Dominique made certain that everybody learnt what a stupid baby Robert is, so Cassie got to Nicko privately. When she made a comment about Robert to him, he played big brother.
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“It’s okay sis, I understand. He is a nice chap, but you are too young to love him. Anyway, if he is going to have someone marvellous like Cherine love him, maybe he does not need you.” He was very patronising and made her blood boil.
Nicko was half in love with our Cherine and masturbating to fantasies of her falling in love with him and making him as powerful as Robbie. It was not necessary to be a Cherinian to know how he felt about Cherine so his comment (opposite of how it should have been) annoyed Dominique even more as it suggested to her that her brother thought she is inferior to Cherine. She resented the fact that he admired or loved any other girl than her as she was used to having him to herself.
Robbie has been very careful not to share when either Robert or Nicko have their fantasies and masturbate and has not reacted in his typically aggressive manner. It helps that he has grown to love both boys but, still, to have two males sexually aroused by his Cherine, masturbating to images of her making love to them and for him not to react, that is weird! Has Michael affected him that deeply?
Robbie has chosen seven Roberts that he visits, each once a week. The sliver idea was not really efficient as they could only send it once and then he or Vincent would have to visit them anyway. He arrives as the void, blanking himself so that he can first extend his senses to catch if they are being monitored. Once he is confident they are not, he contacts them discretely and they pass to him a prepared set of memories - that way he does not have to stay to see them, increasing the chances of being found. Up to now the memories are all negative in that sense, but they take the opportunity to send to all of us other news and their love. It makes us miss all of them a lot.
We’ve given a lot of thought to what the Ipohin can be planning. It is so difficult working out what their strategy is, but in general we think they are not willing to attack us directly at this time. They will also not want us attacking them until they are stronger, so they’ll look at increasing their wealth and power base while concentrating on recruiting new wild talents. I think the next stage will involve the governments - they are likely to demand representation, locally in each country and the UN.
Are you asking why we play their game, why we don’t attack them before they achieve their aims? If we did, would we be Cherinians or Ipohin? We’ve lived by the rule Robbie gave us early on and we are not allowed to punish anyone for what they plan. A good lesson for us was that Englishman we’d listened to, planning to start a fashion house for children. As Robbie said, he planned but he never went ahead with it. What we think they plan for, we are allowed to prepare for and try to set countermeasures in place, but we may not attack because we ‘think’ they plan to act in a certain way. It is not an efficient way to fight but it is the only way suitable for us.
Allan asked Cherine whether it is possible that baby Cherine could grow into the most powerful Cherine of all. Robbie bristled when Allan asked and then deflated when Cherine nodded in agreement. “From birth she is being surrounded by love and encouraged to use her gifts. By the time she is eight years old she should be stronger than me.”
Robbie sensed me watching him, filled with curiosity at his reactions but he ignored me, more immersed in the conversation as they each added their reasons why she would grow to be stronger. I was amused by my family and our friends. They were all demoralised by the idea of any Cherine growing stronger than ours. Not that anyone resented baby Cherine growing beyond ours, they were just deflated. Tseri caught me by surprise when she glanced at me and shared her amusement. I also sensed she felt proud and happy that everyone felt this way about our Cherine. Still, because of the naughty look in her eyes, I could not help taking a dig at her.
“And you Tseri, you will also grow more powerful than Cherine? You had our support and love at an earlier age.” She gave me another mischievous smile but did not answer me. Amazingly, no one else paid attention to my remark so I kept quiet.
Hours later Robbie went for a walk on his own. He says that when he does so in Freddie, it is different from when he does on Terra. Here he feels surrounded by love, not just love for him but the love of everyone for everyone else. He settled on the river bank among some purple flowers, their delicate perfume reminding him of a visit at a Cypriot village home many years ago.
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Allan teased me, “I’ve noticed you never feed the frenzy.”
“What do you mean?”
Allan grinned. “Whenever everyone goes into a tailspin about something, you grow quiet as a little church mouse.”
“You have a funny way of talking sometimes, it makes you sound prehistoric.”
“That’s me, at least some part of me, really prehistoric.” I had to laugh at his description of you, Arthur. “Penny for your thoughts.”
I shook my head. “With inflation you’re still stuck on pennies? A million dollars just might do it.”
“I’m too poor, why do you think I live in Freddie? Come my little butterfly, cough up, tell daddy Allan what you were thinking.”
With his wisecracking he’d drawn everyone’s attention so I pulled a face. “I think we should allow everyone some time to enjoy their misery. I’ll tell you in a few years.”
“Are you playing it safe? I can’t believe our Samantha is afraid of being wrong.”
“Wrong? Me?” That got them laughing so I spoke to stop the comments flying at me like little green vulture flies. “I wonder which of you are going to hurt baby Cherine.”
“Hurt her? What are you talking about?” Diana asked.
“How else could she grow stronger than Cherine? She’ll have to be hurt many times if you want that to happen. I know, why don’t we get Cherine to hurt her, she is her alternate, it should be her job.” I saw the look in her eyes even before I felt her. I jumped and pulled her face to me. “You are a mixture of the love and pains you’ve suffered through, my love. Because you were loved, the pain only served to strengthen you, unlike those Cherines who suffered without a Robert to love them. We’ve all grown stronger in the same way. I fear baby Cherine is going to be loved too much and hurt too little, she’ll probably be the softest, most loving of all Cherines. I prefer my Cherines like you.” Robbie sighed and lying on the grass closed his eyes, a smile nearly making it to his lips.
Cherine put her cheek to mine and whispered in my mind, *Don’t make me too special Sam, don’t love me too much.* How can I?
Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty Five
Luigi had drunk most of a jug of wine with his meal and seemed to be in a depressed mood. “Robert, for how long do you believe the Ipohin will respect the laws and governments of the Normals? When will they decide they are a law unto themselves?”
“I’m sure they already think so. As to when they’ll make blatant moves, I expect it not to happen for a long time.”
“Why? The Normals cannot prevent them from taking over.” I had an empathic vision of what those in power, the leaders of all the countries must be going through. They must be cursing us, especially Cherine and Robbie, while having to face the knowledge that we are all that stand between the Ipohin and them.
Dimitri shook his head. “They dare not take action that would turn everyone against them. First they have to have us declared criminals so that we are not free to interfere as and when we want. Under the guise of being their protectors they will gradually take over and then they’ll do as they wish.”
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Most of us agreed with him. Perikli added, “We are lucky that Michali is in command. His thinking is more subtle and I am certain he’ll first look to entrench his group by becoming financially powerful. Otherwise we would already be facing a bloodbath.”
Robbie nodded. “You’re a wily old fox Perikli. All the reports I’ve had show that is what they are doing. They’ve been targeting the most profitable corporations and buying a substantial share. Once they have someone on the Board of Directors, they use their Cherinian gifts to influence the other directors. They are getting rid of those who could cause them problems and then they intend manipulating the shares so as to take over without paying the market price for them. They have been careful not to leave a paper trail and use Normals to do their dirty work.”
Savva asked, “In all realities?”
“In those that are advanced enough to be worth taking over.”
“Have they gone to my world?” Efineh asked with a tremble in her voice.
“No love, I think Michael is keeping it for expansion at a later date.”
“They better not go there or else Samantha will get angry!”
“We have to keep them out of her world and the Orgg reality.” I said. “What about the Earths we used for bringing back the Neanderthals?”
“We will love. I’m keeping an eye on both. Efineh’s world is a problem as you are supposed to be returning within a day of leaving so I’ve asked for a few Spartans to watch it for us. I don’t think the Ipohin know how to go to the other Earths, so they should be safe for now.”
I had not thought of the possibility of them wanting to use/occupy the world of Efineh and I was seething inside at the idea. The idea of Sebura becoming an Ipohin was not exactly welcome. I was just as upset at the idea of them attacking again the world of Jeskine and Orgg, but at least Robbie had given them slivers so they can ask for help. I calmed down a bit when I worked out that since I’m returning to Efineh’s world within a day of leaving, if they decide to invade it will have to be while I’m there.
I gave the above examples of conversations to illustrate the mood everyone is in. We don’t feel as if we are at war, but we are worried. There is very little laughter and when we are at home, we mostly need to be held or to be holding someone when we go to sleep. Being forced to sit and wait is more demoralising than I’d remembered.
We returned young Robert and the family of Dominique to their home planet as we’d determined their governments would not do anything to harm them, even if they learn about them. It was more likely they would be treated as special in an effort to secure their loyalty. Baby Cher’s mother asked if she could return to her home to collect some things. She also wanted baby clothes, nappies and so on. We took her to Glasgow and shopped in advance for the next five years. After that we have lots of clothes that will fit her.
Freddie jumped realities without any final destination in mind. Week by week we waited anxiously for the parcels of memories as we drifted, every time certain this would be the ones with the bad news. I guess that if you wait long enough, bad news will arrive.
A Cherinian who is a friend of a Robert is a trained accountant. He has worked for many years for large corporations and just before retirement his last post was as Financial Director. He’d spent months quietly investigating and, breaking our rules, he gathered information by prying in the minds of non-Cherinian directors. This enabled him to gather enough hard facts to present to the Authorities. Robert asked him to wait and sent us the information.
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Alki, Eddie, Elia and Perikli went through the data in detail and discussed it until they were satisfied that there was no doubt.
“Roberto, you were right, the man has only examined three large corporations with assets totalling over seventy five billion dollars. They already hold in different names close to controlling stock in those corporations. If we don’t move fast it will be too late to stop them. We have to report them.”
“Then what Alki? Can we force them to sell back what they bought? How do the authorities react and how do they enforce the law if they choose to ignore them? I need a plan of action that only involves me. How do I fight them?” His face tightened. “If we act, it must be in all the realities, not just one.”
Eddie exclaimed, “That is a massive undertaking Robert, I don’t think we can stop them in even one reality.”
This was one problem no one looked to me for a solution so I was angry but not tensed up. A far-fetched idea came to me. “How do you think they will handle it? Are they going to make their final moves separately for each corporation or is it likely they’ll do all three at the same time?”
Eddie communed with Hettie. “In their place I’d time it so that all take-overs happen either many months apart or at exactly the same time.”
“I’d say that they are not the patient kind. Why should they be, they don’t think anyone can stop them. I’d guess they’re certain that even Robbie can’t do anything.”
Robbie gave his first grin for a long time. “And there is a way?”
“It depends. May I change the subject for a moment, I’ve been recalling a discussion between you and Vincent in the early days of the Doris war. I need to know whether you’ve changed your point of view since then.” He nodded for me to go ahead and I grinned. “Are you sure? You did make some pretty stupid arguments.”
With a grin he gave me permission, “Go ahead.”
“Do you recall trying to persuade him that if we are attacked by children who are not really children that he should attack them as if they were adults? I think you talked about aliens attacking our statues…”
He laughed. “God! What brought that back to mind?”
“I just wanted to know whether you are more flexible than Vincent or has time etched your beliefs in granite.”
Manoli reached across and took my hand in his. “You have an idea that is not ethical? Tell us and let us decide what we should do. It isn’t worse than doing nothing is it?”
I grinned. “Not worse but, it would be fun and I know that you elders don’t approve of fun.” I waited for the amusement to fade. “How many Ipohin directors in each corporation would they need? More than one?”
“From what we’ve worked out you seem to be right, only one in each.” Suddenly everybody cheered up.
I asked, “For a takeover there would have to be a Board meeting? Would they need to hold a general shareholders meeting?”
Robbie’s eyes gleamed. “For them to issue more shares for the Ipohin to hold the majority, they’d need to call a shareholders meeting. If we make an offer to buy those shares…” He stopped to stare at me as he sensed me.
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“We can’t do that dad! If we want to stop all their take-overs we’re talking about dozens of major corporations in each reality. Where would we find that kind of money?”
Elia explained, “They have to hold a shareholders meeting Robert, but they also have to give advance warning to the stock exchange. Most companies have a larger number of shares than have been made available to investors. The Board has the right to sell a small number of them without asking for permission, just giving notice of their intentions. They have to follow the full process for large deals as when taking over or merging with other corporations.”
“How do we get them then, they won’t offer them to the public.” Dommi asked. “I think we better let Sam explain her idea.”
“I might be over-simplifying, I don’t have much knowledge of how corporations work. I was wondering, what if we block the Normals so that their Ipohin contact cannot influence them and we plant strong suggestions in their minds? If they offer their un-issued shares to the ADFI in exchange for shares we issue, would that thwart the Ipohin plans?”
The general excitement and feeling of having a winning strategy meant that nobody brought up the subject of ethics. Robbie did not say anything, allowing them to fly high for a while. I decided it might be better I bring it up my way before he does. “One of our strongest rules are that we are not allowed to enter the minds of others without their permission. Another is that we may not use our gifts to steal or limit their freewill. I still believe in both very strongly but, this is where your conversation with Vincent comes in.
If the Ipohin have imposed their will on Normals, there is no ethical problem. By now they will believe their way of thinking is theirs, but it does not alter the fact that it was imposed originally. If the Ipohin did not impose their will because the Normals were unethical and greedy, then we do have a question to ask and answer. I think I could ask the question and answer it in such a way that action by us is fully justified. I’m afraid to, so, will someone else do so please?”
Robbie stopped anyone from doing as I asked. “What do you fear?”
“Of taking the downward slide to adopting rules that will need lawyers. At the present our rules are either black or white. I would be introducing various degrees of grey. In the long term I think that could damage Cherinianism more than the Ipohin can. Once we start justifying with logical or emotional arguments any exceptions, then true justice will become the exception.
Do you know what is the best thing about our rules? They are the rules of love. If I only make rules to protect others from me, leaving them to each make rules that will protect me from them, why would we need laws? With time, some very soon and others after they’ve evolved, those rules that are common will be accepted as a way of life, not even as rules. That is my dream.”
Tseri asked, “What about the rules of Robert?”
Softly I asked her, “Which one of them would any of us refuse to adopt to protect him from us?”
Robbie was radiating from an inner mini sun, as if I’d found the words for his own dreams, giving them substance. “Your dream is beautiful and I, for one, adopt it as my own. On a more practical matter, how do we handle the present situation?”
“I don’t know.”
“Would you all agree to my bringing someone to speak for me?” He saw our puzzlement. “I want to bring the Dominique we abducted and took to South America. After Samantha left for the world of Efineh she said something to me that may be pertinent and useful as a guide in general.”
It was not necessary, we all recalled her words. “How is the situation similar dad?”
“Think of the directors as leaders, servants of their shareholders, meant to watch over their investment as friends would. Who is paying for the games they’re playing? How many families will suffer?”
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I suddenly felt angry. “Damn! If we do as I suggested and exchange shares with ADFI, the market will perceive it as a strategic move because of our power in the market and their shares will shoot up in price and the Ipohin will pull out with a huge profit. If we do nothing, the Ipohin take over the corporations! They win either way!”
Cherine grinned and then laughed. “We win and we lose. Michael guessed what you would do.” It might not have been entirely appropriate, but nobody resented the pride she felt in our son. I felt humbled when I recalled my worry about his reactions when I outsmart him.
Robbie decided he would have to risk it and those who went with him to investigate the market would arrive at an earlier date. Before leaving there were a number of problems to be handled or solved, the most important of them being the danger of them being sensed and identified when they arrive. We were stumped for a while. We could not create new personalities as they would want to continue to exist afterwards. Blocking themselves would not work either since that attracts the attention of any Cherinians close by.
It was suggested that they do as I did with Le’sase, but none of them ‘know’ their previous personalities and some of them might end up with a fight on their hands if they decide they want to stay in control. They would also not have the expertise to carry out their project as they lived in a previous time. We came up with the craziest ideas, it was even suggested they each take a sliver from a friend of another species and meld with it to create the feel of a different personality. After hours of arguments as each person defended his idea, a man walked over from the beach to the taverna.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Could I perhaps be of assistance? I doubt I will be recognised since none of them know me.”
As soon as we’d seen him we’d instantly tried to sense who the stranger was and we sensed his mind was amused even though his face did not show it. Freddie kept silent, even though he must know.
“Whatever you’ve done it’s a success. I cannot sense that you are a Cherinian and I haven’t a clue who you are.”
“If a casual probe does not reveal I am a Cherinian, are they likely to invade my mind as deeply as all of you are trying to?” He sounded abrupt and nothing from his manner of speaking betrayed him. “I am Luigi.” He grinned at our surprise. “When I was a student I used to think I was born to be an actor because I was usually included in our school plays. The teacher who somewhat fancied himself as a thespian used to admonish us, repeatedly warning us that it is not enough to pretend we are the characters we are playing. He insisted we had to be the characters and think like them.”
“For how long could you keep it up?”
Luigi grimaced, “I have no idea. Long enough I should think, considering the incentive.”
“Incentive?”
“What would happen to me if I were found out? No, I think I’ll last until I return here.”
Actually, once we knew who he was we could sense it was him. What he’d done was clever. He’d not only disguised his mind by becoming a character totally unlike him, but his appearance and mannerisms added to his appearance fooled our minds into seeing him for who he appeared to be. Some of those who’d been included for taking part had to withdraw and allow someone else to take their place as they were absolutely useless at playing a role convincingly. After three weeks of gruelling practice we had our final list. Alki was very embarrassed that he and none of his alternates made it to the final list, but he was proud of his sons when they did.
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Robbie managed to shock all of us, even Vincent, Freddie and Christós. “I dare not allow any of you, whichever reality you are in, to remain without my protection. I will be there as the void so they won’t sense me, but I’ll be able to respond to any threat almost instantly.”
“How can you be everywhere at the same time Roberto?” Even Christós frowned at the idea. I guess it sounded like Robbie was claiming he could do as God does.
“By manipulating time. My future selves will have to return to be here with you.”
“How far in the future?”
“From the time we return. I can’t do it any earlier.”
As I said everyone was astounded that he was willing to break his rule, especially since most of ‘them’ would know whether they’d been successful or if anyone had been attacked. There was another delayed reaction. They realised that if he’d done the same with them he would have needed a much smaller team. Those who were going treasured the fact that they were doing something to help and hated the idea of being excluded. Robbie kept quiet, knowing how much it means to them.
I’m proud of Robbie for a different reason. Actually, I’m proud of him for a number of reasons. The fact that he is breaking away from his own fears fills me with admiration, for we know how important it is. The real reason I said the above is because he had not allowed any of us wives to take part. Not because he feared for us or thought we could not handle the campaign, only because he’d come to appreciate how important it is others feel they are fighting at his side. I guess the Doris war did teach him something.
So that everyone would arrive feeling fresh we gathered at eight in the morning. The kids were there from the crack of dawn, excited at the prospect of seeing so many of Robbie. As he began to return in time we all watched with hearts racing. Each of them greeted us but did not speak otherwise. ‘Our’ Robbie spoke. “We cannot become the void within one reality so each group will go with their copy of me to a different void and from there to your target void. My friends, good luck and a safe return.”
I spoke up before they could leave, my hearts hammering. “Dad, what about the reality Michael is in? If he is the void for any reason, what will happen to you?” He showed the effect of his worry but I saw the other Roberts looked slightly amused. “No, it’s safe, you can go.”
“What! How do you know?”
I grinned. “I don’t but you do.” Only then did he look at his future selves. They smiled back at him.
His voice was stern when he spoke. “You are not supposed to let us know the future! You’ve created a paradox.”
“Youngster, are you presuming to know better than your elders?” We all broke up with laughter. I went and hugged the one who’d spoken and he laughed as he swung me up into his arms. Each of the Roberts got a girl or two to kiss him goodbye.
Vincent had refused to obey and had stayed behind to watch over us. We stopped arguing with him once we realised he could sense if Robbie (any of them) is in trouble and be there instantly. Despite his presence and that of all those we love, Freddie was a desolate place for many of us as we waited for our financial warriors to return. They would be staying there close to a month but should not be absent for more than a few hours our side.
Even a Cherinian is not immune to the effects of shock, especially when as tense as we were. As we felt him arrive, we heard his deep voice call out cheerfully, “Mothers, you are well?” The first one within his arms was Cherine. After kissing him she pulled back to look into his eyes.
“Won’t your followers sense you are missing?”
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“With me jumping to so many realities all the time? Don’t worry, I left a doppelganger and I won’t be absent more than half an hour. My family are also watching over me so I’m safe. Allan, if you’d known what a treasure my little Ahní is, you’d never have let her love me.”
Maria brought him his favourite, pancakes drenched in maple syrup and fresh cream and her face was beaming as she served him. He teased her, pretending to want her to marry him so that she cooks for him forever. She returned to her kitchen with red cheeks as she fondly told him off.
He would not answer any questions about what he was doing as leader of the Ipohin, not even when Cherine asked him something. He did relate a few anecdotes about his family and we could sense the love that filled his heart at the thought of them. “Even Zenon has been a wonderful companion. He is a favourite with many of my followers as he thinks up some of our sneakiest tricks. I hope dad won’t be angry with him when he returns.”
“What do you mean?” Haven asked.
“Mother, I…”
“He means that we were set up Haven. I’m right, aren’t I Michael?”
“As always mother.” He laughed. “Why don’t you wait for them to return and hear it from them, they’ll be arriving any second now.” He laughed again. “I’m certain they’ll be able to dramatise it far better than I could.”
At that moment our team returned - their faces sour; as they saw Michael many of them showed their shock. Michael stood up with a slight smile. “Are you angry with me father?”
“Before I answer, I have something I have to do.” He returned in time until he had the right number of him in the recent past.
“Why didn’t they return with you?” Dommi asked.
“As they arrived they merged, I suppose you could call it, back into me.” He sat for the coffee already waiting for him. “So Michael, feeling proud of yourself are you? You’re already running rings around your father.”
He shook his head, even though he was still grinning. “Anybody thinks that they’d have to be crazy.” (We only appreciated his humorous reference afterwards). “The day that happens it means you are no longer the protector.”
“Still…” He lit a cigarette. “Have you explained to your mothers?”
“No. I left that for you. You did not answer me, are you angry?” He could sense that all those who’d just returned weren’t.
Robbie chuckled. “Let me explain to our friends and your mothers first.”
Michael had never intended taking over any of the corporations. All his planning was based on the presumption that we would think it was his plan. By forcing us to take the action we did he scored big on two fronts. The one was a massive increase in his wealth but the other one was just as important.
The day before the Board meetings, he met with business news announcers and having secured their promise he allowed them to tape an interview to be shown the next evening after the announcements by the ADFI and the corporations they’d struck a deal with. Here is the gist of it:
“As is well known by now, my father and I don’t see eye to eye on various subjects. One of the things that worried me was that ADFI have become the wealthiest and most powerful corporation in all realities where they operate. I do not resent that and appreciate that most of their profits are ploughed back to various projects that benefit those who are in the greatest need. However, their arrival on our world with their advanced products have had a general adverse effect on our markets.
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While their shares have been rising by leaps and bounds, most of the other corporations have been facing a financial crisis. With their shares either remaining static or sinking, they have found it impossible to raise capital for necessary further expansion or for research.
My colleagues and I decided to do something about that. We singled out those corporations in each reality that are the most important to the local economy and set up my father by pretending to be preparing an underhanded takeover using our Cherinian gifts.” He explained exactly what he’d done, giving details, even giving the information about the person he’d helped by making information available for him to report to a local Robert. There was some amusement as he detailed how he’d made certain there was plenty of evidence lying around should his father secretly check up on him.
“I regret the charade but it was the only way I could think of forcing ADFI into a partnership with our Terran corporations. I do not feel guilty at taking this action against my father as I believe it will ultimately benefit everyone, ADFI also in the long term. I would like to point out, I want to be very clear on this, the Anadir and other alien shareholders are not responsible for the way ADFI operates. My father has total say in their decisions as they rely on him as a Terran and the protector to act in our interests.”
All those who’d gone to those realities had stayed to watch with eager anticipation the announcements of the deals they’d struck and were shocked to see Michael on television and to hear his admission. Since it was announced that Michael had recorded the interview the previous day they realised that he really had set them up. No longer feeling quite as proud of themselves as they had been, they returned to us to find Michael waiting for them with a huge grin on his face.
I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of being a Cherinian than I did at that moment. Not one mind turned sour, not one filled with anger. They instantly showed joy and love. There was some good-natured ribbing but we could sense they admired the way he’d turned something potentially ugly into something good. The fact that the Ipohin made an immense profit doing so was not important. After all, don’t the large companies (in all realities we’ve been to) spend a lot of money advertising to let us know that they’ve supported some charity - as a tax benefit for them of course.
Michael set me thinking when he, in answer to something said to him, told us, “Well, I do have a secret weapon.”
This was not the time for any of us to want to hold him as a child and for once we enjoyed his company only as an adult. Alki’s heart swelled when Michael put his arm over his shoulder and called him pappou.
As is natural, the one area within which I admit all Cherinians still need to mature soon made itself apparent; it did not take them long to turn the evening into a competition to find the most brilliant repartee to make fun of me and my brilliantly thought out strategies. I did not try to spoil their enjoyment by pointing out that it is only natural that Michael would outsmart me now and then, since he is my son.
It took hours (we were in bed) for me to understand what he’d meant - I am his secret weapon! As I said, I thought I’d understood what he meant but only the next day, after he left, did it dawn on me that by sharing my memories he could guess how I would react. Since it had not been his motivation when he asked to share, I did not mind. Oh! I just realised, he also has my sliver! Damn, he really does have a strong advantage over me.
Someone asked why we were not going back to all the Earth realities to avoid allowing the Ipohin to make Robbie look bad. Sadly he smiled. “The prophesy demands that we be declared criminals. That will never happen if we try to win the hearts of everyone. I don’t feel like waiting a hundred years for this to reach a climax, I’d rather get it over and done with.”
“Arthur said the prophesy is not fixed, we can change it.”
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“Alice is right but even if she wasn’t, I think we should always take the trouble to remind the people that we are fighting for them by making an appearance now and then. What is the point of beating the Ipohin but ending up with all of mankind hating and fearing us?”
It is not often that Robbie speaks to me that abruptly but I could sense the sudden tension in him and ignored his tone. “What do you mean! That’s impossible!”
I shrugged. “Oh well, if that’s so then I might as well keep the idea to myself.” As is fast turning into a tradition, Cherine came into my mind for a peek. She laughed and throwing herself onto Robbie’s lap stared back at me. Of course everyone clamoured for me to share my idea and when Cassie and Jade threatened to bring pillows for everyone I pretended to capitulate.
“I’ll give you the first part of my idea, you should be able to work it out from there. Robbie, why don’t you appoint Christós and Jesus joint commanders of security? They could also head our police force.”
“You expect them to fight our battles for us while we sit back and enjoy ourselves?”
“Why not?” Cherine giggled and Robbie cut off what he’d been about to retort in anger. He stared at me while everyone else argued what I could be aiming for. Cherine was finding it difficult to contain her excitement so I explained. “What would happen if the Ipohin attacked any of us while their powers are merged? I doubt that even you could handle them, we’d also have to fight them as a group and that could lead to bloodshed, probably of the Normals. One single Cherinian from one of the magic realities could handle all of them. What if two for each continent volunteered, maybe more, we can decide later, who would dare act blatantly against our rules?”
“Christós?”
“I think, that for the first time, I appreciate how Solomon has felt so often. You would truly trust our people to help guard your worlds?”
“Yes.” He stood up. “I need to think.” Stunned by his obvious reluctance to agree, everyone silently watched him walk away.
“The possibility offered by Sam is excruciatingly tempting, but I have to ask that we put it on hold for now. Perhaps it may help if I set out my thoughts for you to discuss.
First of all, the gloomy scenario Sam painted is not likely to happen. The reason they are Ipohin is because they are not suited to sharing, always looking to increase their own personal influence and wealth. If they do try to merge, it might increase their power, but as each of them will hold back a part of themselves, they’ll never achieve a full merging and will remain vulnerable.
Not all the Ipohin have declared themselves or allied with Michael. He only represents a small minority, there are thousands, maybe millions, still acting secretly on their own. I think that many of them fear us and will not show their hand until I’m on the run. Given time they will form new groups with perhaps only the most powerful remaining alone. We don’t have to get all of them, bringing in our Cherinian policemen would stop most of them, but I would prefer to know who they are. There might be some with talents we don’t know about and all those I love would remain at risk if we don’t identify them and learn to counter their powers.
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: 10th April, 2020
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