“They will not need you forever, you’ve made a good start, but try to find a reason for living that satisfies your own needs also. Let me give you an example. Richard has spent what Normals would call a lifetime helping others and he’ll probably continue to do so for another fifty years or more. However, he also needed to feel he belongs somewhere, that he has his own little corner. He refurbished a cottage, planted fruit trees and cultivated a small vegetable garden. He’s bought a few chickens, has a dog - which he has named Robert (I grinned) and is happy because he has a home. His kids visit him there and I’m told that even others come for short visits. Our Henry and his family visit him quite often and they are true brothers now. All we’re left to hope for is that he finds a pretty girl to love.”
7611
“I’d like that.” She shook her head. “I don’t want a pretty girl to love.” Since it was the first time she’d joked with me I laughed and gave her a cuddle.
“You can still create your fire-man?”
“The Neans asked for it all the time. I told them it is my healer and that I only use it as a weapon when it has to protect my people.”
I am still puzzled and told her. “I don’t understand. We cannot use our healers to harm others, even if it is to protect those we love. We have to struggle to make it do anything that harms others and usually it only obeys if the harm is not permanent.”
She did not answer me, but Birshima surprised all of us. “Samantha, I have a big favour to ask. If I am to return to my world with my mother, when you go to bring Arthur to us, will you take me with?”
“Hmm, I’m not certain I should, he might fall in love with you and not want his Samantha.” I giggled at the impatient look in her eyes and hugged her. “It’s a promise.”
Robbie decided we should all go with to visit Efineh; us and our friends. We knew he was really doing it to avoid the official functions for Cherine’s birthday. He asked Freddie to take his time and deviate should any of the scientists want to examine any phenomena. The irony was that the scientists were all so deeply immersed in their work that they never looked at the screens.
A scientist did come to ask Robbie a question. “The suit you wore into the black hole, we have presumed that as you protected your body so did you protect the suit from the effects of gravity. Did you also protect it from the radiation?”
“I had read, I think it was in a science fiction story, that inside a black hole the energies and radiation would be very fierce, so I guess I did by distorting time and space. Has it been affected?”
“One more question please. Did your protection extend to all radiations - including that which links Arthur to us?”
The dismay on his face betrayed him. “I…I assumed that the assuming of Arthur would allow it through whatever protection I was able to generate. To tell you the truth, I didn’t think of it!”
“Either there is no such energy within the black hole or you blocked it. We have examined the reports from the equipment we sent into the black hole and even within the last data it collected we do not note any signs of concentration or strengthening of the energy. Perhaps we can try again at a future visit?”
Allan and family came with on this trip and for once he kept quiet, only giving Robbie a sympathetic glance. That is why I think it was unfair of Cassie to tease him. “Robert, why don’t you ask Allan to go next time?”
Goldi laughed and promptly sat on Allan’s lap. “Would you like me to come with you?” Jessie has wised up and no longer gets jealous when we sit on his lap or kiss him. Robbie managed a smile.
“Cassie love, at the bottom of the hole I discovered billions of jokes from all the galaxies. Next time I think we should send you so that you can collect some original material.”
“It wouldn’t help Robert,” she answered, “original material requires an intelligent audience for it to be appreciated.” As the teasing continued and Robbie cheered up I couldn’t help sending our Cassie a big kiss, as all the girls were doing.
I took a chance that all the boys of Terran origin are the same and joined the current Akiard kids as a female, hoping I would be ignored by Bobby. Of course, for the Akiards, they did not need to know that I was Samantha for them to know that I was not one of them - there are no unattached females, they each choose their male upon being brought into Freddie. However, I was there to watch Bobby and he did not give me a second glance.
7612
He does not have their strength or stamina, but they tailored their games to suit him. I noticed that he mostly followed a male, Foriks, who in appearance in Terran terms would have seemed to be about thirteen years old. Bobby seems to have a case of hero worship.
As has been noted before, they enjoy playing soccer and play with specially created balls of self-healing matter that do not puncture if it lands on their spikes. For Terran boys the ball would feel dull and leaden as the designers (the Unation) had to take into account that the Akiards are far more powerful than we are and it would not have been possible for them to play on a normal sized field - for example, the goalies would be kicking the ball at each other’s goal posts all the time.
They also enjoy wrestling, but the older boys have imposed very strict rules so that they neither hurt each other nor continue the match if one of them has lost his temper. They still use Freddie’s ropes and platforms, even though nobody has succeeded in completing the course. Bobby cannot play that game as he cannot teleport, but what he lacks in power for the other games he makes up for with speed and agility. I noticed that the kids have learnt to identify his true emotions from his facial expressions and emote pleasure when they know he is happy. Despite his being in Freddie for such a long time, they still find it amazing that they cannot sense his emoting.
When I reverted to my own form, Robbie asked, with a grin, “So, did you rub any stomachs?”
I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand. “I knew I’d forgotten something!”
We’d been travelling nine days when Vincent and Kirsten appeared. “Robert, trouble. Before we go to help, share from me.” As Robbie shared from him, we shared from her.
“They are alive?”
“It seems so. We can’t find any other species responsible for their appearance and yet they do not seem to be sapient. How can they teleport if they aren’t?”
“We’ll have to find answers later, first we have to protect the planet.” Freddie jumped.
Cherinians from another reality had appeared at our home to ask for our help and only found Vincent and Kirsten. They’d spoken of their planet being bombed and explained that they could not prevent the bombs from reaching the surface, as they teleport. Vincent discovered they were speaking the truth, but also discovered that the bombs are live creatures.
Freddie arrived within their void and extruded a tip. Instantly Sparklers departed in the hundreds of millions as we saw the devastation. No city has been spared, although it seemed to us that the towns and cities close to both polar caps have been spared much of the bombing. The damage has not been inflicted only on cities and towns, the bombing seems to be random with just as many of them exploding over oceans. Robbie shouted that we must all stay in Freddie and leaving his body went to examine the bombs from close. Not all of them were materialising close to the surface, some even as far as the moon and he hoped to follow one as it fell.
As Robbie followed one, he saw that it was likely to explode over inhabited area so he enclosed it within a shell of energy and waited for it to explode. He was surprised to discover that the explosion was much weaker than he’d expected. The damage had been caused by the sheer numbers, not their ability to cause great damage singly. That was puzzling, why would any species send bombs with such limited capabilities?
Robbie decided he must bring back the exploded bomb still held within his shell of energy, for the scientists to examine. The Inguel called out for him to bring it directly into a controlled environment. Robbie obeyed.
The Unation ships, the one in Freddie and others that soon appeared, concentrated their lasers on the bombs, trying to explode them before they reached the surface. Since most of the bombs appeared close to the surface they only slightly limited the damage.
“The only way I can think of stopping them is by creating a shield around the planet. If they are teleporting, the shield won’t stop them. Sam, what else can we do?”
7613
“We can’t stop them, a stronger shield would only stop those the Unation ships are exploding anyway. Dad, we have to take every single human being off the planet. First we must save lives and then we worry about the damage being inflicted. Your job will be to find a bomb before it explodes and attach yourself to it while moving in reverse through time. We have to find the ships that are sending them.”
What Robbie had to do might take him hours or days or even years, but from our viewpoint it took no more than a few minutes. He did not waste time returning to his body and shouted to us that the bombs are seed pods from another solar system.
Within minutes all humans had been removed, taken to the Sparkler Worlds, and they now concentrated on rescuing animals, birds, insects, even plants. The planet had almost been denuded when the Inguel urgently called to the Sparklers to stop.
“Robert is right, they are seed pods, but the seeds are microscopic. Anything taken to your Worlds will have spores trapped in their clothing, hair or fur.”
Solomon reassured us, “There is no danger to our Worlds Robert, we can contain them.”
“You must remove them, not just contain them!”
“We do not kill Robert, not even plants. There is also the question of their sentience to still be answered, we cannot kill or destroy their seeds if they are intelligent or at least, self-aware at some part of their lifecycle.”
“Contain them then, we’ll decide later after studying them at their home planet.”
Under normal conditions the rescued leaders would have been brought into Freddie but we dared not do so until we are certain they are clear of all spores. Our first urgent job was to immediately isolate and quarantine the Cherinians from this world who’d jumped to us once they’d sensed their people being taken. Then Robbie, Vincent, Kirsten, Freddie and the Sparklers are having to conduct a thorough examination of our environment for spores brought in. Only once the spores are removed can we relax, but even then, Freddie and millions of Sparklers will continue to keep an eye on our ecology to catch the growth of any new species at an early stage of their development.
Now that we know what to look for, we saw how the planet is sprouting with the alien plants. Robbie agreed for sheathed scientists to visit the planet so as to examine the plants in detail. We’d expected the Inguel to be the largest contingent of scientists visiting this Earth, but none appeared. Puzzled, Robbie asked our isi and she jumped to us.
“Robert, the spores you brought are already sprouting, we don’t need to go with, we are already conducting experiments. The other scientists should concentrate on noting how the various climatic conditions affect the new plants. Do they grow more profusely where there is abundant water? Does cold inhibit their growth? Are they susceptible to the local bacteria or insects? The oceans should also be examined in case they can adapt to growing in salt water.”
Maria, being a law unto herself, decided this was the time to feed us and her robot assistants carried out our food. Rather than try to stare her down as she glares at us, we ate.
Em-e said, between mouthfuls, “I want exclusive franchise. We can sell the rights to florists like Interflora - their slogan ‘we deliver flowers - anywhere’ will certainly take on a new meaning.” We laughed, but to her the highest accolade came from our imps who admired her for thinking up her joke.
The scientists did not stay on planet, they rotated in shifts and after discussions with the Inguel they returned to Freddie so that we can examine the home planet of the pods. Robbie pictured their planet and the Wirms wished Freddie there, returning in time by the number of years Robbie asked for.
Diana stared with fascination at the three small planets as she spoke. “No other Earth has recorded anything like this happening before. Surely this can’t be the first time the seedpods have travelled into space?”
Robbie nodded, pleased by her reasoning. “We’ll work out how often this occurs and go back in time to find the answer, love.”
7614
It seems Arthur is fond of seeds that go pinging through interstellar space, for this is the third lot. The two planets in the reality of the Muyzith and Eqkee; the second was used to neutralise the teddies and now this one. He really should have shown more imagination if he wants his books to be a success. Robbie asked whether I was teasing Arthur, but I said I wasn’t, so he told me he found the idea of plants sending their seeds through space likely to occur in any set of cosmi.
Strange how colour affects us. We’ve seen a variety of greens, blues, reddish and violet plants, but these are a dusty brown colour and we found them boring. What was even more monotonous is that it seems that over ninety percent of the plants are all of the same species or taxa.
What did make these planets more interesting is that the plants ‘murmur’ quite strongly, sometimes it even sounds as if they are arguing! We waited for the first seeds to explode into space, the scientists searching for clues, such as maturity of the seedpods. What did puzzle us was that the seedpods look different from those that attacked Earth.
The first pods are exploding into space - will write later.
We’ve decided the plants are intelligent; we have not decided whether their intelligence is a communal mind or whether they are made up of individuals. The area of the planets that were facing in the direction for covering space in the direction of Earth sent out pods. As the planets revolved, they stopped and the areas now facing that direction took over. In other words, only the area of the planets facing that direction sent out pods.
As the clouds of pods reduced in number and tapered off, the murmuring grew louder, we think, more excited or joyous. Even the plants themselves seemed to become more alive, their variations of tans to dark browns more varied and stronger. It is suggested the change in colour is due to the fiery explosions that ‘clean’ the plants of all dust and slough off dead bark and so on. The plants must be hardy to withstand the explosions.
We now know why the pods looked different. The pods have two shells! The outer shell expels gas in a fiery explosion that sends the pods into space and as they achieve the velocity required to escape their solar system, the outer shells split and fall away. As we followed, monitoring them, the pods began to disappear. Obviously this was when they teleported! We did not see anything trigger such an ability, it must have something to do with the distance from their mother planets or their sun. Robbie confirmed that they do not jump in one large leap but make a number of jumps. He also told us that a large number stop jumping at various parts of their journey. He does not know whether they lie in space dormant or whether they die.
There are many arguments as to whether the pods have some rudimentary intelligence directing them or whether their behaviour is only dictated by instinct. If it is the prior then some kind of change must occur in their mental processes as they near their target and prepare to die in the explosion that releases the spores.
Freddie took short jumps (measured in months) back into the past. We watched as the pods grew smaller and smaller until they became hardly more than tiny bumps on the branches. Even those disappeared and we now expected to see the previous lot exploding into space. Freddie jumped and jumped until we stopped watching out of boredom.
The period from the one migration to the next seems to be about one hundred and seventy years. The pods only take three years to mature. The scientists postulate, and it makes sense to me, that the plants first have to build up reserves of the fuel the pods require and that is why they require such a large span of time between one crop and the next.
The previous emigration left at a slightly different trajectory that meant they would just miss our solar system. The same with the previous four emigrations, each one at a slightly different trajectory, just prior to the next one. If the pattern holds true, it seems the plants are determined to seed the entire galaxy. It is calculated that it would only be once every thirty two emigrations that they would be aimed at our solar system. It did not make sense. If they have sent pods to Earth roughly every five and a half thousand years, we should have had myths about it. The answer was far simpler than I’d expected, both the plants and I did not include within our calculations that solar systems are not static, they move in relationship to each other, even galaxies changing shape. I’m certain the computers can easily work out how often throughout the life of our planet we will have pods arriving, but the strike rate is so low that I cannot be bothered. The Unation suggested we find this system in all the realities we know so that they can place satellites for monitoring and calculating the target areas of the next five immigrations and if the computers identify the area as being inhabited they’ll send out warnings. Robbie is not happy with the solution as it could take thousands of years for the messages to be received and humans might forget to monitor for such broadcasts.
7615
At our usual after-breakfast meeting, a scientist told us it is important we learn how the pods know when to jump and in which direction. She suggested that it might open up possibilities for us to scramble the information so that they change their targets or even remain within their solar system. Another suggested we investigate other targets to learn of how many planets they have spread to, as each planet would become another source of danger. The Sparklers shot off in all directions to investigate solar systems. They returned with the most amazing news - and the news is sad also, even though we should be glad.
They found traces of attacks, but the plants have not survived great periods of time on any of the planets. They have survived on a few larger moons that hold water and air, but they are not doing well there either.
By now the leaders of the attacked Earth are allowed to visit Freddie and they are angry with us. As far as they are concerned, the easy answer is for us to destroy the planets and all the plants so that they no longer are a menace to all life. Robbie and the aliens leave it to us girls to explain that we treasure all life, which of course is the wrong tactic. They might have considered our ideas if told by leaders of the Unation for instance, for they greatly admire them, but having little girls tell them ensures they keep their minds shut to our ideas and only increases their anger at the stupidity of all of us.
Sometimes, when the conversation becomes heated, our mystery guest, Isaac, draws closer to listen. I find it encouraging that he shows some signs of curiosity for he must be the most boring person I know. I cheated and asked Athene to try and work out his reason for being with us, but she does not find any sensible reason. I wonder whether she feels frustrated when she can’t find the answer to a question or does she just file it under the ‘insufficient data’ folder?
I’ve noticed that at times a tiny red light flickers and she admitted that it shows she is recording - as has been standard throughout the evolution of Terran computers. I asked her whether she can control the light and she admitted she can. I told her it might be better she alters its purpose so that it no longer flickers when she records. She did not like the idea, feeling the light would then be a useless part of her, but she understood it might not be advisable that others also know when she is recording (does she think I’m sneaky?). I asked whether she could use it to show me she is smiling. It did not take long for all my loves and then everyone else to ask their AI companion to do the same. We are aware the smile is not real and that it only indicates the intent of a smile deliberately simulated for the purpose of making them seem more ‘human’ to us and therefore better companions. I wonder what they would want of us for us to become better companions for them.
For the scientists to experiment, we are having to jump from one explosive immigration to another. We had jumped back about forty such expulsions when we arrived to find the planets only filled with very young plants.
“Their evolutionary history cannot be that short!”
Robbie reassured them, “Do your tests, take your samples and we’ll return in time in five year leaps.”
The next visit showed the plants were much younger and only covered smaller area. The next leap showed no existence of plants. Now we were truly confused. A group of scientists from all the species joined us the day after our arrival.
“We think we have an answer, but we will need to return in time by another ten years, once or twice.” Startled they noticed the screens flicker. “We have done so? We’ll return with news this afternoon.”
We had to jump back another fifty years before the scientists would commit themselves.
7616
“The plants have not suddenly evolved out of nothing. The sere planets on the screens are holding the seeds that will grow once the rains start. There has been no major planetary catastrophe needed for the changes we’ve seen. Freddie has also noticed the albedo of the sun has altered slightly with more ultra violet radiation bombarding the planets. The radiation should be stronger further in the past for the previous visit in the future of this system showed the radiation almost back to normal. Robert, the plants died of cancer.”
“They are obviously more resistant than we are if they were able to re-establish themselves after dying off. Perhaps there are some advantages to producing seeds after all.”
Claudia grinned. “They’re not unique Robert, pots with wheat were found in Egypt that were about two thousand years old and when watered the seeds germinated. I believe other seeds have been discovered from even older epochs that still have the ability to germinate.”
Robbie grinned at the scientists. “I would not be wrong if I guessed that you wish to return to the time when these planets were fecund with life, so as to check whether they evolved because of the cancer?”
Another eight hundred years in the past showed the planets alive. Scientists were sheathed and visited both planets, taking samples and performing some experiments. Robbie spent the next few days mostly out of his body. Days later an excited group of them came to the taverna.
“The future plants have mutated. These also send their seedpods great distances - but only within the confines of their planets with a few escaping to float within their solar system, but most of those end up falling into their sun or drifting endlessly. DNA shows that all three planets are related, the plants growing from a common source. We believe that early in their evolution, perhaps by accident, some seedpods escaped their atmosphere and seeded the second and third planet.”
“What about their ability to teleport?”
“We’d have to spend years examining them to gain the proof needed, but we suspect these plants do not have that ability.”
Robbie grinned. “While you conducted your experiments, Solomon, Leonidas and I conducted our own. On arrival we felt that the ‘Mumbling’ we’d sensed from the future plants is much weaker at this time. It seems the near extinction of their species forced them to evolve some kind of rudimentary self-awareness and an ability to plan for their survival. The teleportation must have been an accidental discovery.” Robbie’s face glowed with his pleasure. “I might be wrong, but I believe that with our help the future plants could evolve further and join us as humans - maybe even Cherinians someday.”
They politely expressed their hopes that it be so, but obviously were sceptical. With a secret grin Allan played his role, knowing what Robbie would say (I let my hair cover my face to hide my own grin).
“Robert! Intelligent plants with emotions and Talents? Surely that is asking too much of nature?” Foolishly a few scientists nodded in agreement with him.
“Is that so Allan? Surely what nature has succeeded in creating once it can do again? Or do you contest my opinion that Le’sase and his species are intelligent, emote and are potential Cherinians? What about the Eqkee?”
The species that has the greatest difficulty in dealing with and accepting the potential of this plant species are the Inguel. For that reason they have asked to bring a spaceship of theirs to help and guide the plants. Robbie asked Freddie to jump to the planet of the CherInguel.
An English professor had joined us to argue literature with Luigi. He listened as Robbie and the scientists talked and was excited to hear we are travelling so far into the future to visit the CherInguel. His Earth have known of the Cherinians for a long time, so he asked (about the plants), “Robert, what if you are correct, but the blighters are too selfish to become altruistic Cherinians? How do you control them, they could teleport their seeds to all realities.”
Robbie grinned. “Perhaps we should open a University of Empathy to ensure they don’t become selfish? Would you like to head the university?”
7617
He laughed. “It would not be more impossible than trying to educate the youth of our day.”We’ve arrived twenty years after our last visit. Everything looks the same and their population has not grown, still only occupying three planets of their solar system - the one has very few Inguel living there as it is their food machine factory base. Robbie created a big platform and we went for a visit - after our Inguel had spent a day there with them, bringing them up to date.
Everybody thinks it was nasty of me. I asked Sebura, Piri and Birshima to come with as Inguel. Fiera and Bobby volunteered to do the same. We did make a game of it for Piri and because she has seen Syrina do so to play with her friend she had no qualms and enjoyed herself - which made it even more confusing for Sebura. I did find a moment to ask isi about Bobby and she confirmed the others found him disturbing as even as an Inguel his physical displays of emotion showed hate.
“Any change of attitude from your mother worlds?”
“Our brothers from the alternate reality have suffered for many years in the hopes of changing them, but with no results that we favour. We have asked them to join us here, but they refuse. We do not know how we are supposed to handle the situation as Cherinians. Can you advise us?”
“Have you allowed them spaceships?”
“They would not use ours unless we handed them over to their crews so we had to allow each planet three ships.”
“They have seventy five ships?”
“Eighty three. The ships are still very young and are not a threat Robert.”
Robbie grinned. “Young ships! What a universe we live in. May I ask you Fin-Amré, are my loves dangerous?”
“Dangerous? Not that I know of, unless you speak of their charm?” We gave him a huge tick on our board and Robbie laughed.
“The point I was hoping to make is that size and youth do not always mean ‘safe’. Can they travel from their planets to here?”
“Not without damage to the ships.” They worried and argued his point among them before he continued. “Robert, you fear they may use them to bomb us? It is possible, but how would they keep it a secret from the Cherinians on their planets and from our satellites in orbit around their worlds?”
Robbie gave a laconic smile, “I’m glad they are not a threat. What of their populations?”
They showed amusement for the first time. “They have been very strict as they fear any growth would give you an excuse to interfere again.”
Robbie glanced at Cherine and me and his face softened. “It seems our first meetings will never be forgotten by your people, while from my side all I feel for those days is regret for my impatience and cruelty. Let me give you some statistics so that you understand what your people mean to all the species of all the realities we’ve visited.
At present we have visited seventy three alternate Earths. I’m only counting those that have sapient life, which in all cases includes my species. We have three Earths whose populations are living in the Sparkler Worlds because their planets were destroyed. There are only two Earths where the food machines have not been distributed, saving billions on each Earth from suffering or death from starvation. In total, counting only realities with life, we have visited one hundred and twelve realities, not including our own. As an average, there are six species in each reality using the food machines with I don’t know how many billions surviving thanks to those machines. Add another ninety one species brought back to life by the Inguel-Kinytian teams and about half of them their populations are too large to survive without the technology they lost, so we’ve supplied them with food machines.
7618
I’m hoping we’ll double those numbers over the next hundred years.
My friends, I don’t know how you have done it, but almost all those food machines were produced by your people. We’ll never know the number of people of all species who bless you each and every day for your selflessness and the sacrifices you have suffered so that they can have a meal. Do you wonder that I say you are loved?” He came to his feet and seemed to forget us so everyone fell silent, the CherInguel barely able to control themselves, needing to show their joy in physical ways. All of us sensed Robbie’s emoting and none were surprised when we saw he was floating about six inches above the floor.
He turned to Fin-Amré and the other leaders. “Your ancestors felt they owed a debt to all the species the fire-world destroyed. Do you need to hear from us that we consider any such debt has been repaid by the Inguel?”
This has been one of the most emotionally charged days we’ve ever lived. Within the hour every single Cherinian and non-Cherinian Inguel of their three worlds had shared and heard Robbie’s words. They then heard other species, such as the Unation, the Anadir, Solomon and those of other species present at the meeting confirm Robbie’s words.
The funny thing is that Robbie did not go to the meeting planning to say what he did, it happened spontaneously, the numbers being calculated as he spoke. Because he had not planned it, his emotions soared along with his words and I think sensing how he felt was treasured by them as much as his words were. Our isi changed for Syrina to hold her as she wept from joy while isi-mi huddled on the ground, her emoting a keening that tore at us. After that, we could not just leave at the end of the day. They needed to celebrate and they needed to see us watching them and sharing their joy. It was well into the next morning in Freddie by the time we returned, emotionally drained and barely bothering to undress as we fell on the bed and hugging each other fell asleep.
The Unation, the Anadir and other species took to heart what we’d said years ago and with the assistance of the Freddie Inguel they prepared an inter-galactic inter-reality encyclopaedia especially compiled for the Inguel. When we woke up and had a meal we had to return to the planet for the official handing over of the encyclopaedia. Again they rejoiced and it seems that being shown so much love and respect has opened them so that we are feeling their emoting far more clearly and strongly than ever before. During the presentation, the Unation leader briefly spoke of the role our isi has played as ambassador to so many species and us and her parents watched, bemused and bursting with pride, as Syrina this time changed so as to be there for her friend. It is amazing that after all that we were still able to recall the purpose of our visit.
It took them three weeks to outfit a spaceship with all they’d need to survive for protracted periods without us having to return frequently to replenish their stores. Even the material food machines use takes up space and so many of their scientists wanted to go with and, in turn, they had so much equipment they just had to take with, that it is a wonder they didn’t need three spaceships. I bet with Laura that they don’t have space to move around and they’ll soon get on each others nerves.
Their spaceship was wished into Freddie by the Wirms and we jumped back to the plant planets. Once their ship was outside, we saw something happening that worried us. Imagine a balloon with a weak spot. At that point it would stretch out into a mini balloon. That was what seemed to be occurring at three parts of the surface. We were soon informed that it is deliberate, they are using those extra areas for storing goods not needed on a daily basis, thus emptying space for working within the ship.
We had arrived at the present time of this reality and Robbie asked Freddie to jump forward a month. Reassured that they are alright we jumped six months, then a year. We filled up their food machine material bins and passed over water as filtered for our Inguel section and promised that either Vincent or someone else will jump to them once a year their time to replenish whatever they are running short of.
The leaders of this Earth asked what we plan for their people. We could sense that Robbie was very tempted to tell them that since they are their leaders, they should be doing the planning, but he knew it would sound childish so he controlled himself. It seems either they fawn on Robbie, or else they act belligerently, very few having the sense to act casual and friendly. Their Robert and Cherine watched us with mental smiles of sympathy as they kept a serious and concerned look on their faces.
7619
“Whatever we do, you have to resign yourselves to the fact that your cities, factories and farms have all been obliterated. We can provide you with more food machines and we’ll help with clothing and housing, especially in the areas that experience cold winters.”
We sensed their dismay. “That is all the help we can expect?”
“You’ll have more help, but only if you act sensibly. If you plan to waste energy and manpower on arming yourselves again, then we’ll leave you on your own. This is an opportunity to give your people a better future than they had before. You’ll be supplied technology that does not pollute, food that does not destroy your health. We hope the lack of cities and other evils of the past will remain as part of your new culture. If you want more details, such as methods of handling your wastes and so on, I suggest you talk to the leaders of the Unation, the Anadir, the Inguel…why not speak to all the species, I’m certain they’ll all be helping in one way or another. I’m the only one who is too lazy to get involved and too ignorant to do so without causing even more problems.” None of us reacted with anger as we would have in the past. When Robbie speaks like this, we’ve come to understand he is doing so because they have irritated him. We divided ourselves amongst them and promised to help.
They were also shocked to learn that they would not be returning to their world close to the time of their departure. We jumped ahead by fifty years and then by three hundred. By that time it was obvious that the invader plants were dying out. We jumped another hundred years and the scientists took over. Their first job was to ensure that nothing remained from the alien plants to affect terrestrial life of all kinds. Then we had to help the land heal, ensuring any lingering effects of past pollution were dealt with. Only once the local ecology, plants, animals, insects and so on have grown strong enough to survive the arrival of mankind will we return them.
Everyone else is busy, but I’ve finished what I had undertaken to do and I’m in the mood to write for you and maybe chat a bit. Let me return to the time of our strong emotions at the CherInguel world. All of us were affected, but for Syrina it was just that extra bit special. Such moments of joy make sharing pure bliss. It was only natural that Syrina was chosen that night and she was in a wildly exultant mood. The next night we sensed her need and she was chosen again, but this time she came to be loved as an adorable five year old. Robbie was in heaven as he caressed and memorised her tiny body, as eager as ever to inhale her childish scents. We all shared from Robbie and there is nothing impersonal or distant about sharing such emotions, so it was as if five year old Syrina was being loved by all of us. When she wanted to cuddle for sleeping, she nuzzled up to her mother and I doubt Diana slept at all that night, treasuring each second of holding her little miracle girl.
We noticed that Bobby has been spending less time playing with the Akiard kids, but did not think anything of it. He seemed bored and walked around aimlessly, but he never complained. One day he sat by Isaac. Isaac glanced at him and saw his cold eyes staring at him and he glared back. Taken aback, Bobby quickly left. That afternoon he went back. Isaac pointedly ignored him.
“Why don’t you like people?” Not the most communicative of people, Isaac barely shrugged. “I bet you wish you were a Cherinian.”
“What for?”
That was a question Bobby had neither thought of nor anticipated. Being a true child he spoke of the trappings, “So that you can do what they do.”
“What they can do my people do with magic. They also leave people like me alone. At my village I eat like I do here. I do my work and sit in the shade with a drink. They don’t even have a real sun here and there is no work to be done. This is not a good life for a man.”
We’re grateful that they spoke within earshot, as Freddie would not have shared, to him all conversations are private, and we could not share from either Bobby or Isaac. Bobby returned to his parents with a puzzled look, but there was something else we could not identify. He asked them why it is special being a Cherinian and they explained. He nodded as he settled back against Cherine and with eyes almost closed he whispered he misses uncle Arthur and his other friends. This has certainly been a day of revelations. The only two who do not share with the rest of Freddie opening to each other and showing that neither of them are as content as we thought.
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Robbie is perhaps a little wiser than we are, for he softly touched Bobby. Bobby opened his eyes, saw who it was and gave him a gentle look of hate. “Bobby, do you want to go home?”
He considered it for a moment. “Not yet, but I don’t want to stay here forever.”
I pondered the conversations and realised that because of our gifts, our empathy has grown in certain ways, but because of them we’ve lost the art of empathy as experienced by Normals. It would never have occurred to us to ask Bobby what he wanted, thinking he’d already shown us, whereas, because Robbie had grown up as a Normal, he knew that Normals may say one thing because it is true for them and yet not really want it to happen at that time or for other reasons. Sorry if I’m not explaining myself as clearly as I like to, but I’m trying to work my way through thoughts that are almost alien to me.
Again Robbie surprised us. Taking the wine Isaac likes with him, he went and sat by him on the grass. “Isaac, we don’t know why Jesus brought you to us, he told us we have to work it out ourselves. Maybe we are stupid, but after all these years we still don’t know. However, we do trust all the Jesus friends we have so we do not question his decision that you should be here. Perhaps you are here for reasons that only affect you or Jesus, but we think it is more likely he brought you to us because in some way that is good for us, you affect us. If that is true, it means that even by sitting here you are doing good.
We heard you tell Bobby that you would like to have some work to keep you busy. Would farming be of interest to you? What kind of work did you do in your village?”
“I had goats and six olive trees. What kind of farming?”
“Let’s finish our wine and I’ll take you to the farm my father runs. He grows coffee. If you prefer we can go to Hilda's farm, she grows vegetables and flowers. Isaac, if neither is what you want and if you are missing your village and friends, we’ll take you back, the choice is yours.”
He decided he prefers the coffee farm. I think he did not like working with a woman and the idea of growing flowers did not make sense to him. Coffee he enjoys drinking, so it was probably interesting finding out how it is grown, roasted and so on. Another lesson for me to ponder. Even if the meals come from a food machine, many people need to feel they earned their food. I guess we all need to feel that we are not parasites, that we are doing something useful. Hmm, am I a parasite?
This is Theresa, I just had to write, sorry. It was so funny what happened when Sam asked if she is a parasite. Cassie said, “You may be a parasite, but you are a pretty parasite” and Sam asked, “Do you really think I’m pretty?” She thinks of Cassie as being very beautiful, so she was happy that she said she is pretty. Robert became very angry with Samantha because he thinks she thinks of herself as a parasite and made her life miserable (but also feeling nice inside) as he told her off and tried to prove she is not a parasite. Thank you, I hope you enjoyed knowing.
What happened with Isaac and Bobby got us speculating about Isaac again. We’re pleased that he’s not the slothful man we thought he is and hope he’ll be happier now, but we really can’t see why he was brought to us. A question for Claudia: since Bobby is blocked to our gifts, how is it he understands all the languages, same as we do? Okay, the question was not for Claudia, it is for me to find the answer.
Months have gone by and working with the locals as we returned them to their planet meant that we made friends, among their Cherinians but also the Normals. We brought them to the attention of their Cherinians and most of them are now Cherinians, so perhaps it is no longer correct to say that we made friends among the Normals. So many of them have been born and raised in cities that they feared when they saw all the cities gone. By the time they had a home and had settled down, their fear turned to delight - especially those with children.
Robbie gave Bobby the choice: a) we return him to his home, b) we go to our home in Athens, or, c) we go visit the world of Pirusi. He chose (c) so we’re on our way.
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.
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: 14th Jly, 2020
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