That night, Reveena did not sleep well, waking again and again to search for the proper solution. The only answer she could find, she hated, but in the end she accepted the inevitability. She then, finally, slept well at dawn and Akleet felt hurt that she would oversleep on such an important morning.
1330
h4> When Reveena saw Akleet carrying all the parts of the glider and realised he must have worked hard all night, she felt guilty about what she planned and nearly gave in. She waited until they stood at the top of the cliff and then feigned fear, refusing to risk jumping unless she can see that his idea works. Akleet was frantic, for the long island would be passing overhead in about sixteen days and they would have to prove to the adults that glider wings work well before then, or else they would not help create the strong bow for sending the harpoon and rope to snag on the fast-island.
‘Make a glider that will carry just you, then I’ll try it,’ she told him.
‘You know it won’t work, we need the extra length.’
‘Well…why don’t you make the glider longer and pretend I am with you?’
He is too quickly fascinated by new ideas for him to even consider telling her that her idea is stupid, but he was depressed for a while as he’d set his heart on gliding on this day. She pretended to be unconcerned and roamed around searching for tsit-tsit multi-coloured eggs attached to the underside of hurrump leaves. When she found such a leaf, she tore it in half and giving him his share, she sat with a grin of anticipation of the sweet sulphurous taste as she took the first egg between her teeth.
h4>Did I tell you what their teeth look like Candy? Their teeth do not have any sharp parts, they are rounded. The bottom teeth are u-shaped with the rounded top teeth fitting inside the groove so that they can grind their food, just like a pestle and mortar. Their teeth have this shape because they don’t eat meat or leaves with long stringy fibres. They mostly eat seeds and grain, though, as I just mentioned, they eat tsit-tsit eggs, but that is because to them they are like our sweets are to us…not good for them, but delicious.
Akleet took out his sketchbook and sketched as he nibbled his tsit-tsit eggs. When she thought it was about time, she glanced at his sketch and exclaimed with pleasure. ‘That’s brilliant Ka-Akleet!’
Much of what he’d redesigned only needed to be modified, so just before early evening he was ready for his first jump off the cliff. He grinned. ‘If this doesn’t work, can you really face life without me? You would not prefer to jump with me?’
She laughed. ‘My company may not be as pleasing as yours, but it will help me endure. I’ll climb down so as to watch you from down there.’
Akleet landed safely, but he was not happy, the glide had been slow and he did not have the controls he needed, though he understood that with practice he would improve. He spent a few hours that night sketching his ideas and the next morning he made the changes. This time he did not wait for Reveena and climbing to the cliff top, he donned his glider. By the time he was ready to jump, he saw Reveena was waiting for him below, with someone standing by her side.
h4>As Reveena helped untie the laces, she told him, ‘I knew you would make it work better, so I brought Tarrata to see for herself. Now she’ll be happy to help us.’
‘But what if it hadn’t worked? She is important!’ What Akleet meant is that he respects her opinion.
She paused, looking thoughtful, and then told him, ‘She could have helped me carry your body home.’ The sound of her laughter as he chased her made Tarrata stop to watch them, nostalgic for the days she and her mate were still brother and sister.
Tarrata is not just an adult, she is an engineer and, though still young, also treated as an elder of their town (nobody is elected, they are accepted or not as elders out of respect - and for as long as they are respected). She mostly ignored the glider suit, more interested in studying his sketches. She took his pencil and made some changes before handing it back to Akleet. ‘When you are finished, come see me if you are willing to work with me - you are talented but there is much for you to learn. Now, tell me why you need to shoot a rope at the fast-island.’
h4>As Reveena had banked on, knowing Tarrata as a friend of the family, as Akleet explained his concepts and the reasons for wanting to try, Tarrata started analysing his ideas and caught up in the excitement of developing new ideas, forgot to remonstrate with them for planning something as dangerous as this on their own. Anyway, as a new parent, her child so young that he has not adopted a sister yet, Tarrata understood what drives them.
‘Akleet, the rope will not be needed, though it is wise to take some with you - conditions on the other islands have been studied from here for many lifetimes, but we cannot see all dangers awaiting our first travellers. At least we know you will find food, since smaller lifeforms have travelled from us to other islands and the other way around. None die of hunger, so the food is edible.’
1331
h4>‘Why will we not need the rope?’
“Ahh, yes, you studied the time of passing, when gravity is the least? For the effects to be felt down here, have you not calculated what the effect should be like at a height? At the maximum range of the glider, with updrafts helping you, my calculations show there should be a gravity hole. While in it, with clever manipulation of your wings and the wind currents, you should come out of the hole on the other side of the gravity pull. That will be the most difficult time for you as you will be disorientated and it is also the time you’ll have to make your keenest evaluations of the forces and angles needed for you to be whipped back out of the fast-island gravity, at the exact degree and placement needed for you to be sent to the slow-island.’ She stared at them, her look stern. ‘You must practice gliding until I judge you to be ready for the challenge. Do you submit?’
‘I do,’ they both replied.
‘Wait.’ She scribbled a note and gave it to Akleet. ‘The materials you are using are not the best available. Go to the Council stores and ask for Marimat. He’ll provide you with all that is needed. I would advise against spreading the information about what you plan - tell all that you are working with me to develop a safe method for air-gliding’”
h4>Meli paused and glancing at us, she said, “I’ve just realised that I had not noticed they differ from us in other ways. Among us we would be proud to be the first to do something so important to the survival of our species and others with influence would be doing what they can to take our place so that the glory goes to them or to their political party or to their country. Because the thought never crossed the mind of any Puerpep, I did not even think of it before sensing all of you.”
Claudia responded, “I’m sure you did not get it from my mind - I was too busy wondering when we are going to eat.” Everyone laughed, a few made jokes and suddenly, just like that, we were all in a good mood - even Cherine smiled once.
When people talk about their home, they speak of the front of the house being the side that faces the street. I think they are wrong. The side of our home which faces the garden has wide plantation style verandahs and it is the side we see and use most often. In other words, it is lived. The street side is only useful because of the main entrance, where guests can enter.
So, on the front side of our house, the one part of the verandah which is sort of private because Robbie had a bar built there, is the place our adult friends go to stop projecting as children, have a drink and talk the kind of talk adults like to talk - politics, whose soccer team is best and so on. We children stay on our side and carry on with our childish kind of talk, like, how to win this war, debate various matters of ethics and how morals may be affected by our gifts - especially that of empathy. (lol) I got attacked by my loves with pillows and when the adults were told why, Rose told my mum that I have a wicked sense of humour. It is nice to know that I have something ‘wicked’ about me…and that it makes everyone emote love for me.
h4>Those with work to do, through their doppelgangers, were busy and the rest of us kept our conversation telepathic, so as not to distract them. Suddenly Perikli grunted and his face showed the sudden anger and worry he was emoting. It is only natural that our minds would reach for his, the automatic response not meant for spying on his thoughts, but for soothing him - the mental equivalent of a hand on his shoulder and a hug, so we knew it was something bad when he blocked us off. As soon as he could, he left his doppelganger apparently reading some documents and turned to us. At that moment Ordinx arrived, also broadcasting his distress and almost immediately Solomon joined us. They saw we were all looking at Perikli so they waited for him to speak.
“Interpol has just sent us a notification from the Italian police after the local British consulate told them he lives in Greece. Robert was found unconscious. He was physically assaulted and left by the side of the highway. He is now in a local hospital and they want to operate on him. He did regain consciousness, but refuses to cooperate with both the local police and the hospital. They think he was beaten up because he was caught spying on some Italian corporation and they are trying to break some of his writing which is in code. Alki, they are also asking that money is sent to pay for the medical expenses, with agreement to the operation being signed by a family member.”
Ordinx looked thoroughly miserable as he told us, “One of those who beat him up is an Anadir. He has returned and will need some help from our entity to recover. He told us that Robert ordered him to beat him up and use the opportunity to send Sparklers to the mind of the man leading them.”
“I must go to him!” If Cherine said it before us, then it was not by more than a split second.
Rose spoke and because she is the mother of our Robert, we all listened to her. “Nobody is to go to him unless he asks. You shall not make a mockery of his sacrifices! Cherine, he calls you his warrior wife, back me.”
Cherine fought her battle without showing much of it to us and then nodded in agreement. “What should we do?”
Meli, our wife with the big heart, took the time to remember the pain of another and spoke to Ordinx, “Please ask the Anadir who suffered for our Robert to come to my world. Daniel will be waiting for him - for he shall be our honoured guest and he will be free to roam the world for as long as he needs, with or without company, according to his needs of each day. Ordinx, ask your entity to tell him that we and Robert know that what he did is out of love and we are in his debt. Once the war is over, if he is willing, he is invited to join us as our guest here, for I am certain that every single Cherinian will want to thank him.”
Alki ended a phone call and reassured us, “I’ve sent the money they asked for plus enough to keep Robert comfortable for at least one month.”
Irene asked, “Perikli, did they mention anything about Aganthi?”
“Not a word. I am certain your mother is safe.”
Solomon had not spoken, only watching us. He now told us, “I can go to Robert during the night when he is alone. At least you shall see him through my eyes.”
1331
h4>Em-e asked, “Could you take the soul of Cherine with you and let her take over your body for a while?”
“I could.”
Cherine looked happy for all of a second or two and then told us, “No, the real warrior has been Dommi, she has kept us going as a family and Cherinians and she must go.” She would not bend and after we’d all rejected her offer, Dommi agreed to go. At least we’ll see our Robbie more clearly from her mind.
h4>Dommi shared with everyone and so great was the hunger for us to see every second available, that we also shared from Solomon - and if there was anything alien about the way he saw Robbie, we did not notice, for our own eyes-minds could interpret all he saw, so that Robbie was just our Robbie, apart from what has always been alien about Robbie.
My loves have demanded I explain what I mean about Robbie being alien and I reminded them. They agree with me, so I’ll spare the modesty of Robbie and not write of the qualities I was referring to. (Robbie has insisted I record a few of them - I think he is curious as to what I could have meant. I’ll only mention the obvious ones: his not wanting to be leader; his not accepting millions given to him as a gift; his ability to love more than one equally; his inability to hate - not so certain about that one; is it possible to fly into a rage if there is no hate? - his fear of pedestals when they are meant to place him high and his love of pedestals with regard to those he loves.)
There was one of us who was not happy. Irene. Dommi tried to hug her, but for this once Irene was impatient of such pacifiers. “We thought my mother followed him so as to keep him safe. Not only she fails, she then stays away, does not rush to his bedside? That is not my mother, not the Aganthi I know. The spider must have her, that is why we can’t sense her.”
We did not know what to say to her - her logic makes sense and now we all carry a tiny knot of fear for our beloved Aganthi. I hope she can sense us, so that she knows how much she is loved.
h4>Now might be the appropriate time to tell a little tale about something we did not know about at the time.
Alki, without telling anyone, apart from Tasso, arranged for a detective to wait outside the hospital, to follow him for as long as possible. Since Robbie has no gifts, Alki reckoned he would not lose the detective, but he did take the precaution of letting the detective know that Robbie is a slippery customer and he must not feel bad if he loses him. It only made the detective even more determined and he kept Robbie in his sight all the way to Genoa and then down to the bars by the port. He is Italian, so could not understand what Robbie and the sailors were speaking of, but as they left the bar and he made to follow Robbie, someone bumped against him and instead of apologising, hit him with his fist on the jaw and the detective passed out. He never found where Robbie had disappeared to, since no sailor acknowledged he’d met him, but he theorised that Robbie went to the port as a diversionary tactic and is probably either in England or in Germany by now.
Alki told us what he had done about a week after Robbie disappeared again. Some of us felt he must have found a way to travel on a ship, but we were not certain, so it was with a growing dread that we endured his more than three weeks of silence. The story by Meli became very important for raising the spirits of Candy and all of us.
h4>“Reveena insisted she would be going with Akleet, so two glide suits and sails were created, this time the sowing was done by specialists and the rods fashioned out of natural plastic, as they are lighter, stronger and more flexible. Pockets and loops for carrying provisions and tools were added all around and Akleet was instructed by Tarrata to carry writing paper and pencils for keeping notes of the island they’ll be visiting.
They were not allowed to travel during the next passing, as Tarrata insisted they must become more expert at handling their gliders. The sight of the two of them gliding in their skies soon had thousands emulating them and they added a necessary challenge, forcing the two of them to become expert fliers so as to avoid collisions.
There was one detail of their trip that nobody was happy about. Going to the slow-island was feasible and they could plan for it because they could see the islands and work out exactly their positions and the range of effects on each others’ gravity, and the distances were easy to calculate. Their problem was that they had to take it on faith that conditions would be as they theorise for the return trip.
Going out, the fast-island, as from the moment they transfer to its gravity influence, will be drawing away from their home island and it will also be pulling away from the slow-island. However, on their return, they will have to transfer to the fast-island before it reaches their home island and they cannot be certain that the effects or gravity will be as known to them at departure. Tarrata advised them to wait a turn or two until they are certain of their facts from direct observations, rather than just from theory. Both Reveena and Akleet are young enough for tomorrow’s problems not to seem important enough for them to lose any sleep over them, so Tarrata was not fully comforted by their promises.
h4>On the day of departure, only fourteen people gathered to wish the two a safe voyage and early return. As far as I could see, not even their parents were very emotional, almost as if none of them can understand what dangers they will be facing - of them all, Tarrata seems to have at least an inkling, for she does worry. It is perhaps the curse of having knowledge.
With all the packets and objects attached to them, the two looked to be too heavy for gliding high enough to achieve gravity transfer, but Tarrata had double-checked with them and they were within an ounce of carrying the maximum load they can.
Candy, my sweet, when they tumble off the cliff in their awkward looking fall and then so gracefully soar in an arc, it is still one of my favourites scenes for returning to view from my memories. They are short and heavy beings, not meant for flight, and yet, their minds have turned them into birds, achieving what we Terrans took thousands of years to accomplish. In a way all the people of their worlds are my children and I am very proud of them.
1333
h4>As with all those friends who are not of my species, I find it difficult to share their thoughts, but from the start they have been open to me, trusting my love for them, so I’ve always been able to sense their emoting - almost sometimes it feels as if I can also sense their physical feelings. For instance, when they found themselves within the hole of gravity, I had a hint of what it felt like for them and knew they were in the right place and moving correctly, even though I, Melina, had no such knowledge of my own.
As the fast-island gently began to attract them, it felt as if their world had turned upside down and then they felt, for the first time ever, that their own island was the visitor in their sky, and the fast-island now a home of sorts. Reveena ensured that Akleet kept his mind on following the exact procedures they’d verbally trained for and the exhilaration they felt as they were whipped around and flung towards the approaching slow-island almost caused them to lose consciousness.
They both knew what to expect and were not frightened by the way they seemed to have aimed for flying off into the deep of space, for as the slow-island approaches, they’ll find themselves exactly in the correct position. Their instinctive mathematical sense of seeing the universe in terms of forces and stress are a blessing, even if living that way, with each and everyday actions dictating how and where to move, feels strange to me.
They had time for one light meal of hoggog berries, chosen for their high energy content, but it stained their teeth a bright violet colour. Reveena wished that Akleet would not smile at her and then she had the bright idea of giving him a lovely smile. After that they were both careful of smiling and maintained a solemn mien, as is befitting of two such intrepid explorers.
As the slow-island swiftly approached, they both sensed they were going to land with more force than they’d expected; obviously they must have mis-sensed the gravity of the island - in fact, they had not added the effect of the island approaching them at a speed. Akleet yelled for Reveena to change her glide path, adjusting to swing around the island for a short distance, so that their approach is not in a directly downwards direction. They bunched their feet in preparation for landing and Akleet realised they should have created an instant method of releasing the shorter struts so that they can land without their bodies being fully stretched - which made them more vulnerable to a number of injuries.
Landing at an angle did reduce the force of impact to levels their strong thigh muscles can absorb and they suddenly realised that for the first time ever, two of their species were standing on an alien island. It was the most exciting moment of their life and they did not spoil it with trite conversation, first taking the time to look around, watching with awe all that is different.
Akleet showed he has the right instincts. The first words he spoke were, ‘Onn-Revee, I love you.’”
Meli faltered at the feelings Candy emoted. She bent her tiny golden head and whispered what felt like a prayer, “I love you Robert, please come back.” Her words were echoed, even if silently, by all of us.
h4>To remain our protector, even with Rob to help him, our protector has been forced to grow more aware and thus, more intelligent. For instance, an attack made us lose our sense of direction. Since the one direction we knew we must not take is towards the outside, through the main door, that was the direction our messed up senses took us. The protector immediately realised our actions are not normal, ordered us to stop, to stand still, and then it sent a Sparkler to the mind affecting us. We mentally held our breath for the next few days, expecting the spider to hit back at us.
Last night I took a book to Robbie's office and sat reading for an hour. I then forced my body to relax and tried to meditate. I cannot think clearly when I am stressed by fears of my imagination and I feel I owe it to all I love that I step back for a moment and try to see whatever truths fear is so effective at hiding from us.
When I sensed everyone gathering for breakfast, I joined them. I did not need to ask to speak, for they all sensed the changes in me and were curious. I first ate my toast, drank some fresh passion fruit juice (we grow it in our garden, in a small protected area), and knowing that if I have to, I can now withdraw for the rest of the day if I feel embarrassed, I gave a tentative smile and there was a sudden silence (thanks to Cherine mentally shushing them). It is not necessary to say so, but I’ll repeat myself, Ordinx and Solomon are constantly with us, so they were part of my audience.
“I’m going to speak aloud, as I don’t mind being overheard if they can hear us. Protector, if you can spare some of your attention, I would like you to listen, as you are likely to know best of all of us if my suppositions are wrong.
Robert has mentioned that he believes the spider is ancient, that he or she has been in power for a long time. I wondered just what such a truth could mean for us and what conclusions I can draw about him from those truths.
As Perikli has told us, he knows that they are able to move their center of awareness to the bodies of children. The spider would not concentrate on acquiring such an ability just for the purpose of rewarding his strongest leaders. He must have first needed it for himself - and only then seen the value of doing the same for those who serve him well, without divulging the source - or door as we call it - or teaching them the power.
Are we to believe that he does not have a healer? The just mentioned facts would seem to indicate so, but I think we would be better off taking for granted that he does have a healer, after all, it does seem to be the most basic gift of all, even animals having it to some degree. Assuming I am right, why then has he the need of the bodies of children?
There are at least two answers - possibilities - to the question that come to mind. Either he has not thought of using his healer to rejuvenate himself, or does not believe he can, and therefore his healer cannot, or else, he can and does not use bodies of living children for himself, he only pretends to do so as a ruse, as he does not wish to offer the same benefit to those under him, as they could then feel they no longer need him.
Examining writings about psychic abilities, even those from periods before Christ, though the ability to use the energies of the body to heal are often mentioned, even for healing others, I have not read of the healer becoming a personality the person can communicate with. I suspect that without such a partnership, it is not possible to maintain the same constant level of peak health we have and thus, the body cannot be rejuvenated at will - as it was with Robert in the beginning, when he could not communicate with his healer.”
1334
h4>Perikli exclaimed, “Samantha, these are not things the spider should learn from us!”
I sensed everyone agree with him, so I asked Cherine, “If Robert were here, how would he answer?”
Cherine’s face paled, but she answered me, “He would insist that sharing information is always to our advantage - Sam, this is so important…if they are spying on us and they can achieve all we can do, this war will never end.” I sensed the entire roomful of hearts agree with her.
I do not have the right to force my beliefs on others, especially when not even one other agrees with me. I mumbled, “Then we’ll continue the discussion mentally.”
The protector took on the form of a man, somewhat like Robbie in appearance. “May I speak?”
We were all too awed to answer, so it was Candy who did. “You look like Robert! Why do you have to ask to speak, aren’t you a part of him?” We each gave each other embarrassed looks and the protector must have felt how we all agreed he speak, so he did so.
“I often disagree with Robert, especially when I feel he is placing my charges in danger. I have not been proven right very often, so I have come to the conclusion that my blind instincts, as created by Robert, are not my most dependable tool for providing the best protection. As I assume you can deduce, this leaves me feeling confused and often troubled. Now Samantha has taken a stand in accordance with what Robert has declared he believes and even Cherine does not agree with her. Cherine, my instincts demand of me that I agree with you, but should I?”
Cherine was silent for a long time and nobody dared speak, all of us waiting - willing to wait for as long as she needs. Us girls sensed her share from Dommi, but I felt she was not sharing her ideas, her opinion, she was reaching to find the courage she needed. She had been looking down at her hands in her lap and she looked up and there were tears flooding her eyes.
“No, you should not.”
“Thank you Cherine. I do not agree with all of you and I support Samantha. She must continue to speak aloud. As protector, I am trying to ensure you have full privacy, but if they can hear her, then it is because Robert would want them to learn from us. Samantha, I would suggest that creating a healer of our kind…,” he gave me a self-conscious smile, “requires an openness, a willingness and need to share. I do not think you can teach them how to create a healer personality.”
It was as if a sunbeam lit up my mind and I stared at him ecstatically as his form faded. Cherine, as usual, peeked and her face lit up also. This time we shared with all and our communication was mind to mind, because it also needed to be heart to heart. We had not realised that having the kind of healer we have is only possible if we are willing to give up some of our autonomy and depend on it, giving it our full trust. I can see how a spider could never share his powers with a protector or healer. It is thanks to our Robbie that we are like this - not Cherine as we’d assumed. No one was happier to learn this than our own Cherine.
I guess it had to be Perikli, so it was him who prompted me, “Please continue, Samantha.”
Jonathan asked, “Is it possible the protector is wrong? What convinces it that the spider cannot even share some of his powers with a power that is a part of him?”
Dommi answered, “You’ve all seen how the healer of Robert has messed with his mind and used its powers to frighten Robert whenever it felt it was justified. Can you really see the spider sharing such powers with a part of himself he has little control over?”
Alki added, “I’ll ask a question so as to highlight what is being said. When the spider learnt about us, surely it must have felt contempt for us when it learnt what our powers and gifts are based on? Don’t we see that attitude among all strong and practical people, that they feel contempt for the dreamers, for the tree huggers, as the Americans call them? What if the spider had approached us with an offer - use your healer to keep me healthy and young and I will not interfere with your group, as a matter of fact, if you are ever threatened, I’ll do what I can to protect you. How would we…how would our Roberto have reacted?”
I nodded. “It is not important how Robert would have reacted, what is important is that the spider did not make an effort to win us over.” I gave a half-laugh. “There doesn’t seem to be much I can say about healers, after what we’ve just learnt. However, it may be worth examining how not having our kind of healers would affect someone who otherwise possesses enormous psychic powers. The question is only relevant in the context of the spider learning about the Cherinians and about our healers.
Imagine that you are feeling like a god; you are the tip of the greatest advance of evolution for the last ten thousand years…and then you learn that evolution betrayed you, creating other mutants with powers you do not have - the most important being the one that enables them to stay young for as long as they want, or at least, so it seems. Would you want them wiped off the face of the Earth? Does that explain why the first attack was an overkill? A missile that would not even leave our atoms in a recognisable form to share this planet with him?”
Themi smiled. “You are making sense, Samantha.”
So Claudia added, “For once.” Everybody laughed, including me.
As soon as everyone had sobered a bit, I continued, “The spider must have known that it is only Robert who can fight back, for he concentrated on getting rid of him. Then he discovers we have another Robert. He knows the one with us is an alternate and without the powers our Robert exhibited, so he must be sorely puzzled. How is it we can still fight off his troops and how are we able to continue to paralyse them, blocking their powers? Something else we have not given much thought to, the spider did not gather his group of psychics so as to fight us. He must have found them useful over the years and grew them into the thousands so as to control governments and large corporations. Is his control slipping? Have they realised yet that he can no longer control them, or are they bluffing and habit of thought keeps them in control while their master tries to get rid of us?
Solomon, Ordinx, if he is reading a copy of our diary, he knows about you and must be trying to find powers for attacking you. I suggest you keep an eye on souls from Earth while they visit the void. Anyone who shows awareness, it might be a good idea to follow them back to their bodies, for checking on who they are and whether they are part of the spider organisation.”
I know that I did not contribute any new ideas, but by analysing the situation in a way that hopefully makes sense, I think it becomes possible to think of our enemies as people with problems and weaknesses, instead of them being just a nightmare, faceless monsters we don’t want to think about. After I finished talking, I was pleased by the way everyone discussed my ideas and ideas of their own and I think the anxiety levels within the house must have dropped by a few degrees, making life more tolerable for all of us.
1335
h4>Elia phoned a catering company he has often used and asked for a meal to be prepared for us, chose the courses and consulted with Charlie as to what Chinese foods they would like to eat and we are having our big meal tomorrow - though the catering people are upset that we will not allow their waiters to enter. We’ll take over their trolleys at the front door. Our request is unusual, so Elia had to offer to pay something extra, including compensation for anything damaged. Six of the adults will revert to adults for receiving the food and, if our protector feels he can cope, the rest of the adults will revert to adults for the meal - so that they can enjoy some wine and brandies afterwards. Elia told those who were worried about doing this, that it is a good way for us to fight back and Alki backed him.
Our feast turned into a bit of a party last night. It wasn’t a joyous party, just a nice relaxed party, with the occasional sad patches when we forgot ourselves and thought of how much we miss our Robbie and Aganthi. Irene was a sweetheart and did her best to make everyone feel good.
Today would be a good day for Meli to continue with her story - I guess she must be feeling very nervous, as we learnt that Ordinx has been passing on her tellings and all the Anadir Worlds are now waiting for the next episode.
h4>“Once Akleet and Reveena had rejoiced, shown each other their love, without mating, Akleet found himself wondering about the slow-island. He felt that the gravity is not right, perhaps a tenth of a percent too light. Reveena agreed, but she was not concerned, certain he would arrive at the correct answer. While he struggled with finding a way to reconcile what is with what should be, she examined the plants which resembled the food plants of their island. She could not smell, taste or feel - texture and so on - any differences, and since she did not want Akleet risking his wellbeing by testing the plants, she nibbled at a few of them and then waited for negative effects. After twenty minutes she nibbled at another two plants and, finding some tsit-tsit eggs, she popped a few. These were the first foods to taste different, so she waited. Once she was convinced there would be no ill effects, she gathered a meal for Akleet and herself. Even though she took the trouble to give him detailed information about the food being local and of her precautions, he did not pay any attention and ate his food mechanically, still absorbed by the gravity difference.
h4>“The only answer I can find, Onn-Revee, to explain the slighter gravity, is that this island must have many bubbles of air within the ground, reducing its mass.”
“That could be useful. If they are deep and big enough, we could use them as storage space for our harvests, without having to waste energy creating them.”
“There are many kinds of plants, yet I do not recall seeing any rivers or lakes.”
“Where do the clouds come from?” Then her practical streak took over. “First we choose the site and create a shelter for us, then we gather food and then we worry about the clouds…well, while we gather, we can note where there are swamp plants. Under them we’ll find water.”
As she searched and gathered, Akleet silently followed her, lost in his thoughts. Reveena asked a question and when he did not reply, she turned to look at him. There was nobody behind her. She called out and then, afraid for the first time, she ran back the way they’d come. She reached the place she had last talked with him and then retraced her steps, trying to identify places where his path diverged from hers, but the ground was too softly covered with resilient plants that do not easily break or bruise. That night Reveena did not sleep and by morning she was weeping, convinced something must have killed him.
h4>Akleet woke to darkness, not the darkness of outdoors, more like the darkness of his bedroom, so, for a moment he thought he had only dreamt the voyage across space. He first realised the air is different, the mustiness more like that of a cave than of his unwashed clothing. Then he felt the ache of a blow between his eyes. Only then did he recall walking with Reveena and the ground suddenly disappearing beneath his feet.
He felt the loops on his left side and finding the lamp, switched it on. The ceiling appeared to be about forty metres above him, but it was made of wiry strands hanging towards him - he realised he was looking at roots, which meant he could not jump, grab at them and swing his way to the entrance. he was not confident his arms had the strength, even if the roots did. He noticed that at some places the ground is softer, more like mud.
The only reason he found the tunnel was because he noticed fine wet moss was pointing in one direction. As he approached the cave wall he saw that part of the wall is not solid, it is made of roots. He pushed some of them aside and stretching out his arm with the lamp he looked as far as the light reached. At least the floor was only wet, there was no deep pool of water blocking his way.
To conserve fuel he was forced to switch off his lamp, lighting it only whenever he feels a change in the tunnel. The ground he walked on was very slippery and he had to keep his feet splayed as widely as he could while holding on to roots at the sides. The sounds of his breathing changed, so he lit his lamp and saw that the tunnel split into four tunnels. Each of them would be a tight fit and he worried that they might narrow further on. He threw small stones and heard in two of them a splash. Those he now ignored and tried to work out which of the remaining two to enter. In the end he chose the one that seemed to rise towards the surface. Within a hundred metres it began to turn downwards and he stopped.
The tunnel was not wide enough for him to turn, so he was forced to walk backwards until he exited the tunnel a few hours later. It felt as if every root and rock had tried to prevent him rejecting the tunnel, snagging on his clothes and equipment attached to his sides. Relieved that he’d made his way back, he sat for a rest and to think. He ended up falling asleep.
1336
h4>Suddenly all lights went out and we found ourselves in total darkness. Even the air felt different - and for a moment I thought it was Meli trying to make us feel what it is like for Akleet in his underground tunnels. The normal sounds of a suburb died and only our mind contacts kept us aware of each other. The protector spoke in our minds, *I apologise for startling you, but we are under attack and the only instant protection I could offer you was by placing you within a different space belonging to my mind - I learnt to do it from you Melina.*
*What about our house…and the cell bank?* Dommi asked.
*They are under my protection; the cells may need to be replaced, though they are not being attacked directly. The mind attacking you causes flesh to decay, ageing it years within seconds, which is why I had to remove you until the attacker has been neutralised by the Sparklers. I regret I was not fast enough to prevent any decay, but your healers have assured me that they are coping with the problems caused and even as I speak you are back at full health.*
I told Cherine, *Robbie is going to be excited by this new development in our protector.* I giggled in her mind. *Maybe it was worth rotting for a second or two so that it is forced to grow - I wonder whether we smelled a bit like rotting meat.* They had to wait until we were returned for them to throw pillows at me. For the first time, the kids of Alki and Marian joined in, thinking it is a game, and threw pillows at me and then at everyone else, so that it turned into a free-for-all, with even some of the adults joining in.
h4>For some reason, which she did not share with us, Meli did not feel like telling her story the next day, so we’ve had plenty of time to consider the attacks and talk about how we are feeling. Not surprisingly, it is the adults who are feeling impatient of our confinement. I think they are beginning to want to be adults again, for I notice they are taking turns by the bar more often. I spoke privately with Cherine and Dommi and we then discussed our decision with the protector. When it agreed, the two of us asked Dommi to be the one to speak.
“Looking back at the various attacks, it is obvious that after each attack, we were left alone for a small or large period. The protector has considered our suggestion and agrees with us. After an attack, you may all revert to adults for a few hours. Even though you know that you will become children again, you may indulge yourselves and drink or whatever else it is you wish to enjoy, for when your healers revert you to children they will clear your bodies of anything harmful.” Dommi gave a little smile. “We are confident of our theory and the protector can protect you while you change back to children during an attack, but we are not confident enough of our theory for any of us to agree to you leaving our home.”
They thought we meant they could do so now, so they immediately changed. We kept quiet, since it was good to feel how they are feeling. Dommi then insisted that all of us who are in actual years still babies must revert to babies for a while. I doubt we emoted the same good feelings, but after being cuddled we were soon emoting a sort of mindless contentment.
After everyone reverted to the childish ages required, everyone was full of good spirits for the day, so Meli only continued with her narration after a break of four days.
h4>“When Akleet woke up, he lay in the darkness thinking. Sleep had helped clear his mind and he thought more logically than he had previously. Mentally he went through the list of items he was carrying and came up with a plan. His first action was to return to the cave where he first fell into the underground network. As he walked, by feel he handled the end of the rope he carried, unravelling it so that he ends up with about sixteen strands. He then attached climbing hooks to each strand.
Once he was back in the cave, he lit his lamp and searched for the roof opening. Once he’d identified it, he placed the lamp on the ground, directly under his target, counted out about two metres of rope for swinging the hooks and gathering his energy for the strongest jump he’d ever performed, he jumped straight up, swinging the hooks so that they collided with the roots within the hole. As he’d hoped, more than half of them became entangled within the roots. As he fell back, he let go the rope so as not to jerk the hooks. On his feet once more, Akleet raised the lamp, took a good look at the exact spot he would be aiming for, automatically calculating direction, speed and so on, so that he would arrive at the correct place, switched off the lamp and clipped it to a loop. He then jumped as high as he could, his hands stretched out in search of the rope as close to the top as possible. Before he lost his momentum he was already climbing, dragging himself through the sharp downward facing root tips.
As soon as his head broke through the surface, Akleet forced an arm through for gripping roots on the surface and with his other hand he patiently unhooked the barbs one by one. Carefully he forced the hook ends of the rope out of the hole, attaching a few hooks to the stronger roots stretched out across the surface. Only then did he pull himself out, his strong legs digging into the side and pushing him up. Within seconds he was lying on the ground.
His elation at succeeding soon had him recovered and back on his feet. He looked around him for signs of what direction Reveena had travelled, but he found too many, jumbled and facing in various directions, so he deduced that she had returned to search for him and had not noticed the hole. When he looked, he realised he could no longer see the hole, so it made sense to him.
He still recalled from which direction they had come and in which direction they were headed, so he felt that his best bet would be to follow their original route. Half an hour later he found her. She was fast asleep and he saw signs of strain on her face and the salty tracks of tears around her eyes. His eyes filled at the pain he imagined he had caused her and he waited as silently as he could for her to wake up, intending to abjectly apologise.
As her eyes opened, he tenderly leant over, ready to apologise. She called out, “Akleet!” and grabbing him around his neck she pulled until his face was against hers. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”
She would not let him apologise and demanded details. Hearing of his adventures she grew afraid again at learning how close she had come to losing him forever. She grabbed his arms and forcefully told him, “Nearly losing you, it showed me how much I’ve grown to love you. Akleet, do you love me?”
“I thought you knew I do!”
“You idiot! Just tell me!”
“Uh…sorry, of course. Onn-Revee, I love you far more than as sister.”
1337
h4>“Why did it take you so long to find out!? Me too Akleet, me too, I love you more than as a brother - and maybe more than I love myself. Now, what are we going to do about it?”
He stared at her, lost for words. Then he chuckled. “Not much we can do until we return to our own island.”
She shook her head, amazed at his lack of perception. “You fool, I meant you are supposed to kiss me.”
Meli gave us a look and then pointedly stared at the adult children as she told us, “I won’t go into any further details about that day and night, for we have children present. I’ll skip forward.” Our adults sensed her reasons and put up a hullabaloo, protesting in silly ways, as if they truly are children, doing what they could to make us laugh.
h4>Afterwards we made some Milo for everyone and Lua offered to sing some Chinese songs for us, if Wendy and Candy provide the background music vocally. She does not emote-sing like Wendy does, at least, not to the same degree, but with our two girls adding their own voices and emoting, it was overpoweringly beautiful. When Ordinx and Solomon departed immediately after the girls finished singing, we knew why they’d left and were pleased at the implied compliment. Being a pleasant evening outside, we went to sit in the garden in little groups, chatting and laughing until it was time for us to reluctantly go to bed. We usually don’t enjoy going to bed, for this is the time of sharpest reminder that we do not have our two loves with us.
h4>Pappou asked, at breakfast, for Elia, Niko and Dommi and Wing to join him in Robbie's office. At the last moment he asked Claudia to join them and she went with them with a rosy glow to her cheeks. Apparently he showed them a number of stock exchange graphs, pointing out certain up and down swings he considered important and then told them they should discuss his opinion of what is happening in the sitting room, with everyone present.
h4>“I showed them some graphs that depict the market changes over the last two years. I will now explain what I fear is happening, but first I’ll give a little of the history, as I know that not many of you have followed the markets.
Everything follows the same pattern, at a time and for a period suitable to each aspect of our lives. For instance, the world climates swing from hot to cold, even to ice ages. Some people think that ice ages are a thing of the distant past, but they are not - we are actually overdue for another ice age. Business, market forces, follow the same general pattern. For years now we’ve had a growing economy and most professionals have been worrying that economies in Japan, Europe, Britain and America, have been over-heating. This comes about for a number of reasons, but I’ll keep it simple - it mostly happens because the demand for products is growing faster than the ability of the market to meet such demand. A number of times we thought the market was about to correct itself, but new technologies and various political events have kept the market growing. This means that when the crash arrives, it will be worse than it would have been if the correction had occurred at the right time.
When Elia and I sold our businesses, we could only invest small amounts in business, the rest we had to invest in the stock exchange...various stock exchanges, so as to minimise the effect of us entering the market with large amounts. As at the end of last month, we estimate our joint cash capital has nearly tripled, to about eleven billion Euros.”
h4>Being a Cherinian he sensed everyone’s reactions and gave us a moment to absorb the information. He then told us, “The signs indicate that the market is about to swing. The correction will not happen in one step. There will be a small correction, then the market will swing up and vacillate a number of times, but the average will keep on sinking. Then suddenly it will plummet and there will be worldwide panic. I fear the damage will be so vast that even a few of the unstable governments will collapse.”
He paused and Elia took over. “We can sense your shock and…no Cherine, this is not because of the spider, though I’m certain he must also be manipulating the markets. Alki is not trying to warn you that we are about to lose all our money - to the contrary, money can be made by the markets swinging up or down, but not when they remain static. Stable economies and markets are usually the least profitable. I’ll allow Alki to take over again, as he had a reason for this talk.”
Alki sighed. “I wish Robert were here. For me, it is not only words when I call him our leader, and I would have liked to have his opinion, for I am thinking of taking a very big gamble. Either we’ll increase our wealth a number of times, or else, if I’m wrong, we could end up losing all we have.”
h4>By now Cherine was flitting between the minds of Dommi and me, hoping to catch some thought that will help guide her. She gave up and turned to Dommi. “I don’t think we should make any decision. Just like we kept telling Robert that we refuse to vote, we must do the same now. The two of them made their wealth without us helping them and the two of them must keep on making the decisions, because only they really know what they are talking about.” She squared her shoulders and faced our pappou. “Alki, Elia, I am certain Robert would have said exactly the same.”
h4>We were impressed when Alki confided to us that he is preparing to purchase a controlling interest in a major English bank once its value has collapsed. “Banking systems and laws are changing and it seems most of the financial world has not realised just how important the changes will be. I will need to leave the house for a meeting tomorrow. A banker I‘ve known since my early days, when I was at the early stages of building my fortune, is arriving in Greece to meet with me. He has often helped me in the past and I trust him, my problem is the lot of you. I know you will not want to allow me to be outside the protection of our protector, but I cannot allow you to remain unprotected for me to go to the meeting.”
“Why don’t you invite him to your home next door?”
“Dommi, as I said, he has been a friend for years, but I cannot say I know him well enough for me to place everyone I love at risk. How can I know whether he is part of the spider organisation or not?”
1338
h4>I spoke up, “Do you know any of the companies who have rented space in what used to be the Apergi Hotel? It is close enough to Kefalari Square for you to meet there under the protection of our protector.”
“No…that is a good idea but we don’t have enough time to research them.”
Dommi asked, “Did you arrange his accommodation?”
“Yes, he is booked at a hotel in Kefalari.”
Claudia grinned. “Is he a womaniser? Will he be distracted if you are surrounded by beautiful women?”
“With the lot of you? Even if he is gay he will be distracted.”
“Was that meant to be a compliment?” Marian asked and she answered his grin with a kiss. “What were you thinking of?” she asked Claudia.
“We can all make ourselves adults and come with. We can also carry the cells in the flasks Robert used for the night we went out. If the meeting is as important as pappou seems to think it is, if they blow up our houses, so what, we can bear the loss.”
h4>All us Cherinian girls agreed not to cheat, that we will make ourselves look more normal, so that the banker is not distracted by our presence in the coffee shop, but then we insisted the men do likewise. As may be imagined, we ended up laughing and teasing each other.
Alki and Elia had tried to object, but they had no other solution and, when Cherine pointed out that our presence and that of the protector ensures their meeting will really be private, they caved in. Most of the coffee shops in Kefalari tend to be frequented by the young, mostly in their twenties. Alki decided we need something slightly less informal, so the meeting was held at the Eidelweiss. We could not drift in, in smaller groups, we had to all arrive together, so the management emoted that they were about to have heart attacks as they frantically moved chairs and tables to suit us. I bet they also panicked in the kitchens when they were given over fifty orders for Baked Alaskas.
Coming out like this affected all of us and as a crowd we were too animated to be normal customers, so we pretended we were there to celebrate the win of AEK over Panathinaikos (Greek football teams). We were amused when a couple of the waiters also turned out to be AEK fans and tried to discuss details about the game with us. Luckily Perikli is a fan and had watched the game with Savva and Tasso.
Speaking of heart attacks - I know the protector does not have a (physical) heart, but I think some of my loves must have made him feel like he is also having a heart attack. They dashed out of the Eidelweiss to check the latest magazines at the kiosk on the other side of the road. I’m certain the kiosk owner must have been puzzled to see women in their mid-thirties buying up so many of his magazines for teenagers, plus a number of more serious financial magazines. At least the girls also bought lots of chocolates for everyone.
h4>Efthimis Mpakatakis, the banker friend of Alki, looked relaxed as he threaded his way between our tables, but we could sense how tense he is. He had expected to meet Alki under very private conditions in his office, not publicly, with other people at the same table. He recognised Elia, but not Dommi. Then he saw Perikli and changed direction, going to his table.
In a very respectful manner he greeted him, “Stratige, I am pleased to meet you, it has been at least four years since we last met. You are well?” He gave a small laugh. “What am I saying - you look at least twenty years younger!”
Perikli did not show he was feeling a bit flustered. “I have discovered that there is slightly more to life than being a Stratigos, so I admit having friends does seem to make me feel younger.” He grinned, patting his tummy. “Losing weight also helped. Does life in London agree with you?” Suddenly Perikli realised Cherine was at their side and that she wanted to be introduced. “Ah…this is a good friend of mine, may I introduce you? Efthimi, this is Cherine.” She shook his hand, nodded to Alki and returned to her seat, leaving a very perplexed Efthimi staring at her back.
He then pointedly stared at Perikli, who gave a slightly embarrassed smile. “I’m sorry, she is very much a law unto herself - still, I can assure you that you should feel honoured that she was interested enough to join us to meet you.”
Efthimis leant over and whispered, “Ahh, you are in love my friend? I understand. I hope we can meet again before I leave Greece…but Mr Georgiades is waiting for me, I must take my leave.”
h4>The meeting lasted for five hours and our minds were swirling with all we’d learnt. Alki had told us to share from Dommi as he expected the meeting to be very instructive and he wants us to understand his reasons for wanting to get into banking. We understand, but some of us are also facing the possibility with mixed emotions. If all goes as said, yes, Alki will become even more unbelievably wealthy and his power within the financial sector will grow, plus his influence over some governments. If Alki does as he is thinking of doing, it will probably be of great benefit for all us Cherinians. However, I am worried, for I did not like what I heard - I get the feeling the changes will only make life even worse for most people, as it gives the banks and financial markets to much power. I am not speaking out against what Alki wishes to do because I trust him and feel that the best way we can bring down their new financial dictatorships will be by us doing so from within.
Alki confirmed to Efthimis Mpakatakis that when the right bank is identified and the circumstances are favourable, he will not need to delay and can move fast. He also made the man happy by ‘almost’ confirming that he will be the CEO, under the Chairman they both choose. If I were Alki, I would demand that everyone on the Board of Directors signs an undated resignation letter, just in case they don’t vote the way Alki wants. As I said, that is what I would do if it was me, but then I know almost nothing of business and there are probably a number of reasons why it cannot be done - as for the should not be done, I’ll leave it to ethical people like Robbie to decide. My understanding of ethics tends to stop at the point where I do not allow anyone to prevent me from sabotaging the system.
1339
h4>Once Mpakatakis left to visit family in Psychiko, we chose to stay where we are so as to eat food that is not normally cooked at home. I chose lamb brains pane, because Robbie had told me how much he loves it, and I admit I enjoyed my meal.
It is just as well that the adults tend to always carry cash with them, for we mobbed the kiosk, wiping out his stock as we bought whatever each of us best love from the chocolates, sweets and biscuits. It is strange how most of us who were born in Greece mostly buy imported biscuits, while Cherine, Rose, Keith and Annabelle always choose locally made.
h4>The adults think us girls are being very brave (stoical?), but the truth is, we are not as strong as we let them think. The one who has to bear the brunt of our misery is Meli, for whenever any of us need to cry, we go to her world. She’ll leave us alone as we weep, unless she senses we need loving arms wrapped around us as we cry on a loved ones’ shoulder. In some things I am one of the strong ones, but in coping with the absence of our Robbie, I am not.
Meli partly chooses the times for telling us the story of Akleet and Reveena according to our need for distraction. This time Candy asked, mainly because she was bored, so we all took our places on cushions on the carpet so that most of our friends can use the chairs and couches.
h4>“Although the couple were happy explorers, for they were also exploring and coming to terms with the changes their love brought to their lives, they also remembered to take their responsibilities as explorers of the island seriously. They found springs where the water bubbling out of the ground, only formed a stream of a few metres and than sank out of sight again. They learnt that trying to create ponds can have dire consequences. They blocked one stream, diverting it to a hollow and dammed it with mud and sticks. For five days the pond grew and then the entire area collapsed. Akleet mentioned how he’d noticed that the roof of the cave was made up of roots, whereas the roofs of the tunnels were made of rocks and soil. They entered their observations for Tarrata to study and did not give the matter another thought.
‘I had not expected to miss the company of family and friends - even strangers would be welcome right now.’
Akleet considered her with eyes thoughtful, but also loving. ‘As long as I am with you, I do not need any others. Onn-Revee, I was going to suggest that after we have returned and helped others to this island, that you and I move on to find more islands we can live on. If you are going to feel lonely, maybe we should get some friends to join us?’
‘I don’t mind being lonely now and then, Akleet, not if I am with you. Before we glide to other islands, can we stay home long enough for us to marry?’
‘We will then need to mate!’
She giggled. ‘We will no longer be brother and sister, it is allowed.’
‘We cannot explore new islands if we mate, Onn-Revee, you must not risk gliding if you carry.’
She was not pleased by that thought, but wanted to explore with him, to see new worlds and maybe find new plants and creatures, but not to mate…that was an unnatural thought to hold. She set it aside for after their return.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)8th July, 2019
- posted on Steemit: 8th July, 2019