Sitnalta Page 19

Michelle and Rus watched as their parents approached ever so nearer to the gates leading to the birthing ponds and a seeming ominous future on planet earth. Michelle whispered, "I wish we could go through the gates with them. This is going to be so strange being separated from them."

Rus said, "Come on, we can say one more goodbye."

Rus and Michelle rushed to hug their parents. They hugged Jill and then they hugged their father Fred. As Michelle embraced her father closer to her soul, festers of moisture whelped up near her. Embarrassed, Michelle tried to wipe the droplets away. "I told myself I wasn't going to cry. I wish I still thought of this as a simple outing to earth."

Fred flicked at some of the moisture turning to fizz.

Jill whispered, "I'm sure the tears aren't just yours."

Fred nodded in agreement. He told Michelle, "But we must try to be strong. Your mother informed me that you know more than we wanted. You, we, must have faith that in the end all will be okay." As Fred spoke he wondered if he could keep the faith for his family.

Jill and Michelle both looked at Rus as Fred spoke. Then Fred looked at Rus and whispered, "My little man." He remembered when Rus was first brought to them from Saturn. The first time he held the little baby in his arms he had wondered if Rus was in fact a past friend, Silencer DeSounder. The effects of Saturn carry with the soul to cloud the memories of all regarding the soul. The effects cloak the soul so there was no way he could know. Still, he wondered.

Fred glanced at the gates opening and closing for each soul. Thinking of how soon it would be his turn, Fred remembered when Silencer told him that Lucifer and the other men who'd come into Eden were not who they pretended to be. Silencer had not elaborated and Fred wisely had not questioned him. Then later Silencer came to him to tell him the story of a man by the name Adam Amilius and a woman by the name of Lilyth. Silencer had barely begun the story when two of Lucifer's men interrupted the conversation. That was the last he heard from Silencer. Later he was told that Silencer had been lost to Saturn. Fred often thought back to that day, but the memory was strangely cloudy.

Looking at Rus, Fred wanted to ask Rus if he was Silencer. Before, he hadn't thought that Rus would know but now he knew from his wife that Rus was a higher being and able to travel time. He'd heard that souls who can travel time have the ability to escape many of the effects of Saturn and are able to retain at least some of what they know. Still, Fred thought it too dangerous to ask and fought the impulse.

Fred said, "Your mom and I have talked and I know about your situation. Please be careful and please watch out for your sister when you can."

Michelle screamed, "Watch out for me!" Then Michelle whispered, "Who looks the oldest here?"

Fred said, "Your mother and I do so what is your point?"

Michelle laughed and rolled her eyes. Then she smiled. "Higher being or not, we all have to look out for one another."