Sitnalta Page 18

Future Rus wished he could see. As he scratched his nose he mumbled, "Well, at least I no longer have a goat head."

Michelle laughed, "Say what, little brother."

Future Rus said, "I was just counting my blessings." Then Future Rus stood silent. Not being able to see made him feel more than helpless. Future Rus reached out his hands and began feeling around. He felt nothing within his reach.

Michelle asked, "What are you doing?" When Future Rus didn't answer Michelle she said, "I'm talking to you little goof ball that split from my brother."

Both Rus said in unison, "Goof ball!"

Past Rus said, "When you insult him, you insult me, and I don't like it."

Future Rus said, "I don't think saying that I split from your brother is right. I guess we are the same person, but I'm from a different point in spatial time. I was on Atlantis. I had traveled back in time from the future where I lived in the United States. On Atlantis, a friend by the name of Jason kept trying to alter time to save Atlantis from destruction. As a result I got caught between points in spatial time. To prevent me from becoming what Jason called fractured, he brought me here."

Michelle said, "Atlantis! United States! We've never heard of these places. When it is our turn to be born on earth, we are going to born into a land on earth called Sitnalta. Are you sure you came from just a different point in spatial time? Maybe you are from a completely different world all together. Maybe you aren't even Rus."

Past Rus said, "Now who is being lame? There is no way that he is not me."

Michelle laughed trying to calm her own growing nervousness. "You are right. But this is so weird. I'm starting to get as scared as Natalina."

"Move the line, move the line," A Gatekeeper directed.

Past Rus, Michelle, and Future Rus began walking forward as directed. Michelle said, "It will not be long before we are at the gates to the birthing ponds."

Jill, the mom of Michelle and Rus, walked back to check on her children. She looked at Rus and then she looked at Rus. "Oh crap! Michelle, why didn't you let me know there are two Rus?" Jill took both Rus by the earlobe. "If the gatekeepers were to see this, we'd be in a hell of a mess." Holding their earlobes, Jill maneuvered both Rus so that they were nose to nose and eye to eye. She then yanked their heads back and it looked as though she were going to bang their heads together. Instead of their heads banging on impact, Past Rus and Future Rus became one. "There, that takes care of that." Jill looked at Michelle and Rus. Jill whispered, "Now when we get to the point to go through the gates and enter the birthing ponds, you two do exactly what the Gatekeeper tells you to do. Tell them nothing. Admit to nothing like having conquered time travel. But try to do what they say. Understand?"

Rus and Michelle both stood in awe of their mom and said nothing. Michelle couldn't believe how she made Past Rus and Future Rus into one as though she had done it a thousand times. Rus was also kind of amazed, but mighty thankful. Still, they were also somewhat disturbed for they realized there were things she had not told them.

Jill repeated, "Do you understand?"

Rus asked, "Are the Gatekeepers our enemy?"

Jill whispered, "Not all of them. I don't know how much you now know Rus, but only share confidence with people you are certain you can trust. If Lucifer's people get wind of the fact that you are a higher being, they will banish you."

Michelle whispered and asked, "Am I a higher being?"

Jill asked, "Have you conquered time travel yet?"

"No."

"That answers your question."

A Gatekeeper walked by and looked at Jill and Michelle and Rus. He looked around. He whispered, "Be careful."

Jill nodded. "Now, I'm going back to my place in line."

Rus whispered to Michelle. "I now know what, ugh, what Future Rus knew. It wasn't a hell of a lot. I am not a, you know. He didn't, that is I didn't, do that time thing on purpose."

Michelle smiled. "I am so scared. You know this isn't a simple outing to earth. Lucifer is not a travel agent."

Rus laughed. "I don't know. I once was on a vacation in Mexico that I swore must have been arranged by Satan himself. The airplane I was booked on was so old I thought any second it was going to crash. Then when I got to the Hotel, half the rooms were condemned and boarded up. The bellboys and maids and other members of the hotel staff were members of rival gangs."

Michelle whispered, "Be careful talking about memories from the future."

Rus looked around. "I'm just so happy to be one with myself. It is so good to be able to see again."

Michelle asked, "Have you completely replaced my brother?"

"Why do you ask that? Is it because I can remember not being able to see and I can remember the future? I'm still the brother who loves his sister; who loves you. I'm still me. I can remember the future now but I can also remember Eden. In some ways I do kind of feel like two people. But I am me. I haven't really changed."