Sebura warned her, “They will ask questions. They have tried to be polite, but they are still men who watch for their women and children.”
“You may tell them I will talk tomorrow. I will have a story to tell, I wonder how they will react to it.”
“I am Tatio, born in a village to the north of our lands, there were the rains fall, the land is rich with animals and the men are giants. When I was a boy of ten years, the soldiers came, called our fathers and mothers traitors because they had friends of the people who are not Feshidi and they killed or took them as slaves. I was taken to grow as a soldier of the elephant bull, Klerisanamome.
I am as my father and his father was, big and strong. My fist is strong enough to break the back of a zebra with one blow. I can shoot an arrow into the eye of a hawk that flies so high that you cannot see it. In battle, with one sweep of my sword I cut two men in half. In the taverns the men kept their women away for fear they could not satisfy them after they had seen me.” Tatio pranced, his feet hitting the ground with a thud, emphasising his words, just as any warrior would when boasting of his prowess. “For all my years I was sent into the fiercest battles, for the chiefs said I was as one hundred men. I killed so many their blood would fill a lake.
Then a change came. The Fanged One died and a new spirit came to the Feshidi, the one you call Samantha. Our Klerisanamome was killed for killing the high priest and a new chief took over. He sends his men to build houses for the poor. He has them hunt to feed the hungry. No longer is a soldier a warrior.
In the city, working in a tavern was a woman who for small favours gave me many pleasures without asking to be mate and mother of children I do not want. What does a soldier want children for? It is his duty to die in battle, children need soft men who live in cities and villages.” He held his arms up, showing his big hands. “One day, the woman lay next to me while I drank a potent brew to grow strong again, for there were many hours of the night still left to us. She picked up my hand and looking at it she asked me, ‘What is your hand made for Tatio? So big and strong, is it only for killing or is it for loving and building?’ I was angered, for I saw she no longer was a woman of the Fanged One, she had given herself to the white demon. I never returned to her and I know that she weeps for what she has lost.
Women! When they are born, their tongues should be cut out, for they ask questions that eat like worms into our heads. Every time I looked at my hands I heard her question. One day I heard that the white demon is building a place for teaching the Feshidi how to love! I was angered. What love! She had stolen the woman who had pleased me, taken the pride out of my calling and now she wants to teach us about love! Aiee, that is not to be born quietly like the heavy rains and winds. I went to where the land was being cleared, to destroy what she builds. I held my sword in my hands and stood like a fool. What was I to do? There were no men there, only women and children.
I saw a white demon, but I was told it was not Samantha. This one had a head of hair like a dark cloud and she looked fierce and proud with eyes green like a wild cat. She came to stand before me and ordered me, ‘Soldier, cut me’. I would not, but she insisted I use the point of my sword. Her blood, red like ours, flowed out. She held her arm to me. ‘Soldier, now drink it’. I could not move as she put her arm to my lips. ‘Soldier, is that how you would die, with the taste of blood on your lips? Can you not find a reason for living that honours your father and his fathers?’ She told me about this place, about men who search for a new reason for living. I came.”
Sebura’s mind was reeling. He could not believe what he was hearing. He walked off to think by himself to find the reason Samantha had spoken this way. He could not understand why hearing her had depressed him.
The days went by with Tatio quietly working and sitting among the men and women without talking, only listening as they talked of things they had learnt that day at the centre, of a herd of deer they had found and where the river holds the most fish.
A man with his companion sat next to Tatio. Tatio asked him, “You do not fight? How does your woman know you are a man if you will not battle for her?”
“Samantha does not teach we must not fight to protect ourselves and those we love. But I will not fight to take what is yours.”
“As I told you, you must fight.”
“And if the village close to us come at night to steal our food? Do I fight?”
“I think so. If you do not, your family will die from hunger.”
“Then why should I not fight as a soldier. Either I am not allowed to kill or I am. There is always a reason.”
With Tatio arguing against everything they’d been taught by Samantha and her teachers, they stayed by the fire till very late, everyone determined to show him he was wrong, but not finding the right words. When Sebura saw that Siletu joined the argument, he kept quiet but he listened. Over the next two days Tatio had antagonised all the men and their frustration was building up tempers. Then they heard that Efineh had arrived. They rushed to ask her to help them. She joined them that night.
Sebura’s friends tried to convince him to stay away, but he was too proud to. He also was curious as to how things would develop with Samantha. He soon realised that Efineh does not know who Tatio really is.
“I am told you have many questions. May I try to help you find some of the answers?”
“You are a priestess of Samantha the white demon?”
“Not a priestess, we are not a religion. We do not believe there is a god you must worship. You may believe in any god you wish, as long as you understand that you too are a god, just as every other man, woman and child is.”
“Then you speak Samantha’s words for her?”
“Some words are the same for we believe in the same things, but most of my words are mine.”
“Then you are equal to Samantha?”
“She would be the first to tell you that we all are.”
Tatio demanded, “Why are you not white like her?”
“I am of the people from the nearest village to us.”
“Still, if you are as Samantha, if you may speak her words and change them as you wish, surely she should have made you white like her? Is that not a sign that she is special?”
Efineh gently smiled, “No, the only thing that is special about her is her heart.”
“That is easily lost to a sword or spear. You ask that all live according to something any strong arm can kill?”
Tatio played with words and double meanings, twisting everything Efineh said until she was able to empathise with those who’d asked for her help. Desperately she wondered whether she could contact Samantha to answer the questions the next day. She stood up.
Tatio came to his feet. “If you speak the truth then why do you leave? Is it that you only wish to teach those who are like children and ask no questions that trouble you? If you speak words for them, but not for men like me and him (he pointed at Sebura), then your words are worth nothing.”
“Sleep well then child of Samantha.” He turned and walked away. She stood staring at his retreating back and then became conscious of Sebura staring at her with a half smile. She wished them all a good nights sleep and jumped back to Irfan. She kept him awake until morning as they discussed what had been said. Irfan was amused, which annoyed her, for he could see that Efineh was being played with.
“You know how Robert loves to play with words. Are you certain this Tatio is not actually Robert?”
“Then I must not call for Samantha to help me.” She stomped her foot. “I’ll make him pay!”
He laughed. “What if it is Cassie?”
“Stop it! Next thing I know you’ll ask what if it is Samantha!”
“I would not be surprised.”
She shook her head. “Not with Sebura there, she would not do that to me.”
Sebura was not getting any sleep either. His two friends were also arguing, Siletu more and more taking Efineh’s side. Since Zigasse was not equal to besting Siletu, Sebura joined in ridiculing the arguments made by Efineh.
“Zigasse, you have told us you were brought back from the place of the dead, how can you be so blind!”
He shrugged. “No man knows the powers of demons. Our ancestors told us that they are trickier than men so how do we know Samantha truly is a good demon?”
“Sebura knows, he knows she is not a demon.”
Sebura laughed. “All females are demons.”
“Why did you give your life to try and save her then?”
“It was as if the two of us were riders, she was a comrade, whether I liked her or not, a rider does not desert another.”
Samantha had not blocked herself, allowing Freddie to show on the screens what she had been doing and the arguments put forth. For that reason there were no visitors from Freddie for those days. Her arguments provoked them into debates that only stopped to listen to what was said below.
“Have I argued well Sebura?”
“I’ll never understand you. Why have you done this to Efineh, you said you love her.”
“Are there no keen minds on this world to argue with her? It is good that she learns how to learn from those who argue with her. I would love to see you teach her also.”
“I have many questions I must answer first.”
“Do not take too long, I miss having you around to challenge me. I’m leaving now, do not show Efineh you know who I really am. Tell her that Tatio said he that if he had a sword with him, he would have laid it across her lap. She’ll understand.” She nimbly swung her leg over the horse and galloped away.
Thina spoke vehemently, “I agree with Sebura, it was not right what you did to her.”
Samuel smiled. “All this was just an excuse to go on an adventure?”
When no one could see them they jumped to the highlands and tried to skirt the forests Sam had arrived in originally. They had to protect the horses also from the insects, so Sam did not suffer. They crossed the highest point and saw the ground drop before them.
“I think that is where Lake Albert is on our world. No point in going down there unless you want to visit the Lake Orati.”
“Let’s go north for a while. If we don’t see anything interesting we can jump.”
“Madagascar is still a part of Africa here, we should go there sometime.”
Sam shared through Freddie and she saw that Sebura spoke her exact words. The disappointment on Efineh’s face was obvious to all.
“I was hoping he would ask me some real questions instead of just playing with my words, but I am pleased by his message.”
“I have a question. You claim that Samantha loves all the people of this world. If we are all equal, why did she choose you, what was special about you?”
“She did not choose me. The first man to ever listen to her and stop thinking of her as a demon was my father. When she was about to leave us to visit the Orati, my father asked her to take me with as her daughter. She warned him that if I lived with her I would not be able to return to him and he asked her if I would be one of her people. She said I would and she made it come true. But she was also wrong, I have come back and still love the people I was born to.”
“Do you think you can take her place in this world?”
“No, all I can do is try to be the best I can be for all of you. I learnt a lot from her Sebura, but I expect to learn a lot more from the people of my world. You know of her dream and you have met Cherine. To you she only looks like a child, but I have come to know her and I tremble with awe when I think of her. That Samantha asks that we prepare to become the people of Cherine, it is a dream I will give my life for if I have to.”
“You never answered the question Tatio asked. If we are allowed to kill to protect ourselves, then he is right, why should he not be a soldier or I a rider, after all, if the reason is good, killing is allowed.”
“Tatio was not given the entire answer. Killing is never allowed. If you are forced to kill to save a life, yours, a friend or family, even that of a stranger, then it will cost you part of the light that makes your spirit shine. Of all of them, only Robert has killed and for that he has paid a heavy price. He does not allow them to call him a Cherinian. When he kills, it is only because he is forced to and the killing sickens him for a long time. No other male among them has so many wives and no other could stand to have them all as children all the time. He needs them to be children so that they can help heal him when he does something he needs to, but that darkens his spirit. You saw on the screen the Gnolat that tore through his body. You saw how it fell? What was not said was that Samantha demanded his people judge him for not saving it. That is how strongly they object to killing.”
“How did his people judge him?”
“They decided it was not possible for him to save the Gnolat because he was too weak and also had to save those with him.”
“Then they are not completely insane!”
Sam arrived to find Efineh feeling hurt. When they were alone in her room she blurted out, “How could you mother? Why humiliate me in front of Sebura?”
Sam pulled her chin up. “Do you truly believe that? Do you really think I would do anything to hurt you?”
“I don’t know. He must have been laughing at me.”
“You fear his laughter? Would it distress you as much as it would hurt me to feel your tears? Give me your hand.” She jumped them high into the sky. “All that, the hundreds of millions of souls, they are all your responsibility. Would I have handed over to you if I did not have confidence in you? None other than a Robert and Cherine have ever been given such a task. Would I place that burden on your shoulders only because I love you? Efinaki mou, you did not try to sense Sebura while we spoke? He was not laughing at you, he was depressed because he could not bear to hear me speak as I did. He felt I was wrong, not you.”
Back on the roof garden she held Efineh until she felt her stop trembling. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow, go to your husband, he has felt your distress and suffers.” She kissed her and pushed her away. She watched until Efineh climbed down the stairs and she could not see her anymore. She sat on the edge of a pool.
“You have hurt her pride.”
“I know. I had to Robbie.” He pulled her to him. “He will return to pit his wits against her repeatedly. I decided I had to throw her in the deep end from now, while we are here to help. I am upset with both of them, when she faced a problem, they did not draw together. Out of pride she returned to face me alone and Irfan would not offer unless she asked.”
“She managed quite well with Sebura.”
“He was not even trying! He was in an emotional turmoil, I had upset and confused him. Once he starts to use all his wiles she will have a fight on her hands. I only played with her, he won’t.”
A few days later they learnt that Sebura had left to visit the Lake Orati while Zigasse and Siletu were on their way back. Aganthi with her assistants have finished building the Feshidi centre and she is now working on the one close to Samantha’s hut. I mentioned to the family that I could not continue to call them ‘The People’ and it is sort of longwinded having to describe them as the Lake Orati villagers. Haven asked them what would they like to be called and I suspect, Cassie who was visiting, suggested the LOV Orati. That name was joyously adopted - maybe annoying the other Orati.
The LOV centre, as it is now called, is not bigger, but because it is situated close to the river (above the flood line) it is perhaps the most beautiful, but any Cherinians working or visiting have to use their healers permanently to keep the unpleasant insects away from all the people there.
The lessons to do with hygiene, health and the upbringing of children still continue and every effort is made to hammer home the message that since more children will survive they must control themselves and have less children. If Sam and Efineh manage to avoid changing their way of life in political and economic matters and they help reduce the division of wealth among the Feshidi, they just might become the first Earth to successfully regulate themselves.
What does worry me is that Sam cannot keep the people of this world isolated from the rest of mankind and our alien friends. If they become Cherinians, they will learn how to jump realities and others will visit them. How long before we have the evils of our society being taught to them? We have the same worry with regard to the Orgg reality where changes are already occurring.
“Our people are all in agreement, we need a building for us to meet our guests and talk. It is not proper to use an open space in our town anymore. They are shamed that when we go to the Feshidi and Lake Orati, we meet there in beautiful buildings. We wish to trade for your help in giving us a place here to meet them. It is hoped you will agree for the same to be in all your centres.”
“I’m sorry Ashema, we cannot agree. Think of the future. If every time your meetings are held in our buildings, people will start to think of us as being your leaders. We are not. What I do suggest is that each council choose land between the town and the centre for us to build what you need. It should also include rooms for your guests to sleep, eat and enjoy themselves. There is no need to trade for our help, you have all been so generous to us that we would feel hurt if you did not accept them as a token of our gratitude.”
Samantha is not happy, but sees the sense: Technology is being introduced for the first time. Sewerage for all the towns and villages is being installed with adjusted food machines that convert the wastes into good and natural fertilisers. Locals from each area are being trained for maintaining the systems. Included is also the technology for supplying fresh water. With a cleaner environment, we hope their towns will attract less flies and the general health of all will improve.
Apart from the LOV Orati, the others do have various forms of writing, mostly used for keeping records only, they do not seem to have thought of the possibilities of using writing to keep their history and stories. The day they understand that writing is the best tool for spreading ideas is the day their world will change drastically - of course it will only happen once the cost has fallen and supply of paper and ink becomes plentiful. Their methods of writing vary from something similar to hieroglyphics to a shorter alphabet than ours. Many have learnt a number of English words and want to learn to read our writings as their children are learning. A puzzle are the Feshidi. They are mostly true Africans with a little Orati blood mixed in. Robert went back in time and discovered that when the Orati first occupied their present territory, they met the Feshidi who were at that time simple tribal savages. There was trade between them and many Africans came to work for the Orati. Feshidi tribal chiefs saw the advantages of centralised power and warring between themselves they grew into one nation as one chief took control. The Orati were worried by the number of Feshidi coming to live on their land and made the decision to close their borders. A devastating earthquake, caused by the two continents beginning to tear apart, led to their belief that their mother, the Earth, was angry with them for allowing strangers onto their land. To atone, their early riders were far more ruthless, killing all who tried to enter. Those Feshidi who lived with them were sent back to their country. This left a hatred for the Orati among the Feshidi that still existed when Sam first arrived, but now we understand why the language of the Feshidi has so many Orati words in it.
As soon as the building was completed, situated between the prime centre and the town, Sam asked the elders to call for a meeting of all the elders of the other countries and to invite the teachers of the centres to be present. She asked that Sebura be also brought and that he sleep in a house she will provide him with. We carted enough food to provide for feasts that will be recalled for a long time, but were careful not to make available too large a quantity of strong alcoholic drinks.
Since the weather was fine, they had their first meeting in the open air amphitheatre so that a large number of spectators could be present. We stayed away for the first day so that they could have their moment of glory and impress their guests, but we encouraged Sebura to attend. The next morning the girls walked there with Sam talking and laughing as she held Efineh’s hand in hers.
“Thank you for inviting us. I think that not only is it a good idea that you meet often to search for ways to bring your people closer, but, it is also good that you invite us to join you in talks now and then. I have some thoughts I was hoping to share with you. Some of my thoughts trouble me for it could be that some would attack me, claiming I am making decisions for you. I am not here to tell you what to do and how to live your lives, all I think I have a right to do, is advise you.
When I first came here I fell in love with you. I love the way you live, I love the way you think. You are a much nicer people than even you know. I now see that in some ways my love is damaging you and I need you to decide what you allow me to teach you and what I must not. Perhaps I am wrong to say it, those things I do not wish for you, that would spoil you so that you become like my people, maybe you should learn about them and why they will harm you and then make up your own minds.
There are other people who do not look like us. They were born on different worlds and their bodies are different, but they are the same as us; they think, they feel and they love. Some of those people have existed from times when this world was not as you know it. They are ancient and very wise, so I asked them to help me. They have prepared what I call lessons. I ask that for two days after your meetings are over, you allow us to meet here for us to show you their lessons. These lessons are not only for you, when I return to my home I will give them to my people in the hope they help to lead them back to a healthy way of living.”
We withdrew to allow them to discuss it. They asked us to come back and advised us they had all agreed to our lessons. The Unation set up cameras to record and transmit to Freddie so that we have a permanent record and for everyone to watch from the screens. Since the screens are now three dimensional, it is almost as if they are here with us. At the amphitheatre we placed four large screens facing inwards another two facing outwards plus a screen up at the Centre where we usually put it. We wanted as many people as possible to share. We will do the same at all the other centres later on.
We are all cringing now. They showed, for most of the day, examples of how our civilisation has polluted the land, water and air. Cameras zoomed across lands showing how empty they are of wildlife. Those hours were indictment enough to embarrass and horrify us. Then they moved the cameras into cities. They showed the worst of what there is to show. The filth, the squalor, the nastiness and craziness of people who live packed like sardines. They showed what our food animals are fed so as to keep the costs down, and the conditions they live and die under. They then moved on to show the food we eat. They would show the attractive package, but then analyse or show what was put in and then the effects it has on our cells. When they showed how margarine is made and the chemicals used to bleach it, they then showed families eating it (from advertisements) while our Terran voices told the public how healthy it is for them. They explained and showed the obvious signs around the eyes and then how it affects the rest of the body. The worst they left for last. They briefly went over what they had already shown but added photos or film of babies born defective because of what they’d already shown.
There is not one person not horrified by what they saw. Not one that does not look at us and wonder while they pity us. There are even those who are angry that we dared come to their world and try to change them. I don’t think we’ll be seeing many of them returning to the centres for a while.
I was proven wrong. There was not space to seat one more person in the amphitheatre the next day. The elders saw that our entire family and friends were present, including Robert, yet, when they called for us, they asked for Samantha.
“There is much pain in us Samantha. Why did you show us how your world is?”
“I showed you how our world was, not as it is. I also did not show you how some of the other worlds are, worlds where no plants grow and all life is dead. Should you visit them, you could not even breath the air anymore. All the horrors you saw, the people making the things you saw are not the only ones responsible, those who buy them are. If someone tempts you, mainly you are responsible for giving in to the temptation.
We are busy cleaning our world, but we will not succeed unless the people help by not having so many babies. Think of your own people. You knew that you had to have more than two babies because some of them will die. The technology we brought you, it means less people will get sick and die. If you continue having the same number of babies, your towns will grow to look like ours do and there will be no space for the animals to live. Continue even then to have too many babies and you will grow weak and die, killing your world also.
Why did I want you to see the pictures of our world? Because we see signs that you have listened to us and stopped having more babies. I was proud of you. I hear the women talking and I hear how they accept responsibility for the future of their children - unlike the women of my world. However, the day will come when people from my world will visit you and some of you will visit them. You will see they have things you do not have. If I have kept them from you, you will be angry with me and do all you can to have the same things. If you have seen why you do not need those things and how they will destroy you and you make the decision not to have them, others will not be able to tempt you. I had to show you all that we are ashamed of, so that you decide your future for yourselves.”
Robert stood up. “May I speak?” He was given permission. “The lessons shown to you were also a shock for us. Our friends had made it for us to show to our own people. Samantha has spoken to you as a friend. If I ask one of you to come on a journey with me and I know there are a few lions, maybe some elephants and other dangerous animals, if I am not a friend, I may mention that maybe there are some dangerous animals. If I am a friend, I will warn you, making the journey sound more dangerous than it is so that you decide what dangers you are willing to face. That is why Samantha arranged the lessons you saw.
Our friends from other stars, they have given us some of their technology that makes life easier without killing our world. If you trust Samantha, let her decide which technology to bring and which you should not have. Whatever she decides will always be so that life will be just as good for the children of your children as it is for you.”
Ashema stood up. “The truth has been spoken. Samuel took me to his world where I saw how the people live. They have much we would want, but they live like rats. I do not want our world to be like theirs.”
There was a muttering by all as Sebura stood up and asked to speak. He looked at the crowds, not the elders. “I am known to many of you as the traitor who allowed Samantha to enter our lands. To others I am known as the man who fought against Samantha. To none of you am I known as the friend of Samantha, so hear my words.
I was taken to their ship. She tried to show me why she thinks I must change. I told her that I am not as others, where they may see the beauty of her ship, I see the power and wish I had it for mine to use.” He paused as many exclaimed at his daring. “She replied that if that was all I wished for, she gave me the power to use their ship as I want. She ordered her ship to obey me.” Again he had to pause. “I saw from the faces of her family that she had surprised them, but they did not argue.” He laughed. “I stood there like a child not knowing what to do. That was when I learnt a secret of theirs. Samantha and her male, Robert, are not the real powers. There is another called Arthur who commands them. I never met him, but he gave an order that the ship show me his power.
I was shown how two enemies fought, the one using the power of demons to blow up the world of the other. It was in pieces, dark and lifeless!” Just listening to him frightened many. “I was then shown how Arthur made a new world and brought back to life those who had been killed. He forced the enemy who had killed them to help the people he loved. Then the ship took me to the world of those Arthur loves. They welcomed me while Robert rushed to another place to bring them what they asked for. It is true, even Robert has to serve them for they are loved by Arthur!
I say, let us keep our world as Arthur would want it, clean and beautiful, so that he too loves us. On this I trust Samantha, she will guide us truly.”
He sat down to a stunned silence. We were just as stunned by the ways he had misinterpreted what he’d seen. Sam hugged Efineh and kept a smile on her face for all to see. The elders argued for a while but they all came to the same decision. They would allow Samantha to decide what changes not to bring to their world. They did insist that they first approve whatever new changes she wants to make. Sam confirmed she would obey and then invited everyone to a feast to celebrate.
Sebura walked straight up to the house and waited before the door for Sam to sense him.
She smiled. “You have come to join us at our feast?”
“I have a request. I wish to go to the Feshidi. My face is known there, can you change me?”
“Of course. Would you like to look like Tatio?” She grinned, but he did not respond in kind, staying cold and proud.
“Someone less noticeable. I prefer they do not remember me.”
She nodded. “I envy you, most of my last trip was boring while you are having a real adventure. Sebura, there you will need money. I will get some for you.”
He did not want to be at the feast so Sam had to change him to his satisfaction and get him some cash. She gave him a beer. “When you are ready, call for me and I will send you and your horse to the border.”
“I prefer to ride. Thank you.”
“Have a safe journey then.”
He hesitated. “Why have you not told my people about Arthur?”
“They will be told. Even you are not ready to learn about him Sebura. You did not understand much that you learnt in Freddie.”
He walked to the door, turned and smiled. “Perhaps I understood more than you know?” She watched the door even after he was gone, trying to work out what he meant. She watched over him until he passed the border and she saw he was heading for Isesa.
Sam spoke to us, “I don’t think Nature is cruel. It’s ruthless. The prime imperative it obeys is that it must exist - at whatever cost. If it has to create laws for energy to metamorphose into matter, then so be it. Nature can never have enough of itself. If it has to inspire a mind to dream of other realities and cosmi so that Nature can extend itself infinitely, then it will do so. As ruthless as Nature is, ours is the gentlest of all Natures, for it made a bad choice, it inspired a mind almost childlike in its romanticism and sentimentalism. Perhaps that makes our Nature less effective and creation of new cosmi will die out with us.
When Sam gets going this way she always seems to find a process of thought that paints a picture too vast to be ignored, so bold that it shocks us into thinking in a new way. Where most Normals would dismiss such arguments as not being of any relevance to their lives, whether true or not, we cannot afford to be the same. We are, as a subspecies, too new and full of questions - even fears, for us to close our minds to any possibilities. I doubt she was trying to evade criticisms with her answer, she genuinely has concerns that blow our minds.
There were hundreds of us sitting in the park Sam has surrounded her mansion with. The evening was too hot for those who live here to want to retire, it was better to wait for midnight when the air and stones start to cool. There were jugs of fruit juices and wine that we helped ourselves to whenever we needed something cold to drink. The feast had been a success with elders of different nations talking in a relaxed environment and coming to know each other as people, not only as statesmen.
Efineh has forgiven Sam for her deception, but Sam is still mildly angry with Irfan. Efineh senses something without understanding what it is, but she is careful to be by the side of Irfan at all times. If I know our Sam, she has no intention of remonstrating and is more likely to find a way to help him see how he should act on his own. She also seems to be oddly uncaring about whether Efineh has forgiven her. She seems to be waiting for something and only then will things be right.
If I am isi, I’m touched. If I’m not, I’ve passed your answer on to her and she is touched. lol.
Michael, Ahnì and friends arrived in Freddie, we could feel their excitement and joy, but they sensed where they were, said ‘Sorry’ and jumped. They didn’t even give us a chance to say it’s okay to stay!
I guess it could be said that I’m biased, blind to what is true for us girls while noticing how odd it is in Robert. Michael usually looks about thirty with Ahnì about twenty two or so. Robert stays at about twenty three. Seeing and sensing how fatherly Robert feels about Michael, it feels right but sort of looks rather odd. On the other hand, having Michael call us ‘mother’ and love us as a son while we are little girls seems normal to us.
Michael came back again today. He only brought Ahnì. He must have called for all the girls on planet, for they also jumped to us. Instead of rushing for a hug and kiss as he always does, he stood grinning at us. “Dimitri was born yesterday!”
Even as we screamed with delight, Robert called for Efineh, Irfan and Samuel. He told Efineh that they are coming with and asked Samuel to stay. When they heard why, we had another round of hugs and kisses and then, as soon as Samuel left, we jumped. Over to Samantha.
