The girls, Eleni and Jess are wonderful, but Allan depresses us even further. He doesn’t speak about Sam, but his eyes keep on filling and then he tries to joke so that we won’t feel him.
We’ve all been crying again. Samantha did not come to the birthday party for Wendy and Candy. She adores Wendy, I don’t understand her! She let us know that she and Aristos have been invited by friends of his to a party so she couldn’t come.
Jade here. That got them all busy. Now, what do Haven and I do? Oh lord! Okay, here’s an idea, take flying lessons. I wasn’t being serious! Thanks, we’ll try it, Haven likes the idea. She wants to learn how to pilot a glider.
Before you answered her, when Jade asked you what they should do, it made us laugh for the first time in nearly a year. We’ve suddenly realised how much we miss our imps. As the days go by and it draws closer to Samantha's birthday, we’re all having crying jags again. I feel like we’ll die on that day. If you remember, Solace and Orshiir married us on the same date as Samantha's birthday. Robert insisted we have a party for them. He ordered a cake for Samantha also and asked all of us to blow out the candles for her after singing Happy Birthday for her.
We did as he asked and then ate our slice with tears streaming down our cheeks. Suddenly we heard a voice and it felt as if our hearts stopped.
“You call this a happy birthday? Orshiir, Solace, happy anniversary my loves.”
Stunned we just stood or sat staring at her and Aristos. He looked woeful and once we allowed ourselves to feel him, we sensed how he was trembling from fear. I’m going to let Samantha take over just after I scream like crazy!
I’m not impressed by suave good looking men. I’m more of a sucker for men like Socrati and Alki. The moment Aristos first joined us, I became suspicious. My suspicions were strengthened when I noticed he was concentrating on me. My suspicions grew even stronger when I found myself attracted to him. Most non-Cherinians don’t understand that by sharing our minds, we learn to know ourselves in ways Normals could never achieve. I start off by knowing myself, as every Normal does, then I see in my loves how they see me and I sift through their impressions and slowly my self perception changes and grows deeper. There is no way I could be drawn to that man, so he had to be using a gift of his own. That angered me. How dare he try to force me to love him, I thought to myself, and then of course I realised he had a non-amorous purpose and my curiosity took over.
After that first meeting, when we jumped to Freddie, I began to draw up my battle plans. First of all I had friends jump to the realities he claimed to have spent two years in and they only found him in three other realities, where he spent a total of two months in. He did use his time there to examine all copies of our tellings. I’ll give him that, he was intelligent enough to realise that we change our tellings to suit our audience, so I think he came to understand us better than most Normals.
I asked Kirsten to stay closely linked to me and Vincent to link to Robbie. That way he could watch me all the time. It was not only so that he does not suffer, a bit of that kind of suffering now and then is good for all of us. I did not know what the plans of Aristos were and he might have been trying to draw me apart from my family so as to attack me. Both Robbie and I hated that we had to keep it a secret from our loves and Alki and other close friends, but their reactions were important. (I think Allan was sorely tempted to pummel me when he learnt the truth
Having charmed me with his altruism and concern for every Normal we sensed suffering, he began to lay on the charm like an over-ripe mango, making it difficult for me to suffer his presence. It helped having my team cheering and egging me on from within my mind.
I had three reasons for taking him with us to the Fragile Galaxy - as a matter of fact, we only went there for those three reasons. First reason: I wanted him to believe I had fallen under his spell and could not bear to be apart from him for such a lengthy time. Second reason: a combination of Freddie, the Unation and Muyzith computers and micro (or nano) recording kept him under surveillance for every second, even when he thought he was alone. Since we are not allowed to spy on the thoughts of our enemies, I felt that we needed whatever edge we can make use of. Third reason: He was meant to sense the anger and suffering of my family and all friends.
He was curious as to why Robbie was so neutral and I explained that for the last few years I mostly call him Dad and he’s been aware that I have matured, that I am tired of playing at being a little girl and need a man of my own.
In the beginning we’d only intended allowing this farce to continue for a month or two. As I came to know him, I also became convinced that he could not have planned this on his own. I suspected Campbell and I was determined to prove he was behind Aristos, so I repeatedly stretched the period.
Once Robbie divorced me, he expected me to rush to his bed. The longer I refused, not even allowing a kiss, the more frustrated he grew, a couple of times becoming angry and walking away - always to return contrite and eager to explain that he was going through hell because of his love and need for me.
I made it clear that I would not have a relationship with a man, however I felt about him, if I could not trust him and that for trust to exist, we must both be totally open with each other. I complained that I’d shown my feelings for him by leaving my family, it was his turn now.
He did not have any super-developed reality to show me, so he was in an impossible position. I moaned about losing my privileged relationship with our author for a man who does not love me; I let him feel how sexually frustrated I was, letting him think it was him I needed. I’d pretend at times that I could hardly bear to wait anymore, but that I was determined to only let myself go once he’s shown he trusts me and believes in my love.
I shared all that with Robbie as it happened, but I really hated having to share those awful scenes and my deceitful ways with all my loves. I knew I was doing it for a good reason, the best reason of all; the safety of my loves, but still, I felt dirty.
I chose my birthday as a good date to bring everything to a climax. Arthur, I had an unexpected advantage. He’s used his gift to seduce women for years and my ability to hold back angered him, but it also made him fall in love with me for real. Convinced that my birthday was the last time he’d see me unless he opened up, he made his decision.
I had taken him to the Seychelles and he loved the islands, so when he told me he wanted to talk, I jumped us there. He sat on the beach before me, holding my hands, his face covered in sweat - he hasn’t found his healer so he can’t regulate his body.
I sensed he had lies prepared for me, so I stopped him. “Aristo, don’t speak. Let me tell you first what I’ve guessed.” He nodded. “There is no secret four hundred year advanced reality, that was a lie.” I put my finger to his lips to prevent him protesting. “I don’t care Aristo.” He did not hide his shock. I stroked his cheek. “Did you think I left my family, made so many sacrifices for that? I did not. I’ve never known a man like you and you are the reason I am sitting here on the beach with you. I’m not interested in super civilisations, I’ve had my fill of those from the Unation, the Anadir and so on. What I really need is to know that I am truly loved - that’s all.
What with my words plus my emoting, which included a certain level of childish adoration of the man I love, plus the body heat I was using to flood him with my pheromones as I secretly imagined myself soon in the arms of my loves, the poor guy had no chance.
“You are right Sam, I have lied. I wanted to get rid of Arthur so that he doesn’t hold us captive to his moods but, my plans fell away once I felt how deeply I loved you. Come in my love and don’t be too hard on me, please concentrate on my love for you.” He was pouring out his compulsions to ensure I was carried away by my crazy love for him as he invited me into his mind.
I blocked his gifts and brought him to my birthday party as my prisoner. End of my sad and dirty story.
Aristos remains a puzzle. He did open his mind to me and I saw far more than I’d wanted to. Although his entire life, from day one, is mapped out for me to examine, there is a tiny corner that is blocked - for want of a better word. He did not create the block, it has been imposed by someone else. That means I cannot use my knowledge of him to guess the key. His gift of ‘charm’ is not similar to the gift Angelos has. The gift of Angelos is aimed at compelling love and sexual attraction, whereas Aristos has natural magnetism with regard to sex, his gift just makes everything he says or does feel charming, appealing to whatever happens to appeal to the female he is interested in. We have not blocked off his gift as it would not be ethical, so while we try to find a way to neutralise him we’re keeping him in Freddie. Legally you could say we are guilty of kidnapping.
For years I’ve wondered about Cassie’s sense of humour and wished I could be more like her. She never is hurtful, even when she pricks our ego, but she gets the laughs she wants. When I realised what it is she does, I realised that she is far deeper than I’ve suggested here. Mostly she takes what we say or fear to an extreme, making it ridiculous so that we forget our fear and laugh or else, the change in the way we view the problem helps us relax and find a solution. It is amazing how often the solution is lying lightly disguised within her quips.
I am annoyed. Without asking me, Robbie disclosed to the world why we’d parted and explained in detail what Aristos had tried to do and how I’d ‘got the better’ of him, as they describe it in the press. Of course all the yellow sheets (that includes websites) came up with stories of how I spent this or that night with him making passionate love as an adult - because, apparently I craved to be made love to as a woman by a real man.
That is the down side of it. The up side is that the nice or romantic people clamoured for my family to marry me again. Earth time we’ve been married thirty five years and I love our original wedding anniversary date (Robbie’s birthday). After all, Cherine also still prefers to celebrate on her original anniversary date, the second one being worth just a few extra cuddles and kisses. If we wait till January, I won’t mind a second wedding, but I would prefer it to be a reaffirmation of our vows and love. It seems the public is impatient so my family are discussing it on their own - they say I’m too negative about any date suggested and teased me that they’ll choose for me.
In ‘private’ mode, I jumped to Washington and called David. He met me at his office as I can jump there without anyone seeing me. I explained about the wedding and why I want it to be on the same date as previously. He was sympathetic, asked whether I want to appear on his show, but I refused and asked him to find a way to convince the public to wait.
David used the celebrities he had on his show the next day to discuss my wedding. He must have primed them for they all asserted I should remarry on the same date as my first wedding. As they pointed out, it is only a delay of a month. I could have kissed him when I saw the votes in the corner side with me. The numbers grew swiftly and by the end of the show I had seventy eight percent agreeing with me. (Arthur, I later found out that my family, friends and just about everyone in Freddie, even aliens who should not have voted, voted for me, starting the landslide victory I wanted.)
Cassie tried to convince me I should accept the divorce as fact - because she wants this time of lovemaking to be illicit. Her joke sparked some excitement in some of my loves and for the next few nights I was made the center of their loving. I kept quiet and did not point out to anyone that Cassie and those who’ve been excited by her idea are the very ones that did not repeat the sentence that was supposed to divorce us.
I wanted Efineh with us for Christmas and the wedding, so Robbie agreed that I take Freddie to collect her. Aganthi put her hand under my arm and we jumped to Freddie. Cherinians are always welcome to bring Normals to Freddie for a visit and there were a few thousand of them. I appeared on the screens.
“Friends, we are jumping to another reality as I want to fetch my daughter Efineh. Those of you who wish to leave, you have half an hour for your Cherinian to collect you. Those who wish to come with, please keep in mind that though we should not be staying there long, life happens - as they say. If we stay longer than anticipated, our healers will rejuvenate you for the equivalent time we’ve been away so that you don’t return to your loved ones looking old and doddery. I regret none of you, including Cherinians, are allowed to visit the planet, but you will be shown our teaching center on the screens. Thank you.”
Only five people left and then Freddie jumped.
Poor Samuel and his family are still here and the girls ran for hugs. We timed our arrival so that Efineh would have been there for about a month. That meant they each had news they wanted to share. Aleka took Aganthi for an inspection tour (her words) while I sat with my daughter Efineh, her husband and my second family.
“They know how much you love it so they consider it an honour. We’re watching to see who among them has green fingers so that we can encourage them to take up farming.”
As we wandered down the hill we came to a flat area covered in lawn where we’ve erected goal posts for the younger boys and men to play soccer. There was only one man there with his little girl. I saw he was training her to be a warrior. They paused as we appeared and then the girl, Pirusi, ran to Thina for a hug. I smiled as she then came to me, all of a sudden shy.
As I held her to me I asked, “Sebura, you are well? You are still determined to turn her into a warrior?”
“She asks. Samantha, you are back for a long visit?”
“Only if I am needed. I came to collect Efineh and her husband as I’m getting married again.”
I hadn’t told the family and I was suddenly under siege as everyone wanted an explanation. Sebura nodded as I spoke, so once I’d explained, I asked him, trying to hide my amusement, “It seems I have just affirmed an opinion you have of me, is it a terrible opinion or can you share it?”
“If I had known how ruthless you are in pursuing your games, I never would have stayed close to you. Is it too late for me to escape?”
“Yes.” I laughed. “I’m not ruthless!”
He asked Aleka, “Is it not true of all women everywhere that once they take hold of a male, they never let go, unless they’ve tired of him? Would any other female divorce her family and stay apart from them for a year just so that she can play her games with this Aristos?”
Despite his rare shows of humour and his companion Pirusi, who needs other company at times, Sebura is still withdrawn and keeps to himself. I was surprised when he followed us back for a way. I made space between myself and the others in case he wanted to talk to me. I’d guessed right.
“Samantha, there is little reason for me to have ambitions as things stand. Will you allow me the right to have ambitions for little Piri?”
“I would be disappointed if you did not. Sebura, I do not object to you having ambitions and I think you will soon have the most wonderful ambitions that I’ll be able to support with all my heart. What is your ambition for Piri?” She looked up at me as I spoke her name and flashed me a smile.
“This trip for a wedding that I do not understand, will you take her with you? She must learn from now that there is more than this world.”
I too have to battle my prejudices so I delayed by asking, “What do you wish for her when she is an adult?”
“I would like to see her sit by Efineh and respected by all.”
“For her cleverness or for her goodness?”
“Both is not possible?”
I laughed. “Sebura, when we marry, it is customary among us for the bride to have bridesmaids with her - bridesmaids are little girls who carry flowers. I could not ask for a prettier or sweeter bridesmaid, if you agree.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll all be too busy to give her a good time and show her around. Why don’t you come with to watch over her?”
I went on tour of all our centres, spent a morning talking with Gifexa of the Lake Orati, handled a few minor problems and then took a day off to visit my gorilla family. I could not find them anywhere within the territory I believed they consider their own. I searched for evidence of traps or men but found nothing. I noticed the forest was not wrapped in mists as it usually was, so I rose into the sky. At my call the scientists in Freddie examined their photos and maps, checked the weather patterns and made their estimates.
“There has been volcanic activity south east of what you would call India and it seems the weather patterns have been affected. The atmosphere carries a lot more ash than it did last time we surveyed this planet. The gorillas must have moved in search of food, but it is not likely they will survive the coming disaster.”
“You expect matters to get worse that quickly?”
“The splitting of the continents will take centuries Sam, but it will be presaged by volcanic activities all over the planet, earthquakes, storms and droughts. No species can be guaranteed survival during such a worldwide cataclysm, to a large extent it will depend on luck and what assistance we can provide.”
“God! The Orati will think I’m to blame!” I shrugged the thought off, a problem to be faced later. “Please find all the gorilla families and try to provide them with the foliage or other foods they need. If you have to, Freddie can take you to other realities where such food is plentiful.”
“It might be wiser to remove them to some such other reality.”
“If we have to, although I think you’ll find suitable areas will have their own gorilla families. Seltwe, this will turn into a massive rescue operation, we’ll need help.”
“And which species would refuse to help, Samantha?” Sifi asked.
“I’ll have to let Robert know. Damn! Why didn’t we see signs of this earlier?”
“We expected this to happen, but in two to three hundred years. We saw no reason for immediate concern. Perhaps one of the Inguel-Kinytian teams should be brought here? They could assist in minimising the damage to the ecology.”
I agreed and went to sit at the taverna to indulge myself by being depressed for a little time on my own. Maria decided it was to be otherwise, she went to the kitchen and from there asked Freddie to call Aganthi.
“What’s wrong Sammy mou?” As she put her arm around me I burst into tears.
Once I’d explained it did not take long for Samuel and his family to join us. They listened in disbelieving silence and Samuel took my hand.
“Samantha, you’ll need to be strong for them. Take the gorillas and any other species that are in danger of extinction, but the Orati must stay. Between all of us we’ll manage to keep them safe. Sam, if you try to make them leave their world they’ll hate you again. The help we offer must be on their terms.”
I listened to them, but it meant little to me, I just couldn’t seem to think. Aganthi made me drink some Milo and took me to bed. I fell asleep in her arms and she soothed me during the night my fears filled with nightmares. Without asking me she told Freddie to jump back home. I woke up in the morning to the presence of my family and it helped heal me. Just having Robbie’s shoulder to lean on was all the comfort I needed to get my mind working again.
Robbie gave a surprised laugh. “You want to ask them to commit themselves to a thousand year project!”
“Why not? It’s about time they learn to think long term. I think it will help make their own planets safer and happier worlds.”
“If you say so.”
Hettie was just as doubtful of succeeding in securing such a long term commitment. Bruce was convinced we could. Soon everyone was taking bets, the imps having drawn in Claudia for working out the odds so that they neither make nor lose money. For this once Robbie just shook his head but kept quiet - maybe because Cherine, Dommi, Alki and so on placed bets with the girls.
My heart soared when I sensed Michael and his family. He smiled at his other mothers but came directly to me. “Mother, I heard. We’ve taken a vote, if you’ll allow us to help, the Ipohin are yours.” I saw Ahní was biting her lip and I sensed she was anxious, afraid I’d hurt Michael.
I stood up and stared at him proudly. “Will any future son of mine be loved by me as deeply as this one is?”
He didn’t try to hide his wonder. “You accept?”
“Of course.” He showed no regard for the dignity of the moment and swept me up in his arms just like I was a little girl and swung me around, his heart flooding mine.
He stopped his turn, facing Ahní. “She accepted! I’ll never understand her!”
She laughed. “That’s why she’s so special to you.”
“Oh, I don’t know, she can be quite a pain in the…” I put my hand over his mouth and he kissed it before pulling it away. “I want to greet my other mothers and then we can talk strategy.”
The Normals who’d come with us crowded around the taverna once they were made to feel welcome, Cherinians deliberately hanging further back since they could share directly.
“I think you are wrong Samantha, just as we can transfer all the species in danger of extinction, so can we move these humans. Why make them suffer for a thousand years?”
I gave Henry a smile and took a few steps closer to the Normals. “I presume that there are a number of Christians here, are there any Muslims? Imagine this scenario, but remember, I’m only asking you to pretend for the sake of clarifying my argument, I’m not implying or making any claims about your god. Let us say that your god exists, that he comes among us and so you have proof and you can feel his warm love for you. Now, let us pretend that your god also has his alternate in every reality. Your god tells you that he wants to do some renovation work in his reality and he regrets that it will cause much suffering for the next thousand or ten thousand years. He has talked to the Cherinians and they are willing to transport you to a different reality where there is a beautiful and pristine Earth waiting for you. He has also talked to his alternate who is looking forward to having you stay there, as he has not had anyone to love him. Would you go? Would you feel that worshipping his alternate is the same as worshipping your god?” I turned slightly as if meaning to address others. “There must be many of you who have a mother you love. To avoid suffering, would you abandon her and go to live with her sister?
That is what is being asked of the Orati. They love their planet as a mother and god. The question may only be one of a philosophical nature, but surely those kind of questions and their answers are what define us as human beings? What is logical and fact to one of us may not be so to any one else, but it remains valid for that person. I say the Orati and the other races must be given a clear explanation of what awaits them and we respect their choice and help those who need to stay. What do you think?”
Michael grinned and ‘publicly’ sent his thought to Zenon, *It is just as well she doesn’t want to take over as leader of our Ipohin or else we’d be out of a job.* Many laughed, but I pretended not to hear.
We were sitting in our lounge and I was ostensibly watching a movie, trying to hide my slight depression. Cherine plonked herself by me on the sofa. “What’s wrong?”
“My dream has died. Cherine, this once I tried to do something to show you how much I love you and just when it looked as if I might succeed, it all falls apart. Now Cherinians and Normals by the thousands will be there and they’ll change the Orati.”
“Why should they? Your centres will still be there won’t they? You’ll still teach? Just expand your program to include all Normals,” she grinned, “and Cherinians. Many of them need to learn what you’re teaching. Anyway, I don’t want you thinking of an entire world as a gift to me, think of what you are doing as being out of love for them and what they can be.”
“It is for both reasons, you know that.”
“Not if you sit here moping. We only have a couple of days for the wedding, go back to bring Efineh…where will Sebura and Piri stay?”
“I’m hoping Socrati will invite them.”
“I like that, go, I’ll see to it that he does.” She gave a naughty grin. “Seeing as to how Socrati spends so much time at Wilfred’s pub, it’ll be interesting seeing how Sebura reacts to meeting Robert's father and mother. I can just imagine what Wilfred will tell him about Robert. I bet he’ll enjoy recounting the story about Robert being a demon.”
“I think it will be nicer for Piri if we book them a bungalow in the Seychelles.” She laughed and Robbie grinned at me from across the room.
I asked for the elders or leaders of every nation to meet with me. As a temporary sop to their egos and to my feelings of guilt, it made them look important to their own people when they were collected in platforms that Robbie designed to appear to be made of precious metals and jewels.
Once they were all seated, I stood on the dais, appearing as an adult. “I left yesterday to meet my gorilla family. They were gone and I could not find them. I asked our friends in Freddie to find them for me and to try to work out why they had moved. What they discovered shook me so that I needed to return to my family and weep like a child. Please look at the screen above me. Most of you will recognise your own planet. As I’ve told you before, this is what will begin to happen within eight hundred years and the process will continue causing changes on all life for at least a thousand years or more.”
On the screen they saw the continents break apart and I doubt that many of them noticed India crash into Asia for they all were awed by seeing South America move away from Africa. The screen zoomed in and they saw countless eruptions, land collapsing, drowning under the ocean while new land rises.
“What you cannot see on the screens is that the skies will fill with ash and bad air that will sting your eyes and noses. The land beneath you will shake so violently that trees will fall over and houses will collapse and people will die.
As I said, that is to happen far in the future and I did not worry about it, as I thought we have lots of time for us to prepare you and help you survive without too much suffering.
The reason the gorillas moved is because the rains stopped. They had to move to find food wherever the rains have gone to. They will not find any food within the distance they can walk so thousands of people on Freddie are collecting from another Earth the food they need. We may have to move them to another Earth until a new rain forest has grown on this planet.
Robbie came to his feet and made a slight gesture for me to remain standing by his side.
“Samantha has given you the bad news. Allow me to tell you the good news. She went to the leaders of all the nations on all the Earths we know and she told them of what is happening here. All of them are sending help. You will have to change the way you live, but before we go into those details, I must tell you what the other Earths wanted to do and how Samantha fought them on your behalf.
They wanted to move all of you to another Earth where there are no other people so that you can live without suffering. She refused them because, as she told them, this Earth is your mother and many of you will not want to leave your mother. Those who do want to leave will be taken, but those who want to stay, we give you our promise, we will be here with you, by your side, to help you. Now I will let Samantha tell you of the changes those who want to stay will have to make.”
What we had told them and what we showed on the screens was too vast and alien for them to understand at one sitting. All they understood was that something terrible is about to happen and fear was eating at them so that they could not think. I had to find a way to calm them before we began working out detailed plans.
“Your mother is not sick. What is happening is the way of all life. It is time for her to change. She should have changed a long time ago, but because she loved her children so much, she tried to stop the changes so that you do not suffer. If she does not change, she will grow sick, so we must rejoice that she is changing and whatever problems there are, we will face them together.
Men, true men, are not like the rocks. When the winds of change blow, we can bend like the grass so that the wind passes without destroying us. We will spend the next days with you, explaining what will happen and why. We will show you that there are ways for everyone to live through the difficult days that are coming. Only once you have understood will you return here for you to discuss it among yourselves as leaders and to make your decisions. Once you have told us what you want to do, we’ll take those who want to stay to meet the leaders of other worlds so that you can tell them what you want and negotiate with them as to how they help you.
I’m sorry for the shock of what I’m going to do to you now, but I had to ask those who know the best way to explain everything to you to come to your world. Today, for the first time, people who do not look like us because they were born on worlds that travel around different suns from ours are visiting you. Please welcome and listen to what one of our best friends has to tell you. His name is Serrive and he is the son of our friends Ordinx and Ashiir, of the species known to us as the Anadir.”
Serrive has grown up knowing us and many Terrans, so he is quick to use smiles, a nod of his head and everything else that helps Terrans think of him as likeable and friendly. He first did what he could to soothe the fears of his audience, made a few jokes about me and as they began to recover from their shock he turned to his subject, explaining about air currents, how clouds are formed and why they sometimes move in the opposite direction to the wind blowing against our faces on the surface. He’s good at giving simple examples that are suited to their culture and anecdotes that helped them understand. Some of the other speakers became too technical, but it did not worry me, they will learn more from asking questions.
Sebura came to our door that evening. I smiled at him. “Piri is asleep?”
“Fighting lions in her dreams. Samantha, we have been told - it is true that our mother is beginning to tear herself apart and she weeps tears of fire?”
I moaned inside me. “Come in and I’ll try to explain it so that you understand what is happening.”
“Sam, if that is what Sebura thinks, the rest of the people must think the same or worse and feel terrified.”
We were up until four in the morning and Sebura’s thin face was bleak as he came to his feet. “I will try Samantha, but they will think this is demon business.”
“If you can believe that I love your people and this world, then you will find a way to help them understand.”
“The elders should explain, they will listen to them.”
“The elders will be busy learning and then arguing what they should do for their people. Do the best you can Sebura.”
As he was leaving he turned to us again. “Will you be leaving for your wedding?”
“Only once the elders have made their decisions. Sebura, nothing bad is going to happen within days, it is just that things will get worse and worse, too much rain or no rain, too hot sometimes and so on. I promise, none will die because of our leaving for a few hours.”
For breakfast we had mangoes, red bananas and other fruit brought from other regions by Vincent. Robbie was thrilled to find there are red bananas and asked if we’d seen any custard apple trees. We had not, so he wondered whether he’d be affecting the local ecology if he brought some. That made us laugh, I mean, what with the damage that is about to happen, his worry seemed funny to us. Claudia suggested he checks for them in India, as she thinks they originally come from there.
It was a cloudy day, almost pleasantly cool, and as the elders were busy and no one else seemed to feel inclined to throw any problems at me, I wandered through a few rooms to greet the local women who were by now managing most of the everyday problems of the centre. From there I drifted outside, sending to my loves that it will be beautiful among the trees with the mist I saw floating among them.
I’m not certain at what instant the idea came, but I liked it so I jumped to Robbie. “Could we teleport mist in large quantities?”
“I doubt that would be of much use to the dying rain forests Sam, even if we could.”
“I wasn’t thinking of them. You’ve seen and used a hookah pipe so you know how the water purifies the smoke, removing nicotine and tar and other chemicals. I was wondering, if we sent up huge amounts of mist to the levels where the ash is floating, would the ash stick to the water vapour and sink?”
Cherine giggled. “You thought she wants to save a little forest, forgetting our Samantha always dreams big enough to find ways to save an entire world.”
“I’m a good dreamer Cherine, but not that good. I have a feeling my idea won’t work, we could use clouds, just forcing them higher but, it gets very cold very fast and the water vapour would probably freeze too fast to affect the ash streams.”
Robbie shrugged. “Nothing to stop us trying out your idea. Perhaps we can find ways to stop the vapour from freezing too quickly to be of use. Perhaps the vapour won’t freeze as quickly as you fear because the atmospheric pressure will be far less and the water will try to expand. I don’t know, let’s try it and see what the problems are.”
Empathia grinned, “You know, it would be much easier to ask the Unation computers.”
“Where would the fun in that be? I find sitting here boring, let’s go.”
Teleporting clouds did not work, but we came up with a compromise. Robbie would enclose a cloud formation in void energy and we’d teleport that. Robbie gathered energy to permeate the cloud so that it did not freeze instantly, giving the vapour just enough time to trap some of the ash. Freddie maintained a constant projection of the main ash streams, showing exactly where we were as we flew in small platforms and we succeeded in reducing one of the ash streams by about a third of its ash. We returned home exhausted but exhilarated. We’d solved a problem on our own without having to ask the scientists and it made us feel good.
