Aisha followed Barack’s directions with precision and caution, suffering more and more as she examined the “alternative” life path after the accident; it was the entrance to Rsaz’s “true” life as it had originally been planned, the only variant in which the real goals could be achieved: Rsaz should have returned to the village, alone thanks to his enormous abilities or, BETTER, by asking for help through smoke signals; he certainly would never again have reached his previous physical abilities, but precisely this, especially through the long and frustrating convalescence awaiting him, would have allowed his “rebirth” from a social and family point of view.
He would in fact have formed deeper bonds with the native tribe, especially with his wife and younger daughter, and by the end of his convalescence he would have become a point of reference for the entire community... and not only that.
Aisha’s sense of guilt became almost unbearable as she “read aloud” the continuation and the “alternative” epilogue: Over the years Rsaz would have become an indispensable link and channel of dialogue between the native communities and the white ones, and thanks to him numerous clashes and even wars would have been avoided. The serene epilogue of THAT life ended with death from natural old age; Rsaz would have died surrounded by deep affection, AND, from a spiritual point of view, with numerous lives saved to his credit and a formidable historical example of dialogue between different ethnic communities. Even more important because it was born from the love of a “mixed couple,” which had come into being in substantial contrast with their respective communities of belonging.
In practice Rsaz was destined to become a POSITIVE legend, perhaps on a par with Jezebel herself.
Aisha stopped reading and motioned to her guides to wait while she prepared to add her own comments, then finally she “spoke,” in a firm “voice”:
I’ve made a disaster... ANOTHER ONE, I DESTROYED/BETRAYED ANOTHER CAREFULLY PLANNED LIFE, and this time the damage was too early and irreparable, even for the council... right?
Silence.
Aisha continued: “I also have the feeling that the fundamental philosophical/spiritual differences between the mistakes I made as Jezebel and as Rsaz are not that many after all; indeed, I believe that in essence it is the same underlying mistake...”
After a moment Aisha continued: “Basically, both in the case of Jezebel and of Rsaz I let momentary ‘gratification’ prevail over more considered choices, and ultimately I let my interest of the moment prevail over the general interest of the communities of human beings/souls connected to me.”
Barack and Yoda nodded.
Barack: “Now relax, you have highlighted the negative aspects of your choices, but the considerable increase in awareness deriving from those mistakes must also be considered.”
Yoda: “great wisdom and maturity you have just shown”
Barack: “For once I completely agree with Yoda”
All the souls present, in their “human” forms (including the librarians and the souls supporting the planning system, normally silent), laughed heartily at Barack’s joke!
Aisha laughed too, though through a few tears... her guides had helped her and she had been forgiven... ONCE AGAIN!