Little Cherine Book 06 - BPost039
He finally explained, “The day we bring your people back to your world is the day the fifth act is completed. It will be a great finale having you snap it in two.”
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Luckily we have Cherine. She made patience while he was busy, but the day he could rest with us, she tackled him. “Robert, get rid of the sword.”
“Not yet love. I have explained to Haven.”
“So what? Because you explained you think it makes it right? You know that the way she is feeling at the moment she can refuse you nothing, so you ignore her suffering? That damn sword should never have existed, but it definitely should not anymore, not since the day she opened her heart to us. You cannot have both the sword and her love. Get rid of it.”
I felt sorry for him. I knew he wanted the symbolism of her breaking it to show he has kept his word, but he knows, as we do, that once Cherine gets a bee in her bonnet she does not give up. (R: It may be true Sam, but I do not give in to her for that reason. I do when she is right.)
“Haven, shall we get rid of it at supper?” She nodded, tears in her eyes. He pulled her to him and rubbed under her eyes. “What’s this? Not my warrior?”
“I’m not a warrior.”
He put her on her feet facing him, leaving his hands on her shoulders. His face did not reflect the love in his heart, looking stern and proud. “Haven, with or without a sword, you are my warrior. You and Jade. I depend on both of you to watch over our family. Get Athia to explain to you the difference between a warrior and a Cherinian warrior.”
When we arrived at the taverna, Haven stared at the crowd with dismay. Robbie took her hand and waving at the rest of us to sit, he spoke.
“Thank you for coming. Today is an important day. You all know the story of the Meéjeira and Qkwesinitie, of Haven, Robyn and Shiyra. We are all Cherinians here and have a deep need for love and an abhorrence of hate. I had never known of any who have the right to hate, not until we heard the story of these species and the tragic mistake that destroyed them all.
When we brought Dark Cloud to us, I despaired of ever being able to teach her that hate only harms her people, not the enemy. I despaired because I felt that in her shoes I would have hated just as much as she did. What right did I have to try and change her?
Luckily she did not need to depend on me. A daughter was born to us and she saw what was in my heart and turning against me befriended Dark Cloud - much against her will...” he added with a grin. “To symbolise her understanding of Dark Cloud, Empathia created and gave her the sword that hangs above me. My daughter gave her a sword against which I have no defences and if the string you see snaps it will cut through me. If I stand here as the void and it falls, the meeting of the forces could destroy all within Freddie.”
Haven looked up at him in wonder, she had not realised how powerful the sword is. Her eyes went to Athia and they stayed on her for the rest of Robbie’s speech.
“I was in two minds about the sword. I wanted to keep it as a reminder to all Cherinians that hate is a force that threatens all we stand for and we must never allow it a place in our hearts. I also wanted Haven to close this part of our lives by snapping the sword when I have kept my part of our bargain and her planet is alive with her people and is filled with the sound of children laughing and playing.
Many of you, of my species and otherwise, are married, so you will understand when I tell you my wives did not agree with me, thus I had to give in and here we are.” He spread his hands as if in surrender and we heard laughter. Cherine flushed, but otherwise did not betray her feelings by emoting. I grinned, as the rest of the girls did, we knew Robbie is going to pay for his humour.
“Cherine pointed out to me that if the sword represents hate, then it is time for Haven to snap it in two. Love has conquered hate.”
He turned and looked at Haven and her feet left the boards. She rose until she was above the sword and by stretching her hand could pass it through the string of energy holding the sword. She took the hilt in one hand and the other passed through the string and the sword drooped in her hand as the string disappeared.
Holding the sword with both hands she drifted until she stood upon the table. She pointed the sword at Athia.
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“I still do not understand, why would you give me a weapon of hate to make me love you. I think that after Robert you have to be the craziest of the family.”
Grinning Athia moved closer. “Do you still want to cut off my head?”
“I may regret it someday that I do not. Athia, how do I break it without cutting myself?”
“Hold it before you and will it to break.”
“Move back then, I do not want it falling on you.” She held it steady and shutting her eyes concentrated. A sharp sound was followed by a dazzling release of energies that flowed directly to Robbie. We just barely heard the sound of metal thudding as it struck the wooden floor. Haven stared at the broken sword hilt in her hand and the blade that lay on the floor.
“I thought it would disappear!”
Robbie moved to her, intending to place her back on the floor, but she extended the sword to him and he took it. “Keep the pieces as your symbol Robert.”
“Thank you my love.” He turned to the crowd. “What do you say? Does this moment deserve a party with lots of drink?”
I feel a little guilty not writing more about the process of creating and bringing back to life a planet, but I know many of the scientists are dreaming of writing about it and my endeavour would only look amateurish in comparison, as I hardly understand most of it. I doubt that even Robbie understands much of it.
We are still thousands of years from ‘our’ present time, but the planet is beautiful, teeming with life. Robbie stopped Freddie.
“Girls, if we have our wedding after we bring back the people, we will cause problems - plus I don’t think we’ll be allowed time for us to enjoy it. We are finished and the planet is at its best right now, how about having our wedding now?”
We all deferred to Theresa, since it had been her idea. With eyes shining she agreed.
“Can we have some time alone Robert?”
“How long love?”
“A day.”
He laughed. “Make it three. I have to prepare ground side for thousands of guests.”
“Is there a way for us to go from here to there without you taking us?”
“What if Vincent carries you in a platform?” Happily she agreed. The three of them took Athia with them and posted a privacy sign. After a while Athia returned alone, but highly amused. She asked that all us girls go with her and told Robbie we will all be under privacy.
“Shiyra came up with an idea and the rest of us love it. She suggests we all go to the wedding as Meéjeira.”
“Females I hope.” Jade joked.
We liked the idea.
“Do you all remember the museum we went through? We saw a section with old clothing. Haven suggests we use their older classical styles for the wedding.”
Each of us searched through our memories and chose the clothing we liked. We showed Haven and she approved our choices. We knew we were going to make quite an impression and then Cherine began to giggle.
“Can you imagine the expression on the face of Robert’s father?”
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Cassie grinned, a naughty look in her eyes. “Can you imagine the expression on Robbie’s face if we tell him we’ve all decided we want to make love with him the first night as Meéjeira?”
We had a good laugh about it until both Robyn and Haven refused. “I don’t want him not wanting me on my first time.”
“Robert might surprise you Haven, but I agree, it is not worth taking the risk.” Cherine said.
If we had not hidden our thoughts, I think Robbie still would have avoided looking. He loves it when we try to surprise him.
All the guests were down with Robbie on the planet when we went to the platform. Vincent looked at us and chuckled. He bowed and gestured for us to enter. As we approached the planet he silvered the outer energies so that we will not be seen as we land. Once at rest he told us to stand in a line and in an instant made the shield totally transparent. He dissolved the energy and we walked out onto the grass.
We felt disappointed. We could not see Robbie anywhere, our surprise fell flat without him there, we’d looked forward to seeing his face. Alki came to us grinning.
“Give him a few minutes. You should have seen his face when he saw you. Girls, he had prepared a surprise for you and had come as a Meéjeira male.”
“Traitor.” Robbie came out from among the crowd. “You would not believe how beautiful you looked to my Meéjeira eyes.”
“Why did you change back Robert?”
He pulled a face. “Alki spoilt it for me. When I saw you, I realised I would be spoiling your surprise with mine.”
Alki laughed, not at all remorseful. “You were stupid to change back Roberto, the girls would have loved it.”
All fine till there, all Robbie needed do was change again and all would be well - but then we felt a swell of grief in Haven. Before she could weep Robbie quickly asked, “Have I hurt you my love?”
“I was stupid. I wanted you to love me as I really am. I love you as you are Robert.”
“Hmm. Shiyra, may I enter your mind?”
*Of which of your species do you feel most like?*
She showed him and they chose the clothing.
“Alki, there will be three weddings today. We first wed as Meéjeira, then as Qkwesinitie then a third time with each of us appearing as the species we are.”
Haven was startled by the idea, not too certain at first reaction about appearing as a Qkwesinitie. She quickly changed her mind. A mist enclosed Robbie and when it drifted away he stood before us a proud looking male Meéjeira. Haven and Robyn giggled.
“You are dressed wrong Robert. That shows you are a dilettante.”
“A dabbler? That seems appropriate.” He sensed our displeasure, the displeasure at his words of most of the Cherinians. With an exaggerated grimace he changed to the appearance Haven wanted. He was now dressed less attractively, but as a leader of the Meéjeira.
Our beloved has definitely changed. The wedding ceremony was arranged by the edge of a cliff by the sea. The violent crashing of waves sent a spray which would have soon had us looking bedraggled and the noise would have made it impossible for our guests to hear us. He sent out a ledge of transparent energy, creating an invisible curved wall behind us to keep the noise down and the spray out. Calmly he stepped out onto it and looked down at the roiling sea and rocks with a slight smile.
We all uttered our vows just as fervently the second and third times and we all tried to embrace our new wives. Robbie waited until we had done so and then raised his hand. Everyone stopped moving and waited for him to speak.
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“Our love is equal for each of our wives, but we have a gift from all of us and Vincent, for sweet loveable Haven. No sword this time Haven.” Vincent stepped forward carrying a staff across his hands that glowed. “Haven, this is a staff made of love especially for you. As much as it will grieve us, there may be times we have to leave you alone on your world with your people. Vincent has given of himself so that should some disaster threaten, all you need to do is hold the staff and call for us in your mind. It will release the part of Vincent held in it, which will seek him out. He will call to us and speed to your side and arrive as fast as he can to protect you and yours.”
Meli murmured to me, “That is the stuff legends are made of. For a man who wants to be thought of as ordinary, he keeps on doing things to make himself seem magical.”
“He keeps on doing things out of love Meli.” Cherine whispered, correcting her (in accordance with how she sees it, oblivious to the truth, oblivious to the fact that her words make him seem even more magical).
Soon as the ceremony(ies) was/were over, a mammoth platform came down from orbit and we all entered it gratefully - I guess Robbie more gratefully than any of us, as he had to maintain the sheaths of energy that filtered the air we breathed and kept our bodies covered to prevent contamination of the pristine planet. We did not return to space. The platform has all the facilities any of us may need, with food and drink for all. Music played, some of it ours and some of our friends.
At the dance Allan danced with me. He was grinning so I asked him what is so funny.
“Everybody is making plans for the long stay we will have here. With the way your brides are feeling, Robert will not be in a condition to move Freddie for a while.”
I grinned back, I guess I’m getting used to his humour. “Jealous Allan? I hope you are right.”
He put his head next to mine and whispered in my ear, “Remind me to talk to you after your honeymoon has ended - it can wait for then, Samantha.” His voice was no longer smiling so I nodded. When his face moved away it was smiling. I did my best to try and disguise my worry.
Chapter One Hundred Seventy Seven
“Haven and Robyn, you will soon have to decide. Do you keep the bodies you have, or do you want to have Meéjeira bodies created for you?”
We should have realised he’d have to ask, but his question filled us with dismay and we held our breaths, trying very hard to block any emoting while they decided. Of course our lack of emoting betrays our feelings, but it is better than inundating the other person(s) with our feelings.
“What would you do with my body if I want a Meéjeira body?”
“I’d put it in stasis. I cannot destroy it, Haven.”
“Why can’t I have two bodies then Robert? One for when I’m with you and another for while I’m there, helping my people.”
“It sounds reasonable. Same for you also Robyn?”
“Same for all of us Robert.” Cherine said.
He looked at her and then a grin lit up his face. “Mum, dad, it looks like you are about to have an alien son.”
Rose kept quiet, knowing Robert is confident she will not mind, but a little bit anxious about his father’s reaction.
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Wilfred did not answer Robert directly, looking at us girls as he spoke. “Some of my loveliest daughter in laws and granddaughters are aliens. What makes you think your being an alien makes you special?” Robbie had been squeezing the breath out of Jodine and she grinned as he let her breathe again. He gave her a kiss and laughed.
“It is just as well I brought you when I did. I can imagine your reaction if I’d only brought you to us now.”
“You never forget do you Robert?”
“Why should I? I treasure my memories.” His Rose put her hand over his and smiled at her husband, sensing his emoting. Being a Cherinian helps to heal wounds, but time is still the best medicine.
Our chat degenerated even further, so I’ve deleted it. Somehow he manages to make our chats interesting or fun, one way or another, bringing out a side of my personality I do not see often - thank goodness!
We decided to take his advice and we went to the void for Solomon to use the ‘painter’ to take a ‘copy’ of one personality so that it can start to grow. It is a pity he did not suggest it earlier while Haven was still fragmented. Solomon says the original soul will be able to sense it is no longer pure and has bits of the other souls. (I’ve just realised it was a silly comment, the fragments would have been full of hate.)
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“Robert, what if we make love when we are Meéjeirans and I conceive? How would the child be part of this family?”
I’ve noticed his iris widen, making his eyes darker when he gets lost in thought. He smiled to himself, pleased with something he saw. “Haven, you won’t conceive while it is a problem.”
“But it would not be a problem Robert, our children could also have two bodies.” Athia said, happy with the idea of having a child as a Meéjeiran. She is still more daring than the rest of us, so she deserves the rewards she earns. She was flooded with love from Haven and Robyn.
“Dad, can I also have an Anadir body?”
He looked at Annavi, Ashia, Solace, Elpida and Orshiir. “All of you?” They nodded, hardly daring to believe.
The idea excited me. “Just imagine! We could all have bodies of all the species we meet! Lucy, how would you like an Elipian body, just like Asimi?” My face fell. “How could we have a Sparkler body?”
Sol laughed. “You can’t love. As for your idea, it means the Sparklers can share, thus experiencing all the forms. We’ve enjoyed using Terran forms, but we were mostly limited to becoming little girls. Now we’ll be free to choose any form. I will have to go and tell them, if Robert agrees.”
“Why would I have to agree Sol? Have I ever stopped any of you from doing what you want?”
“You would have to agree Robert, all of us must, or else we do not do it.” Cherine said in a fierce voice.
“I agree my love, as long as none of you decide to become Teddies. Solace, Elpida, I’m sorry you can’t become Sparklers, you would have made good Thinkers.”
“It is our loss also Robert. We would have been happy to have all of you as Sparklers. Sam!?”
I was grinning like a Cheshire cat with cream on my whiskers, but I kept my mind blocked, not wanting them to see yet. “Can’t you guess Sol? Do you think you can work it out as Solomon?”
“There is a way? Don’t tease Sam.”
“No. You want us as Sparklers you work it out for yourselves.”
Sol left her body with us and disappeared.
“Come on Sam, tell us.”
“Nope. As I said, you want to be Sparklers work it out for yourselves. It is obvious, maybe that is why you did not think of it.”
I was extremely unpopular for a while, but I did not let it faze me, annoying them all by grinning and insisting it is easy.
I was proud of Rosie when she contacted me in privacy and asked me if she has the right answer. I told her she does and she kept it to herself, grinning and teasing the others, telling them it is easy. Sol returned and finding out what is going on, shut off her mind also, grinning at me.
Cherine exclaimed, annoyed at how obvious it was and for taking so long to work it out. She was about to keep it to herself also when Robbie grabbed her and tickled her until she agreed to tell him.
“You thought of it Sam, you tell them.”
“I don’t mind you telling them Cherine.”
“We go to the void as souls available to be reborn. We would have the same problem with becoming Inguel. We would have to split our souls in two with each parent sending our halves instead of their own souls splitting. With the Sparklers, a Sparkler would hold our soul and acting as if our soul were part of themselves they would send us.”
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“It is a little bit more complicated Sam. When a new Sparkler is created, the soul is part of the body. To form a new Sparkler and place you in it we would have to force you in, forcing the soul of the parent Sparkler to reunite.”
“It can be done without any suffering?” Robbie asked.
“Yes.”
“One more rule then. Before we create bodies for ourselves of any species, we ask for permission. Only if we are welcomed is it permitted.”
Cherine looked as if she were about to cry and Robbie pulled her to him, concerned.
“Robert, what about the others? What if pappou Alki wants to, or the other Cherines and Roberts?”
He sat stunned. “Cherine, there is no way I can handle that many bodies. I’d have to spend all my time putting bodies in and out of stasis.”
She sobbed. “Not for us only Robert, it would not be fair.”
Her words killed the rejoicing by all and that made Cherine inconsolable. Robbie held her, as he thought about it. “Love, we have to make exceptions. Perhaps we do not do this for all species, but we have to for the species of our wives. We must be able to join them in their own forms.”
It was narrowed down to Sparklers, Anadir, Meéjeira and Qkwesinitie. Our decision cheered us up a lot.
“What about my Gillians?” Gilli asked, feeling a little hurt.
“You do not feel our species are close enough for it not to matter?” He felt she did not. “Okay, Gillians too.”
Meli looked troubled. “Robert, your dream, you were an Anadir.”
“If it is to come true love, it is far in the future. Don’t worry about it from now. We haven’t even worked out how to bring your world to this reality.”
“Should we dad?” I asked. “Could the world of your dreams have come about because they could no longer feel her gentle soul?”
“Leave it for the future Sam. We first have to solve your problem.”
My face paled and I felt dizzy for the first time ever. I burst into tears.
“What now?” He looked in my mind. “Oh Sammy!”
“I can’t dad.” I wailed.
Dommi pulled me to her as they looked in my mind. Haven was the first one to cry. Robbie felt them getting ready to protest. “Sam is right. We cannot kill her bodies if she has to leave.”
“Can’t you keep them in stasis?” Candy asked.
“If they stay in stasis forever girlie, it is as if we killed them.”
We sat in misery for a while, so I spoke up, “Dad, it would not be right not to do it for everyone else. When you do, Solomon can create me a temporary body so that I can be with you.” I pressured them all into agreeing with me, but the feeling of excitement was gone.
“Excuse me, may I make a suggestion?” Freddie’s disembodied voice asked.
“About what?”
“About Sam. Why not create the alien bodies for her also? If she does not find a way to escape the loop she can then split her soul, giving each of them a part of herself. That way she continues forever.”
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His suggestion was accepted by all and they flooded him with love, only I not joining in. I waited until things returned closer to normal and then spoke sternly. “Freddie, open your mind to me.”
I left my body, not quite certain how to find him, but I felt Robbie guiding me. I danced with Freddie (stupid to call him Freddie when I could feel he is Robbie). I gave him a sliver of my soul and a full set of my memories, happy that I will now always be a part of him too. For the next few hours things kept on going wrong and Robbie and the girls had to keep repairing damage. They did so with joy, seeing it as proof of how desperately Freddie had needed something like this and all the girls vowed to do the same. Over the next few weeks they did.
Robbie was apologetic as he told everyone of what we would be doing and why he cannot offer to help everyone to do the same. Strangely it was the only non-Cherinian who came up with a suggestion.
“Roberto, would it be too much if you did it for one of each species? That one could then share those memories with the others. That way they would know what it feels like to be of another species. Would that not be good for understanding?”
Robbie laughed. “Estelle, by the time we finish we could have three or four thousand species. If each of them wants bodies, that would be how many, nine, ten million bodies? How often would they want to try their bodies. Even if we limit it to three alter species bodies that is still ten thousand. I cannot handle that many.”
“Estelle is right Robert. Allow each species to choose one body. That way you would only have four to five thousand bodies. Limit the use of the bodies to once every two or three years.”
“Double it Luigi. They will want to return to their bodies. Let us say, once every five years, it is still two thousand per year bodies I have to place or remove from stasis. Six to seven exchanges per day. And that is if we only meet up to four thousand species…what if it is more like four hundred thousand? I have too much else to do, for me to devote such a large part of my time to such a project.”
“Start off with those we have Robert and as we meet more species reduce the availability. They will all understand you are not available throughout the year. Even once every fifty or hundred years would help contribute to a realisation of brotherhood.” Robbie agreed, always glad to do whatever his father asks of him.
Dommi added, “All the problems you foresee Roberto, they remind me of problems in our past. Just as we thought only Cherine will be able to link, so are we ignoring the fact that each of us will grow over time. Maybe the day will arrive when each person, of all the species, will be able to change their body without needing your help. We now have the idea and it is agreed that in a limited way it will happen, so it will provide the incentive for others to find a way. It is better we view it as a possibility, which will help everyone remain positive, rather than the opposite.” Everyone agreed with Dommi.
When they remember our idea of living a life of each species, I think they will see it is not that important that we are able to exchange bodies now.
Alone that night, Robbie asked me to find a way to pick a fight with Estelle. He wants me to do it in such a way that she will be in the wrong. I refused.
“Come on girls, it can’t be Cherine, Dommi or me. With us she is too likely to apologise.”
“You want me to?” Goldi sweetly asked and Robbie had a good laugh.
“It wouldn’t count with you love. You’d have her begging you to forgive her even if she was in the right.”
Haven asked, “What is the reason for it Robert?” He explained. “I’ll try.”
Haven got Estelle to bump her and standing aggressively before her waited for an apology. She got one immediately and Haven looked at Robbie triumphantly, expecting him to be proud of her. She could not understand why he was killing himself with laughter. It did not help sober him when Estelle confided to me that Haven is scary.
As if Allan had been primed, he provoked her a couple of days later. She was talking with Eleni and out of the blue he asked her, “Would you be ashamed to be seen by your friends with Eleni?”
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“Of course not.”
“What if you’d found her in the street, as she used to be, would you?”
She looked at Eleni, her face flushing. Eleni got angry with Allan, but he ignored her. “Seeing her this way has not taught you to look deeper and see the soul inside?”
“Your question is stupid! If I saw a girl like Eleni was and asked her to sit with us at a coffee shop, all my friends would think is that I felt sorry for her. They would think I was stupid and soft, but they would pretend to admire me.” She got up from the table. “I’m sorry Eleni, you are all Cherinians so I could not be polite for your sake and had to tell the truth. I don’t understand what he was trying to prove, but I think it was very rude of him to put me in this position.”
“I agree with you. Let’s sit at another table.” Mollified, but also with an angry glance at Allan, she went with Eleni.
When Eleni and Allan left I sat by Estelle. “Are you still angry with Allan?”
“Yes.” She hesitated. “Not just for the obvious reasons Sam, but I don’t want to tell anyone why it upsets me so much.”
“Then don’t, you have the right to your secrets, as do all of us. Estelle, I was wondering why he did it. The only reason I can think of, is that he feels responsible for you being here. Because of him sending you our story we met you.” I could tell my explanation only angered her further, but that she is still wary of me and was controlling herself.
The next day she walked straight up to Allan. “I am not your child! Do not ever dare to insult me by testing me again.”
He stood up. “Estelle, I apologise.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Accepted.” She sat down. “Find such a child Allan and you will see what I will do.”
He grinned. “You find your own Estelle. Any I find, I keep.”
As people do when their passions are stirred, Eleni ignored his obvious teasing of Estelle and asked him, “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
She put her head on his shoulder and lost herself in plans. Allan looked at us with a ‘what do I do’ look and Estelle seeing it, laughed. She joined us.
“He is still my internet monster, sort of ugly when he forgets to smile, but with a good heart.”
“And you Estelle?” Robbie asked.
“Still the spoilt girl who needs kind people like him around her.”
“Take a walk with me?” She knew better than to refuse. By the side of the water he stopped and they talked.
“Dommi may get angry with me, but I broke our rules. When Allan got you angry, I peeped in on your mind. I wanted to know how you were reacting. For a moment you were that sixteen year old I first met. Then you got a grip on yourself. Estelle, you are getting there. You are starting to think and not just reacting, automatically blaming others. I am pleased.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Did I ask you to? What gave you the right to read my thoughts?”
“I said I broke our rules. As for asking me. Do you want to become a Cherinian?”
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She was about to lash out, slap him. Not something Robbie would forgive easily. She stood straighter. “If you have to show me disrespect for me to become a Cherinian, then all you are offering me is a healer and some powers.” Her eyes flashing she walked away from him, not returning to the taverna. He stood watching her retreating form.
I think I should create a page in my diary where I put all profound words. Hers would take pride of place. I cannot believe that a silly woman from Paphos, one we thought too flighty to be a Cherinian said them. “If you have to show me disrespect for me to become a Cherinian, then all you are offering me is a healer and some powers.” I’m impressed.
When Robbie returned all he said to Dommi was, “Amazing what power words have!”
“I like her, she is a warrior.” Haven added and he grinned at her.
“Then go be her Athia.”
“You wanted to tell me something Allan?”
“Not here. Ask for privacy please.” We walked away from the taverna. The further he took me the more worried I became. Only when we were out of sight did he stop. “I will not be speaking of facts, but of what I fear.”
“A threat to Cherinians?”
“Not in the way you are thinking. Sam, what I am thinking comes from the many years I have lived as a Normal and the little I know of our history and of the even smaller understanding I have of human nature. It may seem like a trivial matter right now and I may have worried you without justification. You decide. When Robert slammed into the wall and damaged himself, do you recall taking his eye to Dr Maria? She still has it.”
He paused and I wondered why he was worried about it. He saw I did not understand.
“Have you been to see the sarcophagus of Saint Nektarios?”
“Yes. They said you can hear noises, as if he is still moving around inside. I heard nothing.”
He looked away from me, staring into the distance. “I had a vision, his eye was preserved so that it will last forever and is set in a place of worship.”
I was horrified, but needed to know how real the possibility was. “What do you mean a vision?”
“Not in the sense of anything supernatural. I was talking with the doctor and she told me she finds it impossible to dispose of the eye. I sensed behind her words a tinge of…I’m not quite certain what it was, but it made me think of those who venerate bones, a hand, a body, whatever is left of some holy man. Yes, I think that is the word. I think she feels she is holding something that is holy.”
“This will upset Robert very much.”
“Why? All it requires is that you ask for the eye and send it where all holy artefacts should be sent to.”
“And that is?”
“Throw it into the sun Samantha. If you do not, the eye could become more important to the worshippers than the man himself.” He knew exactly how I felt, but did not try to make me feel better, only standing by me as I slowly cleansed myself of the feelings of being violated and dirty.
I gave him a small smile. “If what you fear is true then sending it to the sun would be the wrong thing to do. It would be seen as symbolic, the sun now would be seen as the eye of Robert.”
“What will you do?”
“Flush it.”
With a curious expression he looked at me. “You could do that?”
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)15th December, 2019
- posted: 15th December, 2019
If you wish to read from an earlier book, from Book 01 to Book 05, use this link button to open the LC Book Index: