Under a Starless Sky

The group sat in the great hall. There were many on the circle, many more around the circle. Shen was at the 12 o’clock position, lotus posture, holding a baby. TL was appropriately looking at whoever was speaking, following the conversation- yet, was also holding a private conversation with Shen. A storm of a debate raged around them, varying in intensity from rain to full out thunderous wind. All babies were held. Toddlers were free to roam. Some babies were nursing.

‘You’re in a good mood,’ TL said.

‘Yeah, why not?’ Shen asked.

‘How far back do you track it?’ TL asked.

Shen concentrated. He became puzzled. “I don’t know. I haven’t been tallying.” His smiled deepened. ‘I have actually been happy for a while.’ He frowned. ‘I don’t understand it. It’s not earned. I haven’t done anything.’

‘Oh, you’ve done a lot,’ TL said.

‘Such as?’ Shen asked.

‘You’ve been living your life,’ TL said. ‘You created a community.’

‘You had as much to do with that as I, if not more,’ Shen said.

‘Have you ever considered what the number one thing all abusers have in common?’ TL said. The question brought Shen’s eyes to her’s- what a weird way to begin a proposition. Her eyes met his on all planes, physical, mental, and emotional. Her comment seemed out of place. He didn’t see a connection with anything they were doing. It didn’t mean there wasn’t a connection, as AI personality could make some wildly obscure connections and line them up logically, but he didn’t even see a leaping point. His inner mind was silent as he waited for the connection to arrive. When he didn’t answer, TL filled the in the blank. ‘They isolate people. You want to control someone, you isolate them from others. You control who they interact with, what they see and hear, what they read. People who were abused tend to isolate themselves from others. People who are depressed tend to isolate. People who are sick, physically or mentally, they get isolated. People who are bullied get isolated- first by the people harassing them, second by the immediate group who are not wanting to associate with the perceived ‘weakness’ that resulted in the bullying, and then lastly by the person being bullied- themselves- believing they are unworthy. You created a community. You let people in. You allow for a freedom of discourse. Everyone here has a voice.’

‘I let ghost in,’ Shen said.

‘Ghosts are people,’ TL said.

‘I let Irks in,’ Shen said.

‘Animals are people,’ TL said. “Any act of acceptance is love. You let people in. You let love in. We have created a place where people can come and love and grow and discover their own boundaries. There are good people here. That’s a reflection of you.’

Shen looked at the baby. He perceived a connection, made a face at the baby. Baby mirrored. ‘And now I am being called away.’

TL gave him a hug. ‘Are you worried?’

‘I should be,’ Shen agreed. ‘Every time God spoke to someone in the Bible, something bad happened to them.’

‘He was a tough employer,’ TL said.

‘Maybe mother will be easier,’ Shen offered.

“Based on your relationship with your mother?’ TL asked.

‘Probably shouldn’t go there,’ Shen said.

‘How about the archetypal mother?’ TL asked.

‘I was told not to fool with her,’ Shen said.

‘How about the song ‘Mother,’ by Police,’ TL asked.

‘Oh, that would be synchronicity,’ Shen said, laughing out loud. ‘That would bother me.’ Now the song was in his head and he gave a cross look to TL. ‘You know I hate that song. It reminds me of that one, ‘they’re coming to take me away’ by Napoleon XIV…’

The debate was interrupted. Jerica hit the back of his head. “Are you paying attention?”

force. The Valkyries seem in alignment with that. Dragon clan wants to storm Sinter from the sky. You, and

go to war, that would have been clear in the directive,” Ili said. Ili, who had surrendered her positioned of village seer to the next called, had retired to Shangri-La. She had been listening to the debate. She had been

going to just

to go through normal channels,” Ili said. “He will

him on sight,”

He is protected by Mother,”

“Forever?” Ciara asked.

“Until he has accomplished

what is

to Sinter,” Shen

what?” Jerica

Shen said.

will fucking kill you,” Jerica

by force with Dragons and ships,” Ashly

the

said. “Go to Sinter and let

to be ash,” Imly said, referring to the missile strike. People understood

intervened,”

intervened,” Calypso said. She was present in the town hall meeting. So was Rock. He was online so

“Mother?” Shen asked.

mother?” TL

“May I?” Ili asked.

“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you ask to speak…” Aslog

not offended.

first

Harold and Maude,’ to which TL laughed, a genuine, surprised laughed, followed by snorting.

“Second,” TL

have a competition,” Shen

your fucking dreams,” Jerica

am in,” Imly

compete for

Rock said. “He and I’d give it

love you,

tell us about

face relaxed and the wrinkles seemed to go away as she accessed something deep in her- it if she was engaging in a ritual even though the

of All,”

Ili had drawn the silent wrath of several of his wives, and some in the outer circles. Ili was not offended. TL and Shen shared silent revelation, as Moa had been an encounter

is the darkness from which we are borne. She is the first One. She is the last One. She is every One in between. Few hear her voice, but her heart light touches us all. We go where she calls. We

ever

truth, there is no darkness. All is light. Close your eyes- you are not seeing darkness, you are seeing the light that permeates you’re entire being. It is the light that permeates all reality. It is the one ocean. It is

darkness was light with eyes closed. TL translated- ‘you see with your brain, not your eyes. Your brain is always on. Imagine a television screen, power on, but no signal- that black is not true black,

beginning, Elohim created us,” Shen said. “They created us

first people,”

going to die?”

“Yes,” Ili said.

don’t know that,” Jerica

part of the