Robbie grinned. “I should have guessed, the three imps. How is it you died an old man and you are the most childlike of every adult I’ve ever met?”
Robbie tried to apologise and explain that they had been the victims of a prank. We were worried they might feel insulted.
“He is not an adult?”
“He is.”
“It is rare with you also? Our children will love him. May we borrow him for a celebration?” Allan volunteered his services so we had no inter-species diplomatic catastrophe to heal.
We had been trying to ignore the fact that each of them had brought a tiny pet with them, something about the size of a mouse, but with a very long snout. We did not see any teeth and they themselves did not pet the creatures, mostly seeming to ignore them, so we felt we should not speak about them or even show we’d noticed them. That is until one of them suddenly ran up the chest of one of the four, probed at the base of the throat and the snout entered his body. He gasped.
“I am sorry. Excuse.” And he died!
The other three emoted worry. “We must return him to burn. The phlipo must not leave his body.”
“He has died? May we try to heal him, we can bring his soul back.”
“What for, he was ready, he has matured. He will be welcomed in his new home.” Robbie had to create a platform quickly and return them. They promised to visit again as soon as they could. Bemused and saddened we waited for Robbie.
As soon as Robbie was with us, Freddie spoke. “Now that we understand their language, I have been examining their television shows - which, by the way, are holographic and in advance of anything we have. If I have understood correctly, the phlipo is a parasite that lengthens the life of the host and keeps it healthy or at least, resistant to most diseases. In the throat area there is something, they think of it as a fruit or flower and have many poems about it, that matures at the time the person is about to die. It sweetens and the phlipo eagerly rushes to pierce and sip the nectar. If a person loses his phlipo or it is too ill to care for him and his flower blossoms, he dies in great pain from suffocation. The phlipo must be killed immediately or else it could affect the phlipo of the others.”
Candy asked, “Do they write stories about someone whose phlipo died and the girl who loves him gave up her phlipo so that he would live and she dies younger and in pain?”
“I’m certain they do Candy.”
“That’s sad.” Tears filled her eyes and Robbie looked at her helplessly as he pulled her to him.
“Shh, I’d give you my phlipo any time.” That got her crying and we tried to hide from him that we were laughing at him as we comforted our little Candy. I think she is missing her Iziko because Lucy also gets funny like this when she hasn’t seen her special friends, Asimi and Sharipya, for a long time.
Freddie kept an eye on them and confirmed they burnt the body immediately and the phlipo’s body was burnt with it. They then sat in a circle, hardly speaking. After three hours the children were let out and they ran and they tumbled and they laughed and the adults perked up and their chatter grew more animated. Then, as the children grew tired and quietened, they discussed us, so Freddie withdrew.
“It is like a story by a youngster! You found us friends in the future because you had come to us, so you came?”
“We call that a paradox.”
“Whatever you call it, it is a strange tale.”
Somehow we did not find the opportunity to tell them we are Cherinians and what that means. We did ask about their technology and pointed out that little of it made sense to us because of all that is missing. They invited us to visit them a few days later. When we arrived they had created a small stadium as described by Robbie and everyone stared at us for a while, as if fixing us in their memories, and then most of them left. Robbie muttered under his breath that he could easily learn to love a people who do not give long speeches.
“Come, you want to see.”
They took us to museums, art galleries, libraries. We saw technical books that our scientists, even of the Unation, were itching to get a look at. They then led us out into empty fields and showed us factories buried a long time ago.
“What is not for people to grow closer, to share and be one, it is not good. It is fun to think of new things, but not always good or loving to use them.” Robbie definitely is falling in love with them.
Allan had a great time with the kids, but he ended up nearly having a fight with a youngster close to adulthood who took exception to being made fun of in front of smaller children. An adult intervened and explained that they had called us friends in their future but in our past, so the youngster reluctantly forgave Allan and a friendship developed. Allan insisted on bringing him to Freddie so we soon had to do the same for many others. Mostly we left them on their own. Our Normals found their appearance and pet a little bit intimidating, but over time they learnt to accept their appearance and a few became friends. They commented, once we were alone, that they find the Hibarre to be simple people. We told them about their science and technology and why they’d rejected most of it. Only a few saw this as a sign of true wisdom. They’ll probably end up preaching the same philosophy back home and make many people angry with us.
The Hibarre found it difficult to like us because we take life. They do not eat meat and from studies of their cells it seems they are part of the rarest family of humans. They have evolved from plants, but they developed bones, flesh and, in the distant past, the sap changed to something closer to blood. By only looking at them, it is difficult not to think of them as animals, as in the sense that we are. The phlipo on the other hand are animals though they are not meat eaters.
Tina quietly did her calculations, moved a herd of cattle and sheep and then suggested we go for a walk. Robbie is very proud of our Friesian cattle, for we were warned they would not do well in Freddie. They supply us with all the dairy products we need and we sell them before they become too old for further breeding or for slaughter. He sat on the grass, bit on a blade and waited to find out why we’d been brought here.
“At a very conservative estimate, if you double the cattle and triple the sheep, that would be the number of them that you alone have eaten.”
He tilted his head and thought for a while. “Hmm, if we work on a per annum basis plus the fact that we buy most of our meat from various realities, what you are saying is that our present herds are capable of feeding us should it become necessary.”
“I was trying to make a point about the number of lives that have been sacrificed for you.”
“You are saying the idea of slaughtering them does not sicken you?”
He leaned back, resting on his hands as he looked up at her. “You’ve chosen a strange time to regurgitate this argument. Even vegetarians on Earth have quietened on this subject since the food machines. There never was an answer to the arguments between vegetarians and meat eaters and there never will be. It is a matter of belief and that depends to a large extent on our personality.”
We went to visit the Hibarre and a group of them came and touched us, closing their eyes as they concentrated. We thought they were trying to contact us telepathically, but we felt nothing in our minds. We’re now left to wonder what it was all about.
We’ve seen another couple of deaths. Death does not seem to sadden them as much as it does most species. I guess knowing they can visit their loved ones on their Worlds has taken most of the sting from death for them. The local Sparklers created a Solomon and with his Thinkers he has been to visit the Hibarre and they also came to Freddie. They were just as astounded as other species are when they visited the Spartan and Sparkler Worlds. They have now learnt how to create their own and the Hibarre are visiting there by the millions. The Hibarre asked to meet us.
“Robert, it is kind of you to come.”
“It is always a pleasure.”
“We seek advice. Our Solomon has offered to move our spiritual Worlds into theirs. Your opinion please.”
“We call ours, Kaleidoscope Worlds. Ours have been to visit within the Sparkler Worlds, but we do not wish for them to stay in there. First of all, we do not believe any species should depend on another. Secondly, we have found many alternate realities with alternates of some of us. As their Worlds take form they are able to communicate with Adam, the entity that runs our World. By staying in communication they learn from each other and grow wiser and more human.” That needed further explanations so we talked for hours. Robbie invited them to visit us in Freddie with their entities and he would arrange for Adam to be there. There was much excitement among them when our invitation was announced and most of the population now wants to come. We’ve had to move the venue to the Spartan World.
It is just as well that we changed the venue, for centuries of those who have died and live on their Worlds wanted to join us. Robbie has shown their entities how to move themselves into the Spartan World so that all of them can come. It makes it easier as now nobody will have to be carried, they can all visit their Worlds and arrive with them. It is turning into quite a party and Leonidas asked us to put on a show. We agreed to Wendy, Candy, Spice and Lua putting on a song and dance. They in turn asked the Elipians to join them.
Robbie and Jade decided to get into the act - though they claimed they felt inspired because of so many species and Worlds being there and did it for themselves. They took paints, canvas, sketchpads and pencils with. Our artists were surrounded most of the time we stayed. As sketches and paintings were quickly outlined for working on at their leisure later on, the Hibarre gathered to watch, solemnly silent and careful not to intrude. We’ve found out that they consider those with such talents blessed and a step closer to perfection. They seem to have a knack for saying the right things to make Robbie love them.
Centuries ago we had potions to control the fruit of our bodies so that we lived longer. We were not a wise people and forgot to look at our children, at the world filled with beauty. We grew to be too many and our thoughts were filled with our needs and fears. Then one female discovered what you call the void. She saw it in her dreams and because she saw it many times, she was determined to take her family to show them where she went. She succeeded and they danced with each other and their love grew stronger until they fell into being one and created their World.
Once they showed us and we went there by the thousands and then by the millions, we lost our fears and stopped what we were doing to think and decide how we want to live while on this world. We said, we must continue so that there are always children and new Worlds. We have kept little of our technology, for it must be judged as a tool that fills our lives and brings us closer or else we do not allow it. We cleaned our skies and moons and then buried the last spaceships, for where would we dare go? To die on other worlds where we cannot share eternity with those we leave behind is not an option many would choose.
Our people have studied you and those you call Cherinians. You have found a balance that suits your people, just as we have chosen that which suits ours. Perhaps with time our Worlds will learn to talk to each other from all realities and we will dance with each other in the void.”
The same group that had studied us, closed in. The same old man who’d concentrated on me stood before me again. He held both his arms out and I took from his seven fingered hands the gift he offered. It was a belt of simple and yet incredible beauty and I knew it had been made only for me.
“These are our blessed, artists as you call them Robert. They have studied each of your family and prepared these artefacts so that they are part of the personality that will use them. We give them with the hope that you will recall you have friends waiting for your return.”
For a long time I only had eyes for my belt, for it seemed to call to me, as if it were a warm presence that was part of me. When I looked at my loves I saw they all were enraptured by their gifts. For some of them I could recognise that the artists had seen truly into their hearts, for the others I felt it from their emoting. With a start, I realised that Cherine’s gift was the plainest and smallest of us all. The female that had given it to her, softly explained.
“There are only two of these stones left in our world. At a time of great love, place this stone against the person you are loved by. It will hold that love for you so that you can feel it forever when you hold it within your hand.”
In almost a whisper Cherine asked, “It will keep the feelings of love being offered me? By one person?”
The old woman had difficulty in speaking, she swallowed and croaked, “For one, it will be the love of that person. Love by more, it is the essence of love. In the old days, for some it was love of one and for others, love of the family. We smashed them when we found we could not take them to our Worlds when we died. It grieved us to leave the love behind.”
Cherine cried out in distress when her phlipo rushed to her throat and buried its snout. The old woman waved a hand at the sky, “Family.” And she collapsed, dead.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as Cherine knelt. Carefully she brushed away the swirls of hair to take a last look at the face and fix it in her memory as it smoothed out in peace, as if sleeping. Her body and phlipo were reverently carried away and Cherine came to her feet. “Can I visit her in her World?”
His very thin finger touched her hand. “Her daughter died as a child in an accident. She needs time to adjust and fill herself with their love. When you go, call for Faïssa. She will introduce you to her daughter and family with laughter in her voice. Do not show grief, she has had her share of tears in this world.”
They asked Robbie if he recalled the positions of their three moons when he arrived in the future. He sketched them and handed over the paper.
“The configurations only repeat themselves every three hundred and eighteen years. This tells us when to expect you, unless you arrived in a new cycle.”
“I do not think it was that far in the future.” He told them exactly what was said and done. They guessed the headset worn by the one who greeted him was for the purpose of recording for posterity the important moment, for in their eyes, that was truly the first time we came to them.
Unlike other worlds during our first visit, our last week was spent visiting new Hibarre friends, either at their homes or in Freddie. Since none of them wish to leave their planet we did not offer so none will travel with us. Some Wirms did choose friends among them so we now know they can communicate with us almost instantly if they are in need. To my mind this is a bittersweet world that toys with our hearts and I’ll miss my new friends. We will return here in a few months, their time, for Cherine to visit Faïssa. She is keeping her stone and chain wrapped up for it to be used when she feels the time is right. She offered to make it a family stone but every single one of us refused, insisting she keep it for storing the love of our Robbie for her. After all, should we touch the stone and feel that special love of his, would it not also fill our hearts?
Michael and Dimi sat in the garden of a bar in Singapore that was quiet at that time of day. To ensure their privacy, Michael was using the gift of Natalie so that no one would notice them. It meant the waiters also ignored them and Dimi wanted a cold beer. Michael went to the bar and got them drinks and they chatted about family and the world in general until Dimi was ready.
“We took the wrong path Michael. None of this, no Ipohin, no Campbells and other talents were necessary. Normals can be taught to go to the void and create Kaleidoscope Worlds, just as the Hibarre have done.”
“I suppose it would be the same for all the aliens?”
“Why not? It would certainly have reduced the problem of populations exploding across galaxies and realities.”
“Do you want to have many children?”
Michael gave a loud laugh, temporarily undoing the effectiveness of his ‘anonymity’ gift. “Ahní and my mothers are dying of curiosity and speculate amongst themselves about who you’ll love.” He stopped laughing when he felt Dimi. “They only do so because they love you. Not one of them is a gossip.”
“Maybe, but they all are manipulators. Promise you’ll let me know if they plan to try and hitch me up - I’ll disappear for a few years to some other reality.”
“If they think they have the right girl for you, they’ll track you all the way to Arthur.”
“I’m not ready, I first have to decide what I want to do with myself. Back to the Hibarre. Is there any merit in asking all Cherinians and Ipohin to stop linking others? There are enough of us to keep everyone healthy and they won’t worry about immortality once they’ve created their own Worlds.”
“It’s too late for that Dimi, if we did that, they would grow to hate us. There are also too many Cherinians, Ipohin and other talents for us to expect all of them to obey. Even if they decide it makes sense, they’ll love someone and want them to be immortal to be with them and calculate that increase over time and you’ll still end up with trillions of us.”
“Damn! The only way it would work is for Arthur to re-write his story, right from the beginning.”
“I doubt he could but, if he can, it means you and I would not exist. I could bear the thought of myself not existing, but not my Ahní. Dimi, do not take exception to what I’ll say, I’m only trying to illustrate my point. For Arthur to do that, he would have to change Robert and Cherine and make them more like your mother was when she called herself Doris.”
Dimi made a joke of it so that Michael would not worry that he’d hurt his feelings. He laughed. “Maybe then he would have made my mother more like Robert and they would have fought. Can you imagine that?”
A couple of days later, when Michael sensed Robbie was alone, he went to him. They were in the sitting room when they hugged and Michael grinned when he saw the two of them in the mirror. He usually looks about ten years older, is taller and more athletically built. With a touch of grey in his hair he looks like the father and Robbie like the spoilt son. Robbie still allows his hair to grow long and many strangers think that of him until they see his eyes.
“I’m worried about Dimi. If you don’t find something for him to do he’ll turn bitter.”
“What can I offer Michael? Let’s say I found something, for how long would he do it? A hundred years, a thousand? He is only likely to be happy with what he’s doing and stick with it if it is something he wants for himself. I’ll help all I can, but I cannot impose a purpose to his life.”
“You’re wrong dad. Even fifty years would give him a chance to mature and he’ll find his own path then. We have to help him now.”
Robbie paced up and down the room. When he reached the glass doors he opened them and walked out into the garden. Michael followed him and sat by the pool, staring at Robbie. He was really worried about Dimi and felt only Robbie could help him.
Robbie took a seat and leaning over the table took Michael’s hand in his. “He is dear to you, you love him like a brother. To me he is a son and I love him more than he’ll ever allow himself to see. We all admire him and expect a lot of him. Unfortunately he does not see himself in the same light. I would have to offer him something difficult and dangerous for it to mean anything to him.” Michael nodded his agreement. “What if I made him responsible for keeping an eye on those who have powers, but are not Cherinians or Ipohin?”
Robbie burst out laughing. “You are definitely Cherine’s son.”
“And yours - whatever that means.”
Robbie first had a private meeting with Perikli and then called for a meeting. Apart from the close family, Alki and Solomon, Robbie invited the rest of the five of the council and Hettie and Eddie. Michael took a seat close to Dimitri.
“As is well known, I get distracted easily and also insist on spending a lot of time with my loves and friends. Hettie and Eddie have covered for me and dealt with all the local problems that seem to crop up all the time with governments, agencies and so on. There is another duty I should have taken care of as a matter of great importance but I’ve let it slide, rarely checking to find out what new threats could be planned for us. I know that thanks to my personality and the unexpected problems that life continues to throw at us, I will not give the problem the attention it deserves. For that reason I’ve decided to ask the Mansfield family for their help. Dimitri, with regard to non-Cherinian Talents, will you take over as security leader for the Cherinians? I need you to keep an eye on Campbell and other smaller groups. When a new talent makes himself or herself known, we should be the first to know, not the last.
If you discover plans are being made to attack us or anyone else, I do not want you to try and be a hero. Your first duty will be to advise me. If you wish to take part in the defence, I’ll more than welcome your help where it is appropriate. If you do not listen to me and try to handle the problem on your own, should you fail, you will have put us all in great danger, for you will not be able to warn me and we will not have the benefit of your experience and knowledge. Are you willing to accept the responsibility and, if so, do you undertake to keep to the rules I’ve laid out?”
With a face solemn, but with eyes glittering from excitement he replied, “I do accept and I will not act unilaterally. Robert, are you certain you trust me?”
Robbie smiled. “Was there ever a time I did not? Of course I do.” He looked around. “For the rest of the world, Dimi will give the appearance of a wastrel and playboy, more interested in parties and having a good time than in doing good deeds, somewhat like an ancient character called the Scarlet Pimpernel and for the same reasons as him. Do not try to ingratiate yourself with any of the groups. If they approach you, show slight amusement, but lack of interest. It is important that potential enemies underestimate you.” He concentrated on everyone else. “His appointment must remain a secret and only those present will know. Dimi, you may report to any of us who are present at this meeting, especially if I am not here or you cannot meet me without blowing your cover. As for the council, I would ask that you turn a blind eye to his not behaving as a Cherinian should. For example, he may need to be careless about our rule regarding the reading of other minds. Dimi, my request places a responsibility on you, do not give me cause to regret it. Your infractions should all be slight and not damaging to others.”
Michael covered a hand of Dimi with his, an anxious look in his eyes. “It is well known that we are close. To an extent, that will make it easier for my family to pass on to you any rumours we hear. Dimitri, if you are to lead the life my father described, my position will demand of me that I am not seen that often in your company and I might end up having to make some caustic remarks about you. At any time you feel hurt, promise me you will first come to me to look in my heart.”
Dimi was touched. “Whatever you say, I’ll never forget how much you mean to me. It might be more difficult to keep my cool when Samantha speaks, she has a way of cutting to the bone that might make me angry. Sam, are you certain I’m up to doing the job?”
Robbie laughed. “Now you see why I chose you instead of Sam? She’s too vicious and gets carried away by her emotions.” Dimi hugged me while the others laughed. Directly in my mind he made me the promise and I sent to him that I was teasing, there are many others who are more dangerous. I asked him to be careful, but to try to discover who the talent is that helped us. I explained that since Arthur reminded us that he is bound to have his own agenda, we need to know who he is.
Robbie wanted to give him a monthly allowance that was exorbitant, as much as our entire family spends and more. Eddie gruffly told Robbie that his department will be paying. We knew that meant he would be paying out of his own money, but did not argue. Once Dimi has proven how valuable he is to us, he will not feel embarrassed that the Cherinians are paying.
Dimi was not the only one to think of applying the solution the Hibarre use for all Normals. It has been the most fiercely argued topic since tapes of our visit were shown. To start off there seemed to me to be an element of hysteria by many of those arguing the most vociferously, demanding we instantly teach everyone how to go to the void and create a World. Most people were reasonable and asked for information and our opinion. Robbie kept quiet, worried that whatever he said it would lead to anger and hatred of us.
The cause gathered momentum and soon we were inundated with chat shows where everyone it seemed was angered by our silence; at the same time hundreds of sites on the web appeared, magazines and even pamphlets littered the pavements as everyone who thought they had a particular point of view to promote spent their money printing them by the tens of thousands. At first it seemed a movement of joy, the birth of a new hope for all, not just for those chosen by Cherinians. It did not take long to transform from a lamb into a wolf, teeth bared, new voices arising, filled with anger and hate as they lost loved ones. Hate of us.
Hate because we are separating them from their loved ones at death. A World for every family is their right. Each parent that lost a child, their grief turned to hate of us. Each lover, each brother, sister, friend. They all had reason now to hate us and we were held accountable for past and future losses.
No longer wise of us to visit coffee shops, not even wise to stay in Athens, we watched all our past successes count for little and the hoped for future come crumbling down in ruins. None of us had foreseen how strongly people would react. Some Cherinians are making excuses, others are angry with the rabble who are stirring up decent people (yes, they say stupid things like that). Never mind hindsight and regrets, we have to find a way to calm the people so that we can be heard.
Not everyone went crazy, but it soon got to the point where few dared speak in our defence. Even the governments asked us to move to Freddie as it would not be politically expedient of them to surround us with soldiers. I phoned David to discuss the possibility of going on air to debate the situation, but he was unavailable. I felt hurt that he would turn his back on us, but I also presumed his station gave him their orders. Still, he should have taken my call or returned it if he genuinely was not available and told me he could not; I would not have held it against him since I know he is not free to do as he wishes.
Robbie shook his head. “No media company will agree to a presentation by us unless it is to announce that we are taking everyone to the void. I can’t believe what is happening, I feel as if I’ve brought us to some new reality by mistake.”
“Are we staying?”
“We can’t leave, that would only make matters worse.”
We did not have much time to sit on our own. Apart from close friends and family, even Cherinians we knew but slightly were jumping to us to ask what they should do. They are having to face hostility at work, at home and anywhere else they go. They mostly complained about the hostility from their own family members.
Michael was careful not to appear in public as he was also being besieged by those who demanded the void from him. What did surprise us was that Campbell did not take advantage of the situation and also kept quiet. I’m only guessing, but I think he’s realised that if he draws their attention to him they’ll make the same demands of him. I doubt he wants to offer them what they are demanding - or else, he sees this as damaging to us and will only come in as the saviour of the Normals once their hate and anger with us peaks, giving him the strongest advantage.
Last night they showed on tv a family from India setting themselves on fire. Horrified we watched as the parents and their five children burned. Then a man in the Philippines had himself crucified. The army and police stayed away as a massive crowd surrounded the man. He told them he would die on the cross if it was necessary so that his family and all of mankind are given the opportunity to live forever on their own void Worlds. As they nailed his hands and feet, Dommi switched off the tv. Robbie went to his office and switched his set on. He felt that at least one of us has to watch. Cherine switched back on the tv and called for him to sit with us so that we remain a family during these bad times.
Solomon came to ask what they should do with the Indian family. Robbie asked him to hold them temporarily in their World. “No mention can be made of this. If people think that by killing themselves and their families they are getting instant immortality, we’ll be flooded with suicides.”
“Solomon, Robert is right. Not only will there be families dying, they will organise mass suicides. Until we come up with a plan we have to keep quiet.”
I was wrong. Two days later it was shown on tv that a sect locked themselves in a building, men, women and children - even some pets, and they put it on fire. Within five minutes there was a massive explosion and seven hundred and twenty six people died.
All the deaths had been preceded by pleas to us to meet them in the void and help them create their own Worlds. Our continuing silence and evasions by Hettie and the aliens was interpreted as being heartless and we lost most of the few sympathisers left to us. Many of our Cherinians decided to temporarily flee to other realities, but they found themselves facing the same problems there and returned.
While all this was going on, meetings were taking place in Freddie and Noelle, leaders from all the species trying to find ways for us to defuse the situation. They all understood why we could not offer what was being asked for and none of them were naïve enough to think that we only had to explain to regain the understanding and love of our people. Any sensible explanation by us would only lead to countless deaths and mark us as the enemy of mankind for a very long time.
Cassie looked at Robbie just the way a little girl would and pleaded, “If this one can also move and think, can I take it home to play with?” Robbie spluttered at the thought of her playing with an old man and then burst out laughing. She succeeded in doing what she’d wanted to - we all arrived feeling less tense and more positive.
We have taken our seats, the Akiards have formed their circle and everyone is waiting for you. You may write now Arthur.
