It would not be honest of me to return to amend what I said (and thought at the time); all I can do is add that sometimes we too may push for changes by tempting them with money and prestige. Everyone does it in all the other realities, it would be silly not to do so with a people who worship money and prestige.
8001
Despite them being fairly sophisticated in certain ways, they have not evolved the concept of forming companies. All business is owned and run by the family. In some ways, the number of people employed by a family gives almost the same amount of prestige that wealth and the size of profit does. A few families consider the number of employees confer more prestige than profit does…if the number of employees is larger than needed. Most Pphaijan think that those who believe so are decadent and their families condemned to falling down to Dung at some time in the near future. The sad thing is that their history proves it to be true. On the other hand, the wonderful thing is that at least a few families in every generation continue to convert to that way of thinking anyway.There is some trade between the three City States, but not overland, only by sea. They all tend to grow the same foods and hunt the same animals so most of their trade is for metals, fabrics, music, art. Without the trade in metals, fabrics and ivory, the trading would die and they would drift apart as a people. That is bound to happen as the earthquakes and eruption of volcanoes multiply. We’ll have to provide the links they’ll need - if there are still no local Cherinians among them by then.
The grandfather of Kunam is called Gadig. I have met so many elderly men, from all strata of society, who are bitter and cynical. I’ve also met many who become sentimental, desperately trying to tie the younger generation to them. Then I now and then meet a man who has known power, his mind has always been eager to learn and culture has given him a patina of charm, but he uses it to further his own ambitions or those he has for loved ones. Such men die scheming and planning and they do not lose interest in life. Such a man is Gadig. He has the appearance of a man who should be comfortably rounded, but poverty and worry have turned him into a scarecrow. The first thing I could do for him was to send my healer - with instructions that it should allow him to grow slightly and unhealthily rotund. Seeing as to how so many cultures see such padding on a man as signs of power, perhaps we should encourage Robbie to put on some weight? Tina: She was looking for it and she got buried in pillows. Even a huge mound of pillows could not entirely muffle the sound of her giggles.
I am determined to find a way for Gadig to represent us - and not as Dung or a Fallen. If he is to represent Cherine then he must be a Blue Golden again. I have spoken with Gadig of my intent but he claims it is not possible. He answers my questions about their goddess, but he knows why I ask and his answers volunteer nothing I did not ask for.
Empathia pointed out to me that there is something wrong with the picture I have of their power classifications. If it is required that they be hard, cunning and ruthless to protect their own position while destroying others, why is Gadig showing such a strong sense of honour. Why do families gain prestige by employing more people than they need? Even those who are not Golden will employ a woman or two more than required in their homes. I took to spending hours each day with either Robbie or Vincent helping me to visit as a soul, watching the most powerful of the traders. I watched them at home and I watched as they worked and met others to discuss the slightest changes in the fortunes of everyone else. By accident more than by design, I discovered a truth that explained a lot I had not understood.
The Blue Goldens are those of the Goldens whose families have hung on to their position for over three generations. When that occurs, the priests consult with their goddess and she confirms they are of the Blessed and they are named the Blue Golden. The priests have good reasons for carrying out this…have good reason for choosing such families. Any new Golden has to concentrate on protecting himself while also manoeuvring opponents into some fatal mistake. By the third generation their positions are unassailable, they have spun too complex a web of friendships, alliances and bestowed too many favours for other Goldens to topple them. The priests realised that if such men no longer need to plot and scheme, they would have more money and time to show their appreciation for the favours of the goddess and they could provide jobs so that no man or woman need go hungry when the family they worked for falls. No Blue Golden is allowed to plot against another Blue Golden. No Golden is allowed to plot against a Blue Golden. No Glorious Bronze is allowed to plot against a Golden. Although it is not forbidden to plot against a baser caste, it is frowned upon and does lower the prestige of those doing so. After explaining all the above, most rules seem to fly out the window when those scheming feel they can pull off the Fall of a family in such a way that it seems the Fall was due to miscalculations and errors of the family itself. So it was that the father of Kunam had schemed, but his participation had become public knowledge and the priests and other Blue Goldens confiscated his wealth for paying compensation to the intended victim and declared him and his family Dung. Kunam confided that his father had not spoken publicly, but he had told his family that he had not been part of the plot and using our kind of parlance, he claimed to have been framed. His father told him that he intended walking to Alsaman as he has money due to him from traders over there. It is the kind of fiction often indulged in by those who have brought shame to their family, intended to make it easier for loved ones to accept their departure and death.
8002
Robbie and Claudia jumped back in time and watched over the family of Kunam. By extension, they had to listen in to private meetings of other families, but Robbie carefully edited those memories so that only what was relevant would be shared.
“As Samantha hoped, the father of Kunam was framed. What is even worse, those who made it look like he was guilty are the ones who took the lion’s share of his wealth. Sam, how do you want to take it from here?”
“Dad, certain things are obvious. We’ll have to return in time once more for you to collect the father. The family must be reinstated and fully compensated for their losses and suffering, but in a sense we are only transferring the problem. Even if those who broke the law are still alive, it is their families who will suffer.” Moodily I added, “If we are to interfere, there is no way we can right the wrong without anyone suffering.”
Dimi emoted disapproval of my emoting and words. “It is all very well to speak of not visiting the sins of the father upon the children, but it does serve an evolutionary purpose Samantha. If the children see that their father got away with breaking the laws or the rules, then they will do so also. If they see the father was punished and that his deed caused them to suffer, they’ll be warning the next generations not to make the same mistake.”
Aganthi’s fingers lightly brushed my cheek. “It is not the punishment, but the degree of punishment that upsets you. You feel there should not be a class of people called Dung or non-people. Samantha mou, the Indians of our realities also have a caste system and we did not interfere. By healing everyone, taking away the fears of failing to survive and by teaching them by example, we’re helping rid them of the worst excesses of their caste system.”
Allan’s eyes were gentle as he looked at Aganthi, for he has a special soft spot for her. “Aganthi mou, economic necessity, education and the media did more to change them than empathy or love did.” He gave her a smile. “Perhaps if you were to go and sell them flowers they will change faster?”
I disagreed and felt we were allowing our emotions to direct us in the wrong direction. “It is wrong to compare the caste system to what they have here. In our realities an untouchable cannot work his way into a higher caste as they can here. Anyway, I think we are concentrating on the name they give a certain economic condition and that could end up becoming more important than the condition itself, if we are not careful.” I was encouraged and convinced I was on the right track when I sensed the pleasure Robbie, Alki, Michael and Elias were emoting. “Their economy is a delicate engine which has been fine-tuned over the centuries. For us to cause changes that do not evolve from what is at this time, will only damage the timing of the spark plugs and destroy the engine.
Before the Cherinians came along, how many nations in our reality had no dire poverty and every citizen had food on a daily basis? Were the countries that could meet those criteria the largest and wealthiest? Unless I’ve badly misunderstood the conditions during the twentieth century, I’d say that only the small nations that had some wealth were able to provide for all their people. The Pphaijan nation, all three City States, are ruled by a blend of businessmen and religious leaders. They have found a fair way that avoids hunger and I think they have taught us something very important. Robbie, we have talked and talked about finding better ways for our people, but have not been anywhere as successful as empathy demands of us. Isn’t it amazing that the Pphaijan people have found a better balance when we could not?
Alki, now that globalism has died, what we have at this time, in our reality, is capitalism in the marketplace with governments trying to soften the sharp edges by implementing socialist rules. It has led to a permanent confrontation between business and governments (coupled with the academia), with business claiming that the laws of the governments are often counter-productive. Despite themselves, both are converging, drawing closer to a single system and I think we must not allow it - or, at least, we should do all we can to discourage them. If both are practising the same beliefs, let’s say it is socialism, then there will not be any tug of war between them and because it is needed, since the real issue is not so much economic as it is of power, the governments will grow more extreme in their definitions of socialism and corporations could soften their stance further so as to partly meet the demands of government and, once more, the governments will need to become even more extreme in their demands. Finally, the economy of the entire planet will have been shaped in such a way that it will need a dramatic shift - a major war for instance, for common sense to rear its head again.
8003
Previously I would have said that the opposite, as the Globalists also attempted, governments promoting and encouraging capitalism and corporations implementing social programs cannot work in any culture that is not guided by the rules of Cherinianism. Boy would I have been wrong!”
“I must have missed something, for I don’t see the way the Pphaijan govern themselves as being anything like you describe it. From what we’ve learnt, the priests have been concentrating on promoting those families who are the least capitalistic.” Michael grimaced and spread his hands out - just like a typical Greek, throwing the ball back at me.
I nodded. “You are both right and wrong, I guess it depends on which aspects of their economy and culture you stress. The Blue Golden do not have any guarantees they will continue to make profits at all times - no privileges can guarantee profits. As a matter of fact, it does seem that they survive only for as long as it takes for one father to spoil his son. A love of culture can be just as destructive as gambling, womanising or a love of luxuries, if it is taken to extremes. We’ve seen how the men pamper themselves in dress, perfumes and hairstyles. What about those who consider themselves artists because their wealth and power ensures there will be many admirers? It is likely that the less talent there is, the more obsessed they become with being considered great artists.
I am digressing. To understand how the state (the priests and the Blue Goldens themselves) promote and protect capitalism, let us imagine a couple of examples from our reality. Our commercial law has tried to ensure that our corporations are Blue Goldens. If a corporation of yours is one of five corporations in the world who trade in a certain product, it would be illegal for the other four to get together to conspire for the purpose of destroying your corporation. By being protected in that way, by the law, you can focus on increasing your market share and profits without having to worry excessively about covering your back all the time.” I gave the men a grin. “I am only speaking theoretically as there will always be a few who consider themselves smart enough to avoid being found out. It is just as well, anyone who does not prepare for attacks and shield himself, cannot hold himself entirely blameless if he is attacked.
So, the Blue Goldens are not as open to attacks as the other levels, but they are not immune to market forces; a bad decision can destroy all that generations of a family have struggled to accumulate and build. The Blue Goldens are aware of this and they also know that if they employ people they do not need and help others who have suffered some calamity, the priests can push up their profits again by giving them contracts to build temples, roads, dams and so on, so as to tide them through a bad time.
There are Goldens who are far wealthier than the Blue Goldens, but they are poorer in prestige. Helping Gadig and his family grow wealthy is not going to give them the prestige they must have if they are to represent us.”
“Won’t the fact that they represent us give them the prestige you are talking about?” Michael asked.
“Only if all goods and ideas pass through them and they can control which family will sell our products - as one example. The down side to that is that others will wish to curry favour and they could soon become like princes in their arrogance and stop being of any use to us.”
Haven’s face took on that set look we all recognise by now. “You intend making use of them? In what way?” Only a few grinned openly as they turned to look at me.
“Of course I do! You didn’t think I was taking all this trouble just to help one Dung boy did you?” Suddenly nobody was smiling anymore and we felt Robbie preparing to intervene. I flashed him a warning look and gave Haven a smile. “Have you not approved of the ways I used Sebura, Ashema and others? What about my lovely Efineh?” She gave me a surprised look but remained silent. “Now that I think of it, I’ve even used you a couple of times. I sometimes wonder whether the person being used is always aware of it. For instance, have I recognised all the times I’ve been used by others? I hope so, because it always fills me with joy when I realise I have been of some use to someone.”
While she tried to work out whether she was supposed to remain uptight, I turned to Michael. “For us to take a long-lasting interest in them, they must provide some kind of service so that we both benefit from our relationship. I know it sounds as if I’m arguing like an Ipohin, but I think I’m doing so as a Cherinian. How would you make the same points Michael…? As an Ipohin or as a Cherinian?”
He refused to play along and just gave me one of those huge lopsided grins I love. “Dearest mother, you’ve had your fun, do be kind enough to explain before my fellow Ipohin come to the decision that you would make a better leader for them than I do.” I was amused when I saw Haven forget herself and laugh with everyone else. The way we all love him, it truly is something to wonder at.
8004
“We tend to be most considerate and indulge in soul searching when we are about to make use of strangers and ‘not-so-close’ friends. With those we love, we tend to be more relaxed and use them as and when we wish, as they do with us. Michael, I do not need to be a man to see why any man would adore Ahní. However, if she refused to ever use you, I wonder for how long you would find the relationship bearable.” I turned to Dommi and Cherine. “Do you recall how it was for you when Robbie blocked his love for you? What was it he accused Cherine of doing? Of using him? Can you see that he feared it because he still did not trust in love? Haven my love, we use you all the time and the day you do not react with anger when I disappoint you, that will be a sad day for me. Shall I now return our conversation to Kunam, his father and grandfather?” She nodded without smiling, for she was sorting out my arguments in her mind and I knew she would tackle me about all I said when we are on our own.
“I have worked out how we can have the family reinstated without destroying other families and, if it can be done - if the priests react as I hope, then the family will be Blue Goldens again. My one remaining problem is the father. I don’t want him to be our representative. I want Gadig, and when he asks to retire, I want it to be Kunam. I have the feeling the two of them will refuse me.”
Robbie asked, “Samantha, do you have to be successful down to the slightest details to be satisfied with your achievements? You haven’t met Kunam’s father, you might like him just as much.”
“It is not a matter of liking. Gadig is experienced and will weave his way through the new problems we’ll create for them in ways that will minimise the damage our existence will cause and Kunam is young enough to adapt and learn from his grandfather and us.”
“You are convinced we’ll damage them?” Agapi asked.
“When two civilisations that have taken different paths meet, change is inevitable. Their society, culture, traditions, are not as flexible as ours, there will be damage as old ways are rejected. However we try to gentle the damage, we cannot foresee the ripple effects over a greater period of time.”
Zenon stated, “We will be responsible for all the pain and suffering.”
Roula answered him, “We will not let anyone go hungry and all of them will be healed…”
“Roula, the damage we are talking about,” Zenon explained, “has more to do with their hearts than their bodies. You know how your Robert has insisted that we must try to conserve every culture, surely they have the same rights? What direction will their lives have if we crush their traditions without giving them anything to replace them? What of families, for them to successfully survive as units, do they not demand respect between generations? Love is not enough on its own if we do not hold to some customs and traditions.”
Diana spoke up, “I’ve been trying to study their history. Zenon, for as far back as they recall or have records, their culture has been frozen, static. It and they are not evolving. If every single person alien to this Earth left tomorrow, we could not prevent their traditions crumbling - as you put it. We have already affected them. I prefer to think of it as their going through a rough period of transition, but at the end of it, if they are wisely guided by their own nature, they will have preserved the best of their culture while regaining the flexibility to evolve and dream of a better future…instead of thinking that what is, must be how everything remains forever.”
Softhearted Roula said, “I suppose we’ll have to stay by their side to help them through the worst of it.”
Zenon looked as if he were about to agree with her, but Diana cut in, “No, if we want them to evolve a new culture unique and according to their needs, we must not. We can help with food or healing, but they must work their way through the confusing changes and find their own answers.”
I said, “As much as we can, we will do so, Diana. However, learning about empathy and all else we believe in will affect them. They are more sophisticated than the Orati and the Africans, they will see what becoming a Cherinian brings us and they too will want our gifts and powers.”
Robbie took the discussion back to what we had been discussing earlier, probably in the hope of throwing me a spanner. “I’m not too happy with your insistence that we are represented by Blue Goldens. Surely, if we take into consideration what Cherinianism means, we should want our representatives to be of the Dung caste?”
8005
“Let’s say we do as you suggest? For how long would they remain Dung? One €5 note was enough to shortcut years of scrimping and saving to change a family to Fallen, what would the wealth they’d earn from us do for them? If they grow from Dung to Blue Goldens because of us, would they not be resented by all classes? Would their people believe they are doing all they can to protect and promote the interests of their own people? Unfortunately, the truth is the public are far more likely to trust them if they already are Blue Goldens.”
We talked for hours before going home to sleep. My powers of persuasion failed me when I tried to use Dommi - I wanted her to appear in the dreams of the priests as their goddess. I asked Haven whether I could use her and she projected, becoming a six foot amazon, well muscled and carrying a large bow and full quiver of arrows, a sword hanging from her hip and a machine gun! She came close so as to loom over me as she asked, “You wish to use me?”
As I answered, “Yes” I got the giggles at her fierce scowl and she was soon our usual Haven so as to tussle with me and tickle me for her revenge.
At breakfast, Julia said to me, “Apart from the geological oddities, I find the people of this reality also puzzle me. Look at the Orati, after emigrating from the mountains, over the next hundreds of years they tripled their population and then they stabilised at just over half a million. They have three towns and four villages. The LOV Orati, since you first arrived, have increased by forty two people, but we don’t have the statistics to work out whether the increase is because they are living longer or because not so many of their babies are dying or because they are having more babies. The same is true for the other tribes, any recent changes are statistically insignificant.
It does not seem to be true of the Pphaijan because their populations are so much larger, but basically they do follow the same rules. The cities, Evandvhi and Alsaman decided they had grown too large and between them they sent about sixty thousand to Habaleshwa. Over the next two hundred years they grew to about three hundred thousand and over the next two hundred years they increased to about four hundred thousand. According to their priests, they have not increased in population over the last fifty years.
I don’t believe that common sense is inhibiting them Sam, there has to be something else at work here. There is a lot of arable land surrounding the cities and yet they have limited themselves to a given area. Why?” She gave her half sister Cherine a sharp look, but we did not hear the exchange between them. Julia turned to me again. “Dr Emmanuel De Cerezo has recently published some interesting statistics that suggest there is a possibility that mankind, as a species, is able to foresee large scale disasters as there seem to be a history of more than average increases in local populations just before a disaster strikes. If that is true and, furthermore, is also true for other realities, surely the populations here should be expanding rapidly to make up for the losses the earthquakes and volcanoes will cause? I do mean, would have caused if you had not come here and taken over.”
“I have not taken over.” I was annoyed when nobody agreed or argued and they just stared at me, waiting for my answers to the facts and statistics Julia had thrown at me. “I don’t know why you are asking me, I’m not a scientist and there are thousands of scientists in Freddie you could ask. However, now that you have pointed out the facts to me, I’ll keep them in mind when I’m asked for advice.” I doubt that my final sentence made much sense to anyone since it did not to me, but it stopped Julia. I then felt guilty and sent to her that I would ask the Freddie scientists to investigate the puzzle. She replied that they were already doing so and I snapped back at her, demanding to know why she’d expected the answer from me if she knew they were already trying to find the answers. In a huff, she shut her mind to me. In that regard, she’s more like her sister Meli than her half sister Cherine.
The Pphaijan have decent maps of the coast line, but their maps of the interior and northern coast are sketchy at best with many errors. If I were to undertake the same trip Bhishgar did, I think I would have stayed close to the southern coast in the hopes of being picked up by a ship. But then, he did not really expect or wish to survive. There was no money owing to him and for as long as he lived he would remain an embarrassment for his family.
Robbie followed him, when he left his family, and watched without helping. He felt he would learn more about the man under these conditions than he could have from watching him in the city. Instead of walking east or south-east, he walked north-east. Robbie decided to watch him from his own body and the next day he jump there and followed from just a small distance so that he could help if Bhishgar is attacked by an animal or by bands of outlaws.
Robbie enjoyed his walk; he carried a sketch pad with him and made many notes for future paintings, but mostly he enjoyed his successes at finding food and surviving in a land that is alien to him. He did not compare his ability to survive to that of Bhishgar, as he did not have to endure many of the discomforts nor brave the same dangers. I think he just enjoyed the fact that our way of living has not softened him. I have felt the same way, so I was able to empathise.
8006
We were updating our map daily and were starting to make jokes about where Bhishgar would end up. He was drawing close to the area Surendranagar occupies in our reality and though he had lost a lot of weight, he did not look skinny, just leaner and tougher. Various small accidents had destroyed his clothes and all he wore now was a loincloth. It did not look as if it would last much longer.
Robbie was pleased. Although Bhishgar had left with the intention of dying, he could not help himself and did all he could to survive. Now Robbie felt happier about helping him. He changed his appearance slightly so as not to be so obviously of another race and jumping ahead, he hunted, made a fire and set the food cooking and taking out his pad he sketched. He felt Bhishgar when he arrived but remained hidden in the bush. Robbie gave him a few minutes and then called out, “If you wish to join me for a meal, I would enjoy the company.”
We’d expected Robbie to bring him to us after the meal, but instead they travelled together for a week - arguing most of the time about art! Bhishgar is not capable of drawing a straight line, but he has very definite ideas of what constitutes art and the way Robbie sketches is not art to him. We had a few laughs and were pleased as we sensed/shared the growing friendship.
The meat sizzled over the coals and was nearly ready and many of my loves (and other Cherinians) were still crying or feeling bleak because of sharing as Robbie killed the little buck, slit its throat for the blood to drain and then skinned it. Among my loves many muttered about how they would react if Robbie brought the skin for curing to Freddie. Robbie ignored all he must have sensed and wished he had some beer and cigarettes as the two of them ate. When they finished, Robbie wrapped the remaining meat in leaves, placed the little parcels in his bag and sat back.
“Would it upset you if I told you I know your name?”
“I thought you came from elsewhere, not from Evandvhi.”
“I do. And yet, I do know that your name is Bhishgar. My name is not the one I gave you, it is Robert. Robert Teller from the moon-world you have seen in your skies.”
He hardly blinked, only curiosity shining in his eyes. “You are a god?”
“I am just a man like you,” with a smile he added, “according to your people, I am nothing better than a Dung.”
“They have met you!? How is it I have not heard of it?”
“Two of my wives visited your city. Since they are considered Dung, nobody talked to them. Your son, Kunam, followed them and when he found an excuse, offering to carry their shopping for a fee, he led them out of the city and tried to answer their questions. He is nearly a young man at the time this happened, but he is still too ignorant. He offered to arrange a meeting that night with your father. From him we learnt of all that happened to you.
Bhishgar, I can travel in time and, as a soul, I can watch people without them knowing I am with them. I watched those who planned to make it look as if you are trying to destroy a Blue Golden. My wives are determined to correct what happened so they asked me to return in time to save your life. I’ve enjoyed following you from the day you left your home, but it is now time we end this journey of yours and help you begin a new one - with your family at your side this time.”
Robbie did not use his usual shock tactics and gave Bhishgar all the time he needed to fully understand. It is not often that someone new to us arrives in Freddie without fear or shock crippling him. Before bringing him, Robbie used his healer to cleanse both of them so that we would not have to endure the smell of rancid sweat. It meant that we could instantly crowd both of them and make him feel welcome. We did not know how he would react to little girls, as men, in some cultures, do not like to be bothered with girls. Indians and Pphaijan both love their children, boys and girls, so he did not have a problem and it did help us like him even more when we overheard him tell others (a number of times) that he could not believe how beautiful we are. It is not so much that we need to hear that we are attractive, what we really enjoy is sensing that the way we look provides others with pleasure - like when Robbie or Jade show us a new painting of theirs.
The real reason Robbie took that walk had little to do with his enjoying it. When Bhishgar first left his home, Robbie could sense that the man was a weakling, having lived a live of indulgence and being served hand and foot. The trip, the hardships, the need to provide for himself, they all helped to toughen him - not only his body, he also discovered new depths to his mind. Some of his arrogance had been knocked out of him and he no longer acted as if he were superior to all who are not of his Blue Golden class. Claudia decided to test him.
8007
“Bhishgar, you must have understood by now that we intend helping your priests and Blue Goldens learn of how they were misled into believing you guilty. Although we will convince them that your family should be Blue Golden, we should warn you from now that Samantha has taken a strong liking for your father and she wants him to be the Blue Golden that gives your family the standing.”
“If my father is honoured, am I not doubly honoured Claudia?”
“You won’t mind not being the leader of your family? You do realise that your father will be made younger and he will live a very long time?”
“I did not seek to take his place Claudia, he decided to hand over to me. He should have withheld enough for his old age, but his love for me made him foolish so that he too became Dung. In my heart he remains the Blue Golden, Blessed of our goddess - and now of your family.” In that sense (also), the Pphaijan are similar to our Indians, they like to lay their compliments thick and heavy.
“By the time your father hands over again, your son will be old enough and will know enough to take over. It means you will never again be the Blue Golden of your family.”
He bowed his head to Claudia. “How can a father envy his son, is he not the reason I live? The day he takes over is the day I can close my eyes filled with pride and joy. The goddess may take me on that day so that she may also sense my love and gratitude for allowing my son to be helped by you. Claudia, you cannot know the bitter thoughts that turned my life to a dark despair when I saw that my foolishness, my blindness, were responsible for my son and family being cast down. Can I do anything but weep with joy the day my son takes over - as did my father when he handed over to me.”
Claudia was touched by the emoting she sensed from him. “I’m sorry, I should not have spoken. Bhishgar, I thought to sense whether there would be any resentment by you when Samantha does as she plans.”
“If she does as she plans, but the price she asks is my life, I would still consider myself blessed. My family are everything to me Claudia - is it not the same for your Robert?” He looked over at Robbie and softly added so that only Claudia would hear, “Despite his being so young.”
Claudia giggled. “Robert is close to two hundred years old. All us girls, the children you see, the youngest of us is one hundred and fifty years old.” She met his stare with a sudden sadness. “We dare not have any more children Bhishgar, for we will not die and we cannot fill the universe with our children - the universe belongs to everyone, of all species.”
His dark eyes glistened as he softly said to her, “It is a sadness to see that even the gods have their sorrows.”
“We are not gods Bhishgar.”
“Claudia, in my heart, your family always will be.”
I love it when one of us decides to tease an outsider and all we succeed in doing is opening our hearts to them. It is still amazing to me that there are so many good people, despite their sorrows and suffering. No wonder Cherine grows stronger, as The Light, year by year.
We collected Gadig and his wife, Kunam and his mother, and Freddie jumped realities.
When we brought Gadig and Kunam to Freddie, we kept Bhishgar hidden away. For one, we have a strong sense of theatre and enjoy springing nice surprises on our guests. The second reason was that both of them and the women should only experience a certain amount of shock at a time. As soon as we sensed they were recovering and accepting that they are not on their own world we will bring out Bhishgar. Although Bhishgar was hidden in a home away from us, he has a screen and watches his family as they grow from shock and fear to excited questioning of everything. A big part of their shock was meeting the family (us). They are allowed more than one wife, but they decided Robbie must be extremely wealthy to be capable of affording the maintenance of so many wives in luxury. Once they’d understood that we choose our body age, Gadig told Robbie that it only confirms what he’d thought. For a man to have all his wives living as little girls, it means they cannot look after him as a wife should and he has to employ people to cook and clean and so forth. Since it is not unknown in their culture for men to marry girls of eight or nine, neither of them gave our ages and the facts of sex a second thought.
8008
We always send our healers to new guests, but in the case of the wife of Gadig, she was very frail, worn out, and if we had not appeared in their lives, she probably would have soon been dead. We had to not only ask the healer to heal her, but to also rejuvenate her by a few years. When Gadig and his wife woke up the next morning, we only monitored their emoting long enough to sense his great joy as he saw her healthy and sparkling with life.
Although women are usually more adaptable and get over their shock quicker, in this case it was the opposite. The women do not believe in the goddess as men do. They pay lip service and even pray to her when desperate, but it is the men whose lives and stature within the community depend solely on their goddess. How could they be Blue Goldens, the Blessed of the goddess, if they do not believe in her? Not believing in the goddess with all their hearts made it more difficult for the women to adjust to being in Freddie. They were terrified of the idea that they are hanging high up in the sky within a globe of light. This was not exactly the time for us to explain that we are not, that we have left the only reality they believe in.
Alki suggested we leave it to the men to help their women and they did by talking about very down-to-earth matters, Bhishgar even pretending to worry about not having any clothes to wear. Kunam soon found himself with lots of time on his own and we encouraged him to walk around. Subtly we influenced him so that he went in the direction the Elipians frequent. He would have freaked out if he’d known how crowded his mind was when he met his first alien. We asked Koreïn and Shorayne to be at an opening in the forest so that Kunam would come upon them suddenly. It was delightful sensing his emoting and the way he held his breath with wonder and awe.
“Greetings Kunam, this is my wife Shorayne and I am Koreïn, we are of the species known as the Elipians. Will you walk with us for a time so that we may talk?” We left him to his privacy so that he could ask his questions without all of us listening. As previously agreed, they told him about other species, which led to the question: where do they all come from? Kunam was given his first astronomy lesson.
Kunam did not wait until he was alone with his family to tell them of the other species. Their reactions were almost funny and some thought we were pushing them too fast, but we were missing our friends plus Diana had insisted they would be less traumatised by meeting aliens than they had been by finding themselves in Freddie and meeting Bhishgar after thinking of him as being dead for so many years. Diana pointed out that just as with the Indians of our reality, they include many strange creatures and animals as part of the kingdom of their goddess. She was right and the first alien friend they met (she plays that role often as she is so small, beautiful and non-threatening) was Iona. She became the favourite of Gadig and he loves having her sit on his shoulder.
I should add here, since I have not mentioned it for such a long time, Iona’s favourite shoulder is still Allan’s, her brother. She even visits and spends the night with him and his loves now and then. The emoting of Allan feels more like the love of a father for his little girl. I sometimes get the feeling that her father Igraekiq mostly enjoys the company of Allan because he beats him at tavli.
Allan stared at Iona on the shoulder of Gadig without realising he was doing so. He turned to Robbie. “The bubble kids are no longer kids and they can’t stay in Freddie forever. What do you plan for them?”
“Me? I thought it was Samantha's project.”
I was not amused, but I did not see that it was a problem. More than twenty years of our Earth have passed, much more in Freddie, we’ve been another two times to steal the children nobody wants and they now total nearly eleven thousand (1,800 originally, then 4,000 and then 3,000). The first two groups grew up, many married and had children. As Allan said, they cannot continue to grow in numbers if they stay in Freddie. We’ll have to meet with the Bubble Terrans and listen to what their wishes are.
Finally I have a volunteer for the ‘dream goddess’! She feels very uncomfortable about doing it and her two mothers had to help me convince her she would not be stepping on any religious toes and that she is ideal for what I want. I don’t need a goddess who is a mother figure, nor should she be a warrior, she only has to be extremely powerful but also practical - in a goddess sort of way. Oh, who is it? Who else, Shelif.
Two days later and I don’t have a goddess again! I sensed a hidden feeling in Shelif; she felt as if she’d been trapped into doing what she does not want to do so I set her free. I don’t know why everyone is so uncomfortable about playing the role, but I guess I’ll have to do it myself.
8009
Robbie had us all laughing and then not laughing. He offered to go as the goddess. We had some good laughs imagining him projecting as a female of about twenty years old. He then asked, as if he had not thought of it, did we mean the goddess had to be a female? Allan nearly pissed him off when he told him that he did not think going as a gay would qualify him. Then Robbie told us that he could not go, but that he felt guilty. Since he had volunteered, he felt that he had to go, so therefore, the only answer was that Thina go in his place. It was obvious that all the nonsense was acted out so as to lead to this conclusion. All the laughter stopped and all us girls (and those of her family though they tried to hide it) felt that Robbie had been thoughtless and we were angry with him. Thina broke rank and took Robbie’s side. Pleased, he put his arm around her waist and drew her close to him. She looked at him with an innocent look as she made her suggestion. “I’ve understood what you meant, but it seems the others didn’t. May I explain to them?” Before he could refuse or ask what she meant, she continued, “What you were really asking is that you go as me. Of course I don’t mind Robert, just please don’t forget to act like a girl during the entire dream or else everyone will laugh at me.” Now it was okay for us to laugh again.
Once the laughter and teasing settled, I told them, “It’s okay, I’ll go.”
Gina said, “No mum, I’ll go.” The next thing I knew they were each arguing that it should be them, even Shelif! I thought only males were supposed to find it impossible to understand us females!!
Meli: Cassie and Jade have the reputation of being very funny (it is well deserved) and the nickname ‘imps’ Robert gave them stuck. The number of times our Samantha makes us roll about may not be as obvious to an outsider (such as her little gem above), but they are treasured by all of us. The wonderful thing about Sam making us laugh is that, whereas the rest of us don’t want the family to share our gaffes with others, Sam doesn’t mind and when friends or acquaintances laugh, she laughs (or giggles) with them.
We’ve settled the matter in the most intelligent way possible. We wrote all the names on little strips of paper, put them all in a small plastic drum, twirled it around then had our isi pull one slip out. The name on the slip was ‘Rosie’. She fiercely blushed when everyone said that fate chose the best for the job. I did not need to share with her the details of my plan. She already knew and by doing it her own way she will be far more effective. She has already shared from Robbie the details and scenes of those who conspired against Bhishgar and any further delays would only make her nervous. Freddie jumped back to their reality and we returned the family to their home on planet.
We used to wait for the sleeper to leave their body so as to bring them to the ‘dream’ world we create for communicating. We no longer do that. It is just as effective if we wait for them to fall asleep and then we just take them. Rosie waited for them in her dream world, looking like the pictorial representation of their goddess, only more beautiful and radiant while those who had been given a priest or Blue Golden went to collect them. I waited in Rosie’s world, disguised as a small monkey sitting at her feet.
The men fell to the ground, grovelling in fear as they saw their goddess. Rosie waited until they had all arrived and then ordered them to sit on the benches behind them.
“Is there one amongst you who believes I enjoy deceit?” They dared to glance at each other and then sat staring at her, frozen. “I am going to show you something that happened years ago. Take careful note of the men responsible.” She pointed and the air wavered and colours swirled until they began to form shapes and then the men suddenly saw crystal sharp the images of men sitting together talking. Their voices grew louder until every word could be heard. Just less than two years of scheming was shown, culminating with the accusations, the evidence presented and Bhishgar shamed and stripped not only of his assets, but of his standing and name.
Even though we’d edited the scenes to reduce the time required to view them, it still took about three hours. As the men saw themselves or, in a few cases, their fathers being duped so that they became part of the destruction of a blameless Blue Golden, obviously a Blessed of their goddess, the men trembled with fear that she was angry with them, but their own anger with the culprits also burned bright so that it gave them the courage to talk with her.
“This is not a dream, speak to each other when you awaken and you will find the courage to believe. I brought you to me because I expect you to right the wrong now that you know what happened.”
Their most senior priest asked (sorry, I cannot be bothered to write with all the honorific expressions they lavishly employed), “The family have been reclassified to Dung. No Dung has been transformed back to Blue Golden before - how do we explain it to your children? Mother, those who committed the crime will be stripped of all possessions and sent out as Dung, that is justice as you demand of us. We do not see as clearly how we are to treat the family of Dung Bhishgar.”
8010
“You presume.” His face paled as he made to prostrate himself, but stopped when she sharply gestured. “Those who are guilty must be punished but not their families. They will no longer be known as Blue Goldens, only Goldens. You will take from them three quarters of all they own. Two quarters will be reimbursed to the father of Bhishgar. The remaining quarter you will use to help all Dung who deserve my help. For each, you will offer to provide half of what they need to become Fallen. If they have not worked and saved, then they do not deserve my help - I only help those who help themselves.
You have a problem naming them Blue Golden, my Blessed? Then you shall name them the Silver Golden, my Blessed Sons and Daughters. There shall be no other Silvers, do not take it upon yourselves to give others or yourselves such honours without my offering it.
There is one more matter to be dealt with. A new people have come among you.” She paused and again they paled, thinking she was angry with them for allowing trade with non-persons. “They have a lot to teach you and much to trade that can make you stronger and healthier. It is insulting to treat them as non-persons, as Dung, for they too are children of Cherine, as I am. From now they will be named Silvers. Only Silvers, for they cannot be Goldens. The Silver Goldens will represent all of you in trade negotiations and gathering of knowledge from the Silvers. They shall not trade for their own benefit, they must pass on to others the opportunities. They may collect from those they offer the trade, a share of not more than five percent.”
I was quite upset with the way she’d changed what I wanted. Rosie stood up. “As a further sign that I was not a dream, I have brought back Bhishgar, who as you know left his family years ago to die. I have kept him safe and young so that you can be absolved of your guilt in destroying him by setting his family back among the highest and best of my children.”
To the men it seemed that their goddess and her garden faded away and they woke up, troubled and worried about the dream, for it remained too vivid for them to dismiss it. They did gather as instructed and each confirmed to the others that they had shared the same experience. In a group they went to the hut of Gadig and saw Bhishgar, looking younger than them and with an inner energy that seemed to make him glow and he obviously was not a Dung, for the suffering of a Dung steals that glow from all men. They knelt before him and named him Silver Golden.
Bhishgar frowned. “That is not what our Mother asked of you.” Pointedly, he turned to look at his father and they recalled her words. Almost reluctantly, with quick glances back at Bhishgar, they gave obeisance to Gadig. The wily old man knew better than to allow it as they would end up hating him someday. He joined them, on his knees.
“My fathers and brothers, I look to you for the wisdom to use the Blessing our goddess has bestowed on me for the good of our people.” They spoke formally, basically using the words tradition demands when appointing the head of a family as Blue Golden. When it was over they talked informally, hoping to learn from Bhishgar what the world of the goddess is like. He told them, honestly, that he does not know, that he has no recall of such a visit. Poor Kunam, with the black and white way of seeing the world that teenagers have, must have found it difficult to keep quiet.
The announcement was made public with the names of those responsible for conspiring to destroy Bhishgar and their punishment as decided by the goddess. They then spoke of the wishes of the goddess (but did not mention her reluctance to have innocent members of the family suffer, probably because they foresaw it could create a precedent they did not want. Rosie will have to meet with them again).
The city was stunned by the news. Never before had their priests spoken so convincingly about meeting their goddess and their detailed knowledge of what the conspirators had said and done plus the return of Bhishgar helped convince even the sceptics that the goddess is real. As with all nations, even species, that we’ve met till now, they do not like change and it frightens them. A Silver Golden! They tried to imagine what that meant for them. The upgrading of our status to Silvers, that was the worst of what they will have to adjust to - from what we see and sense, it seems the Dung dislike the announcement of our new status most of all. I suggested no Cherinians visit for a few days and then only one or two visit at a time, until they grow used to seeing us once more.
Rosie is one of those who has taken up micro-embroidery and everything is so delicate and she has to be so careful that I changed my mind and decided to speak to her later. As I turned towards the door, she spoke without looking up. “You did not say I had to do it your way and you did want me to wing it.”
“Are you sure you want to talk now? I don’t want your embroidery to be spoilt.”
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: 15th Aug, 2020
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