The mind-mesh plans was like seeds carried back in our subconscious. Once sown they germinate quickly. I could already see our seeds spreadin' ta Freck's daddy, Mizzus Anderton, and my Daddy. We resumed mind-talkin' as a group. It was a hubbub at first. We was all tryin' ta 'splain our experience at the same time. Eventually it was all sorted out. Even though our guardians was left outta the conclave, they 'cuz of their close connection ta us, felt some of it too. Without speakin' they knew what ta do. They cleared their heads with cleansin' breaths and left straight away to talk to the mayor.

Momma went back to the Kingdom to work with the Solvers and Retrievers. The Keepers are committed one hundred percent. It's only right—after all, the lair-beasts came from their realm.

Freck and me went outside ta the backyard. We sat on our agin' cream and green webbed lawn chairs. Ya hafta be careful how you sat, or the popped out nylon threads would poke ya.

Freck exclaimed when we first sat down, "Dang! That one jabbed me in the hinder."

I didn't feel too sorry for her 'cuz I got one in the back. They are more annoyin' than painful. Once you find the ornery ones you can push them back through the webbin'. We'd done that so many times that the chair backs looked like a hedge hog.

Our part in the plan was still in our subconsciouses. I asked Freck, "What do ya think we're sup'osed ta do?"

I could tell that she was gnawin' over. Her aura usually vibrant and energetic was now darker and pulled in closer ta her scalp. I took it to mean she'd gone inside herself ta think it through. "I guess they're are 'spectin' us ta use Cigam somehows. I cain't even 'magine what that means. Are we supposed ta wait until somethin' awful happens so's we get scared enough ta fire it up?"

Ya got a point Freck, they tells us desperation is needed. If facin' a shifted lairbeast ain't enough I don't know what could bring 'bout Cigam faster. They point out the times when we was panicked and accidentally initiated it. What happens if it don't work? Suppose we ain't desperate enuff?" (The very thought made me shudder.) I can just see us comin' acrost a hidden danger and attacked b'fore we even knew what hit us. Gee and the Keepers are real sure Cigam wouldn't fail us. They may be right, but what if they're wrong?"

Right then Gee appeared—the real Gee—not the astral projection. "Hi kids. I overheard your concerns. At this point in your training, Cigam is still a huge mystery. All you know for certain is that Cigam is real, but you cannot yet control it. No wonder you are worried, but consider how far you have come. You can now mind-speak, operate the watervator, mind-read, and see auras. From where you were, to where you are is amazing. You still have a long way to go, but you always have a safety net."

"We do?" Freck asked telepathically.

"Of course you do and it is standing right in front of you. "

The only thing standing in front of us was Gee. "Oh, I get it," I mind-spoke, "yer our safety net. What does that mean exactly?"

"Remember when you asked if I could materialize food?"

"Uh, huh."

"You asked for an apple, right?"

"Yes," I answered, "and it was delicious. It was perfectly ripe and warm like it was just picked off the tree on a sunny day. It was like a slice of apple pie from heaven."

Gee explained, "There are two types of cigam. The first is individual cigam, like what you did to stop the panther attack. The second is cooperative cigam. You asked for an apple, but what kind? There are hundreds of different varieties. Why was I able to manifest the exact one that was perfect for you? Did you ever stop to wonder about it?"

I had to admit that I hadn't really given it any more consideration.

"Without even knowing, you created that perfect apple in your mind. You could see it, smell it, feel it, and taste it. You formed that apple. All I did was extract your clear picture of it, and gave it back to you exactly as you imagined it."

Shazam, I did cooperative cigam before I even knew what cigam was.

Freck wondered, "That's real interestin', but how does makin' apples help us fight off lairbeasts? Is it like a snowball fight where's we throw apples at 'em?"

The thought of us flingin' made me laugh. She didn't mean it to be funny, but it was.

Gee waited 'till we quit laughin' then explained, "I was using the story to illustrate how Cooperative Cigam works. I feel fortunate to have students like you. Humans, as you know, are revered for your creativity. Why? It all boils down to imagination. Imagination comes before creation. What comes before imagination? I can tell you in two words--what if? Those two words are incredibly powerful. What if—the world is round was the question that led explorers to discover your continent. What if—people could talk to each other in different cities like they were in the same room, led to the invention of the telephone. What if—children did not get the horrible disease called polio? Those words—what if—sparked the drive to find a vaccine.

"What if—we work together in such a way that the two of you supply the imagination and I would use Cigam to make it happen?"

Wow, that energized Freck's aura. It bounced out at least a foot. You know how in cartoons they use a lightbulb when someone gets an idea? Well, Freck's auric lightbulb was like high beams glowin' all 'round her. She was as exited as a chipmunk discoverin' a wheelbarrow full of acorns. She blurted, "I understand now! Here I was doubtin' that we'd be of any real use and might even make matters worse. I'm so relieved to have yer explanation."

Gee looked pleased, and I musta had an aura bump too because I was feelin' the glow. This was somethin' we could do. We might only be thirteen year old kids, but we have lot's of ideas—all the time.

Freck was thrilled. She spoke rapidly, "Do ya think we can practice it?"

"Absolutely, Gee said, "but we should go back to the Kingdom to avoid prying eyes Topside."

We left that very night.

◽️◽️◽️

After landin' at the Solver's dock, we took the vator to the palace. Zahn met us there. He seemed happy as a spotted pup ta see us. His aura was an effervescent pink. It'd been awhile since we last met, and a whole lot has happened since. We came back from our ill fated journey to Shamballah and went straight to the hospital. Then after recoverin' enough we went straight back ta Burns. Then there was the Great Crash and all the work that kept us occupied sun up ta sun down. It seemed like a whole lifetime passed since was last in the Palace.

"Freck, Wishes, and Master Gee, I cannot tell you how happy I am to welcome you back to the palace." He didn't need to. His aura spoke volumes. If'n he hadn't said a single word his color would'a said it all.

Seein' auras is a real kick.

Zahn said as he made a low bow, "I have been dispatched by the Grand Keeper to escort you to her apartment, if you are not too weary."

Freck spoke for all of us, "We ain't too tired to see Grandma Chrys. Lead on Zahn."

We climbed aboard the nearly invisible trans-plat. Zahn kicked it into high gear and we arrived at the Great Hall in seconds. We stood in front of the always fascinatin' butterfly doors and watched it dissolve into a riot of butterflies of every imaginable size, shape, and color. I doubt that I could ever get over the spectacle. My mouth gaped open just like the first time I saw it. Freck ribbed me, "Come along pokey. Are ya goin' ta stand there all day?"

Oops. I got caught gawkin'. Dang. Oh well. I hurried and caught up. We arrived at the curved dais with the white embossed salamander emblem in the middle. It split down the center, and opened up to to some stairs covered in rich burgundy carpetin'. The Grand Keeper was waitin' for us at the bottom of the stairs. She was smilin'. Of course, her aura was azure blue. Once again I felt her love snugglin' me, but this time I could see it too. Her auric field flowed out of her and encompassed everyone in our group. No wonder she is held in such high regard. She makes everyone feel wonderful just by bein' in her presence. "Welcome back. I missed all of you."

She did too. You cain't fake that. Freck rushed over to her for a hug. Could there be anythin' more sublime than a hug from Grandma Chrys? It's like the first hug I from my momma.

She slipped her ancient arms around our waists and walked us over to the smaller, but just as amazin' butterfly doors. Even at the reduced size the effect was astonishin'. Grandma Chrys and Freck politely waited for me to get over my wonder  before enterin' her apartment. Grandma Chrys smiled knowingly, and mentally said, "Sometimes when no one is around I go to the door and stand in the entryway just to watch the show."

I said, "It's like a kaleidoscope. The patterns they make are always changing. I could sit and watch this all day long."

Freck's left foot was tapping on the lush carpet. She was getting impatient to start cooperative Cigam practice, but didn't want to offend Grandma Chrys. Her foot taps and general restlessness exposed her though.

"Well, we all have things to do. So if you, Freck and Wishes, would like to come into the atrium we can catch up."

Her walk is more like a glide. If you didn't see her feet movin' ya'd swear she was floatin' on a cushion of air. She lovingly greeted the plants. Grandma Chrys then humbly asked their permission for us to meet among them. I swear it looked like some nodded their heads in approval. The air was a full of soft humidity, the sweet musty smell of soil, and perfume of hundreds of flowers. The rich smells, the perfect filtered light, and calm connection to livin' things was overwhelming. I let it all sink in. She politely waited for me to bask in the moment.

I know Freck loves this place too, but she was very anxious to get on with it.

Grandma Chrys gave Freck a nod and mind-spoke, "As you know, I have a policy of being totally honest with you two. You have been informed that our defenders and makers are working at top speed to build fortifications to contain your three lair-beasts. We believe that they are the only escapees. Praise the Gardiner. They are enraged. They are aware of the close proximity of your town. Bloodlust is driving them to near madness. Now that they have learned the skills of earth diving to get under the protections we have to go deeper everyday to keep ahead of them. So far, so good, but it is, as you can imagine, causing great stress on our people. They are wearing down. Exhausted Keepers are more likely to make mistakes. I worry that a minor slip up would allow one, or more to get out."

She stopped and took a deep ragged breath before continuing. "May the Gardiner save us if that happens." She made that squiggly motion with her hand.

Freck blurted, her face all tight like a balloon ready to pop, "Is there anythin' we can do?"

"First, you must remain calm. Fear clouds the mind. Keep workin' on your meditations. Meditating helps you stay balanced when your senses scream, 'We are all going to die!'  If you can keep panic at bay you will find solutions you would not have thought of otherwise.

"Gee is training you in Cooperative Cigam.When you come up with those creative solutions be sure to let him know immediately. It is not your job to judge the efficacy of the idea. He will make the decision about its workability. Trust Gee. Do not dismiss any thought that at the time might seem outrageous. Work together as is if you are the same being."

I had a question, "How were you able to rid the Kingdom of lair-beasts?"

"If Freck can tolerate a few more minutes, I will brief you."

Freck looked a little embarrassed at her impatience, but didn't object. Grandma Chrys proceeded to fill us in.