s Planet, but we are dying to have our bride and bridegroom back with us.
We warned Robbie about the politicians with us and he drawled, his voice amused, *Come on down.*
*We have a lot of guests, perhaps you should first come up to greet them?*
*Nope, we’re on our honeymoon. Bring them down.*
6585
We first took them to the hall, where Robbie and Cherine greeted them. While he talked to them, a few of us visited the surrounding buildings and houses. We found that there are enough bedrooms to allow them to spend the night on planet.
We let them walk around the town, explaining they are welcome to walk into any building. As the afternoon turned to dusk we jumped them to the taverna by the lake where Maria was busy preparing a meal. We could sense they were shaken by the proof of Arthur existing, but are also in love with the planet. As it grew dark we did not put on any lights. As soon as the moons became visible they understood why and we had to call them back to their tables a couple of times.
I realised something that night, that I’d lived through but never analysed. On our world, when we see nature displaying herself at her best, the beauty can be overwhelming, a religious experience. It is not the same when an extraordinary beauty is seen outside the environment we evolved in. To see our mother Earth from the moon is not just a beautiful sight. The fact of our being outside our environment, outside of what we should be capable of seeing adds something to the experience that touches us in usual ways, but with a sense of emotional strangeness added to it. Seeing an extreme of beauty in space or on a different planet, there is an extra eerie spookiness, for this beauty does not belong to us, our senses did not evolve for it. The beauty we see and the emotional effects do not fade away, they return in dreams and at odd moments of deep reflection, perhaps it is in this way that our minds make what we experienced a part of what is normal for us. Robbie says that such moments are humbling to the best artists. It probably explains why I’ve never seen him rush to capture such moments on canvas.
Robbie was not in a hurry to leave and since we felt that our guests were in love with the planet, we took our time. We needed this time so that the loving of our Cherine by all of us would feel like an extension of her honeymoon for her. We also have learnt to treasure the beauty of childhood like Robbie does, but what touches us more deeply is feeling how happiness has reverted her back to a child inside. (I’ll risk Arthur’s comments again; I’ve never seen an adult be childishly happy in the sophisticated cultures, only in those who live closer to mother Earth.)
We lay on our bed, arms and legs intertwined, our love flowing among us without needing Cherine to boost it in the slightest. “If I were Arthur, do you know what I would do?”
I mock frowned. “This better be good Jade.”
“I’d fill a valley with parrot flowers.”
I had a good laugh and then I hugged her. “Thanks love, you saved me.”
“What do you mean?”
“If he’d thought of it first, that is what he would have done to pay me back for tricking him. Now he can’t because he’d just be stealing your idea.”
“Uhm, I should have kept quiet!”
Robbie told Freddie to take a week to get home. The political leaders have been affected by their sojourn on Goldi’s Planet and Freddie. They are talking to each other, negotiating in the spirit of cooperation and changes for the good will result. One of them from our reality asked to speak to Robbie confidentially.
6586
“It is time my people join the rest of the world. We need your help. There are too many private armies with sophisticated weapons, every druglord ruling the land and towns in his district. We need to unify our country and stop the druglords from ruling us through terror. Will you protect our soldiers if we attack them and destroy their crops?”
“You are asking us to protect your soldiers while allowing them to kill? I regret we cannot. If you trust us, we have another way.”
“You wish to make them Cherinians?”
Robbie shuddered. “That is not possible. I want you to declare your country free of guns and change the purpose of having an army. Scrap all your weapons, missiles, military vehicles and aircraft that cannot be used for peaceful purposes. For instance, keep your military helicopters, but remove all weapons and use them for helping civilians during emergencies. Rename your army and teach them how to help the people and rebuild your nation.”
“They will slaughter our people and even attack our parliament!”
“I did ask that you trust us.”
He fought his own demons - his way of thinking from childhood. “Please explain.”
“Your druglords have lost their income, they have no crops for you to destroy. Food machines are being used by addicts to produce the drugs they need. Surely that explains why they are trying to carve out their own little empires?” He nodded. “Do as I asked and have your parliament ask the Cherinians to assist you in ridding you of all weapons. We’ll assume you did mean all.” He smiled when he finally understood what Robbie was implying. “That includes your police force. We’ll provide them with stunners for crime prevention and control, but they do not kill or cripple people.
We will round up all private armies, placing them in camps for you. It will be up to your government to provide them all with employment. The ADFI will invest in your country to assist you in building homes for all your people. Change your tax structure so that any family that controls the number of children they have to one or two are rewarded - adjust it according to your needs, we do not want any people to become extinct. Hettie will sit with you to work out the details. If you have the courage to transform your country so that, from the extreme of daily violence and death you become the first country on our planet to reject violence in all forms, we will do all we can to help.”
He looked as if he was lost in a dream. He shook his head. “If I ask that of my government I will be overthrown.”
“We would not send you empty handed. Bruce will also talk to other leaders so that the wealthier countries encourage your people with financial and trade assistance.”
Within two days we had another seventeen smaller or poorer countries offering to do the same, if we provided similar incentives. Then Michael offered to do the same with their federation if we undertook to provide the same financial help - taking over all the social programs that were draining the Ipohin. It was fun watching Robbie haggle with Michael. They came to the agreement that the UN cover forty percent, the ADFI thirty percent and the Ipohin the remaining thirty.
Robbie insisted that the leader who’d first approached him be the first to announce the changes with everyone else making similar announcements a day later.
The leaders of the alternate Earth were not the only ones astonished by the casual way such important agreements were negotiated. Cher and Robert with their families were amazed that our governments trust us to such an extent.
We decided to have a three-day celebration. For the first evening, it was planned for Wendy and Candy to sing for us; the next night we had a party and we were pleased when everyone announced they’d enjoyed listening to our singers more than the party. The last night, performances were given by other species. The Akiards also put on a show and we sensed how terrifying the Normals found them. Cherine and Robbie joined them at the conclusion of their mock hunt and Robbie spoke of their beliefs and Cherine filled them with love as she declared them once again her Warriors of Love.
6587
Back on Earth, everyone was delivered to their homes and we moved to our home in Athens. We were not there ten minutes when Robbie said he wants to go to Kefalari for a coffee. Cherine asked if we could go to Kolonaki Square instead. We all joined them, only Michael and his family jumping to meet his followers.
Despite the changes (for the worse) it was obvious Cherine was on a memory trip. She ordered mini chocolate eclairs and sat on Robbie’s lap as she ate them, messing both their clothes. To us it really felt as if our Cherine were only eight years old. After eating a snack we suggested to our alternates that we take them for a walk. We agreed to meet Robbie in Plaka later on and walked off.
“Your Athens is very different from ours.”
“I sometimes miss the old Athens, but I like the way they’ve pulled down so many buildings and turned those blocks into parks. It’s also wonderful walking around without the heavy traffic. They say that Athens is truly the only international city. Look at the names of the shops, you’ll see Albanian, Chinese, Arabic, French, Italian - even African names. Because of the lax immigration laws many people from non-European countries found it an easy way to become part of the EU.”
“What about the Greeks? How do they feel about it?”
“They bitch and moan, but because the number of foreigners allowed to live in Greece has been strictly controlled - especially after Arthur told us what is happening in his reality, they are enjoying the booming economy. Those who have made Greece their home are under seventy thousand and they are trying to integrate. They are not likely to fully do so, but in that way they will contribute in tiny ways, helping our Greek culture to continue evolving, without changing it drastically, as the extremist islamists and the Cabal had hoped…before we Cherinians announced ourselves.”
“What about the Cherinian Embassy?”
“Are you asking whether they bitch and moan about that? Tell me one thing they could not find reasons to view in a negative light. The thinking Greek appreciates having us here and all of them are proud we chose their country, but they still find much to complain about. Some of it is useful, pointing out to us adverse affects we have on them, so we encourage it.”
“Aganthi, what about the beggars? I don’t see any.”
“You won’t, not in central Athens anymore. After the girls did a telling, showing how I was found, the government clamped down on them. You’ll only find them in suburbs now and most of the kids are either gypsies or else Greek.”
“Yes, the tsinganni (gypsies) will never change. Are any of them Cherinians?”
“Not from here, there might be in England or other countries.”
It set me thinking. Gypsy Cherinians, what would they be like? I decided they would be Ipohin. Their culture is too ingrained for them to make the leap in one step. As most people do, I see them in a romantic light while, in day to day reality, I see them as a problem. Perhaps both pictures I have of them are skewed, I think I’ll take the time to get to know some of them. Seeing they originated from North India, I wonder whether they brought some of their customs from there. By the way, I do prefer their own name for themselves: The Romani or Rommany.
We took a fairly long way around and ended up by the markets. At the meat market we found a tiny shop and bought a concoction made of pulped fruit and crushed ice. I found an old shop that sold honeycomb from Bulgaria. I tasted it and bought two kilos for Robbie. From there we walked up the hill to Plaka.
6588
“Whatever happened to our hobo professor?” Hmm, we really are on a memory trip.
“He wrote a number of books and then retired to a village. I think there is a new book of his coming out soon.”
“I wonder whether he stayed a Cherinian or became an Ipohin.”
“Really Robert! How could he ever be an Ipohin.”
He sat back with eyes half closed, enjoying feeling Cherine as she played with the hairs on his arms. She caught us all by surprise. “When are you leaving us?”
He sat up. “What do you mean?”
“You have two trips to the future to make. I know that none of us can come with you.” She giggled. “I bet your future self is going to be pissed off with you. He thinks he knows more than you and won’t want to listen.”
“I think you are wrong. I bet he is unhappy and wants Dimitri back.”
“Won’t your knowledge of what happened change the future?”
“No. I intend having all memories erased when I return.”
“Damn!” He smiled at me. “Arthur will be upset if I don’t write about it.”
“Then he’ll just have to be upset - unless he’s satisfied by me writing. After he has written, I’ll delete from our side, clean up the hidden stuff and then have my memories erased.”
The above conversation did serve a purpose. We realised we have to block our memories from now or else Dimitri will pick them up, in the way foetuses do. We had to ask Cher to stay to erase the memories in all of us as soon as Robbie returns. It means she will have to be here so it means Robbie has to leave now, not later as he’d been planning. He had wanted to stay to enjoy the way Cherine feels - he is afraid she will have changed by the time he returns. I don’t see why, all he has to do is time his return so that he is only absent for minutes.
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6590
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 25th April, 2020
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 10, use this link button to open the LC Book Index: