LiTTLE CHERiNE Book 02 - post246

Early the next morning, the couple who are to care for Sophia phoned. “Officer, the girl, she has spent all night weeping. We do not know what to do for her.”
I whispered, “Tell them we are coming.”

Previous Post 245

1322

Sophia had not come out of her bedroom, so I entered on my own. She was lying on her side, hugging a pillow to her. Gently I asked, “May I take the place of your pillow?” As I lay down she flung her arms around me and began a fresh bout of weeping. Since she kept her head buried against my chest, I waited, holding her just as tightly. Finally her sobs died down and she fell asleep. I waited until she woke.
“We are going to town to buy you some clothes. After that, just you and I, will go for coffee and pastries to…let’s see, I’ll give you two options, either the Excelsior Hotel in Via Venetto, or to Harrods in London. Your choice.” She stared at me with big eyes and I laughed. “It is a tough choice?” She nodded. I loved it that she did not question that I can do as I was offering. “Let’s go to Roma and before I leave I promise to take you to London. Sophia, you do not have to tell me why you were crying, but if you decide you want to, you can tell me while we eat our pastries. Hmm, I hope they have nice chocolate eclairs.”

When we took her shopping bags to the home of Sylvestro, I sensed her need. “Sylvestro, I want to go close to the home of the little girl Roberto healed. I just want to be certain she is fully healed.” He nodded, without asking for explanations, and I left. As I had sensed, Sophia felt she preferred to talk to him - since I was the reason she was crying for so many hours, I can understand her need.
I grinned as I entered. “She’s fine and of course her healing means she will live a very long life, somewhere between one hundred to one hundred and fifty years - same as is for both of you.” They were both startled. “Roberto sent his healer to both of you while he was with you, I sensed him, but also, my healer tells me you are both in perfect health thanks to him.” With a grin, I asked, “Well Sophia, do you still need private time with me, or can Sylvestro come with us?”
Sylvestro turned white. “You want to carry me in the sky? I would not…”
“If Sophia can let me carry her, then so can you.” Sophia looked as if she were about to tell me she also is afraid, so I quickly added, “I will not be carrying you, we will teleport there, which means travel is instantaneous. Sophia, put on something nice and Sylvestro, I think you better wear a jacket…I don’t think a tie is required. Come on, hurry up or we’ll get there too late for the best pastries.”
As they obeyed, I thought of Roberto and then of my loves and thought of how they are all suffering while I play at being a ‘Roberto’ and go for pastries, but I could not make myself feel guilty. I think that we must grab whatever brief opportunities to be happy that come our way so that we can endure the unpleasant times - just like Alki and the others when they left the house of the minister and had a good meal and drinks while we huddled in our home. We were happy for them and I think the others would be happy for me, if they knew.
We sat at the tables within an area partly enclosed by flowers, out on the pavement, and during our stay I could feel Sophia wishing at least one person she knows would walk by and see her, but there is no way I could make her wish come true.

Sophia has returned to the farm, carrying a box of pastries for her new family and I can feel she is determined to try hard to become what I want her to become. Sylvestro is on duty, but we will meet for lunch and then I must leave. I keep worrying Roberto will arrive in Cape Town before me, even though I know he won’t.

1323

I took the precaution of projecting as a black South African woman. As I arrived, I saw three men before me, talking. The one of them was facing me and at his startled look and exclamation, the other two turned to look. Two of them were blonde and the one, the taller one, had light brown hair. I soon learnt they are Danish, for the tall one took on the look that warned me he thinks he is going to charm me.
“The true beauty of Africa! Delighted to meet you - may I offer you a drink?”
I gave him a puzzled look. “Was that really the best you could manage?”
“What do you…”
“She appeared from nowhere! I was looking that way and she suddenly appeared! I’m not imagining it, I swear!”
The tall brownie asked, obviously amused at the expense of his friend, “Did you teleport?”
“I am a sangoma - apart from being the beauty of Africa, what did you expect? That I would use the white man’s car, train or airplane? We sangomas have to get around a lot, often on urgent business. Nice meeting you.” I smiled and walked away.
Tall brownie said, once he thought I was too far away to hear him, “She’s got a sense of humour! That’s the kind of woman I want to marry.”
I was on a high, it is my excuse for what I then did. I turned back to them and told him, “I’m not available, but my husband also loves little girls with a good sense of humour. Would you like me to turn you into a little girl?” As I left I could hear the other two were having a wonderful time teasing their friend and I thought to myself, see, you don’t have to be a Cherinian to make people happy. I wonder if tall brownie is going to secretly fantasise about becoming a little girl and belonging to a big black man - it is amazing what men will fantasise about regarding sex. Lol.

I can’t believe it! The ship arrived, took on some provisions, water and fuel at anchorage and departed for Mombasa, in Kenya! I’ve never been there, how am I going to jump there?

I found a ship also going to Mombasa and allotted myself a cabin. Since I was broadcasting to not be noticed, it meant I had to help myself from the pot in the kitchen when no one is looking. When we arrived I left a note saying, ‘Thank you for the use of the cabin and the meals. I hope five hundred dollars is fair exchange.’
Being a more modern ship, it travelled faster and we arrived a day after Roberto. As soon as I could see a spot without people I jumped ashore. Carrying a white piece of paper I walked around asking various officials whether they have seen the man in the photo and at the bus depot I got lucky. I was told he, with another white man, went to Nairobi.
Roberto has shared with us his memories of Nairobi, but they are from when he was a child, so much may have changed. I decided it will be safer to jump to a spot where their coffee farm road joins the main road to Nairobi. If nobody stops for me I can keep jumping to the next place ahead of me. It may make me feel dizzy but I’ll be in Nairobi within an hour.
I have found where Roberto is, so I’ve decided to get to know this city our Roberto loves so much. Maybe I’ll even jump to the farm to take a look.

He has done it to me again! Roberto left Nairobi and I don’t have any idea where he is! The hotel were no help, refusing to answer my questions, but I could sense they don’t know where he is travelling to. The concierge suggested I go to the airport and ask around, but I can’t see Roberto getting on a plane, after all, where would he go and why in such a public manner? He knows the spider will have ways of knowing if he does. I better first check with the car hire firms, then the railways and busses; if I fail, only then with the airport and airlines.
I’m not doing so well with my guessing. I left the airlines for last and of course that is the way he travelled. The office girl, after I nudged her mentally, told me he has gone to Dar es Salaam! Why there (?) and do I find him in the city or has he left for the jungles to commune with nature?
I came up with a stupid way for me to get to Dar es Salaam; I found a morning flight going there and once they were high up I formed an air bubble and jumped, landing on top of the main body - I nearly damaged a wire which is on the outside! Getting off was more difficult, but I broke my jump into three, all in the air, before landing close to the city. Some children saw me appear and ran away, screaming. It was a good incentive for me to change my appearance immediately.
There are not many hotels in the city and I know he would not choose the multi-storey Equator Hotel, so I tried the smaller ones first. I used a clever ruse - I entered the hotels looking exactly like Roberto! At the second hotel I was greeted by name, so I broke our rules and talking to the woman, I monitored her thoughts and guided her to thinking of the place where ‘I’ am staying. I suppose I will be punished, but I have had enough of guessing. I am also beginning to feel it is urgent I am by his side.

I was told about the hotel bus and they dropped me off at the foot of the hill where Roberto is. I aimed for the large tree next to the house and landed on a branch. I was just in time to watch the arrival of the girls. As they talked and teased, I felt it is time to announce my presence by stopping the Natalie gift, but then Roberto sliced his wrist. Hearing him tell our loves that they must leave convinced me I should stay hidden a while longer. I did not travel all this way for him to dismiss me. I will not leave now.

The rest of my story you already know, Roberto has written of it.

1324

Roberto was touched when he read the story of Aganthi, but then he asked Cherine and I to write of our time apart from him. Logically, Cherine pointed out to him that it was the writing talent of Samantha which had moved him, so he should ask her. At first he claimed it would not be fair, since she has already helped write for Aganthi, but then he asked her and she agreed, once Cherine and I agreed that we owe her one big favour each. Since then Cherine and I have been anxious, worried that we might have been better off doing the writing ourselves.

Sam intended writing how we all felt, but Meli told her to concentrate the main part of the story on what she knows best - her own feelings and worries. She will add bits about us if she feels the need.

Sorry, this is Sam. They are presuming; I will write whatever I write, which in most cases means I will be copying what I wrote in my own diary. If anyone wants to add bits and pieces, or to take over, they are welcome.

Next Post 247

I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love.

Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου

(Alexander Zenon Eustace)
^{21st May, 2019}

* posted on Steemit: 21st May, 2019



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