He will never have his gifts and powers returned to him, but he will be assisted so that he can live his life in the manner all humans are entitled to.
7961
The other prisoners will be examined individually and where they were coerced and acted out of fear of losing their own lives, their punishment will be lighter, but they will be punished. Those who did so voluntarily in the hopes of becoming powerful and wealthy, their punishment will be the same that Craig would have paid if he’d been sane. We will be returning within a day. It is not possible for us to deal with about three hundred governments so we ask that in the meantime you create a team of not more than seven for discussing with us and negotiating how we go about repairing your planet. We will also provide you with technology that should reduce future pollution. Thank you for listening to me and I hope you appreciate that we have been forced into taking these decisions without consulting your governments.” I know that I would not have reacted as Robbie did, but he has made his decision and I intend backing him to the best of my abilities. Those who do not act with honour lose the right to complain.As Robbie said, so did it happen. When we returned to our reality and it became known that the prisoners were still in Freddie, not only the media asked questions - so did the governments. Robbie authorised Hettie to give a full explanation and told all of us who’d been in Freddie during this trip that we are free to answer all questions. Since we always have been, it was his way of asking all of us to see to it that the truth becomes known to the general public. The only one nobody was allowed to question was Candy and when some persistent people tried, we ran interference.
We were not coddling her; she had never experienced anything like this before and being in touch with Craig every day was exacting its price of her also. We had tried reducing the time she spent with him, but she ignored us when she sensed that he felt her absence and declined faster.
We did ask Themi why it was he’d managed to hang on and then, the moment Candy went to give him moral support he collapsed. Themi thinks he might have been desperately trying to hang on, but once Candy was with him he felt he could let go as he now had someone to care for him. Whatever the truth is, we can sense he needs her, so the only recourse left open to us is that we be there for Candy; just as she is to be his strength, so must our love for her be her strength.
We asked for the most highly regarded specialists to examine Craig and then they were asked to testify at the Cherinian court. Not one of them stated that he is capable of understanding what the charges against him are and stated that if he is not immediately given treatment it is likely he will retreat into a catatonic state. The court withdrew its previous sanction and ordered Robbie not to take Craig back to the reality he’d committed his alleged crimes in.
Craig is being provided with the most advanced medical help, from alien practitioners and AI to Themi and other Cherinian or Ipohin psychologists to Normals. The team meet daily so that no group feels that decisions are being taken without them. It should be mentioned that one of the ways his treatment is unusual and therefore of great interest to even the man in the street, is his daily transfer to the void as a soul. Nothing is done to him there, it is practised as it is felt that in the void the soul is able to heal the mind to some extent.
Our biggest dilemma are the other prisoners. We cannot keep them in Freddie indefinitely and they do not want to be transferred to a prison on Earth. We can’t really do that as we would either have to transfer authority over them to one of the local jurisdictions or else make some kind of government to government treaty. It is just as well the prisoners themselves don’t want to go. They had watched on our screens what happened in their reality and even now can follow the various reports of progress and setbacks with the healing of Craig. The legal problems that could ensue of trying them ourselves is being studied by Cherinians plus legal experts from a number of realities - Terran Normals and aliens.
Themi insists that Craig will heal quickly because of Candy’s healer watching over him almost permanently and since it studied the drugs given to him and synthesises only what is beneficial, he rarely is given any medication.
Efineh is one of those who has not returned ‘home’ and therefore seems to be free to do whatever she wishes while we have to attend meetings, chat shows and so on. We even sometimes answer statements made on web sites. Since Efineh was free to spend her time as she wishes, it was only natural that she and Robert and Cherine would spend time with each other.
7962
The couple had not been happy about Robbie’s decision. They’ve watched, in our tellings, how we’ve pretended to want to take away the local Robert and Cherine so that they can declare their intention to stay with their people. They felt they should do the same, but we convinced them that they should not. Despite all our fine arguments, they felt guilty and were not happy. Efineh reminded them that if they wish it, even after ten years they could still return on the day they left - and that we would do so if they ask, as we do not have the right to refuse them.
During a visit to a South American beach, the owner of the hut that served as a bar, mentioned to them (‘knowing’ who the two of them are, thinking they are our Robbie and Cherine) that if they want to meet an interesting person, a real character, they should travel south to a cove about seventy kilometres distant. Efineh joked that if someone like him thinks this guy is a character they should go check him out.
Efineh had assumed the man would be a South American and seeing a man with tanned skin and chocolate brown eyes but of European descent, she felt slightly disappointed. There was one oddity that did prod her sense of curiosity. He is a Normal and yet she could sense he has gifts that have not been properly opened - which means they are natural.
The three of them had landed about a kilometre away from the man and walked to him. He was busy fishing, but gestured and shouted for them to help themselves to drinks from his hut. The hut was very much a makeshift affair so they were surprised to see a solar powered refrigerator inside with a solar powered old fashioned laptop to the side, on a table. Efineh extended her senses and found a vehicle about three kilometres away. The man looked about forty five (we later learnt he is fifty three), his hair was still without much grey and his lean tanned body was obviously at peak health, so it could be inferred that his solitary lifestyle has not deprived him of the regular services of a healer. He walked over to them with two fish hanging from his left hand, his right stretched out to greet Efineh.
“Hi. I’m Donald Talbot. Are the two of them who I think they are?”
Efineh chuckled. “No.” He almost pulled his hand back. As she shook, she explained, “They are alternates.”
He nodded at them, “Pleased to meet you,” and then asked, “and you are?”
“Efineh, also of a different reality.”
“Efineh…adopted daughter of Samantha? Child of the LOV Orati?”
“For you to know so much about us you must be interested. Why aren’t you linked?”
He grinned. “It is not time yet. I like my mind the way it is, thank you.”
“How can you know so much about us and yet hold the belief that we would mess with your mind?”
“I did not say you would, linking, opening gifts and enabling me to sense others, it would change me. I can only be who I am once, so I might as well get to know myself as deeply as I can before I take such an irrevocable step.”
I was not monitoring Efineh but, feeling her mixed responses in the background, I checked. I did not realise Meli was checking on me until she opened her eyes wide and called to me, “That is Donald Talbot! Don’t you know who he is!?” It transpired that he is an author, but and yet, oh so much more than just an author. When Meli shared with me the books he’s authored, I could not believe one man, within such a short time and still a Normal, has written in such diverse fields. Eight highly successful science fiction books; a fantasy series of seven books; five detective novels; two educational books being used by schools worldwide; eleven books on scientific subjects and one on astronomy. The list of articles he’s written and the lectures he has given goes on and on and so does the list of prizes he has won. I was careful not to pass the information on to Efineh as I wanted to see what will happen.
“Your ambition to get to know yourself has led you into living in places like this on your own?” Robert asked. He added, with a grin and nodding towards the solar powered fridge. “I see that you had the sense not to deprive yourself of all comforts.”
He insisted they stay for the seafood feast, as he called it and set alight timber that had already been prepared for a fire. Two fish for four people to share was not exactly a feast, as Robert was about to point out, when Donald moved some papers off two food machines. He set them and within minutes he pulled out two lobsters. He set them again and again until he had a large variety of seafood to add to the two fish. He grinned as he cleaned, sliced, salted and so on. “I prefer my food machines to supply me with my food raw so that I can cook it the way I want on that day. Cooking frees my mind so that it roams and finds new ideas.”
7963
Donald wanted to know how they found him and they explained. He realised they do not know who he is and it pleased him(!) and it seemed to release him from whatever was constraining him and he talked freely. Cherine looked like a girl of twelve and Robert had adopted the age of about twenty, so Efineh looked to be the eldest and he directed most of his conversation at her. Even knowing they/we are Cherinians and what the eye sees is probably a lie, does not alter the way everyone reacts to our apparent ages - I guess the prime example of that is our Robbie When they finished their food they threw the plates into the bush as Donald did, for them to rot and feed the local ecology - the plates were large, wide leaves. They were drinking white wine and for that they used a mixture, one wine glass, two water glasses and a mug. Skilfully, Donald kept them talking so that none of them were given a moment to question him.
“Efineh, I would love to visit your planet, but since I am likely to want to wander off by myself without providing service to anyone, I doubt I will be invited. I understand those going there are meant to be planning for the future of our species of your planet.”
She smiled, “If you can provide a meal like this now and then, perhaps someone could be induced into mistakenly inviting you?” She got her laughs and was pleased with herself.
Not much later, Donald suggested they visit again in a couple of days if they wish to. They correctly assumed he was hinting they leave so they were soon back in Freddie. I kept quiet, wanting to see how Meli would handle it.
As soon as the three arrived they started talking about Donald. Robert seemed to be the most impressed, not only because of his sense of humour and interesting conversation. He liked his lifestyle. In his mind he was imagining living the same way, but he added to it paints, an easel and canvas. This was the first time he’d shown such a strong interest in being a full time artist and even his Cherine was pleased.
Efineh was worrying at something and once the others had quieted down, she asked me, “I’m not certain I understood what he meant about his mind being affected. I mean, I know it is, but not in any way that changes who you are.”
“I can think of an example.” I told her. “Robbie was an artist before he met Cherine, but once his mind began to open to her and he acquired gifts, his style of painting changed.”
Meli spoke up, “I guess if I had not been born a Cherinian, my style of writing would also have been different. What about Wendy? She may have had a sweet voice as a Normal, but once she was linked her singing changed, emoting was added and her talent seemed to explode.”
Efineh asked, “I wonder what he’s afraid of changing.” Meli gave her a little smile and half shutting her eyes she very softly dictated to her AI companion. That stopped all conversation immediately and soon Robert and Cherine decided to go to Kefalari for a snack. Grabbing Efineh’s hand we jumped to join them.
I did ask Meli why she’d kept quiet about Donald and she told me that as far as she was concerned, the way Donald had behaved had been his way of saying he was in privacy. Somewhat abashed I wondered that I had not realised and was glad I’d kept quiet.
Soon after their arrival for their second visit with Donald, Robert realised, with amusement, that he and Cherine were only present as chaperones and that the more Efineh and Donald teased each other the closer their hearts seemed to grow. At the time they expected to leave, Donald asked them whether they know a certain coffee shop just outside Itajaí, by the beach. He explained that the area has become a popular spot with people of the art world and a number of interesting coffee shops and Brazilian restaurants have opened. They did not know the area and therefore could not go there until they found a Cherinian to share an image with them. He agreed, not too happily, to go with them to Kefalari, even though early winter winds gave a chill to the day. He lost his internal frown when he realised they’d brought him to our Club Cherinián.
Efineh must have guessed what would flip him out and it really did. She took him into our library and showed him (in glass containers that are specially built to protect the documents from humidity and sunlight) original scrolls from Ancient Greece and from other countries. She pointed out to him a series of scrolls from the Library of Alexandria, a few of them slightly charred at the edges as Robbie would only enter to grab them once the fire was burning.
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Efineh shyly told him, “They are not from this reality. Robert refuses to visit our past as it could split our world off into new realities. These are from realities where mankind either destroyed their environment and died out or else had wars that wiped out our species. What you see here are just a few that Robert especially loves, there are tens of thousands held on the moon. A library is being built by the aliens and all documents will be indexed and the library spaceship will be able to go from reality to reality so that students from all the Earths can see and study the scrolls.” She led him to a tattered document and her voice was awed as she told him, “Robert bought this one from Socrati, he took it from his own hands! Socrati demanded two skins of red wine.”
Meli entered with a glass of whiskey and Donald took it and swallowed most of the drink in one gulp. “What Efineh has shown and told you is confidential, we would prefer that Eddie Mansfield makes the announcement when we are ready.” He nodded, staring at her with awe.
“You are Melina Teller? God! I never dared hope to meet you. I’ve read five of your books and I’m struggling my way through the sixth one.” As Efineh felt the way he was responding to meeting Meli, her heart sank and I felt like weeping when it felt as if it were shrinking into a tiny ball of hurt and disappointment. Before Meli could do anything, she excused herself and asked Meli to return him to his camp when he wants to return.
Meli must have got rid of Donald with indecent haste for she arrived by me in less than an hour. “Why aren’t you with her?”
“Because I refuse to allow two people I love so much to stay uncomfortable with each other. Go to her Meli mou.” There was nothing for Meli to ask forgiveness for and there was nothing Efineh needed to forgive her for, but holding each other and sharing hearts for a while did both of them a lot of good. I walked in and softly caressed the hair of both my loves.
“Efineh, we did not tell you because it was his secret to tell. Donald is someone very special.” Meli and I let her see the list of all he has written and she felt how awed by him Meli is. “He is considered by many one of the ten most intelligent people in the history of our species.”
She must have thought she was reading my mind and she tried to grin as she said, “He is not one of those who would be happy living among the Orati.”
“I think he would be, but, he would not stay for long. Something new would catch his attention and he’d be gone.”
Even with Cherinian gifts it is not possible to heal a mind within days or weeks. What did help is that the healer of Themi is experienced in creating the chemicals necessary for a mind to recover a lot faster than it would using pharmaceutical tablets - and the healer of Candy has played an important role in helping him. Craig was told by Themi and Candy that he will not be going to trial. No change was noted, so Candy asked Robbie to tell him. He did not react to Robbie telling him, but over the next two weeks Themi reported breakthroughs and a month later Candy was able to hold undemanding conversations with him.
While Candy was watching and helping Craig, I was mostly avoiding Efineh. I wanted her to go out with her friends and hopefully make new friends - it would not hurt if among them should be a Mr Wonderful
I had to create projects to keep me busy so I finally had the bright idea of visiting Faiiis. When I found him I was surprised that Freddie had not notified us that the Akiard entity is spending time in Freddie, as a matter of fact, I was surprised that Lusalith did not mention it, since she was sitting in the group. I did not know whether they had all gathered to converse with Faiiis or whether he just happened to be part of the group. When I walked up to them, they only interrupted their conversation long enough to greet me and tell me they are discussing the effect of previous lives on the soul.
“What is of particular interest is the manner in which previous lives affect the souls of those who are advanced in opening themselves to extrasensory abilities. As a side issue, we’ve also been arguing whether we should consider people like Lusalith as belonging to the advanced minds - such as Jesus, Christós and others.”
“You don’t feel that Lusalith is an advanced mind?”
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“That is the question Samantha. We began by defining the advanced minds as those that find their own way to open doors in their minds. From what we understand, the people of Lusalith meet in a particular stadium and with the children surrounded by thousands of believers, one becomes the node of their belief and is then named a god.”
I was pleased with their description of Lusalith becoming the node of their belief - if you think of a node as being a connecting point at which several lines come together, you’ll have to agree they found a good word for what happens. Funny how a word pops up and then keeps on appearing. I hoped that my question would not upset Lusalith. “When you became a god, what happened to your parents? Are they still alive?”
“In your sense, yes. In ours, no.”
“Not even when you stop being a god?”
“When I became a god they held a funeral and buried my sea-coffin with tears and grief as if my body were in it. How else could it be Samantha; to have a child you cannot speak to, that you cannot hold and caress, that you cannot invite?”
I turned to Faiiis. “Do your people have gods?”
“We have never had gods. We have always known that the time for the god of our people has not arrived yet. It is said that when our god arrives we will know it, for it will spend eternity as a child.”
I thought I was being clever when I sarcastically asked, “Is that why failed children must die? So that they do not become the prophesied god?”
Equably, his voice softly answered me, “Females are not expected to become warriors and the god has signs of the female.”
“What signs?”
“They would not mean anything to you Samantha.” He sketched in the soil this shape ‘¥’. “It is one of them.”
“Give me another.” He drew ‘«’. “Any more?”
“I am not allowed to share the others as I am not female. The metal you call gold is her symbol also.”
I asked the entity, “Do you see anything more in those signs than I do?”
“I think their god will be a Cherinian. Perhaps a Cherinian god?”
“I hope not, we don’t want any gods - having Lusalith as god of Freddie is enough.”
Faiiis asked me, “You would not wish to be the god of our people?”
“Definitely not!” I asked the entity. “Do you or the Akiards consider you a god?”
“Are you not a part of me?”
I laughed. “Then you definitely are not a god.” I was curious. “You still think of me as being part of you? Do all the Akiards feel the same way, even recent generations?”
It did not give lengthy explanations. “The New Akiards, yes.” After that I mostly kept quiet, listening to the ideas they exchanged. Towards the end Lusalith moved to sit by me and leant against me. When I stood up to leave, Faiiis made it obvious he wished to walk part of the way with me, so I did not jump. Lusalith sent me the feeling of a smile and left.
He asked, “You considered me similar to the Akiards?”
“You are not?”
7966
“At home I would be studying and memorising the first songs of ruisen-asteif or learning how to cook for my future family. Most of my occupations would be of the mind Samantha, an adult no longer indulges in or is capable of violence. If your people attacked us, as an example, the females would be more likely to inflict damage than us adult males. You did not notice the adults who fought you did so with skill but without…spirit?”
“Oh boy! Sorry, yes, ‘spirit’ is the word. I’m certainly learning new truths today.”
“The Akiards called their group entity as they do not enjoy speaking at length. They did it for me Samantha, because they sensed I needed to talk and think new thoughts.”
“The first songs of ruisen-asteif, they are ancient? How far back does your history go?”
“I do not know the answer Samantha. We each learn that which must be learnt so that we can teach it someday, for nothing may be forgotten if we wish to have children. When you visit, ask the question and the one who knows will answer. I suspect it is longer than the story of your people.”
“I only saw the part of your world that you took me to. Is all of it so desolate and lacking of vegetation and life?”
“There is much life there Samantha, you did not notice? In the land of clouds, which is far below where we fought, there is much more vegetation.” He waved at the land surrounding us. “More than this.”
“What is the land of clouds?”
“It is where life sings Samantha. We would not disturb the song by fighting there, that is why we met in the land that is above the land of clouds.” Gradually, at first, my family had been drawn in, but by now they were all sharing and I felt their minds. So did Robbie and Cherine and they laughed with joy.
Softly I asked, “You are not allowed to return there with us?”
“I would spoil the song Samantha.” He looked around. “I cannot sense the song here, but I believe there is a song. Do I disturb it Samantha?”
“No my friend, you do not disturb it, you help it grow even more beautiful than it has been. Faiiis, life loves life and the more variety of it there is, the more complex the patterns and the more beautiful they grow.” We all felt the flare of joy in him and he crossed his arms before his face. I waited, but after a few minutes he dropped his arms.
I have come to accept that he can never return to his world and that if I try to alter what is allowed, I’ll change their people. I must never do that again without first learning all I can about them. Another thought came to me and I sensed Robbie send me his approval. “Faiiis, would any other adult males and some females of your people join you in Freddie if we prepare land and the air so that it is the same as that of your world?”
“They will rejoice to come, for they will bring our songs with them and grow new ones for their home in Freddie, but if they come, then I must leave, I can never be part of the songs of my world again.”
“No, I will only offer if you can become part of the songs.”
“You would make my story so ugly?” I stared at him for a moment, trying to see all we’d said from his point of view. Vaguely I think I’m starting to get a feeling for it.
“Faiiis, together we will look for ways to make your story a beautiful part of a song that all life will treasure for all the children of the future.” Somehow I’d hit on the right thing to promise, for his joy was an exultation I have never felt in him before.
My family were gathered in our Athens home, even Alki and family all came over from next door. As I arrived I gave them all a hard stare. “If I have to fight, why can’t they just shake hands afterwards and take it like men instead of all this dancing around their egos and customs!” Cherine senses me more deeply than the others. She giggled and soon I was squashed amongst my loved ones as they loved and laughed at my joy. Exploring the ways another species thinks, can there be anything more wondrous!?
At breakfast I sensed Robbie’s mind flit in and out of mine, but I was concentrating on mixing the butter and Marmite into a smooth batter for spreading over a slice of toast for Bitsy. I don’t know who first introduced him to it (I suspect it was Allan) but he considers it a special treat so we take turns doing it for him twice a week. We always watch him when he eats it as he first licks all the butter/Marmite mixture off the toast and only then do we hear his tiny teeth crunching through the toast. If the mix is not perfect and he finds a tiny streak of pure Marmite, he stops eating and stares soulfully at the person responsible and I don’t enjoy dealing with his damp toast once he’s started on it.
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“Themi feels that despite Craig being blocked, his soul senses the hatred for him among the people and he feels it might be delaying his recovery. I suggested he returns him to Freddie, but he is not too happy about that as there are thousands of visitors passing through there every day. It looks like we’ll have to go on a trip. Anybody have any preferences?” Now I understood why he’d done that flitting through my mind so I kept quiet.
Robbie sensed Robyn wanting to speak but hesitating, waiting to see if anyone else had a preference, so he pointedly turned to look at her.
“Dimi hinted that Michael and Ahní have been feeling guilty about Simito and Zwithinia not seeing their family for so long.”
We agreed we’d like to visit the planet of the Meéjeira and Robbie told us we’ll have to go back in time to check on the fleet repairing the planets destroyed by the Herminid in case any of the crews want to return home. We’ll jump there two years since our last visit and then go on to the reality and planet where the families of Simito and Zwithinia live. Cherine would not let anyone else contact Michael and told Robyn she must tell Dimi he has to tell them and he must come with. She also suggested he invites Gregory (Robbie’s brother).
Days went by with Freddie filling up as the word spread that Cherinians, Ipohin and Campbellites are welcome. Unfortunately it is the Normals who broadcast so strongly their anger and hate of Craig, so we’re having to limit them to a few scientists and, the latest category that asks to join us on all trips, Terran historians. They are only a handful so we don’t mind them coming with. Another surprise request. The judge appointed as Friend of the Cherinian Court. We welcomed him and told him to bring his family with. He appeared on his own, explaining that he is travelling with us in his official capacity as he is worried there might be claims the prisoners were mistreated or placed in danger. Robbie quickly called us to a private meeting.
“I think we should take the prisoners to our prison planet. It means we’ll have to use islands that are on the other side of the world, but it will only be temporary.”
I scowled. “Every time we’ve expanded the use of the planet we’ve said it is only temporary.”
He scowled back at me. “Then come up with a different solution. You know that if we cross realities and travel millions of years into the past to other galaxies, we’ll be accused of placing people who had not volunteered into danger.”
I nodded. “I know and I was not shooting down your idea. Dad, many of them will have to serve a prison sentence and we cannot place them in any Terran prisons, the other inmates will either torture them or kill them. The prison planet is all we have available and though it is not the best option we’ll have to make do, but as soon as they are returned as babies, we must rehabilitate the islands.”
We took our time while Vincent went back to a number of Earths for tools and all the other items we had to provide the prisoners with. He then rushed to the prison planet and found islands distant from those being used and built houses while Kirsten created vegetable patches. Food machines were placed in each kitchen, but the prisoners must have something to do to keep them busy. They also built six coffee shops and stocked them. I wonder whether anybody will agree to run them.
Many of the prisoners complained vociferously when they learnt what we planned for them. They demanded the right to vote for the option they prefer. I’m not surprised they prefer to stay in Freddie. They have luxurious accommodation with all the media products they could ask for. Their choices of food is enormous and the climate is absolutely perfect. They must also be aware that once they are sentenced they are unlikely to ever travel in Freddie again and they’ll have to live the lives of Normals. Unfortunately for them, the man who joined us to protect them offered legal advice that made it clear we could be sued for hundreds of millions, if not billions, if we take them with - and that is even without anything bad happening to them. Solomon offered to explain, but Robbie insisted the responsibility was his. Even as Freddie arrived at the prison planet, Robbie met them face to face and told them that we cannot take them with us. He did not give explanations nor did he make excuses. He did promise them that we will return within three days. Then they were transported.
We jumped to the reality the fleet was healing planets in (so distantly in the past, but ‘now’ for us). Robbie took a long look until he found what he was looking for and in one jump we returned millions of years. Even with galactic drift, it was not difficult finding the spirals where we’d last seen the fleet. Another jump and we were within a system and above a planet. Zooming in we saw thousands of towns but no cities and we could see ships and airplanes so we knew this was a healed planet and the inhabitants had been brought back to life.
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We have the route the fleet should be following in reverse, so Freddie went into the void and Robbie folded the void until we arrived by the fleet.
There were many souls in the void so nobody was caught by surprise when we popped out into normal space. The admirals had even found time to dress for the occasion. We were welcomed and invited aboard. For many of the newer Cherinians, Ipohin and Campbellites this was a magical moment and wonderful opportunity as they had never been in an alien spaceship. We saw to it that they sheathed themselves and, according to the species they were visiting we gave them some pointers so that they don’t inadvertently insult their hosts. Once we’d sent them off we jumped to join Robbie and those who’d gone with him.
The admiral, after the official speeches and a drink, insisted we must go to the surface of the planet to look at the sky. He told us we cannot see the view from space which is so amazing from on planet. This system has two suns that are almost identical, but slightly different colours and they dance in a very tight orbit with the planets forming a system that seems to treat the two suns as one. The admiral and a number of officers joined us and touching, we jumped to the area they envisioned.
We had to wait a few hours, but then the dance of the two suns opened up a space between them and we gasped. At first, all we could see were the fiery streams that were drawn out of the suns, each towards the other sun. The area seemed to darken and then, within twenty minutes, the area grew bright. We very quickly saw what had excited the admiral. It was as if someone were passing a huge magnifying glass over the stars passing through the center of the area between the suns. Stars grew larger and brighter and then reduced in reverse until they shyly hid themselves behind one or the other sun. I bet every AI companion was asked to film what we were seeing.
“We do not understand why the space between the suns darkens to show us the stars. The area should have remained brighter than anywhere else. I believe the scientists are working on the possibility that the immense tug of war by the gravities of the two suns actually succeeds in bending light, as happens around a black hole. The stars we saw being magnified are not situated where we see them, they are in fact placed behind the main bodies of the suns - which does seem to prove that light is being bent.” We took the opportunity to examine the planet that was already full of life and then returned to the spaceship.
“Knowing that Freddie will be returning every so often has saved us from crew dying or trying to take over to return home. If we could set the periods, say every ten years, then there will not be any further trouble.”
“Ten years is too long. We’ll return every five years, take those who want to return home and within hours we can be back with the replacement crew. If there is any reason for any of your ships to be returned or exchanged, we can accommodate you.”
There was only praise from everyone for the Sparklers helping. Not only were they helping by bringing back those whose lives had been lost, but they were also providing explanations and soothing the people so that none panicked when they saw the fleets within their space. When the fleet was ready to move on, the Sparklers transferred the spaceships into their World, crossed to the next system and brought the ships back out into normal space. Solomon was not with us as they praised the Sparklers, but we hoped he was hearing and sharing with others or the Sparkler alternates that were here.
As the crew who wanted to transfer back home were moved to Freddie, the various admirals of different species looked on with amusement. As one of them said, “The human mind is impossible to understand even for a Cherinian, now that they can return, only about a quarter of those who demanded we return are leaving.”
We jumped from Unation world to Unation world of all three realities and found more ships waiting and fresh crews. During the travelling time Robbie spoke to a number of the crews returning and he then discussed with the leaders of the worlds some of what he’d learnt. This does not apply to all the species but it does apply to most and I’m only repeating a brief version of all he said.
“Navy ships were built for the purpose of fighting wars and for preventing wars by the threat of their existence. I ask you to consider the following; what I just said was true with respect to the time before you became Cherinians. Should you ever need to fight to protect yourselves again, surely your mental powers are far more potent weapons than the weapons of your ships?
7969
As leaders of your people you have a serious problem to solve. With the impossible long life expectancy of all Cherinians, how are you going to keep them interested in staying alive? Your navy succeeds in exciting a number of people into joining. They go through the training and finally the exciting day arrives, their ship is to be sent off to places unknown to save lives and rebuild civilisations. Now consider this. The Inguel teams have performed their tasks for millions of years without any of them asking to be returned home. Even before they became Cherinians, they lived and died with their ships, their children taking over their jobs and place in society. Your crews lose interest in their work, as wonderful and exciting as it is, within a few years! Can you afford to allow that to happen when a little bit of planning and forethought could keep them interested and excited for centuries?
Your spaceships are now serving life, not war, why shouldn’t the families go with? Re-design your ships so that they form communities with shops and clubs and schools, a small replica of the towns and cities they grew up in. Pay them a good salary as you would if they were working here, but charge them rent for their homes. Close the mess halls and kitchens and arrange for restaurants to be run as a business. Increase the salaries of those who work hard so that they can rent a nicer home and eat at the nicer restaurants. Provide them with libraries and free lessons on a number of subjects. If they work on your ships for a thousand years and then need to find something else to make them interested again, they’ll have studied a dozen subjects or trades and will have options.
I’ve only given you a few ideas, you know your own species and what would work. Use what you can, learn from it so that you can spread the new way of thinking and working to all your people. Examine what other species are doing for even alien ideas can sometimes be strange but exciting. Do not be afraid of change, only continual change will help us survive long enough for every single one of us to be there on the day Cherine calls for us to join her as the Light.”
Once we had visited the last planet and were on our way back to the fleet, Freddie took it easy so that the crew would have time to enjoy the novelty of being in what was an alien environment for them. One afternoon Robbie was feeling rather morose and sat lost in thought. Some of our friends from the Unation ships almost permanently travelling with us were sitting with us. One of them left us and sat at Robbie’s table.
“On our next trip to this era you will only see small changes, for five years is a small length of time. On your tenth trip you will see marvels Robert. There will be ships that no longer look like ships and new scientific discoveries will allow us to create environments in space that will excite all of us for millions of years. Your ideas and suggestions were noted and they will help to preserve our societies because we will have understood we must evolve continually, even if some of the evolving is temporarily a devolving that frightens some. It is necessary, for every now and then we have to take a step back to examine our advances so that we do not continue on the wrong road if we have strayed from what suits each of our species.”
Cherine abandoned Empathia’s hair and rushed to sit on his lap as Robbie’s eyes came alive. He looked into her eyes and laughed. “God! I feel like jumping forward in time just to see - would that be cheating?” We all laughed.
There are times when things go right and if we are to show fortitude and a stubborn belief in our future when everything goes wrong, then we must rejoice to our fullest extent at these good times, so that their memories fill and deepen us, giving life to our dreams. Despite that, Robbie knew it was not the time for us to see their future (and past - to us J ) so, sensing Robbie and Cherine will have to suffice for all of us.
Life pulses within such a variety of forms, but flesh and bone is only one medium it uses, that we already know and we rejoice at the other ways life uses for expressing itself. As we arrived by the fleet an urgent mental message was sent for us to remain frozen in space and wait without sending out energy. On our screens we saw that not one ship of the fleet moved, no engines fired and no cargo boats travelled between them. At the heart of all the ships lay a sphere of blackness, matter so dense that Freddie warned us that it pulled at us as if it were a full sized planet. In size, if what is visible is all there is to it, it is hardly three quarters the size of Freddie.
Our minds have not grown familiar to those who sent the warning and the urgent command had strained them. Now that we were aware and not moving they communicated with their own species in ‘our’ Unation spaceship and they jumped to stand by us to pass on the messages.
7970
“When they arrived, the dark creature was not here. It arrived afterwards and it happened that one of the ships was sending their Captain and officers to plan their next move with the Admirals. The creature sped over to the moving ship and it collapsed into a condensed ball. There was not time to save even one of them and the Sparklers immediately went to the void to ensure their safety…”
Robbie nodded. “I hope they did not find any of the souls.” Those communicating from the fleet showed surprise that Robbie knew and their friends explained what Robbie hoped for. “Claudia, Samantha, I think we need to take a closer look at this entity, but let’s do it as souls.”
The three of us were lucky. As we went to the void, the dark sphere emoted a mental scream of anguish and then it vibrated without changing its position. Apparently the scream was so loud it stunned everyone and the anguish behind it real enough to tear at everyone’s heart. When our loves sensed us back in normal space they sent us a message, sending the scream as they’d sensed it. I was also stunned, though the power of it was greatly reduced. It was the emoting that affected me and without thinking I sent, *We better assume that was anguish, however alien it is.*
Cherine sent, *Sam, try to sense the anguish again, there was something about it…*
I did as she asked, but I could not sense whatever it was that had bothered her. isi-mi sent, *Our scientists agreed with Freddie that they will try to analyse the interior and should it move we will go to the void. Mother, there is a change occurring in it right now, I am told it is liquefying itself internally!*
For her to call him mother when transmitting out of the family context, we realised she was stressed. Robbie sent, *Keep calm my love. Ask the scientists, was it solid before and what readings did they get? One more question, could our method of mapping its interior have caused the change?*
*To last question, answer not known and not enough data to conjecture. Scientists suggest you ask Samantha. It did appear to be solid to the core, but the external temperature has risen far above surrounding space, which does not make sense. I am scanning pictures with Syrina and she will send images for you to see.*
Amused, Robbie asked, *Sam?*
*Whether it is sentient or not, it is alive. Those rivers of light that lace its interior are probably what it thinks with, in lieu of a brain - maybe we could imagine thinking with our spinal cord or our nervous system if you need to visualise what I’m suggesting. As for altering its state from solid to liquid, could that explain its scream of anguish? Why would it make the change if it causes such pain?*
*Sorry to interrupt Samantha. Our instruments show its temperature is rising very rapidly. From about one hundred and eighty Celsius it is now over three thousand degrees! If it is about to explode, shouldn’t all of us move away?*
The Batsy child drew close to the outer shields of Freddie, but then drew no closer. If and as it sensed Freddie turn, it followed, as if on an invisible leash. We saw or learnt that each ship had a lesser child, only the Admiral ship had a child twenty times the size of others, but one twentieth the size of ‘our’ child.
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.
- posted: 14th Aug, 2020
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