“The land has two leaders and there are battles to establish sole rights. My companion and I are of the Kehdas race. I am named Tohny and my partner is Voky.”
We were examining the map of their planet and the small divide we are being asked to alter, when Ivgos got the giggles. He is quite an infectious giggler and when he told us what had amused him, we all got the giggles. He pointed at the divide where Haikra and Tsektsit attacked the guards so as to stop them from abusing the travellers. He got the giggles when he imagined their reaction at seeing the two of them returning to announce the salvation of their people. He doubled up at the thought of their guards trying to arrest the two of them while refusing to believe what they are told. I don’t know (now) why he found it funny, but at the time he did and he carried us along, leaving us weak from laughing too much.
Cruelly, Robbie spun out his answer. “Tsektsit, to do so we would need to link to the event from your mind so that we arrive at the right time for saving them. That is the reason why we planned to do so only once you are linked as a Cherinian. However, we have to return to bring back some of your previous generations as there are not enough of your people alive at your time, so it will not require much extra effort from us and we won’t need to enter your mind.” Tsektsit just stared, unable to think well enough to understand. Luckily for him, Ivgos threw his arms around the neck of Tsektsit and wept from joy. That night he slept lying against him and after breakfast Tsektsit rose into our sky with Ivgos held in his claws. The two of them did not seem to realise that the Sparklers were mobbing them, eagerly wanting to share their emoting.
The heartbreaking joy of Tsektsit and Ivgos shook me out of the dusky emotional corner I was hiding in. I hope we don’t delay bringing his family back. The responsibility thrust upon me by a species wanting to be saved from itself had frightened me, causing me to feel I dare not do anything unless I find the one answer that guarantees success. There never is such an answer or solution. We can only do the best we can and trust a little in life, love and fate. I don’t know what I’ll do, not yet, but I will proceed as if I do and trust in the instincts of Robbie, my family and friends and my own love for all people - Cherinian and non-Cherinian, whatever their species or race - to guide me.
This morning started oddly. Campbell always makes his appearance after we’ve had our breakfast - whatever time that is. Today he arrived at the taverna at the same time as us and Robbie invited him to sit at his table. I made to give up my seat for him, but Dommi insisted he takes hers. She was grinning at me (in my mind) so I actually focussed on Campbell, hoping to work out why Dommi was amused.
“The idea that I will not return my first group of tourists for at least another ninety years is very disturbing. On the other hand, this trip has been interesting and I suspect it is going to become even more so, soon. Watching how you deal with him,” he nodded in the direction of Riivjii, “makes it worth the wait.”
I grinned. “What you mean is that you are fascinated by the sight of me being stumped, unable to find the right way to handle them.”
He nodded. “That is a good side benefit - hmm, perhaps the rest is the side benefit?” As he laughed, so did Robbie and everyone else.
Recently there is so much sadness in me every time after I talk to Arthur. He may think I have not noticed, but I have. He no longer asks whether we still try to find a way to him and sometimes I feel we are losing him, that time is changing him, robbing him of the spirit that drove him. He spoke wisely (some time ago) when he wondered why we have not returned in time to collect him, claiming that old age will reduce what there is of him. We do not have the excuse that we do not know what it is like to age, we have shared from our Allan and from Jina. If she could lose hope and lose her will to live, how can I demand of Arthur that he holds to his dreams - when for him that is all they are.
I acknowledge my sadness, but I will not allow it to influence me, unless it is to strengthen my resolve. Since we have not returned in time, I will trust myself and all those who are devoted to fighting to understand and map the way to him; we have a reason for doing so and it is not because we failed.
I ’ported a small bench and sat next to the standing Riivjii. “Whether I have or am to have honour is for me to decide. It should not be up to me to decide whether you do. If I am forced to the wrong conclusion I could make the wrong decision.”
“You are oversimplifying the question. Honour is the same as ethics - to an extent species and instinct relevant. Even within a species it is relevant to the stage of its civilisation and most importantly, to the individual. I’m more concerned about your attitude to life and the right of others to own their own lives.”
It stared into my eyes. When I sensed I was not about to get an answer I came to my feet, determined to walk away and turn my back on them. As I looked towards Robbie, sensitive to his heart reaching out to me, I heard, “Faiiis.”
“Yes.” Since it had understood, it did not need a longer answer. I continued walking towards Robbie.
“The Faiiis you know cannot be again.” My sight blurred as my eyes filled with tears as the memories of his pain as he fought to warn me shot through me. I nodded, no longer able to feel anger, just grief for that young life that never had a chance. His next words were like a bucket of ice water. “Samantha, I am Faiiis. The Faiiis you fought is myself, my later memories blocked from him.” When I recovered, I tried to sense Faiiis in it, but I could not. He has been ruthlessly suppressed.
We are going to do what we can to save them. I am left with a feeling that what was done to the younger Faiiis was evil, but we have done too many things that were not right to our own souls for us to condemn a species because of the way I feel. I guess that the last stage of our evolution will arrive on the day we learn to respect and treasure the countless facets of our own souls as much as we respect and love all other souls.
Cherine asked Freddie to take us to Goldi’s planet for a brief holiday. I’ll be taking a walk on my own for a day or two before I use the magic of that world to ease the sharing with my family and become one with them again. My sweet, wise Cherine whose heart so often knows what is best for me, I love you.
We were all pleased with Goldi when she invited Riivjii to her planet. It was the first time we sensed any emoting from him and he was not able (or did not try) to hide his delight. He had little interest in the town with the magnificent buildings. It is the beauty of life that stirs him - and that helped soften my stance against him. He told Goldi that over one and a half thousand years of lives remembered are altered by the beauty she’d allowed him to become a part of. That gave me the clue I’d needed. Faiiis has to be from a previous life, that is why I can no longer sense even an echo of him. I don’t like what he did to Faiiis, but I now no longer stand on firm ground when I blame Riivjii. A thought; I’ll ask that I be allowed one last day with Faiiis once this is all over.
Lynda was playfully plaiting my hair when she sent me her question, *What about the mysterious entity from our world, do you know whether it will come as witness?*
*I don’t know whether it has been invited or not.*
She grinned in my mind. *I hope it does - we’re all dying of curiosity.*
*I hope it doesn’t as I want it to remain a mystery - not that I believe we would learn who or what it is; look at how it healed so many minds right here in Freddie with us present and nobody even got a hint of its presence.*
Lynda nodded. *It must be really powerful!*
I sensed some of my loves agree with her, so I cut in. *Not necessarily. It might have some powers we don’t have and yet be the weakest of all of us.*
As the others thought about it, Dommi laughed. *Damn it Sam, now I’m going to go crazy with curiosity!* Since I feel the same, I also laughed.
We returned to the Ribbon Planet and the next six of the seven divides were emotional, each unique in its own way, but nothing happened that was worth recording here. The one that was different was the divide of the Litpekeo - the people of Tsektsit. The first part of the visit was normal, apart from the surprise of the Litpekeo when they discovered the Ivgos family waiting for them on the slopes of their feeding grounds, far below the Road. They rejoiced, believing what they were told about us bringing back the previous generation because the first chicks were already close to hatching. Learning, at our previous visit, that these were not a freak of fate but the start of a new beginning brought them great joy to which we now added by promising to bring back loved ones. Their emotions could not be contained and a number of them had accidents as they smashed into cliffs or misjudged drafts of air close to the cliffs. Those who were injured were healed, but it served to settle them.
When Ivgos reached the ledge and saw Tsektsit, he recalled why this visit was special and apologised. “They don’t like it when I climb the giant house trees in Freddie and most divides we visit don’t have interesting cliffs. I needed to climb.”
“May I carry you down?” Ivgos assumed the position that enabled Tsektsit to take hold of his body and wrapped his arms about the rough-skinned legs. It meant that Tsektsit could not run to launch himself off the ledge, away from the worst updrafts, and he had to furiously beat his wings to raise them from the ground before aiming away from the face. As he struggled, Candy said, “Ivgos is growing too big and heavy, we must rejuvenate him so that he stays a child up until the last divide he has to visit.” We love the idea and hope his family will agree.
As they safely landed on the slope, close to their family and the locals, Robbie left his body and after becoming the void he assumed the shaped of his body and went to join Ivgos and Tsektsit on planet. It was time to shock the Litpekeo by bringing back to life the family of Tsektsit and then returning to the recent past to bring back others who died of accidents or old age. When Robbie appeared and asked Tsektsit to leave his body, Tsektsit trembled so violently that he felt he was shaming himself before his people. When they understood what Robbie was asking of him, they all sympathised and many trembled just at the idea of what was to occur. Robbie decided to do it the hard way and enclosed Tsektsit within a spherically shaped platform. Many violently took to the air when Robbie and Tsektsit suddenly disappeared. Even the Ivgos family did not truly understand and knowing Robbie was taking Tsektsit into their past, they expected their absence to last a long time. Within three minutes they returned and the bodies of the mother and child appeared on the wild grass. Shaking violently, unable to control the tears in his eyes, Tsektsit bent over his family as they sighed and opened their eyes to look up at him. He was such an emotional wreck that Candy was forced to enter his mind, speaking as Argidsi, as she soothed him with words while using her own emoting to affect his feelings. She did so to the minimum necessary and returned to her body, leaving him tearful and his joy exploding, but now able to help his family recover.
It did not take long for his son, Todjori (his ‘child’ name), to become friends with Ivgos and though he was not happy to be restricted to running instead of flying, he laughed often. Tsektsit understood that his wife would need a lot longer to recover and accept what has occurred, so he drew them to the tattered remains of their nest. It was the best medicine, within hours she was ignoring the cries of their people as more dead couples were returned to life in their youth as she rushed to repair and decorate their home, all the while scolding Tsektsit for allowing it to fall to such disrepair. Tsektsit happily listened to her moaning and nagging and wished with all his heart that she would never stop. I wonder if she ever will and for how long he’ll hold to his wish. I also could not help wondering whether she will follow him and become part of his new family. I’ll be surprised if she does. Her wants and needs seem to be constricted, narrowly concentrating on her child, their home, her position socially, her friends and Tsektsit, somewhat close to last in her thoughts. I’ve met too many women like her among our own species for me to feel optimistic of the possibilities for a happy life for Tsektsit.
Now that the adulation was over and the family were back in Freddie, Ivgos was relaxed. He did not stay with us and wandered off by himself, his posture and thoughtful look warning all that he needed time alone. It was late at night, the time we usually leave for home, when Freddie let us know that Ivgos is on his way back. We waited for him, for his emoting gave us a hint that he needed us.
Maria knows which foods of ours Ivgos can eat and which of those he enjoys. She placed a plate before him and gave him a warning look. Dutifully he began to eat and then, forgetting his worries for a while, he enthusiastically ate everything on his plate. Just as with us, the food dulled his mind and he became drowsy, but he forced himself to sit up straight.
He stared into my eyes as he asked, but Dommi answered. “It is good that all the species know how special you are.” Not the answer I would have given and I wondered why Dommi spoke this way. He transferred his gaze to her as he mulled over her words.
“If it was so important, it should be enough that envoys announce the reasons for my being special.” Whatever it was Dommi had intended, he had taken her argument in a different direction by not arguing his being special but offering a logical argument.
“Perhaps it is not as important for you that you be present, but it is for them?”
We all felt how her reply crushed him. Bravely he answered, “Then I will do it.” His sudden weariness seemed to echo throughout him like an ebbing tide exposing lifeless sand.
Dommi reached out and he let her take his hand. As she spoke, her fingers gently caressed the back of his hand, smoothing the silvery hairs. “You gave the answer of an Akiard Warrior.” Her words shocked his weariness out of him and his eyes brightened as he waited for her next words. “I would ask you why it was you started this conversation, but I have a feeling you will no longer want to tell us. May I tell you what I guessed?” She waited until he nodded his permission. “You fear that the adulation is affecting you. Do you feel that it could rot something in you?”
His eyes filled and he whispered, “It feels like it already has happened.”
I bet an artist would have chosen her face as it was at that moment to represent the mother of a Spartan warrior. “Whether it has or not, I am glad you sense it. For most people, the start of rot in the soul is too shameful to acknowledge and they blind themselves to what is happening. I will always recall with pride that I met one person who treasures his purity and integrity more than he fears the scorn of others. Ivgos, we may have our reasons for not linking you as a Cherinian at this time, but the day we do, all Cherinians will be a better people because of you.” Part of the glow in his eyes must have been from the reflections from Seuria, but some of it was the pride and love from all of us.
Robbie has little respect for moments like these because of his own dislike of them when they are his, so he cleared his throat. “Ivgos, what do you think of the fact that my loves stay as children? Would the same for yourself distress you?” It didn’t take Robbie long to figure out that Ivgos had not understood him. “My loves want to use their healers to make you younger so that you remain a child.” He then spoke in a tone of voice as if confiding a secret, not caring that Ivgos would not understand as he derived his pleasure from knowing he is teasing us, our family and friends. “I think my girls are paedophiles, they find it easier to love children.”
Dommi was still softly rubbing the tiny hand of Ivgos. She scowled. “Our Robert is teasing us about wanting to keep you a child, not you. Our reasons have little to do with our preferences and more to do with you remaining the symbol you are for your people. Discuss it with your family and once you have made up your own mind, let us know your decision.” Seriously he stared back at her as she added, “Your family can explain, but they must not choose for you. The role you play must suit the needs of your own soul.” The silver moon of the Wirms glittered in his silky hairs as he moved but I was mostly sensing him by his emoting and it suddenly felt urgent for me to talk to my friend the Dalai Lama about this beautiful soul who affects all of us so deeply, even our Dommi and Cherine.
The family decided they should not be the envoys, that it is important that others who sacrificed for Ivgos be given the opportunity to serve in a meaningful way. They did not see this as a duty but, a thing of honour and joy. As Ivgos said, those of divides where he loves even one person, were kept for him. It is not necessary that he has been to the divides, even meeting and caring for a traveller counts - such as the divide of his brother Asikrik. The first envoys were chosen and delivered to various divides. Ivgos and his family watched our screens with just as much fascination as us and their emoting was just as bright and sweet as we helped them share the emoting of the people of each divide and those of the envoys. We were forced to spread the time between visits for all of us to recover from the surfeit of emotions that tore at us.
Robbie read what I said about needing to speak to my friend and since the next trip will be by Ivgos and his family, inundating us once more with strong emotions, he chose for us to take a break by returning to our Athens home. We arrived a few days after our last departure and were surprised to learn that the next group of tourists had departed with Campbell that very morning.
In a particular way, the existence of our family, while at home, resembles the lives of film stars and singers, with each of us having those who consider themselves our fans. In some ways I am the best known and am in the spotlight more often than any of my loves (including Robbie) and yet, my fan club is the smallest. I’m not the kind of girl many children and teenagers admire and want to emulate and because I always make my appearances as a child, not many adults would be comfortable choosing me. Goldi and Wendy are permanently neck to neck in the popularity polls so we tend to discount them and watch to see whose popularity is currently riding high or low and we try to work out why. Sometimes it does not make sense and we can’t.
I do have a reason for mentioning the above. Most people, even among the Terran Cherinians, tend to base their priorities on how much they are loved. Within our family it is the opposite. Each of us want to be the one who loves the others the most. Let us say Tina happens to be among the most popular, we rejoice for her while she worries, unable to understand why everybody doesn’t see that all the rest of us are more deserving of the adulation and love. It is the same for each of us. We had returned on the seventh of June and Athens was hotter than usual, so I was glad to get an answer inviting me to visit for a few days in Tibet. I packed a small bag and then all my loves wanted a hug and kiss. By the time that was over I pretended they had exhausted me and I needed a nap. Cassie pointed out that if I delay they will have to hug and kiss me goodbye again. Laughing, I jumped.
I was met by a monk and taken to another cell-like room at the same underground level. I was left there and I tried to keep myself occupied by studying the room and getting a feel for it. Since there was no art, no fancy scrolls and nothing to read, I soon retreated into my mind, re-examining some of my memories. I could have continued doing so for days, but the thought came to me that I was being left alone for a reason. I wondered how the Dalai Lama knows I’ve not been meditating as often as I used to. I came up with the idea of trying something new - instead of focussing on something visual I would pretend I am in the little cave behind the waterfall and focus on the sight of water falling while including the sound as it splashes on rocks and water. Before succeeding, I fell asleep.
After my morning ablutions I saw I was not about to be served breakfast so I took my meditating position and struggled to make the waterfall real. The first time I succeeded my excitement brought me back to the real world and I lost all I’d worked so hard for. The second time, I managed to stay disassociated and soon I was sinking into my mind, avoiding the thoughts that tried to capture my interest. Once I had reached the level where I usually examine a problem, I wondered what I was supposed to wonder about. A strange idea came to me - what if I examined the memories I had intended discussing with the Dalai Lama while I was deep in meditation? The idea made sense and I was well rewarded by the results. When I returned and opened my eyes I felt delight coursing through me. A minute later a sound warned me and then someone entered with a tray. I was calm enough not to need to speak and silently watched as the tea was poured, still feeling a little bit disassociated. The person left and I tasted the tea. The Dalai Lama entered, as he did so gesturing for me to remain seated. I poured him some tea and we sipped without speaking.
He spoke first, “The universe has surprised you?”
“I am pleased to admit it has. I’m not that pleased to admit I failed once more to meet my own expectations.”
He nodded. “That is good. If you easily meet your expectations, it would mean you have not aimed high enough.”
I waited a few seconds before continuing. “Have you heard that the hidden entity helped save a large number of lives while we visited at the Earth of another reality?” He admitted he had not, so I told him the full story.
“I find it difficult to believe you gained no further knowledge of it? Are you certain?”
“Do you think it is of our species or from an alien one?”
“If it started off as one of us Terrans, it no longer is the same species as us. If it started off belonging to some other species, I don’t think it belongs to that species any more.” I gave him a pleading look. “Will you help me hide its nature from all?”
“Yes, it would be wise of us.”
“Wise?” I tried to see why he thought so and then just blundered on with my reason. “To help us it had to expose itself while still wanting to remain hidden. I doubt my decision was wise - I only want it to feel I respect the trust it showed us.”
“It shall be so, Samantha. Will you keep this from your family?”
“I can’t.” He nodded but let my answer go without comment - the highest compliment he could have paid my loves. Perhaps he sensed my inner turmoil, for he waited just long enough for my thoughts to calm down.
“You wished to share with me some other concern, not what we have spoken of?”
I smiled. “Sometimes you see deeper into me than Cherinians do.” He rewarded me with a grin that made him look like a little boy for a moment. “I am terrified of making a mistake with Ivgos. What if linking him will prevent him from reaching his potential - a potential that would be of benefit to all, including Cherine herself?”
Suddenly there was a stillness to him that resembled the way I think I must seem when I am deep in meditation. He nodded. “I have watched him when he visited. Tell me more about him.”
With the new clarity I’d achieved, I spoke for hours and saw how little I understood why I thought what I did about Ivgos. “I don’t understand how it is a child without any Talents can affect everyone the way he does.”
“How does Goldi react to him? Does she react to him?”
I did not need to check my memories. “No, not the same as us, but I can’t explain in what way.”
“If she…split herself, would her other self affect her the same way as he does?”
“Do you mean, as if she is examining herself? What does that mean?”
He suddenly clammed up on me. I’ve never seen him so lost in his thoughts, but when he finally spoke I was bowled over. “Samantha Teller, would you request of Cherine, on my behalf, that I be allowed to travel with you to the planet of Ivgos for whatever period is required? I will need four of our …senior monks to accompany me.”
Rather inanely I spluttered, “Four? You may bring more, as many as you wish.”
“Four will be enough to prevent me from thinking I am wiser than I am.”
He sensed I needed to be physically active so he invited me to walk with him. As we roamed the corridors he explained that the underground area had been dug, a long time ago, as a safe place for storing whatever they treasured during an attack or occupancy by soldiers. He admitted that they had lost the knowledge of its existence, but when the Cherinians were first sensed, they searched for a way to think their thoughts without being sensed by Cherinians. It led to them sensing and re-discovering the underground maze.
“I have tried to sense the cells I’ve been in. Usually something of those who spent time in such areas lingers, but all I could sense was a peaceful coolness.” I stopped talking and walking and he courteously turned towards me as he stopped. “I will try not to monopolise you while you are in Freddie, but I do have some questions I want to ask you. For instance, the void is spoken of as one of the dimensions you are aware of. Our Cherinian scientists have been able to examine the void in many ways, as souls and while Freddie is in the void. They claim that the void is similar to non-space in some ways. They say it does not have any dimensions as it has no size or expanse - just like a neutrino has zero charge and zero mass. Without a single soul to experience it, they claim the illusion of space would not exist. As you know, Robert can become the void - several levels of it, whatever that means, and Robert told them they must be wrong as the rivers of energy feed our space. They answer that the void energies are created by the process of the void being forced to assume an experienced or perceived volume. To us it sounds like gobbledegook, but more and more scientists, of various species, are agreeing with the scientists who came up with the theory.”
“How do they explain the first soul occupying the void if it did not exist before that?”
“They claim that the void, with souls, has always existed.”
“It sounds as if they are borrowing from the religions of the West.”
“You are referring to the claim that God has always existed, with no beginning or end?”
Wryly he added, “As long as you do not speak of Arthur being that God.”
“Of course. Actually, I’ve had this discussion with Arthur and he claims that it is true, if there is a God, he would have to have always existed. His reasoning is that time would only have started when God came into existence and so, in a sense, there was no time when God did not exist. I complained that he was playing with words and he replied that it could be the only way for us to understand what cannot be imaged by our limited senses.”
Again he surprised me. “This has been discussed with the alternates of Jesus? What are their opinions?”
“They have not visited for some years and I doubt they would feel qualified to debate the existence or non-existence of the void. As for the questions about God - they are careful to never take part in such discussions.”
“Perhaps you need to view the various positions from a greater distance?”
I grinned. “If I step back far enough, all positions would appear to be identical?” I bent my head to him. “My apologies, sometimes it is easier to be a smart aleck than to dig deeper. I look forward to learning from you during your stay with us.”
“I do not doubt I shall have just as much to learn from yourself and your family.”
I did not leave. I stayed one more night so as to be on my own within the insulating rock cell, hoping I’d achieve some new insights. I did not, but I was feeling calmer than I have felt for a few years by the time I left. Well, I was feeling calmer until I arrived by my family and they all silently yearned for me to share with them. I told them the Dalai Lama is to join us on our next trip and just for this once I succeeded in leaving them speechless for a short while. Then I shared and even Robbie had nothing to say. I am pleased to sense how everyone feels honoured that he is to travel with us. We must not allow the way we feel to influence Ivgos, as he must think of him as just another friend of ours.
We did not offer to take guests with, but we did have requests and since we do not like refusing anyone without a good reason, we ended up with a couple of thousand. They have been warned not to intrude upon the Dalai Lama and his entourage and the Akiards have promised they will watch over our Tibetan guests whenever they walk in Freddie on their own.
Our Tibetan guests arrived and we provided them with apartments close to the top of the treehouse with, in addition, a house surrounded by an immense area designated as their private land. Their closest neighbour is Lusalith and the Dalai Lama was delighted to learn that she is and asked to visit her once we are on our way. Robbie created an open sledge for them and Freddie will ‘drive’ it for them so that they feel free to visit any part of Freddie whenever they wish. Hopefully it also means they will visit us as well, now and then, at the taverna.
Robbie was busy toting the last few tons of stocks we need when Vincent and Kirsten appeared in Freddie. They were obviously on alert and reaching out to sense Robbie and myself, as if we are in danger. Puzzled the rest of us tried to sense what was worrying them while Cherine went on instant alert, ready to fight for us. As Robbie jumped to us a Cherinian from another reality arrived. He was wildly broadcasting his distress so we instantly knew his news represented a threat. Dommi sent out calming waves of emoting as she saw to it that he is seated and provided with a drink. Only then did she allow him to speak.
“My name is Trevor Bertsin, from California. Ours is a reality that only recently was discovered and our Teller family do not have the experience to handle the problem we discovered, so we decided I should ask for your help so that they are not harmed by trying to handle it on their own.” Although Cherine could still sense he represented a threat to Robbie, her heart opened to him and she forced herself to relax.
“A young woman who has the ability to travel to un-visited realities travelled to one on her own and returned in a panic and emoting great distress. There is a Talent in that reality who is killing Normals by the thousands and they do not have Cherinians to protect them.”
“Relax, no time is being wasted, we can return in time to prevent any new deaths. Do you know what the powers of the Talent are?”
“The woman was almost incoherent and her emoting indicates she was severely traumatised by what she experienced so we did not ask, concentrating only on soothing her. From the little we shared the power seems too unlikely to be the real power. It seems to be killing Normals by making them share a horrendous pain it is suffering.” Several of us gave a gasp of a sob as empathy sent through us a feeling of what the Talent and his victims must be going through. Inadvertently Vincent and Kirsten had provided me with the clue I needed.
“Robert, only you and I must go to help, the others must wait in Freddie.” Of course I immediately had a fight on my hands, with Cherine battering at me most urgently of all. Luckily Vincent came to my rescue.
“I’m sorry, but Samantha is right, we were called back to you because we felt that she and Robert will be in danger and suffer.” Gently he added, “I’m sorry but none of the rest of you were included.”
“I don’t care, I’m going with.” Even as Cherine spoke she let me enclose our minds in a privacy shield. I asked her not to fight us, that if she insists on coming with then all our family and friends will feel shamed that they allowed themselves to be kept away. I told her that when they see her allowing us to suffer on our own they accept that it has to be that way because they know how protective of us she is. I expected her to blow me a mental raspberry, but her eyes and heart filled with tears and Dommi pulled her into an embrace. I know what I can expect once we return, but for now I’m just glad she has given in to my wishes.
Robbie instantly enclosed the man within stasis and healers were sent to heal his body. Healers also were sent to the bodies of soldiers that lay crumpled up in agony or dead. Sparklers collected souls and returned them to their healed bodies. Once Robbie knew the man had been healed, he released the stasis shield.
On our arrival the man had ignored me and only attacked Robbie. I guessed he did not see a girl child as threat or cause of his agony, but did so for any man present. When Robbie released him and we stood ready to speak soothing words, he attacked again, perhaps realising Robbie is his biggest threat. As Robbie bent over in agony I realised the man has been driven insane by his pain, but I screamed at him to stop hurting my father. For a second he paused to look at me and I felt him reach into me.
He snarled, his face a mask of hate. “He is a monster! He is your father and lover!” He concentrated all his powers on Robbie and I realised this gave me the opening I needed. While all his hate and attention was concentrated on Robbie I entered his mind and stole memories of his pain as fast I could.
This is Cherine. I have deleted the rest of the writing by Samantha so as to write the truth for her.
Sam does not mention that the memories she stole burnt her own mind like acid. When we block memories to help reduce the suffering of another, we do not take them as they are, in the raw. We block them in situ and if we then want to take them we package them so that we do not experience them or end up inadvertently spying on them. Sam was acting under pressure and to instantly release the man and Robbie from all pain she took all his memories with all their immediacy directly into her mind so that his pain became hers. Her mind screamed of her agony in ours (across realities, making Freddie jump to her) as she fought to enclose the memories in a shield to protect herself. While she did so, her mind was seared by his memories of agony as if they were her own. The mind is that powerful that her skin erupted and tore as if it were being burnt by napalm, increasing her agony by new pain. Kirsten and Vincent instantly were within her mind to shield and heal her and as we arrived in Freddie at that moment, they ordered me to heal Robert.
Despite Sam stealing the worst of his memories, the man is still struggling to recover two days later. It is rarely that I feel and have to live with so much anger blasting at me. We have learnt what happened and I only wish he had been able to direct his powers at those who ordered the napalm attack instead of those carrying out their orders and the other soldiers who just happened to be wearing a uniform that his blind hate and pain caused him to attack. This world knows nothing of Talents and when they discovered he is a telepath the order was given in a panic of horror. He was told they would simulate an attack and he was to use his telepathic powers to avoid and dodge attacks. Only once he was surrounded did the soldiers learn the tanks were full and they were all to attack and kill him. They never expected to share his pain and over two thousand died from a nearby camp, unable to bear the agony.
The officers had prepared for the eventuality that they might fail to kill the mutant monster and when they saw Robert and Samantha suddenly appear they gave the order for fighter jets to bomb them, thinking nothing of sacrificing thousands of their soldiers. Others from within Freddie took care of the jets and the bombs, seeing to it that nobody is harmed, while Robert enclosed the Talent and brought him to us and Vincent carried Samantha.
Arthur, if it was not for Samantha, I would be weeping and in despair of ever ridding the universe of the fear hatred brings us.
In a sense, most of us forgot that we had guests who are Normals. They could see what was happening on the screens, but they should not have sensed the pain. Angelica had the presence of mind to order the insulation of Seuria and Ahram from the emoting within Freddie, but the rest were left to cope on their own. We might have assumed the Normals could not feel us or Samantha, but we forgot that when our emoting is so intense we do not control ourselves and it can cross the barriers to those not linked. Their time of pain was very brief and not as intense, but it shattered them. Those of us free to do so reached out to soothe them, mostly concentrating on those like Ivgos, who are sensitive to the pain of others. None dared to think of interfering with the inner worlds of the Dalai Lama and his monks.
