Despite the Angels - By Madeline A Stringer Page 0,27

and Danthys vow to bring Armishamai to adulthood.”

“Oh dear.”

There was a long silence, as each guide thought through all the meanings and possible outcomes of this. At last Mohmi spoke.

“But it was not their fault. It was an earthquake, seventy miles away. How can that be held over them?”

“It won’t be held over them by anyone other than themselves,” said Jotin, “but humans are terrible taskmasters. They get notions and make up strange rules for themselves all the time. Look at some of those religious rituals. Some of them even sacrifice their children to appease their gods.” He lapsed again into gloom.

“We should have been looking. We should have warned them.” Trynor was shaking his head in disbelief that they could have made such an error. Slowly, a gentle light filled the grassy area where they were sitting and each of the three guides heard an inner voice, reassuring and soothing.

“There were thousands brought back here by that wave and by the earthquake. None of us knew it was coming, not even at the highest level. No watching could have helped. But you know no harm is done, we are all still here and the human souls are unharmed. You know this. There is all of time to grow and learn. This is a brief sorrow and a misplaced one. They have a new chance now, to try something different, to learn more skills. You know all this. Why must I remind you?” With a gentle chuckle the voice faded away. The three guides were silent, feeling a little shamefaced after the gentle reproof. When their energies brightened they started to discuss what would be best to do next. Each one outlined to the others the special needs of their own human and they talked about ways in which they could help each other; in what ways it would be better if they worked apart or with other souls. As they chatted, they flitted in and out, going to discuss with other guides and friends, until at last it felt right to invite their charges to join them.

Armishamai arrived first and ran to Mohmi, throwing her arms around her guide. Mohmi wrapped her energies around Armishamai, who in moments was laughing, her white aura sparking with the joy of being alive.

“It’s hard being in a body, Mohmi,” she said, twirling around and allowing ribbons of her energy to wave around her, “particularly a baby one. You can’t do anythin, and you don’t understand anything. I felt hungry most of the time I wasn’t asleep.” Her light dimmed for a moment as she remembered the water and how she had been ripped from the arms of the woman who was holding her. She had cried out in unformed baby fear for her mother, but in a moment the water had surrounded her and instead of her mother she had seen her true friend Mohmi, who she knew was with her always. Armishamai laughed now, as she remembered the other lives she had lived with Mohmi’s guidance, and the memory of the dark water receded. Her white light shone again, young and simple, and she moved around the waiting guides like a puppy wagging its whole body.

“Danthys!” Armishamai saw him first and ran to embrace him. Danthys allowed her to throw her arms around him, but patted her rather awkwardly, unable to meet her eyes. His light, pale cream, was less sparkling than Armishamai’s and he held himself rather stiffly.

“What’s the matter, Danthys?”

“That’s the matter. You are calling me Danthys. You never called me Father. I let you down.”

“Well, I couldn’t call you anything. I was only six months old. But in my mind I was calling you father, even though I couldn’t make the words. But it doesn’t matter, we know we’re friends, don’t we? It wasn’t your fault I died. You aren’t so powerful you can affect the sea, are you? It was just a rough day, that’s all.”

“No, it was more than that. They have told me an island exploded. Maybe the people who lived there didn’t know the earth walk and the earth spirit was angry.”

“No, Danthys.” Jotin was beside Danthys, reaching out to calm him. “The earth walk would not have helped. It is a physical thing, the way the earth is made. None of us can control it; certainly nothing you could have done would have made any difference. The earth walk is a lovely way to calm the souls of humans and make them aware