Alp also stood up. “If that’s what everyone feels is best, I will step down and let someone else make the decisions.”
“And I nominate Tabitha to take over,” Kirstin jumped in. “I think she’ll do a fine job, so why not give her a shot at it.”
The rest of the Kindred sat around the circle, shocked looks on their faces.
“Well, I suppose we could try it for a while,” Kim said.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Heather stood and walked over to Alp. “You’ve done a fine job, and if Damba says it’s dangerous to use our powers, then it makes sense to be careful. I have no problem running it by you. I’m sorry, Tabitha, but I think putting you in charge is a really bad idea.”
Tabitha looked like she was going to charge Heather and scratch her eyes out, but before she could, Mia stood up between her and Heather.
“No fighting.” As she said this she made a subtle hand motion that only Alp noticed but that everyone felt the effects of. The charged atmosphere calmed, and even Tabitha’s angry expression relaxed a bit.
Is that one of Heather’s powers, Alp asked herself? The ability to control a group of people’s emotional state? I’ll have to check with her later on this, she told herself and maybe berate her just a little for using it without checking with me. No, on second thought, I think I’ll let this one go.
As everyone calmed down, Mia turned to Heather. “I think it’s our turn to clean up. Let’s get to it.”
As they began clearing the food from the eating area, the sound of someone approaching from outside drew Alp’s attention. She’d expected Damba’s return with their supplies before it grew dark but was surprised to see it was one of his companions instead leading the small supply contingency.
She walked out to see how she could assist.
“Thank you so much for bringing us more supplies,” she said to the young boy leading the group. She tried frantically to remember his name but could not.
“I’m just following Damba’s orders,” he replied. “Personally, if it were left up to me, I wouldn’t give you anything else, least not until Zunga’s boat arrives with more supplies.”
“Well, in that case, please tell Damba I’m particularly thankful for the supplies.”
Then deciding it might be best to change the subject, she asked, “Where’s Damba this evening?” She tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.
“He’s with his family and not able to come,” the boy made a sign with one hand as though warding off some evil energy with a hex.
“What’s up…Jenko?” The boy’s name suddenly coming to her.
Jenko glanced at the other boys who were passing the boxes of food to Kim and Kirstin. “Bad stuff,” he replied. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but Damba’s mother has fallen ill. They’ve called Babalawo, our shaman, but so far it’s not looking good. It must be very strong juju for him not to be able to help.”
Alp remembered Damba speaking about his mother and what a kind and caring individual she was. It was clear he loved her very much, unlike Alp who had grown to despise her mother for being so cruel and greedy. Alp also realized that she had the power to help heal the woman, but to do so she’d have to go against Damba’s warning. If she were discovered, it could cost them their haven. What could she do? But even as she asked the question, she knew there was only one answer that would allow her to live with herself.
She decided to wait until the rest of the Kindred had retired for the night. Then she’d make her move.
Connections
For close to three weeks, Flip continued to study everything he could find on lucid dreaming as well as practicing it every night. He started a dream journal in an effort to become more aware of his dreamscape. He was thankful that his research didn’t advocate trying to interpret the dreams, most of which seemed nonsensical to him, but simply become more aware of them.
He also developed the habit of staring at his hands several times a day while asking “Am I awake?” According to his research, this process would aid in his becoming more aware of entering the dreamscape. A person’s hands have many different and consistent details when viewed in a waking state; details that simply were not reproducible while asleep. But still, none of this seemed to help him make a connection with the Kindred.
If I don’t make a connection this week, he finally told himself, I’ll admit defeat and have Lionel put me back in a coma. It was on the fifth night after making this pledge that something shifted.
It was a few minutes after four a.m. when he awoke. After glancing at the clock on his bed stand, he sat up and reached for the thermos next to the clock. He poured himself a cup of hot water to sip. Just one more crazy thing I’m doing that’s making no difference, he thought. He had pretty much convinced himself that most if not all the lucid dreaming information he’d studied was pure hokum. Finishing the water, he placed the cup back on the nightstand. As he settled back in bed, he glanced at his hand one last time. “Am I awake?” he asked as he flipped his hand over. As expected, the hand looked exactly as it had always looked. Nothing had changed.
He closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep. That’s when the shift occurred. He felt himself drifting off, then felt himself stepping outside his awareness as though watching himself sleeping. He then felt himself falling through a black hole and wondered: Is this what they mean about ‘falling through the rabbit hole?’
He stared down at his hands once again. “Am I awake?” As he flipped his hands over this time, they transformed into putrid green scaled-covered claws with long black nails. I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore, he thought gazing around him at the hazy fog-like surroundings. No time to waste. He took a deep breath and projected this thoughts out into the fog.
Hello, little ones. This is your father. I really miss you. If you’re getting this message, please let me know.
Still nothing. He waited and tried to keep his mind clear so any other outside signals might come in. Nothing…just more fog…more silence…more…then…
Good evening, father.
Was that his imagination? His strong desire to hear from his children, so he was making it up himself?
No, father. I’m not a product of your imagination but your super sperm. Good to finally meet you.
Clearly not my imagination, Flip thought. The signal was too strong and with a distinctive voice, a familiar voice, and even as he had the thought, he knew who he’d connected with.
Hello, son. It’s good to meet you at long last.
Flip felt the fog around him shift as though blown by some cosmic wind. Afraid he’d lose the tenuous connection with Mel, he returned his focus on his breath for a few deep inhalations and slow exhalations. As he felt his heart rate slow back down, he called out again.
Are you still there, Mel?
I’m still here old man. You can’t get rid of me that easily.
Good. I wasn’t trying to get rid of you though if you keep calling me ‘ol man’ I just might. I’m still trying to get a handle on this psychic communication stuff. Where are you?
There was a long silence before Mel’s answer came back.
I’m not prepared to answer that question just now. You’d probably just rat me out to your friend, Lionel, and he and I have already had one too many run-ins. Let’s just say I’m where I’m safe and able to calculate my next move.
And what might that be?
Well, talking with you for starters. I felt you calling out to the Kindred so I thought it would be fun to see what it’s like to chat with you for a few minutes. Beyond that, well, those next moves are for me to know and you to wonder about.
Flip decided to try a different tact. Have you spoken with any of your sisters?
After another long pause, came the reply, No, not since we parted company on the roof thanks to your friend’s interference.
Flip felt a wave or anger and hate wash over him with that last remark. Time to change the subject again.
What can I do for
you? Flip asked.
Well, for starters you can stop spreading vicious lies about me to my sisters. And you can stay out of my business. That means leaving my sisters alone. Otherwise, I’m afraid someone will get hurt, and next time it won’t be me.
Are you hurt now, Mel? If so, if you come on in, I promise I’ll see that you get proper care and that no one will interfere with your treatment.
Nah, that’s not going to happen. I’ll be fine. Just need a little time to plan my next move.
And then what?
Oh, I’ll let that be a surprise. But you’ll hear from me again. You can count on it.
And with that Flip felt the connection terminate.
Alp entered the small village of straw and driftwood huts silhouetted by the light from a full moon. She half expected to be stopped at any minute, but no one approached her. Everyone either had already turned in for the night or were at the Circle of Shaman hut praying for the salvation of their dearly beloved Malmu, Damba’s mother and one of the spiritual leaders of the tribe. Damba had explained that Malmu wasn’t considered a spiritual leader, in the same way, his people viewed Babalawo, their shaman.
“My mother is more like our spiritual mother. She prays for all of us, and she’s always there whenever a new spirit is ready to enter the world.”
“So, she’s like a midwife?”
Damba nodded. “Yes, but she provides much more than just the technical assistance of the birthing process. She also guides the new soul into this physical existence.”
“Sounds like your mother is a very powerful woman,” Alp said.
“Yes,” Damba said smiling. “In many ways she’s the most powerful woman, not only in my life but for the entire village, which I guess is one reason I am drawn to you, another powerful woman.”
But as Alp approached the lights of the Circle of Shaman, she didn’t feel powerful. The closer she came to her destination the more her confidence waned. What if Damba refused to let her help? What if his mother was so ill that she was beyond Alp’s abilities? It had been weeks since she’d tried to heal anyone. What if it had been a fluke with her father and she’d only imagined she’d helped him? Should she just forget this whole hare-brain idea and go home; let providence take its course?
With each unanswered question, her pace slowed as the doubt festered, infecting her confidence in herself. Finally, she stood in the center of the village, unable to move. She closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths in an attempt to clear her head. And that’s when she heard a familiar voice from within.
Hello, Alp…
Tabitha heard Alp get up and sneak outdoors. She waited for a minute then rose from her sleeping pallet to follow her, but Alp had already disappeared. Kirstin had overheard Alp’s conversation with the kid they called Jenko and reported it to her. No doubt, Alp was even at this minute on her way to Damba and his family. She probably planned to do exactly what she’d warned the rest of them not to do — use her power of healing to save Damba’s mother.
Tabitha decided she was too angry to go back to sleep, so she walked out towards the garden to clear her head. A full moon made it easy to navigate once her eyes adjusted. Since there was very little light coming from the surrounding area including the village off to the East, the Milky Way spread its glory over her head. She decided it was the ideal time to try once more to make a connection.
She found a suitable rise in the otherwise flat land and laid down so she could gaze into the star-filled sky. Slowly, she relaxed and let go of all extraneous thoughts before finally turning her attention to reaching out to the cosmos with her consciousness. She tried not to force the effort but let it happen naturally.
At first nothing happened, as had been the case for the other dozen times she’d tried to reach out to her missing relation. But something felt different this time, so she continued. Several minutes went by when she felt a presence with her, almost as though someone laid beside her.
Is that you? Please, tell me it is.
Hello, Tabitha. Yes, I’m here. It’s good to finally reconnect with you.
She’d done it. She’d finally reached out and found her missing brother, Mel.
Flip had never thought of himself as a particularly studious kind of guy. Sure, he’d graduated from college but that had been years ago. It had been just by the skin of his teeth and with the help of a few understanding women professors who believed in students earning extra credit.
But in the last few weeks he had found himself applying his mental facilities like never before. While much of what he read about lucid dreaming felt like pseudoscience, his desire to find and reconnect with his children drove him to consider everything. Each night he practiced what he’d read about lucid dreaming. Even during the day he practiced what he’d read. Whenever anyone saw him in the hallway, the standing joke was to look down at their hands and ask the same question he’d habitually been asking, “Am I awake or asleep?”
But what drove him to persist more than anything was his brief connection with Mel. Even though the conversation hadn’t gone that well, it proved to him that he could make the psychic connection without resorting to being put back in a coma.
As Flip settled down for another night of sleep, he set the intention for the evening. “While sleeping, I will remember my dreams. I will also ask myself if I am awake or asleep. I have control of my consciousness while both awake and asleep.” He repeated these phrases several times as he felt his eyes grow heavy.
He continued to relax and each time he felt himself drifting off he moved his fingers ever so slightly and asked, “Am I awake or asleep,” which kept him on the edge between the two. Finally, as he continued the exercise he felt himself fall into the next stage of sleep, and it was at that moment when he felt his consciousness leave his body again.
It was an amazing sensation, drifting free from any physical restraints, but he realized this time it wasn’t a totally unfamiliar one either. It reminded him how it felt when he’d been in a coma. He continued to enjoy the sensation for some time, though it was hard to determine how long. Time didn’t seem all that relevant in this form of consciousness.
Then, a new sensation grabbed his attention and not a very pleasant one. He suddenly felt a wave of doubt and depression wash over him. Where had that come from? He felt himself turn in the direction it felt like it had first hit him. He felt more than saw a line connecting him to something else off in the distance. As he floated in that direction, he picked up speed as he flew across a great distance at an astounding rate. The fog and haze swirled around him. He didn’t have a clue where he was going, but he sure was going somewhere fast.
The fog began to clear, as though blown away by a giant fan. Far below, an island came into view, and on the island a circular pattern appeared like that of an archery target. As he continued to float in space, the island began to come closer. It felt like he was skydiving towards it when suddenly he experienced the ground rushing towards him much like skydivers report when they’ve waited too long to pull their chute. But Flip felt no fear as the island filled his view. He kept his eyes focused on the target as it transformed into circles of small huts and at their center set the largest hut of all. As he continued to fall towards the island, details continued to come into focus. He could now make out a person standing near the larger hut in the center. As Flip drew closer, he realized what had drawn him here. He’d found Alp at last.
Fatherly Advice
As Alp stood only a few yards away from where Damba’s mother lay dying in the Circle of Shaman’s hut, she felt her father’s presence for the first time in weeks. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed his loving presence until now.
I’ve missed you.
Yes, and I’ve missed you as well. I’m here. Can you see me? Flip asked.
No, Alp replied, but I can feel you.
Where in the world is this? Flip asked.
That’s a little hard to explain, Alp said. Let’s just say it’s somewhere in
the Atlantic Ocean, and that I’m safe here.
And how about your sisters? Is everyone all right?
Yes, everyone is fine. Tabitha drives me crazy at time, but other than that, we’re fine.
I felt some troubling sensations that lead me to you, Flip said. What’s going on?
Alp briefly explained as well as she could without giving away too much information.
So, I’m standing here frozen, not sure what I should do, she finished up.
I see. Sounds like I’m here in the nick of time to remind you that you are a powerful young woman. We all have doubts at time. We can all get caught up in second-guessing ourselves. That’s when we have to remember that the powers and talents we have are gifts from God. What we do with them are our gifts back to the Universe.
But what if I’m not able to help the old woman, or even worse, what if I harm her in some way?
Alp, have you ever hurt someone with your healing power?
Alp thought about the question for a moment before replying. No, not that I know of.
Then, trust yourself that you won’t harm this woman either. The only way you could hurt her is by doing nothing and letting her die without making an effort to help her.
Alp nodded. Her father was right. She hadn’t told him about Damba’s warning not to reveal her powers, but that was for her to work out. There was no way she could live with herself if she didn’t try to save his mother.
Okay, dad. I know what I need to do. I just need to go do it now.
Before you go, how will I be able to find you? Flip asked.
Alp thought a moment before replying. I don’t think that’s a good idea, least not yet. Let the others know that we’re all okay. I know Denise and Bridgette are worried about us, but they don’t need to. I’ll be in touch later. At the moment, I have a life to save.
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