Lehal Library

“Yes, in the natural order of events. So do these, our children. A balance is achieved and we do not disturb it.” “Then what do you eat? Vegetables?” “Eat? I will show you.” My friend turned to one of the females in the group, who stepped over to a garden plot and scooped up what appeared to be simple black dirt. She brought a handful back and stood beside us. Suddenly I knew what was going to happen. “Would you like some of your favorite corn, silver queen, as you call it?” I nodded. The girl stared at me intently, then put her other hand palm-down over the handful of dirt, still holding me steadily in her gaze. I knew she was reading my mind. After a moment, she lifted her hand and uncovered a pale-white and perfect miniature ear of corn. She held it out to me. “He can’t take it,” said my friend. “He doesn’t have a physical body with him.” I sensed the girl’s laughter as she turned and tossed it to one of the little brown fawns, who sniffed at it suspiciously. They do have laughter, I registered, so they must have emotion. “We have experienced every emotion you can remember, Robert. We treasure emotion, but it controls us only when we let it.”