“...It makes him a totally alien version of what makes our Robbie the man he is. The same goes for all of them.”
When we arrived at the taverna for breakfast, the only other person present was Ivgos. We’d jumped there and therefore caught him by surprise. He was hanging from the beams that hold up the mesh and vines above the tables and was in the middle of swinging from one to another as we arrived. Though startled by our sudden arrival, he did not drop. He completed his swing and from there he aimed for a spot between the tables and landed lightly.
He turned to face me with an eager look. “It was decided I am to be alone with you.”
“Good. Join me at my table, I want you to taste a few of our foods. Ivgos, do not taste anything I do not give to you, I have checked what your body can handle.” Happily he promised as he clambered up onto the chair by my side. He sat looking at me, waiting to hear what he should do next. I looked into his eyes and his gift tugged at my heart. It amused me that he can affect me despite my being aware of his gift. “Ivgos, do you know what I mean when I speak of a year?”
“A full cycle of seasons?” I was surprised that Claudia’s gift could translate one word into a sentence.
“I’m surprised your people did not choose one word for it. How many years old are you?”
He emoted surprise; either because he had never considered it or else, because he had not expected me to be interested. “I am eleven years - of my world, I do not know how long a full cycle of seasons is here.”
“Freddie does not really have seasons and years, just numbers of days - I’ll explain later. In the meantime, keep in mind that Freddie does not travel around a sun.” My loves were just as pleased as I was. Most species at his level of civilisation would not have considered the possibility of a year on a another planet having a different length.
Not one of my loves left their seat and Meli did not lose herself in her story, for we all found his reactions to the tastes of foods that were new to him a delight. It was as if his mind wanted to be telepathic, reaching out to broadcast the effervescence of all his senses were being inundated with. I knew Hesina would enjoy it so I brought her as close to sharing the ‘outside’ world with me as I could. Her childlike delight was added to what the others were sensing and some of them did the same with their inner personality. I don’t know what we must have felt like to others, but we were soon surrounded by birds, field mice and so on. We felt a twinge from Cherine and realised she’d recalled our ‘nature’ love fests in the early years with Robbie, when we would awaken to being surrounded by wild animals, birds and even insects. Without a word, we all agreed we will ask for such a night when Robbie is back with us.
We were not able to always correctly predict which tastes he would enjoy, but somewhere along the line we realised we should also concentrate on the aromas of foods (other scents we’ll do later, if there is time and interest).
Maria had brought and taken away a variety of foods and herbs for him to taste or smell when gentle Wendy murmured an excuse and left. The others sensed her reason and reluctantly left for home, work or visits to friends. Ivgos looked at me for an explanation. “They felt it was time they leave us on our own. Would you like to see what a jungle of our world is like? I think you’ll find the differences fascinating. From there we can go to visit Freddie and Cherise - Freddie is the person who runs this spaceship world for us.”
Ivgos was surprised when I told him to climb the trees and swing from one to another and then he saw me stay by his side even at his most daring leaps. I was not about to spoil the effect I was having on him by explaining and the truth is, I found it just as exhilarating as he did. Later, I was glad to sense that Cherise was enchanted by him and his childish enthusing about Freddie (FTS) helped him win the heart of Freddie. His parents joined us at the taverna for supper and it was good sensing them as a family.
Something very disturbing happened this morning and none of us can unravel the events in a way that would provide us with a logical explanation for guiding us. When we arrived at the taverna, we found Faiiis waiting for me. His emoting was chaotic and he looked ill.
There was no delay. We searched. The Sparklers searched. His soul did not go to the void and even when time was slowed by Freddie as the g-void, no sense of direction as to where his soul had been taken could be identified. All we could conclude was that our first impression had been correct - his soul had been snatched out of his body. Throughout all this we were surrounded by family and close friends and the Akiards formed a ring around us. We sent healers to preserve the body of Faiiis, but it was not practical for us to maintain the healer link for a long time so Freddie placed it in a stasis bubble and the Spartans took it to the void to keep it safe. I think it would be fair to say that the predominant emoting was one of outrage. Outrage at the high-handed use of Faiiis and the taking of his soul and, outrage at their presumptuous demands on me and my loves (they did automatically assume I would take my two from among them).
I chose not to share in all the above, for I had a more urgent problem to deal with. Luckily Dommi joined me with her mother love. When Faiiis spoke and then died, Ivgos was at the taverna and a witness. He collapsed to the ground, curling up in total misery and he was blasting us with his feelings of guilt. Dommi and I guessed and leaving our bodies we entered his mind. Both Dommi and I were surprised to find it was easy, as if he were a Terran child. Later, other species from Freddie, confirmed that their experience was similar, to them it was as if they were sharing with the mind of their own species, an Akiard, Elipian, Inguel and so on. We checked and found that his parents are almost the same, but not as open as Ivgos. We are theorising that it is so with him because of his need to take in his Eleven, with each of them being of a different species.
Even if he’d wanted to ignore me, which he did not, he could not have resisted blooming like a flower as he opened to Dommi, soaking up her mother love as if his entire being, body and soul, had been thirsting. He tried to resist because of his feelings of guilt but he was still child enough that he mostly failed. We soon learnt that he had been told that nobody dies in Freddie and seeing Faiiis die convinced him he was to blame; as if he carries death with him wherever he goes. We explained what happened and the why and once he understood he wept hysterically until the worst of his pain had dissolved. During all this he was held/cradled within Dommi and by the time we left him, for him to open his eyes and join the world outside his mind, he did so with adoration of Dommi being broadcasted by him. Cassie told her mother not to worry, that, speaking from practical experience as her daughter, Ivgos will soon get over his blind adoration of her. That led to some teasing, but it was half-hearted and mixed with tears, for we were still smarting from the pain of losing Faiiis. That it happened while he was with us and in Freddie, where he should have been safe, shook everyone. Also, it is rarely that anger by such a large number of minds is felt. It was flattering that so much of the anger was on my behalf, but I needed calm and objective reasoning to work for me or else I’d make decisions that could have repercussions I’ll find unacceptable once I can think straight.
First of all, I needed to work out who it was that had invited or challenged us to a meeting. It was not the elders of the Reggheri. They have already shown me that they are ineffective fighters and as Faiiis himself said, females would be more likely to fight for their people. I had not done anything new to give them cause to wish to kill me. The fact that Faiiis said that our victory would free his people was part of their message, but that they wanted to destroy our souls was not - I had felt him struggle to give that bit of information. That suggested his people have an enemy or are subjected to the will of others. Whoever they are, they must have remarkable powers for them to have found us here.
On one point I found that nobody agreed with me. I have the feeling that the challenger is half-hoping we will win so that the Reggheri are free. It could be that it/he/they assumed power and find it impossible to release their hold…because it could bring about even more suffering or damage? Why?
Jade sounded almost angry as she pointed out, “They are doing this as a ploy to force Samantha to lose. They probably feel that their powers are equal to ours, but they fear that Sam is smarter than them, so they are using the threat of the visitor to handicap Sam - so that she is not labelled as tricky and untrustworthy.”
“She is tricky but she also is trustworthy!” Roula earnestly said, making everyone grin. Campbell found it funny enough for him to laugh aloud and I looked into his eyes with a wide grin on my face. Cherine actually took exception to anyone suggesting I’m not trustworthy. I told you she’s smart!
The main thrust of the arguments should have concentrated on who I take with me and who of them I accept as leader. As should be obvious by now, I have no choice, this is not a challenge I can walk away from, an entire species depend on me. I refused to comment with regard to who I take and even went so far as to hint (in my mind) that I may choose them from outside the family. That lowered the tension as each of them wanted to be one of the two while also fearing my choosing them as they feared they might let me down. The trouble about writing in this diary is that they all ‘see’ what I write and then they start second-guessing because of what I said or because of the way I phrased myself. So, no comments on the subject until I’ve chosen.
We all want to spend time alone with Ardrigio and Argidsi because it helps assuage our need for the presence of their originals, for the touch of a hand, for the meeting of eyes. We do get some time, but we are careful to leave most of the time available to us for Cherine. Ardrigio has little interest in meeting aliens for the sake of their being aliens so he does not leave the general area of the taverna often. He, as with most visitors, finds the Akiards interesting because of the contrast between their appearance and beliefs, but he does not indulge in long conversations with them as he does not wish to expose his lack of knowledge. The Akiards, especially the younger ones, knowing of the effect they have on others, enjoy hamming it up a little and all eleven are an avid audience for them. I get the impression that Argidsi is too malleable, allowing her twin mind to make most of the choices. However, when she has a preference, then he is quick to respect her wishes.
My mention of lack of knowledge is a problem, for it has caused our visitors some discomfort. They are aware that they are backwards in many aspects in comparison to those from their home planets. Seeing them, in turn, admire us, especially the scientists, has made them self conscious about holding a conversation with us. I’d say that Ahram has the wisdom not to be too sorely affected and asks many questions and argues when he is given information that conflicts with what he knows. He is quick to open himself to new ideas and discard the old ones, but if the new knowledge does not convince him, then he’ll argue the point forever, carefully analysing each and every aspect. The Muyzith and some of the Unation scientists and officers enjoy spending time with Ahram and there have been times when we’ve found them still arguing when we come for breakfast to the taverna. The parents of Ivgos are not as self conscious as the others for they believe in the simple tribal life they live and look forward to returning to their home. They have not truly realised what Ivgos means to the others and that his future lies within his new divide, at his tiered mountain home.
isi-mi-Metti spoke to Ashiir and Ordinx, reminding them of their educational helmet. Ivgos was tested and the helmet works with him. Some suggested that the parents also use the helmet, but I’m not certain we’d be doing them any favours. If they stay with Ivgos on his mountain, we might then have to use the helmet - after we’ve explained clearly so that they understand what they will gain and what they will lose. I’ve seen it happen to the people of Efineh’s world, widening the awareness of people who were comfortable with a simple style of life that they no longer can live is not always beneficial to them.
We cannot deal with the challenge until our loves have returned to us from their ‘dream’ lives, but our stay here and our meeting Ivgos has been spoilt for me, for I keep on re-living the pain and despair of Faiiis just before he died. I also feel that he was ripped out of his body in punishment for giving us the information that they want the price of this contest to be our souls. Why? It does not make sense! If so, it makes it easier for me to face the thought of harming them - whoever they may be. Which brings me to the other point on which everyone (mostly Haven) disagrees with me - I insist that the challenger(s) sounds almost as immature as Faiiis and his people. The others insist that the demand that we give them final death proves they know more and are capable of making harder/harsher decisions. Haven pointed out to us it is likely that the reason they demand I bring two others with me is to force me to fight and kill them as they know I would not be willing to risk those I love. It sounds too calculated for me, I can’t see them having the cunning to think that way.
By now, Freddie was showing them on our screens and his parents and the eleven were aware - without knowing what the dangers were. Seeing the huge and vicious looking animal as Ivgos approached it, made them nervous and we made it worse for them when we gave them a brief version of its history. The ten out of the eleven became furious with us while his parents silently stared at us, their eyes pleading for us to get their son out of there.
“Ivgos is safe, you need not fear for him, none here in Freddie would let him be harmed. I have a feeling something strange is about to happen so I asked everyone not to interfere, but if that creature does attack, Haven will have Ivgos out of there instantly.” Because it was Cherine who spoke, they all calmed down and watched the screens, more curious than afraid now.
As soon as Ivgos saw the animal, he stopped and cocked his head to one side, as if listening, his eyes bright with interest. He either did not recognise the aggressive movements as threatening or they did not frighten him.
Ahram spoke anxiously, “There are not many aggressive animals on our world, Ivgos does not recognise the threat.”
“Haven knows now, so she’ll be extra alert.” Cassie answered. I noticed that Seuria was on her own, nobody comforting her by holding her. I also sensed she wanted to stay on her own, though mostly she was wishing there was a height she could launch herself from so as to glide to Ivgos. She recognised that she could not help and gliding there would take too long, so she concentrated on the screens.
“Are you the same as Seuria and Ahram?” Ivgos asked. For a few seconds, the animal seemed to pause as it tried to work out whether the sound signified a threat and then it sensed Ivgos trying to reach it mentally. It went berserk. Luckily, the reactions Ivgos triggered were instinctive and it tried to attack him psychically…and those abilities had been neutralised by the weapon Robbie had used on it - about two hundred years ago, Freddie time. Two hundred years of being watched over by healers and rejuvenated to keep it young and healthy. I guess that makes nearly two hundred years of us being stupid.
Without knowing it, Ivgos had sent it a ‘feeling-emoting’ similar to what the species exchange between the sexes at breeding time. It seems we have a female and Ivgos re-awoke or triggered its need to procreate.
We had to bring Ivgos back, for he could only harm it further by trying to contact it again and then we watched as it lost heart over the next four days. Finally it stayed in one place, only swaying, as it called out, ‘verbally’ and psychically. When it knelt and sank to the ground Cherine became alarmed and asked Freddie to return to the Gnolat planet immediately. We were glad that Candy was not aware, as we knew how its death wish would grieve her.
It has been many years since we last visited the Elabet. Earth years it is only twenty six, maybe twenty seven years since Robbie returned there with Michael to get rid of the last Gnolats, but for us it has been longer and with Freddie time it is over a century since we last saw them. Cherine asked Freddie to arrive five years after the last visit by Robbie and Michael as she knew we all have friends there and not all of them became Cherinians at that time.
Freddie arrived openly, in orbit, and visitors began to arrive almost immediately. There were still a number of scientists here so not all the visitors were of the Elabet. Urgently we excused ourselves for not observing the niceties and explained our problem. We felt their dismay and then one of the Elabet elders spoke for them.
“The species has been extinct for a long time and you cannot take it back to when they existed as the Gnolats would sense you.” He must have felt us, especially Cherine, for he emoted his dismay. Perhaps, hoping he would stop us, he asked for Robbie. Cherine told him that Robbie is asleep and dreaming and cannot be woken until his dream has ended.
Diana emoted the sweetness, as she spoke, that makes so many love her and the elders relaxed as they listened. “If your evolution followed the same pattern it did on our planet, surely this species must have developed before the Gnolats did - I cannot see an unsophisticated hunter evolving after more advanced species came to dominate the environment. We’d have to return to a period before your species evolved so as not to affect your history, so, if we are lucky, the male we find should also be less evolved in its natural psychic powers and it won’t have those your ancestors grafted for fighting the Gnolats.”
When the Elabet realised we intend returning far into their past, we were flooded with requests from not only scientists, but also from the general public. Once we were back at home we teased Claudia, claiming her instant translating gift must have played her false the first time we met them and given the Elabet the wrong impression, making them so reluctant to believe in us. They are certainly not showing the same reluctance to believe in the impossible now.
We had to return further back than we thought we’d need to. Luckily we were not left on our own to act impulsively and the specialists took their time studying the ancestor males. They came to the conclusion that they are too aggressive for our handicapped female so we went hopping back in time, checking at least one male of each period. It did not take many hops for them to tell us we are moving in the wrong direction. The theory they are promoting now is that we have to return to the time when the ancestors of the Elabet dominated. Apparently their ability to plan (sapience) will result in them culling the males so that only the least aggressive survive.
The only reason the female had survived for the period we searched for her potential mate was thanks to Cherinians constantly monitoring her and using their healers to keep her going. She was weakened, but we hoped that the excitement of suddenly having a companion and a mate would boost her will to live. There was no point in Freddie travelling at this time as we all wanted to concentrate on the meeting and mating rituals once they discover each other. By now Ivgos had a better understanding of the situation so we made an exception and he was told he may enter their ecological niche so as to experience it all directly - by his own senses plus their emoting. When it happened, we could sense his wide-eyed wonder and when he returned to us, he went directly to Ahram and Haikra to share with them. His parents did not emote that they felt left out when they called for the rest of the eleven to join them. Not long afterwards they shared with the parents and we were touched when we sensed how the parents mostly treasured the sharing of how the eleven feel about their son.
Masli-e, that is the name given to the species of the two animals from the world of the Elabet. It is not the name they’ve been known by for thousands of years. When the Elabet heard that Ivgos made up a name for them, taken from the names of the species of Ahram and Seuria, they generously agreed that his name is to be the new name of the species.
Cherine was asked, “What do you intend doing if the experiment is a success? One family of Masli-e is not enough to grow a species.”
“Theoretically, what you said is not true. With healers we could manage with only one pair. However, our healers cannot know of what variations might exist in others of their kind and we’ll be the ones to lose out by narrowing their genetic base. We also have one serious problem that must be taken care of before we allow this pair to breed. We cannot know for certain that the original powers of the female will not be passed on to new generations, so we must find DNA from a pre-adjusted female to give her a new body. I hope we can transfer the soul and personality of this one to the new body.”
As we proceeded with our plans, I was now sad that ‘Candy’ was not with us, but I was certain she will rejoice to see what strange fruit her influencing us has borne. I also find myself wondering how she will view her memories of this time with us once she is herself again.
Lynda searched for an alternate of the Elabet planet where it is either totally devoid of life or else has very little of it surviving. The Inguel say it would be easier to start from scratch so that they can influence the way it evolves. This time the Inguel will not be alone as they work, many species are anxious and they will want to be part of the process. Cherine told us, when we were at home and in our bedroom where we know that nobody eavesdrops, that it is important we are seen to have total confidence in the Inguel, so we must not stay. When we told them that we will be leaving and asked who wants to stay, an individual suggested that the Elabet be placed in control of the project (not by an Elabet, I’m glad to say). Cherine put on quite a show of showing how disappointed she was and only answered, “That was not a Cherinian request.” I decided a further answer was needed, but I waited a while to give them time to think about what Cherine said.
I sat next to the person who’d made the request and suddenly all conversation died. They’d all guessed why I had gone to him - damn, it means I’ve done it too often and I’ll have to allow others to do so in the future. Now I can’t lead the conversation in the subtle manner I’d wished to, I’ll have to be far more direct. The person was smarting from the critical comment of Cherine, but, under such circumstances it is not considered polite to show (in any way) that we sense the emoting of the person we wish to speak with.
“Cherine is feeling bad because she answered you without explaining and you may be feeling hurt. I’ve decided to speak to you and everyone else as I see what was said and intended as a danger we must remain aware of at all times. You see, as we, I’m speaking of all Cherinians, grow into a certain way of living, we forget that others do not think the way we do. To assume everyone does is very wrong of us.
Your suggestion reflected your own worries about the project we are undertaking, but it also showed you are sensitive to the feelings of the Elabet. Perhaps you also felt that since this is an alternate of their home planet, their rights supersede ours? I guess I’d feel that way if this was an alternate Terra. We do respect their rights and Cherine did not act unilaterally when she decided to find an alternate planet for the Masli-e; the Elabet are not against the project, they only wish to ensure we do nothing to bring back past dangers. Once this planet is rehabilitated, the Elabet will take over and it will be their responsibility to see that this world remains unspoilt so that the various animals now extinct on their home world have somewhere to live and thrive. I have a feeling this world could end up becoming a place for the Elabet to visit and have their batteries recharged.” Various aliens, including some of the Elabet, chuckled at the image of the Elabet having batteries inside them.
The person I was speaking to is of a species new to us, recently freed and brought back by the Spartans. There are not many Cherinians amongst them at this time, but this person is and ‘he’ is also quick to understand, for he came to his feet.
“By asking that the Elabet be placed in charge I insulted the Inguel? It was not intended.”
“If you wish to stretch a point, it could be said you insulted the Elabet by suggesting on their behalf that they do not trust the Inguel - and to stretch the point even further, it could be said that you insulted Cherine by implying that she is in a position to make such a decision - which is not true. No Cherinian has the right to make decisions on behalf of other human beings, Cherinians or Normals - and if she did try to, even I would be forced to join all of you so as to resist her.”
Allan explained to Ivgos, who was sitting with Jessie, in a voice loud enough to be heard by many, “Samantha can be quite a pain in the backside at times, as she’ll spell out in detail and to great depths what all of us already know - if she feels that one unthinking act might damage the dream of Cherinianism. That is why we all tolerate her, for it is our dream too.”
Ivgos asked, with real interest, “What is the dream?”
Allan stared at him for a moment and then answered, knowing that Ivgos would not understand, but making a valid point for the rest of us - while also indulging his love of playing with double meanings, “You are.” He later told Ivgos he must watch us and think about his question and only then will one of us explain to him. From his emoting, I sensed that Ahram had understood what Allan said and that he agrees. That gave me some nice material for teasing Cherine once we are back home. They all threw pillows at me when I pointed out that we would have been called Ivgosians if he’d been our ‘Cherine’. I wonder whether he would have grown to have the depth and insights of Cherine if he had been our nucleus.
Robbie often jokes about being a dilettante. I guess we’re proving that as a family, we all are. We waited to see the start of life being brought back and nurtured and then asked Freddie to return to the Ribbon Planet, leaving those who stayed behind in their spaceships a small platform created by Freddie for them. We have a huge problem and none of us know how to solve it, but in the meantime, the Eleven must be returned to their world and their interrupted lives. It has also become widely accepted that saving all the species of the Ribbon continent by expecting them to swop divides is not practical, so we are going to use hundreds of millions of healers to neutralise the variety of specialised chemicals the Albaelits used for sterilising the entire planet. Many are being emotional about those species that died out and I doubt that any of us will not wish to bring them back. Even should anyone wish to argue the opposite by saying that their species is not extinct (apart from the Grosts who evolved on this planet), strictly speaking, it is not true; those from their home worlds who are here with us highlight the fact that all those who lived on the Ribbon world evolved in a different direction from their parent stock. They’ll always be related, but they have the right to be the people they paid such a high price to become. However, we do have something else to take care of first - many of the individuals from the surviving species are too old for bearing children so we have to rejuvenate them. We can’t just hit them with sudden youth, we first have to visit them and explain. None of our family and close friends will take part in the healing and rejuvenating, this project belongs to everyone else. We have our loves to watch as they live their lives, plus we have to participate in many private vociferous arguments before we come to some kind of conclusion. If we do, it is likely we’ll have to face the same arguments from others - whatever we decide.
A further complication is that Ivgos needs them. He knows the truth about them, as do all of them, but none of them are ready to lose them and the dreamers find the idea of them not being who they presently are, too weird to even think about it. When we lost Robbie to Kiris, Cherine was the one who demanded that we make patience, but this time she is not willing to wait for decades. We could return to the dream mountain and in a couple of days they’ll be back with us, but for some reason that Cherine won’t explain, she is very unhappy about them spending a century here - even if we solve the sex problem by mentally neutering them. By the way, we have tried to imagine the falling in love and having sex scenario for Argidsi and Ardrigio and it has caused some uncontrolled displays of mirth. We would not dare do so with anyone else present as we would not want anyone else to laugh at our loves.
I was sitting on my tree, up at my apartment, when Cherine arrived with Lusalith. I’d been so lost in my thoughts that I’d not sensed them planning to come, so I was caught by surprise. Lol, what I just said brought back memories of Shiyra when she also caught me by surprise. In a way that is a sad memory, for she used to tease me then, but she almost never relaxes with me now.
Cherine sat in my pond so that Lusalith would and I joined them. I kept quiet as I felt it was up to Cherine to explain why they’ve come, when she is ready.
“Samantha is worried that I will ask to go with her to the planet of the Reggheri.” She had not primed Lusalith so she got no reaction, which made me give a big grin. “Sam, I think you should choose Lusalith.” That wiped the grin off my face.
“Why? Because she is a god and has powers none of us have?” Cherine is too canny to answer that kind of question without giving it some thought first - even though it had been her reasoning, but I sensed Lusalith emoting a frown. I took her tiny hand in mine. “Lusalith love, I cannot kill the challenger so Cherine is wrong, I don’t need more powers, what I do need is some non-Cherinian qualities. I’m thinking that I’m limited in my choices to Kiris or Campbell.”
Cherine quickly added, “You could choose Sebura.”
I sighed. “I was going to answer that this is not his kind of battle and he would be out of his depth - however, you’ve made me realise that it is also true of Kiris, maybe even Campbell. There is a Cherine who might be ideal, but I can’t choose her.”
I felt the tiny stab of jealousy before Cherine could wipe it out. “Which one?”
“Bobby’s Cherine.”
She paused to consider. “Not a bad choice. Why can’t you choose her?”
“Because the challenger will claim it proves I am being tricky. They would claim I chose her so as to secretly enlist the help of an extra person - Ntchizi.”
“Who will you choose?”
Lusalith asked, “I thought you felt you had to, so as to free the Reggheri?”
“Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. How do you think they will react if their guest refuses to be involved, even as a witness?”
“You see a way to achieve that objective?”
I grinned. “I think so.”
“Before you explain yourself, Sam, would it be to your advantage? They seem to be keen to impress their guest so they or it or whatever, is bound to try to play fair.”
“Or appear to.” I added. She nodded in agreement and after a moment, Lusalith also agreed.
Cherine’s curiosity got the better of her. “How could you convince it to stay away?”
“What if I declared it as one of my two allies - the leader that I have to obey? Do you think it will want to come?” There are times when Cherine is caught by surprise and her eyes light up just a second before she bursts out laughing. I treasure the moments when that happens because of me - since I know I’m not very good at being funny. The strange thing is that it usually happens when I’m not being intentionally funny.
As we prepared to go to join the others, sounding a little morose, Lusalith said, “Talking about powers, Ivgos really got to me, I’m going to miss him. I ended up thinking of him like a real brother.” Though I sympathised, her remark also served to remind us that she really is still a child. It won’t be long now and she’ll have to resign as the god of her people - and I have a feeling that, despite all she said, it will be a sad moment for her.
I couldn’t resist teasing her. “You haven’t offered to be their god?” Without answering me, she changed herself and looking like me, she hugged herself to a chuckling Cherine as they jumped. I sent Cherine a question and suddenly they were both back with me, the face of Lusalith trying to show surprise in the way I would, instead of the colour of her eyes changing.
“You want to do so without them becoming Cherinians?”
“They already are healers, we’d only be teaching them how to become more effective. We all know that there will be many linked as Cherinians soon and we are bound to go to their home planets where many more will be linked. They’ll have to face the problems of immortality soon and the suffering of their children is hurting all of us.”
Cherine lightly kissed the Samantha face of Lusalith, pulled away and jumped to her ‘privacy’ ledge. I’d sensed she was troubled by what I’d said so I decided there is no need for haste, I’ll wait for her - it is not as if she’ll need longer than a few hours. Taking hold of Lusalith’s arm, I jumped us to the taverna.
Since Cherine was not present, Wendy, Tina, Maria-Elena and Gilli were indulging themselves by monopolising Ardrigio. Argidsi rarely opens her eyes to look at us whenever anyone of the family is with them. We suspect she is more sensitive to us than Ardrigio is and feels our yearning for their original personalities. Alki and his family have not been coming to the taverna every day, so, seeing they were with us today, I joined them. Marian kindly made space for me to sit next to Alki.
As Alki realised I was fishing for his opinion on our various problems, I sensed how it pleased him that I did so. He was also worried about influencing me, not confident he fully understood the issues. I did sense where he was the most confident, so I asked him his opinion on the matter of our loves who are here as dreamers.
“I have a feeling that all of you, even Cherine, are wrong. You fear that a hundred years or more could affect them even once they are back in their bodies and I think you feel that way because of the last dream. It is not the same this time Samantha.”
“In what way is it different pappou?”
I did not want to rely solely on my memories and impressions of that time. Like a many-tentacled octopus, my mind reached out to all my loves, including Cherine, and we joined to examine our feelings and memories of that time. As almost a gestalt, we agreed that Alki is right. Cherine let go her fears and we then considered our present situation.
As I returned to my own body and awareness I saw awe on the faces of all non-family close friends, for they had sensed the way us girls had shared. I grinned at Alki, Marian and Julia. “Cherine agrees, we’ll return to the mountain. Pappou, I think there is something you did not take into account, so we still have a problem. If we leave, it has to be for a long time, until all the dreamers have returned to their bodies. If it takes a hundred years or more of their time, we don’t help this world and nobody becomes a Cherinian until then? We can’t risk any one of the dreamers becoming Cherinians and if we make any of the Ivgos group Cherinians, their love for Seuria, Ardrigio and Argidsi and Grosts could result in them reaching out to them subconsciously, opening them to a link.”
“That would be a catastrophe!” His face paled. “We cannot abandon Ivgos and all the people of this world, they too will age and die. What are we to do?”
Cherine landed on the lap of our pappou. She kissed his cheek. “You shouldn’t let Sam tease you - we have the answer already. Pappou, all we have to do is block their minds so that they cannot be linked and those who become Cherinians will be Cherinians, so how can we consider them a threat?”
We needed to have a meeting with the Ivgos group and Cherine insisted we have to go to them, that decisions have to be made that will affect their lives and they should have the comfort of deciding at a place where they have the psychological advantage. Freddie zoomed in and once he’d found the group we teleported. As soon as Ivgos saw us, he rushed to Cherine and as he stopped before her we sensed his mind was bubbling with questions. We knew that if we let him start we’d never get around to discussing our reasons for visiting them. Despite Cherine being determined, she gave in and let him ask a few questions and then she asked everyone to listen to us as we have some important matters to discuss. She told them of our plans to bring back families belonging to surviving species.
“We’ll do it in two stages. First we will rejuvenate those still alive so that they are young enough to have children and hopefully they’ll live long enough to bring them up. Also, once all who are presently alive are younger, we’ll go back in time to bring those who died - from the species presently existing. We’ll only bring back enough of them to ensure the survival of each species - if any are required. The next stage will be the recovery of species who are presently extinct. There are two species that pose a problem - the one that belongs to this divide and those who helped bring about the species of Grosts. Let’s start with this one - are you willing to give up your new home for their sake?”
The question did not only have to be answered by those present. All, of all species that came here, had to confirm they agreed. Once we had their agreement, Cherine spoke to Guhpan in private. He disappeared for a while as he had to confer with his people in one of the moons. When he returned another two of his people were with him.
“Cherine, the matter will have to be studied at greater depth as there is a slight possibility of such a change causing instability in the region, but, my colleagues think it is likely we can create such an extension - either in this area or close by.”
Cherine turned to the Ivgos group, which by now included the prince and representatives of all the other species that had joined the Ivgos group. (I should have mentioned that before jumping we did ask them to tell only the leaders of each species who are part of the Ivgos ‘nation’ about us and their own histories.) “We asked Guhpan whether a new island or extension to the main continent could be created so as to provide a homeland for those of you living here. It seems it can be done and our terraforming teams will help. We have not considered the details yet, but I like the way this terraced mountain offers you the opportunity to live as one while each species is also provided with a degree of independence. If the size of the mountain can be increased, then each terrace will be larger, giving enough space for a number of compatible species to occupy each level.
If I may make a suggestion? Ivgos and his parents, until he matures, and then Ivgos with his direct family should have a home within the area of each species. Since each area will have its own ecology to suit the resident species, it would not be very comfortable for Ivgos to live in all those homes, but I see the homes as being more symbolic than of practical use.
