“You really don’t know that for certain.”
Sprig reached out and held Twig in his branches, “She won’t believe it’s impossible for Jake to have an initiator. The psychic shell around his psychic self is too strong for anyone to break through. Do you disagree with me?”
Twig gave a mental sigh, “How can I? I’ve seen the readouts of that shell. It takes a powerful shell to contain that much psychic power and it does appear that it cannot be released by the normal process.”
“If an initiator had been given the opportunity to evolve normally there could be a minute chance, but the creatures will have killed anyone showing the slightest trace of psychic ability. Valerie insists that the initiator is on that planet, but there is absolutely no possibility of anyone having the power to release him. I’m not certain anyone in all of the universes could do it.”
Twig leaned closer to Sprig, “So what happens when the invasion starts?”
“We will recall all of our adolescents and adults in the Realm back to our planets and order everyone to not use telepathy.”
“You know it will stifle our growth.”
“I know, but we should survive. I don’t think the creatures will invade a planet with only plant life forms. We should be able to outlive them.”
“Have you told Valerie your plans?”
“Yes, just not about Jake. She said she understood.”
The two were silent for a week, then Twig said, “You know, these Humans have surprised us so many times that I’ve lost count.”
“I know, my Love, and there is also Junior to consider. He knows about Jake’s shell and he still chose to go. I think he’s not being logical because of his parents’ love for the Gardners. I’m planning for the worst, but hoping for the best.”
“I’m glad you still have hope.”
Sprig leaned to the right, “There’s not much.”
“I know.”
Chapter Seven
The bell started ringing at daybreak. Jake got up and changed into a work outfit, grabbed his shovel and hoe, and moved out to join the tide of people moving toward the fields. A pretty young blonde woman walked up beside him and said, “I see you came out of Riordian’s former home; are you living there now?”
Jake noticed her green eyes and athletic body. It seemed all these people were beautiful. Jake dropped his shovel and the young woman bent over to pick it up for him. He touched her on the shoulder and said, “I’ll get that.”
She smiled at him and walked away as he rose with his shovel. Jake dropped that shove more than fifty times that day, but felt no responses from his touches. “Well, fifty down, more than a hundred thousand to go.”
Jake thought about it and realized that it would take more than two thousand days to touch every female in the colony. He had to find a way to speed up the process. A young man came up with a water jug, “Would you like some water?”
“Yes, I would.” Jake took a deep drink, and watched as the young man moved down the long lines offering water to the hot workers. Jake noticed that as the young man handed each person a cup he made contact with their hand. He went up to the young man and said, “Do we need help taking water to our friends?”
The young man looked thankful, “I can use all the help I can get. This is the hardest job and no one really wants this backbreaking work.”
“Where do I go to get the jugs?”
“See Miley at the well right over there.”
The young man pointed and Jake saw a woman filling jugs as they were brought to the well about two hundred yards away. Jake nodded, picked up his tools and walked to the well. The woman saw him coming and stood to greet him, “Is something wrong?”
“No, Miley, I just want to help deliver water.”
Miley was about twenty one years old and a beautiful young woman. She furrowed her brow and wondered if this man was sick. No one volunteered for water duty. She decided in less than a second that she was not going to look a gift drang in the mouth. “Pick up one of the jugs over there, along with some cup, s and I’ll fill it for you.”
Jake set his tools down and did as she instructed. The jug was heavy, but it got lighter as Jake began delivering water to the workers. By the end of the day he had touched more than two hundred more females. He knew that it would take more than a thousand days to touch them all, but surely he would encounter his initiator before he had to go through everyone.
Jake finally arrived home and fell on his bed. He was exhausted, but feeling better than he had since the melding with his armor. The community was preparing the evening meal and he had missed the morning breakfast, so he was famished. He got up and washed his face in the basin and changed clothes. He walked out to the community square and sat down in a group waiting their turn to eat. He looked around and managed to touch ten more females as he moved through the group. He looked across the square and saw the young woman who had asked him about his residence that morning. She saw him looking at her, and she stood and came over then sat down beside him.
“Hi, my name is Kathea.”
“Hello, my name is Jake.”
Kathea looked at him and smiled, “I noticed this morning that you touched me on my shoulder.” Jake saw trouble coming. “I also noticed that you touched quite a few of my sisters during your water delivery. Why are you doing that?”
Suddenly, everything started moving in slow motion. It actually appeared that all movement had come to a halt. Jake realized that the stress of the moment had activated his psychic talent. He had time to think so he started running several explanations through his mind. He rejected three quickly because he knew there were too many holes in them. Then he knew what to say and everything started moving again. “I’m surprised you noticed me doing that; were you watching me?”
Kathea lowered her eyes and nodded, “It’s unusual for a man your age not to be mated to a female. I noticed you were living alone.”
Jake looked down and said, “I’d rather not discuss why I’m alone, but I will tell you why I touched you today.” Kathea looked up. “My father told me when I was very young just before he left with the Keepers that if I touched a female she would have good luck.”
Kathea said, “Really?”
“Yes, really. He also said that if I could touch every female in our colony it would bring good luck to the colony. I didn’t believe him, but after I moved here I remembered what he said and I thought it wouldn’t do any harm to try.”
Kathea smiled, “Well, I can tell you that you brought me good luck today.”
Jake gave a start, and noticed it was time to get in line so he helped Kathea up and started moving toward the serving line, “Why do you say that?”
Kathea pulled a string out from her dress and showed Jake a small metal ring on it. “The string broke and I lost my ring out in the field twenty rotations ago. Today I was digging, and there it was! Your Father was right, Jake.”
Jake shook his head and said, “I don’t know about that, Kathea. I was just doing it on a whim.”
Kathea smiled, then reached up and kissed him on the cheek, “Well I believe it, Jake; thank you for touching me. This ring is the only thing remaining from my ancestors since the time of the Seniors. It is the most precious thing I own.”
Jake smiled and went through the line and filled up his plate. Kathea went back across to where she was sitting previously. Jake noticed her talking to some women around her and pointing toward Jake. “Oh boy! What have I done?” Jake sat and ate his meal. Then he took his plate, put it in the tub, washed it, and stacked it in the wooden cabinet built for their storage.
He sat back down. One of the older males stood and said loudly to the gathered community, “We once lived in paradise. There was delicious food for all, everyone lived long, long lives, everyone loved each other, and there were magic machines that did everything needed. We flew with the angels and talked to the Seniors. There was freedom and joy for every person. Some day the Seniors are coming again, and we must remember them until they arrive. We must never allow our children to forget who we are. Always tell the story at this time every day.”