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This section covers the Bank Holiday weekend activities.
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the next
section.
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A Magical Time
They spent the rest of the day and some of the evening in the
recreation centre. Then they joined Derek, Samantha and Shirley
at their home for dinner.
Samantha asked Shirley. "Did you do what I said?"
"I shared with George three times in different ways this
morning. Then I shared with ten others as you said. After that
I thought that thirteen was an unlucky number so I shared with
George again to make it fourteen. Is that OK mum?"
"I am glad that my prejudices did not get the better of me.
I trust that you enjoyed your sharing?
"I never thought that you would introduce me to the lovely
pleasure I have experienced today mum. I thought that one day
I might get swept off my feet by a dark haired handsome man. George
is bald like all Spacers and it was Kerstin who actually swept
me off my feet at one point. I was given a lecture and practical
instructions by George and Kerstin. I know now that George is
very special and I know that you do too mum. You did the right
thing for me. I have learned a lot today but what is more important,
I have learned that I still have a lot to learn."
Derek said. "Shirley, I cannot judge how George was for you
but if he was as good as Kerstin is for me, I know that you must
have had a wonderful time."
"Mum, dad, would you mind if I asked George to share with
me again after dinner?"
Samantha said. "I don't mind as long as George is happy about
it and Kerstin does not object."
Kerstin said. "George and I love to share as often as we
can. We have had a lot of practice together. I am sure that George
would be happy to share with both of you. I would be happy to
share with you again Derek. I can sense that you are not used
to Spacer ways yet. You are not used to watching sharing taking
place. I know that it is very rare for a non-Spacer mother to
watch her daughter sharing comfort, and vice versa. To get you
used to the way Spacers do things I suggest that George and I
give you an exhibition first. We as Spacers learn to improve our
sharing by watching others share. It is not much different from
learning to paint. You can learn by example. Would you like that?"
Kerstin did not pause for an answer. She continued: "Spacers
have learned how to improve sharing in the same way that athletes
and musicians improve their skills with practice. It is no good
just talking about it, it has to be demonstrated. Samantha, if
you were showing Shirley how to cook, you would not hide away
in another room while she tried to do it herself. You would watch
and remind her what to do next if she forgot something. Sharing
comfort requires just as much training and practice as learning
to cook well. In this subject, mother does not always know best.
Mother and daughter can learn a lot from each other by studying
the way each one performs. When you two are sharing with George
in turn, I will try to advise you how to improve. Now George and
I will demonstrate every move and stage much more slowly than
normal and I will provide a running commentary. Please study what
we do as closely as you can because in this demonstration it is
impossible to go back and repeat an action for obvious reasons."
George said. "Most people find that watching sharing makes
them want to do the same. Please try not to be distracted. Enjoy
the pleasure of watching as much as you can. Marita liked to watch
nearly as much as taking part. Do not worry about feeling that
you want to play with yourself while you watch. Everyone feels
like that. Enjoy doing it, but gently. Imagine what each of the
sharers is feeling. Then use self control to stop going too far.
Your turn to share will soon arrive and you will want to feel
keen and happy to start when it does. Don't spoil it."
George and Kerstin gave the promised exhibition and a running
commentary as an instructional session. When Shirley was sharing
with George, Kerstin stopped proceedings from time to time to
show her better ways of doing things. Then Kerstin shared with
Derek. It was then George's turn to give advice. He then shared
with Samantha. Kerstin helped Samantha as she had done with Shirley.
Then it was the turn for Derek and Samantha to share together.
Both made use of what they had been told and both noticed the
improvement.
George said afterwards. Shirley, I know that you are itching
to be with me one more time. I know that Kerstin will not mind
so I will give you one more share. Then I think that you ought
to go to bed - by yourself."
After Shirley left for bed, Kerstin conveyed: "If you
make one for yourself, don't make it too long and keep it hidden
from your parents."
"Shirley: "Thanks, Kerstin, I was too ambitious earlier.
Thanks for covering for me."
Both George and Kerstin sensed shortly afterwards that Shirley
now had a substitute thumb to suck as she went to sleep.
Saturday 01/05/2094 9:00am
On Saturday at breakfast, Derek and Samantha were told that they
could be given the gift of healing. George and Kerstin could give
it to those who were considered suitable for the job. They were
told about Marita. Derek and Samantha were delighted to find that
she could join in conversations as if she was still in her own
body.
Marita said. "I am a hidden and silent witness to everything
Kerstin sees or does. I was with you last night in spirit and
I understood why George and Kerstin treated the subject of sharing
so seriously. I could not fault them. I taught Kerstin and I now
that she is technically as good as I was. I have a suggestion
that you might like to consider. When you all have been given
the gift, it would be a good idea if Shirley found herself a friend
she could trust among the selected candidates. I will let Kerstin
take over now."
Kerstin said. "I think that you three should now go to the
recreation centre and find the people you want. I would suggest
an equal number of men and women and an extra man for Shirley."
George said. "Shirley, try to find a man that you would like
to go with on a long holiday and then check that you like sharing
with him too."
Shirley said. "Thank you for trying to help me without interfering.
I am sure that if you chose someone for me, I would find him perfect
in every way. I will do as you suggest but I would like you to
be nearby in the recreation room. I know that you can sense what
people are really like deep down. You could indicate to me if
I had made a good choice or if I ought to look further. I would
rather find someone that I would be happy with for the whole of
the weekend or longer. I would hate to find that I had made a
mistake and had to change after getting used to someone."
Kerstin said. "Shirley, thank you for having confidence in
us. We will arrange to use a bed close to you so that we can observe
each one you share with."
Derek, if you could draw up a list of those you think would be
suitable, George and I will help you to find them if they are
in the recreation centre. You and Samantha should find empty beds
near to George and me. Then you should try to picture in your
mind what the candidates look like and what their personalities
are like. The girls will come to you and the boys will go to Samantha.
Those who have not been chosen will think that you are already
sharing. When you think of a boy who might suit Shirley, he will
go to Shirley. When you are sharing, George and I will help you
make up your mind with each one who shares with you. You and Samantha
will have to check that they are good sharers with bright and
happy personalities."
Shirley, while you are sharing with each candidate you will be
able to sense what he is really like. You won't feel us helping
you but we will be there somewhere in the background. If the man
who is sharing with you is not suitable, he will leave you as
if you were just someone nice he shared with. If you like him
and he is suitable, he will know that he has been selected. He
will go to the restaurant and wait for us to arrive. The same
will apply to the rest of the selected candidates.
We can process them in the lounge next to your office Derek. When
they have all been given the gift, Marita will announce a surprise
for you all."
The people that Derek and Samantha had selected assembled in the restaurant for coffee. Derek made the introductions for everyone's benefit. He said. "Shirley, I'm glad that you have found a friend in Simon. He is one of our best surveyors. This is Joan from accounts, Farah from reception and Surrinder from landscaping. This is Jack from maintenance, Alf from stores and Jagjivan from sales. Now you know everyone, George will tell you more about what is happening."
George said. "You have been brought here under false pretences.
You were led to believe that you had been voted the seven
best share partners working for the company.
You all know how things have improved since you started sharing
together. You are having more fun and the company is doing ever
better. Some of you may know that when you made contact with Undepoldus,
you were cured of any diseases that you had if you had any. Derek
here wants to expand the company but he can only recruit people
who are free of all diseases. They must also like sharing comfort
Spacer style if they are going to join you. Undepoldus is leaving
Earth soon so a way had to be found to check new recruits. You
have been selected with Derek, Samantha and Shirley to form a
team of ten health checkers. During this weekend Kerstin and I
will teach you how to do your new jobs.
Later in the morning as they arrived at Derek's house, Derek saw
something that made him stop and look. He said. "I think
I can see the top of a marquee in our back garden. Who could have
put it there?"
They all went through the side gate and saw a bright blue and
white marquee erected at the end of the lawn. In front of it was
a large table surrounded by folding chairs. It was set out with
twelve place settings. There were four ice buckets with bottles
in them and four bottles of red wine standing on salvers.
Marita announced. "Lunch will be served in twenty minutes.
It is a nice warm day so we can eat alfresco."
George and Kerstin knew how it had been arranged but Derek and
his family were dumbfounded. Marita continued: "I thought
that it would simplify things if Samantha did not have to cater
for twelve of us so I jumped on my broomstick last night to arrange
it."
Shirley asked. "Are you a witch Marita?"
Marita answered. "Not very often. I can only turn into a
proper witch on Walpurgis Night. That was last night."
All present looked blank. None of them had heard of Walpurgis
Night.
George explained. "It is an old Gothic tradition. Most of
the Goths are still in Germany and a few live in Sweden. They
have an island in the Baltic Sea called Gothland. Gothic witches
fly on Walpurgis Night."
Kerstin knew that George's explanation was mostly made up rubbish
but she was pleased that George knew enough about Germano-Swedish
mythology to be convincing.
Samantha asked. "What sort of a witch are you Marita?"
"I used to be a white witch. Now I am a ghost witch."
"Can you do magic spells?"
"I can do big spells during Walpurgis Night but only little
ones at other times."
Shirley said. "I think that Marita is making all this up,
don't you daddy?"
Derek said. "Someone must have done some magic. Kerstin and
George were with at least one of us all the time since early yesterday.
They never saw the garden until just now. They did not know that
we would have seven other guests either. Marita is with Kerstin
all the time and does not come out to see us very often. George
and Kerstin have not got a portable communicator with them. I
would say that if it isn't magic, it is the next best thing."
Marita said. "If you want to see how I can make ice creams,
look over there, there are twelve of them. The others looked where
Marita was pointing and saw a tray stand holding twelve ice cream
cones. Samantha went over to the tray and brought it back to the
group.
She said. "I don't know how you did it Marita. These ice
creams taste good. It is a pity that you magicked them now, they
will spoil our appetite for lunch."
Marita said. "Sorry, I had not thought of that. Put them
back in the tray and they will disappear shortly. Shirley, what
would you like for starters? Just say what you would like and
I will arrange it. Now, please sit down. Lunch will be served
in a minute."
"I would like a salmon and prawn cocktail Marita."
"That will be no problem Shirley. That is what you will have
but it will take me a few seconds to make it appear for you. Everyone
else will receive the starter of their choice."
Kerstin sat next to Shirley with a smile on her face.
Then four waitresses and a wine waiter appeared from the marquee.
The wine waiter opened the cooled bottles of white wine and filled
the flute glasses for everyone as the waitresses served the starters.
George was delighted. He was served salmon. Kerstin got crayfish.
Derek was served a stuffed avocado and Samantha received a prawn
cocktail. The others had an equally varied assortment of dishes.
Shirley found her salmon and prawn cocktail delicious. Then she
looked and saw a place card in front of her. She picked it up
and saw: Shirley Robinson. STARTER Salmon and Prawn Cocktail.
MAIN COURSE: Pepperoni and Salami with Italian salad. SWEET COURSE:
Strawberries and Ice cream.
She said. "Kerstin, I have seen some magic tricks before
but Marita has done some brilliant ones today. This is exactly
the lunch I would have ordered in a restaurant. Each of us have
place cards with our own menus. The waitresses do not know who
we are yet they have not made any mistakes. I am nearly willing
to believe that Marita can do real magic. It would be perfect
if we had a barbecue this evening with chicken kebabs and a Greek
salad."
Kerstin said. "Look over there. The barbecue is set up. As
soon as you wish it, it is arranged. You will have to wait to
see if you will get chicken kebabs and a Greek salad but I think
that Marita can manage even that."
Shirley said. "It wasn't there before when we had the ice
cream. What is it like to have a witch living with you Kerstin?"
Kerstin said. "I love it. It is magical. It is lovely when
you wish things to happen and they do."
Shirley said. "Magical Marita, I would love to go up in a
balloon and fly over Southend while sharing with Simon this afternoon."
Marita said. "You will have to wait until we have finished
lunch. Then the table and chairs must be packed away. There must
be space for the balloon to be filled to take off. I hope that
you will not mind if I come with you. Kerstin can pilot the balloon
for us and I am sure that you will be happy if George is with
us too."
Shirley exclaimed. "You don't mean that we can actually do
it Marita do you?"
Marita said. "I don't know if I have enough power to make
the balloon fly over Southend. Would you accept Basildon or Rainham?"
Shirley said. "You must be a very powerful witch Marita if
this is one of your lesser spells."
Marita said. "I am not as powerful as I was once. When I
had a body I could make cannon balls float in the air."
Shirley was now convinced that Marita could really do magic. She
was flabbergasted when a team of men and women brought a balloon
in a large bag through the gate. Shortly afterwards they brought
in a basket and gas cylinders. Then they left.
George noticed that Samantha and Derek had been watching Kerstin
very closely to see if she was using a miniature communicator
to order the things to appear. They saw the slightly different
look in her face that showed when Marita was present. They also
saw how quickly Marita appeared and disappeared. They never saw
any sign that Kerstin or Marita was using any communication method.
They were even more astonished than Shirley. When lunch was over,
the waiter and waitresses cleared the table and took the plates
and cutlery into the marquee. A few seconds later they appeared
again wearing one piece overalls and proceeded to dismantle the
table and fold up the chairs. Seconds later a floater landed where
the table had been. They loaded the tables and chairs into the
floater and then boxes from the marquee containing the tableware.
The floater lifted off and another landed. The girls and the waiter
got in and then the second floater went away. As soon as the floater
had gone, a team of men and women came through the gate and started
setting up the balloon. It was stretched out for the length of
the garden and a hot air blower was started up to inflate it.
Kerstin gestured for Shirley and Simon to get into the basket.
George followed them as Kerstin spoke to the launching crew. The
envelope lifted misshapen over the basket as Kerstin got in. She
checked the fuel gauges and the basket anchorages as if it was
her daily routine. Then she opened the fuel taps and flames roared
up into the envelope. As the balloon took up a more rounded shape
she checked the vents and the ballast bags. George saw that the
bottom of the basket was covered in a soft mattress. Everything
was prepared to make Shirley's wish come true. Kerstin checked
the altimeter and communicator as the balloon started to lift
the basket. The launch crew held the basket until the lift had
reached take off level. Then the balloon rose gently upwards as
Shirley and Simon looked on in wonder. There were cheers and good
wishes from the ground as the balloon rose higher and the landscape
opened up around them. Shirley had forgotten what she wanted to
do as the balloon moved slowly away from her father's house.
Kerstin used an instrument to check the drift and used the
communicator to report her situation.
She said. "We have about an hour and then we will have to
land in Rainham marshes. There is hardly any wind at this height."
Then she stripped off her clothes and started to caress George.
Shirley saw what Kerstin had done and stripped off too. Simon
and George soon followed the girls' example. Shirley was granted
the rest of her wish. Simon had been a good choice. He had a good
sense of fun and teased Shirley about her impatience.. As soon
as they were engrossed in their own pleasure, George and Kerstin
stood facing each other sharing in their own way. Kerstin stood
with her back to Shirley and Simon so that they could not see
the face she produced in her breast. George extended to meet her
in what was now a routine way for them. Marita made a short appearance
to whisper to George. "I have always dreamed of doing this
myself. I am almost flying like a witch on your broomstick. Isn't
Kerstin wonderful to let me talk to you like this. It is lovely
being a witch. I'll see you later George."
Kerstin said in an equally quiet whisper. "George, I don't
know how I know how to fly this balloon. I have never done it
before. We must do this again, just you Marita and me. Simon and
Shirley have fallen asleep but are still sharing in their dreams.
Drive me George. The autopilot will run for another half an hour
yet. Aren't we lucky to be able to share like this. I feel like
a goddess. Let me lift you up so I can kiss you face to face."
All were disturbed from their dreamlike situations by the autopilot warning signal. The balloon was approaching Rainham marshes. It was time to prepare for descent. None of the four had seen much of the Thames estuary and the beautiful countryside but they didn't care. Their balloon trip had been magical. The burners had stopped and all was silent apart from faint noises from the ground and ships in the estuary. The balloon sank slowly as the four dressed themselves to prepare for the landing. Kerstin checked their position and altitude and opened a vent a little to increase their rate of descent. George saw the crew waiting for them to land. Two floaters were parked nearby. Kerstin matched drift with rate of descent to land as close to the crew as she could. She fired the burners for a second or two to slow down the descent as they neared the ground. She opened the master vent just as the basket was just about to touch the spiky grass. The landing was lighter than if they had used a parachute. The crew were close enough to grab the ropes to stop the basket from bouncing. Kerstin had made a perfect maiden flight yet she was glad that she was no maiden.
Kerstin thanked the crew for their work as the four got out
of the basket. They congratulated her on the smooth precision
of her landing. A taxi floater was waiting to take the four back
to Derek's house. The taxi driver smiled knowingly as they got
in. He said. "One of my mates thought that you had a problem.
He flew close to check and saw that you had no problems at all.
He did not intend to peep."
George said. "Thank him for us for checking. We could not
exactly advertise what we were doing and we might have been in
trouble as far as anyone could see from below. I hope he enjoyed
the view."
The driver laughed. Then he noticed George's and Kerstin's tattoos
and laughed even louder. He said. "You Spacers certainly
know how to live. Good for you. I have been told to set down on
a lawn near to a blue and white marquee. I can see it now. I hope
that the rest of your day goes as well as your balloon trip. It
was nice to meet you."
As the four got out of the floater they saw something that the driver didn't see. Everything was set so that the rest of the day would go just as well as the balloon trip if not better. Inside the marquee everyone was sharing happily.
During the early evening the barbecue had apparently lit itself and was covered with skewers of kebabs. The beautiful smell attracted the attention of the sharers and couple by couple they surrounded the barbecue and sampled the food on offer.
Marita's magic had made a wonderful start to the weekend.
Later she had more surprises to offer that amused, astounded and
shocked everyone except Kerstin and George.
Marita's Mad Magic is not included in this transmission. A separate transmission shows how Marita entertained the Robinsons and their guests. It may be obtained by requesting Sharing with Friends from your video entertainment supplier. Marita's Mad Magic may be viewed in chronological order in this programme. Viewers who require this service should say Friends and supply the appropriate identity code now.
Monday 03/05/94 3:30pm
On Monday afternoon it was time for explanations. Kerstin said.
"Everyone has been modified in a way that has been devised
by Undepoldus. A version of his healing power will remain with
you all. He is a vicarious share addict. He has made his changes
to match his desire for pleasure. Everyone will now recover from
sharing several hundred times more quickly than normal. After
less than two minutes you will want to share again. The treatment
has enhanced your neural pathways that conduct the pleasure in
sharing comfort. Other changes have been made in your bodies to
make sharing comfort the thing you can do better than anything
else. The changes raise sharing comfort from short runaway episodes
to long sustainable periods of bliss.
George said that the changes were affected by the frequency that a person shared comfort. Each sharing tended to improve and strengthen the changes. The sustainable pleasure level increased incrementally. A safety feature caused desire to disappear if there was a reason for the person to do something else. This could be work related, or a need to visit a hygiene station, or just feeling hungry or thirsty. If free time was available and there were no distractions, a couple could, and would want to, share comfort several times an hour.
George and Kerstin supervised repeated rehearsals of the techniques needed to interview and share comfort with job applicants.
George said to the the new recruits. "Sharing comfort
Spacer style is comparable to the way people behaved at ballroom
dances in the last century. It was commonplace for a couple to
dance with a lot of different partners during an evening. They
would be just as close loving friends at the end of an evening
of dancing as they were at the beginning. When you share it is
bit like entertaining a friend to a nice meal or telling them
a joke. The friendship and love I have for Kerstin and Marita
is unaffected by the number of times I share with other women.
The two things are basically separate. Even so, it is always nicer
to share with someone you love."
Marita said. "I have shown you some ways of sharing comfort
that can add a lot of amusement and fun to what would be otherwise
a rather serious pleasurable activity. Girls can play at being
little boys and boys can be little devils if they want to. You
all know how to look like someone else while you are interviewing
job applicants so that you will not be recognised later. This
allows you to exchange outward appearances with your close friends
for a laugh. I know that you will try to use your new powers wisely
to spread happiness and pleasure. You know what pleasure and fun
you can have with them.
Although I have helped you to have a lot of fun this weekend,
I do have a serious and responsible side too. I can tell you that
if you try to misuse your powers to hurt or harm anyone, they
will disappear permanently within minutes. The vitality and health
you have now will go back to what it was before you were given
your powers. You will forget that you ever had them and what pleasure
they could bring you. Your powers will appear to be absent if
you try to use them to amuse or impress anyone who is not here
now. Your obvious powers will also appear to be absent if anyone
tries to force you to reveal your powers. Your hidden powers should
be sufficient to protect you from getting into that situation.
Your healing powers must remain a very closely guarded secret
within the company. Your other powers must remain a secret known
only by the ten of you here. Finally, when you are assembled in
a group like this, Derek and Samatha are just members of the group.
When you are not in a group like this, Derek is Mr. Robinson and
Samantha is Mrs. Robinson. What you call Shirley is up to you.
When you are at work, the fact that you have the powers you have
will not bring you any extra money or time off or promotion. Your
powers should be used as George and Kerstin have shown you when
they are needed. Your reward for having the powers is the pleasure
you can share among yourselves here. You can share enhanced pleasure
in pairs or small groups in private surroundings but not in the
recreation centre or anywhere where someone could detect your
powers by seeing you sharing.
Now the serious stuff is over. As chief witch I command you all
to be witches and wizards of pleasure for the next hour.!"
Marita had cast one of her last fun spells for the weekend. The boys grew long grey hair and beards and the girls turned into crones with pointed noses and turned up chins. They soon realised that they could not recognise each other's faces any more. Only Marita was recognisable by her size.
Outside the marquee they discovered a large cauldron suspended on a tripod above a fire. Around the fire were bowls and spoons for the beautiful soup in the cauldron..
There was even more laughter and amusement when it was discovered that some of the crones were changed to male and some of the wizards were changed to female. Then they discovered Marita's other prank. Eating a bowl of soup would reverse the person's gender while his or her face remained unaltered. The change took place around two minutes after consuming a bowl of soup, so many sharing couples had interesting surprises while they were sharing. Some changes took place more rapidly than others, adding to the general confusion.
There was even more laughter when their crone and wizard appearances disappeared but their genders were still unreliable and unpredictable. The soup tasted very good so most of the group had three or more helpings as the evening progressed. The question "Would you like to share" changed to "How many bowls of soup have you had?" as they tried to find stable opposite genders to share with.
Marita's last trick was to replace the cauldron with a tent
with sleeping bags and mattresses.
It was the perfect way to end a fabulous weekend. She had totally
convinced everyone but George and Kerstin that she was a witch.
PAUSE
The next section covers the magical
explanations.
Viewers familiar with this subject may pass on to the following
section.
Please select PASS or CONTINUE