Don't Label Me! (29 page)

“
I wish it was as easy to fix the
waste in the ocean.”

Ang winced. She’d heard about the Great
Pacific Rubbish Patch or GPRP. She wished her kind would get a grip
on what they were chucking into the oceans. The GPRP was made up of
plastics, chemical sludge and other crap that was pulled into the
vortex of the the North Pacific Gyre, whatever a gyre was.
Something that turned she supposed. The Indian and Atlantic oceans
had similar rubbish patches, huge but nothing of the size of the
one in the Pacific. “At last count there was well over seven
million tons of rubbish out there in just the worst patches. If we
could contain it with some kind of giant net or force field and
then transport it out we’d still need somewhere to put it. In total
it's bigger than the surface area of some countries.”

“
There must be disused industrial or
mining sites where it could be parceled out.”

“
Not so easy. It could leak into the
underground water system. Then we’d have another problem. But
believe me Em I do believe it is a problem for the whole planet,
not just those beings the delphines watch over. I plan to bring it
to the Boswell assembly for discussion. We’re only one town but
with the science minds and technology in our midst there must be a
solution. We were part of the problem. Just because we’re no longer
in that dimension doesn’t absolve our past and our responsibility
to clean up the collective mess on land and sea.”

Em rested his brow on hers. “Thank you my
angel. It is good to know we have at least one human on our side.
We are no longer alone.”

Ang mused on that. “Maybe we need even more
humans on your side. I know your kind have never been overly fond
of us but there are some who love the planet and its oceans. Many
are especially fond of dolphins and whales. You could consider
turning a few more of us into delphine shifters. Just a
suggestion.”

Em first response was to cringe at the
thought but there was wisdom in it. “I will discuss it with the
pod. There may be other humans we are willing to ally with. We will
seek them out. Let’s finish up here and clean up. A quick swim in
the ocean for us. The play’s not on for a few hours yet. Perhaps
there will be time for more than a swim.”

Ang leaned into his finely muscled body,
soaking up his presence. “You know I’ve decided on a name for your
‘hand’.”

“
It needs a name?”

“
Yes I think it needs to be called
your ‘first hand’. I intend to get to know it on a ‘first hand’
basis.”

Said appendage instantly hardened, barely
hidden by the thin material of the loose trouser pants he’d put on
out of consideration for the locals. “I think my first hand
desperately desires this knowledge. Can we leave the trash and come
back to it?”

Ang smirked, refraining from succumbing to
the giggle that was trying to bubble up. In answer to his question
she reached forward and turned off the engine.

A small crowd milled at the back of the
school’s auditorium. Kit and the kids from the school were still
setting up for the Kabuki play.

Lewis observed the extent of the
preparations with no small disquiet. “I hope this is not going to
be an all night event.”

Hideo laughed. “As it happens no but they
often are all day events. No different to watching box sets of your
favorite TV series back to back.”

“
And it will be in Japanese?” Roger
wondered. He knew Hindi and few other Asian languages but Japanese
wasn’t one of them.

“
Actually it will be in English, for
the sake of the audience, but the kids did have to translate the
script into Japanese as an assignment.”

Orea came over, wearing one of the new aura
cloaking coats to dull down the charismatic influence of her
rainbow aura. She passed them each a glass of water.

“
Where’s George tonight?” Roger
politely asked.

Orea grinned. “I mentioned this play and he
suddenly found the need to teleport to the Rasselas and check out
their energy and composting systems, with the rest of the science
team. The Rasselasians are living entirely off the grid but have
some pretty amazing stone based technologies. I doubt we’ll be
seeing any of the science team here tonight. Hey have you guys met
Adelaide yet? She’s Hideo’s boss, the headmistress who got talked
into allowing this whole event to go ahead.”

Adelaide came over and formalised
introductions. “Nice to meet you all. Actually I have something for
Sathi if you can hang on a moment.” She teleported and returned
with a small parcel. “There’s a bit of a story behind this but not
as long as a kabuki play I promise. Years ago when I was taking a
year off to travel before starting my teaching degree I went to
India and Nepal. A lady I met in one of the temples there
approached me and made a rather strange request. She asked me to
keep this small parcel for one who would be known as Lotus Blossom.
Earlier today Simon told me that is you.” She handed over the
parcel.

Sathi was a little taken aback by the
surprise of the gift but accepted it in good grace none-the-less.
“If you’re sure...” She gently unwrapped it and was astounded when
faced with the beauty of the silks contained within. “Saris. But
how did you keep them in such good condition all this time?”

“
Well as you know the town has a
coven. I got Melissa’s mother to cast a spell to keep them safe.
That and a few mothballs did the trick. There was also this.”
Adelaide handed Sathi a small bronze statuette.

“
The goddess Amman. Thank you. This
means so much to me.” But who were they from?

Adelaide sensed the question in Sathi’s
mind, “Simon says she was your aunt and that she still lives with
the tribes who eke out a living in the mangroves of Southern India,
an area called the Sundarbans.”

“
I have family?”, Sathi whispered in
awe.

Hideo wrapped Sathi in a hug as he
telepathed his thanks to Adelaide. He rejoiced with Sathi in the
news that at least someone in her family had survived the great
tsunami. Apparently she hadn’t known her father had a sister, a
sister who could see into the future. They’d have to seek her out.
Sensing Sathi’s wish to hide her tears of happiness he steered the
conversation away from her. “So, Adelaide, I see you and Kit came
to some agreement on the production.”

Adelaide humphed. “Yes, well. First she
wanted to recreate the world of the actors and geisha who catered
for the entertainment needs of the samurai. I said no. Then she
came up with the idea of doing a kabuki play based on the lives of
some of those in the town. The kids interviewed a few prospects. It
was finally Michael and his mates who kindly agreed to having their
tale made into a play. They’ve titled it Trust and Destiny. I still
had to get the kids to tone it down a bit but it is a good piece of
fun. A love story, a rescue and a happy ending. It has thoroughly
engaged everyone involved in the production preparation.”

“
They’re going to have female actors.
Isn’t male-only traditional?”

“
Not originally. As Kit was pretty
quick to point out. Kabuki started out as a way the geisha
entertained themselves. They staged the plays in dry riverbanks.
Japan was going through a drought at the time. It was very
avant-garde and very ribald. The authorities quickly banned it.
Gangs of young males then took it on. They got banned too. So in
the end only adult males could play all the parts. Kit’s decided
the ban no longer stands so everyone can have a go. Not everyone
wanted to act though. Some were more interested in creating the
sets and costumes. Come on, I think it’s about to
start.”

Inscrutable, refined and reserved Hideo
couldn’t help but laugh uproariously at the antics of the kids as
they used such effects as the dropping of a white sheet in front of
person as a device to allow them to disappear off stage and pretend
they had teleported.

Even Michael laughed at the way his persona
had been recast as a swaggering Samurai.

The actor who played the kangaroo the stage
version of Sarah was tracking had everyone in stitches.

By the end of the evening everyone was
grinning and congratulating the cast and their director.

“
Thank goddess that’s over. “ Kit
murmured as everyone dug into the after play supper Simon had
prepared.

“
Not so fast Kit.” Adelaide cornered
her. “ I need to speak with you and Hideo.”

Hideo raised an eyebrow in question.

“
I’m going away for a bit. I was
hoping Hideo, that you might agree to be acting principal while I’m
away and Kit could keep managing your Japanese class until the end
of the term.”

Hideo and Kit looked at each other as they
conducted a quick mental discussion then Hideo nodded. “Okay but
before you dump me in it there’s the issue of the music teacher’s
departure.”

Adelaide sighed. “Yeah. The symphony
orchestra offered him a job. Seems a paid job and a chance at the a
once in a life time opportunity were more than we could compete
with. He’ll be at risk from the Din but Thex says his security team
will keep an eye out for his safety. That and Jnarn gave him some
of the new clothing.”

“
Frankly Adelaide I think he was more
interested in performing music than teaching. I have an idea on how
we could replace him though if you’re willing to hear it. I
wouldn’t want to do anything too innovative on your patch while
you're away without your say so.”

That piqued Adelaide’s curiosity. “What did
you have in mind?”

“
Well you know how the kids picked up
a lot of Japanese vocab using mobile apps on their phones while I
was off sick that time?”

“
Yeah?”

“
Well there are apps now for learning
most of the basic aspects of music. Everything from pitch
recognition to intervals, chords and scales. There’s also a lot of
great online video tutorials and self-teaching books. I was
thinking we give the kids the curriculum and let them choose how
they want to learn. We’ll randomly select one of them each week to
do a show and tell on how they are going. If they’re not taking it
seriously I’ll give them a ten thousand word essay on the history
of the music in Baroque period to do instead.”

“
Yeah that should scare them. But
don’t let them get too out of hand.”

“
I won’t but they need to learn that
self-discipline and interest in learning come from within. They
shouldn’t just be things imposed on them.”

Adelaide gave him a sceptical look. “Well
you’ve got until the end of the term. Give it a go. We’ll reassess
when I get back.”

Sathi tapped Hideo on the shoulder. “If
you’ve finished discussing business for the night this
businesswoman wants to go home.” She winked.

Hideo instantly felt a surge of blood
stiffening his cock. “If you’ll excuse us Adelaide, Kit.” He
quickly rounded up Lewis and Roger and they headed home.

...

“
Bring the prisoner in would you my
lady’s loyal concubine.”

Roger smirked, concubine indeed, but he did
as instructed. “Yes my liege.” Lewis was waiting patiently in the
walk-in-wardrobe, no doubt getting hotter with every passing minute
of anticipation. “Be silent and do as you are instructed
prisoner.”

Lewis’s eyes flashed with lust and longing
as he watched Roger unfurl the rope.

Roger quickly secured him in a mune nawa but
a streak of the meanness Lewis loved him for had him adding a cock
cage to his victim’s adornments. “That should stop you from rubbing
yourself against the bedpost.”

Lewis rolled his eyes which only gained him
a quick swat on the bum as reprimand.

While Roger readied Lewis in the other room
Hideo worried. “Is this roleplay necessary? I don’t mind a bit of
fantasy play but this seems to be an unnecessarily demeaning and
cruel way to treat Lewis.”

Hideo had a heart full of compassion and
Sathi adored him all the more for it. “Let me explain Lewis. He was
born into wealth and had many expectations made of him as a child.
He was, at heart, a gentle dreamer and probably would have wandered
off to become a hippy roaming the world, much like Roger did in his
early years, if it was not for his family’s expectations. He hates
to disappoint those he loves so did as expected. He followed his
father into law. It near broke his soul but fortunately he found
that he could use his trade to help others and bring the cruel to
justice. So to the outer world he became the well-heeled arrogant,
unflinchingly ruthless prosecutor that many know him as. But it’s
not him and he needs the balance and sheer relief that yielding to
his submissive side gives him. Unfortunately his professional
persona and his fear of disappointing those who rely on him means
his workday role is so deeply ingrained his subconscious will only
justify letting it go when all choice is removed. That is where the
role play comes in.

Lewis happened to meet Roger in Istanbul one
time they were both there working in the area. Roger by then was an
undercover operative. When Lewis first told me of that meeting I
didn’t realise it was my Roger he was referring to. Apparently
Roger saw through Lewis, to his core, and knew what he needed. He
taught Lewis that through the trust and play that is integral to
bondage and dominance he could let go. They’ve been playing off and
on ever since. Lewis told me he was reborn from that point on. It
was like reclaiming a lost part of his soul. He even became a
better prosecutor, knowing he could let it all go once the job was
done.”