“Avgi Mamadaki, she lives in Kefalari.” He gave her the street address after she promised not to let Avgi know that he’d given it to her or that she even knows him. Cheerfully she promised and made a note of his cell phone number.
Once he was gone she said, “This time I’m going to find out.”
“What do you mean ‘this time’?”
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:
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“That woman who felt depressed but hid it, we never found out why she was like that. This time I will. It is stupid to destroy both their lives because of fear.” Robbie was very tempted to ask her to be careful, but he kept quiet out of respect for her.
Claudia took the car and drove past the address. We were sharing with her and were also surprised, the house is like a mini palace, her parents must be filthy rich. We contacted Alki by telepathy and he confirmed he knows the father and that he is an industrialist with factories manufacturing under licence for Korean and Malaysian multinational companies. We checked on the internet and he is listed as a Euro billionaire.
We were impressed and wondered whether she fears Pavlo only wants her for her fathers money. Not Claudia, she stuck to her plan single-mindedly. The next morning she kept an eye on the house and when she left, Claudia followed her. She did her shopping with a friend and then they went to a coffee shop. Claudia took a table close to them.
As she’d hoped, they recognised her and seeing her alone and with that self-assurance that comes from being so wealthy, Avgi’s friend invited Claudia to sit with them.
“Thanks, I don’t enjoy sitting by myself. I’m Claudia.”
“We know. I’m Maria and this is Avgi Mamadaki. I’ve never seen one of you alone before.” Avgi slightly blushed at her friend stressing her surname, because she thinks of our family as having many times the wealth of hers.
“The others went shopping. I don’t understand why two girls like you are alone - where are your sticks to beat away the hordes of men - and, more important, where are the men?”
Her teasing, as just an acquaintance, was strange to them, but it broke the ice and they were soon gossiping. Claudia found them to be nice, but also rather innocent in that way young people who’ve grown up in wealthy families are. They appear sophisticated and sometimes world-weary, but they rarely have been tested, so they have an unrealistic view of life. Avgi is slender but with big hips and fairly sturdy legs, but what anyone would first notice with her is the life in her eyes. For a non-Cherinian, they would impress upon the viewer a sense of alertness and intelligence. Again, as daughter of a billionaire, she has not found reason to exert herself in an effort to hone her mind.
Once Claudia felt they are comfortable speaking to her, she asked them whether they’d like to visit Freddie. Since Avgi wanted to, Maria ignored her fear and agreed to come with. A few of us were in Freddie so as to separate the two girls. They were welcomed and then given a very brief tour. When we returned to the taverna, Bernie suggested they go for a ride on the ship and Claudia told us to take Maria and she’ll meet us with Avgi later as she wants to introduce her to someone. Maria was given no choice as we surrounded her with excited faces and led her to the ship that was already arriving.
Sharipya and Asimi were expecting them and Avgi was ecstatic at meeting them. She was dressed too smartly to go riding, but they walked and talked and Sharipya and Claudia got involved in a discussion about Cherinian problems that Avgi could not follow, so it was not long before Asimi and her had moved on and were talking on their own.
“Have you seen a telling by the family?”
“No. Last time they gave a telling, my parents told me I was too young. I think they did not want me to see that Robert was having sex with children.” She smiled. “I knew anyway, it was all over the net.”
“That is a pity, I was hoping you’d have seen the story of Sharipya.”
“I’ve read about it. All schools in Greece include one lesson a week with the Cherinians as the subject. Greece was the first country to do that, we realised that ignorance is what makes most people fear the Cherinians.”
Asimi asked her, with those beautiful eyes of hers looking sad, “Isn’t it strange how people concentrate only on the gifts and powers Cherinians have and they ignore the fact that empathy and love is what gives them those gifts?”
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“Not really, it is natural to only see what you fear.”
“That was perceptive.”
She smiled. “Not really, that is what we are taught. Our teachers tell us that wars were fought in the past because people only looked at what they feared, that it is necessary for us to examine the nature of the enemy and their motivations.”
“We are considered your enemies?”
She blushed. “I didn’t mean it that way, it was just presented that way as an example.”
“I understand.” Avgi could sense that Asimi does not and she was distraught and tried to explain, making even more of a hash of it.
Asimi asked her, “Would you want to become a Cherinian?” The fear she emoted, her widened pupils, they were answer enough. “Why do you fear us?”
“I…I just don’t want to become a Cherinian.”
“You do not wish to have the gifts of staying young, of teleportation, of knowing for certain how much you are loved and sharing minds with that person? Think of someone you love Avgi - or of someone you know loves you.” Asimi had refused to go along with this part of Claudia’s plan, but once Pavlos confirmed to her that he does want Avgi to know how much he loves her, she agreed. As Avgi thought of Pavlos, she was linked for a moment to his mind and she felt him. “Feeling that, is it not worth any sacrifice to have it as part of your life?”
Avgi was shattered. She stared at Asimi with wounded eyes and then with remarkable willpower she pulled herself together. “No, it is not worth any sacrifice, I don’t want it.”
Asimi wept. To see and feel that beautiful and so gentle person suffering was too terrible. Lucy jumped and so did Sharipya. Asimi picked up Lucy and held her to her as she cried. Claudia asked one of us to jump to Maria who’d been abandoned and was worried, while she also jumped to Asimi. Her eyes filled as she saw Asimi and then she put her arms around Avgi who was terrified of the thought that she had hurt someone so beautiful and loving.
“That is what empathy does to us Avgi, the thought of you living in a cold and empty world without love allowed into your heart, it is too terrible for us to bear.”
“It is my choice.”
“Why?” She shrugged. “Did someone hurt you and make you fear love?”
“No, I just used my mind and saw how most of the evil in our world was committed in the name of love. I do not love, but then, I also do not hate.”
“Avgi, we are Cherinians, we cannot help feeling that you do love. How can a cold and calculating theory be more important than what you feel? Love is not evil as you say, what you are talking about is hate of life that is disguised as love.”
“Please take me back.”
She was promptly returned and Avgi quickly went to her car and drove home. I watched Claudia. She was broody, but I also sensed she’d lightly linked herself to Avgi. I think she expected Avgi to weep once she is safely home, but instead she felt her tighten her heart, refusing to feel any emotions. It hurt Claudia, for she has come to like Avgi and feels she deserves to experience the full spectrum of love so that her life can be filled with colours she cannot see as she is.
Robbie only said to Claudia, “Be careful of how you interfere love, don’t forget to respect her rights because of your own convictions.”
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We became involved in other matters, went out to dance, lay on the beach wherever the sun is warm and the sea clean and during August we went south to escape the oppressive heat in Athens. By early September we no longer thought about Avgi and none of us realised that Claudia is still planning to break through the cocoon that has blocked the heart of Avgi.
Claudia still meets Pavlo on the odd occasion and she showed us that he is a good candidate for linking. She asked us to wait as she feels it will not be a good idea to link him while he is so heartsore.
What Claudia did was arrange with Pavlo and Allan that he be taken to the void every night while he sleeps. She then watched Avgi and when she left her body, she helped her end up in the void. Pavlo enveloped her within himself and sent her love motes. She became aware, sending back love just as avidly until she realised what she is doing.
*Don’t be afraid my love, but we are both in the void. What you cannot show me when we are awake, at least allow us to share while we sleep. You can feel how much I love you, I won’t do anything to hurt you, I swear.*
The next day our embassy was warned by an attorney that we are being sued, Claudia in particular being named as the accused. The charges are invasion of privacy and interfering in the life of Avgi against her will. The same day a message was left with the embassy by her father, asking to meet Robbie urgently. Robbie insisted on meeting him somewhere neutral, so they met at an outdoor bar. He was waiting for Robbie when he arrived.
“Mr Teller, I regret our meeting under the present conditions, I had looked forward to meeting you at some social function, not this way. You are aware of the problem between your wife and my daughter? I have asked Avgi to withdraw her charges and she has done so on condition that she is not interfered with again.”
“Claudia only acted as she did because she likes Avgi.”
“Please, nothing sinister was implied. Avgi tells me she also likes your wife Claudia. However, she has the right to choose the way she wishes to live her life, do you not agree?”
“Claudia has confirmed she will not interfere again and will not contact her or anybody of your family for any reason. We do tend to frequent the same shopping areas and coffee shops, but should they chance to come across each other, Claudia will ignore her. I am even prepared to take our commitment one step further. I undertake that no Cherinian will ever contact her or your family in any way. I trust that is satisfactory?”
He paled. “Please, this is most distressing, there is no need to take things to such an extreme, Avgi would not resent meeting anyone of your family, including Claudia, she only asks that nobody interferes with her choices. I am a great admirer of the Cherinians and especially Cherine. Our world owes much to her, that is why the charges were withdrawn, we do not wish to harm the Cherinians in any way. You are aware that if the charges had become public knowledge they would have stirred up public fears of your telepathic powers?”
“I guess you could say that if the world does, it is because we interfere with how the world is run at this time. You seem to lack the ability to understand that we Cherinians do not have a choice. If someone we like is miserable or is in pain, we cannot avoid feeling it. Your daughter is suffering and she will never become fit company for any Cherinian, because the only way she can stop the suffering is by becoming incapable of loving anyone, including herself. We believe in love while it is obvious you have taught her the opposite.”
“I do not wish her to be the slave of any man.”
“Is that what your wife is? Mr Mamadaki, thank you for agreeing to withdraw the charges and you have my promise that we will keep to our side of the agreement - for as long as she is alive. You do understand that it would be cruel of me to insist the Sparklers do not help her soul when she dies?” He stood up, nodded goodbye and going to the bar paid for the drinks before jumping back to us.
“Robert, I’m sorry, you did warn me.”
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He frowned at her. “Do you have to throw it in my face that I was being stupid? I thought my ban on all dealings with Cherinians was a rather clever way of helping you succeed.” He scowled. “He must have drummed his beliefs into her since she was a baby, she can’t break free unless she has help.” Claudia threw herself into his arms and he was flooded by love from all of us.
Robbie asked me to arrange for David to invite me to his show. I grinned and did so. I will not be the main guest, just there among other celebrities for a chat.
“Samantha, so much has happened since you last appeared on my show, perhaps the most startling being the visit Arthur arranged with the Lobs. Can you tell us a little about them?”
“I suppose it was inevitable that people would give them that name thanks to their resemblance to our lobsters. I found it very embarrassing having to explain and was tempted to tell them it is an acronym for Love Our Brothers and Sisters. They are very understanding, but shudder at the idea of seeing us eat lobsters.” David turned red as I spoke, so I smiled. “You know how my mind flits around, examining the most outrageous ideas. I’ve tried to imagine visiting some new species and being invited to a meal, I discover that their main course is from a non-sentient animal that strongly resembles us. When I mentioned my fancy, in my imagination, I was asked whether my imaginary animals could be tamed as many Terran males would find their females ideal companions. Tell me, how is it that our species has evolved intelligence when the males tend to be drawn to the least intelligent of our females?”
One of the guests said, “I think you have just walked into a minefield that’s going to blow up in your face.”
I grinned at him, “That’s me. Recently I came across a different minefield, would you like me to tell you about it? I presume you do know that one of the greatest fears Normals have is that us Cherinians will spy on their thoughts? Why they fear the possibility I don’t know, since even among Cherinians we tend to find the thoughts of others very boring. Face it, how often do any of us have interesting thoughts? Mostly our minds chug along worn out channels and most of our worries are about trivialities. Still, it does threaten to encroach upon our rights to privacy, so I can understand the fear. Allow me to give you a recent example so that you understand a problem we have.
Imagine this. I meet someone that I like, but I sense that person is deeply unhappy. I am not reading their thoughts, I’m only picking up the emotion of misery because it is being broadcasted. Because of our fears of invading the privacy of others, my hands are tied. The trouble is, I really like that person and wish to help. Should I?
It seems not. It recently happened to one of my wives and she tried to use her abilities without looking at the thoughts of her friend. The result was that we were issued with a court summons which then was withdrawn. If a non-Cherinian senses a friend is miserable, they are allowed to help, as a matter of fact, they are duty bound to try and help. If one of them is a Cherinian, because of the fear that we might be using our abilities to read their thoughts, we are supposed to pretend we cannot feel the pain? I would love to know what Normals think we should do.”
The public voting was fairly evenly divided, about fifty seven percent against us interfering. My heart soared, not that long ago the votes against us would have been close to one hundred percent. I was not the only one, most Cherinians felt like celebrating, so Robbie sent out a message tha all are welcome to Freddie for a party.
As for the other minefield I walked into? A lot of men and women did not see the humour in my comment and felt insulted by what I said; a few women agreed with me and, a small number of men asked that I bring them such a pet if she is tame and pretty - I’ll assume those were meant to be humorous.
An excerpt from something I read:
Hollith gazed at the river Take Me as it wound its way down to the lower lands and worried how the cart would fare at the point where the slope grew rocky and no path could be found or made to bear its burden. He turned to his mother.
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“This is a foolish quest, his spirit would not blame us for keeping him, he came here of his own wish. Lives will be lost just so that his body is returned to his people.”
“Come to me.” She led him to the corpse as it sat within the cart and grabbing his hand she forced it under the shirt. His nut-brown face yellowed as he jerked it back. “He is a woman and she was with child. Their spirits must not remain here to curse us.” She pointed at the river. “You know it as the Take Me. In my grandfathers days it was named Take Her. See my son, even the river demands we return her to her own lands.”
Bowing to the inevitable Hollith led them as they slowly made their way to the lowlands. He brooded on the youth he had befriended, now shown to be a woman. He wondered whether her death had been accidental as he’d thought.
…….The morning air seemed to crackle with energy as he came to his feet and as he breathed deeply it seemed to clear his mind. As the others rolled their blankets and made a fire for tea, he hitched the horse to the cart and holding the reins in his hand he turned it back towards his home. In a voice firm with his decision he declared, “We are returning.”
His mother wailed, “Her spirit and the spirit of her child will give us no peace and they will demand the blood of our people. She must be returned.”
“No mother, she came to us for refuge. No woman leaves her people, especially when she bears a new life, unless she has reason to fear for her life. She came to us and befriended me and I will provide her body and their spirits a home.” Sharply he added, to prevent her cries of protest, “I have spoken!”
It does not matter which culture Hollith is meant to belong to; Red Indian, African, Asian, old Europe? They all seem to have the same superstitions about spirits. Why I found the fantasy story of interest is that a number of authors use the suggestion that the spirit of a woman with that of her unborn child are a particularly potent force. In the above story, the spirits take Hollith at his word and find a home in him and they give him tremendous powers so that he becomes a war chief and the land is covered in blood. I cannot help wondering at the author, was he truly that ignorant or was he just using literary licence out of convenience with no regard for the truth? If he had shown the joining of spirits had led Hollith into becoming a healer and man of peace, I would have found it more creditable.
The two Normals who live in Freddie should have been very old by now, but our healers keep them at the age they were when they first arrived. We have long given up trying to guess why Isaac is here, but we are amazed at his ability to survive without showing interest in doing anything. The other person is Avril the screamer. She has a web connection and therefore has all the music and entertainment she could want and she told someone that for a while she took a course in enamelling for creating her own jewellery and she was provided with all the materials she needed. She created an armband for one of the Elipians to wear on his arm and it is beautiful, but not very original. During the times we’ve had Normals travelling with us she’s made a few friends and even had an affair, but our wishes did not come true, she did not fall in love with anyone. We were hoping she would so that she would want to leave Freddie to be with him and thus be forced to open herself and grow. We have encouraged her to visit the world of Efineh and she has been to the world of Orgg and a few other alien planets, but she only visits, gawks with a bored look and returns to Freddie.
There has been a small movement, a couple of sites on the web, demanding that we return her to her world, but, by and large, everyone has ignored her and the governments have not even questioned us about her. It was therefore a surprise to her when David asked whether she could appear on his chat show. We agreed and saw to it that she has new clothes of her choice.
“Ms Avril, you are perhaps one of the best known secrets because everybody knows of you, but nobody wants to talk about you publicly. According to our time on Earth you have been kept a prisoner in Freddie for thirteen years, but as to actual time that you’ve lived in Freddie I believe it is far more than thirty.”
“Closer to fifty.”
David whistled. “Fifty years, that is a long time to be deprived of your freedom. Is there no parole?”
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“I have not officially been judged of any crime David. I am held because Robert decided to hold me until I allow him to enter my mind. I refuse and will refuse for another two hundred years if I have to.”
Some woman expert asked, “Do you feel that the sentence fits the crime?”
“No, I don’t. He should have killed me and to be honest, it might have been preferable.”
“Why is that? Do they treat you badly in any way? Haven’t they kept you young and healthy?”
“Are you asking I be grateful that they do not treat me cruelly? However kind a jailer is, however beautiful the prison, it does not alter the fact that I am not free.”
David pretended to consult some notes. “If I understand the situation correctly, you are free to leave at any time. Is that correct?”
“Robert blocked my mind. As a Normal what do I have to return to? Old age and a boring life? I had abilities and gifts that they have taken from me and I will stay in Freddie until they release my mind also, not just my body.”
Until that moment she’d aroused the public against us. Her last answer was like a dash of cold water.
“In other words, you refuse to leave Freddie on a matter of principle?”
“Yes.” She sat back with a satisfied air, thinking she’d made a point everyone would back her on.
I lost interest and walked off to think. Keeping her in Freddie has not helped her and I saw no point in us extending her stay any further. It might not look good if we release her directly after the show, but I find it preferable and I am confident I can handle (with Hettie’s help) the public relations side. I sensed Michael arrive and when he jumped to my side without hugging and kissing his mothers as he always does, I grinned at him, knowing he is worried.
“Are you upset about the interview?”
“Not really, up to the point I watched I thought it went well for us. I’m thinking we should send her back to her reality.”
“Not a good idea Sam, I’ve just heard that Campbell is talking about challenging your right to hold her - if Dad lets her go he is bound to draw her into his group and they’ll probably break through the blocks Dad placed. I think he is obliged to help her because she was acting on his orders. That might be why she refuses to allow anyone into her mind.”
I tugged at him and when he bent down I kissed him and grinned. “In that case we better release the blocks ourselves.”
He laughed and I sensed Robbie chuckle. “As Dad says, what now?”
I feigned surprise. “You don’t think it would be a good enough inducement for her to allow Dad into her mind?”
Robbie told her we were letting her go back to her home reality and assured her we’ll see to it that she has enough cash to tide her over until she makes a new start. He kept quiet about the blocks. For a while she sat tugging at her sleeve without speaking. He waited until he sensed she was at the edge and then threw in the offer to unblock her.
We were shocked when we saw and felt her crumble. “You can’t do that! I’ll die!”
“Are you worried about not having our healers? You needn’t, the Sparklers are keeping everyone healthy and there are a large number of Cherinians who’ll gladly help.”
“No, if you let me go, I’ll be killed. They’ll be certain I talked or let you see my memories.” She was actually shaking from fear.
Dommi took her hand and spoke in a gentle tone. “In that case you are welcome to stay here as long as you like. Avril, would it be fair of you to protect them if we are the ones protecting you?”
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“His name is Hansie van Niekerk. He wanted to be certain your Robert could not interfere when his group take over the government of South Africa.”
“He is a talent?”
“Yes, and he has collected a group of talents from South Africa, Germany and the United States who believe in white supremacy.”
“Why hasn’t he acted - we’d have heard if any group had done something that drastic.”
“I don’t know.”
“Avril, are you from the reality you told us?”
“No.” She told us her reality and Robbie with Samuel jumped there. When they returned they were both wearing frowns.
“We talked with local Cherinians. They know of him and his group, but do not consider them a threat. They have used their powers to make money and spend most of their time on their game farms, drinking heavily and plotting for the day they can take over as Avril said, but the prevalent opinion seems to be that they are all talk and no action. Apparently they have been warned by non-Caucasian and Caucasian Cherinians that should they take any action along racial lines, they’ll have a battle on their hands.”
Dommi spoke forcibly to Robbie. “Avril is not to return to their reality. She can stay here or in our reality where she can be protected.” She turned to Avril. “Sweetheart, I want to establish a weak link to you. It will not be the kind of link that helps you become a Cherinian, only Cherine does that in our family. My link will only be there to sense should you be in any danger and I promise you I cannot use it to hear your thoughts.”
Dommi’s loving and lovely nature soon had Avril bound to her as if she were her mother. Having blurted out her secret, she no longer has reason to fear our probing her and she relaxed. She asked to stay in Freddie when her block is released, only her screamer power still unavailable to her.
Once we were back at our home, Dommi told us that she thinks Avril has a good chance of maturing now and she will see to it. Once Dommi takes that kind of interest in someone I would not be surprised to see her linked as a Cherinian in the not too distant future.
The girls, including Dommi, were upset when I confided that I had asked David to invite Avril and they buried me in a mountain of pillows. No normal home should have so many pillows, I’m certain Robbie must have ordered them specifically for the pleasure of seeing us use them and then collapse in laughter.
“When we planned this meeting we considered exempting all Cherinians who are businessmen or employees with careers. Talking with a few of you, we decided to ask for all Terran Cherinians to meet with us.
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There is a malaise among us that must be dealt with before it causes even worse problems. The weakest among you have gifts and powers that would put to shame all great conquerors of our past and yet you are forced by empathy and good conscience to live the same ordinary lives you did before linking as Cherinians. It seems that none of us are finding it easy to determine our place in the society evolving at present, which by the way, may explain why so many have become Ipohin. As far as we can tell, they have not been any more successful than you have and are just as discontented, so that is not an easy way out for us.
Your internal conflicts are causing a hebetude that is stealing from you the joy life filled you with when you were first linked. We all had dreams. They may have been vague, but we did expect our lives to be changed dramatically. How do we learn to deal with the fact that life is mostly filled with the routines of day-to-day living without losing our dreams?
It might be to our advantage to look to other societies for our answers also. Not only other species, but also the history of our own world. For example, the last two centuries have changed the world in ways most of us have barely noticed. It is accepted nowadays that any large or important task requires some vast organisation to handle it. The problem is that we are so impressed by our twenty-first century technology and complex theories for solving and dealing with the simplest problems that we’ve turned our backs on models that made people like the ancient Greeks superior in many ways to the other nations of their time. What am I talking about? Personal excellence.
We are Cherinians and so we have the time. What would our world be like if we concentrate on development of personal excellence?”
They talked for three hours and agreed to further meetings as some of what was said needs to be thought on before discussing them further. They all agreed on three solutions for the interim. That it is necessary for all who are to be linked as Cherinians attend a course of philosophy tailored to help them with the most common emotional dilemmas new Cherinians face. Unrealistic expectations are the main culprit and are responsible for the ensuing swing to the opposite mood when they are or cannot be fulfilled. The other is the need for Cherinians to find smaller dreams that suit the person and that can be realistically achieved. They also need to learn to find satisfaction in the smaller ways they can make a difference to their community and give meaning to their lives.
Empathia commented that these five girls have done more to promote Cherinianism and give it a basic philosophy acceptable to most so that none may feel the need to become Ipohin, than anyone else till now. Gina pointed out that her experiences as Jina had highlighted the points the other girls have made and that was why she joined them. She had been forced to use what few gifts and abilities she had to create a fortune for herself because of her need to leave a mark that would advertise her presence for Robbie to find her and since returning she too has suffered withdrawal symptoms, and sometimes feels she is wasting her life.
I normally avoid commenting on interviews and efforts by journalist to secure an interview with us. It is common for strangers to introduce themselves (who are actually journalists) in the hope we’ll say something worth printing. This young man took the classical approach, but in a novel way that amused Robbie, so he gained his interview - in a way he had not quite bargained for.
Mr Teller,
I’ll be very surprised if this even gets to you, since I can imagine how many messages you must receive every day. My name is Alec Henderson, I am a journalist still trying to make a name for myself and my editor has just given me an impossible assignment. He ordered me to interview you and your wife Cherine.
To quote, his words were, ‘Bring me back something real about the two of them, not the typical love story and none of that paedophile stuff every rag concentrates on. I want you to give our readers some insights into two people who’ve loved each other longer than most people have lived and I want the how and why and if there is a what, I want that too.’
If you grant me an interview, I cannot, for the life of me, work out how I’ll satisfy his requirements, but I will try to write of you as two people, not just two Cherinians who happen to be important leaders.
P.S. I was going to print a rejection slip for you so as to save you the bother of writing one, but I decided that if you do reject my plea for an interview, I should allow you the pleasure of wording it in the manner that will provide you the maximum satisfaction.
Yours,
Alec Henderson
<e-mail address>
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Robbie sent him this reply:
Mr Henderson, I’ll meet you next Thursday morning for teleporting you to Freddie for your interview. A good place to meet where there would not be too many people is within the crater of Mt Kilimanjaro. Please be there by nine in the morning. Robert.
Robbie had a few chuckles as he imagined the poor guy desperately trying to find a Cherinian to transport him and then sent him a second message:
Mr Henderson, please disregard previous message and send me the name and address of a coffee shop in Moose Jaw where I can meet you at the given time and date. Bring clothing (casual wear) for a three day visit. I trust you will recognise me? Robert.
“Seeing as to how he cannot represent any major newspaper based in such a small place, I suspect our Mr Henderson is a brash young man and his editor set him on this assignment to teach him a lesson. I can just imagine the look on his face when Henderson shows him my reply.” Isn’t it terrible how superficial are some of the reasons that change lives? The young man will probably be snapped up by a major newspaper chain after his interview is published and all because it amused Robbie.
Henderson was quite a surprise for us. Dark hair, tall and big! He looks like the American football players do on tv. Not fat at all, but massive. He must be about twenty two or three, which makes him of the generation that have grown up with Cherinians in their lives. I’m going to enjoy having a chat with him. We did not age ourselves as we felt it is less likely he’ll fall in love with a child. When he arrived he had a rapturous look on his face and stood without speaking for nearly a minute. He literally shook his head.
“I’m sorry, my name is Alec. I’m glad to meet you.”
After introductions, Robbie asked him whether he wants a beer and ordered a coffee for himself. Alec immediately changed his order to a cold drink.
“I would have considered myself lucky if you’d given me five minutes Mr Teller. Why three days?”
“You promised an article with more depth to it than usual, even three days may not be enough. Here is the deal. For the first three days or longer, until you decide when you are ready for the interview, there will be no interview. Use these days to learn to see deeper. Watch us, listen to us, laugh if the girls or I amuse you, but, store in your mind pictures that will be converted into an article that has meaning and is not just meant to provide you with a ticket to the big papers. Alec, do not worry if you feel you need longer than three days, take as long as you need, you are welcome here and are not imposing on us.”
The first day was a total washout. He was so nervous that I doubt he registered much. That night we sensed him walking outside until the early hours, his eyes mostly turned upwards towards the treehouses, spaceships, Sparklers and waterfalls. I wonder if he likes our Wirm moon.
Even if we were little girls, it was obvious many of the girls enchanted him and yet, within hours, he was mostly ignoring all of us and concentrating on Robbie and Cherine. We gave him that day, but the next day we wanted to go to Kefalari to meet friends. We took him with to Club Cherinián. He’d obviously heard of it and was overcome when he discovered the friends we are meeting are Alki, Eddie and Hettie among others. Ordinx plus another Anadir were there and so were a couple of Unation leaders. Floating above us and darting in and out were a number of Wirms and a Kinytian visited to speak to Chantel. To recover his wits he concentrated for a while on a game of chess that Allan and Perikli were playing. Allan asked him if he plays and then challenged him to beat Perikli. That led to us teasing Allan, but he insisted he is only being polite - how can the young man enjoy playing against someone he’ll beat for certain?
He was intensely concentrating on Cherine and Robbie, but we made him take a walk with us so that the two of them can jump for a few days to be on their own. They returned within the hour and he watched, bemused, as we hugged and kissed both of them as if we have not seen them for days.
7310
Five days later Alec forced himself to speak to Robbie, regretting the end of a unique experience, but feeling he has to leave.
“Would you mind if I do not interview you and Cherine?”
“You don’t have questions to ask us?”
“I have a million. I’m starting to form a picture in my mind and asking you questions and your answers could shatter the picture as I try to add the details. I’d rather write of my impressions - if you don’t mind.”
“Spend the night walking around Freddie or talk to anyone you wish and we’ll return you in the morning. Alec, please see to it that a copy is forwarded to us or send us the url for us to find your article.”
We’ve all grown to like him, for despite his somewhat brutish appearance he is gentle and sensitive. We each hugged him (it must have been exhausting for him) and then Robbie took him home.
I will not paste the article here, just the odd sentences I like. He titled his article ‘Robert and Cherine - Impressions of a Timeless Love’.
Cherine is one of the quietest girls I’ve ever met. Despite that, the alertness and sparkle in her eyes told me she misses nothing. At times I’d see a look on her face that warned me she was about to tease Robert or one of her wives. Her wit is sharp but never hurtful with the girls, but with Robert it would be easy to misunderstand her, for they spar and she always seems to find the points that make her the winner of their teasing.
…..
When I met the Teller girls, they appeared as children between the ages of five and fourteen. They seem to alter their ages at whim - without any reason I could see. It only took me a few hours to realise I do not see them as children anymore, but as interesting people.
…..
When any of the girls sit on Robert's lap, his hands fondle them and they hug and kiss often. When Cherine sits on his lap, there are very few outward signs of love, but there is a sense of constant communion and communication at the deepest level, as if they are only superficially two people. I’m not certain of how aware they are of their hands constantly touching an arm, a hand, a cheek, for Cherine mostly sits quietly like a cat dreaming and purring while Robert talks to others.
…..
Repeatedly, when one or another of his wives are sitting on his lap and while Robert is concentrating on them or talking to others, his eyes will dart to watch Cherine for a moment. Her dark eyes will gaze back at him and then they’ll both return to what they were doing, a sense of their hearts having met or having been satisfied for an instant surrounding them.
…..
For a young male brought up in a conservative small town, there can be nothing more confusing than watching the relationships between Robert and his wives and between his wives. When he draws one of them to his lap or seats her next to him or takes one or more for a walk, the others somehow beam nothing but love and pleasure at the love their wife is being shown by him.
I wish Arthur did not change what I write! The comments by Alec were so well written and perceptive while his interpretation of what he ‘heard’ are so… Oh well, never mind, the main purpose of my typing them was to give Arthur a sense of how we are seen so that he can picture us more vividly.
As we’d guessed, his article was reprinted by many newspapers and he was tempted into joining one of the multinational companies. I doubt he’ll find much personal job satisfaction in it, but he is having his moment of glory.
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: 20th Jun, 2020
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