“This is…you are…”“....I have an idea, but you are going to think it is naughty.”
“You want to know what I thought of? Why don’t we get Jessie to come with us? We could change her into a grown up man. We’d have someone to dance with and practice flirting with.” I thought she’d gone too far and Lynda would see through her now, but Lynda was so upset she forgot she can monitor Empathia’s mind and emotions.
“Jesus! Is this why you’ve been asking me all those questions about what my life is like and my ideas about equality? I must have given you the wrong impression Empathia, You are ignoring all the wonders of being a Cherinian and having people who really love you. Those men you keep talking about, they don’t really care about you, not like…” Her face went scarlet. “You did this on purpose!”
“I thought it would be interesting to see what it would be like if I became like you secretly want to be.”
“I don’t! I never did!”
“Secretly, deep inside you, you did! I’m glad you did, you showed me what I would have missed if I let myself love Robert and the girls. We are going to live forever so there isn’t any reason I shouldn’t have fun first.”
“Empathia, you are so wrong! If you do this you will feel dirty, it isn’t worth it.”
“You’re just saying that. Do you expect me to make myself a silly little girl all the time so that he loves me? Why should I have a husband and have to listen to him? I want to be free to make up my own mind and do whatever I want to.”
“You don’t have to stay a little girl for him, you know he would love you anyway.” She tried a smile. “Since when do any of the girls listen to him, you know that they all bully him.”
“Yeah, but they listen inside themselves to whatever they know would hurt him, so that means they have to be just like he wants them to be. They are not free Lynda, not like I will be.”
None of us needed to be told what to do. We all kept our minds focussed on what was happening in our home, reading, chatting or teasing each other. If we did not, Lynda would sense our reactions and we would undo all the good work Empathia was doing. We could not help emoting a certain amount of amusement so we tried telling jokes to cover up. Robbie however was not amused, he was taking her words to heart - those about him and us and blocking himself from any casual sensing of him, he thought about her words and what truth there is in them. I wondered whether she is trying to teach us something also, is she playing to an audience of more than one?
“You think being on your own, not loved, means you are free! None of you born Cherinians know what you are talking about, I’ve spent years dreaming and hoping I would find someone real, a man who could really love me. You cannot imagine the loneliness. Damn, I could understand you thinking like this if you were a teenager from a Normal family, but you are a baby - you just got born!”
“I know just as much as you. Maybe I know more than you do. Anyway, I can’t understand why you are lying to me, I think you are not really my friend, you are only being nasty to me because you are afraid they will blame you. Why would it be wrong for me, but right for you? Because I’m a baby? I don’t think so, look at me, I’m an adult! I’m going to Dark Cloud, at least she is always honest - even if she thinks she doesn’t like me.”
“She doesn’t, she hates you. Why can’t you see that?”
“This is interesting, you are jealous! I wish you would love someone else more than me, it would have been interesting to know what it feels like being jealous.”
Carried away Lynda responded, “I do love someone more than you - I love Robert and Dommi and Cherine and all of them more than I love you, you spoilt little brat.”
“Ha!” Empathia laughed at her as she jumped.
Lynda stood with tears pouring down her cheeks and then she went to the bedroom and lying down on the bed cried even more as she thought of all they’d said. She went to the bathroom, rinsed her face, took her clothes off and reverted her body age down to about eight. She jumped to our bedroom for clothes and then walked out to us. We stared at her without speaking.
“I’ve been stupid Robert. Do you all still love me?”
3512
“You mean as we did when you joined our circle?” She nodded. “I think not, at that time you were a little girl, innocent of the knowledge being an adult gives you. Lynda, open yourself to us and feel for yourself how we feel.”
She did and burst into tears. “Why?”
“Because you come to us out of your own free will and as an adult - even if you are in the body of a child. As you would say, you have made an informed decision and that is doubly precious to us. Can I have a hug?”
He managed a quick hug and kiss, but he had to give her up to the rest of us as we crushed them in our efforts to hug her too. She was soon laughing and kissing us back.
Cherine made her sit next to her. “You do know you’ve been manipulated?”
“Empathia? She didn’t mean what she said?” Cherine made her look at her memories of Empathia’s emoting and thoughts. “Jesus, I’ve been bested by a baby!”
Empathia walked in, a six year old again. “Do you forgive me?” After Lynda showed her she had, Empathia breathlessly said to her, making Lynda blush, “Maybe we should go back to my house to be alone? You do know I haven’t made love with anyone yet?”
Cassie asked, a teasing smile lighting her face, “Why not?”
She replied seriously, “It is not time yet Cassie, I’m still a baby. When I’m ready, shall I call you?”
“No, just come to bed with us.” We all laughed, even Robbie smiling.
“Empathia, you have even frightened our Sam, she thinks you are far worse than she was as a baby.”
“Why should she? I don’t have her brains. Dad, I can’t stay, Dark Cloud has all her powers back.”
“Tread carefully my love, we don’t want you getting hurt.” Just like a real six year old she nodded and ran back to her home.
In the morning I jumped to Dark Cloud. “We have a wedding this afternoon and you are invited. Since they are not Cherinians you will not mind coming to wish them a happy life?”
“Baritte, your enemy who betrayed his beliefs?” she said with contempt.
“I suppose it depends on your point of view. Dark Cloud, there are a multitude of species throughout the universe, surely you do not intend declaring them all enemies of your people? Come as representative of your species if you do not wish to come as Dark Cloud. The wedding will be at the church next to the taverna and we’ll have a party before they leave on the boat. Come, you’ll enjoy seeing Robert making a fool of himself.” I was trying to tempt her.
“Why should I enjoy it? What pleasure will there be in my knowing I fought and killed a fool?”
I grinned. “You are wise. To see him would be a lose-lose situation for you. As you said if you win, but if you lose, how terrible to lose to a fool. I will explain to the bride that you were afraid to come.”
As I’d expected she lashed out at me with her mind, but I ignored her and laughing I jumped back home. Within minutes Empathia jumped to her and we stopped everything, concentrating on her; this was not a good time for her to visit, not with Dark Cloud so angry with me.
“I saw that! Why did you let her win?”
“This is the final time I’m warning you - leave me alone.” Since Empathia only stood staring at her with a look of curiosity, she gave in. “What do you mean, she did not win anything.”
“Of course she did. Attacking her was stupid, you must stick to a plan or else you will lose. You gave your sword for nothing if you keep forgetting. You expect me to control my love for you, but you cannot control your hate, even if it makes you do stupid things. You should have accepted the invitation and wished the bride a life of love and happiness. You must think in terms of making allies for your people, you cannot beat us without help - my help will not be enough.” She grinned. “I know, you must give her a present! They will not be expecting that and it will be interesting to see what Sam thinks when you do.” She laughed as if it was a great joke.
3513
“When you say I cannot beat them you say ‘us’ and yet you offer to help! You admit you are my enemy, but offer to help! What craziness is this?”
“I suppose I get it from my father - he is the best crazy of all of us you know. It will be very interesting watching his mind when I go to live with him.”
“Bah! Everything is interesting to you!”
“Maybe, but you must admit, I only give you good advice. Dark Cloud, you do not believe I like you, but I do. I also do not think it is fair. There is only one of you and so many of us. I have to help you.”
“Help from the enemy is worth nothing.”
“You think so? I think it is the best help you could have, even if you had other friends. Nobody else knows how we think.”
“I am starting to think I should not have made your family my enemies. What they did against me I see they did because you are all sick. You are insane!”
“You must promise not to tell the other Cherinians.”
“You are laughing at me!”
“I’m a baby, I’m allowed to. Now, what can we make for you to give Fe’jene as a wedding present?”
She hesitated a moment and then swallowed her anger. “I have nothing to give.”
“Have you got any talents? Can you sing or draw pictures? Let me get some paper.” She jumped to us, Jade silently handed over her box of colours and drawing paper and she returned.
“Try to draw something from your world.”
Jade sat biting her nails as sheet after sheet were torn up and thrown away. Empathia moved away, as if losing interest and suddenly Dark Cloud was caught up in something she was trying to express in a picture. Empathia was careful to stay away from her until Dark Cloud looked up, throwing the pad to the ground. She looked at Dark Cloud, searching her eyes for permission and only then approached. She looked down and we all gasped.
She had drawn a torn field and to the one side was a young male of her species. He was kneeling, his hands on a sword struck into the ground and surrounding him were torn bodies of children. Though the face was alien, the deep pain and hate in his eyes was alive, reaching out from the picture despite her obvious lack of skill at drawing. Empathia’s eyes filled with tears and as she looked up at Dark Cloud they spilled over.
“This speaks louder than anything you could say. I’m so sorry you have to live with this inside you.”
Empathia concentrated and a black ribbon appeared in her hands. She took the picture and rolling it up she tied the ribbon around it. “This will be the best present anyone gives them. Dark Cloud, I wish it was for me, it helps me share your pain.”
Her voice icy cold, “Do what you will with it. Leave me.”
She abandoned Jade’s materials and jumped back to her house. She sat with her legs curled up and closed her eyes, her thoughts gloomy and sad. We left her alone, saddened that she was being forced to feel such pain so early in her life.
A CD of Wendy’s played in the background as everyone gathered at the foot of the hill. Robbie adapted a sled so that it looked like a Roman chariot but instead of horses he’d conjured two golden lions. They landed softly and the couple stepped off. Iniquion had asked Sharipya to be his best ‘man’ and Sharipya took the shape of a Terran but kept his silvery grey colours, his hair far longer than we’d ever seen on a man before. Alki already stood at the top of the hill, dressed in white linen trousers and a white shirt with long sleeves that widened at the embroidered cuffs, the Grecian design the only colour. I glanced across at Robbie, recalling with a pang our wedding and he gave me a tender smile, his eyes soft with love. From me they travelled slowly to every one of his wives. He sent his thought for each of us to hear. *I’d marry you again if I could. I’ve been given far more than I deserve.* Our idiot for a husband was actually feeling humbled by the thought and it was a sweet ache in our hearts.
3514
Alki had demanded and Cherine obeyed. Before the ceremony began she faced the couple and explained to them the symbolic meaning of a Cherinian wedding.
“…Cherinians are not only of species that span galaxies and realities, we also have Cherinians of our home world who come from different religious backgrounds. It is accepted that the couple marrying see the ceremony as a way of asking the God or Spirit of Life they believe in, to bless the joining of their hearts and lives. The words Alki will speak come from those Robert, Dominique and I spoke to each other at the first Cherinian wedding. They have tied our hearts, bonding us in a love that will never die, we hope they will bring both of you the same magic that love brings into our lives.”
Once she stepped away she felt shy, still after all these years embarrassed when having to speak in public. The couple chose to repeat the exact vows used at the first wedding, the only change being by Iniquion. When he spoke his words and placed his ring on her, he knelt before her. Fe’jene radiated the sweetest possible love - and no wonder, since in truth she too has the soul of a child.
Tables of food and drink for each species were ready for us when we returned to the beach, and when the couple were ready we played a waltz for them. They had practised and looked stunning as they glided across the patio. As with our weddings, Alki had too much to drink (not allowing his healer to metabolise the alcohol to sugar) and I think Robbie was in a mood to do likewise, but the presence of Dark Cloud kept him mostly sober. Though the crowd was in the thousands, with many Sparklers present as Terran girls, the presence of Dark Cloud was felt by all. She took her turn and handed over to the couple her black-ribboned gift with the words, “May it bring you much joy.” They had been warned not to open it until they’ve returned from their cruise, so they thanked her and Fe’jene kept it on her lap whenever she was not dancing.
Dark Cloud obviously intended leaving, but Empathia took her hand and asked her to sit with her. She tried, when Empathia insisted, the tiny chocolate eclairs and she was delighted by the slightly bitter taste of the dark chocolate sweetened by the frothy cream inside. We wondered whether the preferences of her terran body reflect in any way what she would have enjoyed in her own body. Somebody thoughtlessly handed her a glass of our potent punch, but Empathia discretely got rid of it, replacing it with fruit juice. We could not take the chance that her inhibitions and common sense be affected by alcohol. She spent most of her time staring at the sword which tonight hung over a table with drinks - Robbie did not want anyone else sitting under it.
Soon as Robbie sensed the couple had had enough and wanted some privacy, the boat quietly appeared, fairy lights strung over the paddle-wheel, along the decks and the funnel, gliding in on water as smooth as glass, reflecting the lights and Sparklers in our sky. We saw them off with shouted good wishes and watched until only the lights could be seen in the distance. Their leaving did not affect the party mood everyone was in and we stayed there, dancing, chatting and joking until sunrise. Bed, with my arms around a loved one and other arms and bodies touching mine after such an exhausting day was a sweetness and I happily drifted off into a deep sleep.
Over the week, most of the girls were busy. Each day the boat would pull up by the river embankment and the girls would put on a show, a bit of acting, music and dance, sometimes the show in the early evening and those would need lights - courtesy of Robbie and the void. On the fourth day they asked the girls to pass on a message to me. They wanted me to be their guest the next day.
I reverted to eleven years old as that is the age Fe’jene knows me best. I had intended jumping to the river bank for them to collect me, but I have not visited the area, so I jumped to the deck. Fe’jene shook my hand Earth style, but I laughed, climbed on a bench and kissed her cheek.
“Are you enjoying the trip?”
“To the extent that it worries me.”
“I’m sorry? Why?”
“In your storytellings it will be shown to new species that they must first become your enemies if they want to be loved.”
3515
I thought about it. “I hadn’t realised! The Anadir were never enemies, but they were unfriendly to start off. The Sparklers lost hundreds of millions before we learnt to communicate and became friends. They have lost more than any other species and yet they are our best friends. Sharipya attacked us and killed some of us, the same with Inguel, Meéjeira, Qkwesinitie and your people. Only the Gillians, Eminixx and Elabet did not. It is sort of amazing when you think that we are not conquerors and approach all with love and the wish to help.”
“Different beliefs can blind.”
“That excuses others, not us.”
“Ahh, my little friend Samantha, you are now gods?”
“No, just Cherinians who still have a lot to learn about empathy.”
“We did not invite you to make you sad, look, I have a bottle of this black water you like. Let us enjoy our day.” Iniquion pointed down river. “The captain told us that today we pass through a deep gorge. He said the sight is magnificent so we decided we needed a friend with us to enable true enjoyment.”
Fe’jene made a gesture of affection for him and smiled at me. “There is still too much of Baritte in me perhaps, I love to talk and argue with you.”
“You should have invited Goldi instead, she would have made it a day of bliss for you.”
Iniquion gave a dismissive shrug, “That one is like a drug.”
“I hope that was meant as a compliment to her?”
He became embarrassed. “It sounded wrong Samantha, I did not mean it with any disrespect. I was thinking of the way she alters our mood, forgetting how much more to her there is.”
“No offence taken.”
The boat must have been travelling faster than I’d realised, for the land was already rising to either side of us. We watched as the cliffs grew and it was an amazing sight. There are no high mountains in Freddie that are not alongside the edge and yet it seemed the cliffs reached up forever.
“The effect is an illusion. Gravity on your ship-world is weaker so Robert has made these cliffs lean in over the river.” Soon as Iniquion said it I could see he was right. The light from the sky was but a sliver above us and it grew cool and damp. As our eyes adjusted we gasped. We saw a garden of exotic plants shimmering and glowing in the shadows, plants waving as if a breeze blew them about. Our eyes kept on darting from side to side, not wanting to miss anything. The captain joined us on deck. He cleared his throat.
“The land of fairies. They are shy creatures, but soon our passing will stir them to life, like you Sam, they are gifted with an over-abundance of curiosity and will come to examine us. If they annoy you or come too close, just gently wave your arms at them and they will pull back.”
I explained to my friends what fairies are or are supposed to be.
“How did Robert get them to come to your spaceship then?”
I kept a straight face. “With him, who knows? He probably promised them there will be no cities and machines to make our world stink. I hope they sing for us, you’ll remember them forever if they do.”
The captain gave me a knowing smile and left us alone again. Anxiously the two waited for signs of the fairies. I saw some movement among a fern-like plant and pointed it out to them. Even as they saw them we began to glimpse tiny forms peeking out or flitting from plant to plant and soon groups of them formed. Soon as the first one flew towards us they all joined in and it looked like two clouds of butterflies were closing in on us.
I’d thought it was the girls and had expected them to put on a show for us with a few songs, but now I was stymied. There must have been hundreds of thousands of them! I thought of the way Robbie splits himself, but decided that there was no way the girls could do this. Curious, I sent out a probe trying to sense any emoting or thoughts. I met a blank wall and one of the fairies dive-bombed me. Inches from my face she spoke.
3516
“That was rude! You did not ask for our permission. Because you do not think of us as human gives you the right to invade our privacy?”
I was contrite and ashamed of myself. “No, I was in the wrong. I promise to report this to Robert and I will be punished.”
She was bobbing up and down as she tried to stare into my eyes. Slowly I raised my hand and she stood on the back of it. I had not expected to feel any weight. I brought her to my eyes, careful that she be above my nostrils - for all I knew my breath could damage her and it would be rude to breathe on her.
“It is not necessary to make a big thing of it. You big people broadcast so loudly we hear you without trying. Nice meeting you Samantha.”
Enchanted by her frail beauty I watched as she flew away and then turned to look at Fe’jene who was staring at me. “I messed up. Dommi is going to give me a lashing. For the first time I almost wish I was a Normal so that nobody could see in my mind what I did.”
“One of your rules that you have broken?”
“One of the most important ones. We never look at the thoughts of another without permission. Oh!”
The fairies were forming a circle above us, looking like a halo of butterflies. One fairy stayed in the centre, a golden haze surrounding her. She began to sing; not aloud, in our minds. Enchanted the three of us listened and when the song ended we almost cried out, begging for another. She flew down and just above our heads she let the haze settle on us. It felt like ants were creeping over my skin and then a sweet energy filtered through, filling body and heart with emotions as delicate as a baby’s dreams.
We came out of it to find the fairies were all gone and the light of day was growing ahead of us. Too soon we were out in normal daylight again. I looked at the couple holding each other and envied them, wishing Robbie were holding me too.
“It felt like a blessing. Samantha, why has Robert kept their presence here a secret?” I noticed the captain stood close, listening.
“I’m surprised he let us know about them Fe’jene, they should not be disturbed.” her husband said.
“Do not fear, only those brought here aboard our ship may enter this space. Samantha, Freddie passed on a message for you from Dominique. She says, relax and enjoy yourself, you are forgiven.”
I noticed that they seemed to eat mostly fruit with something I presume is their bread. As for me, I was given a Greek salad, drenched in vinegar and olive oil. It would not have been polite to eat meat at their table.
“Samantha, we are worried about Su’phon. Her male that you brought, he is not interested in her.”
“Were they not lovers before?”
“It is part of the problem. Before we died and were brought back by you, it was her male who was female and Sprighton was her male. He was close to the age of leaving her. Their children did not need him anymore and he was about to choose a younger male.”
“Are there many such problems back home?”
She smiled. “Why do you think Baritte had so many followers. Your intervention had caused many such dislocations.”
“We messed up big time. When we saw we were only bringing back males we should have stopped and asked. It is obvious now, but at the time we accepted what was happening because we have learnt the universe comes up with many models for mating - we could not presume male/female sexes are the norm, it may have been insulting to you. Fe’jene, we cannot go back in time and change things, what should we do?”
“The present problem will sort itself out. There will be much pain, but this generation will age and die. The next ones will find the balance needed for survival of our species. There will be very few children though. The problem is far bigger than you seem to realise and because I was Baritte, I hesitate to mention them and the solution I see. Perhaps you should speak with Su’phon “
3517
“I promise I will keep an open mind and heart, please tell me.”
“You will have to be hard to be kind. Our cycles are important, we need them all or else our species dies out. As young males, at a very early age, they play at sex between them without need for commitments. As the male matures he looks for an older lover to have a relationship of love. When he finds him they spend years loving each other so when it is time for the older male to become female it is easier for the young male to adapt - they already love each other. As the one changes, the other is affected and certain changes in the body make the female form and sex attractive.
The couple will have children and they will nurture them. Children however do grow up and when they have reached the age where their bodies no longer affect the parents, the male begins to lose interest in his female. Memories return and they haunt him until he finds the younger male who is to be his male at the time of change.”
“What happens to the female?”
“The years alone are her most productive. That is why our education is mostly aimed at females.”
“You are a matriarchal society? Is that why things went wrong, females should have been in charge?”
They both laughed. “Oh no, that could not happen Samantha. Males are too full of energy and aggressive for us to rule them. They run the government, as you think of it. Females become healers, teachers and scientists.”
The enormity of our mistake was gaping at me like a huge dark hole, but it is always the individual we know who comes first. “Su’phon, there is no way we can help her?”
“I do not know. Ask her. Do not assume guilt for our problems Samantha. It would be just as presumptive as Dark Cloud is, thinking she has the right to demand payment for all of her species. If we are given the choice, life with its heartbreaks is always preferable to death. At least we may hope our problems will teach us and help us grow.”
By now, through Cherine, they’d all sensed my worry, had checked through my memories and were worrying about it also.
“In what way are you saying we must be hard?”
“No Duirphon should be allowed to become a Cherinian. Not for all time Samantha. Wait for us in the void and make us Cherinians once both male and female have fused, become one. We would not be whole otherwise, remaining trapped as one or the other for all time.”
“But if you can alter your age whenever you wish, surely you would want to try all of them?”
“Not if we become young males. Why are none of you old Samantha? I do not mean adults, I’ve seen you do that for a short while, I mean old. Is it not because with youth there is fire in your body?”
I was depressed and foolishly muttered, “Baritte wins.”
“We expected you to think so, but you are wrong. What he wanted was also wrong, worse. At least you can still be there for us when we close our eyes for the last time. To know we no longer need the crutch of faith to sweeten our departure and that friends are waiting for us on the other side, it will be a good thing Samantha.”
“But, you cannot stay forever in the void.”
“Perhaps we can find other planets and a few of us could visit our home world when or while the need is great. As old friends die and join us there will be less reasons to return there. We could wander throughout the universe, learning and helping other younger races - as you have done with us?”
We sat on deck enjoying the beauty and peace being on water brings, but my heart was too troubled for me to enjoy it as I should have. My one pleasure was in seeing their love and happiness. Silently I wished Baritte many years of happiness and growth from being part of Fe’jene and returned home.
Robbie was just as troubled as I was. He sometimes takes a short walk at night, he says the loneliness is good for him (how do you get lonely with nearly forty females in your head?). This night he took a longer walk than usual and then jumped to the taverna for a coffee. He found Allan there.
3518
“It must be past midnight, what are you doing here?”
“Are you going to answer that question?” Allan chuckled. “I thought not. Actually I’m here because I don’t have anywhere else to be. This is the only place I know that serves coffee at this time.”
“What’s wrong with being at home with your family. Don’t tell me you’ve had a fight with Eleni?”
“No, Jessie kicked me out. She was having a tantrum about me being a bad man so Eleni pushed me through the door faster than you can say hippopotamus.”
“We haven’t helped you with her, I’m sorry. I’d planned on returning home and healing her later, since her powers became dormant.”
“Yeah, I think that is what Eleni was afraid of tonight.”
“Did you try…anything with Jessie?”
“Sex? No. I was kissing Eleni. What are you doing here, with so many girls you can’t have the same excuse I have.”
“I just discovered that through good intentions and stupidity I’ve condemned millions to a miserable life.”
“That sounds rather dramatic! The sort of thing Arthur and I do.” He put on an act, giving Robbie a suspicious look. “Are you certain he did not model you after us?”
“This is serious Allan!”
“Of course it is. The hours after midnight are only for serious problems.” He gestured to Kyria Maria for another coffee. “I think you better explain.”
Just as I was, Allan was more upset about Su’phon, he likes her a lot.
“What can we do to help her Robert?”
His voice edgy, Robert replied, “I have a whole planet to worry about - you and Sam deal with Su’phon.”
There was almost something of the sharp look Alki sometimes has in the way he stared back at Robbie. “No. You deal with Su’phon, and Sam and I will solve the planetary problem.”
Annoyed at what he perceived as levity, Robbie agreed, thinking it would teach him a lesson.
The next morning, soon as I could, I jumped to Allan. I pecked his cheek (had to be careful, Jessie was looking) and smiled at him fondly.
“You really are crazy - taking on the problems of millions in place of one.”
“Perhaps.” He responded morosely.
Softly I asked, “What’s eating at you?”
“Robert, that’s what. Sam, the way he answered me, as if Su’phon was less important than the millions - he never would have done that in his early years. He would have known that each one of those millions is or has a problem, solving the problem of one is equally important to the many. Is he changing Sam?”
“Not in that way. That is why you switched?”
He grinned. “Partly. Su’phon is here and her problem has to be dealt with now. Solving her problem will be far more difficult than helping the millions.”
“I don’t see that.”
3519
“You disappoint me Sam.” Eleni smiled to herself and he grinned. “I’ll give you a clue - you know that I’m lazy.”
“You’ve lost me. You mean you would rather put off the job, do it later?”
He laughed. “That would help. Sam, if Robert solves the problem here, would that give us some important clues as to how we solve…aha! The penny has dropped.”
“You are a conniving bastard! I don’t think Robbie will be amused.”
“I’m not too worried about that, he has his own lessons to learn. Sam, it is not my place, you girls must keep a watch on him and not allow him to forget the one heart or soul in favour of the millions.”
“You are throwing his own words back at him.” I leant over and kissed him, “Thanks.” I then whispered, “I think I’ve just reinforced your ‘bad man’ image.”
“I don’t know what to do about her.”
“You missed out Allan. You should have made her a Cherinian before all this nonsense began. Now Cherine will not link her, there is too much anger in her.”
“Then I was right not to try. It should be easier to help her as a Normal. What about those gifts she had for a while - how did that happen?”
“I think we may have been responsible for it. She sees us doing so many things that must seem like magic to her that she yearned to do her own magic. I think she even thought of it as being able to protect her. Without us paying any attention to her we subconsciously helped her. Soon as she used her magic in a bad way we were repulsed and our support fell away.”
“It will be a great relief to Eleni and I if that is true. How strange things are. When I’d not met any of you and was writing, I imagined it would be easy for all of you to enter another mind and repair it. That was why I enjoyed writing about Petsas, I thought it was such a clever twist. Now I see how difficult it is, even the mind of a small child. You have to be so careful not to cause damage or be damaged yourselves.” He grimaced. “A pity, I love easy answers.”
“I prefer difficult answers, they are so much more interesting.” I giggled. “We’ll have to be careful when we use that word or else we’ll sound like Empathia.”
“I’m curious just what she is trying to do. I have no doubt you’ll explain once she has finished.”
“If you think on it you might work it out for yourself - oh, sorry, I forgot you only like easy answers.”
“I wish I could put you over my lap and spank you - I think I would enjoy it very much.”
“Hey! Careful. You are forgetting I am much older than I look.”
“Hmm, it might be more fun if I spanked you as a big girl.”
“Allan, stop flirting with Sam.” Eleni called out and he grinned at me as he replied, “Yes my love.”
Actually I was touched; he has not assumed the worst of our little love.
Empathia asked Robbie to teach her chess. By the third game she was beating him so he called it a day.
“You won’t be needing this for a while then. I’ll bring it back - I think.”
“You may keep it love, I’ll get a new one back home.”
She shook her head. “No, this one belongs to the family. You played with Sharipya on this.”
We all looked at the old chess set and suddenly it was precious, even though we had mostly been using the board for placing our mugs on when sitting on the carpet.
3520
“Good morning Dark Cloud. I’ve come to teach you strategy.” We all grinned; instead of her habitual icy cold look of hatred, her face had a perplexed look on it that seemed to say ‘I just can’t get rid of her.’
“That is the game from your storytelling? You bring me a game to play! I have no time for your childish nonsense, go away!”
Empathia ignored her and jumping a small table to her, she laid out the pieces.
“I will make a bet with you. Today I teach you and when you are ready we have a competition. We play ten games and if I win more than five games you give me your sword. If you win more than me I will promise to leave you alone for three days.”
“Three days for the sword!”
“You should not need more than three days to practice so that you can beat me. Then we will have a very big bet.”
“What will it be?”
“If I win, you then have to try for three days to get to know and like me. If you don’t, we put you in stasis so that we can return home. Soon as we return here we will wake you again.”
“Three days to like you? Three million would not be enough.”
“If you try you will like me, I’m very nice you know.”
She grabbed Empathia by the throat, shaking her as she snarled her words, “You are my enemy, when will you understand that and leave me alone!”
Empathia shrank to a baby. Startled Dark Cloud looked down at her as she lay on the ground, tangled in her clothes. *You are not allowed to hurt me, I’m only a baby.*
Robbie chortled and jumped. He returned with Allan and Alki. “This is too good to miss. Let Sam link you in.” Lynda gave me permission to let them see how Empathia had manipulated her also.
Dark Cloud stood looking stupefied (see Robbie, I do know some of your old-fashioned words, even the synonym, gobsmacked!), not certain how to react. Her shoulders slumped and she sat at the chessboard. “You can’t teach me like that, grow up.”
“Do we have a bet?”
“No. I will not let you have my sword. If I lose I draw you a picture or you stay away thirty days.”
“Uh-uh, I can’t. It wouldn’t be fair to Latreia and Agapi. Three days.”
“Teach me.”
By the fifth game Empathia was struggling to win and Dark Cloud got cocky. “We start the bet.”
As good as she became she kept on losing and by the seventh game, having won only one game, she accepted defeat.
“Actually, it is not the bet I care about. I wanted to teach you about strategy and this game has some good examples. In the first game, on my eighth move I offered you my castle and you took it, losing the game because of that.” She replayed the game, explaining move by move her reasons and then making up a story about a battle with soldiers, she showed her how she had tricked her into losing the war. Patiently she did the same with all the games and for once Dark Cloud was so interested that she forgot to show anger or hate.
“What is the point of having lots of weapons and huge armies if you can’t think better than your enemy? You were trying to plan three moves ahead and I managed up to five. Whether playing chess or planning a battle, I would always beat you. Dark Cloud, you have to learn to plan, form strategies and then stick to them - unless your enemy comes up with a surprise move. You must stay flexible so that you don’t stay with your strategy if conditions change, you must quickly think up a new one.”
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)6th December, 2019
- posted: 6th December, 2019
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 05, use this link button to open the LC Book Index:
