He actually meant that Dimi does not look strong, but Dimi did not take offence (since he chooses his appearance, he cannot pretend to feel insulted) and reassured him.
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:
7441
While Dimi flew with Sofokli, Robbie concentrated on the few minutes he has with Andrea, as he has to take him to visit his mother soon. He could feel Andrea aching to ask him to fly, but all he did was walk with him into the town and then along the beach. The people they saw along the way either pretended not to see them or stared with awe at the sight of a Greek god among them. Robbie is really messing with their minds and I would not be surprised to visit this Earth in our time and find it completely different from all others.That was nice and he hardly teased me at all. We’re still waiting as Robbie flies Andrea home, goes off to find some nuggets and so on. The best of it is that Dimi is enjoying himself. He’s flown Sofokli high, taken him over to see the lands of Lebanon and so on and then as a bonus took him to see Athens. The old man is ecstatic and talks nicely to Dimi - not anything like he does to Robbie. We can tell that they’ll return to their wine and argue for hours.
Meli wants to give us some words and then we write a short stanza or two. She is not interested in how good the imagery is, she wants to see how different minds treat-react to the same words. Before we get the words I better explain that I will not be here. I’ll write mine, you’ll be asked to place yours here when you’re ready and then they’ll type mine. Here we go: First line ‘Links of brother and son’ and somewhere in the poem should be the word ‘sliced/ing’ or ‘spliced/ing’. Have fun and may the better girl win
Meli did have reason for asking us to write and it had nothing to do with us, she was trying to clear her thoughts for something she is writing. I was surprised at the similarities in style, even though the emotions expressed were opposite. The experiment might have been more interesting for me if Meli had not included the words slice and splice.
7442
Back to Robbie and Andrea. Although Robbie never forgets us, we were pushed to the back of his mind, even the one trillion and three hundred odd billion souls (plus the Sparklers) with us. He was enjoying himself with Andrea and we could sense how therapeutic it was for him and rejoiced. He did fly Andrea all the way to his mother and leaving him there went off by himself to camp in the hills. He killed a hare and cooked it and the taste was terrible and it was as tough as leather and yet he enjoyed it. Dimi joined him as he sat under the stars having a cigarette.
“Did you enjoy being with Sofokli?”
“You know his name?” Robbie chuckled. “Don’t you ever concentrate on just one person?”
“If Andrea were my son I could not love him as much as I love you, of course I always keep an eye on you. Has Sofokli got the makings of a wise man? Will the future remember him?”
Dimi chuckled. “It’s a case of the man with one eye leading the blind. He’s intelligent, but too small minded and lazy. He doesn’t have that kind of burning curiosity that sets the true scholar apart from the rest of us. His people saw him flying with me, so he’ll enjoy the status of being favoured by the gods and it is more than likely he’ll drink himself to an early grave.”
“My Dimi has become a cynic?”
“Could I avoid it the way things are in our world? I don’t exactly meet the nicest people in my job.”
Robbie’s eyes half closed as he blocked himself and we switched off all cameras in his area. He lit another cigarette from the stub and asked, “Would you like to try your hand at something different?”
“What?”
“We have the Cherinian Council, but it is not as successful as I’d hoped it would be - especially among the aliens. Most who have a grievance feel it is too petty for them to take up the time of the council. How would you like to be Ombudsman of the Cherinians? You’ll have the power to make some decisions on your own, but if the matter could affect our future you must refer it to the council. Dimi,” he turned to look at him, “be very careful, some decisions might appear to be unimportant and yet have long-term effects that destroy what we’re trying to build.”
Dimi gave a nervous laugh. “First you give me authority and then you effectively handcuff me. Why me Robert?”
“Why did I handcuff you?” He chuckled at the exasperation Dimi emoted. “Because you have the right personality. People like you and find it easy to relax in your presence. Look at how you got old Sofokli to talk to you! I’m also pleased with how you handled your assignment without allowing it to corrupt you or negatively affect your empathy. The other reason, more important than any other, is because I trust you and I know you’ll be careful. Having experienced how the worst of us think, you’ll be far wiser in your decisions than I would be.”
Robyn could not constrain herself. She quickly threw on some clothes and jumped to them. She hugged Dimi and congratulated him. Touched, he hugged her to him while keeping his face turned away from Robbie. The rest of us stayed at home, but we shared with Hettie, Eddie and Alki. Their pleasure and pride in Dimi must have been felt by him, for he squeezed Robyn so tightly she had problems breathing.
Andrea spent another week with Robbie while he was with his mother and this time Dimi took the time to play with him and become friends. The mother was puzzled as to why Robbie does not like entering her home for a meal, but she accepted it as a whim of a god and had a trestle table placed under a tree and piled the food for him and Dimi. We might have disapproved of her riches (according to her society) that she has not earned, but we can feel her love for her son, so it did not matter. Many others though did comment, but nobody made an issue of it. Robbie handed over two pouches of gold, to the mother and the teacher and returned to Freddie with the memory of unshed tears in the eyes of Andrea. It was a bittersweet moment for him and we held back to allow him to enjoy it for as long as possible.
By the time the two of them returned to Freddie, the government leaders and the leaders of alien nations had heard of Dimi’s new position or role and they hastened to congratulate him and then asked him many questions about how he will exercise his authority and wondered aloud as to exactly how far his authority extends. Dimi was careful to explain that it is an internal authority that only affects Cherinians. I think he enjoyed the attention of so many important people, but he kept his head.
7443
Contrary to our expectations, everyone has behaved beautifully and Robbie was in an expansive mood, so he decided to offer everyone a little extra before returning home. He took us on a voyage close to the heart of a galaxy we’ve never visited before and then visited a couple of suns the Anadir and Inguel scientists wanted to investigate. We are now checking a double sun system that is very unusual; a red sun and a blue sun have fallen into an orbit around each other and the scientists feel it is important we investigate the planets. They are convinced that the planets must have been totally seared of all life when the suns began their orbital dance around each other.
On the third furthest planet we found life. The conditions on the planet must have been unstable at the moment, so the scientists declared, because it was passing out of the influence of the red sun and entering a period that will last one hundred and forty seven years as the blue sun grows dominant and then cedes the planet back to the red sun. Nobody could imagine how any species can evolve to survive the effects, so there is no way we can leave without studying them..
Computers threw out numbers at the scientists. The two suns have held their orbits for about six and a half million years and will continue to do so for at least another eighty four million years. They project a breaking apart with the red sun drifting away. As to the planets, the computers cannot estimate their fate or which sun will hold them. This means we will have to return just before that time to rescue the species inhabiting the one planet…though how we can find a suitable planet for them we don’t know.
Freddie stayed in the void, but sent his tip into normal space just above the atmosphere. Either this species moves and lives at a frenetic rate or else they are very busy preparing for the changeover of suns. Freddie skipped through a number of weeks to give us a better idea of what they are doing and everyone sat with amazed expressions as we realised they are dismantling their cities. The Sparklers report that they have highly developed bases on their moons and they are busy mothballing them and filling them with an inert gas, only the last few of them remaining to leave once all is secured.
The shape of this species changes constantly, depending on what they’re doing. If at ease or at a desk working, they have two legs and two arms. If they are walking or running for any distance over eighty metres they protrude another two legs and their arms shrink in size (unless they need them to carry something). They are not like jellyfish, for their arms and extra legs do seem to have a skeletal structure of some kind.
Robbie is really enjoying himself. This species is so alien that no other species with us identifies with them, so he feels as if he is living in a science fiction story. (Oops, I guess for you he is. J )
When Robbie is in a good mood like now, he loves to tease. He knows everyone is dying to make contact, so he sat back and pretended to be serious. “This species is highly adaptable, not only in form, but in their ability to survive wildly opposite extremes. It might not be wise to let them know we exist. Shall we go home?”
Everyone obliged him by crying out their protests, even the Normals. Cherine kept a straight face until she was on his lap and could bury her face against his shirt. There was nothing serious about the conversation she had with him directly in his mind and Robbie had to struggle to keep a serious look.
An Anadir asked the right question, “Robert, does your protector instinct warn you these people are a danger to us?” That stopped everyone as they waited for his answer. Robbie sent an investigative tendril of thought to Vincent before replying.
“Hmm, not that I can tell. You see, in most science fiction stories, such creatures would be a danger, so I thought we should play it by the book.”
Our isi sent a big smile (Terran) as she answered, “But mother, which book? Arthur’s? Surely in his book they would not be dangerous?”
7444
The banter took on a life of its own as everyone realised Robbie is teasing. A small aside. Our taverna is a small building that has a kitchen, store rooms and four toilets. By the front door is a small bar. Since we never have to worry about rain or cold we don’t need indoor seating and the brick floor (vine covered patio) is big enough to seat about a hundred and fifty. Because of the trip for Cherine’s birthday, Robbie extended it so that it now seats about one and a half thousand. Maria has three robot assistants and on the trips when we have many visitors, we ask for volunteers to help Maria. She tells us that one of the robots has shown a talent for cooking and does not just mechanically follow recipes. The Unation scientists who supplied the robots are fascinated by the robot and there always is an ‘insect’ camera watching it. I have not mentioned the old man (‘husband’ of Maria) for a long time because he has been officially retired. He sits at the taverna and does help when Maria calls for him, but otherwise his time is mostly spent playing tavli or cards (no gambling) with whoever wants a game. It usually is one or another Anadir (male) who plays with him.
Just when everyone was convinced that Robbie was teasing and anticipation was growing, Robbie asked a Unation officer, “By the way, I presume you did notice the weapons on the moon and their spaceships?” In a mild panic he jumped back to his ship as others also rushed off to use their instruments. The Terran leaders nodded to each other, pleased that Robbie showed the good sense to examine the new aliens for weapons. Robbie stared at the screens as if in thought until they returned to admit they cannot identify the weapons. He burst out laughing. As if on cue, Maria arrived with plates of grilled lamb chops, fried potatoes, a salad and beer. Robbie nibbled until the brouhaha settled. Soon the robots and volunteers were rushing to place platters at every table and a bathtub filled with iced beers and cold drinks was brought out for everyone to help themselves.
“Claudia, you better go to learn their language, we need to understand what is happening.” He turned to look out at the crowds. “It is obvious they are preparing for the cataclysms that are bound to occur as their planet transfers orbit between the suns. We need to know what the dangers are and how they deal with them and whether anything disastrous occurs that needs our assistance.”
An Inguel shyly spoke (they do tend to remain silent when there are large crowds of non-Inguel), “Robert, it is anticipated they will have evolved to suit their environment.”
Robbie nodded. “I agree and I guess all the scientists are dying to find out how any species can live under two such suns, the one bombarding them with radiation and the other lacking the energy to do more than provide a dim light and slight heating. What I’m concerned with has to do with the period of transition. It must be dangerous for them, however they’ve evolved.” He paused. “Surely they would not evolve to meet conditions that are transitory, even if they do occur at regular intervals? Isn’t it more likely they’ve evolved systems and physical means of surviving this period?”
The Inguel, Ifosi, born in Freddie, sent his mental agreement as he spoke verbally, “I suspect there are many deaths during this period. We’ve been looking for immature ones and not seen one. Since it is unlikely they are born full size it does indicate they do not breed for a period before the transition.” Robbie had missed that (as had we all) so he sent his approval to Ifosi.
The prime minister of Austria is a dour man who rarely speaks. Robbie turned to him as he sensed he wants to ask a question. “Mr Teller, at this time you have contained within Freddie the entire populations of a number of species. Should the newly discovered aliens have the capability of destroying Freddie, how many of us would survive?”
“The only ones facing a risk are those directly in Freddie - such as you and I sir. The Sparkler Worlds cannot be harmed as they are in the void. We speak of them as being in Freddie, but it is only a verbal convenience, they occupy a space or area within the void that is equivalent to being within Freddie, but could be the equivalent of millions of miles away from us. Let us say that the focus of their existence for us is here because of their Sparklers who are with us.” I could have kicked myself because what he said made so much sense - not that I think many of the Normals think it does. I guess their scientists will go through a spurt of trying to work out how it is possible.
Claudia asked Robbie in his mind, *Did you mean I should go alone? You aren’t coming with?* He sent her a little smile, *Take whoever you want with you. Be careful my love.* She was so obviously over the moon that many stared at her rapt face that seemed to glow. It took her a few minutes to come back to earth and then she worried about who to invite. She glanced at me and Cherine, but we both sent to her that she should choose others. She surprised everyone when she asked isi. She then asked Syrina and Candy.
Vincent looked like he was about to suck a lemon, but Robbie gave him a warning glance so he slouched down in his chair to concentrate on the girls should they need him. We grinned when his hand reached out for Kirsten, forgetting for the moment that she’s returned to be with the little girl they found.
7445
For the Normals nothing seemed to be happening, apart from the five who looked asleep, but all the Cherinians shared and watched as the girls wandered among the Mirgvi. As the meaning of what was spoken began to make sense, the girls were impressed by how courteous and friendly they are towards each other.
The buildings still standing are rapidly being dismantled and the parts carried down ramps that sink deep into the earth. Only one building stands out like a beacon and it obviously is not being dismantled. The base looks like a burgundy pyramid with seven sides and the top of it, which must stand about three hundred metres high, grows into a spike with seven sides. Although it appears slender and tapers, the first seventy metres are occupied and are offices. The girls were curious and entered an office.
“Minister Rassi Haivvi i'Khiv, we must move the equipment, we are running short of time, see how the Frha weeps.”
The minister hardly looked away from the equipment he was fine tuning as he replied, “A few more hours, they must appear soon.”
The other we learnt is a female and is the assistant of Minister Rassi Haivvi i'Khiv. “The AI has declared the transit as the period of contact for the last two transits Minister, it may be wrong again.”
“No, the aliens will come, they must have received our broadcasts by now.”
Emoting grief the assistant left to oversee the removal of the rest of the equipment. Robbie called to the girls to return.
“Is anyone picking up any broadcasts?” Robbie asked.
Yarousa answered, “We are searching.” A few minutes later he called out, “Yes, we’ve found them! They are requesting we visit them before they die out as a species. The say they do not want to die before making friends with other species and offer all their knowledge to those who call on them. They explain that the mutations the blue sun, which they call Frha, has caused has reduced their viable births and they will soon be extinct.”
Robbie turned to me. “Is he writing for us?” I smiled, certain you were not and came to bring you up to date. Arthur, we’re going to visit them now and I’ll write when I return.
I’m in a mood that could drive you crazy! I’ll return to the beginning though.
We broadcast a message in their language advising them we have arrived and a small representative group will be arriving in the office of the Minister in ten minutes. Everyone in Freddie laughed when the Minister yelled with glee and did a jig of joy, legs appearing and disappearing as he lost control of his body. We waited, thinking he’d want to regain his dignity and not have us appear while he is dancing and shouting. He flipped some switches and called out the news and we soon saw all the Mirgvi drop whatever they were doing and celebrate with glad cries and dances. Samuel King muttered that they do not have a healthy dose of xenophobia and are lucky we are Cherinians. No doubt his sentiments were echoed among many of the Normals. I think the comment says more about us than them, since they know they are dying out and want to offer us everything they know, why should they feel afraid of us? Dommi explained that the comment refers to instinctive responses, more than to logical responses. I guess it makes sense, so I withdraw my (sententious?) comment.
The ten minutes were up and he did not seem to be settling down so, with a grin, Robbie asked for the representatives of the Anadir, Inguel, Unation, Lusalith, Muyzith, Ispadosua, Eqkee (Iona), an Akiard, Eminixx, Elipians, the king of England to represent all Terran Normals of all realities and the Gillians and Kinytians were represented by those of our family, while Solomon represented all the alternate Sparklers. Some we could not take, such as the Fegorians, because of limitations of space within the Minister’s office. Of course our Wirm friends (of all those coming with) jumped with us.
We materialised within his office, timing it to the moment he stood to the side, by the entrance, exchanging with his staff congratulations on their loyalty and belief in him. He swung around almost as fast as Iona can and stared at us for a moment. I had the irreverent thought, ‘God knows what he thinks seeing so many species, his prayers have certainly been answered with a revenge’.
7446
Robbie prodded me in the back, but I did not feel there is a need for a friend of aliens, so I asked Iona to greet him on our behalf. She swung around to face me and stare into my eyes and then she huddled to the ground as she sensed I meant it.
“Greetings, we are the Cherinians. Thank you for inviting us. I, I’m called Iona.”
“Welcome Iona. Welcome Cherinians. Are you all of one species?” He elongated an arm and wiped his hand over his eyes. “My apologies, I am Minister of Alien Affairs and my name is Rassi Haivvi i'Khiv.”
Cherine giggled. “May we call you Rassi, your name is too long for us to say all the time. I am Cherine Teller but please call me Cherine.”
I quickly explained, in case he misunderstood, “We use only one of our names when talking with friends.”
“The one who spoke is Samantha, friend of aliens.” Iona primly explained.
“We too, we are also friends of aliens.” He drooped slightly. “We have little to fear as we are a dying race. Still, our lives will not have been wasted for we can now share all we have learnt with you. It is important, very important that our lives were not wasted and we thank you for coming.”
As we made our introductions others entered the room and we soon had all the top ministers of their government with us. The room was getting crowded and it was uncomfortable because they are unlike us, they find it physically an impossibility to stand still when excited. Rassi took over and led us to a huge hall within the base of the building. Before we quite understood what is happening, we found we have been sort of knighted and given titles of honour - all in gratitude for our arriving in time. They carefully explained that the building we are in has been built to last a hundred transitions and it stores all their knowledge in case they are discovered after they are extinct, but, they again and again and in most painful earnestness tried to explain so that we fully understand the importance of having shared while they are still alive. It looked as if this would continue for hours and our psyches were taking a bit of a battering, so Coral told one of them that they will not be extinct anymore, that we can heal them. It took a minute or so for the message to sink in and the word spread around. Within seconds they were all trembling and cowering as they tried to pretend bravery they no longer felt. After some gentle persuasion they admitted that if we can heal them, then it means their species have a future and they are terrified by the thought that they have risked their unborn children by inviting aliens in such a casual manner. They kept on asking each other what can they do if we want to kill or enslave them. It was very hard for even the most seasoned of us to keep a straight face and I’m told that those back in Freddie openly found the situation hilarious - despite the sensing of the tragedies they have lived through.
Despite their new-found terror, they did the best they could to show us that they truly are glad that we have come and that it is just the idea of the risks they’ve taken that frightens them. In other words, possibilities seemed to be more important than reality. I nearly gave myself a headache from trying to understand how they think. I did manage to vaguely understand, but I’m too immersed in my present and reality for me to understand fully. I glanced at Lusalith, but she also seemed amused and confused.
They vacillated during the rest of our stay until Claudia put into words the thoughts many of us had been suppressing. “If you had not invited us and we had not come, what unborn children did you risk? Surely their fate is better now, since they’ll at least have the opportunity to be born.”
Happily the one she addressed nodded, hoping it would help Claudia understand, “Yes, yes, but to be eaten alive or spend its poor life enslaved to cruel masters, would that have been better than not being born?”
“Of course. Slaves can rebel and take over, unborn children don’t have any choice.” She softly growled. “Why do you persist in imagining these things since we do not intend eating or enslaving them? Why would we heal you if we wanted to take over?”
Rassi explained, “The AI has suggested that our planet would not be of interest to any species as we have already used most of the minerals and there are plenty of rich planets available to those who have spaceships. What all civilised people lack are good servants, that is why we fear. We are not good servants and you may decide you wasted the trip to us and needing to recover the financial loss you’ll sell us off to those who need to use or eat us.”
7447
To us they sounded ludicrous. Not to Robbie, something was bothering him. He stopped and asked to speak to all their people.
“Friends, you are right to fear, there are species that would want to exploit you.” They swayed as if their legs were about to give way. “Not us though. We have come as friends. My family have a way of telling our story and I’d like you to watch as they re-enact our discovery of you and our arrival. Perhaps you will then realise you have no reason to feel guilty.”
The telling was enlarged so that the crowd can see. The girls began with the view of Freddie internally and explained it is our spaceship. They showed the reasons we came to check on their suns and how we discovered them and worried about the effects of their planet swinging from sun to sun. When they finished, Cherine did a golden circle of love.
We looked around in bemusement. They were all huddled on the ground and yet their emoting spoke of love and delight. We waited for them.
Rassi said, “It is said that in the old times when we had but one sun, our lives extended to six hundred years and more. It is also said that we matured over the first two hundred years and those were years of joy. The coming of Frha destroyed our civilisation and most of our people died. Those who survived were nearly the last, for the recurring transition was not expected and there were only a very few children. When Frha weeps her tears of poison on us we cannot have children so only the young can survive until our mother sun claims us back and have children to survive the next transition. We learnt to have children while we are still children so that our species survives.
The weeping of Frha hardens our skins and damages organs within our bodies. When Frha releases us the soft warmth and light of our sun causes our bodies to attempt the growth that is normal to us. The hardened skin breaks apart and the pain is an agony few of us barely survive with whole minds. It is rare for any adult to survive and those that do are the ministers you have met. We once covered the planet and now we are but one city and the young ones are too few. There will not be enough survivors to greet the return of our sun and they will not have any older ones to help them.
What are a species that can never mature and think great thoughts? We have tried and built the tower and evolved a city that lasts from generation to generation and we needed for someone who is an adult to come see what we have done and how we did not only survive, but tried to grow out to space where we would have the time to mature without damaged minds and bodies. Cherinians, we need to love and be loved. We need someone to weep for all that we lost.
Previous ministers understood our need and the AI was evolved. It is as a parent and sees and understands our fears and needs and it feels our pain as its own. It saw the end was coming and told us stories to help us avoid thinking of our future. Even I who knew this, believed the stories, for I needed to.
Now that you know, will you abandon us?”
While he’d talked he’d visualised some of what he spoke of and we were shattered. No wonder they are no longer fully sane. We could not show our grief, for they needed us to be their strength.
Robbie rose so that he was about four feet off the ground so that more of them can see him. “We cannot be your parents, but we are family. As friends and as family we will stay to help and give you back the future your ancestors lost. I promise that this transition not one of you will suffer, for we will take you to another world that is gentle and will nurture you so that you may mature at your own pace. As for Frha, we will find a way to rid you of her.”
Solomon stepped forward, “They are of our reality, so they shall come to our World. Minister Rassi, please gather whatever you will need to take with you. Please include your art, books, science and anything else you treasure. How long will you require to be ready?”
“We need not prepare for the transition? Look,” he pointed, “Frha already sends us her tears, we cannot prepare in time.”
7448
“We’ll take care of her tears, please ask your people to gather all you wish to take with you and we’ll collect you in three days.”
Robbie understood what Solomon meant and leaving his body with us went to become the g-void and within the hour we could see that the blue sun was being shrouded in energies that turned away most of the harmful radiation.
King George, his wife and Jina sat at Robbie’s table and the royal couple found it difficult to pretend they do not notice the amount of food Robbie is eating and the number of beers he is drinking straight from the bottle. Jina explained, “When he becomes the g-void, for a long time he feels as if he is starving. His healer says he is not, but that food he is gobbling must be going somewhere, so perhaps it does not know as much as it thinks.”
King George gave that strange laugh of his that we enjoy. “My dear, why didn’t he eat the blue sun - he’d have solved all our problems while he was at it.”
I was listening to them, but had also withdrawn into my thoughts. I tend to feel a bit weird when Gina sits with me as Jina, a woman of over fifty years old. However, this time I was mostly lost somewhere in the future as I re-examined the memories of Le’sase. I sort of mumbled my thoughts at Robbie, *Why didn’t you use the same method to protect my people?*
Robbie stopped eating to stare at me as he thought. He must have sensed Le’sase. *How can I answer that Sam? Perhaps by that time we’ve evolved a better solution? What I did will only last for days, for the He'sses we needed a permanent solution. What did I do then?* I came to and grinned. *You’re hoping I can save you the bother of thinking up a solution that will work here also? Dad, the Unation ship was placing shields, but I don’t know what they will be.* He speared some fried halloumi and chewed it up. *Could you share with a Unation scientist? It might give them a hint.* I giggled. *You refuse to let anyone from the future tell you what will happen, but you want to learn from me? You must really be desperate.*
Robbie waved his fork at King George (who stared at it as if it were a cobra) and told him, “Samantha has the solution, but it amuses her not to show us. I guess I’ll have to find my own answer to the problem.”
Rosie piped up. “What he means is, he will use his famous hammer technique.” From there it all went downhill so I came to write for you. As an aside, Gina says that her royal friends are not insulted by our behaviour, they find us ‘refreshing’. Perhaps I should begin to act more dignified - who wants to be like a cold drink!
Robbie asked why the transition from one sun to the other is not causing major upheavals in the tectonic plates.
“In this they’re lucky Robert.” A Unation scientist explained. “For life to develop, the planet could not be in the same position yours is relative to the suns. The pull from the red sun is far stronger, so life developed where gravity is within a range that was acceptable in evolutionary terms. The blue sun is smaller and its pull is much weaker. The danger is twofold. For one, it is too bright and all life evolved under the red sun would die. The second reason is the one already discussed, the planet is not distant enough to avoid the destructive radiation.
Because the blue sun is closer to the planet, the gravity of the two suns balance out at the point the orbit is transferred and the minimum damage is caused.”
Laura asked, “Your computers projected a period of eighty four million years before the two suns part company. Has it taken into consideration the attractions of the surrounding solar systems and the galaxy?”
“It should have since it is programmed to do so. However, there may be anomalies it is not aware of.”
“Such as?”
“The area has a number of red suns. A theory suggests that it could indicate a higher probability of a black hole within the neighbourhood. If so, all the projections will be wrong.”
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Laura nodded, pleased. “Then I think there is a black hole.”
“We’ll examine the area as soon as our ship is fully manned for departure. May I ask the reason for your conclusion?”
“The computer also said the two suns have been together for over six million years. That is not what they told us on the planet - unless their racial memory stretches back that far!”
The scientist came to his feet and he was emoting great concern and embarrassment. “You are correct, they specifically mentioned the time before the arrival of the blue sun! With the losses at times of transition there is no possible way for them to recall anything that far back. The blue sun must have arrived within the last thousand years or less! Thank you Laura, you have saved us from making a grave error.” I guess we all know who is going to be chosen tonight J. Actually, we’re all incredibly impressed by her and she’s been flooded by love and admiration all day. She did show an interest in arithmetic from very young…as Robbie no doubt recalls. lol
Robbie is so impressed by his whole sister that he’s taken her to Goldi’s planet for a few days alone. Not fair, we also wanted to show her how much we love her, he should have waited until afterwards.
Recently I haven’t mentioned Samuel King much, as I’ve also been lax with others, but I’ll make up for it later. Samuel has twice during our travels in Freddie brought a woman with him (both were Normals). Unfortunately he chose girls from very rich families each time and they were spoilt and not fun to be around once they’d spent a couple of weeks with him. I hope he finds a really nice girl soon.
PART FIFTY EIGHT
Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty Eight
There are only three point four million Mirgvi on the entire planet, and as we were told they mostly live in the city. There are a few tens of thousands who normally live in the surrounding area, but at the times of transition they can no longer farm and return to withdraw underground with the rest of the population. Carrying them to the Sparkler World was not a problem, what delayed us was in ensuring they took all they need with them. The problem was that they were too excited to think and could not organise themselves, so we had to join them and ask questions, reminding them in that way of many artefacts they will need to preserve the continuity of their history. Books of theirs have been rushed to the Inguel for preservation and for a few of them to be translated. We are all interested in reading about their ancestors, before they were affected by the blue sun, so that we can know what to look forward to once our present friends have recovered and matured.
Originally, when it was explained to us that they are barely adolescents, I’d rejoiced, for I saw it as proof that with the natures they’ve already exhibited they’ll be certain to become Cherinians. Now we know that we must wait. They are too unsteady and immature and we could damage them permanently if we link them as Cherinians now. Themis thinks they will never be as their ancestors were, but hopes the influence of other species will help them mature. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Our situation is now very funny (the giggling kind of funny). Dommi mentioned we will be returning to our homes as soon as we’ve finished with the Mirgvi and we have since then been flooded all day and night by pleas for us to take them on one more adventure before returning them to their everyday lives. I guess we can’t blame them and our empathy is likely to get the better of us. If what we hear and sense is right, we are likely to grow as Cherinians by a couple of hundred million (and this time Campbell is not getting any of them - yeah, I know, I am gloating
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The one disadvantage to coming to the homes of the Orati and others is that their adventure will be shorter than it is for everyone else. In place of that, they feel they are being honoured that all of humanity wants to visit their world, so they do not complain and are in a hurry to return and tidy up. The winds do blow hard and it gets dusty in the dry season, so Gnolat City will have to be cleaned before we show it to our guests. I should admit at this time that we do not take everyone from the Orati planet, only those that know of us. To collect tribes that are truly primitive without giving them time to adjust would have terrified them. As for the Asians, since they have not shown interest in learning about a gentler way, we first have to concentrate on them as I did with the Orati before we shake their society by bringing them out into the universe.
I made certain that Efineh and I are among the first to arrive. As Efineh joined me to jump to our Orati home I was surprised to see that Pirusi is with her.
“Sebura asked me to bring her with us as he says he has other urgent matters to deal with. It must be serious because he looked rather grim.” Piri stared up at us with her dark eyes slightly anxious, so I smiled and each of us taking her hand we jumped.
It was an opportunity for me to jest at Efineh’s expense, but I kept quiet and remained sympathetic as she struggled to adjust to being home only hours after her departure. As for Piri, there was no way we could make her understand. Soon the voices of the woman scattered throughout the other rooms betrayed their surprise also.
To give myself something to do I went to the kitchen to help, but the indignant cries of the women soon had me prowling through the corridors. I jumped to Gnolat City and saw the streets and buildings are filled with Orati from all the areas and there are also a number of Feshidi cleaning up. I walked over to the arena and saw that the bubble has been removed and the soil filled in and grass planted. I guessed the aliens have taken it to examine. I grinned at the thoughts they must be experiencing as they struggle to cut through the layers and picture my Gnolat claws ripping through them so easily. I returned to the Unation trees and stared up at them as I wondered what I should do to pass the time. Suddenly Efineh appeared with Pirusi.
“We’re all busy and she needs company. I think she’s worried because of Sebura’s absence.”
“I wonder what could be keeping him. Did he jump to one of the patrol centres?”
“No, he stayed in the Sparkler World.” She frowned as she felt ripples of alarm race through me. “What harm could he come to there?”
“That’s not the question Efineh - I’m more concerned about what he could find so urgent that he has to deal with it himself. I’m returning to Freddie, you better take Piri with you.” I jumped.
The girls and Freddie have linked into the thousands of cameras over and within Gnolat City and they are creating a four dimensional hologram and the Sparklers are setting up bases within their Worlds for the public waiting there to see the city. If this is a success, it will be used many times as the picture looks so real that the viewer gets the feeling of being by or within the city.
I immediately noticed that Robbie is anxiously looking around so I rushed to him. “Do you feel it - that something bad is about to happen?” He nodded and stared at me, a question in his eyes. “I think it involves Sebura. He’s stayed in a Sparkler World and he sent Piri back home with Efineh.”
Robbie called to Solomon, asking which World Sebura is in. He answered that he is in ours, of the Prime Sparklers. I grabbed Robbie’s hand and without arguing he took us to the Sparklers World. We did not find Sebura, but Campbell asked Robbie whether he can join him for a drink at the taverna in Freddie. Sending me an apologetic thought, Robbie agreed and we jumped back. I did not sit with them and walked around, anxiously trying to sense Sebura.
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: 30th Jun, 2020
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