Little Cherine Book 09 - BPost049

Robbie nearly gave our visitors a heart attack when he told them that he has taken them at their word and within the day over a million sick people will be healthy again.

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Previous: Book 09 - Post 048

6081

“We are first concentrating on children and those adults who are in danger of dying or who are suffering pain. The rest will be cured over the next few days.” We noticed that only one person had the presence of mind to realise this could cause enormous problems for his government as a large number of doctors, nurses and other specialists will find themselves made redundant. The problems their pharma corporations will face will be immediate, for the market will be quick to realise their shares are worthless, but it does not trouble me, as they have only used their powers and influence against all those they do not consider Elite. However, I did wonder how they, the market and governments, will handle all these problems without the resources our world has available to it from our business activities. Perhaps we should let them worry for a while so that they learn to value their Cherinians.

“Your Cherinians will continue to stay at the two prison camps, but I suggest you advise your people that they are now not restricted and may be seen in the streets of any city. As your people become accustomed to seeing them, each Cherinian will be free to move back to his home. Control of their properties and assets will be returned to them, with fair and market related compensation for any damage caused by your administrators. It is up to you to educate your people using all means available to you so that they are seen as friends and protectors of all humans.

The above conditions are not negotiable. Should you disagree with any of the above, I expect you to say so before you leave today.”

“If some of us have reservations about the advisability of moving as fast as you wish?”

“Then all Cherinians will be leaving with us. Before we leave we will scour the planet for all people suitable to be accepted as Cherinians and we will take them with us. They will be transported to an Earth that does not have a sentient species and provided with all they need to live and grow in a healthy way. As most species you are likely to meet in any future space explorations will be Cherinians, I would suggest you do not bother, pull your blanket over your heads and forget that there is a universe out there. Stay here with your diseases, pain and death as your companions. Watch your children fail to achieve their potential and waste their lives through the use of drugs. Pass draconian laws, ostensibly for their own good so that your citizens no longer have any rights to privacy or their own thoughts - for it is the only way you politicians can survive. Those are the reality of your choices.”

No surprises, they unanimously chose the second option - as we’d expected them to. To tell the truth, if I were one of them, I would have decided as they did. Robert and Cherine were very upset and frightened of doing as Robbie had decided and so did not even try to sense from us why Robbie was being so hard-assed. They did not even share with their Cherinians, for they hoped to soften Robbie first.

As soon as we were alone, Robbie asked them, “Why are you upset? I only did as you asked me to.”

“When!”

“Not ‘when’. You did by surrogating the responsibility for your own existence and those of your Cherinians. If you are not prepared to fight for yourselves, then I have to.” That is not what we believe in and I felt many of my loves were about to protest. Cher clamped down on them and they kept quiet.

I should have remembered that Cherine has spent a long time in Freddie. She turned to me. “Samantha, help us, you know what Robert is saying is not right.”

“According to our rules?” She nodded. “I must admit I am tempted to leave things as they are, it was fun seeing him be so dictatorial.” I took her hand. “Why not fight your own battles, you know we will stand by you. Robbie only said what he did, it is up to you to make your own decisions. Use your Cherinian memory to recall our tellings and you will find your answers.”

I sat back grinning as the entire room sank into thought, only Robbie and Cher grinning back at me. There were gasps as they hit the right memories, but we waited for Cher and Robert.

As I’ve mentioned before, this Robert is too soft, too civilised. It was left to his Cherine to speak for them.

“You expect us to refuse to go along with you. You think it will help them think of us as their Cherinians.”

6082

“Make them damn proud of you my love.”

Luckily most of the politicians had gone to their embassies to communicate with their governments back home. Cherine asked them to meet with her and Robbie at the national television studios as they have an announcement to make. They know we can override their stations, so they did not refuse.

“Thank you for meeting with us. The prime Robert and his family have returned to Freddie. This broadcast is being shown live all over the world, so it might be better I recapitulate our earlier discussions and the ultimatum handed to you by the prime Robert so that all our people understand what is about to happen.” She gave exactly what was said and we felt how the entire world was enraged while also brought to a panic by our presumptuousness.

Robert then spoke, his face stern and angry. “The prime Robert does not have the right to speak on our behalf. This is our planet, our world. All Cherinians of this world refuse to obey him. We are staying here. We will restrict ourselves to the areas you have asked us to stay in, but we will do so while holding a dream. We dream of the day we are accepted by our people as friends and invited to walk among them, helping where we can and filling your lives with our love.”

The Greek Prime Minister did not hesitate. “If you are invited, would you make Greece your home?”

“Yes.”

“I need to have my invitation ratified by my Parliament, but you are so invited. Become our friends as the prime Robert is a friend of Greece in his reality.”

At first only the smaller countries extended the same invitation, but within twenty four hours most of the world had joined them. Robbie sat watching the screens with a smile, proud of himself and them. Without warning he asked Freddie to jump to Goldi’s Planet.

Coral pointed out, “They’ll see our departure as anger that they would not agree to your terms while giving in to the local Cherinians.”

Happily he nodded. “Why don’t we have a little holiday?”

Every time we come to this miracle gift of yours, we fall in love with this world. Somehow the magic of this place also touches the hearts of all our alien friends, whatever their home worlds are like. The Akiards, including their youngest brothers and sisters, have all been allowed to roam around and they are having a great time. It is still something that surprises us, their love of beauty. Even more amazing is that they evolved in a totally different and harsh world, so if they found beauty in it, it would have been something we find difficult to appreciate - unless they allow us to see it through their eyes. I keep secret my wondering as to whether the original Akiards had an appreciation of beauty.

Aganthi grinned, knowing how we will react to her saying it, as she ran her fingers over surfaces. “Four years and no dust!”

Diana giggled. “Do you think he comes here to dust it for us while we are away?” That led to many jokes about you.

For this once I joined them. “If only the Muyzith could see him here, wearing an apron and holding a feather duster, cleaning our home, I bet they would not be so afraid of him.”

“I bet they would be jealous and want to take him with them. It is not easy finding a good maid anymore.” As you probably guessed, that was Robbie.

The next morning, when Freddie sensed we’d had breakfast, he passed on a message. Robbie is wanted back in Freddie. Intrigued we all jumped with him.

6083

“Robert, we have come to a startling conclusion. We are not certain yet, but we thought you should know. Our equipment is not reaching into another level, not even the void. It is drawing energy from our space, though, not exactly ‘ours’. We think it is drawing the energy from distant parts of our own universe and reality - our own reality being whichever one we are in at the time. The interference in communications is coming from the distortions we are causing within normal space.”

I had built up my hopes too high and had nothing to say, too depressed to even think. Robbie thought about it. “Keep it confidential for now. I ask that you only continue with your experiments until you can confirm your theory and hopefully pinpoint where you are drawing energy from. If you cannot, then this experiment is at an end. We dare not draw energy from an area where other life forms may live and need the energy for their own survival.”

When we returned to our planetary home, I went for a walk. Goldi soon joined me and though I knew Dommi had set her on me, I welcomed her with a smile. “This is not a planet for being sad on. How did Arthur manage to give it your attributes?”

“You think so, really?”

“You can’t feel it? It is a charmer, just like you.” She laughed, but she was pleased.

“Sam?”

“Yes love?”

“Don’t be sad, we still have learnt something new, it might help find Arthur.”

“How?”

“First we learnt from the Muyzith that your chats are real, a part of nature, not just some kind of magic from his world, and can be monitored scientifically. Now we have further proof. We know we can affect whatever is carrying your chats and that will lead to other developments, maybe to find a way to strengthen the contact. That is how scientists work Sam, they learn bit by bit.”

“Not like me eh?” She gave me a nice grin in response. “Do you know what my problem is?”

“You want him here, oh, you mean something else?”

“Yes. I want to get to him while he is still alive.” I sighed. “If we could stop communicating, then I would not worry so much. Even if we find him in a thousand years, we could go back in time. If we chat until he dies, how can we go back and change the past?”

When her face is serious, deep in thought, I fall in love all over again with her beauty. “Maybe you should manipulate the Muyzith into helping you? Make them feel it is urgent they get him here?”

“They already feel that way. I expected too much of them, they can only help if they work with us. On their own they are at a dead-end.”

“Then we must convince them to stay.”

I sat down on the grass and pulled her to me. “You know that you are breaking all the laws?”

“What laws!”

“Of nature. With the gifts you have, you should not have also developed such a sharp brain.”

We both giggled as Cassie threw into the pot her comment. “Maybe when you were created you got Sam’s brains.”

I countered with, “Thank goodness you didn’t get her sense of humour. Two of her would be impossible to survive.”

6084

“Oh, I like her funnies.”

“Yeah, I tend to appreciate them after I’ve cooled down.” That gave them the laughs they wanted.

The next day I left for a walk, but found I was not really in the mood for walking. I felt a little bit silly as I stood undecided and then I asked Freddie for a platform. It is easier than levitating over a planet.

I stayed low enough that I could see the vegetation and small animals clearly, often having to rise up over a particularly tall tree or hill. A few hundred kilometres later I saw a valley that looked interesting. It reminded me of Greece and Cyprus when the poppies bloom, spreading a crimson carpet over the land. Here though, the flowers were a wild mixture of colours. Wondering what his crazy mind has come up with, I landed and gasped. Not only were there flowers of every imaginable colour, each flower seemed to have petals of at least two to five colours. Without thinking I exclaimed, “Hello you pretty things.”

“Hello”. “Hello you” filled the air around me. I felt the hairs on my arms raise with awe. Of course I was not given any private time to experience this on my own. Everyone felt me and not only the family, but all friends jumped to me.

I shushed them and then spoke clearly and slowly, “Hello Samantha.”

“Hello Samantha” the flowers answered, echoing each other for a while. We were all awed until Robbie suddenly cracked up with laughter. He laughed so hard that his knees folded as he held his sides.

That was a funny idea Arthur, to have parrot flowers that repeat what is said to them with your voice!

6085

This has been the loveliest day I’ve enjoyed for a long time. Everybody shared and people were still chuckling as they left to go to bed. Parrot flowers! Some people will believe anything!

We were laying in bed chuckling over the events of that day when a weird idea came to Bernie. This would be the perfect place to try it and since we all loved it, we decided to do it as a family. I thought it would be fun to have Allan come over to watch us during the day so I ‘called’ to him and he agreed.

Robbie has often said it is special the way children see the world about them, refreshing our view if we try to see through their eyes. Bernie’s idea was to spend a day on Planet Goldi as a two year old toddler, after our minds have adapted to being that age. As Cherinians we play with our ages often, hardly noticing any difference, for whatever our age, even as adults, our perfect health prevents many of the changes that occurs among Normals, plus we usually strive to recall all we know, affected only by the chemistry of our bodies. For this day I wanted to be a two year old in mind and body, with only a few of our ‘gifts’.

Because our mental age will make us vulnerable, Robbie planned on staying an adult, but we pleaded, tickled him, pleaded and argued until he gave in, secretly arranging for Vincent to watch over us. Poor Vincent, having to travel across so many realities, space and years just to baby-sit us.

We prepared our clothing and, while Allan the prude waited outside, his loves helped dress all of us. If it is ‘wrong’ of him to see us as naked two year olds, why does he find it okay for Jessie and Eleni to see little Robbie naked?

It would have been foolish of us to have breakfast before changing so a large crowd of toddlers arrived at the taverna - starving. Maria rushed around on her own for a while and then she disappeared into the kitchen and we heard her shouting at her husband. When he appeared, carrying plates of food for us, I saw, for the first time, that he is different from Maria! I could hardly see any aura around him while hers has grown to resemble that of a Normal. At the time I just found it ‘funny’.

Somebody reported to Freddie the existence of a stone forest, so Allan thought we would enjoy it. Vincent still pretends to be angry with him.

It was well worth visiting and since everyone had been asked to stay away from the area for this day, we did not need to feel shy. When I call it a stone forest, it is actually a forest of rock spires, forming the oddest shapes and made out of layers of vivid colours. Jade jumped to the top of a spire and little pieces broke off, the tip she was standing on swaying slightly. We all thought that was a great idea, though Robbie did look for a very short spire. Once he was on his spire, he stayed there without moving while we played, making a game of jumping from colour to colour. A couple of times we fell, but Vincent was there to catch us. That became a new game, our childish voices and screams filling the valley as we fell, each trying to outdo the other. Allan was quick to help Vincent, but then he gave up and called for his loves to come help them.

We then discovered holes in the spires or the ground and wanted to explore. A number of us got stuck in the holes and Vincent had to make us even smaller to get us out. Then we moaned that we were thirsty. None of our guardians dared leave to get us drinks, so pappou and his family were enlisted.

6086

It was a wild day and we are still amazed at what a difference our younger age made.

Thanks, you made our Robbie laugh - and I owe you one! I’ll collect when you come here.

We gathered as many Cherinians as we could and Robbie became the void as we tried to sense/communicate with the Goldi Gaea. Of all the planets we have been to, we felt this one surely has to have one. It does not make sense that we cannot discern her at all.

Allan saw that we were all dejected, so he suggested that she has gone visiting. Goldi said (her eyes huge), “Do you think she found her Sehleen?” She was only teasing Allan, but with you as our Author, we dare not preclude the possibility entirely. Why didn’t you make this planet sentient since you love the stories by Anne McCaffrey? (A brief note here, Sehleen is the name of a girl in a story Arthur wrote. We did not like having the story in the diary and he must have sensed us, for he deleted it).

6087

It is strange how sometimes things work out the opposite of what I expect. With little Cherine being released, given a permanent body, I’d expected Cherine to become even more serious. The opposite has happened. She is more like the eight year old Robbie fell in love with. I guess she realised she now has real competition so she had to. Perhaps I’m wrong. It could be that seeing Tseri and her lovely way of teasing all of us helped remind her of the person she used to be and she has made a conscience effort to set aside the reasons for the changes in her. Robbie of course is in heaven and we sometimes take a look at him just to make certain he hasn’t really melted into a puddle.

Perikli surprised all of us when he asked Samuel to go on a camping trip with him. He asked Allan and his girls to look after his little girls and they jumped to another continent. Since all who visit here share with Freddie, we did not have any reason to monitor them. When Cherine became withdrawn and we realised she was watching over them through Freddie, we all became curious. Again Cherine surprised us. She flashed us a privacy sign, only later excluding me. This is the first time a privacy sign has been used this way!

“I grew up in Athens. My parents were not wealthy but we lived well. When I was fourteen my parents were troubled by my rebellious nature and sent me for three months to relatives in a village. I hated the countryside, for me life in the city was perfect.”

“I mostly lived on the farm. I hated it until we moved into town. How did you discover you had a gift?”

Perikli shrugged. “I was much older. To be honest, I did not realise it was a gift or power until I was contacted by Hettie’s agents. They helped train me and it grew stronger. It is strange that you asked, because I was about to tell you of my uncle who looked after me during my stay in the village.

He was not an educated man, in the normal sense of the word, but his house was filled with books. No fiction, mostly books that deal with the history of the Ancient Greeks. He was not wealthy, he had about thirty olive trees and made a little extra money by keeping some goats. Despite that, it was often said that he could have run for mayor and won. When he talked, people listened. Lately I’ve been wondering whether he did not also have the gift.”

“It must have been a shock for you when you found out about Robert and Cherine.”

He laughed. “I think I was more shocked at the contacts he had. As a foreigner and an employee of Alki, I’d categorised him as being harmless. When Ministers and multi-millionaires showed they respected and deferred to him I realised he has more powers than I’d thought. I was surprised that Hettie did not enlist him - after all, he had already shown he was ambitious. Your uncle quickly set me right and explained why he was a danger.”

Samuel frowned. “In what way did he see him as a danger? I mean, at that time he was living quietly, only interested in hiding Cherine from the world.”

“He was convinced that Roberto was planning ahead, laying a base of power for him and Cherine to take over the world. He already had one of the wealthiest men in Greece doing whatever he wanted and protecting him. It was obvious to your uncle that Roberto had only brought Dominique in so as to control through her the wealth and influence of her family. When I was called by the Minister and ordered to help Roberto, I became convinced your uncle was right.” He chuckled. “Roberto soon turned my world upside down.”

“It is difficult for me to get a clear picture of my uncle. For a long time I dreamt of emulating him. I did not know exactly what he did, but I was aware that he was high up, powerful in the government of that time. I set myself the goal of becoming President of the United States, so that he would admire me.”

“The only way he would have allowed you to succeed would have been if he thought he could control you.”

“As an adult I am aware of that. At that time I did not understand him very well.”

6088

Perikli hunched forward, stirring the embers in the fire and placing a few more twigs so that flames lit their faces. “Samuel, was you uncle ever caring, did he show you he loved you?”

His mind seemed to contract, as if it had suddenly occurred to him that Perikli might have an ulterior motive for his questioning, but he soon sensed that Perikli had his own reasons, that he was not acting on behalf of Robbie. “No, looking back I’d say that is mostly why I made such big dreams. He showed that he looked down on my parents and did not expect me to amount to much.”

“Why did you love him then?” Perikli hesitated. “Samuel, I have my reasons for asking these questions.”

“You want to protect Robert?”

Perikli shook his head. “No, with the girls he has, he does not need my protection.” Samuel thought he was being funny and chuckled. His face turned serious when he saw Perikli was not joking. “I’m worried about you.”

“Me!” He showed what a quick mind he has by not protesting any further out of ego and stopped to think. His voice was a little bit colder and withdrawn when he said, “I think you better explain yourself.”

“In some ways you are similar to Roberto, you do not seek to become a leader, even though you have the qualities. Why did you decide not to become President?”

“Are you certain I did?”

“Yes. Does it have anything to do with Samantha?”

“You are afraid that I am in love with her and will cause problems?”

“Not really. I do not know whether you love her or not, but you do know her too well to become a problem that way. I think I better be open about what is worrying me.”

“Perhaps you better.”

“I like and admire you.” He paused again and Samuel showed he’d confused him. “It is because I like and admire you that I felt I had to do something that is not Cherinian. I need to be certain that there is nothing of your uncle in you. I’m not talking about his coldness and cruelty, nor about his ambitions. I’m worried that you might still identify with him and feel you need to avenge him.”

“I’ve already explained that I do not.”

Perikli sighed. “Yes, and Roberto believed you. I don’t. Not that I fear you wish to harm Roberto, in that way I think you have outgrown your hatred. I am more afraid that your childish admiration of your uncle might end up poisoning your thoughts, altering your goals that you presently believe in. Your potential is too important for that cancer to be allowed to remain in you.”

Samuel spread his hands out. “I do not know how I am supposed to reassure you - even if I wanted to.”

“I do not ask that you do, I know what a private person you are. Samuel, ask yourself the questions I’ve asked and if you decide you need help, then find someone you trust to help you.”

There was a coldness emanating from Samuel that killed the possibility of any further conversation. About ten minutes later he said, “I have examined myself many times and I do not think you are right. If I do need to speak to someone, I know who it will be.” Perikli only looked at him. “Samantha.”

“Will you allow me to make a suggestion without feeling that I am intruding on your personal rights? Do not choose Samantha, if you need someone to talk to, choose Cherine.” Samuel was not the only one caught by surprise - and that was why Cherine shared with me all of the above.

6089

We’ve been here five weeks now and we can sense Robbie is waiting for something. I’ll admit I did not worry about it, though it seemed strange that he expects anything to happen on this planet. I guess Cherine felt it was time to move, for she visited me in my apartment as soon as she sensed I was not writing.

“What are you going to do about the Muyzith? What is your strategy going to be?”

I gave a despondent shrug. “I don’t know. How can I make them want to stay with us? It sounds easy, but with the way things are between us, I don’t see them offering.”

“I don’t think I could find a way to make them offer. It would be easier to force them to demand they stay.”

“For our good?” She nodded. “Cherine, they know me too well to fall for any of my tricks.”

“You’re giving up?”

I hate it that she knows my buttons. “Of course not.”

“Then do something, Robert is getting itchy feet.”

I thought quickly. “Ask Meli and the tellers to do a telling in two days. Robert should extend an invitation to the Muyzith to join us.” All my family groaned at my poor attempt to pun our name, but Cherine grinned.

“That’s more like it. I knew you just needed a kick in the butt.” I don’t know whether the girls found it funny just because Cherine said it, or because I was the butt end of the joke.

I had a private moment with Tina before the telling.

It was obvious the Muyzith did not want to come, for only five of them joined us at the telling. They made no excuses, their tight group keeping apart from everyone as an obvious political statement. The crowds sensed something different was about to happen, but the tendrils of their thoughts searching our emoting found nothing to explain their foreboding. Someone explained to his family that their feelings are due to the contrast between Freddie and the planet Goldi where everything is so beautiful and peaceful. His excuse made the rounds and most of them relaxed a little, even though it was ridiculous.

The telling was planned to last only one and a half hours and Meli announced that Cherine will be doing a Golden Circle afterwards for those who wish to take part. Without any further ceremony the telling began.

The girls managed to make the ending an anticlimax, leaving everyone on edge without knowing why. As the lights dimmed, it could be seen that Tina had bent over in agony. Instantly the Sparklers rushed to her, surrounding her in a greenish light. She suddenly stood straight and called out.

“If those without mothers allow my Angel to fly alone,
realities will be called to atone,
for those who scorn the favoured
shall be forgotten by the Saviour.”

6090

Instantly I was on my feet and called out in anger, “That is not a prophecy! It is nonsense!”

Tina visibly wilted at my attack and Dommi was quick to place her arm around her.

Cassie called out, “You know that Tina has no control over what she says!”

Arguments broke out, most people reacting with fear. I laughed. “Without mothers! That must mean the Kinytians. It is more likely I would turn my back on all of you than our friends the Kinytians!”

None of our family or close friends mentioned the other possibility and we left as early as we could, going to the taverna. The girls formed an obvious barrier between Tina and I, which worried our friends. Alki put his arm around my shoulders.

“Samantha mou, what is wrong with you? Since when have you closed your heart to Tina?”

Coldly and with as much scorn as I could manage I spoke loudly, “She is trying to make the Muyzith stay. I will not have it!”

Alki is never aggressive towards any of us girls, he attacked me by showing his disappointment in me in his eyes. “If it was a true prophecy, would you condemn their entire reality Samantha? What about the other species living there?”

I’ve been shown by the girls that I stared back at him with a savage glare that turned to triumph. “I will not allow Arthur to punish them. Only those who dared stand against us.”

Robbie called out, his voice very stern and cold. “That is enough Samantha! What the hell has got into you?”

I stared back at him and then jumped to my apartment without answering him. He made to follow, but Cherine stopped him. The crowds around the taverna had heard every word and I was damn certain the Muyzith spying equipment had also recorded it all. I sat in my apartment biting my nails, waiting and fearing it had all been for nothing. If we have failed, then I knew it would be a long time before we can explain to everyone. If we succeeded, we must never explain. Either way, I had shown a side of myself that disappointed everyone. For a while, Freddie is not going to be a nice place for me.

Hands clapped and I jumped, startled. Samuel had blocked himself so that I had not sensed his presence.

“What are you doing here.”

“You extended me an open invitation, but I’m glad you’re not under your waterfall. That was quite a performance!”

I scowled. “What are you talking about! Don’t you dare tell me you came into my home to argue that I was wrong!”

He laughed and his blocking prevented me from getting a reading so it actually made me angry. “Whatever Samantha does or says, I always first ask myself, what con is she trying to put over us? If I don’t find an answer, then I’m certain you are.”

“That’s stupid! You are saying that either way I’m manipulating the situation.”

“That’s a fair summation.” He grinned, annoying me again.

“You have a nasty streak.”

“You didn’t have to verbalise your feelings for me Samantha, I know you love me.”

Next [Book 09] - Post 050

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 March, 2020}

• posted: 15th March, 2020
  
  
  
  
  

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