Seymore's Interlude

by Franci Neale

  Chapter 29

  Home Making III

  After Mesa left, Seymore couldn’t get his thought to clarify in any meaningful way so he went to his desk and removed the envelope that Valentino had sent back with Geralty. He knew now was a good time to reveal his gift. Both Mesa and Geralty would be thrilled and Jesmond would gain some understanding of who Sarah was when her hologram was revealed. He would make a point of reviewing Sarah’s visit and inviting everyone to recount their memories, even Fred in his own way. He opened the envelope and withdrew the hologram card and a sheet of folded paper. He set the card on his desk and unfolded the letter. It read:

 

  Dearest Brother,

  I am glad to send you a hologram of the stored coma image of your Sarah. To open the hologram you simply need to press the small black dot on the lower left corner of the card. Be sure that the card is on a flat and stable surface and that the side with the dot is facing up. The hologram will emerge about the size of your beautiful black and white cat and by pressing the black dot the image will increase in size. To store the image just press the red button and the image will refold itself into the card holder. I hope everyone at Seymore Place finds joy in this image.

  We were all delighted with Geralty and he made fast friends with the assistants I assigned to work with him during his visit. He is welcome back any time. We would all enjoy a visit from you as well.

  The Mercury band is set to be initiated when Geralty returns the message,and when it is back I am going to ask our operator, to establish a link to a separate receiver on my desk. If you ask Geralty to do the same for you we can communicate directly; though I would appreciate it if you have Mesa send one of those little Seymores every now and then. They always make me chuckle.

  I am going to make a visit to Preservation with The Meddlers soon on the advice and counsel of Geralty. He senses things and has understanding beyond what is expected. You made a fine choice in making him your protégée.

  I send you good wishes and love always,

  Your brother, Valentino.

  Seymore put the message and the hologram back in the top draw of his desk. He decided that the place for the unveiling would be the round oak table in the library where they had their small farewell celebration for Sarah when she left for home. He stood and walked into the hall and across to Geralty’s room.

  Geralty was working at his desk with Fred sitting on one corner watching with curiosity. Seymore asked, “As soon as you can, will you meet me in the library. I have a small piece of news that I want to share with everyone.” Geralty said he was right behind him. Seymore added, “Be sure to bring Fred as he will benefit from the news as well. ”Geralty gave Seymore a puzzled look and went to his desk to pick up the cat.

  Seymore headed for the old office to invite Jesmond and Mesa to the big reveal. They were sitting together at Mesa’s magic table, deep in conversation and were slow to notice his arrival. They seemed to be hatching something, he thought. He asked them to come to the library and that he’d meet them there. He turned back in the direction of his study to retrieve the hologram.

  Everyone was gathered in front of the bay window looking down at the meadow waiting for him. He gestured and said, “Let’s all sit at the round oak table. Be sure to hold Fred because I’m going to put something important on the table. ”They all looked at each other and were about to ask what, but Seymore held up his hand for them to wait and they did.

  Seymore rather solemnly sat down and carefully set the card on the table in front of him, and announced, “I have a gift for us to share. It is very precious and I am thrilled that, with the help of Valentino, I can share it with you. It is a hologram copy of the coma image that Sarah no longer needs because she is safe and living her life at The Rim. The image is exactly how she appeared when she was here at Seymore Place. The image is our assurance that Sarah is safe and pursuing her purpose for her life. It also proves that the great light she rode on was able to deliver her safely after leaving Seymore Place. If you’re ready, I’ll activate the hologram.” He paused and looked around the table. Mesa and Geralty were on pins and needles and Jesmond looked puzzled.

  Seymore moved the card to the center of the table and pressed the black dot. A small hologram of Sarah instantly appeared. It wasn’t animated, so Seymore slowly turned the card so that everyone could see it from all sides. It was in full color and perfectly detailed. Geralty and Mesa were enchanted and Geralty was ready to cry. Fred was spell bound and tried to leave Geralty’s arms. Jesmond leaned forward and watched the turning image taking in every detail but was untouched by the emotion of the event.

  They were silent for a long time. Seymore then said, “I can make the image larger if you like. ”There was no response, everyone seemed enchanted. He reached out and taped the black dot and Sarah’s image doubled in size. She was like an exquisite doll. He then asked, “Does anyone have something to say?”

  Mesa finally spoke, “Seymore, this is amazing. It’s wonderful to have this image and I think we need to find a place to keep it so we can all enjoy it. It isn’t Sarah though. It is only her former image and I can’t feel her spirit in this hologram. She was brave, kind and warm; this image is fabulous but empty. The true gift was Sarah’s presence here and the love we shared with her will live always with each of us in our own way. I’m glad to have this reminder of her and I think we should make her full size and set the hologram in the atrium near the light. What do you think? ”Seymore agreed with Mesa’s assessment of the hologram. It was true of every hologram; in fact, it was true of every image. He liked the idea of putting the hologram in the atrium.

  Then Geralty, looking pensive and thoughtful, said, “I think the atrium is the best place too, but I think we should create a beautiful box using all the colors in the hologram to decorate it and put it on a pedestal in the corner by the French doors. A treasure chest to hold the symbol or the wonderful gift that Sarah is very special.”. He leaned back in his chair and held Fred very close.

  Jesmond, in a very quiet voice, said, “I understand now why The Watcher loves Sarah. He must miss her terribly. Having the hologram near The Watcher is a perfect place for it. But I have a strong intuition that the hologram should never be expanded in the atrium. It might be very distressing for The Watcher.”

  Seymore and Mesa looked at Jesmond and both wondered how she knew what she knew. They were glad she knew, but not at all sure how she knew. They were always caught by surprise by what she knew.

  Geralty smiled at Jesmond and said, “I think that is very smart. I think we should make the treasure chest large enough that we can add to it as wonderful things come our way. We could start by putting in a small memory message about Sarah from each of us. Having the treasure box could help keep us focused on our purpose here and we might use it as the center of any celebrations we have as we pass milestones of achievement.”

  Mesa enthusiastically agreed, “Geralty, that is genius. Sarah’s image will be the beginning of our collection of wonderful memories and accomplishments at Seymore’s Place. Thank you, Geralty, your idea is perfect. ”Seymore added his endorsement and added, “I’m going to refold the hologram and return it to my desk for now.” He tapped the red dot on the card, the hologram refolded itself into the card and he stood to go to his study. As he was walking down the hall between his study and the atrium he realized that the end of the hall was blank. He quickly returned the hologram to his top desk drawer and went back to the library.

  He was quite excited when he again sat down at the round oak table. “I have found the perfect place for the treasure chest. There is a protected nook at the end of the hall way between the study and the atrium. It would still be near the light but the hologram could never be accidentally opened in the atrium. In fact, we could build a cupboard for it to sit in with shelves for Geralty’s history and diaries and other memories. How does that sound?” His idea met with approval
all around. “We all can be proud of what we created here today. You are all treasures!” He chuckled and his three companions rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

  Then Geralty said, “Mesa, Seymore has decided to have a Mercury band receiver in his study. If I create the set up will you make it work? He’ll be able to talk privately to his brother at Middle Mind any time he wants. ”Mesa, looking feisty, said, “Really? Seymore wants technology in his study?” And Seymore said, “Even Valentino said in his note that it’s a good idea and that he’s having one set up for his desk. I’ve decided to make this change and see how I like it.” Everyone enjoyed a good laugh at Seymore’s expense and stood to return to their own projects.

  Seymore stood and put his hands in his pockets and watched the others leave. He felt the small ring in his pocket and decided that it belonged with the hologram in his desk and eventually it would be put in the treasure chest. Seymore went through to his study to place the ring in the envelope with the hologram. He also wanted to spend some time considering the full impact of Jesmond’s budding talent for talking with The Watcher.

  Geralty returned to the library to do something he kept forgetting about. He opened the cupboard and looked at the receiver and the return message from Middle Mind was there. He touched the light and listened:

  Hello, Geralty. Message received and suspended message grabbed. We’re set. Nice going all around, wouldn’t you say? Thanks from Celic.

  That was just what he wanted to hear. Now he needed to bring Celic and Middle Mind up to date. He sent off this message:

  Hello Celic, Really glad we are all set up. We are going to expand the system here to include a set at our new Beach House and one in Seymore’s study. When those are done I’ll let you know and we can begin the hologram test experiments. The Beach House connection is ready to activate now and then I can send without having to return to the cottage. I’ll let you know when you can send the first hologram for the test. Thanks from Geralty.

  Now he could arrange with Mesa to make the connections for the Beach House and then he could finish up the hologram set up. In the meantime he’d use his receiver patterns to make a set for Seymore’s office and maybe have it done so Mesa could activate both at once.

  After the Sarah hologram unveiling Jesmond went to her room and did some rearranging. She moved the desk to the wall next to the door and under the window that looked into the atrium. She would always be able to see the table when she was at her desk and wouldn’t miss any signals from The Watcher. She moved her love seat to face the same wall so she could also see The Watcher from there. Then she sat down at the desk and thought about what she had learned about Sarah.

  The earth girl had made a huge impression on everyone at Seymore Place it seemed and she was not completely sure why. She had never seen or met anyone who was active at The Rim, only transitionals like Seymore, who were definitely very special. There must be something even more impressive about an active Rim resident. A part of her wished she too had met Sarah. She would one day.

  She went to the other side of the screen to see if Mesa was available. Her mentor was sitting at her magic table deep in thought. Jesmond moved closer to see if she could be noticed and when Mesa saw her she motioned for her to sit down.

  Mesa asked her, “Jesmond, are you a telepath? ”Jesmond said she was but that was not her primary talent. Mesa smiled. There were parts of Jesmond that were innocent of how incredibly powerful she was. “Telepathy is a rare and extraordinary gift. Is it what you use to talk with The Watcher?” Jesmond frowned and said, “I’m not sure, Mesa. The Watcher communicates with small stories. It sometimes takes me several tries to understand what a story means.”

  Mesa looked at this special Mercury pattern and asked, “What kind of stories? ”Jesmond replied, “The Watcher gave me a short story about a beautiful child finding a safe and colorful glade in the woods where he stayed until his mother called. The feeling tone was that the Watcher was talking either about itself or its traveler. The Watcher used great emotion so he may be talking about Sarah but it is The Watcher who yearns to go home to The Rim so the child in the glade may be in the light in the dome.”

  Mesa instantly realized that Jesmond had inadvertently taken on far more responsibility than was necessary. Mesa gently suggested that before she made any conclusions about what The Watcher was trying to convey that she bring the stories to either her or Seymore, or both. She emphasized that The Watcher’s messages were vital to the purpose of ES360 and being as clear about them as possible was important.

  Jesmond looked surprised and then embarrassed. She said, “It isn’t my job then to care for The Watcher?” Mesa quickly reassured her, “It most certainly is your job and you have proved yourself both intelligent and creative in service to the great light’s foggy eye. That service is vital to the future success of the station and appreciated more than I can explain right now. However, you’re not responsible for meeting the Watcher’s needs or utilizing the new communication methods to facilitate the greeters for the light travelers. Ultimately, Seymore is.”

  Jesmond thought she understood and was reassured that her job was not in any jeopardy. She wasn’t sure what a greeter was and had only seen one hologram of the only light travelers she knew about. Jesmond was feeling confused. The one thing she was sure of was that with continued practice she would soon be able to communicate efficiently and easily with the magnificent Watcher. Jesmond would be the first to know what the great lights knew.