Solomon's Private File #206
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 24 in this story, in the Winter of 2050-2051.
Solomon's Private File #206 "Three In Question"
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I said to Daren, "There is a species conflict there, on a planet
called Hansip, in the common language if the triangle trade of that
region." I pointed his mind to a planet on the other side of the
galaxy. He said, "Highly unusual. Three sentient species on the same
planet. How did you know about this?" I said, "I er, just did." He
stared at me. I said, "You should really work on er, moderating your
unconscious probes." He said, "Oops!" I said, "Absolutely." I said, "My
stone thinks it's funny." He had a mix of emotions about that. He said,
"You haven't told me to stop." I grinned and said, "True." He growled.
I said, "Bet your stone wants you to keep doing it." He was startled,
and said, "How did you know that?" I said, "I've healed some of them. I
know how they are." He said, "You keep surprising me. Hmm, can you talk
to my stone without my knowing it?" I said, "I don't know. I haven't
tried." He said, "So you can." I said, "I didn't say that." He said, "I
noticed."
He said, "Why do we have the stones?" I said, "They aid us slightly
in some communications, including with animals. They can talk to each
other, some times more clearly than others. They have a different kind
of connection to God and the Originators, who were the first to work
with them. They love us, and I like to say this, more than any other
species. They can tell us things that we cannot know about in other
ways, and offer good advice if we want to hear it. And they're good
people." He said, "Aid us at this level?" I said, "Actually in a
functional way, it's mostly in the beginning of our development. But
even now, they can see into us deeper than we can do for ourselves in
some areas, like our own private monitor. For instance, your stone can
help you learn to control your unconscious probes. If he wanted to." He
said, "Why doesn't he want to?" I said, "Why ask ME? He's YOUR stone."
He said, "Frustrating. He won't say." I said, "One thing they've
learned from us they don't like; how to be embarrassed." He laughed.
I said, "You already know the answer, anyway." He nodded and said,
"Same as me. Curiosity about you. And he thinks sparing with you might
help my self improvement." I said, "One thing they don't lack in regard
to us, is loyalty. Bonded isn't just in theory. Stop! Don't go any
further in unshielded thought." He said, "Got it. Thanks." He said in
shielded communication, "God made them directly." I said, "I can't
comment on that. Our time divers might see it." He said, "Oh! Right.
Sealed partition." Back in normal mode, he said, "Distraction was
interesting, but didn't work. How did you know about that problem?" I
said, "Detector web." He said, "Give it to me." I said, "No, sorry. Not
the one I used. You could make your own just for that, if you want. You
might consider why you haven't." He said, "Go away, I'm busy." We
grinned at each other. I said, "I'm going to visit that world. You can
watch, but carefully. They have some Adepts."
They had an environment like ours, so I needed only a slight body
change to walk around unnoticed among the Yentirhots. They looked very
much like humans, but had little goat-like horns on their foreheads,
and white Mohawk style hair on their heads that grew down their spine
in back. Golden skin almost like mine, and no other body hair. They had
infrared sensing patches on the corners of their inner eyelids. The men
carried swords, something like a saber, and a straight dagger. So did
I. You could tell their status by how fancy their sword and dagger
were, more than how well they were dressed. I made mine VERY fancy. I
made my aura like a little more than a Basic Adept, and not visible to
regular people, and let only a little of my Ki flow. Still, some
advanced martial artists noticed me, and noticed me noticing that.
I passed someone of another species, a Sunchimer, an upright
reptilian sentient species, shorter and thinner than adult Yentirhots,
dressed in a cowled robe. He had precious stones in his finger rings
and armbands. One was a GodStone that reacted to mine in my wristband.
He turned around and stared at my back. I turned around and said to
him, "I believe my front is more interesting than my back." He said,
be. Have you a place where such things can be discussed without
collecting curious glances?" He said, "Please follow me." I did, a pace
behind him, as was the custom of guards for hire. We went into a
multi-species tavern. I was noticed by other fighters, which the
Sunchimer also noticed. We went into a back room. We sat.
He said, "Who are you?" I said, "Would you like the polite reply, or
one like yours?" He took it calmly, and said, "I apologize. I am
Simslar." I said, "I am Mon." He said, "You are more than you seem." I
said, "Seeming is not who we are." He said, "You are wise." I said,
"I've been called worse." He said, "Are they now dead?" I said, "If so,
not by my hand for that. Words are only movement in the air, not a
cause for death." He said, "You do not fear a bad reputation?" I said,
"What reputation I desire, is one based on action, not on reaction." He
said, "I have not known any of your kind to be so er, philosophical." I
said with a smile, "A word substitution for intelligent?" He said, "I
must admit it, yes. I first thought to hire you for a bodyguard. Now I
think that position is beneath you." I said, "No honest employment is
beneath an honest person, but some desires are less compatible with
some positions than others."
He thought for a while, and said, "You have some powers of mind." I
said, "For good personal improvement, all the person should be
improved, not just parts we are most interested in, although some might
happen in sequence, and not specifically all at once." He said, "A
careful answer. My stone of power reacted to something about you. Do
you possess such a thing?" I said, "I do." He said, "Do you know what
it does?" I said, "Did you expect me to tell you, so newly met?" He
smiled and said, "No, I did not. I did not know that any of your kind
could be accepted by one." I said, "Do not expect to know all things
that others would not wish to make public." He said, "Do you know of
others?" I said, "Personally in this area, no, but I can sense them. I
see you did not expect that answer. I am not unhappy about that." He
said, "I sense you know you are the superior of us." I said, "Your
perception is to be commended."
He said, "You are not a warrior." I said, "Untrue. I am who I am,
which is what I wish at that moment. In single combat, I can defeat any
person." He said, "Who are you, really?" I said, "I am an explorer. I
seek knowledge, and I teach." He said, "What do you teach?" I said, "I
teach what my students should learn." He said, "Who are your students?"
I said, "All." He said, "Do you know who I really am?" I said, "Do
you?" He thought for a while, emotions tumbling. He said, "Would you
tell me?" I said, "You are more an administrator and scholar, than the
leader your people expect of you, but who you really want to be is a
spy, which you think is more adventurous than it actually is. No, I did
not look into your mind. How you moved outside, and how you have been
with me here, makes this obvious to me."
He said, "Some say that our sun is one of many, the stars, and that
they have worlds, too. Is that true?" I said, "So you are not able to
accept me as a true Yentirhot? Should I be insulted?" He said, "You saw
that. I apologize. I now realize that you are more intelligent than I."
I said, "Such understanding is unusual in ANY individual of any kind."
He said, "I am flattered. How we met. You arranged it?" I said, "I
did." He said, "I expected you to deny it." I said, "Untruths harm the
mind." He said, "Some of our most accomplished people say that, and
refuse to lie." I said, "I know." He said, "Why are you here?" I looked
around the room with a smile, and he smiled. I said, "You are looking
for inspiration for a decision you know you need to make. Oh, don't be
so surprised. Why else would you who are so important, spend this time
with me, an intriguing stranger, so far mostly unproductive, after
wandering the streets not really looking at anything?"
After some thought, he said, "Do you know the kind of decision I am
required to make?" I said, "I will, when you tell me." He said with a
smile, "I half expected you to say that. The Wanchucks are testing our
resolve not to fight. I have to decide what to do about that." I said,
"They need you to trade for them. For people who live on islands, to be
afraid of the water is a very er, limiting issue." He said, "But the
Yentirhots are providing transportation." I said, "To be expected. They
have ships, and the expense of building them. The cost must be
recouped, as you well know." He said, "We have complained. They have
threatened to stop moving our trade goods." I said, "We both know that
is a foolish position. They need your money and services as well." He
said, "True, but they personally dislike us more." I said, "Because
they understand you more than you want to happen." He looked a little
insulted. I grinned, and he laughed.
I said, "They do not like your secretive and manipulative ways, not
understanding that it's a natural characteristic of your kind, and is
not meant to cause insult to those who are overly sensitive to
perceived insults." He said, "Wow!" I said, "I've heard that before."
He chuckled. He said, "I should meet with the leader of the Yentirhots
here." I said, "That could be difficult at this time. You are without
your escort, and dressed more plainly than usual. They will know you
have been spying." He said, "But I wasn't." I said, "I know. A kind of
active meditation, but they won't understand that." He stared at me,
emotions jumping. He said, "Please tell me how we will do this." I
said, "There are different ways. The first problem is leaving this
establishment alive. You have heard what is happening out there?" He
said, "So you know of our sensitive hearing. They are setting an ambush
for us. They are very cautious, though." I said, "Because some of the
Master Armsmen out there know I'm better, and fear me. Actually, for
some, that is the first fear they have ever felt as adults." He said,
"Wow!" I just grinned, and he chuckled.
I said, "This is an outside wall. It doesn't appear to be well made."
He said, "Interesting. Can it be breached in a less than loud way?" I
said, "For the philosopher, discovery is a worthy goal in itself." He
said, "It is!" I said, "I will be doing some strange things. Please
don't be er, discomforted by them." He tried not to grin. I said,
"Strength is not as important as control and focus. I am very strong in
body, but more strong in skill." I did some exploratory pushes against
the vertical boards that made up the wall. One gave more than the
others, which he noticed. I took a close stance, and put my fist
against it. I exploded in power, and punched without pulling my arm
back, but forward only to a depth of 3cm. The board broke, but with
very little noise. I pushed against it, and it split apart, and I
removed the halves. I said to Simslar, "If your eyes pop out in
amazement, be sure to catch them. Could get slippery if we step on
them." He laughed silently. Removing the other boards was easier, and
soon we were out and into an ally between buildings.
I said, "It is a little unsafe to walk the streets at this time. I
propose the rooftops for us." I reached into my shirt, and unwound a
rope, and gave it to him. I said, "You are the better climber. If you
would tie this to something up there, I would join you." He said, "You
would trust me?" I said, "Is there a reason why I shouldn't?" He looked
at me in admiration, and said, "Well done! No, there isn't." He took
the rope, and was soon out of sight. Then one end dropped, and I made
the climb. I said, "Nice perch. It would be better for us to walk not
in the middle, but near the edge of the roof furtherest from the
street. Who wants to fall onto a hungry somebody's dinner table?" He
smiled and said, "Your humor. I appreciate it." I said, "Er, thanks. I
find it useful in situations which are much more exciting on the
retelling, than the living. Adventure is not fun when you're in the
middle of it." He said, "I am beginning to appreciate that." We
traveled the roofs mostly undetected. Our noise was attributed to
animals, judging by the curses we received. I made him laugh after one,
saying, "Hmm, I'll have to remember that one."
It was dark by the time we reached where he had been staying. We
dropped to the street, unobserved. I said, "You will have to explain my
presence. You hired me as a special companion." He said, "That should
be accepted. A guide and guard in the same, and higher than ordinary
status. I think you are a great ruler somewhere." I said, "I may lead
in its truer sense, but I do not rule." He said, "I am corrected." I
said, "One with mind powers has sensed us. Who she thinks I am has
confused her." He said, "I know her. I am not unhappy about that." We
grinned at each other.
There was a guard at the door who saluted him. Walking in behind him,
I was barred from entering. He turned and said, "He is my companion. He
will accompany me." The guard, one of his kind, was clearly unhappy
about that, but let me in. We paused inside. I said to Simslar, "He is
ordered much more in body than in emotions. Trust could be a problem
when there is action." He said, "We are not over filled with personal
loyalty, unlike your kind." I said, "So our differences aren't limited
to relative height of physical stature." He said with a smile, "It
would seem so. It's going to be interesting how the others react to
you." I said, "True. To me, the most interesting part of that, is what
you will do about it." He had mixed emotions about that, which he knew
I felt.
We walked into a large main room, and all there stared at us. Simslar
said to them, "I introduce Mon, my new found companion and guard. If it
were not for him and his very valuable assistance, I would now be
dead." An old lady who was covered in fine cloth and jewels said, "A
spy! Kill him!" Nobody moved. I said to her, "Beautiful Lady, thank you
for your warm welcome. If you will permit, I have a question. By your
words, would you place so little value on the life of Simslar, that you
would have killed, one who prevented his death at the risk of his own?"
I said to Simslar, "Now I know what the look of your people is, for
complete astonishment." He had to laugh.
She yelled, "Get out of my mind!" I said to her, "I'm not in your
mind. Well, who would want to be, as you have expressed it?" That
caused a room full of amusement, which she noticed. Simslar said to
her, "Honored Lady, you are digging your own pitfalls. I would have
hoped that even if Mon couldn't be shown the warmest of welcomes, he
could have at least seen us at our best intelligence." She took it like
a slap in the face, and then forced herself to be calm and think. She
said to me, "Mon, I apologize. I shouldn't have judged before knowing."
I said, "I accept and thank you. Now I am impressed." She knew I meant
her effort at that, and was a little flattered. We sat, and Simslar
told them about our adventure. One asked me, "Why did you not fight? I
thought your people loved to fight." I said, "Actually, we don't. We
like to WIN fights. That we might not, makes it interesting, and adds
exhilaration to mostly boring lives. But most of us aren't stupid about
it. One man can't well defend another from many men. I would not be
killed, but in defending myself so I could live to protect him, I would
be less able protect him. Therefore, it was best to avoid the fight."
One said, "One thing I don't understand. Why did you protect him?" I
said, "Would you have wanted to do that?" He said, "Yes." I said, "Then
why shouldn't another? Is he not worthy of protection?" He said, "But
he is not of your kind." I said, "I noticed that before you did."
Chuckles. I said, "We talked. It was a nice conversation. I liked him,
because I could see his worth. Why is that so difficult for you to
believe? Do you NOT want such a thing to be true?" They became
thoughtful.
The Lady said, "I see something of what Simslar saw in you. You are
more than you appear to be." I said, to Simslar, "Again? Related to
her?" He laughed and said, "Yes, actually." She chuckled.
The Lady of power said to me, "I sense something about you. I will
see you in private." I said, "I sense some distrust here. Let it
include Simslar, to relieve some of that." She said, "So be it." We got
up and moved to another room, and sat. We looked with amusement at each
other. Simslar said, "I will say it. We are being spied upon, but
unsuccessfully." Lady said to me, "Do you know who was in my mind?" I
said, "I have an idea, but it might conflict with your beliefs, and I
don't know if I would be permitted to tell you." She said, "I think I
may know of your suspicion. Was it my stone of power?" I said, "Yes.
The bonded are NOT to harm each other. That you could even think that,
may have caused it to try to ask you not to." Simslar said, "They are
alive?" I said, "You felt its love and loyalty to you when it bonded
with you. Such feelings don't come from the dead." They nodded
acceptance.
She said, "Are they intelligent?" I said with a smile, "Enough so, to
feel a little insulted if I don't say they are. Oh, what interesting
feelings you are expressing." Chuckles. She said, "Do you know why they
bond with us?" I said, "Their lives, such as they are for a rock, are
very boring. With us, they can experience what we do, which is FAR more
interesting to them. Imagine what it must be like for them. They have
no eyes, no ears, no senses of touch or smell. Bonded to us, they do.
In return, they help us to have clarity of mind, and they aid us in
some small ways with our mind powers. And they love us. One shouldn't
discount that. Who doesn't like love?"
She said, "Thank you for your help in this. They bond for life. What
happens to them when we die?" I said, "Another possible problem with
your beliefs. With that warning, shall I continue?" She said, "Please."
I said, "They bond with the spirit of the person, not the body. When
the spirit is born again in a new body, the stone will recognize it,
and continue the bond, and will not accept another." He said,
"Reincarnation is real?" I said, "For most, yes. Some people have some
memories of their past lives." She said, "I have some memories of other
lives. I thought they were fantasies." I said, "Some people have those,
too." She said, "And mine?" I said, "If I were to discover that, it
would be against your privacy, in a limited way." She said, "Please! I
need to know." I said, "They are real. Most who have them, wish they
didn't." Simslar said, "Why is that?" I said, "How do all lives end?"
He said, "Oh! And I think it would be unpleasant to have the private
thoughts of another, intruding in your mind." I said, "Definitely! None
of us who have them, have only good past lives."
The Lady said, "We are more alike, than I am to my people." Simslar
said, "I have to agree. I feel a kinship with you." I said, "Happens
with the bonded. They don't choose evil people. Have you never met with
a group of bonded?" She said, "We don't know of that many." I said,
"When you do meet a large group, and move close to each other, you may
then be able to communicate with words to your stones. Being in a close
group, increases their ability to communicate with us." She said, "May
we try it now?" I said, "I don't know if there will be enough, but my
stone is much larger than yours, so it might work." I held out my
wrist, and they moved their stones closer to mine. Mine said to me, "We
know what you want, and they are telling them that you are a good
person who will help them, and they should listen to you." I said, "Not
to disbelieve." He said, "Oh. We did it again." I said, "Yes you did."
I said out loud, "I can guess what they're telling you. They
positively LOVE to embarrass me!" Awe and chuckles. She said, "Is it
true?" I said, "I would rather not give you cause for disbelief." He
said, "That I can surely appreciate!" I said, "I can say this. Their
way of understanding is different from ours. That is a thing that is
good for interest, but not always good for perfect comfort." She said,
"Well expressed!" I said, "Er, thank you." We moved apart. She said,
"We must have you with us when we meet with your king." I said, "He is
not my king, and would not be, even if I were of his kingdom. My land
is not close. Yes, there are more groups of each of our kinds, on this
world." Simslar said, "I suspected that!" I grinned, and he was
embarrassed. She looked at him, and he said, "Er, what I speculated on
involved other suns and worlds." Smiles. She said to me, "Are there?" I
said, "If you had asked your stones, they would have said yes, many.
But those people look different." Interested, he said, "Who do they
look like the most?" I said, "I know what you would like to hear, but I
can't say either way. There are too many to know that fully."
I said, "But there are more immediate matters to discuss. Before we
meet with the king, I think we need to know why some wanted us dead
today." He said, "I should have thought of that. Yes, but how will we
do that?" I said, "I will find some of them and ask them." He said,
"They will tell you?" I said with a grin, "Oh yes, they will." He said,
"I would not like to be them." I said, "I can surely appreciate that!"
Chuckles.
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Grant
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