<sup><h6>Was that a dig because of me calling Cherine a queen? Fine, I don’t mind, you can call me princess.</h6></sup>
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<center><a href="https://steemit.com/sfandf-fiction/@arthur-grafo8/little-cherine-book-05-bpost044">Previous: Book 05 - Post 044</a></center>
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<h3><center>3241</center></h3>
Su’phon has convinced Baritte he should stay here. He does not have much choice since we are far from his home. When he heard we will soon be arriving at our home planet he decided he will find it interesting. Actually, he said he is fascinated. He wants to see what a world of child abusers is like. We strongly denied that, telling him only a minority are. He insists that inspired by our telling, he has been reading our books and sharing from us and from the Anadir about our species, he is right and we are wrong.
“What would you call any race that allows children to be killed in wars. For political or economic reasons allows children to die of hunger? You even show everyone moving pictures of children dying and your people look at the children, the poor living skeletons and because they do not want to sacrifice their own comforts they say how terrible it is and go on living their lives as if the children do not exist.” I don’t know why the girls doing the telling showed those parts of our culture…maybe they were reacting to his need to know about us?
“That is not fair. A lot of people send money and try to help.”
“Not as I understand it, none force their governments to change their laws so that children of all nations are cared for. It all comes back to economics, the god that rules your species. I do not think there is any other species so fixated on personal wealth. You told me some of your religions demand a tithe. Ten per cent you said? For what? To feed the fat priests? Build temples to gods who don’t need them? Damn you Sam, you and your people, if you cannot see that your children are your gods!”
I could make some kind of smart-ass remark, like, once a fanatic always…but that will not be fair or honest. What he says is true. None of us argue with him, but our alien friends have tried to, asking him not to judge until he understands. His answer is typical of him but, again, correct.
“Understand? If understanding makes me tolerant of their ways, then I do not want to understand.”
“Their people have not matured Baritte. When those who can, do help, all that happens is that those who cannot feed their children have even more children. The explosions of population do not occur in the areas where their children can be fed. The poor areas are increasing in population too fast. No planet can afford to feed an ever increasing population. Those who have, have to first look to their own families and neighbours and give only what they can to the starving."
“I am not stupid Ordinx. You partly gave the answer yourself, poverty is to blame. What you say is only an excuse that blinds them to the suffering. If they had the determination and willingness to make sacrifices, the solution would have been found. No, they sit back, comforted by their excuses and small gestures of charity while children shrivel and die! What a hypocritical race!”
He also attacked Robbie. “Instead of shooting off to alternate realities saving species, why aren’t you using your gifts to save the children of your own world? Is it easier to bring back a billion lives, repair a planet and help feed them until they can be self-sufficient, than to feed your own? Why do you refuse to upset your own world when you do not care if you upset other civilisations? It is right to change the Inguel, but wrong to force your own people to have some empathy for their own children?”
Freddie has stopped, we are no longer moving towards Earth. Under this barrage from Baritte, Cherine is falling apart. The words and contempt of Baritte are forcing her to feel the suffering she had learnt to steel herself against. The rest of us are also being affected and Robbie, this once, is not capable of being our strength. Our friends are trying hard to bolster us and spend as much time as they can with us. Strangely Eleni is just as affected while Allan is not. He tries hard to give us strength to overcome our misery, but the words he uses are those self-serving Normals of Earth use and they are not as effective as those of Baritte. What irony that by helping Baritte we have brought on such a crisis.
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<h3><center>3242</center></h3>
Of all Cherinians, or rather, of our family, Jade and I are the least affected. To us our family comes first at this time. I agree, we cannot ignore the suffering of our world, not only the children, but also adults, but here and now it is first Cherine we must look to and then all the others. Robbie walks off by himself, when he can bear to leave his Cherine and us and blocking his mind he tortures himself. This time we have to find a way to help him, he cannot.
He feels strongly we should not declare ourselves and turn our world upside down. He says it might be only for the short term, but we will cause far greater suffering if we openly interfere, scarring the Normals forever. He is convinced changes must come through a process of internal evolution, not through us dictating as we did with the Inguel. Using them as an argument was not fair. We did not interfere because of their domestic choices, but because they were in the long term a threat to their galaxy and all other species.
His problem, our problem is Cherine. The worst of it is that she is aware of it, but once the walls crumble it is twice as difficult to rebuild them. We cannot see how to resolve our dilemma so it was with pleasure we heard Dommi demand a meeting at the taverna. Each species are to send representatives. She will not let us see what she plans, saying she is not willing to argue her decisions from before.
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With a maximum of ten from each species, apart from our family, we can all fit on the chairs and tables available. The Eminixx, Sharipya, Asimi and Urafel assumed Terran bodies so no special provisions were needed for them. Dommi moved Baritte from where they had seated themselves, demanding he sit at the table with Robbie and Cherine. Us girls ran around serving our guests and only when the tables were full of food and drinks did we take our places. Some of our friends tried to kid us as we served them, but the underlying tension prevented the occasion from becoming light-hearted.
Robbie grinned at everyone when he realised their eyes were on him. “Don’t look at me. Dommi called the meeting. I presume she has made her mind up about something and brought us here to lay down the law. Those of you who have not had much contact with her in the past, I warn you, she is not someone to argue with. Even Cherine gives in to her.”
His tone was light and amused so we all smiled. Dommi gave him a dark look and then spoke, without getting up from her chair.
“First of all, as the courtesy of friendship demands, we eat and drink as companions. Enjoy your food, have a few drinks, but please stay sober, we have things to discuss afterwards and decisions to make.” I couldn’t help thinking that this custom she must have picked up from Feizal and I like it. I think most species who share their meals with friends will like this tradition.
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As sometimes happens, the food and drink and the gathering of friends who do not see each other often helped everyone relax and by the end of the meal we waited for coffees and Robbie to have his smoke. Without a word being said the conversation died out and everyone looked at Dommi. She had her face cupped on her palms, her elbows on the table (something she will normally tell us off for doing), her eyes dark and lost in thought.
“I’ve had to spend the last day with my mind blocked, it will feel good to open myself to my loved ones again. Roberto is wrong, I did not ask you here to have a discussion. This is not a matter of choice. I will not allow anyone to damage Cherine and that is what is happening right now. Cherine, keep quiet, you can talk afterwards.” She had not even turned to look at Cherine, she knew her and pre-empted her protests.
“Baritte, I understood you are considered among your people to be a mind matured. I will not ask Su’phon, but will speak as the person I am, and if you object to my judgement of you, I will gladly listen to what you have to say in a private meeting.
You cannot imagine with what joy we welcomed you. You may think of the period you attacked us as being a time of problems for us. We only had one problem, how to bring about the changes you brought about on your own. There never was an alternative. We do not kill and we do not force others to believe as we do. Any time spent by us waiting for you was gladly given. I have nothing more to say about that time.
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<h3><center>3243</center></h3>
I do have something to say about what you are doing now. You are attacking us again, but this time using our own culpability against us, your battle waged on moral grounds and we have little defence against you. Baritte, with you as an example, I am forced to take an insulting attitude towards all Duirphon males. If you are an example of a mature male, the mother instinct within me tells me you are all children. It seems you only mature when you become females.”
Su’phon laughed. “It took you a long time to realise that.” If the males had resented what Dommi said, her laughter and comment helped diffuse the tension.
“Roberto is fond of admonishing us that only children see truth as being of one shade. Black or white. With a species as old as yours, I expect you to have learnt by now that there is no one answer or truth to suit all occasions. Baritte, it is easy for you to be critical of our people, of us also. We do not resent it and sometimes a person from outside sees more clearly than those directly involved in the problem. We have seen the problems you have berated us with, but had to take other things into consideration. You will say how can anything else matter, how can the suffering of children today be justified. It cannot and yet, to a certain extent it has to be.
We are not looking at short term answers. Our probable span of life forces us to look into the distant future also. You do not know me as well as some of the others here. You heard during the storytelling that I have what they all call the mothering instinct. When you become a female and are therefore wiser to such emotions, you will understand what the effect on me is, to hear of children suffering and dying.
Why did I say ‘hear’? Baritte, we are meant to act as sentient creatures and use our brains. If I were to be there, see a child being tortured, see a child cry from hunger and, remember, I will feel exactly what the child does, I will not be capable of controlling myself. Regrettably, the truth is, I have to. Let me explain why.
You heard that Su’phon told Sam she is trapped within a time loop. I do not understand it, but there is one thing I do understand. Sam was miserable at the thought of her dying and returning to this time while all those she loves move on without her. Not just once, but again and again forever. She was told by someone with a wise heart that any time she spends being miserable will be multiplied by the number of times she returns in time. She will, by the end of time have spent a total of millions of years being miserable.
It is the same for us Cherinians. We do not want to look for instant solutions that will allow humans of any species to go through the old cycles again. If we interfere now, we can ensure every human on our planet has food. It will not stop all the suffering. Normals will still have their wars. Children will still be abused. So, we stop that. The population of our planet will grow until there is no space and civilisation breaks down, bringing death and disease to all. We are not allowed to use our Cherinian gifts to force upon non-Cherinians our beliefs, for instance, by unilaterally reducing their fertility - only governments of our planet wrongly believe they have such rights. As Cherinians we have to bear whatever pains our empathy brings us and plan carefully, finding a way to educate our people before opening them to the gifts of Cherine. That is what our Roberto is attempting and in our trust of him we shut off the cries of our souls, giving him time to solve the problem with wisdom, instead of as a reaction to the pains of today.
Your words have stirred us, brought controversy, but the worst is they have torn at our protective shields, opening us to empathy, so that we feel the full force of their pain. Most of us can bear it and we will survive. One cannot. You are killing Cherine. Is that what you want Baritte?”
He jumped up. “I have knelt to her as I will not to any other.”
She waved her arm. “Sit down Baritte. Calm down, it was a rhetorical question, I knew the answer. You are thinking perhaps, we are not as righteous as we presented ourselves? Well, we are not. You said that power corrupts the weak. That had our Roberto worried for a long time. The answer to your statement is that weakness corrupts the weak and the strong. We are not in a position at this time to make the changes needed and our weakness corrupts us.
All know that Cherine is the first and prime love of Roberto. If I said to you that a situation arose where a life hung in the balance, especially that of a child, and to save it Cherine has to die, what do you think Roberto will do? He does not think so, but I know what he will do. He will save the child, sacrificing his love and straight afterwards destroy himself.”
Her head rose off her palms. “I would kill the child, kill a thousand children before allowing our Cherine to die. Tina, Cassie, stand up please. These are two of my daughters and I adore them. I tell you, I will choose their deaths rather than allow Cherine to die. The rest of you, I want you to think on my words and judge me if you will. Baritte, you I do not give that right to. First learn, understand what Cherine means to all life and then I will offer you the right to judge me.
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<h3><center>3244</center></h3>
As of today I demand you honour your role of guest and keep your ideas and judgements of us to yourself if they are likely to wound Cherine. The day we return you to your planet we are willing to sit before your peers and our beloved friends and allow you to argue your case. If we are condemned, so be it. Until that time I demand your cooperation.”
“May I speak? Thank you. You treasure Cherine for the same reasons I fought her. At the time you told me she is not irreplaceable, that if I killed her, Cherinians will continue to exist. Why then do you place her above all life?”
“No, not above all life. Baritte we were trying to strike home a point, to counter your arguments and threats. Some of us have seen all of time as a god will and Cherine was seen as the force that lights the universe, making it possible for life to survive to the end of time. Why? I do not know. What I suspect is that a universe without her empathy will be a universe at war with itself. To avoid that possibility I will make any sacrifice demanded of me. So will each one of our family.”
Ordinx stood up. “I hope you include the Anadir as your family.”
“What! The whole race of Anadir, Ordinx?” Robbie asked, his voice playful, but filled with pride and love. “Dommi, I may speak now?”
She only stared into his eyes.
“The mother of all Cherinians has spoken and whether I or any of my family agree or disagree with any part of what she said, we stand by her. Baritte, when she says she has a mothering instinct you probably think of it as love and tenderness. That is not what Dommi is. At times it is difficult to see the love in her for she can be very stern with us. Ask the girls.” He gave us a faint smile. “She has the ability to see when life, that of all species, is in danger. She sees before any other if we are taking the wrong path. She has made a request of you, I add my voice to hers and ask you do as she says. I am not pleased that she has given you the right to judge us, but I will honour her commitment.”
“May I…”
Su’phon called out, rising from her seat. “Baritte!…Dommi, Robert, I Su’phon give you my word, your wishes will be obeyed. Should any male Duirphon break my word to you they bring dishonour to all females of our race.”
Dommi stared at her, her face a mask we did not recognise. “Su’phon, no dishonour can be brought to you, whatever anyone does. Yours is a soul of honour and true to all life.” She nodded her head as if bowing it to her. Su’phon was flustered and sat down.
There was not much for anyone to say after that. It was not long before we all arrived at our Freddie home. Robbie was holding Cherine to him as she was overcome with emotion and lost deep in thought. To ease the mood he teased Dommi - and me indirectly.
“God Dommi! You were magnificent. Up to now the only one who would have dared talk like that is Sam. I hope it does not rub off on me.”
“You should have done this days ago.” She slumped. “I sounded terrible.” Cherine squirmed and Robbie set her down. She climbed on to Dommi’s lap and hugged her.
“You were not terrible Dommi. A little funny maybe, but not terrible.”
“Funny?”
“Not funny ha-ha. I did not know how to react. If you had been speaking out of love for me I would have stopped you, but I sensed it was not that. You really think of me as being so important?”
“Not you, you silly girl. Just that special smile of yours.”
“Don’t forget her mosquito bump Dommi.” Robbie got in and he was booed by us all, called a chauvinistic pig etc. He nodded happily till Cherine climbed back onto his lap. “Cassie, Tina, you are alright? You did not get upset by what your mother said?”
“You know we did not mind. She was speaking as a politician.”
That made Dommi pull a face. “I said I sounded terrible!”
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<h3><center>3245</center></h3>
I would not have expected the effect her words had. Cherine began to pull herself together over the next few days.
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I think we can be forgiven for getting ‘home’ fever. We can hardly wait to arrive and run over to Alki and Marian. We still had a small problem to handle. Jessie. Well, Allan solved it accidentally in a strange way. They have started playing games and he decided to play a trick on her and waited for her behind a door. As she came through he went “Boo” and she screamed. Eleni had to hold and comfort her for a long time. She also told off Allan in front of Jessie. He was so very contrite and kept on berating himself for being such an idiot. He was convinced she will now be terrified of him
We took time off from our own concern for Cherine and played with Jessie. Imagine our surprise when we could not sense her gifts anymore. Dommi even sneaked into her mind, but found nothing. Maria thinks the gifts will return, but over some time (period: vague). She offered to keep her almost constantly monitored if we want to go home and we enthusiastically agreed. Our judgement might not be so good at this time, due to our concerns over Cherine, as we know Alki and Marian will help her recover her balance.
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The message must have come in while I was saving my last writing. What a pity, now we cannot answer him directly. Arthur, our times may differ and you cannot reply, but it is not such a bad thing. Knowing you, you would give us a laconic ‘you are welcome, bi’….
Robbie says the way he feels right now, if you were here and you were gay he would happily make love to you (wonder how you’ll take that offer, lol). We not only believe your suggestion will work, it is the suggestion itself that makes him so happy. It shows you truly love our Cherine and took the trouble to think of a solution. Alki says the idea might be obvious now that you gave it to us, but it takes genius to see the obvious. (R: How’s that for patting yourself on your back - having your characters claim you are a genius. Will you consider it was a stroke of genius on your behalf to have us say so?)
I’m starting to get a picture of you as a person. We made the mistake of thinking Allan was an exact or true copy of you, I think not (ok, I’ve said this before but you keep on surprising us). For instance, the writing of this diary. Since we found Allan and he stopped writing, our style has changed. He has done some reading and agrees, he will not, cannot, write as we write now. Yes, I know, I’m saying we are writing this together. You influence me and I influence you. It makes me happy that it is so, but it also helps me get to know you. I can sometimes see where you influence my writing - can you?
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As you may have surmised, we arrived home as planned. Actually Robbie brought Freddie to our reality, parked (it - him?) in our void, close to our World. Freddie filled with Sparklers as we left and Robbie told the Anadir they are welcome to visit while we are away. Adam got his update, met our new friends and went to visit Freddie, I think he is hoping to get Freddie to transfer/share his experiences. I think I should try that with Freddie also; it will certainly give me another perspective on all that happened.
All our guests were provided, by Solomon, with Terran bodies. Duirphon bodies have enough similarities to ours with regard to sight and hearing (they can hear higher notes), they stand upright on two legs, have two arms, taste and smell in ways similar to ours, so it is easier for them than it has been for many others. On the other hand, Meli suggests the similarities may have made it more difficult for them. So that their real bodies do not suffer and waste away, Robbie placed them in stasis. You may presume from now on that it is what happens every time we provide bodies to those who already have bodies of matter.
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<h3><center>3246</center></h3>
We left Earth early in April and returned on the tenth. Robbie timed it so that we can share the birthdays of Aganthi and Cherine with family and friends. We usually have our parties on the eve of the celebration, but this time we had it on the night of Aganthi’s birthday. It gave us just enough time to make a mad dash to the shops to buy her a present.
“The storytelling was very real, but it is not the same as being here. Your civilisation has become trapped in its technology. From what I see, philosophy is not even a word most people know! How can any sentient race live in such ignorance?”
Sol was amused. “They would not appreciate your comment, if they heard you, Baritte. A large number of them are highly educated and are involved with or use highly advanced technological equipment. To them, using a computer and surfing the internet proves how brilliant they are, and since many of them have acquired a patina of awareness of ethics, morality and philosophy, even if it is only to the extent of them knowing what the words mean, they see themselves as far in advance of those who studied philosophy in the ancient world.”
“Even semi-sentient creatures can learn to use the computers! They are doomed Solomon, as a race they do not have a future if Robert does nothing. They will end up becoming robots, controlled by a dictatorial government, until their computers develop sentience and then even their leaders will not be in control.” I should add, none of us have shared about the Cabal and what they are trying to achieve - it could be said that we are too ashamed of what it says about our species, for us to let them know as things stand right now. Of course we will have to share with them, but maybe it will be easier once they are not as critical of us?
“We believe that as long as we have a sense of humour we cannot become robots.” Themi said, his eyes twinkling. “It is difficult to control a person who can laugh at you.”
“You are a mind doctor and you can say that!” Baritte does not realise when we are teasing him - or, on second thoughts, was Themi teasing? “Philosophy, the study of what you are, the meaning of life and the universe, they all give a sense of purpose and help give each person a sense, a feeling of where they belong. These, your people, they hardly think of at all.”
“You are wrong.” Luigi said. “There are many ways of using the mind. A large part of our population spends its time scheming to acquire power and or wealth. It is not easy for any government to turn people like them into serfs.”
“I disagree. They will end up fighting for small positions of power. That mind-set is easily satisfied. Give such a person power even over one person and they are happy as they feel superior, however trivial the power. I speak of things our people had to learn thousands of years ago in the hope you can save your people the centuries of suffering we endured.” Listening to him is weird, it is almost as if he knows about the Cabal!
Themi realised it would be better he ends the conversation. “You are correct, I must find a way to introduce the subject into my lectures.” Since Themi resigned from the university, he is called upon to give talks more often than he was before and articles written by him are frequently published, stirring up a storm of controversy among his peers, especially because he is invariably proven right when he criticises methods and beliefs currently held by the majority. I suppose the psychiatrists who are affected strongly are the ones who fear the loss of their wealth and prestige - and their huge incomes from big pharma, which after all are more important to them than curing troubled minds.
The body age does not affect all our reactions, but it does influence them. It is not because we are females that we did not take part in their arguments. Seeing adults in a serious discussion made us feel our comments will be out of place and expose our ignorance. It is not true I like to think, but it is also a way of being respectful. After all, though lacking in experience, most of us may have knowledge and opinions, but being born-Cherinians it would not be right for us to make some of the comments we might have to, to or about Normals and normal-born-Cherinians.
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The male Duirphon were provided with adult male bodies and Su’phon an adult female body. By the next day she asked Sol to change her, she wants to appear to be about the same age as us - perhaps, so as to enable her to share more intimately with us? We asked her not to. For the party that night she should stay an adult. Most of us will be adults too.
Dressed for the party, Alki came over that evening to have a whiskey with Robbie. Robbie handed him one CD. “This is my work.” He then handed over two CD’s. “These are Jade’s.”
Alki put them in his jacket. “I look forward to seeing them tomorrow.”
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<h3><center>3247</center></h3>
Robbie handed over one more CD. “Alki, this is for your family. Music written and recorded by Wendy and Candy.”
“Can you play it now Roberto?” Cherine got up to get the CD player, but Robbie stopped her.
“Not now Alki. Let’s have a good time tonight and tomorrow, after work, sit quietly at home with your family and listen to it.”
“You are saying it will break our hearts?”
“Cherine knows. Events that happened to Cherine were the inspiration. Alki, it is the most painful music we have ever heard.”
On that cheerful note we left for the party.
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Apostoli is a real miracle worker. With only one day’s notice he found an Albanian group in Salonica and flew them down. He found Albanian housewives to cook our supper with traditional dishes from their home country. That evening Aganthi was not placed at the same table as Robbie. A seat was left empty for her next to him, but she was placed at a table of her own with her brother and sister.
“Sylvestro, is there any race of man that are ugly? Look at them, the Greeks think of them as gypsies, low class and ugly. All three of them are beautiful.”
“Every country has prejudices against strangers Samantha. Even in Italy we do. The Northern think the Southern Italians are uglier because we are dark-haired and our skins darker too. Those in cities look down on country people because they are rough from working in the sun and wind.” He smiled at me. “What a world it will be when all are Cherinians.” His eyes were wide with wonder. A moment later he recalled himself. “Samantha, you have not met my fiancé.” I leant across and shook her hand as he introduced us. “You do not recall her Samantha?”
It was easy to guess. “The sick little girl Robert healed?”
“The same. Is she not a beautiful flower?” The poor girl blushed, but her eyes showed she adores him.
Robbie stood up and the room went quiet, the music stopping.
“My friends. Before it is too late and midnight turns our sweet princess back into an Albanian rose, I ask you to toast our Aganthi and wish her a happy birthday.” We all did so and the room was noisy with voices filled with love as everyone tried to call out their wishes. Aganthi has a special place in many hearts because she goes beyond what we normal Cherinians do. She gives of her time and heart to the poor and works hard to see to the education of children who would have otherwise been trapped within the world they were born in.
Savva stood up and waved his arms, calling for silence. His wife Sophia stood up next to him, her face alight with pride and joy.
“A long time ago, two Albanian children, brother and sister of Aganthi joined our family. Sophia and I were simple people, this Cherinian stuff beyond us. The one thing we can understand is the need children have for love. Now we can look back and see we received far more than we gave. Aganthi, you too have been like a daughter to us, always taking time off to visit and fill us with joy. You are as lovely as a flower, but you have a strength within you that is rare. If we had more people like you this world would be a better place. Aganthi, kori, we wanted you to be the first to know. Sophia and I are expecting a child, a daughter. Will you be her sister?”
Aganthi squealed and ran to them, hugging Sophia, tears wetting her cheeks. She quickly called her own daughters to her and they spent most of the evening all together. The family of Apostoli were made part of their warm love and Apostoli must have been feeling them, for he was not much good at keeping the club running after that. We all felt at home though and helped the waiters keep the food and drinks flowing. This family stuff seemed to affect everyone. Gina and Goldi stuck to me, the daughters of Cherine and Dommi stuck to them. It was fast turning into a mother daughter night and the males were feeling proud and happy as they saw our love, but there was a tiny bit of envy they tried to hide. At a moment when all were dancing, my daughters up on the pista (dance floor), I found myself alone and worked my way through the crowd to the door. I wanted a breath of fresh air, and a walk along the beach alone felt like a good idea.
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<h3><center>3248</center></h3>
It was crispy cold, but there was no wind. The moon was being reflected in splinters on low sleepy waves that made their way to the glistening sand, hardly making any noise so that I could hear the noise the sand made as it absorbed the water. I did not bother to use my healer to warm me and with my arms hugging myself I walked for a while. In the background I could hear the music and voices from the club, further back the low murmur of traffic, now and then more penetrating as some youngster revved, straining to get every atom of power and speed out of his car. It made me think.
That night, the clubs all over Athens were filled with young people, boys out searching for some girl to warm their bed for an hour or two; girls out hoping (most of them) to find the one man who will warm their hearts with love. Despite the differences in what they want, a few of both sexes will get what they want, tonight. After all, the boys just do not know that they want the same thing the girls do.
It must be such a different life from ours. No cares beyond their personal ones, or their heads full of dreams and ideals. Meeting friends to pass a few hours with company, but always wondering if they are really liked-loved. I decided that to carry on thinking this way will only make me feel a melancholia I was not in the mood for. This night was too lovely for that.
I stopped and facing the sea allowed the sounds to fade as my mind wandered along a different path. I was conscious of Athens being behind me, the Parthenon in the distance, not visible, but it’s presence dominating. I thought of the Delta, the bay, being lit by torches as ships sailed in, the cries of sailors almost reaching across the centuries, men with weapons rushing from the sea to be met by others from the beach as battles were fought again and again throughout the bitter life of this city, and a feeling grew within me I’d never felt before. My heart opened and for the first time I loved something that was neither man nor woman nor alien nor had a soul and yet has all of these. I was suddenly in love with Athens.
The city must have chosen, for I turned and saw Alki standing by me and as his eyes met mine I saw tears were also wetting his cheeks. He took a hankie from his pocket, wiped my face and pulled me to him.
“Strange lovely Samantha, I felt you. She got to you.” I looked up at him and smiled, nodding. “She does not call out to any heart my precious daughter. She is very choosy, only the finest souls are allowed to love her.”
Embarrassed I gave a small laugh. “Pappou, I’m not special. It was the moon and the mood of the night.”
“Athens is the daughter of the moon. Have you not noticed how she becomes beautiful at night? You were seduced Sammy mou.”
I think I saw deeper into his heart than he’s ever allowed any of us to before. In wonder I said, “The same happened to you!”
He nodded. “I was much older than you, but she has had a place in my heart ever since. You may forget at times Sammy mou, the people that flow through her sometimes anger you, but at moments when you stand under the moon and listen to your heart, you will find the love for her nestled within. She’ll never leave you, whatever world you are upon, whatever galaxy.”
“It sounds good pappou. It means I belong somewhere.”
He pulled me to him, overcome with love for me and I felt how love can hurt and I was so grateful I have this wonderful man to love back. How wise Cherine was to have seen how special he is from the first time she met him.
I don’t know why, but I told him about what is happening to Cherine and why we returned before bringing back the people of the planet we’d been going to. I told him of the suggestion by Arthur.
“I will never understand this thing about him writing about us, nor why he is so important to you, to us, but I see why you love him. Perhaps if he suggested it and he writes, it will happen as he says.”
Slowly we walked back, his arm around me giving me a tighter hug every now and then. No further words were needed, just the presence of the other filling the moment for us.
<center>* * * * *</center>
<br>
<h3><center>3249</center></h3>
We are about to do as Arthur suggested. For the first time both Robbie and Cherine resent having someone in particular watching and participating in their most precious moments. None of us blame them. Such moments should only be shared by those who love you and are happy for you, not with anyone who is critical. Need I say it is Baritte they resent? Robbie of course also feels that way because he partly blames Baritte for the suffering of Cherine. Of course none of us will let anyone else know of these feelings.
They decided this will be their celebration of Cherine’s birthday and their private anniversary. It is nonsense of course, they are only saying it so as to avoid us having parties for them. They need no excuse for choosing time to love each other exclusively. Robbie has always been meticulous about seeing to the rest of us having our own special times with him - as if just our time together as a family is not special enough.
I decided to interfere; after all, I am good at that and have a reputation to maintain. https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmP5H1D6xHL3i4tMsYdnzH9X8Ge4FwtMKer3TbPFoX178a/LC-smilie_reg-grey.png
I jumped to the world where the Normals learnt about us Cherinians and roped in Robert and Cherine. They promised to visit and I left.
Surprise, surprise, they visited us that evening unexpectedly and listened with fascination to some of our adventures. We spent more time telling them about Robbie climbing the cliff than anything else, making Cher giggle and Rob wince as he empathised with Robert. We then let Rob talk with the Duirphon males while Cher chatted with Su’phon. I interrupted them.
“Baritte is very critical of us for not declaring ourselves and putting our Earth right. He feels we bear the guilt for any suffering on this world.”
“You must be to blame then, did you give him the impression you are gods?”
“Maybe. Are we Robert?” I asked him, not my Robbie.
He laughed. “Sometimes you make me wonder when I listen to all your Robert does. Joking aside Sam, no. Do not even think of doing what he asks of you. Our experiences should not be wasted. I’d hoped that if any good was to come out of our disaster it will be that all Roberts and Cherines will avoid doing the same.”
“He knows about what happened to you. Perhaps seeing is believing.”
“Baritte, will you and your companions visit us for a few days?”
Robbie is not stupid and kept his mouth shut, but Cherine spoke up. “No, not now Robert. When my Robert and I return, they can visit you.”
“But…” I began.
“Sam, thank you love, but it would be wrong.” She turned to Baritte. “Sam is trying to protect us. The re-experience of our past is very special to us and a private moment that we gladly share with those we love. Sam is worried you will watch with critical eyes and spoil it for us. Baritte, how will you view a moment when love is born and two soul-mates discover each other?”
“We are only visitors Cherine, perhaps we should not participate at such a private…”
“I apologise for cutting you off, but I did ask Baritte a question and prefer he answer it honestly.”
“Cherine, they are the leaders of my world and are allowed to speak for me. You want my honest answer? I don’t know. From the storytelling I saw beauty, but also was repulsed. How seeing it happen in reality will affect me I do not know. I prefer to accept the invitation of the other Robert, if you do not mind.”
“Oh but I do. I’m willing to gamble on you Baritte…”
Dommi interrupted her, angrily. “Cherine, stop it. To have them there, sharing, and for us to return to find them disgusted by Robert loving you will spoil the memory. Just for this once listen to Sam, she is right.”
<br>
<h3><center>3250</center></h3>
“Dommi my love, she may be, but I insist. Baritte, you can be as disgusted as you want. You may loathe Robert or me, I do not care, it will not spoil anything for us. We have had too many years of hiding and facing the reactions of people who were too shocked to see how inevitable our love for each other is. I want you to come, be a part of our happiness. All four of you.”
“And Robert, how do you feel?” A Duirphon asked.
“I felt as Dommi and Sam did. Now, I’m not so sure. I think I prefer to go along with Cherine. You are all invited to join us. Please come.”
Rob and Cher pulled a face at me and I shrugged. I should have known Cherine will do the opposite of what I expected. Su’phon did not miss the exchange and stared at me. I went to the kitchen to make coffee for everyone and she followed me.
“I am puzzled Sam, why did Sol give Baritte an adult male body. Why not a female?”
“It might have triggered the change in him. We do not think it would be fair to him. He must come to a conclusion Su’phon, it would not be good he ends his male cycle with unfinished business.”
“You will risk him harming Cherine further just for that? Sam, when his female self dies and the soul unifies them, he will find the conclusion you wish for him, it is not necessary to expose yourselves to further harm from him.”
“No.” I stopped and thought. “Su’phon, I understand what you are saying. Within your culture you may be right. According to ours, where each individual is paramount, we cannot avoid thinking of him as a man who has a life period of his own and he has to finalise, find peace within himself before he passes on, whether to death as it is for our Normals, or change as in your race.”
She did not make an issue of it again, but after helping me with the cups she placed her hand on my arm as we passed close to each other. “I like you Sam.”
<br>
Robbie took pains to explain to all exactly what is being arranged by the Sparklers, the roles various parties will play.
“The word seems to have got out and it seems there are going to be at least a million…what, spectators, peeping-toms?” He grinned. “I have been changed a lot by becoming a Cherinian, but not that much yet. This time our private moments will be blocked off. Nobody needs to share in the lovemaking. It will be like watching a censored movie where just as things heat up and things are actually going to start happening…cut…a discontinuation and you see the satisfied couple lying in each other’s arms with smirks on their faces and you know you’ve just missed the best bits. Only my family share and that means only my girls. Sorry.”
He wanted them to tease and boo him, but there are not that many who are comfortable with Robert. Not even his alternates. It was left then to his own loves to play the fools for him and we were not very good at it this time. I mean, you want us to be funny Robbie, give us some good lines, a bit of meat to play with.
(I was not thinking when I misquoted that last sentence and everybody became hysterical. Even Robbie had aching ribs as they all teased me. They’ve begged me not to delete it and since I keep their mistakes I guess I owe them. I thought I was being so clever using ‘actor’ speak about meaty roles etc…oh, well, just goes to prove I’m only human.)
<br>
We took Baritte and Su’phon with, for them to watch us dance and exchange kiss. Su’phon hesitated because of Baritte being with, but when I went to her alone she danced with me and we exchanged motes. I sensed Sprighton sending me love motes through her.
Privately I sent a message, we had to convince Baritte to dance with us and with our love motes we should send him ‘female’ motes from Su’phon. I could not tell Su’phon what I wanted, but sent her the motes I wanted. She/they were just as bright as I thought and soon I was receiving a stream of them. I kept the motes separate and when I returned I passed most of them on. I gave the larger share to Cherine as I felt she had a better chance of convincing Baritte.
Having seen Su’phon exchange with me and the resultant glow, having felt the emoting from her which was of sheer ecstasy, he capitulated when Cherine asked him, allowing her to send a mote of love for him to taste. The rest of the girls joined in without asking, so I did also. We sent him all the love we can while including the motes from Su’phon, plus some of our own. When we ended he revolved around for a while without comment or protest.<br>
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<center><a href="https://steemit.com/sfandf-fiction/@arthur-grafo8/little-cherine-book-05-bpost047">Next [Book 05] - Post 047</a></center>
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<h5><i><b>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.</b></i></h5><br>
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<h6>Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου<br></h6>(Alexander Zenon Eustace)<br>
<sup>27th November, 2019</sup>
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* posted: 27th November, 2019<br>
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<center><h6><i>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:</i></h6><br>
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<br><center><h6><i>If you agree with my protest, why not make it a habit of upvoting all who have set their post to "Payout Declined" <br>(if you do not see they plagiarised or are running a scam)<br> The bigger your vote the better, but even a zero value vote shows you support them</i></h6></center>
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<h1><b><center>PLEASE NOTE </center></b></h1><h3><b><center> I am modifying the above notice and have designated @steemchiller as my sole 100% beneficiary - so please upvote for him. With my SP being worth such a little, it is all I can do to reward him for the wonderful work he does for all of us with his https://steemworld.org/ </center></b></h3>