We arrived six months after our last visit and it was lovely being with Efineh again. I’ve warned her to prepare for being absent from her centres for a while, as I want her with us.
7621
Everyone is awed by the changes in Sebura. In some ways they think he has improved, but in some ways they find him alien and don’t like his ways. I’m certain he’ll soon adjust to being with his people again. Two nights after we arrived, Ashema came to visit. I ignored his customs and gave him a hug before settling on the couch with my legs under me as he poured himself a beer.
“It is rare for the council to act as we have done, but we did not want to create problems should you advise us not to announce our decision. Samantha, we think it is time that Sebura be made a permanent elder.”
“Will you allow us to hold a feast to celebrate this day?” He laughed and agreed. Seeing he was in a good mood, I teased, “So, this white demon succeeded? He is a good Orati now?”
He did not smile at my sally. “We do not understand how it is that you have opened him to our ways and customs by taking him to other worlds.”
“All I did is show him many ways of being, customs of other worlds, so that he could compare and see how important his own are. It was his heart we had to touch Ashema.”
“Yes, Samantha, Toucher of Hearts.” Robbie moaned in my mind when I wrote ‘toucher’ since the word does not exist, but it was the best approximation of the word Ashema used. As for the title he gave me, since everyone, it seems, calls me a manipulator, I already had the title. J
The scientists who’d stayed behind to maintain a watch and also see that the gorillas have food, advised me they’ve transferred the gorillas to another Earth. They’ve chosen one where the gorillas have all been slaughtered and hundreds of Terran Cherinian volunteers are keeping a watch on them, to block all hunters. On that world they also have to block hunters from America and Europe!
I’d expected Skotos to have forgotten me, so I was touched when he nickered as I came within sight and galloped to me. Gently he bumped me with his head so, with a laugh of pure joy, I sprinted across the field, always staying close to him, but letting him take the lead. When we returned at a walk, he led me to a mare with a foal close to her. The foal did not have his colouring and I don’t know enough about horses to even take a guess, but, being the kind of person I am, I’ll take a wild guess and say Skotos was the father (it does add some legitimacy to my wild guess that there was no other stallion within sight).
The Orati exhibited pleasure when they saw me arrive on horseback, but kept their distance until I’d alighted. They felt that for me to have brought him I intend staying a long time. I hate it when people presume like that and then I have to disappoint them. I brought Skotos back because I want him with me in Freddie for a while.
I attended lessons over the next few days and I forgot about leaving soon. I told Robbie that what is happening is exciting and can be used everywhere, even on our planet. I’m so proud of Efineh and the loves of Samuel, they’ve advanced far beyond what I’d hoped for and now are appointing locals to lead the lessons. What excites me is that they’ve taken the lessons in a new direction, not just concentrating on theory, but on how those theories work in real life and they discuss the advantages of living as if they are Cherinians and the opposite. Their examples are mostly based on how it will affect them and their families, living to our standards among Normals who do not have the same beliefs. The women are very practical and find good answers that can be applied everywhere. Perhaps our dreams can begin to make sense to the ordinary working man and woman on our Earths also. Robbie watched with me and agreed that Efineh must train more people so that we can ‘borrow’ them.
Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety Three
Will we have to live with fear as our spur forever?
When time passes without attacks we relax and our powers of observation are no longer sharpened by the attitude of suspicion, therefore making us easy targets. When we are at this reality, because of the massive amount of new knowledge to be gained and the dangers of the future splitting of the continents, Freddie is the arrival point for many Cherinians from all realities while others arrive directly on planet. Often they bring with them scientists who are or are not Cherinians and apart from making them welcome we do not pay them much attention. Unfortunately, neither does Freddie.
7622
A man was brought, he collected data and returned to his home on his own. We’d sensed he was not a Cherinian, but presumed he either was an Ipohin or a Campbellite since he could teleport. This morning, while most of us were on planet, about eighty men and women arrived, jumped directly to the ecological niche shields, placed their bombs and jumped to wherever they’d come from. The shields are within Freddie and so they are not bombproof and they tore apart with the explosions.
The most susceptible to the contamination of germs, bacteria and viruses from all the partitions mingling were the Fegorians. They cannot sheathe themselves and their healers, those that have them, are not as efficient as all the others. Mostly their healers concentrate on the lower parts where their heads and organs are and the ‘balloon’ part of their bodies are usually ignored, as little can go wrong with them. All their healers do is keep that part of their body supple and rejuvenated so that they do not lose their ability to float at the height they prefer.
The first job everyone concentrated on was the sheathing of the Fegorians, our healers rid them of any cross-species bacteria and they were transported to a specially prepared for them section of the Sparkler World. Healers remained with them in case any sicken.
Robbie concentrated on repairing the shields while everyone else did what they could to kill many of the germs and so on. We’ll not succeed in ridding our partition of all that came across and it is likely we’ll need years of monitoring to be certain there is nothing harmful remaining. That means we cannot even return to our home world without sheathing ourselves. At least the alien ecological niches are easier to cleanse and return to pristine conditions.
In the first hours I also helped all I could, while we sent out Cherinians to warn all Earths and alien friends that nobody should visit Freddie - that we are under self-imposed quarantine. When I took a break to eat I also began to think. I called for Robbie and the entire family and friends came.
“Dad, you must return to our reality. They must have had a reason for their attack. They did not try to kill us, only immobilise us so that we cannot return home for a while. They must be planning something and you have to be there to stop them. Don’t announce your return, keep it secret for as long as you can, only letting Michael and close friends know so that they are ready to help. Take Cherine, Tseri, Haven, Jade, Robyn and Allan with you. I’ve sent eiu to bring Akiar, Kairi, Ameka and Imokka for them to join you, they will arrive at our Orati centre. Eleni, would you and Jessie mind staying behind? Robbie, I think we should also ask Sebura to go with you. He has not been contaminated so you must take him and the Akiards directly without passing through Freddie.”
“You expect them to attack there and ask that I take others with me? No Sam, they stay, I’ll only take Sebura.”
“We have the Unation and Inguel ships watching over us, plus the Anadir and all the other species, you won’t have much help on that side Dad, you have to take them. Take more if you want, but not less. Cherine has to go with, she is the most powerful of all of us.”
Alki spoke up. “She is right Robert, you must take them. Samantha, would it not be better I go with?”
“No, I want your practical head here with me, we might need you. Alki, can you take over and arrange our defences?” Within minutes we’d hugged, the girls who were leaving giving me an extra hard hug, and they left. We returned to sterilising our air, water, plants, animals and so on.
Five days have passed and we’ve relaxed a little, which is why I took time to write of the above. Now we mostly worry about what is happening on the other side. Since they can time event their jumps they should have been back by now, even if they spent a year there.
Ten days. Last night we were attacked again. Freddie does not allow anyone to enter, but they attacked from the outside. They were not able to penetrate the outer shields and Freddie jumped to the void and returning suddenly, the Wirms wished the Unation ship outside. They attacked and the enemy disappeared. The Unation ship is staying outside to watch for attacks on our outer shield and on planet.
7623
7624
Jesus, Christós and others from their worlds that they called to help them, caught the culprits. They are from another ‘magic’ reality they and we have not visited. Jesus was about to go off to their reality to tell off their Jesus, but Christós stopped him, reminding him of what happened last time he thought to impose his own code of conduct on another Jesus. We sent them a couple of bottles of wine and a hamper with their favourite foods as they have to keep watch by the safe until we change the code.
7625
Your suggestion has been implemented and Jesus and Christós have left their friends with us while they go to visit the new Jesus. We’ve been forced to confide to the leaders of the Normals about the attack, but only told them they wanted to steal information without explaining what the information is. I’m glad the charges against Robert were dropped. By then Robbie had already brought back to life the shopkeeper and he has agreed not to speak to the media. I think experiencing the void and seeing us there has made him eager to become a Cherinian. (I know, it was not morally right, but we will confess later on, we just have to handle the situation as it is right now.)
We’re returning to Efineh just after Candy’s departure as they must also be worried. By the way, I did ask Christós whether there is a spell that could warn them that someone jumped to Earth from another reality and they confirmed such a spell is possible, so that explains how they knew about my arrival. Michael is still trying to work out how they got at him and is very angry with himself. His bracelet did warn him he was in danger but he ignored it - at least he now believes in the bracelet. The strange thing is that he says his computer does show the chat, but he is certain it did not the last time he checked. We’ve worked out that the spell they placed on him probably blocked him from seeing it.
First thing I did on returning is take Skotos for a long and furious run. I’d needed to work it out of my system and I feel much better now. Christós returned just after lunch and told us the Jesus will keep a watch on our Earth for a few days.
Christós commented, “This is one of the strangest of our alternates we’ve met. He is world leader and yet he has withdrawn, as many of us seem to do. He loves good literature and not only spends hours every day reading, but has also translated many of the classics into Hebrew. We thought him an ineffective idealist, but when we told him of what had happened he did not waste time asking questions about you. He immediately took those who’d attacked you to their equivalent of a multi-nation organisation and with the media present charged them with treason, stating that they could have involved their planet in an inter-reality war and that such decisions rest only with him. Their justice system is swifter than I like and they were found guilty and their bodies were killed so that they would be forced to move on to their next lives.” Christós grimaced and laughed. “You should have seen the face of Jesus! He’d already formed the opinion that this alternate is weak and had felt contempt for him. After the executions we were officially invited to his home for a meal and since he did so in public we could not insult him by refusing and agreed. He politely waited for the meal to end before asking the questions that must have been driving him insane. He told us he’d felt there is a new power growing, but had decided that as long as it does not try to take control of his reality he will not act. Apparently he first travelled to alternate realities about five hundred years ago. He must have travelled only to the realities closest to him for he found the minor differences boring and stopped. He has asked that you visit him in Freddie.”
Robbie said, “We have the Robert who helped them to deal with first.” He grimaced. “Unfortunately we cannot act in the manner of your new alternate and have him executed.”
Sternly, not even asking, Christós stated, “You will leave him to me.” Startled Robbie looked into his eyes and nodded.
Christós set up his tent in a remote area and took the traitor Robert with him. His action demanded privacy so we have not monitored them. Shall I tell you a secret? I’m burning with curiosity. Sometimes being an ethical person is a real pain in the butt.
7626
As I was working my way towards saying, after three weeks in the wilderness with Christós, Robert was brought to the taverna. He looked at us shyly, but we could sense the hunger in him. Cherine took his hand and led him to a seat next to her. Maria brought him a coffee and placed cigarettes before him. Cherine told him to go ahead and he lit up.
“Don’t you have a Cherine?”
“I do. Not like you, our powers were very weak.”
“Were?” Robbie asked.
“Those who convinced me to help them helped open powers new to me.”
With a dismissive tone, Robbie said, “Powers,” he shrugged, as if emphasising they were of no importance, “no gifts?”
“It would not have served their purpose.” He glanced at Cherine. “Christós has given me excuses for what I did, but I have none. I was a fool and am willing to pay for my mistakes.”
Robbie asked, “Christo, what excuses have you given him?”
He smiled. “Don’t listen to him, he is just as obstinate as you. Robert, they used magic to coerce him. With spells they convinced him that you are evil and that he should help them. He thought he was freeing hundreds of realities from your tyranny by stealing information that would have broken your hold over us.” Christós grinned. “Unfortunately he failed.” Surprised by his humour we laughed and everyone relaxed.
Robbie stood up and the other Roberts joined him. “Robert, will you stand before me?” He did so and then almost pulled away as Robbie hugged him. “Welcome Robert. We look forward to meeting your Cherine.” The other Roberts did the same and he returned to his seat with unshed tears making his eyes glisten.
Later, when we were alone, Christós explained to me, “What took so long was the need for him to understand that he was a helpless pawn and should not blame himself.”
I grinned. “That is why you failed, no Robert would find his weakness an acceptable excuse.”
He nodded. “The problem is that neither will his Cherine.”
I kept my grin. “Don’t worry, we’ll handle her - we’ll set our Cherine on her. With Dommi helping her, the other Cherine doesn’t have a chance.” My grin died. “Christós, this has been a frightening experience for many of us. If this is how easily they can take our will from us, how can we fight the magi in the war with Dimi that Arthur told me about?”
“Only he knows what is to be Samantha. Do not forget, not all of us will be on their side, things will even out.”
“Do you know what still hurts? That Michael will abandon us. I wish he hadn’t told me that bit, it has spoilt our relationship.”
“You needed to tell Michael?”
“Yes.”
“Then that is why Arthur had to tell you.”
Despite my aching heart, I giggled. “You still think of Arthur as wise and all-knowing?”
7627
“I do not know what to think of him. You cannot imagine how many hours I spend struggling to find a way to bring him here so that he stops assuming for us. He is too unpredictable. It seems that if he wakes up in a bad mood his assuming changes for the worse. If he wakes in an exuberant mood, we pay for that also. What happened with the black hole experiment?”
“They did not find any concentration of our communications link. Sometimes I feel I need to jump to him just to hammer him over the head with a pillow for his stupid assuming that makes it so hard for us to find him. Every time we take a positive step forward, it seems some negative belief of his takes us two steps backwards.”
“I’ve tried an interesting experiment, perhaps you should try it. Put yourself in his shoes and imagine yourself writing a story and then your computer starts answering you, the characters you made up claiming they are real. Could you believe in them to the point where they can become real enough for them to crossover to our reality?”
Lib-Rob is growing to accept that he was a pawn and that no Robert can fight magic. However, as he finds peace on that front, his ache for his Cherine grows. We’ve decided to take him home. What would we have done if we didn’t have the Wirms? One of them shared his mental image of his Cherine and instantly Freddie was over another Earth.
The link of the local Robert / Cherine couple are not as weak as we’d thought. Cherine sensed him, but could not work out where he is. He showed us their apartment in London and Wendy jumped.
Cherine did not attack, she could sense Wendy was not a threat. “Who are you and how did you do that?”
Any other answer could have provoked her, so Wendy replied, “We have brought your Robert back for you.” She paused for it to sink in. “Would you like to visit us to join him?” She reached out and with doubt in her eyes, Cherine let her touch her. The poor girl would have fainted if she had not instantly been wrapped in the arms of her Robert.
It doesn’t matter how many times we experience it, the first time people learn about us and Freddie is beautiful - because of their emoting. Cherine was no exception and we mostly left it to her Robert to explain. When she met her first aliens she was both excited and terrified. Aliens who are not pleasant to the eye of Terrans are aware of the impact they’ll have and do not take exception, unless someone is exceptionally rude. Cherine surprised us by not reacting adversely to any of them. I guess she quickly learnt to concentrate on their emoting so that she felt how each of them are human.
7628
We arrived at the moment we’d all been dreading - because it embarrasses us. She learnt of how her Robert had been fooled into trying to steal from us and she cringed. As I’d promised, she got over it. I was wrong when I said it would be our Cherine and Dommi, it was Wendy. She really took a shine to her and over the next few days we could sense a special friendship growing between the two of them. We better search for her own Wendy soon.
Experiencing a telling with someone you love when it is your first time is the best. The girls packed it with details they knew the two were thirsting for, but kept the nightly hours shorter so that they’ll have time to digest what they’ve seen and therefore enjoy and understand the next telling.
I’ll first have to give some of the background of Robert and Cherine, their story is different enough for it to be interesting..
They met in Athens - actually, in Piraeus. Robert is friends with Nicko, but he never fell in love with Dominique, he thinks of her as a sister. Here is the part that only serves to reinforce our conviction that all Roberts and Cherines are fated to be together. Robert did not rent the same apartment as Robbie. He found an apartment in Piraeus so that he would be within walking distance of the office of Alki. As with Robbie, he’d drifted into designing web sites, but the brief period he’d spent as an artist, living in Chelsea, had made a deeper impression on him and he saw and dreamt of himself as being a ‘real’ artist. When he told Alki that he is painting in his own time and wants to sell his paintings, Alki not only gave him permission, but encouraged him with introductions to important contacts in the art world. Robert made the same mistake many foreigners do and rented a penthouse for the view and the light, not realising how hot it will get in the Summer as the sun heats up the concrete ceiling above his head. It also is more difficult to heat in the Winter and at that period of time the elevators were not maintained very well and he’d have to walk up or down seven flights fairly often.
Because of living in Piraeus, Robert did not meet with Nicko frequently, usually taking the electric train to Kifissia every second or third weekend. To pass his time he’d sit at a coffee shop during early evening and either cook or have a simple meal at one of the cheaper tavernas. Despite his absorption and the fever that gripped him whenever he began a picture that stirred him, he was incredibly lonely.
Now comes the shocker that disturbed our Robbie and the other Roberts. Robert is a paedophile.
He’d come across magazines, during the permissive years, of children in the nude or having sex and he’d found them incredibly erotic. He even had a small number of films and had bought a projector solely for watching them. He did not dream of young women, mostly masturbating to his pictures of children. In his imaginings he never actually saw himself penetrating a child, content and stirred by the idea of having oral sex with them. He fantasised about meeting a little girl of about nine or ten who’d want to have sex with him, but with the lifestyle he lived he knew it would never happen. He could not have sex with the daughters of friends and he did not get to meet other children.
Summer was just around the corner and the day had lengthened so that it only grew dark after seven, giving him time to take a walk after work. The same was true for Marian and Cherine and they met where the land juts out and the ships at anchorage can be seen.
The sun had set behind the mountains as Robert walked along the promenade, glad for the cool breeze. He saw a woman and child standing by the wall, the mother pointing at ships waiting at anchorage. As Robert drew closer he realised they were speaking in English.
“You’re English? My name is Robert Teller. The boat you were asking about is not a ship,” he explained to the little girl, “it was built as a powerful tugboat for rescuing ships at sea, such boats are called salvage boats and have huge engines and two propellers. The market died for salvage boats and this one is being outfitted for sucking up prawns from the eastern coast of Africa.”
The mother asked, “Are you in shipping?”
7629
“I’m an artist, or I like to think of myself as one. I design web sites for companies and in my own time I paint.”
“I’m Marian Blake and this is my daughter Cher.”
“You named her after the singer? Cher, you’re much prettier. Nice to meet both of you.” He made a grand bow, willingly making himself look silly to earn a smile from the little girl. He was made to feel uncomfortable when she kept her lips firmly set and only stared at him as if he were some kind of unpleasant specimen. He knew that generally children like him, as they usually like true paedophiles, so he was puzzled.
Cherine had kept hidden her excitement when she’d sensed the man approaching them as her mother talked to her. As he came close she sensed he was interested in her erotically and to her it felt as if something died inside. She had sensed too many unloving sexual bouts for her to fool herself. She realised her mother and the man were waiting for her to speak.
“You live on the top floor of the building next to us. I saw you on the balcony staring at the sea.”
“You should both visit, the view is grand. To the left I can see all the way to Vouliagmeni.” He smiled. “The owner used to live in the apartment and he built a souvla (barbecue). I’ll get some meat if you make some salad, I’m not good with salads, and we can have a picnic on the roof. You won’t get bored Cher, I have some computer games you’ll enjoy. Marian, would the two of you join me at that ugly little taverna for a bite (he pointed). Their fish is very good.”
Marian liked Robert and over a couple of glasses of wine she even smiled at a few of his jokes. She returned home with Cherine, feeling light-footed and happy, looking forward to their Saturday meeting.
She gave Cherine a kiss as she put her to bed and with a smile said, “We’ve made our first friend, see, Greece is not that bad.”
“He’s not interested in you Mum, he likes little girls.”
“What?” She stared at her for a moment and then slapped her. “You just can’t bear to see me happy you selfish little…” Taking control of herself she walked out, slamming the door behind her. Trembling she went to a window and stared at the lights as her breathing calmed. She returned to Cherine.
“That was a terrible thing to say about any man Cher if he didn’t do anything. Did he touch you without me seeing?”
“No, I could feel the way he looked at me.”
Marian sat by Cherine on her bed and smoothed back the hair from her tiny face. “You’re growing up too fast for me to catch up with you. Cher, you must never say it again unless he does something he should not to you. I’ll concede you the point, I have realised you are more sensitive to people than I am, but even if he does prefer little girls, if he does nothing about it, it would not be fair to stigmatise him and make him an outcast. Grownups don’t like men who prefer children and he’d lose his job and all his friends.” She hesitated, but accepted the time had arrived. “We’ve never had a talk about sex, how much do you know?”
“Everything.”
Marian smiled. “I doubt it love. What I wanted to say is that you are growing up and in a few years you’ll find yourself attracted to some boy. You’ll then have to struggle with your own morals and decide what to do. If you decide to have sex, promise me you’ll first tell me. There are precautions you must take and there is also this new disease called Aids that can kill you. Promise?” Cherine nodded. Marian pretended a laugh. “A pity, I’d enjoyed the company of Mr Robert Teller, lover of little girls. I’ll write a note apologising for cancelling the Saturday visit and you can put it in his mail box.”
Her talk had affected Cherine and softened her dislike of Robert. “I don’t mind if we go Mum. I can play with his computer while you talk to him, so he can’t touch me anyway. It will be nice to go out and eat something different.” She grabbed the chance created by the mood they were in and took hold of her mother’s hand. “Mum, I really did feel him. Sometimes I can feel how other people feel.”
7630
“I know, your father told me just days before that fool killed him.”
Cherine’s eyes widened with shock. “He did? You don’t think I’m a freak?”
“Of course not, you’re just a sensitive and special little girl.” She bent forward and kissed her brow. “Sweet dreams darling.”
Wednesdays are half working days, so they began to meet every Wednesday after lunch and they’d sit at a coffee shop and then enjoy a meal together at some cheap taverna or take the bus to Glyfada for Cherine to swim. They’d also meet on Saturdays, mostly going to the beach for Cherine’s sake. Marian hardly entered the water, but she lay on the beach and toasted herself until she was as darkly tanned as her daughter.
“On Wednesday dress nicely, casual but nice, we’re going somewhere different. I have a friend I sometimes meet in Athens and I’d like to take you to see what life is like for the wealthy. We’re going to Kolonaki. The square is chockablock with patisseries and all the top society meet there.”
“Is your friend rich?” Cherine asked.
Marian blushed, but Robert laughed. “Very. His father is a shipowner. We met in school, in England, and it is thanks to him I have the job that makes it possible for me to stay in Greece. Actually, it might be a good idea we invite Nicko and my boss Alki for a meal. Your contract might not be extended when it ends Marian, and Alki could give you a job if he knows you.”
That evening Marian made sandwiches and tea for supper since they’d eaten at the beach taverna. “We’re going to be short of money if we keep eating out.” She grinned. “Has Robert made a move yet? I’ve noticed you sitting next to him in your tiny bikini to watch him sketch.”
“He’s afraid of me - he thinks I don’t like him.” Cherine grinned. “Should I scream if he touches me so that you can save me?”
“Cheeky brat! Would you want me to?” Marian laughed. “I was just teasing, of course you scream for me.”
“Maybe…we’ll see,” she teased back. She giggled. “At least he won’t have that disease you told me about. Why do they call it Aids? Does it help people?”
“It’s short for ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’. Don’t go getting ideas Cher, you’re much too young to be thinking about sex.”
Cherine sobered. Her fear was evident in her eyes as she asked as casually as she could, “Mum, how much did Dad tell you about me?”
“About your sensitivity? Just that you can sometimes sense how other people feel.”
“Not sometimes Mum, all the time. Even the people living in the flats around us. Mum, I can feel when they have sex. Sometimes it is very nice, but sometimes it is horrible. I hate it when the girl has to do it and it hurts her.”
Marian felt as if she were about to faint. “You can feel me - all the time?”
“Even when you are at work, but that is because I love you and want to know you are alright. I felt you get angry with someone two days ago.”
“Jesus!” Her face was scarlet as she realised her daughter must feel her when she masturbates. She’d never felt her privacy so keenly invaded and was in a rage for a moment until she saw her daughter’s face. “You felt me?” Cherine nodded. “I’m sorry love, it was a shock, I’m not really angry with you.”
“You are, but you also love me. Mummy, is it very bad what I do?”
“Can you control it?”
“No.”
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)- posted: 15th Jly, 2020
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