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.
7451
The way I lived it was terrifying, but to give you a rounded picture of what happened instead of explanations afterwards, let me write of it from Sebura’s viewpoint as he shared with us.Sebura looked at the excited crowds with a laconic smile. He found himself both surprised that they are so excited to be visiting his world via screens while also understanding their excitement at seeing the city, for he still finds it a marvel. His main problem was that he’d spent months amidst large crowds and he’d been eagerly waiting for the opportunity to be on his own, riding his horse over his own lands. Now he thought his country will either be teeming with the same crowds or else there will be cameras following him so that they can watch him. He needed to be on his own.
The part of the Sparkler World that has been made available to Terrans is circular and about ten thousand kilometres across. There are at least three hundred pre-created low-lying cities and most of the land is empty. Wishing himself into the air he looked for an area without houses and jumped to float over that area. After his second jump he saw he is over empty land. A green valley lay between the mountain ranges that cut across the land, but he was not in the mood for soft land full of green and fruits. He wanted to exercise his body on harsh terrain so he landed on the saddle of a mountain ridge.
He ran for three hours, threw his body into a cold stream and after drying he climbed some rocks. He found a spot that was cut off from the wind, but with a view of the lands below. He set his back against the cliff behind him and let his mind roam. He has seen many marvels and needs to absorb them so that he can someday understand what he’s seen and experienced. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard a noise.
Behind the rock that jutted out he heard steel tipped boots scuffling. A stone was kicked to fly and fall on the steep slope forty metres below. Sebura pulled his feet in and wondered how it was that they’ve come to the same place. They obviously were not concerned about being seen or heard.
“I’m not certain Campbell can pull it off, I think we should…”
“For god’s sake man! This place is full of those spying void insects, talk mind to mind if you have something to say.”
*I was only about to say that we should take care not to be exposed if Campbell’s attack against Samantha fails. That bitch has a sixth sense nobody knows about, she’ll do something to foil his attempt to kill her in a way that looks like an accident. Vernon, he’s squandering our strengths just for a petty vengeance. Even should he succeed, she’ll not be dead more than minutes before they bring her back good as new.*
*He’s just trying to make a point, somebody has to bring that bitch down a peg or two, that mouth of hers has caused us more trouble than all the powers of the Cherinians. Anyway, didn’t you notice the way he hid a smile when somebody made the same point? I bet you he’s got something up his sleeve to keep her dead forever. The trouble with you is that you don’t like being a team player. I’m the same, but I know how to play when it’s in my interest. Let him take the risks and if he succeeds in destroying the Teller family, we can break away and do what we like.*
Their voices were so loud in Sebura’s head that for a moment he thought they were speaking aloud. He clamped down on his thoughts so that they don’t realise he heard them - though he did allow himself a small smile when they made the comment about my mouth, silently agreeing with them!
The first speaker chuckled in his mind. *I must admit, his plan of tricking her into becoming a Gnolat so that her own father is forced to kill her is brilliant. He’ll have to be fast if he hopes to trap her soul since the void is always full of the insects or other aliens and her family are bound to instantly follow.*
*Stop fretting, Campbell knows that whole family inside out, whatever he plans will work - you know why? Because everyone is so relaxed and happy that they won’t be on the defensive. She pretends to trust that local rider, Sebura, but when she sees him change into a Gnolat she’ll act first and think later. She knows that nothing else can kill a Gnolat, so she’ll be forced to change into one also. I bet that tribe boy will be shocked when Samantha attacks him, since he won’t know she sees him as a Gnolat. The others will have to be satisfied with his death for their revenge - having a Gnolat tear into him will be damn painful.*
“We better return, or else Campbell will wonder what we’re up to.”
7452
Sebura saw them float away and tried to blend in with the rocks in case they looked back. Within a minute they jumped without looking back.Sebura was in shock, that is why he did not waste time on wondering how it is that in a World of infinite size, those two should happen to come within feet of him to discuss their treachery. His first intention was to report what he’d heard to Robbie and I, but as the minutes flowed by his temper took over and in a rage he decided to take care of Campbell on his own. His mind turned ice cold as he examined his powers and tried to think of a way that he can use one of them to destroy Campbell.
He reasoned that it is highly unlikely Campbell will even be on the same world when the attack against us is to take place. After thinking on it he then decided it is likely Campbell will go to Freddie so that my own family have to be his alibis. His defences will be down as he is bound to be concentrating on what is happening in Gnolat City and if he moves fast, Sebura was convinced he can tear through whatever superficial defences Campbell employs when he’s feeling safe.
It was a shock to Sebura when he found Campbell sitting with Robbie at the taverna and he was wondering how to proceed without giving Robbie time to defend Campbell. At that moment, I reappeared as I walked around the corner of the taverna and Robbie, who’d already had warning from his protector instincts that the time of danger is upon us, left Campbell to come to me. With everyone concentrating on Robbie and me, Sebura attacked.
Because I was facing Sebura and concentrating on him I screamed his name just a second before he attacked and Robbie seeing Sebura attacking Campbell and not knowing who to protect or attack saw me move towards them and knocked me aside. By the time he stopped Sebura, Campbell was a bloody mess. Robbie placed Sebura in a stasis shield so as to concentrate on saving Campbell.
All this was seen by thousands, and cunningly among those thousands were the supporters of Campbell, and they shouted that I and Sebura attacked Campbell, that Robbie stopped me and then stopped Sebura, isolating him within a stasis field so that he cannot be harmed by Talents angered by our treachery. They furiously demanded that Robbie step away from Campbell as he might be trying to finish the job I’d started with Sebura as my pawn. Their words actually affected the way the witnesses saw the incident. I am enemy number one and Robbie has asked me to stay at home (Sebura is with me) while he and the family and friends try to deal with the mess.
Having shared from Sebura, I see that he was set up. Campbell wanted him to attack so that my name would be blackened while also reducing the popularity of all Cherinians. He must have become frightened by the sudden increase in numbers who want to become Cherinians. He need not worry anymore, we’re considered mutants again and the visit to Gnolat City was cut short and everyone returned home.
Among the Cherinians, there is no blame for Sebura and I, for we have shared with them and they have examined his every thought process. They know that we are almost blameless, finding Sebura rash, but accepting that he acted as a brave rider of his culture would. They agree that there is no way we can convince the Normals of the truth.
I have to stay behind while Robbie takes everyone home, for the Orati are not a forgiving people. We explained in detail why Sebura attacked Campbell and yet they feel that as a rider and as a council member he has dishonoured them and they are demanding his death. The worst of it is that Sebura agrees with them. That would be a victory for Campbell that I cannot endure.
There was no time when I could have written, calling for your help, and there is nothing much you can do now. We’ll ride it out on our own, Arthur.
As I’ve indicated, Freddie and most of the family returned home to return all our guests to their homes while Aganthi, Dommi, Gina and Wendy stayed with me. Of course Samuel Teller with his wives/children stayed and continued doing the work, while I spent my time arguing with the council, having private meetings with Ashema, Gassian and another two council members and trying my best to placate the leaders of the other Orati and the Feshidi. During this time I asked Sebura to stay in the house, in such a way that he knew I was really ordering him. He knows that he is being watched by too many for him to do anything foolish. At least I don’t have to fear that he will commit suicide, that is not his way. He wants to die by combat.
7453
I called a meeting of all the leaders and stood before them as the old Samantha with my scars. I figured that gave them all the notice they needed of my determination. I waited for Ashema to invite me to address them.
“I refused to kill Sebura or allow him to be killed when he plotted against me and the council. My faith in his potential was proven right and he has stood by my side when others from alternate realities attacked me and he has proven himself as a council member. Now that he is an Orati rider any father would be proud of, you demand his death because he acted out of loyalty to me. I admit he was partly acting out of his anger, but then, has it not always been the way of the Orati riders? When they go into battle do they look for strategy to win or do they disdain everything but the battle itself?
I hear you when you say that he brought shame upon the Orati, this world and myself.” I grinned, unable to resist the humour. “Isn’t it funny that as the man I wanted him to be, he has done more to darken the light of Cherine than he ever could have done when he plotted against me?” They were not amused and used my statement in a literal manner to scowl even more fiercely.
“Apart from my dislike of killing and despite my liking for the man himself, I have another reason for asking you to change your minds. If Sebura dies, his death confirms to those who do not have Cherinian gifts that I am guilty, that I did plan with Sebura to kill my enemy. From that we will never recover and Campbell will be the winner.”
I had made my argument and appeal and now allowed them to debate among themselves and with me. We argued for six hours and I was amazed at how obdurate elderly men can be. They nitpicked and tried to convince me I was wrong, but mostly they harped on tradition being the deciding factor. I refused to yield and demanded that they use their brains instead of blindly falling back on ‘traditions’ being the answer to everything.
Ashema stood up. “We have argued for a full day and no agreement will be reached if we allow emotions to rule us. The question is one: Samantha asks this of us, do we refuse her? I look at us and think how strange it is that men of other lands sit amongst us to decide the fate of one of our riders and wonder, what happened to traditions? Did we not see that Samantha was wiser than us and choose to change our traditions so that this can become a world men of all other Earths will admire and envy?
There is a war that is being fought in other lands, on other worlds. Their powers and reasons are beyond us and though it has spilled over into our world twice now, we must decide, do we have the experience to judge or do we trust Samantha and allow her to guide us? I vote for Samantha.”
I guess it could be said that Ashema ironically used emotions after all to win me the vote.
Sebura was waiting for me, but when he saw how dispirited I looked he did not press and instead made me a coffee.
“It is said they have voted as Samantha asked.”
“I’m not interested in what is said Sebura!” I quickly apologised. “They voted for me because I pleaded for them to do so for my sake. Even then I think they would have refused if not for Ashema. That was not what I wanted.”
“How can I make amends Samantha? Since I am not to die, then I cannot just live my life as if nothing happened. My life must have some meaning, can you find for me a meaning important enough to justify my life?”
Efineh came in and put her arm over my shoulder. I leant my head against her, studying Sebura as I allowed her love to refresh my soul. I thought, for the umpteenth time, of what beautiful eyes he has and Efineh giggled.
“You are growing too close to me daughter.” I smiled at Sebura. “Let me sleep and tomorrow I promise to think about the meaning you ask for. Perhaps I’ll succeed if you think of one for me?”
7454
As Sebura made his way to his room, Efineh asked me, “If he had been like this when I loved him, would you have still refused me?”
“Yes, for two reasons. You were too young and he is not ready. Now is not the time either, anything that interrupts his growth will stunt him forever.”
She grinned at me, “Then I’m lucky I don’t love him that way.”
I grinned back at her, “Or else you’d fight me and go ahead anyway?” Her laughter brought my loves to me. They shared and giggled, but with the sharing they’d picked up my earlier disappointment.
Dommi looking every inch the matriarch (which is what she does when she is about to tell me off or point out an unpalatable truth) stood before me. “You expect too much of people. Be less demanding and they’ll find their way to where you want them to be in their own time.”
“I don’t have that much time, I’ll revert to being Le’sase before that happens if I do as you say.” When she took me seriously and worried at what I meant, I burst into laughter. We changed ourselves into little girls and slept holding each other cosily, Efineh for this once with us. Even though there was no sex I think my loves were just a teeny bit scandalised. In the morning Robbie and all our loves arrived. They took one look at us lying in bed and Robbie said in a very prudish manner, teasing me, that they better go for breakfast. With all the girls giggling they left.
Once we’d all eaten, Robbie lit a cigarette. “While we were home I had a talk with your tele-friend David, and Bruce was with us. They are both of the opinion that there is nothing we can do to change public opinion at this time. Even should every single Cherinian confirm the truth, it would only look like we are ganging up against the Normals - and Campbell.” He pretended to shiver. “To think that my healer was in him!”
I laughed. “You know I’d have done the same. Anyway, I’ve thought of the perfect revenge that will make him regret his scheming against me.” There was a long silence as everyone tried to guess if I am being serious and if I am, what my plan is. Robbie raised an eyebrow so I told him. “I should marry him.”
I’d never realised they felt so strongly about Campbell - not even as a joke could they stomach the idea. Of course, once they’d got over telling me off, the imps started with their jokes and then all of them tried to imagine (very verbally and graphically by projecting their imagined scenarios) how much Campbell would suffer if he was married to me. Some of it was funny and some was not! I’m not anything like they painted me to be.
“I think that is why Irfan and I stopped loving each other, we forgot to laugh.”
Syrina answered her, “I can’t see Sebura ever laughing, you’d better look for someone else.” Efineh became the butt of their jokes and I had a few choice pieces to contribute. What a lovely start to the day, I now felt ready to tackle the whole world and Campbell.
When Sebura arrived, he was puzzled as to why the girls burst into giggles. They quickly jumped, leaving Robbie, Efineh and I to deal with him. Robbie warmly clasped his hand and drew him to the same couch.
“Sebura, things may not have been as they seemed, but I want you to know that I have been touched by your love for our Samantha. For you to attack someone like Campbell was very brave, for he has powers that even I hesitate to go against. You must consider me in your debt until I’ve found a way to do something of equal importance for you.”
I’m glad Sebura cannot read my mind, for Robbie had laid it on too thick and had made a number of false statements. Sebura is bright but not sophisticated enough yet to see the truth and was embarrassed and humbled. Strangely it also seemed to increase his sense of guilt. “I have caused you great damage…”
“No! Campbell did, not you. He is like a snake that attacks from a hidden place.”
7455
I cut in. “Sebura has already asked for us to find something that will give meaning to his life. He does not know it, but he already has such a mission. Sebura, continue with your healing and the day you see it as a mission worthy of your time and the people you help worthy of your love, that day you will have given meaning to your life. No other person can do what you asked Sebura, only you can.”This world does need healing, they’ve all been traumatised by the events and it is exactly because the fall has been from so high. Once they settled down and lost their fears by discussing their expperiences amongst themselves, they found they loved the Sparkler World and felt important, certain they had been invited because Samantha the white demon loves them. Then the shock and humiliation. No wonder they talked about it for weeks. I had to do my best to not only show there was no humiliation, but that we are actually grateful to Sebura. My sending him off to heal was seen by them as a punishment and banishment by me, so I had to bring him back for a while.
It was good that I was forced to bring him back, because it made me see that Sebura has to return to our Athens with us. The people on our world are just as narrow-minded - without having the excuse of lacking the sophistication of experience of the wiles of someone like Campbell. After they’ve seen us do so much good, they still turn against us every time they think we did wrong, hardly ever asking why it happened.
Cherine agreed with me, but we did tell Sebura he does not have to come with and warned him that it will be uncomfortable as he will be treated as an evil person. He asked whether Piri should stay on his world, but we want her with. We know that there will be times that only she will be able to raise his spirits and it is good for her to be exposed to new ways and ideas, even negative ones. I’m not certain what I mean by that, since she does tend to spend most of her time watching cartoons
We invited as many as we could to a farewell feast. They gathered and sat at their tables, but there was little laughter so I decided to do something about it. I asked Vincent for screens and stood up.
“My friends, because the wives of Robert enjoy being children most of the time, Robert sometimes forgets and talks to us like a father. He tells us that difficult times help us grow stronger. I regret what happened because I know it hurt so many of my friends, but at least you can now tell yourselves that you have seen how people of my world fight and that your ways are much cleaner and more honest.” I gave them my best grin. “If you think Campbell fights dirty, just wait until you see me fight him.” The laughter of my friends and loved ones brought smiles to their faces and a few of them clapped. With a broad smile I ended off, “And now, I’ll hand you over to the imps.” They stared at me with their minds blank and their eyes promising me retribution once we’re home. I chuckled as I sat and they came to their feet. Their teasing was not their best to date, but it broke the ice and everyone enjoyed themselves.
How am I supposed to answer him? What he deserves is a kiss, but he won’t help us find him. Arthur, this is Robert from here onwards. I admit I never would have thought of that solution as I would have been certain it would not be possible to reach more than ten percent of the Normals. Having assumed, will it now be true for all of time? If so, you’ve just handed us a powerful tool for avoiding misunderstandings with the Normals and it could lead to more of them spontaneously becoming full telepaths. As you should know, most people cannot read minds because they find it impossible to believe they can. Thank you. Thank you for the joy flooding the heart of our Samantha.
We decided to keep it a secret from all those with us in Freddie, including Sebura. We wanted to sense their amazement and delight when we arrive and they learn of what Arthur has done. We were far too cheerful at the taverna and confused nearly everyone, so some of us pleaded with Robbie to jump quickly to our reality as we might be leaking the reason for our joy. He refused and took his time having breakfast and his coffees. Aganthi insisted we collect Ashema and one of each of the other leaders so that they can experience for themselves how Arthur has changed humiliation to a sort of victory for us by using the truth to foil Campbell. Then we jumped.
7456
What a vertiginous welcome!
Sebura grabbed Piri and held her behind him as people rushed to him. When they patted him and congratulated him for his bravery, he stood looking stunned and could not answer. The more people that showed their joy at seeing him and the more they apologised, the less he was able to deal with it. We took pity on him and jumped us home and then explained what you had assumed for us. Since he can read we showed him the paragraph you wrote.
“It is true because he wrote it?”
“He is our author Sebura. He is like a storyteller sitting by the campfire, but what he tells, it becomes true for us.”
With a sigh of complaint he said, “Samantha, you should have let me remain a rider, this is all too difficult for me to understand.” We welcomed him to the club with some laughter and more than a little awe in our voices.
Every talk show is sending appeals for us to appear, governments have organised parties (official functions with lots of glitter and all the famous attending) but more important to us is the emoting of the people when they see us. Some of the more thoughtful ones ruefully tell us that they deserve missing out on Gnolat City, but we reassure them we’ll arrange something for them before it is destroyed by the earthquakes.
Robert here. Samantha is trying to avoid mentioning that it is her everyone wants to apologise to and all the shows are pleading for her. She has even refused David, telling us that she will find it impossible not to sound smug if she goes. The truth is, she is embarrassed by all the adulation.
Robbie forced me to appear in five shows! I tried to avoid talking about Campbell and tried to stress that all we ask of them is that they remember next time what it means to be a Cherinian and assured them we will always be their friends and family.
I’ve had enough, we’ve got to leave and return a month later.
Campbell, at his request, has appeared on David’s show. When David told him he can speak, Campbell admitted that the plan to discredit me had been his. He said that since he was the only one who would be made to suffer the physical pains, he’d given in to his anger. He explained that I have been needling him without reason and have done all I can to make him look evil.
“I’m sorry that I allowed my anger with her to prove her right. It was evil of me and I apologise. I apologise to Samantha, but also to everyone else who was hurt.” He raised his hand to stop David who was about to speak. “I cannot undo what has been done, but I can try to make amends. I will support a program that I believe is important to Samantha and her family.
During this last trip Robert discovered that many children were being hurt. He has rid us of those who caused the pain, but the children of all realities now need our help. I ask that the authorities find parents who are willing to give love to those children and I pledge two thousand dollars per month per child being adopted to help support such families. When the children are ready to go to university I further pledge to provide those who wish to study with the full university fees and costs and they will receive an income for the period of their studies.
Samantha, if you are listening, I hope you appreciate that out of something evil something good has come to be. I guess you’ll continue to needle me to exasperation, but I promise to keep any retribution I think fitting restricted to you so that I do not harm so many people again.”
Robbie nudged me, “Go have your say Sam.” I refused.
Sebura found it confusing when we explained that thousands of children would be benefiting because of him attacking Campbell. He saw clearly enough to understand that it was not the attack that forced Campbell, that it was public opinion of him. Not only has he lost some of his followers, but his businesses have also been suffering. When I explained to him that his donations will be tax deductible so the public will in actual fact be paying a substantial part of his costs, he pulled a face.
7457
I did pull a dirty trick. I told David about the wish of the Orati council to condemn Sebura to death by combat because of the humiliation he’d brought upon his people and asked him to interview them. The public did find the idea of killing a man for the given reasons rather barbaric, but David presented it skilfully so that they understood and they wrote to us by the millions asking us to convey to the Orati and the people of their world that they have not been humiliated and should be proud that they have a man like Sebura. They also apologised for demanding to leave and asked to be invited again. Privately, Sebura told me that I have made Ashema totally unassailable and no one will ever dare to vote against him again.Vincent, perhaps thanks to Kirsten, put some pressure behind the scenes and Hettie had to negotiate with the Chinese government for the Cherinians to offer to keep an eye on their people and any attempt to kill baby daughters will be prevented and the couple reported to their authorities. The government confided they would then be forced to change their laws and allow couples a second child if the first is a daughter, exacerbating their population growth problems. Cherinians will still have to watch, as many will find their second child is also a daughter. We have not allowed the Normals to find out that our healers are temporarily (or sporadically) reducing the fertility wherever population growth is still a problem, so we are not too worried about the problem of the Chinese. I hope we can soon stop, as it makes me feel dirty and is not how Cherinians should deal with this problem…but I cannot work out how else we can help.
Michael is not as forgiving, or should I say tolerant for a greater cause, as Robbie. Where he had advocated among the Ipohin that they back off when a confrontation was engineered by the Campbellites, he now told them they should meet it head on and they will have his backing. Publicly his comments about Campbell himself, are scathing and he mocked his appearance on television, spelling out the reasons he’d made the apology and offer. Robbie tried talking to Michael, but this time he is not willing to listen.
I felt myself shrinking into myself, miserable at the trouble I saw I will be the cause of. When Dimi came to report the next day, Robbie congratulated him on how well he is handling the problems and commended him on passing on to the Cherinian council certain complaints instead of trying to handle them himself. They then discussed the present situation and Robbie was upset when Dimi declared himself to be a whole-hearted supporter of Michael with regard to the Campbell problem. Robbie wiped his face.
“Both of you are reacting out of your love for Samantha. Can’t you see that even Sam does not want this?”
“None of you appreciate how special she is to all Cherinians and you are only showing weakness by tolerating Campbell.”
That which hardly ever happens, happened. Cherine saw his comment as being insulting to Robbie and she went wild, attacking Dimi verbally - but her emoting was blazing forth so wildly that Dimi actually cowered. Not even Robbie dared speak.
I felt all that matters to me is crumbling, my world falling apart. I who revere Cherine, I who fear her, I started screaming at her, at Dimi, at everyone. Looking back I can see and hear myself, but at the time I could not. Apparently the emoting of Cherine and I was so powerful that it was felt by most Cherinians and Michael with his family appeared. He tried to grab hold of me, but I blasted him, knocking him away. Robbie grabbed me and jumped.
Ironically, he jumped to the prison planet. There I can lash out without his fearing I will harm anyone as the islands are on the other side of the world. He held me until my tantrum collapsed into a wild sobbing. Gently he caressed me until I was drained and clung to him, sunken into deep misery.
“They are wrong you know, you are not more special than any of the girls.” He was only saying what I felt so I did not disagree - even though I did not like him saying it (in a way). “Sam, to all Cherinians you are special, but even for Cherine I would not have acted differently. Michael and Dimi are wrong, confrontation will only destroy all we’ve spent more than a century building.”
7458
I wiped my face against his shirt. “I know.”
He pulled my face up. “We are allowed to fight amongst ourselves my love. Everyone is even allowed to act as they believe. It does not mean your world is falling apart.”
“Apart from you and Alki, they are the only two men I deeply love. I cannot bear to hear them fighting with you because of me. Dad, let me walk on my own for a while and then we must return for me to talk to them.”
I first hugged and kissed them both, did the same with Ahní and then stood halfway between them and Dad. “Imagine if all the Cherinians were like me - the Normals would have to look after us instead of us worrying about them.” A half smile formed on Michael’s face and then suddenly he burst into laughter, dragging the others with him.
“The foundation of my existence is here, with my family. My Robert, Cherine and all my wives, Michael, his family and Dimi my brother and son. Seeing you fight terrified me for I felt as if my world were dissolving, falling apart. I could not bear to live with any of you gone from my life or any of you angry and unforgiving of any of the others.
All that happened with Campbell is my fault. Not because I said anything I should not have, but because I made him more important than he is by talking about him. You think I am wrong? Imagine how important I would feel if nobody ever talked about me!” That got me another laugh. “Michael, I will never tell you what to do with the Ipohin, but I do ask you to change your statement with regard to the Campbellites.” I grinned. “That’s a good name for them and I’ve already stolen it from you and used it in the diary. By naming them as you have done, it prevents them from snatching some other name to aggrandise themselves. Names are important because if people are forced to use a word, they come to bestow upon the object so named the meaning of the name.
Michael, both you and Dimi were wrong to call me special. We cannot afford any personality cult, apart from what we choose to cultivate with regard to Cherine - and even with her, we have to be very careful. She must never become more important than what she actually represents.”
Michael nodded, but Dimi asked, “You wish to dictate what is in our hearts?”
“No my Dimi, never that. Make me as special as you wish in your heart, for if you do not, I truly will be miserable. Just do not declare me special and above any other Cherinian.”
Michael played dirty. He did not rescind what he’d told the Ipohin, but advised them I had asked that they do not cause trouble. Since everyone was happy that they chose to honour my request I kept quiet. I wonder how they’ll feel when I next cause trouble for Campbell?
Amelia. That is the name of the badly hurt child that Kirsten and Vincent took care of personally. Before I tell you about her, allow me to comment that her name almost seems to have been chosen by her family deliberately. The dictionary says: Amelia - congenital absence of an arm or leg. Luckily she still had her arms and legs when she was found, despite all the damage done to her.
Vincent appeared in our Athens home without Kirsten and accepted a coffee as he sat by Robbie. “Kirsten and I have rented a small house outside Athens for ourselves.”
“That is a good idea. We should have thought of it a long time ago. Vincent, I take you for granted too often, I’m sorry. Do you need funds?”
“No, I’ve arranged an income for us.”
Robbie looked puzzled. “How?”
“Hettie gave me a sum in gold. I took it back in time to when it was worth triple what it is worth now and sold it. I made some investments and now they give us a decent income.”
Robbie grinned. “Now that the two of you have a home, are you planning on having any children?”
“Actually, yes.” He did not smile. “Robert, we’ve decided we want to adopt Amelia.”
7459
“Amelia? Oh, the girl you saved?”
“We want to adopt her according to the laws of the Normals, so that nobody can dispute she is our daughter.”
Robbie was about to speak, so I cut in, “You should have brought her, we’d love to meet her. Vincent, think about it before you do as you say. It will make headlines all over the world - in every reality. Do you want that for her?”
“If I don’t, but the media realise she is living with us, we’ll hit the headlines anyway.”
“Then you better prepare your arguments. For instance, they are going to want you to prove that you are not a paedophile. Many will argue that since you are a part of Robbie that split off, you must be a paedophile.”
“Kirsten and I discussed the possibility and we are willing to take our chances.”
I burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, but it is funny. If you adopt her, you do realise that you qualify for the grant from Campbell?” From his face I could see it had not occurred to him. Everyone thought it was hilarious and laughed.
Once the laughter was over we all climbed into him, demanding to meet Amelia. Kirsten appeared about a hundred metres away with the little girl holding her hand and as they walked over she talked to her and made little jokes so as to calm any jitters she had about meeting us.
Vincent and Kirsten have been very careful not to open her mind. They feel, and we all agree, that she needs more time to stabilise and be certain she is loved before becoming exposed to the emoting of others. That has not stopped them from entering her mind and using Robbie’s old trick and playing puppy with her. They’ve even taken her on visits to other realities and shown her the world where her family are held prisoners so that she knows for certain that they can never return to hurt her again.
I do not believe that Vincent does not have the same tastes as Robbie, but he obviously sees deeper and loves Amelia and does not care what she looks like. As part of healing her she has lost much of the soft pudginess that came from no exercise and bad diet and her teeth have been replaced. We do not view strangers just with our eyes, we also reach out to sense their emoting to give us an initial snapshot of their personality. Amelia was too tense and afraid for us to get a clear picture.
We soon ignored the emoting of Amelia and concentrated on Kirsten, because her emoting was so beautiful. Once Amelia relaxed and allowed some of the girls to monopolise her, Kirsten asked to speak to Cherine alone. They went for a walk.
“What I am going to say sounds bad and we do not want you to think we do not love Amelia. Cherine, you and your family, they still are prime to Vincent and I and will remain so however much we grow to love Amelia. However, it would not be good that anyone else knows.”
“For Amelia’s sake?” Kirsten nodded and Cherine took her hand. “Kirsten, Vincent has been our protector for over a century and to us, both of you are part of our family. To be honest, I don’t know how I would answer you if Robert was your prime, but he is not so I’m free to say what the girls and I want. Do not hold any corner of your heart from Amelia, since she is to be your daughter, she must be prime to both of you.”
“She is and will be prime in the sense that she matters to us more than we do, but she cannot take over from you.”
Cherine thought about it for a second and then mentally called for Vincent to join them. Holding their hands she told them, “I am declaring Amelia prime.” They must have been hoping she would and their joy flared in our minds. I can’t help wondering whether they will ever reach the stage where what we declare no longer affects them.
As I’d foreseen, there was an outcry against them adopting Amelia - for the reasons I’d mentioned. The strongest protests came from the reality Amelia comes from. It was found that she has relatives and they declared themselves willing and able to look after her. The law is on their side and Vincent has been ordered to hand over Amelia to the local social services. They still have to find a way to serve their order to either Vincent or Kirsten, but that cannot be avoided for long without stirring anger against all Cherinians - of Terran origin.
7460
Kirsten came to visit us at our home in Athens. She told us of their problem and it was obvious she was suffering. Robbie kept quiet and left it to me to answer her when she asked whether I can think of a way to help them keep Amelia.
“There are two ways. The first is that you start legal proceedings and we try to protract the case until she is old enough to decide for herself. The other is that the three of you go to live in a new reality until Amelia is legally an adult. You can obtain certificates from the local authority mentioning how many years you have lived there so they cannot claim you are only projecting her as an adult.”
“We can’t do either Sam, you know how Vincent is. He states that both alternatives would not be ethical and we’d be using our powers to frustrate the court. He told me that if we did so, it will harm the Cherinians and besides, he refuses to do anything he does not consider is in line with the spirit of the law.”
We could feel her misery, but I did not know what to advise her. Robbie came to his feet and paced up and down the room. “Would he consider it ethical to return Amelia before her mind has been healed? The Normals do not have the ability to heal her as well as a Cherinian can.”
Claudia grinned at Robbie’s question, “Cherine did declare her prime, so you have to do what is in her interest.”
Kirsten considered the idea. “We would need overwhelming evidence that Normals cannot heal her for Vincent to consider it.”
Themi responded to Robbie’s call and we explained to him.
“Kirsten, can you share with me the torture and sexual abuse she has suffered?”
“Are you certain?” He nodded and closed his eyes, waiting. He paled as he experienced her years underground. He remained silent for a long time.
“As a Normal I could not have healed her, all I could have done is help patch her mind, but she would suffer for the rest of her life from the memories and compulsions that have become part of her psyche. If I could not, I’ll flatter myself by stating I doubt any other Normal physician could. She would have to remain on medication for the rest of her life and never be capable of participating in any relationships that can lead to her having a family of her own.”
Robbie pressed him, “In your professional opinion, would it be ethical to remove her from Cherinian therapy for doctors of the Normals to heal her?”
Themi obviously felt he was making history for he blanched. “No, I would not.”
“Would you be prepared to sign a statement to that effect?”
“Yes.”
Robbie nodded. “We’ll need more than that, we’ll need physicians from among the Normals to make similar statements. The prosecutor is bound to obtain medical opinion to the contrary, so we need something extra to sway the court in our favour.”
I felt frustrated. “If we could only share with the judge or jury all she has experienced and the damage to her mind, he’d know that she cannot be healed by Normals!”
Robbie grinned, “That would certainly be opening a new can of worms. The prosecuting attorney could demand a mistrial, claiming we used our powers to influence the judge. How do we prove we did not?”
Claudia reminded us, “We asked for Themi so as to establish the ethics for Vincent’s sake. With Amelia a prime he cannot hand her over so that takes care of that problem. However he feels, he may not do anything that would leave her damaged.”
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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