“I grieved that I failed him.” I’ve felt that way too often for me to fight the tears that came to my eyes. At this moment she did not feel like a god, just a hurting child, so Robbie felt compelled to help her, but there was nothing he could do. I grinned at him over her head and told him to have a coffee. Later, when Cherine came to take my place, I went to sit with my loves, but Robbie pulled me onto his lap.
7501
Lusalith was promised a telling, but for the meantime we explained what has happened during her absence. Abashed she looked into Cherine’s eyes. “I turned a moment of joy into sadness?”
“No love, not only are we happy you came, but it is a joy for all of us that you care so much about Arthur.” I did not correct Cherine, for it is not love that drives Lusalith, it is duty. The kind of sense of duty only decent people can feel - not the politically correct, who are too immersed, too involved with their own feelings and petty needs.
This time I don’t feel like doing anything and have refused all requests for interviews. We’ve taught Lusalith how to play a couple of card games and I spend hours every day playing with her. I love her feelings of joy when she wins, so I guess I’m lucky that I’m not that good at any of the games. I can imagine how the governments would react if their spies could photograph us; an alien sitting on the carpet playing cards just like any little girl. Would they still see her as a threat?
Of course I wrote the above because I was leading up to a point I wanted to make. After all these decades, the governments still have think tanks and they still sit in secret meetings to discuss the presence of aliens on our world and to consider the dangers to mankind. At least they do not feel threatened by the alternate Earths - perhaps the reason is because they feel a little smug and think of themselves as the Prime Earth and therefore better than the others. It does help keep pockets open when we make an appeal to help Earths that have suffered some calamity.
Despite the excitement and publicity every comment of ours provoked because of Arthur’s assuming we would feel his love, the governments, united this once, chose this time to make a request that was totally unacceptable. They know that various alien species have what they call ‘clean’ weapons that are far more powerful than our nuclear bombs with a far greater range (interplanetary) and they have officially requested of Robbie that he asks the aliens to share such technology with them.
Hettie, Eddie, Bruce, Chung, Alki and Luigi sat in our garden to discuss with Robbie how we should handle this request that could turn into a crisis if we refuse them. We sensed Hettie curiously ‘reach’ out to us as she wondered why I was not part of their meeting, but I pretended not to notice. Of course my loves were just as curious, but we work on the basis that if I wanted to join them I would have, so nobody said anything.
Bruce said, “If you are determined to refuse them Robert, it will not only bring about a new bout of suspicions and ill feeling towards all Cherinians, but it also means the governments will be forced to start the arms race again. Surely you understand that we cannot afford to rely on the goodwill of other races. Do you really want them to revert to that?”
Robbie rubbed his hand over his face. “Every time I’ve tried to think like a politician I’ve caused us more trouble. You tell me, what do you think we should do? We should also consider the possibility that the Unation and others may refuse. We are still a warlike race, why should they hand over weapon technology that would make us their equals? How will such a refusal be seen by our governments?”
Eddie chuckled. “The answer is obvious. Robert, what you just said, how do the alien leaders react when they hear you speak of the governments of Earth as being ‘our’ governments? If you, the leader of all Cherinians, speak that way, what are they supposed to think, are they expected to think of ‘our’ governments as being ‘their’ governments also?”
Chung sat without a smile, but his eyes rested on Robbie’s face as his bemusement was made obvious to all of them. “If I may Robert, would Samantha join us?” Cherine gave me a really evil grin as I came to my feet.
“If she wanted…”
“It’s okay Dad, I don’t mind.” As Luigi made to pull up a chair for me I gave him a smile and settled on Robbie’s lap. I instantly felt how my slight weight comforted him. “Any answer we give them would be playing their game - a game we cannot hope to win, however we answer. I suggest we start a new game.” I leant back against Robbie’s chest as Alki chuckled at my theatrics.
7502
Robbie grinned. “I’ve noticed you’ve spent the last couple of days playing games.” I took his hand in mine and lightly bit on his finger.
“It is the responsibility of all Cherinians and Normals that we protect ourselves. It is not fair that Robbie be expected to defend us from all dangers forever. What if we suggest that a…multi-species armed force be created for the express purpose of protecting everyone, whatever their species, or whether Cherinian or Normal. We would expect all Earths to contribute to the formation of such a force. Would they refuse us Hettie?”
“You are upping the stakes Samantha. Would Robert, as the protector, be part of such a force?”
“No. Robert is and always will remain outside of any such agreements. He must remain free to act according to his protector instincts. Even his role as leader of the Cherinians does not affect that right and duty.”
“That complicates it even further.”
I gave her a smile. “Those are the kind of complications you are so good at dealing with, I was only asked to find a way to nullify their request for weapons.”
Chung said, “If such a force is created, Robert must be the Commanding officer.”
I asked him, “If you were still president of China, would you feel that way?”
“Even if I did, I would not say so. You expect my demand could cause problems? I suggest that if we do not make such a demand it would cause even more suspicion.”
“No, we cannot make it a demand, not even a suggestion.” Robbie sounded curt. “I’m not certain I would want the position and responsibility even if I was asked.”
“You don’t have the choice Robbie, you are the protector. As I said, you must not be their commanding officer, but you must be assumed to be holding a position above that whenever you have to act as the protector so that they obey your orders. I agree, we cannot demand, but if various leaders, of our species and others, make the suggestion, surely you could be coerced into accepting?”
Robbie mock frowned at me. “You are an evil child!” Alki laughed and pulled me away from Robbie to hold me on his lap, his strong arms squeezing me to him.
“I agree.” Hettie said. “I think Samantha only meant to imply how we should arrange it, but it does solve the present problem while also taking care of the future.”
I sat up in alarm and they fell silent. “The future! I forgot!”
There was silence for a moment as they tried to puzzle out what had frightened me and then Robbie asked, “What now?”
“When you went to the future because of the Screamer - you may have blanked out how you solved the problem but…the first time you did discover that there was a war on and the Normals were fighting against us.”
“Will be” Robbie corrected, without hearing his own words, his thoughts on what I’d said. Nobody spoke, sensing Robbie needed to sort things out in his mind. Alki waited a few minutes and then placed me back on Robbie’s lap. Automatically his hand gently rubbed along my thigh and with a mental sigh he returned to the present. “I’m sorry, Samantha does have a valid point.”
“Then we’re back to square one?”
I felt my idea had been not only right but necessary, I hoped I could find the correct reasoning to make it possible. “Not if certain restrictions are agreed upon. The Pro Life Force must be bound to the following, among other rules you may find necessary. It may never attack or defend Cherinians against Normals - especially where the combatants are of the same species. For instance, it can never be used to settle the problems between the CherInguel and the Inguel. Second rule. It may never take sides where the fight is between Cherinians, whether it be for ideological reasons or any other reasons. The PLF may only be used to protect life, not to take life. An example would be the fire-worlds still attacking and wiping out entire species in countless realities.” I felt Robbie and straightened as I concluded, “Hettie try to arrange for Normals to suggest that no other forces, of any species, should maintain any weapons of mass destruction, only what is needed for policing themselves. The time for war as a tool of diplomacy or aggression is past. If we are to work towards a future worth dreaming of, then it must obey the same rules Robert the Protector does.”
7503
Luigi nodded. “I would gladly endorse the formation of such a force.” The others agreed, though Chung had a slightly cynical look in his eyes as he did.Robbie called for a meeting in Freddie and we presented the concept to all the leaders of Cherinian species. The Unation obviously knew about it for they had prepared and brought with to the meeting a list of spaceships, officers and crew available to be transferred to the PLF and announced a spaceship will be arriving once the governments of the Normals have signed and become part of the PLF. The spaceship is actually built for training crew and officers of the PLF Spaceship Navy and can accommodate all the known species.
The others accepted what we were told, but I felt weird. I mean, I’d only created the concept of the PLF that afternoon and had felt the ideas coming to me and here they already even have the uniforms ready for us!
That evening Cassie cracked us up. She asked, “Lusalith, will your people sign up for the PLF?”
“If we are asked, we will be honoured.”
“Since you are the god of your people, does that mean you will also be the god of the PLF? Can Jade and I write the prayers for them?” It was not difficult to persuade Robbie that Cassie should be the special one that night.
The governments knew that we were pulling a fast one on them, but they had the political savvy to realise that their request must have been unacceptable and, more relevant to their wishes, they convinced themselves that since they would have their own among the officers, they would soon gain knowledge of the weapon technology they want to own.
Amongst the many kinds of professions affected by the appearance of the Cherinians, we’d never given much consideration to one sub branch. On Friday night the outdoor cinemas were opening for the summer and we decided we wanted to go. (The UN subsidise the outdoor cinema so that we can enjoy it, so it is the only one anywhere and tourists actually come to Greece just to watch a movie there.) Wendy was in the middle of creating a complex piece so she begged off. We were watching the main feature when we sensed Wendy become alert and straining to sense something that had disturbed her. She told Robbie not to come, she will handle it on her own. She jumped from her studio to our bedroom. The bedroom door is automatically locked by the main computer when we are not in the house and it would take explosives to get in, so she knew that it was the best room to jump to.
She waited until she sensed the intruder was in Robbie’s office/studio and opened the door. Quietly she went to the door of Robbie’s office and watched as the man rifled through Robbie’s desk.
“You must be a very brave or foolish man to break into our home.”
He spun around and half closed his eyes as Wendy put on the light. “I don’t want any trouble koritsaki (little girl) and I won’t hurt you. I’m leaving.”
“After you put back everything you took.”
He smiled, relieved that it was only a child. “You would rob me of my earnings?”
“You are a tsinganos, I think your people will not be forgiving when they are told that you tried to steal from their Roberto.” He gave a start. “You did not know you are in the house of Robert Teller, the one your people honoured by naming him a Romani?”
He crossed himself. “It is not possible!”
7504
She grinned. “How did you get past all the security of the United Nations?” The man looked as if he were about to faint as he swayed on his feet. She saw he was fairly elderly so she asked him, “Do you know any of the really old Romani songs?”
We were more amused ‘watching’ them than the movie. Wendy made him put back what he’d taken and almost forced him to join her in the kitchen for a coffee and a snack. She can be quite insistent when she wants to and soon he was singing old Romani songs for her. Asking his permission, she touched his hand and jumped them to her studio. She made him stand before the microphone and kept him singing until he could not think of any more songs. By then our movie had ended and she jumped him to us for supper at a taverna. Robbie found the situation hilarious - mostly because of Wendy’s reaction to the man. She said he has a marvellous voice so, in her mind, the fact that he’d tried to burgle us was of no importance, all she was interested in was using him to sing for her again.
Robbie said to the man, “I was told a story about a man in Africa who had a puncture. He stopped the car by the side of the road and began changing the tyre. Another man appeared and he told the first one, ‘While you are stealing the tyres, I’ll take the radio and battery.’ ” Of course Robbie found his joke hilarious and laughed like forever.
The poor man was in distress. “You will not call the police?”
Robbie cocked his head to the side. “Why, were you hoping to become famous as the man who was brave enough to try and steal from me?” Unfortunately he found that funny also and had another long laugh.
We sent the man off with a few hundred Euros in his pocket and instructions that he return in two days time for Wendy. When we shared with Alki, I don’t think we’ve ever seen him laugh so much.
I was wasting time, web site hopping out of idle curiosity. A link to an article about David, Haven’s friend, sounded rather negative so I clicked on it. As an aside, links on web pages have evolved Arthur and when you pass your cursor over them, especially on news and message boards, a hint is given of what you’ll currently find there. I read an opinion by someone that his chat show is on the downward slide so I went to the site of the station where they publish the ratings and I saw it is true. I felt slightly guilty. Because we’d over-used him for a time I had stopped agreeing to appear on his chat show. With the PLF very much in the news, a number of stations had asked for me but I’d refused all of them, not wanting to become embroiled in what I foresaw would become a messy situation if I opened my mouth. I gave it all of five minutes worth of hesitation and then grinned at my idea. I called David and suggested he invite Arthur Campbell and myself for a chat about the PLF.
Campbell agreed and the station splurged on publicity about the coming show. Of course I had to listen to my family blow their tops at my agreeing. With a really wide grin I told them that I had suggested to David that he invite Campbell and I. I’ve never seen so many girls sit in stunned silence for so long. After that they went rather wild but I did not mind - and told them to make sure they don’t miss the show.
Normally the stations keep the visitors apart until they join the host. I asked to be with Campbell. We did not have long as David’s opening remarks would only take a couple of minutes. I smiled at Campbell.
“Would you like to stir up some controversy?” He raised an eyebrow but did not answer. “What if you present my point of view and I do likewise for you?”
In an effort to be gallant but still, using a dismissive tone, he answered, “It is not a good idea, I would be getting the better end of the bargain since you are far more eloquent than I am.”
“As long as both of us do the best we can, I don’t mind.” He paused to think about it and I was asked to join David. As I came to my feet I grinned and stretched out my hand. “Let’s go in together.”
He laughed, not believing me. “Hand in hand?”
“Sure, why not?” I could feel his mind churning all the way down the passage.
The crowd started clapping as we entered, but the applause died as they stared in shock. David came to his feet.
7505
“This is a sight none of us expected to see for a long time - if ever.”
“Mr Campbell is old-world gallant. I asked him for a favour and he agreed. David, for your show and only for your show, I will be Arthur Campbell and he will be Samantha Teller, the twelve year old butterfly.” For the first time ever David stood without speaking, showing his shock. Campbell chuckled.
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a butterfly David, I hope that won’t adversely affect your show.”
Suddenly the guests burst into spontaneous applause and David recovered his poise. We went through the customary chatter as we settled on our sofas.
“It has been agreed by our guests that tonight’s show would focus on the proposed Pro Life Force currently being negotiated by the leaders of over sixty alien species. I’d expected quite a heated discussion with Samantha pointing out the positive aspects while Mr Campbell would provide us with a balancing and more cautious point of view. It seems my guests have agreed to turn the tables on me. At the least it should prove to be interesting.
Samantha, there have been rumours that the concept was originally yours; would you confirm or deny them?”
“I can do both - would you prefer I reply as Samantha or as Arthur?” The audience burst into laughter.
David smiled. “As you wish.”
“As Samantha, I was only responsible for taking an idea put forth by the governments of Earth one step forward. As Arthur…you don’t mind?” I asked him. He nodded for me to go ahead. “As Arthur, I’d say that it is typical of Robert Teller. He never misses an opportunity to promote Samantha as a genius, especially when the proposal is likely to be favourably received by the public. I’d take the rumours with a healthy pinch of salt David. Consider this - if the proposal had been initiated by Mr Teller or Hettie Mansfield, it is certain our governments would have shown far greater caution and worried what hidden agenda lies behind the proposal. As Samantha is thought of as a friend of our planet and people, they are more relaxed knowing or suspecting she thought up the concept.”
“Mr Campbell, any comments?”
“It is not quite the way I would have answered, but she has raised some interesting points.”
I pulled a face. “You’re supposed to defend me.”
Campbell looked at the amused audience, tempted to play my game, but then his common sense won. “As amusing as the concept is, I think we should each stick to advancing our own beliefs Samantha.”
I looked at David woefully. “He doesn’t want to play with me.” That made the audience really laugh.
“Samantha, sometimes you make it very difficult for us to remember that you are not just a twelve year old child. May we discuss the advantages and disadvantages in a more serious manner? We are at a crucial moment in the history of our planet and there are many worried people who need to hear some answers that can help make sense of what we’ve been told.”
I nodded. “Some years back I took off on my own. I aged myself to about twenty five, rented a car and drove through the English countryside. I stopped at various villages and had a very good time. However, one thought did strike me. I saw houses, bridges and so on built out of stone. That led me to the thought that throughout the ages, stones have been viewed in widely different ways. Mostly they are a backbreaking problem for farmers, but they have also been widely used as instruments of war. We’ve used them to build forts and castles, long walls to divide countries and massive catapults have been built solely for the purpose of throwing stones to destroy the forts and kill those inside them. According to the Bible, David used a tiny stone to bring down a giant. In other words, stones can be both useful and a threat. I prefer seeing them used for building picturesque homes and bridges.
7506
Most weapons of war have two faces. Nuclear bombs were the ultimate weapon for a time and yet nuclear energy also came to symbolise energy for maintaining our civilisation without destroying the environment. Each weapon is only a stepping stone to the next weapon until they become so powerful we dare not use them. Where do we say, enough, let’s not waste our energy and money on new weapons? The answer is, never, not for as long as the other side are likely to try and develop something even more powerful and destructive. What is required for that kind of madness to cease is a change in our way of thinking.
We cannot achieve such a drastic change within an instant. We need time for successive generations to develop and grow into new ways of thinking. That is what I’ve tried to buy us; time.
To understand what the concept of PLF signifies, we first have to examine the rules they will have to obey. We also need to stop thinking of them, the crews and officers, as soldiers. They are not. They are warriors. There is a difference in the way I define the word warrior, even if dictionaries do not agree with me.
A soldier, when going into battle, is expected to blindly follow orders. Not so with the PLF. Each and every member will know the purpose of their existence and should they be given orders contrary to their charter, they will refuse to obey and they cannot be penalised. Their swearing in ceremony must include a promise by each of them to uphold their ideals without bowing to pressure from peers or superior officers. To my mind, warriors are those who battle according to a code of conduct wrought out of high and ethical ideals.
Allow me to give you an example. Let us say that all the governments of Earth came together and issued an order demanding that all Cherinians originating from this planet immediately leave. As far as we Cherinians of Earth are concerned, this is our home also, so, let us pretend that we refuse to leave. Acts of violence against us provoke us into taking action against you. Where can you turn to for help? To the PLF. Under their charter they will be obliged to support you. The PLF is not allowed, under any circumstances, to attack or threaten Normals and they do have to protect you if Cherinians or Talents threaten you.”
I spoke for another thirty five minutes, only taking breaks for their commercials. I closed off as follows, “Whatever we say, there will always be those who see the PLF as a threat - as I’m certain Mr Campbell will argue. There are no arguments that can provide absolute comfort, all we can do is try to create a PLF that cannot become a threat to life and allow the future to provide the proof asked for at this time. I hope that those who feel negatively about the PLF concentrate on building in safeguards to prevent the abuse of the powers such an institution would have. In that sense, the more negative everyone is, the happier I will be.”
During a break David advised us that his bosses have authorised him to continue with his chat show for as long as required, there will be no set time for ending our discussions. I’d guess they were over the moon by the figures electronically registering of the audience worldwide tuned to us and their advertisers probably have to pay prime time rates.
“Mr Campbell, Samantha has spoken openly of the advantages and of some of the disadvantages. Do you disagree with any of the conclusions she has presented to us?”
“With a number of them. First of all, if I have understood what has been proposed, Mr Teller will be appointed as the commanding officer. I have over the years spoken of the threat he poses and his intentions of taking over as absolute ruler of all species in all known realities. This move only serves to confirm that all I’ve said is true.”
“Samantha?”
“David, you’re not being fair to Arthur, you let me speak for a long time. Arthur, it could be you have misunderstood what I said. The PLF will be run be a council formed by members of each species, Cherinians and non-Cherinians. It is crucial that Robert and my family are not on that council or part of PLF in any way, or else Robert’s right to act as protector of all life could be compromised. Allow me to give you an example. Say a fire-world attacks an Earth or any planet with a sentient species. Where the PLF might consider it their duty to protect the species under attack, Robert also considers it his duty to do so without harming the fire-world. Another example - can you imagine the PLF under attack by the Gnolats? Would they not concentrate on exterminating the threat to all life? I think our universe would be a poorer place if there were no teddies. Robert must remain outside the PLF. All we’ve asked is that where the interests or duties of the PLF conflict with those of Robert as the protector, the PLF will yield to Robert the right to protect without any hindrance from them and with their full-hearted support and help, as if he were their titular commanding officer, whatever their opinion in that instance may be.”
7507
Campbell had a look on his face that showed he thought I’d proved his point. “Is it not interesting David, that Robert has passionately argued against our governments being paternalistic, but Samantha argues for exactly such a power over all governments, demanding that for our own safety and comfort we accept that Robert be the ultimate authority over us. I am not arguing his qualifications to assume such a role or whether he would be a good or bad father figure, I argue against the need for any such figure to dominate and rule us. The adults of all species are fully capable of running their own lives without having to bow their heads to Robert Teller and his family.”
I answered, “You would be right Arthur, if Robert wanted to rule us. All he asks is that at a moment of crisis, when lives are in danger, he acts as protector. That does not prove he wants to be a father figure, only that he has a compulsion to save lives.”
The debate lasted over two hours and the figures in the corner of the screen were just as high at the end as they were at the beginning of the show. I hope they have given David the boost he needed. I’m also surprised that Haven has not used her healer on him, he is looking older and rather tired. I did not send my healer as I feel he is her responsibility. As for the results of the debate? Arthur ended up with thirty seven percent of the vote with eighteen percent as ‘don’t-knows’. Perhaps others could have argued our case more effectively, but the truth is, I was not as interested in winning, I wanted all the concerns of the people to be aired and that is why I encouraged Campbell to speak out. I hope he does not soften his stance in the foreseeable future. He and my dear Samuel King make an odd couple as policemen of the good conscious of the Cherinians.
Robert: I just had to add my comment to the above. At first Samantha puzzled and dismayed us. Now, with Cherine all over her, adoring her, we can only sit back with bemused looks on our faces. I have a feeling the girls are going to ‘force’ me to choose her as our special for tonight
Haven: Robert does not mention an opinion poll shows that the whole world feels as her family does. It seems that her humour and daring won over many hearts last night. As for David, she is wrong, I had not seen him for a few months but have now visited him and he is hale and hearty again. Sam was wrong not to heal him.
I’ve deliberately said very little about the R-Wirms. We are keeping quiet about them until this PLF business has been agreed - one way or the other. Having them arrive on Earth in their hundreds of millions, emoting their joy, would affect everyone and we could then be accused of doing it to jolly everyone into coming to agreements that do not reflect their real concerns. There is however one R-Wirm on Earth. Her name is oki’oc and she is the friend of Lusalith.
Their population is smaller than of our Wirms, but that is because of the lack of energy and chemicals. Now that their problem has been solved we expect them to grow in numbers very fast. Actually, the Wirm matriarchs tell us the same is likely to happen with them since they no longer need to tie their births to the food available. I hope that when they wish for the chemicals they need they are selective in where they wish for their food to come to them from. I could quite easily imagine their wishing draw what they need from the closest source…which could, for instance, be my body. Good, my friend read what I wrote and she dashed off in a panic so I guess that possibility no longer exists.
It is Cherine’s birthday next week and Hettie asked us to invite all the leaders, of all Earths and the aliens. She wants them to be invited for Cherine’s real birthday, not her official one. We assumed she is asking because it may help generate some goodwill and help in the formation of the PLF so we agreed.
7508
The birthday party is being held on the moon and it is going to be a tight squeeze with so many people coming. Cherinians have volunteered to keep drinks and food coming from kitchens on Earth throughout the party, while others are manning the bars and keeping the buffet tables filled with food. None of us are happy about the presents we chose for Cherine, but she is wearing her naughty smile, so we are concentrating more on trying to guess what she expects to happen at her party. I’ll write about it tomorrow.We all feel so stupid! This has been one of Cherine’s best birthdays ever! Just before midnight (Athens time) Alki asked Hettie to speak. She announced that agreement had been reached and the leaders will be signing at one minute after midnight. Tables were ready and they all sat to sign. What made Cherine so happy was that as part of their agreement, all leaders agreed that all planets, of all the species [realities] signing, will herewith be free of weapons of mass destruction. Only PLF will control and possess such weapons. Cherine and Robbie disappeared for two minutes but we sensed they spent nearly a day elsewhere. I don’t know who needed that time alone more - but I suspect it was Robbie.
We are told that the people danced and partied until morning on all Earths and that spaceships jumped to all the home planets of all the species to make the announcement and that celebrations there were also just as joyous.
Of particular meaning and pleasure to us was the fact that the first elected head of the PLF is Solomon. All species agreed that they trust his species more than any other. What a night and day! Arthur, you see, your dream for us is coming true.
I must mention this extra bit…the governments signing the PLF agreement include those of the realities of Jesus and Christós. For the first time ever a number of their people are travelling freely among the other Earths.
As part of the announcement, they mentioned the war of the future. This led to our secret coming out (Hettie and Eddie made the decision) and Dimi now knows that he will turn against us and kill many Cherinians. We have kept that knowledge from others, only he and Gregory from outside the direct family and Alki, know. Dimi is shattered. First he tried to argue that it is not possible, then he disappeared and we found out that he ordered his healer to leave him alone and spent two days drinking himself sick. When she felt the time was right, Robyn jumped to him. He was unconscious so she cleansed him so as not to embarrass him when he awoke and waited with coffee and toast ready for him.
“Go away.”
She waited, not speaking. He came to his feet. “If you don’t leave, then I will.”
“Dimi, I’ve known of the future from before you were born and yet I’ve loved you so much that you have become a part of me. Jump and leave me alone if that is what you need to do, as long as you remember to come back to me. There will be a few decades of pain in the future that we cannot avoid, please don’t make the pain start from now.”
He crumbled on to the chair by her and she took his trembling hands in hers. “Dimi, the heart that is suffering the most right now is Robert's, but I trust someone else to find a way to heal your heart much more. Will you allow me to ask Samantha to join us?”
“What’s the point, I can’t even kill myself.”
“May I?” After a minute or two he nodded and she called for me. I kissed Robbie and sent him my promise I will do all I can to bring Dimi back. His eyes filled and he nodded as I left.
I sat close to them, but facing Dimi. “Dimi, look in my eyes and my heart while I speak to you. I do not want you to doubt what I say, or think I only spoke out of compassion. It will not be out of empathy or compassion, it will be out of envy.” That focussed his attention on me, even Robyn stared at me with startled eyes. I sensed Robbie sigh in the back of my mind and relax.
7509
I grinned at him. “You think I’m up to something, the typical Samantha bullshit that I’m supposed to be so good at. I promise you, and you know I keep my promises, I will not try to manipulate you. Now, here is the best way for us to go about it. Make Robyn happy by eating your toast so that she can also concentrate on what I have to tell you - and let me talk without interrupting me - even if what I say, at times, does not seem relevant.” I waited until he capitulated and bit into his toast.
“What did you think of my assertions on the chat show with Campbell? Do you think I put our point of view well? Would you like to know the real reason I asked for Campbell and for that nonsense at the start of the show? It was deliberate, for I did not want Campbell to view me from home and think for himself. By having him with me I benefited in two ways. He did come up with a few points we had not considered and we were able to amend the rules of PLF so that Normals would feel happier. I also led his thinking by provoking him so that he did not take an intuitive leap into the future as I’d feared he might. Here is the reason. The PLF is condemned from before inception and will fail.”
Despite himself he was hooked. So was Robyn and so were the rest of our family, Robbie even bewildered. I frowned. “Do you remember my seesaw theory? Apply that to the PLF and you will see why I say it is condemned to an ignominious end. It could only work as intended if the PLF had been created in the future, not from now. Why then did I propose it? Because of you. You not only made it possible, but also imperative that it comes into existence from now.
Let us examine what we know will be happening in the future. You will declare war on all Cherinians. At first Campbell and many other Talents will not take sides, hoping to take over once we have weakened or destroyed each other. Robbie will be forced to order the Normals not to take our side and, declaring themselves your allies, they will attack us. If PLF does not come into existence from now, it means the Normals will attack with weapons that will destroy Earth - here and in other realities. As far as you are concerned, the Dimi of that time, the Normals are not important to you, but at least you do not need to attack them.
I hope I’ve shown you why the PLF is needed from now. Perhaps I should explain why it should have only come into existence later? The Normals should not have agreed to sign and become partners in PLF, but their excitement blinded them to their own history and nature. The road to total disarmament and repudiation of war as a possibility can only happen in a progressive manner, imposing it from now will not work - they are not ready. Like my seesaw, they need to swing from one extreme to the other and only gradually settle somewhere in the center where they can find an equilibrium for a time. After that they will mostly be Cherinians and it will not matter that much anymore. Aganthi, can I have a coffee please?” Within a few minutes she appeared with a mug and I sipped at it, pleased that Dimi was thinking about what I’d told him.
“What you are saying is that because of me you need the PLF from now. That does not explain why you said you envy me.”
“What is the one driving force that is the most important to me Dimi? Is it not my wish to play an important role in seeing to it that the Cherinians follow the road to the future Robert wants for us? You will, in the end, have played a role even more important than mine in achieving our dreams.
To understand what I’m saying, first you must understand the importance of the seesaw theory as it applies to Normals, not as I applied it to the Ipohin. Mankind has often reached out for a way to end wars and live in some kind of Utopia. They did not succeed, not because it is impossible, but because they had not reached the state of mental, philosophical and psychological equilibrium, of balance, that is required for it to happen meaningfully.
Without you, it could take another thousand or ten thousand years. Thanks to you? Maybe within the next one hundred years. There will be deaths and suffering because of you, but they are as nothing compared to what would have happened without you. Your war against us, combined with the changes already occurring among the Normals will ensure that at the end of our war they will have matured enough to find that balance I spoke of.
You know that Robbie met you in the future and that he promised to return to help you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know that he did return as he promised?”
He was startled. “What happened?”
7510
“I can’t honestly say, his memories were taken from him so that we would not know and affect the future.”
He sank back, miserable again, feeling I’d led him to hope without reason. I kept my grin. “However, I am Samantha, the one who refuses to stop thinking and who always scratches away at what I am allowed to know?” I laughed at his look. “I’m only guessing, but I think I’m right. I think Robbie succeeded. Do you want to know why I’m convinced he did?” My grin was tearing my face in two as I felt Robbie, Cherine and the others. They were barely succeeding at keeping themselves away from us. “Robert would not have returned if he had failed.”
He thought about it and nodded. “He’ll succeed in killing me.”
“If Robbie had to kill you, he would not have returned. I told you, he would not have returned if he had failed.”
As I’d privately bet, Cherine was the first to break. She appeared and screaming with her joy she threw herself at me. The others followed immediately. Robbie gave me a look filled with love and went directly to Dimi. He knelt before him and pulled him into his arms. I was happy to see Dimi rest his face against Robbie’s neck, his arms about him clinging tightly. I relaxed, allowing the girls to overwhelm me with their love.
That night I jumped to my apartment in Freddie to be alone. I really needed to be alone and even asked my friend eiu not to come with. Arthur, I am so afraid. I make so many decisions based on assumptions and if I’m wrong the results could be so catastrophic. Please tell me I guessed right about the future visit of Robbie.
This is Robert, I’m writing from our home in Athens. I see you are not answering her. Arthur, I’m convinced she is right so I do not need you to reply, but Sam does. Please answer her, even if it is only to say yes or no, I promise you will not be pestered for details, whatever your answer.
Waiting for Dimi meant that three days had passed since Cherine’s birthday. We announced our discovery of another Wirm system and explained the differences in their physical appearance, but reassured them that in all other ways they are exactly the same as our Wirms. We asked them to welcome the R-Wirms and the skies of Earth filled with our new friends. There was jubilation and many bonds were forged between Terrans and R-Wirms.
I indulged my sense of humour and told David that I have a song symbolically being sung by Robbie for Cherine from Arthur. He listened to it and taking my copy kept it. That night he ended off his show by warning his viewers he is indulging in a bit of humour. He reminded them that artists are usually described as ‘free-living-men’ and then played the song. Waylon Jennings has been dead for a long time, but this song has brought about a resurgence in interest in all his songs and Robbie has been receiving a lot of emails congratulating him on being such a good sport.
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: 5th Jly, 2020
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: