“Before I continue, it is important you understand how dangerous the Gnolats are. As you see, we have placed a dome at the center. The outer dome is compressed energy that a nuclear bomb could not dent. I will turn it transparent now.” Once they could see the structure inside, he showed on the screens the multiple layers it is made of. There was a murmur from the crowd as they heard of metals and ceramics and plastics that are used by the most advanced armies to defend their bunkers or spaceships.
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 10, use this link button to open the LC Book Index:
7261
“At the center is a space large enough for one person. There is no entrance, I will have to teleport into it. We will now show you estimates by the scientists and military personnel of a number of species, giving an approximate length of time it would take them to break through into the room I will be occupying. Please ignore the fact that they made their calculations based on being able to deploy shaped nuclear explosions, lasers that can cut through our strongest metal as if it were butter and other weapons that could raze an entire planet within hours.”
An unbelieving gasp was heard as they saw the quotes. The fastest breakthrough was estimated by the Unation and they calculated it would take them about twenty months of continuous effort. Many of the reports admitted it would take over ten years.
“Impressive? Now let me return to the layers I skipped earlier on.” They were highlighted on the screens. “As you see, there are eight of them. Do not be misled by their lack of thickness, each one is created out of a special energy I have compressed and each one by itself is tougher than all the other layers you’ve already seen. In other words, the building you see is at least eight times stronger than was accounted for in the reports.” He paused and smiled. “Are there any demolition experts here who would like to volunteer to rid us of the building afterwards? Please name your fee.”
He gestured and I came to his side. “Samantha has volunteered to become a Gnolat. She will not be projecting as she did before. No, to be honest, it is a form of projection, but far more powerful, as she herself will believe she is a Gnolat. She will not be as powerful and adaptive as a real Gnolat would be, but she will have about eighty percent of their powers, adaptability and speed. Luckily her claws and teeth will not be sheathed in the same psychic powers they use, just a simulation that we’ve created to closely resemble their powers. Watch your screens for excerpts so that you understand how adaptive the Gnolats are.”
It was just as frightening for those of us who’d been there - perhaps, even more. We have never shown in our tellings so clearly the viciousness and totally unbending drive by them to kill Robbie. For the first time we sensed how the entire stadium was filled by fear.
“What looks like a dome to you is actually a sphere and the structure inside extends into the ground in exactly the same shape. Should our demonstration be considered to have escaped us and become dangerous, the entire sphere with structure and Gnolat will be instantly taken into space and transferred to a reality without any life.”
As Robbie and I walked down the steps and across the field, Robbie continued talking, giving facts that made the Gnolats even more real to them. He explained that the Unation built cameras into the structure so that the Gnolat can be clearly observed at all times.
“When Samantha becomes a Gnolat, I will be standing before her. I’m hoping she’ll take at least a second to attack. I will teleport into the centre and you’ll be able to see me there as that space also has cameras. As I teleport, I am assured that a hologram of myself will replace me with barely a flicker. I will be seen by the Gnolat to be opening an entrance and it will think I entered the structure. It should be obsessed by its need to kill me, but we’ll have to wait to see what happens. I should mention that I am protected by a bodysuit stasis field that hopefully will be impervious to its claws and teeth.”
Robbie teleported us through the outer dome and he placed himself against the inner structure and nodded for me to go ahead. I projected, but this time I allowed the counterfeit instincts that came with the change to overpower me. What happened thereafter I can only quote others and what I saw recorded on film.
Robbie delayed longer than the stipulated second as he thought the Gnolat was dazed and he wanted to be certain it focusses on him. A claw slashed out just as he was about to teleport, knocking him back against the wall. He dropped to the ground, rolled and came to his feet as he teleported. The hologram came on and the Gnolat swung around, confused, for it could not sense him, only see him. An opening appeared, the holo-Robbie rushed through and the wall was solid again.
7262
The Gnolat looked around, perhaps it was trying to identify where it is. The inner side of the dome was not transparent and it must have disliked being closed in, for a claw slashed out, ripping right through the dome. Robbie was informed and he immediately jumped again, landing in the correct place for the hologram this time. He called out, but the Gnolat had already sensed him and forgetting the dome it rushed to attack what it perceived as a threat to its species.
As he disappeared, this time it decided Robbie is inside the building. Its claws raked at the exact same position the opening had appeared at and mortar crumbled and titanium threads ripped. The sound of claws scraping against the steel plate screeched throughout the stadium. It pulled back and slammed its claws into the hole it had begun to make and pulling out again it tore the plate. Irkiam ceramic was the next layer and that lasted no longer than the other materials had. It can be seen on camera that the Unation scientists were distressed at the ease with which those claws destroyed one of the hardest materials they have. The Gnolat now concentrated on enlarging the opening so that it can reach deeper.
The next layer was Robbie’s dark compressed energy shields. It did not even notice them as its claws sliced through to the next layer. What was obvious to all was that as it dug deeper, so it became enraged at the number and variety of defensive materials Robbie had hidden himself within and the speed of its attacks made its arms a blur. Within thirty eight minutes the Gnolat entered the chamber Robbie was within. He teleported out of there, but within the dome. The Gnolat paused a second and then it teleported to him.
Robbie was now supposed to send me a message to break the compulsion I was under, but the area he was in was too small for him to gain a breathing spell. Blows began to connect and some of them actually tore into his body as the bodysuit stasis shield bent and took the shape of its claws. Cherine jumped into the dome and screamed the words that were supposed to release me. The problem was, we had not taken into consideration one small but important fact. The Gnolat did not understand English! ‘I’, in any guise, had to understand the trigger for it to work.
Cherine could not seem to understand that none of the triggers were working and remained in the dome screaming at me, hoping that wherever I had sunk to within my mind, I would hear her. This limited the area Robbie had as he did not dare go anywhere close to Cherine, so he was suffering new wounds more often and some of them were now serious.
Suddenly an Akiard appeared by Cherine, grabbed her and jumped. As they disappeared another form took shape, obviously not teleporting there, but materialising. It was an archetype Akiard, larger, more ferocious and it glowed for a short while.
The Gnolat lost interest in Robbie, for here was an infinitely more powerful threat. The Akiard composite entity was hampered by two compulsions. One was, that as a warrior of love, it will not kill. The second one was that it knew that the Gnolat is me, Samantha.
Despite his pain Robbie responded to a mental shout by Cherine and he abandoned his body for the void. There he became the g-void and gathering energy he compressed it to the extreme of his ability and returning attacked the Gnolat from behind, repeatedly stabbing it. Finally it fell to its knees and using all his strength, Robbie cut off its head.
Everyone was waiting for me in the void and their mental shouts awoke me. Cherine disappeared as the girls flooded me with their love motes. Cherine directed the healers and they succeeded in contacting my healer and it reverted my body, while Robbie held my head to my neck. I’m glad the girls kept me in the void for it took five hours to repair the damage and I imagine the pain would have been excruciating.
By the time I opened my eyes with a groan, Cherine, and Robbie in his body again, were holding me. Robbie whispered, “I know my love, I’m sorry, the pain will soon end. Shh my love, shit happens but you made it, you’re back my love” plus other endearments from both of them. The cameras upped the volume so that all he and Cherine said were heard by everyone.
Robbie first examined the tear in the dome and then, concentrating on it, it misted and melted away. I looked back, but the structure remained. I decided I will return later to examine the damage I’d caused as the Gnolat.
“I apologise, the demonstration has turned out to be far more traumatic than we had expected and we need to rest, may we continue tomorrow?” Without waiting for any kind of reply he sent us a mental suggestion that we return to Freddie. Before we did so, the crowd came to its feet and they clapped. I could see Cherine grinning as Robbie’s and my face burnt with embarrassment.
7263
We sat at the taverna, expecting all our friends to join us. Maria came out and stood by Robbie.
“Yes Maria?”
“Is it reasonable to expect one old woman to cook for so many? I need two assistants.”
Robbie stood up. “You are right, it was thoughtless of me. Maria, where could we find you assistants? For any Normal to take the position means they would age during our long trips. No Cherinian would need or want the job.”
“Why not buy two robots from the Unation?”
Stunned Robbie glanced at us. He was amazed by her showing so much initiative. “They could never cook like you.”
“I am certain they can wash the pots and plates just as efficiently and there is much else they can do. Who do you think cleans up all the litter you leave around here?”
“I’ll see to it. Maria, go down to the planet and visit our city while it exists. Enjoy a meal someone else has cooked for a change.”
Soon as she was gone he groaned, “Next thing I know Freddie will demand help.”
“If you continue taking so many trips without the girls, I just might want to go off on my own for a while.”
Cherine giggled. “Freddie, that was the nicest thing you’ve said for a long time. I’d have thought you’d be fed up of our causing you problems all the time.”
He laughed. “Those are the times I enjoy having you here. Not like someone I know who sits reading all day or playing tavli without learning how to play properly.” He chuckled. “Despite what I said, Samantha, please do restrain yourself and avoid becoming a Gnolat in here.”
I touched my neck. “I don’t think I’ll ever do that again!”
We had to return to the city since none of us felt like cooking.
Well after the meal, we broke up into small groups to walk around and meet people. Em-e, Theresa and Jodine came with me so I explained that I want to visit the stadium. As we entered I saw that the structure is being examined by dozens of scientists of all species. I wanted to leave, but the girls insisted on us joining them. They made way for me, but showed me the damage, lacing the tour with explanations and comments. When we came out into the bright lights again I was asked a question.
“How are you able to project claws hard enough to create such damage?”
“When we met the original Gnolats, one of the first things I did was send my healer to one. It knows how to recreate what it learnt.”
“Would it be possible for you to create just a claw for us to take samples?”
“I’m willing - I’d also be interested in learning what it is made of, but, I have to ask this - if the claws were not even scratched by tearing through all that, how do you plan on getting a sample?”
We left them to puzzle it out on their own, the girls laughing in their minds, as we returned to the still busy streets. Standing under the great trees we saw Arthur Campbell. He cut across as we made to walk past him.
“This has been a most enlightening visit. Sorry, I apologise, please forgive my enthusiasm, good evening ladies.”
“Good evening.”
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He pointed at the needle tip that from outside seemed to pierce the stadium. “That is an impossible construction. I took a tour this afternoon and it still seems impossible.”
I smiled sweetly. “That’s Robert’s gift - doing the impossible.”
“Yes. Like cutting off the head of his most loved wife and daughter - he amazes me. A man who refuses to kill or use his powers to openly dominate, who professes that empathy must rule us and yet he is able to do that?”
“Surely you can see that empathy forced him to do so? As for being his most loved wife and daughter, I hope you are wrong and were only trying to flatter me.”
He grinned at the girls. “Talking with her is like fencing with a master swordsman. Allow me to make a gift appropriate to this time and place. I’ll tell you one of my weaknesses - who knows, you might find some use for it. I have a weakness for beauty. I’m not talking about women, although my weakness does extend in that direction also, I’m talking about the beauty of nature and the art of all species - the art of minds that are capable of creating beauty out of a vision, such as I’ve seen here. I have at times made sacrifices to preserve such beauty.”
I instantly countered him, “I’ll also confide a weakness, if you consider such a thing a weakness. I’ll start off with the premise that not all children are beautiful in the classical sense, but no child is ugly. Having qualified myself I’ll say that any man or woman who can see more beauty and value in the face of one ugly child and sacrifice all the beauty you admire for the sake of that child, that person would endear himself to me.”
Em-e laughed. “If both of you feel you have scored the points you wanted, may we continue with our walk? It is too beautiful a night for us to waste it on sparring.”
He smiled. “Enjoy your evening ladies.”
Once he was out of earshot, I said, “Days like today shouldn’t happen even to people like him. Having my head chopped off and having to talk with him, all in one day - it really is too much!”
Theresa asked, trying to provoke me, “Which of the two was worse?”
I grinned. “Having my head chopped off - definitely.”
We strolled about for a couple of hours, just like any bunch of girls would, giggling, grinning when we felt some (in fact or potential) paedophile reacting to us and stopped to talk to various people. We had just entered a street when Theresa pulled us back.
“Take a look, but don’t let him see you. Dimi is flirting with a woman.” We looked and saw she was right. We turned around and went looking for a different street to walk in, curiosity burning in each of us. We want to meet her.
It should be a tiring day tomorrow, so I’ll end off and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.
The stadium was fully packed again as Robbie stood to talk. “My apologies for yesterday, as you have obviously surmised, things did not exactly go to plan - it was foolish of me to expect a Gnolat to behave according to my wishes. The demonstration had a purpose, it was meant to make clear to you why I considered the Gnolats a threat to all life, despite our weapons and those of civilisations far more advanced than ourselves.
Those of you who do not recall the tellings clearly may not be aware of what my greatest fear was. Some instinctive drive forces changes on the Gnolats. Once I had teleported, without it having the intelligence to reason how I did it, the Gnolats saw it as a threat to them so they were able to make whatever changes were necessary to teleport. When we left their planet, they learnt how to levitate so as to follow us and survive in the vacuum of space. If these adaptations had occurred over generations it would have still been astounding, to have them occur almost instantly in response to our actions was terrifying. When we battled them the first time, I grew frightened and withdrew, caught in a dilemma I did not know how to resolve. You see, what had occurred to me is that their protector instincts might realise that our greatest power and threat to them is our intelligence. Can you imagine that creature you saw yesterday capable of planning strategies, building fleets to carry them through space and the other benefits that accrue to those who are sapient? What of our weapons? Any new weapon we design, they’d soon have it and it just might be more effective or destructive than ours.
7265
The driving fear of my nightmares has been that one or more Gnolats escaped. One is all it would take to signify the end of all life they might consider inimical to their species. The rest they would feed on. I failed everyone! Because of my fears I did not take the next logical step and consider what could happen to the teddies in other realities and what the chances are that they could be provoked into changing into Gnolats. I did so at the end of our war with the Gnolats, but then put it off for dealing with later as I was exhausted by having to deal with them. Samantha forced that scenario on me, as you read.
Enough, I did not invite you to terrify you, but I did want you to understand why the partying and feasting begins tonight and why we have arranged it solely in the honour of the one man who remains steadfast in his love of all of us.
When Samantha saw how she had distressed me, she made time to write in the diary before we went for breakfast. She wrote about my fear and when we returned from our meal we found the following in our diary and it was written in our writing font, not his chat font, thereby making it a true part of our history.”
The writing by Arthur appeared and the murmuring swelled as they understood what Arthur has done. They were awed that just with his words he can reach back billions of years, create a planet and a specific plant to be infected from a different solar system and almost casually end the greatest threat to all life.
The celebrations ended and as we guessed, since they were here, our guests wanted to see a bit of this world. There are too many of them for our family to escort them, so Cherinians and Ipohin are providing transport. We first returned the leaders of the neighbouring lands, made certain they have the drinks and foods their guests will require, advised them about various other requirements and then quickly built bathrooms with wood-fired geysers for hot water and brought them a stock of toilet paper and towels. Once the guests are gone I’m certain the locals will want to try out the bathrooms and I wonder whether they’ll become popular or will they consider them decadent, for demons only?
Thousands of guests pleaded with us for the city to be kept. When Ashema and the other leaders joined them, Robbie sighed and gave in. I think he also found it too beautiful for him to destroy it. It does mean he will have to return on a regular basis to reinforce all that was constructed out of void energy. Jade and the others spoke to the Unation scientists and it was agreed that most of the energy parts will be replaced by traïdere-ane material which is light, durable and can, with a few unobtrusive alterations hold the impossible angles. Only the large Jade Museum spike cannot be replaced by any other material. Apart from our Robbie, RT Robert, Vincent and Michael can visit to replace the energy lost, so it should be safe to let it stand for now. It is not as if the city will last for long, not once the severe earthquakes begin.
We had a talk with Sebura and he admitted that he no longer feels the fierce need to kill the enemy. He offered that we decide what their fate should be.
“This must stand as a lesson to us. Next time we take prisoners we dispose of them immediately. Once time has passed our empathy gets the better of us and we’re forced to let them go - to fight us again.”
“I have an idea, will you allow me to handle it?”
“You will not enter their minds Cherine.”
She stared back at him. “I will not agree if you place restrictions or conditions. Will you?”
“Go ahead.”
7266
They were all already blocked, so Cherine placed them in separate apartments. To each of them she said, “We already have some idea of what powers each of you have. We are faced with a decision to be made by tomorrow. Either we continue with our original plan or else you cooperate and we let you go. On the paper before you, you will have noticed are the names of each of you with ample space for you to fill in the powers of each person, including yourself.
We will examine to what extent any of the powers could be useful. If they are, you’ll be allowed to keep them, but you will have to show us how to open our minds to those powers. If they are only destructive, those powers will be blocked so that you can never use them again. None of you have only one power. You’ve all learnt how to contact your healers, how to teleport and a number of other gifts or powers. Those you will be allowed to keep. I think it is a small price you are being asked to pay, but you are lucky that the celebrations have left us in a good mood.
If we sense you are not being truthful and are trying to hide powers we would not approve of, then all of you will be reverted to babies.”
The next morning she collected the sheets and between them I think she got a fairly comprehensive list. There were only five powers in four of them that we had to block. Of those we do not have and could be useful, we do not need them, as we have other gifts that achieve the same results. A pity, I’d have enjoyed the irony of their attacks making us stronger - it would rankle like nothing else could.
Dirk Sheffield was one of the four with a power to be blocked. He agreed to offer no resistance if I were the one to enter his mind. His request infuriated Robbie, but I agreed.
“We felt you block his power, he didn’t offer any resistance?”
I smiled. “Actually, he showed me a weakness of his. It came at a price and I agreed on behalf of all of us.” I let them stew for a short time and then I explained. “When he studied martial arts in Hong Kong, he met a Chinese girl and she had his child. He has provided for the child, but kept it a secret as his friends might try to use that kind of leverage against him. I’ve undertaken to see to the safety of his child should he die or lose all his powers.”
Rosie melodramatically sighed. “It’s unfair that monsters like him have a human side to them - it makes it very difficult for us to fight them.”
Robbie answered her, “Be grateful that it is so my little flower.”
Sebura nodded his agreement when we informed him of the action we’d taken, but it was obvious his mind was on other problems. I decided it would not be fair to him to stop his being an elder immediately. Then I decided to offer him the choice.
“Sebura, your promise, do you wish to keep it now or first spend a few months being an elder?”
“Promise?”
“One year of being a healer.”
“I’d forgotten!” He turned to Haven. “You must have thought I lack in honour!”
Dryly she replied, “If I did, I would have let you know.” He accepted her comment with pleasure, knowing it is true of her.
“As an elder I have been set certain tasks, may I perform them first? I would also prefer to warn the council of my absence for a year.”
“Let us know when you are ready.”
About ten days after the departure of our last guests, a message was passed on to me, requesting me to meet Kinestasi at his palace. I jumped there the next morning. He showed me to his private rooms and we had some tea in tiny ceremonial cups as we sat in the courtyard. He kept the conversation general, asking a few questions before he came to the reason for requesting my presence.
7267
“In the western part of our lands there has always been good rainfall, the soil is rich and there is good grazing and it is cooler with less sickness there. The tribe that lives there have made a name for the horses they breed. Recently one stallion has proven to be exceptional, but no man has succeeded in riding him. When I heard, I asked myself, is this not the perfect horse for our white demon Samantha? It has been brought here for you as a gift from our people.” He hesitated and then casually added, “The tribe have asked that you return it to them once a year for it to breed with their mares.”
The moment I saw it I fell in love with its arrogance and pride. Taller than any of the other horses I’ve seen here, sleek and powerful and of a midnight blackness, apart from one tiny white patch just above its right front hoof.
“Skotos.” His ears pricked.
“Samantha?”
“Skotos, that is his name. It means darkness. Kinestasi, I have been honoured beyond what I deserve. Do you have a halter?”
They gave me one. I checked it and it was in good condition. I smelt it and pulled a face. “I need a bucket of clean water and soap.” I scrubbed until my fingers should have been bleeding. I then lay it in the sun and joined Kinestasi for a cool drink (he actually had a can of coke). After a couple of hours I collected the halter and held it my hands for an hour, spreading my scent over it. I then found a clump of green grass and crushed some of it over the ropes.
I asked for and was given a stool. “Kinestasi, can you see to it that nobody comes close to us until I’m ready to leave in the morning? I don’t want Skotos to see anyone else until then.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon and night sitting close to him, talking on and on. Within a few hours my loves were bored of listening to me and stopped sharing, except for Lucy. In the morning I fetched a bucket of clean water and placed it before him. I first took the precaution of spreading my scent on the wooden sides of the bucket.
After he’d nibbled at the grass I brought him I stood before him and holding out my hand I invited him to smell me as I continued talking. Soon as he realised my hands were empty of food he disdainfully turned away. I kept my hand out, warning my healer, and moving sideways I caressed his neck. He pulled away and gave me a warning look. Still softly talking I caressed his body. His head snapped around and bit my hand. Startled he pulled away. It must have felt as if he’d tried to bite a rock.
Gradually I got him used to my touching him. I decided it was time I fit him with the halter and I reached out for him to smell it. He did not like it when I laid it across his neck but he was now wary of trying to bite me again. As I tried to slip it over his muzzle he shook his head, stopping me. I spoke sharply to him and he stopped to look at me and I quickly slipped the halter in place.
I fed him again, made certain he drank some water and then tugged firmly at the rope. He took a few steps, put his front legs forward and tried to pull back. I stood rooted to the spot until he gave up and then took a few steps again, tugging at him, but still talking, trying to soothe his fears.
At some point he decided to humour me and allowed me to lead him out onto the street. I smiled when I saw soldiers in the distance keeping all traffic away, with only Kinestasi waiting for me at a distance. I spoke as if talking to Skotos, but loud enough for Kinestasi to hear me. “We’re walking back to my Orati centre, it should give him time enough to become used to me. Thank you again, he is special.”
“You cannot walk all the way! I will send soldiers to carry food and water for you.”
“Please do not. I will enjoy having this time alone with him. I want him to come to know me, but I too must learn to know him and we need time alone for that.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Soon a man appeared in the direction we would be walking. “It is rope for hobbling his legs when you wish to sleep.” I nodded without commenting and collected the rope, knowing I would not be using it.
There was no level land big enough for what I had in mind until we arrived on the plains of Orati land. I grinned at Skotos. “Let’s have a run.”
7268
Skotos did not know that I am not supposed to be capable of running as fast as he can gallop, so he enjoyed his run. I kept the rope in my hand, but whenever he wanted to change direction I followed his lead. By the time we slowed to a walk he knew that he cannot run away from me and though he kept his head facing slightly away from me, I could sense him watching me out of the corner of his eye.
The only other moment worth recording was when I made a mistake and snapped the rope. In a fury he rose onto his back legs and lashed out at me. Vincent protected me so that I did not feel the blows.
I did not want him in stables. I had them fence in some land, far from all habitation, that is rich in grass and has a stream meandering though it. By the time I released him there we were growing used to each other and to a small extent becoming friends. I made a point of visiting him at least twice a day, racing him across the enclosure or just sitting on the fence talking to him.
“At some time you’ll have to convince him to allow you on him.”
“It would be nice, but to tell you the truth, I don’t mind if he never does.”
Once every two weeks I’d free him and we’d race across the plains. I noticed he never aimed for the hills and swerved away from the area of Gnolat City. At times I was aware of watchers in the distance and grinned as I imagined them trying to tell everyone how I raced Skotos. (hee-hee, I knew it would upset my family when I named the city in their honour. Robbie agreed with me and that is its name now, for as long as it lasts.)
Lucy maintained her interest in sharing whenever I spent time with Skotos and since Sharipya was with us because of the celebrations and had stayed on to spend time with Lucy, it was inevitable that she would ask for her with Sharipya and Asimi to join us. I told her to meet us after Skotos has had his first run.
We’d had a good run and Skotos shone with sweat as we walked, me chatting to him. Sharipya with Lucy on his back and Asimi came out from behind some thorn trees to the right of us. I pretended not to have noticed them and Skotos nudge my shoulder with his head.
I could tell he wanted to run off, but I continued walking and talking so he stayed by my side. His ears were twitching like crazy as he listened to them talking and tried nudging me again as they drew close, but I called out and Lucy answered. They tried to go around Skotos so as to walk on my other side but he would not allow them, immediately moving to that side of me. At twelve I am too short to place my hand on his withers so I placed it alongside his neck, rubbing to calm him down while talking with the others.
We had two good runs, Skotos satisfied that he and I can outrun the others and then we walked back. Asimi suggested I ride on her back. I was curious to see how Skotos would react. He became furious. He must have sensed that Asimi is female and Sharipya male, for he attacked Sharipya. I jumped off Asimi, landing between the two of them. Skotos was caught by surprise and he collided with me, sending me sprawling. His aggression instantly evaporated and he nuzzled at me until I petted him.
As I came to my feet I leapt astride and Skotos bucked, making angry noises. I leapt off him and sat astride Asimi. I did not talk to him again until he was back within his enclosure and he sulked, walking off without my customary rubbing of his nose.
Next morning I sat on the fence watching him until he came to see why I hadn’t joined him for a run as usual. I talked to him, but stayed on the fence until his body came alongside and I leant over, my hand on his withers as I crossed over. As my legs rested against his sides his skin flicked as if I were a fly irritating him and he turned to look at me. I rubbed him for a minute, jumped off and began running. Exuberantly he joined me. The next day I sat on the fence again and after a while he turned for me to sit astride. I repeated the actions of the previous day. Gradually he accepted me and walked around, waiting for me to jump off and race him.
Obviously there were Orati spying on me and seeing me ride him, some youths challenged the best rider among them to ride Skotos. They could not rescue their friend until Skotos was finished with him and the healers had a couple of broken bones and a ruptured spleen to heal once they brought him to the centre. Skotos is now known and referred to as the demon horse.
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We did not have to remind Sebura, he came of his own. He handed over Pirusi once his healer had learnt from ours and he walked off into the bush, aiming for smaller villages where it is less likely there will be Cherinians. He returned every week for half a day to be with Pirusi, but when he heard the children are on school holiday, he took her with him for one week.
A bell! That was corny and Freddie feels foolish! Thanks for sending the directions through Hiahi, they are excited that you used them and it is certain to help make them feel closer to all of us.
Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty Three
7270
When the parexigisi (misunderstanding) happened, we stopped en route. We are by a galaxy we haven’t been to before and we saw a dust cloud within the galaxy. We decided to check in case the world of Ntchizi is among those being affected, but we did not find any planets with signs of present or past life. Freddie then travelled in the direction the cloud is travelling just in case an inhabited planet lies along the route. It will take us a few more months before we reach the edge of the galaxy and once we are certain there are no planets with life in danger, we’ll then continue on our way to the Dream Dancers.
Michael wants to know if he’ll still be able to chat with us if you really refuse to chat with us. He can only see your chats.
Until now we could only see Michael’s chats if Arthur was ‘on line’. I guess he has assumed we can on our own now. He must really be determined not to chat with us.
About twenty seven lightyears ahead of the dust cloud we found a planet with life. Robbie has not stopped, we’ll return to them, but first he wants to check the entire area to the edge of the galaxy so that we know how big the problem is.
We reached the edge and jumped to the other side of the galaxy to start checking from where the cloud entered the galaxy all the way to where the cloud is now. We’ve argued that there can’t be that many galaxies with dust clouds travelling through them and if Arthur does change the font and makes the boxee story real, it is likely the home planet of Ntchizi should be here. It is not likely to be among those planets the dust cloud has already been through, but we don’t want to risk our logic being faulty.
This must be a very sparsely populated galaxy, we did not find any other signs of life. We are returning to the one system we did find life.
This system must surely be classified as one of the strangest we’ve seen till now. It has five planets, all almost equidistant from their sun, following the same orbit. There are eight moons (planets too small to hold an atmosphere) with millions of rocks from the size of a small house to the size of a large mountain. They are not all equidistant from the sun and the inner ones are orbiting at a slightly higher speed and the outer ones slightly slower. I’m told that the position of each rock seems to be stable, but the gravity of the moons and planets must be affecting them so over a great amount of time their orbits are being altered. They would have to have computers to keep track of their neighbours and for advance warning should any of them be about to crash with one of their planets.
The civilisation here is fairly advanced and they occupy all five planets with stations on the moons. There are a few mining operations in space, but otherwise the traffic is not as heavy as we think it should be. They call themselves the Droìkir. Mirtim-Fasz-Immuslèeare-ab-Dirifin is the emperor of all five planets and of the universe (so he or she is designated). Orkibrintusom (Orkib as we call him or her) is the one we first contacted. They are very angry with us; they are affronted by our existence as their god has told them that they are the only people it created throughout the cosmos and they demand to know what created us.
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 17th Jun, 2020
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