by Rami Yudovin
Chapter 9. Soul rotation
The Medium went down the hotel lounge, came up to the bar counter, and ordered a cognac, cheese, and olives. She wanted to unwind a bit. She was still drinking cognac when she saw a young man with a clouded glance, but dressed in the latest young fashion.
“What can I bring you?” he asked freely.
“If you are a waiter, get lost,” the Medium proposed with expressed scorn.
“Me? You don’t know who I am?” said the guy through clenched teeth filling with rage.
“Now, let’s see who you are,” she sharply grasped the man by his palm and attentively surveyed the life and destiny lines.
“You were born in a poor family,” the Medium started to speak. She felt inspiration and anger. “You fell ill often, nearly drowned, was rescued at the last moment and maybe they shouldn’t have done that. Why do we rescue villains? You have never done anything good. You have never married and never will. Your father has died recently, but you have mother and sister. Three or four years ago you received a large sum of money; either won it or received it as a gift because you were only good enough to have a dose and a couple of prostitutes. But this money is meant to kill you. You have little time left. Very little.”
The man was suddenly pale, he seemed to be shocked. He turned his head around trying to become sober but did not succeed.
“H… how many years do I have left?” he asked stumbling.
“About a year, no more. Look at yourself: you are a goner,” the Medium answered indifferently.
The young man took out a small box from his pocket, poured out powder directly onto the bar counter, divided it into two strips, took out a banknote, placed it at his nostril, quickly inhaled white dust, shuddered, blinked, noisily exhaled and smiling angrily winked at the prophetess.
“You won’t die of sinus trouble,” the Medium said and drank her cognac in one gulp. She felt no pity for the man. That was strange: several years ago she would feel compassion, give advice what to do to change the effects of the choice.
She went up to the room, quietly opened the door, and smiled seeing a sleeping man. She certainly liked him. She fetched a packet of cigarettes, went to the balcony, closed the door tight, sat on the floor, and smoked. She was not able to relax or get away from the thoughts about her new acquaintance:
“An interesting story. Who is the man? Why have I come after him? What does he need in the City? A strange halo, which either appears or disappears? There are various energy clusters above a person, especially above seriously ill people, they can be used to determine if the person will die or live. But he has totally different light above, it seems to be alive and emit power. Unclear. It seems I have known him long. May this be the experience of previous lives? It happens when you meet someone and seem to know everything about him, although you met just five minutes ago. But the most interesting thing is that I liked him from the very beginning. That feels strange. Have I fallen in love? Crap! Though…”
The door to the balcony opened.
“Hope I won’t disturb you?” the subject of her thoughts whispered.
“No. On the contrary. I’m bored. Why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Because I have woken up.”
“Shall we speak?”
“Yes.”
“What is your name?”
“The Stranger.”
“Pilgrim?”
“Possibly.”
“Why have you visited the Seer?”
“To speak,” the Stranger answered concisely.
“And?” the Medium drew down cigarette smoke.
“We spoke.”
“What do you want in the City?” the woman moved very close to him.
“I don’t know yet,” he whispered mysteriously.
“Have you been sent to the City?” she asked pointing out to the night sky with a cigarette spark.
“Exactly.”
“Who?”
The Stranger sighed. He was joking and laughing at anything but the God.
“I hope, the Creator,” he sounded a bit detached. “But the Seer doubts it.”
“Why?” the Medium grew wary.
“He believes the voice is not a sufficient reason to follow.”
“And what do you think?” the woman repeated.
“Time has come,” he inhaled air mixed with cigarette smoke.
“What for?” she threw out the butt from the balcony.
“I hope it is for something important.”
“And this important is in the City, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” the Stranger felt good beside that woman. He could speak up about what bothered him most.
“It happens. I have a persistent feeling that I have known you for a long time. Maybe we met in the previous life and maybe more than that,” she looked in his eyes boldly.
“This would be possible if you were a woman and I was a man,” the Stranger smiled. “I don’t believe in previous lives. Although I know that almost all religions accept the soul rotation doctrine. Once I had to live with one tribe and study its religion and customs. The soul rotation doctrine is the most important religious principle of the community. I saw a child who told me in detail about the life of a warrior in the tribe killed in a battle, although he had died several months before the birth of the boy. I spoke with the boy and checked everything, the child made almost no mistakes, he shared even the intimate details no one but the wife of the deceased could know. Isn’t it proof of the soul rotation? But it is incorrect to take into account only one version.”
“Do you think the child was playing a role?” the Medium grinned.
“Absolutely impossible.”
“What’s the problem then?”
“The three-year old boy knew not only the deceased but other people living and dead. The child was your kin. That explains much. The chiefs used him and showed magic to reinforce religious principles and their authority to have no barriers to lead the community and send warriors to fight without fear for their life. Some think that after death of the body the soul is inseparably connected with another body and resuscitates it. Others believe that only kind souls are immortal and only the souls of kind people can have another life in other bodies, and evil ones should are foredoomed to agony. The God bestows the right to be born again upon those who adhere by commandments. There is an opinion that evil people will live a life filled with suffering in the bodies of unhappy people or animals. I can accept that in rare cases a soul can have a new life in another body. The God can do anything, even if it seems senseless. But if we didn’t remember what was happening in the previous life, how would we understand the lesson and find out what has to be changed in ourselves? Here and now we have enough lessons and signs to understand our steps and correct something. Of course, it is easy to understand the misfortunes of this life by the mistakes made in the previous one. It is an attractive and easy way to go for modern theologians, but an easy way does not mean the right one! Ancient theologians who came not only to console the Sufferer but also to condemn him in his crimes and justify the divine justice never told him, ‘Be patient, brother, you are paying for the crimes you have committed in past life.’ They did not think of the soul rotation doctrine,” the Stranger explained calmly.
“You are not right,” the Medium said irritated. “There are different kinds of embodiment and it does not necessarily mean settling in human bodies, but this is not for everyone. The spiritual world is very complex. In order to see it, you need to be either born a seer or learn to see. You say we don’t remember our previous bodies, but it is not necessary. We must learn to feel and follow our feelings. The soul doesn’t think, it recollects and feels. The pang of conscience, intuitive knowledge of the good and the bad and even hazard, fears or, to the contrary, joys, these are indistinct memories… and lessons from previous life. The soul embedded in the body tries to save or respectfully withstand a severe and horrible trial. This is what it is for. But it is ens
laved by our mind and suffers. We are weighed down by much going around and do not listen to the voice. We don’t find harmony between the soul and mind.”
“This is your imagination, illusionary worlds which you instill with power and make real,” the Stranger muttered. “Well, if you tune on to the Source of Knowledge, you will see anything and won’t be able to tell the reality from imagination. There might be no distinct border in between.”
“I’m not going to argue. You are very conservative, but you are a curious man. You are unlike others,” the Medium looked at him tenderly and said affectionately, “I have seen a strange light above your head and it wasn’t a halo. Do you know what it is?”
The Stranger suddenly felt light tongues of the Wind.
“Can you see it now?” he asked and the Medium looked narrowly at him.
“Yes, I can see it now,” she looked in the companion’s eyes and saw an unknown glance, which emitted power. She felt uncomfortable. “Your eyes! What is wrong with your eyes?” she exclaimed and continued to peer at him frightened.
“Nothing threatens you,” the Stranger said detachedly and the woman thought that the light above his head became brighter. “It is the Wind. He is my friend. I can see that you are connected with some energies and forces. As soon as they show they can arouse the Wind to act against them and touch you. If possible, do not try to summon spirits in my presence and don’t do anything extraordinary.”
“Is it bad?” the Medium lowered her head. She did not want to listen to another challenge to her abilities.
“It is also knowledge, but the source of this knowledge is doubtful. In any case, a person will not benefit from this. But I know very little about this,” the Stranger did not want to hurt the woman.
“That’s how I was born. I have a talent,” it was important for her to justify herself.
“I’m not your judge, but they can use you. It is dangerous.”
“But no, I’m using them. That’s how I earn my bread,” the Medium smiled.
“There are different energies which cannot be seen to normal eyes. You might see more. Animals see in a totally different system. Microscope, telescope, or X-ray can be used to see something inaccessible to human eyes. Such people as you or the Seer can see something that cannot be seen through these devices. But no talent gives access to the country of justice,” the Stranger tried to speak as soft as possible.
The woman was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and despite external confidence could hardly keep control.
“And what will?”
“Our endeavors, acts, and belief.”
“Do you believe in the country of justice? Where is it? Over there?”
The Medium pointed her finger at stars.
“It is somewhere, far away and nearby at the same time. It might reach the Earth,” the Stranger was silent and then added: “someday.”
“Ok,” the woman nodded eagerly. “It’s a pity we won’t see that.”
“I won’t live to these days and I won’t see the time when my songs are needed… If the Creator so wishes, He can shift our substance to another medium. Do you copy important information from your computer to discs?”
“I don’t copy all information to other media.”
The Stranger nodded and sighed heavily:
“I’m afraid you are not the only one who does like that.”
“That’s personification of the soul,” she found it hard to smile.
“There are heavenly shells and earthly ones...” the Stranger sank into reverie.
Silence set in. The woman seemed to be fighting a thought. Breathing out, the Medium made a decision.
“Do you want to sleep with me?” she asked sharply, even without looking in his direction.
The Stranger did not expect such a straightforward question and could not keep from smiling.
“Do you, magicians and enchanters, usually reinforce heart-to-heart talks with sex?”
“Well, no, but sex is the easiest way to get to know a person and you are a riddle to me,” she looked up at him with her fiery eyes.
“Then let’s postpone the learning process,” the Stranger grinned. “I fear to disappoint you when you get to know me. You may deprive me of your hospitality in the City and that would be quite an unhappy occasion.”
The woman smiled, looked at the Stranger playfully and thought: “And he does want me, I can see that.”
The Medium went to the bathroom. She came after shower, completely naked, demonstrating her splendid figure, proudly passed the man, languidly sighed and lay down on her bed and did not cover herself with the blanket.
“There is a draught, you’ll catch cold,” he said yawning.
“Maybe, you are not interested in women, aren’t you? Anyone in your place will be sitting at my feet.”
“I’m not anyone. I thought you could see that. The strong differ from the weak not by lack of desire, but by the ability to manage and control, they know the reason to hold their passions. We had a nice talk,” said the Stranger through his teeth and turned to another side.
The woman could not go to sleep. She rolled herself up in a sheet, went out to the balcony again, and smoked.
“Can I ask you a question?” the Stranger could not go to sleep either.
“Sure.”
“Why do you both smoke so much?”
“Who both?” the Medium asked to clarify.
“You and the Seer. If you are able to see, you must know what harm it makes.”
“As far as I know, the Seer cannot quit smoking.”
“Why?”
“After his leg was crushed in the death camp, he experienced heavy depression. Have you heard about this time?”
“I have, and about a wonderful escape from the camp, too. Despite his mutilated leg, he hypnotized security guards and escaped.”
“Yes, he escaped, crossed the border, returned home, did not see anyone for several months and even did not leave home. He was fed almost from a spoon. His power can break anyone, but he himself is weak and spleeny.”
The Stranger was silent for some time.
“I think you haven’t understood. He didn’t worry about his leg or agonies in the death camp. I think he felt something was wrong. He saw imminent danger, knew he was chased and still could not avoid getting into the hands of his pursuers. And then he saw: there was something stronger than him, understood there were rules even he couldn’t change. He experienced a withdrawal syndrome and that was the most difficult as it meant loss of self-confidence.”
The Medium came up to the Stranger and sat beside him.
“I have bad premonitions, I have been anxious for several weeks. I have come to speak with the Seer. Maybe he understands what is going on with me,” the woman took the Stranger by his hand.
“You are not the only one; all of us feel like that. We are on the threshold of amazing events and I think I will learn something important in the City. I’m drawn there as if by a magnet.”
“A call?”
“This is vampire terminology. More likely, a mission. I hope, it is a mission,” the Stranger softly removed her palm and went to the balcony.
“Do you enjoy looking in the sky?” the woman followed him.
“I sometimes think that the sky is looking at me, inviting me to be its guest. It illuminates the way by the stars and the Moon. You think that I’ve decided I’m someone very special, don’t you?”
“I don’t think so,” the Medium interrupted him. “I believe that you can do much. But I can see how the air condenses above you. Has the Seer warned you of an imminent danger?”
“He warned my comrade.”
“I’ve seen him. I don’t like him. I strongly don’t like him. I don’t understand what you might have in common with a man like that.”
“You don’t know him. He, like many others living in the time of troubles, has another attitude to life and death.”
> “Could you have made a mistake with the choice of a companion?”
“We’ll see when time comes. Let’s go to bed. Tomorrow will be a tough day.”
