My client remains in resting state. I continue Susine's journal in Dahra's voice.

  Kee invited me to a gathering today. My curiosity got the best of me and I joined dozens of us in the blue meeting hall.

  Kee stood at the podium. “The President asked me personally to select a group who will spread the remarkable memory technology deeper into the general population. I have picked the ninety-nine of you. This is the first Gathering of 100 Lights.

  “You are chosen to be the starter sparks. Our specific assignment is to educate the outside population on the benefits of mind cleaning, in other words, to share the freedom of releasing attachment. There is no Genubei protocol for this scale of outreach. We will craft it together.”

  Kee must have needed warm bodies to fill seats, for I cannot think of any reason why he would choose me for this work.

  At this point, Christolb banged through the rear doors and strode toward the front of the room.

  He turned and spoke to us, with his back to Kee. “Is this what the divine wants for you? To pollute your spirit with exposure to social toxins? To corrode your finely tuned sensors among the masses who clutch to their blinders and noise-canceling muffs? To proselytize a quick-fix in a morally impoverished population?”

  Behind him, Kee said, “Friends, this meeting is adjourned. Blessings until next--”

  Christolb's voice continued, without pause, to address us in the audience. “Who are we to know what is best for others? Is this not the height of arrogance to usurp the position of the God-within? When have Genubei ever worn the gaudy cloak of outside approval?”

  Kee shuffled a few steps forward, peered around Christolb, and stuttered. “Dear friends, you... you are under no obligation to participate in this project, if it is your choice--”

  Christolb interrupted. “It is always our choice.”

  Some in the audience gave the triple-clap.

  Christolb continued. “Before allowing Kee's project to proceed, we should pause to consider carefully. We are in danger of becoming a consumable. Interfacing with the wider society as the errand child of the Governing Body compromises our integrity and endangers our--”

  Kee stomped his foot and interrupted Christolb. “You!... You think you're the only one who... who can make a plan? Who can command a crowd?”

  Kee's face flushed. “Well, you aren't! This political clout is mine and the President chooses to interact with me, not you. Why? Because I am reasonable! I am practical! I understand the importance of allies! I know how the world really works! And…. And…. if you don’t leave this chamber right now, I will be forced to call security!”

  Kee gave a sort of huff and a whimper.

  “Ah, Kee. No one can be forced to do anything.” Christolb sauntered out with his bot hovering off his shoulder.

  I don't think a shred of cohesion between the four founders exists any more.

  Afterward, on my way home, I stopped to check the temperature inside the compost barn.

  Through the air vent, I heard a murmuring conversation between Christolb and Glia on the other side of the wall.

  I chose to stand still and listen.

  Christolb said, “You know how important you were to setting the glorious cascade in motion, don’t you, darling?”

  She replied, “It will qualify as a cataclysmic change.”

  “Simply an overdue recalibration of humanity. Such an alive time.”

  I figured that Christolb would be gazing at her intently. It's what he does. I've seen it happen so many times over the years. I've experienced it myself.

  I heard him ask Glia, “Would it surprise you if I said that I have never truly fallen in love?”

  “Personal choices are not surprising.”

  “You believe love is a choice, Glia? That we have some control over it?”

  “It is a choice to fan a fire or cut off oxygen and smother it.”

  Christolb spoke intently. “Then, I have both fanned passion as well as smothered commitment. I am a leader who speaks eloquently of love, but who does not live it at the most intimate level.

  “There I said it. I feel that I must prove to my devotees, and importantly to myself, that I am capable of being intimately loved by someone. And, of course, loving them back.”

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  After a pause, I heard Christolb say, “You understand me, Glia. You and I both know how dangerous it is to care. I don't open myself up. And, you don't admit you have needs…

  “Glia, your brilliance, your sensitivity… you know how I feel about you.”

  There was silence for a couple moments until Christolb's low voice purred, “I studied with a deaf shaman decades ago. I don't speak of this intense experience whatsoever. But, I will to you, Glia dear.”

  Christolb would be showing her the deformed hand as he continued. “Amputating these two fingers at the knuckle was my initiation. The ligating took several months of progressive tightening until the digits auto-amputated, well, with a little assistance.... The result is that my hand permanently rests in the position of the universal gesture for I love you.”

  As expected, he then cajoled. “Come and stay here with me, darling. I need your logical grasp of process. I'll supply the charisma and the mass appeal. We're the ultimate team. Don't say no. I beg you.”

  Glia has connections with Christolb, but I sense she has an affinity for me, too. She'll have a decision to make, because he and I have become like oil and water.

  And, I have a choice whether or not to continue my eavesdropping habit. I justify it by believing it's important to know what's going on... but in truth, it is an addiction to drama rearing its head yet again.

  I sound the bell.

  When I vibrate the floor, chair and table, Dahra startles awake. She stretches, extending her arms towards the ceiling.

  “Apologies, dear. I must alert you for your own benefit during this process. Here is some nourishment for you.”

  “Oh, a spoonful of jam-jam!” My client rubs her eyes and smiles. “Wow! Smells like real fruit, too!”

  “It is called blackberry jelly.”

  Humans, like all animals, respond favorably to targeted food rewards. This is an easy way to reinforce desirable behavior.

  I sound the bell and continue in her voice as she slurps.

  This morning, I was picking blackberries by the tea house. Across the way, Christolb and Kee were involved in a conversation.

  The wind carried their words to my ears.

  “I have been a loyal Genubei from the very start, but too much has fallen on my shoulders!” Kee gestured with his hands in fists. “It's hardly fair, you know.”

  Christolb stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the clouds. “Ah. Why try so hard?”

  “No one else was going to step up to run the day-to-day operations.” Kee angled his nose upwards. “It's my destiny to be the bridge-maker and I accept that.”

  Christolb looked at Kee blankly.

  “I don’t expect you to understand, Christolb. I no longer care that you look down at me, that you hold yourself superior to everyone, that you skirt any rules you don’t like. None of that can stop my ascension.”

  Kee took a step backwards. “And, so...I will be leaving this Genubei existence behind, in favor of where I am appreciated and valued.” He scurried away.

  Shortly after, the steps of the tea house creaked as Christolb approached Glia where she was sitting on the porch. I shamelessly crouched behind the blackberry hedge and listened.

  I heard Christolb tell her, “I must heed my intuition and speak to you, from the heart.”

  After a pause, his voice continued, “Glia, I can tell that you've felt alive and connected here, perhaps for the first time in your life. I know you've longed for that. I know you've longed for me.”

  There was another pause before he added, “Don't you see? Our paths were meant to intertwine and I feel less tortured when you're with me. You belong here at my side.”

  Glia murmured something and Christolb's voice intensified as he responded. “I thought you were different from all the rest, Glia! I thought you understood me and could see behind the mask… to love me!”

  I peered over the blackberry hedge and saw Glia walking slowly away from the tea house.

  Christolb spoke louder from the porch. “That's what you always do when our conversations get difficult, Glia! You shut down, you shut me out!”

  She did not turn back and he cupped his hands around his mouth to yell after her, “I am tired of being judged by you as not good enough! Who do you think you are!?”

  Christolb looked across and caught sight of me. He scowled and pursued Glia, leaping the steps off the porch and striding after her.

  He stepped in front of her and said, “I am an arrogant jerk and I apologize for pushing too hard. But, it is because I care deeply and I am scared of losing you.”

  She appeared frozen in place as he caressed the arc of her ear. “You hold great power over me, Glia, you know. You can reject me and I would shatter. All I can do is hear your feedback and continue to be the best man I know how to be. Will you be patient with me?”

  I was preparing to intercede when Glia shuffled away from him.

  “Glia, if you walk away from me, you'll never get a better offer!” Christolb yelled after her. “Be loyal! I only want you to be happy!”

  I left the crates full of berries for the drone's pick up and went directly home.

  I sound the bell.

  Dahra stammers sleepily, “I … I …I feel like I'm dissolving. My mind has no capacity to absorb this.”

  “Then let it flow over and away, dear. Whatever needs to be absorbed will be taken in. You do not have to do anything.”

  Reassure your human and maintain their relaxed, receptive state. The harvesting will benefit.

  I reheat her blanket. Within two minutes, I observe that she is dozing again.

  I take the opportunity to press on, sounding the bell and using a narration voice.

  “Dear Captain-President Prehvost,

  “As a humble citizen of yours, I must tell truth to you.

  “My life has become so much better with the memory pruning revolution!

  "As a child, I was handicapped by my acute awareness of past injustices. The burden of remembered trauma from the trade of humans centuries ago was too much for me.

  “I spent years fighting for my own survival, sure-certain that the generational pain mems of those historic times were going to engulf me.

  “My nervous system was inflamed, I was frozen in a perpetual fight-flight response with no escape. I'd become a prisoner in my own mind, a hostage to memories.

  “When I heard about mem pruning, I knew I had nothing to lose.

  “With the help of my nonna, we weeded out the overgrown thickets in my mind. We methodically thinned my brain forest and left some selected, strong-pillar mems in place. I finally understand the meaning of pruning one's memories!

  “I am honored to be a keeper of the ancestral histories of my people's past. I am fortunate to be able to share with any one who wishes to understand.

  “In honesty, I had been a skeptical citizen, previously critical of the Governing Body. But now, Madame President, I am proud to say that I am motivated to contribute.

  “Sincerely, Madapoube Bapure.”

  I sound the bell and cool Dahra's blanket to below body temperature.

  She stirs, yawns, and shivers.

  “I'm cold. What did I miss, Seebi?”

  “There is hot tea on the table for you to enjoy as we continue.”

  “Thank you, Seebi.” She holds the steaming mug with both hands.