LC_Satellite 001-Boxee (the alternate LC story)-Book 11 - post015

Post 01
Post 14

^{“For four days, all I had the courage to do was place the meat on the offering stone and stay hidden in the house. Bobby refused to eat the meat, swatting it with snarls of rage. He would patrol the house angrily mewling his demand that I face him. Finally I was forced to so that he would not die, for we saw his already too thin body waste away.}

122

My mind was trapped within a gyre, spinning without finding new answers, just reverting to my original beliefs. Love can conquer hate. Compassion, empathy, they are stronger than hate. Hate is darkness, love is light - light always conquers darkness. Ntchizi saw my thoughts but she no longer remonstrated with me, no longer pleaded for my understanding that not all truths are as simple and straightforward as I’d believed them to be. She saw her doom, for she saw mine and all she did was keep my heart filled with her love. Not once did she remind me to search for an ant nest. The only other alternative if I died was to enter Bobby and that she could not do without her mind and soul being irremediably contaminated and lost forever. I asked her to take over my body if she could, should my soul be torn away.

I was convinced that I had failed the first time because I’d been unprepared. This time I would emote soothing feelings and keep myself compacted while gradually sending out motes of love. Though hate be as fierce as a sun, some motes of love had to survive. If I withdrew quickly and repeated my efforts each day, I would gradually reverse the storm to a sea of tranquillity so that he is able to learn of love. I did not know that compassion and love without empathy exact too high a price.

I think that whatever Bobby possesses for a soul, it expected me. As I entered his mind it instantly surrounded me and all I recall is my scream of warning to prevent Ntchizi coming after me. I could feel his hate become a part of me, its dank corrupting darkness residing within the marrow of my bones and owning my soul. My first memories after that were of the light beings holding me until I recovered enough to return to my body. Before I left them I was warned that my soul has been damaged and I will never be able to grow motes of love again. My heart is barren now and no gift exists to draw the water of love back to me.

The rest of my story Robert knows better than I do, let him tell you.”

Robert had that same stubborn look that had infuriated Cherine so often in the past. “I have more than the end of a story to tell, but first I will do as you bid.” He turned to Arthur. “I stole the helicopter, forced the pilot to take me across the barren lands because I was being called to Cherine. I did not expect to get to her in time for I had been delayed by too many refusals, since none of you trusted my need.”

Arthur was pale as he nodded. “You ranted as one in a fever.”

“What do you expect of me if Cherine is in danger! The helicopter ran out of fuel while we were in the hills. I could not leave the pilot to die so I stayed to call up water for him and then ran. As I crested the last hill I saw Cherine sitting in a field. I dropped to the ground for there were waves of danger I could not recognise battering at me. I saw nothing threatening her and yet the foreboding was fierce.

123

A child came out from the rocks surrounding the field and on all fours it made its way to Cherine. It crouched before her and neither of them moved for a while. They were intent on each other, but the need for me to act was stronger than ever. I searched for a path that would lead me closer to them while keeping my arrival hidden from them. As I arrived behind boulders that fringed the field I saw that Cherine sat with eyes closed and the child had drawn close, its hands touching her. It climbed over her so that its face was within inches of hers. As it bent its head down I screamed at it. It shot up into the air and landed facing me. I saw blood on its teeth and lips as it snarled before rushing away.

My healer fought to save her, calling on her healer for aid. Her healer would not respond, but the wound closed. Cherine would not respond to my shaking her and I did not know what to do. She opened her eyes. ‘I am Ntchizi, Cherine is lost within the mind of that creature, will you help me bring her back before her body dies?’

In despair I asked, ‘How? I’m a boxee.’

‘Allow me into your mind.’ I nodded and she closed her eyes again. I never was able to sense Cherine when she used to enter my mind so it was a miracle to me when Ntchizi made herself known to me. If Cherine were not in such peril of being destroyed I would have lost myself within her beauty. Ntchizi enfolded me within herself, calling on me to send her my energy and love for Cherine. I tried to give all there was of me and we entered a storm of raw power, energy that seemed to me to be slimy with putrescence, but also filled with crusty edges as sharp as razors. How Ntchizi did it I don’t know but she found Cherine and enfolding what was left of her she leaped for the void. Within seconds we were surrounded by wraiths of light - the same that Cherine has called to dance for us. They had never spoken to me so with amazement I heard Ntchizi speak to them, asking for their help with Cherine one more time.

Somehow the healing of Cherine affected me also so that I have opened to the possibility of new gifts. The one gift I was granted at that time was the knowledge and ability to do as Cherine does and enter her mind if she welcomes me.

Arthur, I do not know about motes of love and what she was like before, but I do know that while I was just a mind or soul, I could sense hers has been damaged. In that the wraiths spoke truly.”

“Won’t her soul heal with time?”

124

Cherine replied, her voice devoid of emotion, “It can’t, it no longer knows how to create the motes. Do you now understand why I must leave? This must remain a world of love and I have no place in it.” She raised her hand to cut off Robert's protests. “You cannot help me and I would not have you by my side while I am forced to see you as a vacuum of emotion, just another creature, with only my memory of having loved you. Arthur, open your mind to me so that I may teach you and Robert how to teleport and then let me go. I’ll live in the mansion so you’ll know I am safe, but I do not wish for visitors.” Her voice turned cold. “I expect my wishes to be respected.”

PART 10

Robert the ghost

Arthur asked Cherine, “I am informed that…Bobby has been captured and is being examined. Do you wish to know the results?”

“You can email me. What will happen to him afterwards?”

“A suitable environment will be created so that he can live out his days in safety and whatever passes for comfort.”

Robert was impatient of the talk about Bobby. “Memory of love, that is what I am?”

“Yes.”

“Then you owe me! You will listen to what I have to say and give me the opportunity I demand.”

She nodded, her face calm. “I will listen.”

“Do you wish to love? If your soul could be healed, would you want it.”

“I am where I am because I listened to wishes. I cannot be healed Robert, the fact of that is beyond wishes.”

“Not to me. Take me to the void. Do that and if I fail at least I’ll have the memory of you allowing me to try.”

“I want to come with.”

Post 16