I wish I could work out how a man who is so negative could have dreamt up the Cherinians - never mind create such a lovely family for me to love and be loved by. (Robbie is moaning, claiming I stole the words he was supposed to write. Having Arthur in our lives is definitely driving all of us crazy. )
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:
7421
We have been living quietly during your absences, trying to ignore what is said about us publicly, but discussing what we hear when we are alone. The multi-nation task force that has been created to keep our favourite spots free of ‘tourists’ has been applying their rules very stringently, even to the point of employing ‘Talents’ so as to avoid doing body searches. They are not doing so out of consideration for our feelings, but to prevent the public becoming outraged. Two separate events occurred because of this. We were sitting at a coffee shop in Kefalari and the situation I just mentioned prompted a memory in Rosie.
“That story we were told about Thano and Leandro, if a Thano tried to come to us here, he’d be blocked by all these soldiers surrounding us.”
Cherine took the comment in her own direction since she knows we cannot convince the governments to relax their vigilance. “I don’t think Robert and Cherine were right to leave Leandro alone. After such an experience he needs help to free himself of his past. They’re forgetting he was barely much more than a child himself at the time and was dominated by his father.”
Dommi grinned, “You want us to interfere?”
Robbie chuckled and we all stopped hiding our grins. “I’d say that Leandro needs to learn to empathise with his younger self - that sounds like a job for Cherine.”
Our amusement forced her to answer, “You’re right, I’ll do it.” A few minutes later I sensed her trying to peek at my thoughts, hoping I have some ideas she can use. I sent her a big grin and chased her out - after showing I haven’t a clue how she should handle it.
The governments must have been relieved when they were told we are going to visit another reality. Michael kissed all us girls and Freddie jumped.
Robert greeted us with, “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit? Not another problem I hope?”
Robbie grinned. “Cherine wants to handle a problem of yours.” We all grinned as his Cherine stepped closer to him, her hands curling into fists. Robbie quickly explained.
Cherine (theirs, ours is Cher here) grinned at Cher. “I’m going to enjoy this. If you succeed, all us Cherines will bask in the glow of your success. If you fail, we’ll know that the prime Cherine has her moments of ego just like us and we’ll all feel less inferior.”
Robert frowned. “We have not ignored Leandro as you seem to think. How could we, his brother Thano and his uncle have been waiting on our World. We have tried talking to Leandro, but all we’re left with is the job of keeping him healthy while he finds his way on his own. He is so blinded by his guilt that he cannot learn to forgive himself and allow his love for Thano to dominate. He does not even want the love of his brother! Of course we understand that he feels that way because he loves Thano and therefore feels even more deeply his guilt.”
Cher said, “It sounds to me as if you’ve allowed your empathy to block you from finding the way to help him. Cherine, is Leandro basically a good man?”
“That is a question I’ve asked myself many times. How much of his goodness is inherent and how much is because he feels he has to make amends for his sins?” She gave a little grin. “I’ve had to read a lot of psychology books and that has led me into studying religion. Sorry if I sound like a priest.” The idea of any Cherine being a priestess is funny, it would be easier to visualise Haven being one. “What are you going to do?”
Cherine instantly screened her thoughts from us and gave her naughty grin. “I’ll not have you all watching over my shoulder as back seat drivers, so I’m not telling you.” I sent to her in private mode, taking a wild guess, *I don’t think you can get him to grow tomatoes.* She laughed and her eyes lit up. The only clue she gave everyone else was her impulsive hugging of Tserika as she pulled her tight to herself.
7422
In this reality, at our time of arrival, it is May, and the days are growing longer and much warmer. Our local family took us to a taverna, still undiscovered by the tourists, at a village that overlooks the sea from a height. It was a delight sensing the villagers as they reacted to us. We’d all come as little girls and yet we drank wine and Aganthi took a few puffs from Robbie’s cigarette. They muttered between themselves with the word ‘xenoi’ coming through often. On the other hand, they were delighted by our childish laughter and we did not sense even one man mentally spill any kind of lust towards us. I think they are heart-sore from the absence of their children and grandchildren who have moved to the cities and they enjoyed the presence of so many children in their village. We saw to it that a number of them went to bed that night without their customary aches and pains.
Cher, as she usually does nowadays, looks more like a seven year old, so nobody thought it strange when she sat on Robbie’s lap after the meal. She seemed to be asleep, but if anyone looked closely they would have seen the liquid darkness of her eyes reflecting tiny sparkles of light. She squirmed and getting off Robbie’s lap walked into the trees and darkness on her own. Ten minutes later Robbie received the call he’d been hoping for and he followed her into the trees.
Cher was sitting on a broken branch, so he sat by her without speaking. She put her hand in his. “We’ve had to worry about so many issues that we no longer do much to help individuals. Just my intention to help Leandro has already made me feel nicer inside.”
“Good. I hope your example and how it makes you feel changes all our loves.”
“You don’t include yourself?”
He chuckled, not at all fazed by her little stab. “How are you going to handle Leandro?”
“Not by interfering with his mind. He needs to find the answer himself Robert, I’ll only try to guide him.”
“Not as a little girl surely?”
“You’ll see. Robert, just sit by me without talking please.” She snuggled against him and as he placed his arm around her she drifted into her thoughts, not even aware of the silvery moon as it climbed high enough to illuminate them with her pearly glow.
Leandro and Thano
Leandro never takes the bus to work, he prefers to walk, whatever the weather. The sun was bright with promise of a hot day and yet he frowned, as he does when the winter winds cut through his coat, freezing his bones. Most people who’ve had a very hard life will still find some joy in the small or unexpected surprises life brings. Not Leandro. Even at his work they have learnt not to compliment him for a job well done, for he only frowns and continues working as if he had not heard.
Since the day he was taken by Robert to the beach and shown every thought and dream of Thano, he has turned aside any natural regrets for the life he could have led if he’d gone to university as his brother had planned. His neighbours, all poor people and not particularly religious - only superstitiously so, typically have a corner in their home or room for the kandili before an icon of Jesus, the Mother Mary or a favoured saint, the tiny wick and dancing flame reminding the original of the ikon that they look to them for protection. Not Leandro, he has a small frame that has already tarnished and corroded from the sweat on his hands from him spending hours lost in thought staring at the photo. He’s lost count of the times he’s replaced the glass because of flinging the photo across the room in sudden anguish. Leandro often sees Robert on television or his picture in magazines or newspapers and the sight of him always provokes a curse. Why did he have to show him such intimate thoughts and dreams of love in his brother? Why could he not allow him to justify what he’d done and live what was left of his life after prison? If he ever makes a comment about the Cherinians, it is to tell everyone that they are not guided by empathy as they claim, that they are cruel and vicious in subtle ways, their powers existing only to break the hearts of normal men.
7423
As he stood at the curb waiting for a chance to walk across the road, an old man wearing a long coat as if it were the middle of winter stood by him. Gently with light fingertips he touched a startled Leandro. “The past, the present and the future are all one; you must learn to stand outside time if you are to find forgiveness.”
“Ainte gamisou! (fuck off)” Angrily he looked for an opening to cross the road and looked back towards the old man. Some other stranger stood by him and though he turned to search, he could not see him. Muttering curses he walked on, but now his mind was boiling with anger and self pity.
The weather had played false and the next morning the pavement and roads were wet from the overnight rain. Leandro walked stiffly, for he’d indulged in too much alcohol the previous night and had fallen, hurting his hip. By luck the traffic lights were red for him at the same intersection and he sensed the old man next to him again. He stared ahead, refusing to give in to his curiosity.
“If you do not forgive, do not ask to be forgiven.”
Leandro swirled around in a foul temper. The old man did not flinch and put out a hand to steady him as his injured hip unbalanced him. “Let go of me!” He brought his face aggressively next to the white beard, “I’ve paid for it, leave me alone!” Leandro had decided the old man had recognised him and knows of his past.
The dark eyes of the old man stared back into his calmly and Leandro felt as if he were falling into a dark pool. “No, you are wrong, you have not paid, you are still paying for the past and you are destroying the last chance you have of paying in a meaningful way so that you are freed of the past. Leandro, do not go to work, follow me.”
The old man barely turned to look at Leandro even once as they rode the bus towards the beach. They got off and walked towards the frothy edge of the sea.
“What did you mean? I have paid!”
“Den eimai edo gia na sou prosfero apolitrosi (I am not here to offer you redemption). You must find your own path. Leandro, you are stuck within a circle of hate, pain and love, only by moving outside them will you find the correct way to deal with each of them. The hate is of the past; the pain is of the present and the future offers love if you find the way to pay. I am here to guide, when I think I am needed, but you must do the work. For today your task is very simple, but the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do.” He walked a few steps and picked up a sun and salt dried piece of wood. “Spend the day studying this. Look at it from close, feel the textures, smell it, get into it so that you see how it tossed in the sea, then the tree it came from until you go back to the seed. Think of nothing else.” He showed the sand. “Sit here, I’ll be with you.” He felt this was foolishness, but as he looked over he sensed that something was being offered, something he needed but does not recognise, so he stayed.
He was not successful that day. Nor the next, nor the next. A hundred times a day he told himself to get up and walk away, but something, a need within himself, made him stay. Once he was driven past boredom and frustration he began to concentrate on the piece of wood. As they walked back to catch the bus, the old man told him that he’d skirted closer to the truth that day and he should dream only of the piece of wood and his tortured mind will not disturb his sleep.
After a week Leandro let his workplace know he will be away for a few months and promised to contact them when he returns. He packed a small valise and the two of them took a bus up into the mountains. They got off in an almost abandoned village and Leandro was confused when the old man walked away from the village. They arrived at a tiny house built roughly of unshaped rocks.
The old man sat on a pile of rocks. “The house needs to be cleaned. Do not only concentrate on the cleaning. The dust you sweep up, give it all your attention.” He paused and softly sighed at the truculent face before him. “The dust comes from the wind and the wind steals it from the land. Some of that dust, maybe just a few specks, have travelled further than your imagination at this time can imagine. They come from rocks that travelled across the galaxy and shattered when they hit our atmosphere. Try to enter their soul and sense where they came from and what they experienced.”
“Are you Robert?”
“No. Leandro, it is not time for you to ask questions, just concentrate on the dust you sweep.”
7424
This time Leandro refused to budge. He half sat on the remains of a rock wall. “The changes you brought me have shown me that I was not living the way I should have, but I need to know why. Why are you doing this? Why me?”
“When you see a little child, have you ever felt your heart reach out to it, that you could love it with all your being?”
“I’ve felt the emptiness of the knowledge that I’ll never have a child. I am not a child!”
“It is not the same. There are many ways to love. Sometimes the best kind of love grows out of hate. I speak of hate of self. When love unwinds the darkness from your heart and you are able to face the light, then that love becomes more than the soul of your being. I have loved that way and I killed the person I loved. Not by mistake Leandro, deliberately. It drove me into insanity for a long time.” Leandro stared with shock, unable to imagine that gentle face killing. “Do not ask more, give yourself to the lessons I offer and you’ll find your own way to pierce the darkness of your heart with light. Go, sweep, I cannot sit out here all day.”
Cher had based her strategy on her belief that inside him is the need to see his brother rewarded with eternal life. As the weeks went by she came to appreciate that his sense of guilt overwhelms all other needs. From his side, he has come to the conclusion that the old man is either Robert or another Cherinian and sees the blankness of mind and emotions that he has learnt to achieve for brief moments as the way towards losing his personality and fading like the mist into nothing. As long as he feels that way, I do not think Cher can help him.
We never interfere in a task any of us have set ourselves, but Haven went to the World of the local family and kept her mind a blank when she returned. Late that night Cher returned to find us sitting quietly, obviously waiting for Haven to speak to her. She first curled up in Robbie’s arms and once his heart had warmed hers again she ate, and then took Haven’s hand in hers as they walked away.
The old man leant on his stick and stared until Leandro looked back. “You have decided I am a Cherinian?”
“That is obvious.”
“Not all obvious things are true. What about the old man who took Prime Robert for his lessons?”
“You are nothing like him, I’ve seen a telling.”
The old man nodded, his eyes now hard and cold. “You know that beneath their public façade the Cherinians are cruel?”
Leandro paled, for the first time afraid. Hoarsely he whispered, “Yes.”
“Kindness can often be cruel, so in a sense you are right. We have tried to help you set aside your bitterness and pain so that you can love your brother, but you have subverted my help, using it for your own purposes. You have been warned what failure would mean and I have no more time to waste on a person who refuses to help himself. It is time for the soul of your brother to be destroyed by the void and you will come to the void to share his agony.”
Superstitious terror robbed his legs of strength and he fell to his knees. “No.”
“Still you fear for yourself only! Do not fear, we shall protect your soul, for we intend keeping your soul until time has ended so that you never forget the agony you caused your brother. At least Thano will be remembered for all of time.”
“You are Satan!”
“No Leandro, you are. You have become like your father - only more selfish and harder. That is a good description of Satan.” He pointed his stick at Leandro. “First you will be taken to explain to Thano why he is to be destroyed, you owe him that.”
7425
Leandro did not sense Robert as he entered his mind. He wrapped his soul within himself and carried him to the void. Robert gave him the time to recover from the sharp edge of his terror and then showed him their World and explained that the soul of Thano is waiting there. Before Leandro could think of resisting, they plunged into the World.
Their arrival was an unnerving experience for Leandro. From moving at speed and under the impression they were to crash into the World, he suddenly found himself standing on a lawn, surrounded by a few people.
“My apologies Leandro, Robert should have prepared you, the sudden arrival is a shock. If I may introduce myself, I am the entity that is this World of the souls. Would a whiskey help settle your nerves?”
Despite the frightening sight of his brother’s presence, Leandro was so awed by the fact that the entity was speaking to him that he stuttered for the first time in his life. The entity held out his hand and a glass with whiskey and ice was in it. Robert walked off to speak to Thano who was companioned by three little girls - Cherine, Cher and Haven.
“Thano, you are certain?”
Almost whispering, his eyes glued on Leandro, he replied, “If Cherine thinks it will help him.”
“They do, I don’t. Thano, take time to speak to him first, perhaps if the two of you are alone he’ll open up to you.”
“I feel his hate.”
Haven said, “Ignore it and you’ll feel the fear underneath. He is not brave like you Thano, he has spent his childhood afraid of his father and expects you to be like your father - despite Robert sharing your innermost thoughts and feeling with him. He finds it impossible to believe that anyone can love him as you do.”
Cher and Haven withdrew to examine this World that is so different to ours. Their entity has taken a mote from the Sparklers, but restricted the effect to a very small area so that the rest of the ‘surface’ looked more like a natural planet (from within that is, from the void it still looked like a Kaleidoscope World). They came across a flower with velvety black petals and iridescent electric-blue veins. Cher grinned at Haven.
“Should we try to take one back with us?”
Haven shrugged. “If you like it so much, make some of them grow in your Arthur’s world. Those poor people must be bored by now since your world is so small.”
“They’re not bored! I visit them quite often and they seem happy.”
Haven giggled. “As if they would dare to show their goddess that they are bored of her little world.”
“You’ve got a nasty streak.” She nodded, indicating Leandro and Thano. “Could you really stand by to let the void send him on to a next life?”
“If Leandro is willing to allow it to happen I’ll feed him to the void, not Thano!”
Cher giggled. “I’d love a photo of you looking so bloodthirsty at this apparent age.”
“You Terrans sometimes use words in disgusting ways!”
Their apparent banter was mostly to camouflage their nervousness, for the way the two brothers stood showed they were not about to come to any understanding. Leandro was beginning to look belligerent and it seemed to be annoying Thano. They both hoped the brothers keep in mind that they must not indulge in violence while on this World.
Thano gave his brother the Greek contemptuous five-fingered curse (moutzoma) and walked over to Robert. The girls quickly joined them.
7426
“He is just like our father, a stubborn fool! He insists that I must demand that he dies in my place. He refuses to see that all he has to do is love and we can both live. I begged him to help me keep my promise to our mother and become Cherinians, but he speaks of you with anger and does not listen.”
Cherine said, “He’s not anything like your father Thano, he would never offer to take your place. Surely that is a sign that he loves you?”
Cher shook her head, answering before Thano could, “No, that is only his guilt speaking.”
The entity asked, “Why does he nurse his guilt?”
They looked at each other and their shrugs showed they do not know. Cher asked, “Would it help if our Robert went back in time and brought their mother?”
Robert anxiously replied, “No, you must not! It would only add to his feelings of guilt.”
“We need another perspective, would Samantha join us?”
Cher thought a moment. “No, I think we need Dommi here.”
Dommi joined them and she shared with each of them so that she can view the events and thoughts of each of them.
“I’m not surprised he cannot let go his feelings of guilt. To do so he would have to accept that his feelings of abandonment are childish and unreal. He spent too many years as a child and teenager feeling hurt for him to let it go.”
Thano nodded. “That makes sense Kyria Dominique. I must speak to him again, I had not thought of that aspect.”
As Thano walked off, the entity asked Dommi, “Would you share with me? I would like to know how my Dominique will grow.”
“No, I will not. If I do you will pressure her to be like me or to avoid becoming like me - either way she will not be free to grow in her own way.”
He bowed his head to her. “I stand corrected, thank you.”
“Have you visited Adam?” Cher asked.
“We’ve met, but I have not visited him.”
“Please do, you might both benefit from sharing.”
He laughed. “I must not share with Dominique, but I must with Adam? Which of the two of us is it that you wish to be influenced by such a meeting?”
Cher was dramatically prevented from replying as Thano suddenly lashed out and hit Leandro. Leandro raised himself on one elbow, but did not come to his feet. Thano crouched and talked earnestly while Leandro shook his head in disagreement.
Cher was almost in tears. “I’m sorry, I did not expect them to resort to violence. I should not have brought them here.”
Sternly the entity answered, “These two lives are more important that the imagined innocence of Adam and I, you did well to bring them; I think there has been a breakthrough.”
“Why? Because Thano is speaking angrily to his brother?” They watched as Thano almost forced Leandro to walk with him away from them. They realised that the entity hears everything the brothers say and is probably also sharing their thoughts and emotions, so his pronouncement lifted their flagging spirits.
7427
They waited without speaking and forty minutes later the entity looked at Robert, exchanged a few thoughts and then spoke, “Leandro has broken. He is on his knees weeping and his brother holds him.” He held up a hand. “Do not rejoice yet, this is but the first step of many that Leandro has to take. I am bringing their uncle so that he may join them now. I suggest the three of them are returned to Athens and given bodies. Cherine, rejuvenate Leandro, it is not conducive to their growing closer having Leandro reflect his true age.”Despite the warning by their entity, we did celebrate and had a party. We then prepared for returning to our reality. Goldi asked our Cherine to meet with Leandro for one last time.
As a girl of eight Cher sat on the bench next to Leandro. “Do you know who I am?”
“You are Cherine.”
“Not your Cherine, I am from the prime reality. Leandro, would you like to hear the true story of how I killed my Robert?” With amazement and then horror he listened. “Do you see now that I told you the truth? Leandro, you are not responsible for killing your brother, just as I was not responsible for killing my love. As I was given the chance to have him return to us, so we have offered you the opportunity. Do not throw it away because of a need to blame yourself. You might have been a young man in your own eyes, but growing up with a father like yours, you were more of a child than an adult. You’ve remained that child all these years, it is time for you to grow up and become a man.”
“I have caused all of you many problems, I apologise. If it is possible, when you return to us, may I meet your Robert? He showed great courage, but he was also very clever in how he solved his problem.”
Robbie walked over with a chuckle. “I am always less than a heartbeat away from my Cherine, so I’ll join you now if you don’t mind. Why don’t we walk over to that kafeneion for meze and a beer while we talk?”
We are back home. I’m pleased, my little Cherine solved the problem without your help. Give her a big kiss from me and thank her also for helping me with my own problem - albeit without her knowledge or consent, but it was appreciated. Spill the beans, we all want to know what you mean. You know the site I used to visit? I lost my password so I re-registered as her. Then, as always happens with me, I found my password and entered. We teased each other publicly and…anyway, that’s about it. Oh, she also posted a small video. I don’t mind you using my name and the pretend teasing, but how could you post in my name a video! I’m very angry! We all are Arthur. I knew you would be, but I did not think it would be right to keep quiet. Why don’t you all take turns swearing at me and I’ll apologise again and again, but then please allow me to delete. Your humble pie act made Cherine laugh so it won’t be necessary. Please don’t do that again Arthur. May I ask what the second event was? Hmm, now he doesn’t trust my Cherinian memory J
We were sitting at a kafeneion with Alki and his family when Sorry to interrupt, was this the same time you talked about Thano and Leandro? No! I’m starting over again and please don’t interrupt. Sorry, I suppose you forget what you wanted to write about when I interrupt…lol
We were sitting at a kafeneion with Alki and his family when (grr)
Sorry Arthur, I just had to interrupt to tell you all my loves (and I) are rolling about laughing. Please stop pressing her buttons.
We were sitting at a kafeneion with Alki and his family when a man and woman got up from the table next to us to block an old man coming our way. We might have ignored them if not for the fact that the two of them are Talents working for the UN agency. It annoyed us and especially Robbie, so he came to his feet quickly and extended his hand. “Please join us.”
Marian told Alki to take her seat and she moved so that the old man can sit between Alki and Robbie - unless we know the person they never sit next to Cherine.
“Thank you, I was certain your watchdogs would stop me from talking to you.”
“They are not ours.” Robbie shrugged. “I’m Robert Teller.”
“I’m glad, I would have felt foolish if you were not. My daughter tells me that I’m getting senile, but then, what does she know.” Alki grinned.
After waiting a few seconds, Robbie asked, “And you are? I presume you had a reason for wanting to speak to me?”
7428
“Which question do you want me to answer first young man?” Alki chuckled, but we tried to hide our amusement. The two sitting at the next table forgot themselves and turned to stare at us, making it harder for us to conceal our amusement.
Robbie politely told him, “Whichever, at your convenience.”
He half closed his eyes. “That kind of good manners seems to have disappeared, your parents brought you up well.” He appeared to be lost in his thoughts so we kept quiet. “As I was about to tell you, my name is Frangiscos Bouttelis, poet and author. I also at times am described as a philosopher, but I make no such claims myself. You are, Mr Teller?”
“A frustrated artist. May I order you something to drink?”
He pulled at the sleeve of the waiter as he answered, “No thank you, I’ll order. An ouzo with a glass filled with ice on the side.”
Alki spoke, his voice barely containing the excitement we sensed in him. “Are you the author of Ta Pende Pethamena Oneira? (The Five Dead Dreams) The poems touched me deeply.”
“I wrote those in my youth - I must have been about sixty when I wrote them. You must forgive my excess of emotion, I considered emotions a tool belonging to poets. I’ve had time since then to study the Cherinians and I’ve now realised what dangerous tools they can be.”
Meli asked, “Since studying us, have you published?”
“You are Melina, the one who writes? Would you please leave the table?” Before Robbie could protest she left, Haven going with her. They went to examine magazines at the kiosk while sharing with us.
Frangiscos turned to Alki. “You must forgive me, I did not intend to be rude, but she should not be present to hear what I have to say.” Meli accepted that as a call for privacy and stopped sharing. “It is about her or should I say, it is because of her I am here.”
Robbie’s eyes were just slightly colder as he asked, “What do you have to say about our Meli?”
“You have Cherinians, most of them aliens, keeping everyone healthy. I have requested of the alien that visited me that he rejuvenate me by about twenty years, but he or it refused. I’ve come to make my request directly to you.” He held up his hand to prevent Robbie speaking. “I started reading her books four years ago - that was when the translated copies were issued. It has taken me all this time to begin to understand what I read and they are too important for me to die before understanding them. I am ninety seven years old and I am not seeking immortality, just a chance to understand the worlds she has begun to paint within my mind.”
To give Robbie time to consider his request, I asked, “You started by making the comment that Cherinians have taught you that emotions are dangerous tools. Are you speaking of us in general or the books by Meli?”
“She made it obvious to me. Thanks to her writing I’ve understood that your ethics and your dreams for mankind are solely influenced by emotions. I cannot tell you why, but I sense a danger.”
“What else should they be influenced by?” Diana asked.
He glanced at her and stared without speaking for a moment. “You epitomise what I’m speaking of. Your beauty is such that men and women react to you influenced by emotions. Is that all you wish them to be influenced by?”
“Kyrie Boutteli, you’ll have the twenty years you asked for - more if you need them.” Robbie handed over his card. “Whenever we are here, on Earth, you can reach me directly on those numbers. Please call if you have a need to discuss with us or Meli your conclusions or if you have questions. You are welcome to join us in Freddie whenever you wish.”
Of course Cassie had to tease Meli, once the elderly gentleman was gone, that her books have finally proven to be of some use - they’ve extended the life of a man. Inside her Meli felt like crying, she is overcome by his taking her books so seriously.
7429
Was that supposed to be the second event? In a way. He’d written to us a number of times but we never saw his letters, so he was forced to leave his village and come to meet us directly. I suppose that does make it an event in a roundabout way. My love, may I dedicate a song to you? Ask Wendy to play for you ‘To Oraiotero Plasma Tou Kosmou’ by Pantazis (The most beautiful creature of the world). You make me feel the way he describes his feelings for her. He says she has the soul of a child and wants her to stay as she is forever - is that how you see me? My comment: J
Lusalith has mostly enjoyed herself and is much more comfortable in her Terran body now, although we do take her to Freddie as often as possible so that she can revert to her own form. For some reason she has not linked to a Wirm, perhaps feeling it would not seem right to her people if she returns with a Wirm companion. Here’s the funny thing; Arthur wanted me to meet the original Lusalith to be friends. We met and I like her, but the truth is this Lusalith is much more of a friend. With her I get the feeling that she understands me better and can empathise with my self-imposed duties.
What I just wrote led me to wondering what I would have been like if I had not been ‘invited’ by Robbie and my loves. What if I had been a Cherinian, but not belonging to the family? I think I might have been successful at whatever I’d tried, but I’m certain I would not have been happy. Oh, I also would not have stayed a child - odd to think of myself as an adult permanently. I got the giggles when I realised that Samantha would definitely frown upon Robbie and his need for his loves to remain children. I’d have thought he is crippling them. Lol, I just got hit by a number of pillows - they really must be crippled if they find my rambling thoughts objectionable.
Apart from Lusalith enjoying herself, she has also paid serious attention to the way our planet is run and spends hours trying to get a feel for how it was before we appeared on the scene. She is remarkable, never showing disapproval for those elements that must be distressing to her. What she has done, that amazes me, is refrain from using any of her ‘god’ powers despite the temptations.
She was sitting by herself in the pool when I joined her. She smiled. “I find it difficult to imagine that your species came out of the sea. Look at the skin of my fingers, it has wrinkled! Do you know whether all other species also evolved from their oceans or are other ways possible?”
“I’d like to think that many ways are possible. When Robbie went to a sulphurous planet by mistake, he learnt that they also evolved from their seas - the pressure at great depth changes the gas into liquid. For all we know the sun entities might have evolved at a deeper level, the equivalent of their seas.”
“I’m puzzled. I’ve been told that the building blocks for the universe are based mostly on hydrogen. If planets can evolve with a hydrogen atmosphere, why would oxygen planets be so plentiful? That also poses the question, why sulphurous atmospheres, surely the process is mechanical and all should be the same?”
“I doubt we’ll find planets with hydrogen atmospheres since it is a highly flammable gas.”
“There could be if it is mixed with inert gasses. Oxygen is also flammable.”
“You’ll have to ask someone more knowledgeable than me.”
“I’m more interested in finding out whether you’ll contact the Ambros being of this reality while I’m still with you. I can’t imagine what it must be like being created out of energy only.”
“I can - sort of. Is that not what we are as souls? What I hardly dare imagine is what it must be like existing for millions of years without another person to communicate with.”
“If there is only one per universe, how did it come into existence?”
I grinned. “We can probably blame Arthur for that.” My thoughts turned inwards. “How did the spark of life ignite in us Lusalith - I guess energy concentrated in an area through natural causes and somehow it became aware. From what Ambros said, it first became aware and only after aeons did it become self-aware.”
“At least with all other species, the spark of life is ignited routinely; it can never have companions the way we do.”
“I’m certain it can…”
7430
“I meant the companionship of your own species Sam, knowing that you belong to a part bigger than you.”
“I still think he can - I imagine he just didn’t think of it.”
“What do you mean!”
“What would happen if Ambros split himself? Over a great period of time, would they not be separate entities?”
“He can do that!”
My family giggled with me in my mind. I shrugged. “I don’t know, we’ll have to ask him. Oh! He has already done so for the Silver boy.”
“No, that is not true splitting, they are a part of each other.”
“For how long Lusalith?”
“I’d say forever, unless they part and cannot share their experiences.”
“We’re presuming that is true of Ambros, it could be that the Silver boy is not sharing from Ambros and so is limited to his own thoughts and experiences. If he becomes self-centered to the point where he thinks of himself as an entity who is part of Ambros and yet apart, they will then be two.”
Lusalith giggled (she sent me a very Terran little-girl giggle). “If you were one of my people I’d never have time to watch over the rest of them.” I’m hoping that was some kind of backhanded compliment. I must admit to having the same kind of problem as her - before you retort, that comment does include a smilie J. Hmm, okay - then JJ
I spoke softly, knowing I’d be heard. “Freddie, can you advise everyone we’ll be leaving to search for the local Ambros? Please ask Solomon to bring the Silver boy into Freddie, I think he’ll find it fascinating being part of the search and first contact.”
Robbie jumped to us. “Not that fast love, we have promised to take many - not only tourists and scientists, but government leaders and even priests. They’ll need time to prepare.”
I pretended a haughty look. “You are not doing a good job of teaching them they are only servants of the people, and by taking them with us all the time they’re not concentrating on improving the lives of the downtrodden masses. How many plans to make life better for everyone will be shelved just for them to travel again?”
Lusalith’s eyes paled to a slate colour as she stared at Robbie, taking me seriously. He laughed. “May I comment on what you said earlier Lusalith? If being a god depends on being believed in, for how long would you be a god if Samantha was one of your people?” She finally cottoned on to the fact that he was teasing both of us and we girls giggled when we realised she was subvocally telling herself that she ‘owed him one’ as she sweetly answered him aloud. It constantly amuses us that people hear things we say and because they don’t know our private ways or family games, they misconstrue what was meant.
As Robbie predicted, it seemed as if the total populations of all realities asked to come with. With regard to our reality, this is ‘their’ Ambros and they all want to come with so as to be present at such a historic moment, while the populations of other realities mostly want to come out of curiosity. Robbie insists that whatever the drawbacks, curiosity is important and should always be nurtured, because experience tends to dull and then kill it. I could not see how he can expect to succeed.
“Those from other realities can be returned to within minutes of their departure, so it is easier for them to come with. Our Earth will experience the full length of time we need to find and contact the Ambros of this reality, they cannot all leave Earth.”
Rosie asked, “Even if they could, how could we transport six billion people? We’d need hundreds of Freddies to carry so many from over forty Earths.”
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: 29th Jun, 2020
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