Chapter 22: Circles Within Circles

“Every circle has a beginning, but if it has an end, it is not a circle, it is a spiral.”

Excerpts from the diaries of Panpar

The moon sat perched above the far tree line in front of them, staring in through the front windshield of the Monte Carlo as Jim pushed her for everything she had. The Sea of Serenity, was peering in on them, like a mother watching over her child.

Whitney sat, in the middle of the back seat, one hand gripping each of the seats in front of her, mind half in Tommy’s—half out, issuing orders as fast as they came to her, guiding Jim where to put the vehicle, telling Tommy where to and how to use his talents to assure their escape.

Her mind wasn’t limited to that alone.

∞

The moon that stares down upon you now also stares down upon the people of Messolin, Panpar spoke into her mind, the very same moon, and the very same sun, circling the very same planet, like circles that only have beginnings, but never an end. When one circle is complete another follows it, Jo-Laina, and each circle brushes so close to the next, they seem to be one, and yet they are not. They depend, one on the other, for each to survive, as a rabbit depends on the fox to chase it back into its hole, or a cat needs the mouse to run as it chases it.

See the circles, Jo-Laina. See them and listen to their messages, hear them! Listen to them with your heart! Keep them in your soul, because the circles are not just the circles of the moon, or the sun, but the planets existing further out, circling, all of them, one after the other, exerting their forces of gravity beyond which can be understood. The circles are protecting the galaxy with their existence, exerting their influence on even the butterflies that flutter their wings, touching down onto a branch in the forest. Listen, Jo-Laina, to the song they sing, the love they must feel for even the ants that attack a grasshopper that has done them no harm.

Believe in them, Jo-Laina. Believe in the circles, and believe in what they need from you as well as what you need from them.

∞

“The circles,” Whitney said.

“The circles what, Whitney?” Jim said. They stopped in the middle of the road. Blue and red lights were dominating the view in front of them. Their passage completely blocked in the front, and the rear both. They were surrounded.

“I’m done,” she said. “I’m done with all of this!” She reached over, took Tommy’s hands in hers and a portal opened in front of them, consuming the front of the vehicle, creating a hole connecting them from where they were, to where she wanted them to be.

Home.

“When the time comes, she will figure it out. If she doesn’t nothing else will matter anyway.”

Excerpts from the diaries of Panpar