The Path to Peace

Giselle reached out and gave me a big hug. "Thanks, Helen. I'm going to go up to my room now. I have a lot of thinking to do."

Giselle didn't come down for dinner. The rest of us had a quiet evening, our thoughts often going to Fred. I had to admit, my conversation with Sally had helped me a lot. While I would miss Fred, I was starting to really understand in a visceral way that death wasn't the end. It is more of a long voyage. If I imagined that we had sent Fred into space, to explore the planets, and that someday we would join him, it made it easier to accept his loss. I also found a new determination to make Sanctuary happen and not to let The Path to Peace wither and die.

I didn't know if Giselle would leave us. I didn't know if she would continue to fund the building of Sanctuary. But I knew that somehow I would persevere.

We had told the sheriff that we would come to his office first thing in the morning. Giselle came down to the kitchen around eight. She was obviously still in pain. Without saying much, she simply asked me if I would take her to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff Clark ushered us into his office shortly after nine. "First, I'd like to express my condolences," he started. "Here are your father's personal effects. The coroner will be ready to release your father's body sometime tomorrow. Just let us know where you'd like us to send him."

It all sounded so business-like. I guess it had to be, but I wish it wasn't so cold.

"Sheriff Clark," Giselle reached over and took my hand as she spoke, "could you tell me the legalities of something, please. If I have him cremated, could I scatter his ashes on the island? If that would be alright with Helen, I mean."

I was shocked. Giselle wanting to have Fred's ashes scattered around the island seemed to me to mean that she wanted her father close too us, and her, at Sanctuary. Sheriff Clark replied, "Well, legally you can't spread them on land. But, we could give you permission to take them out to the island, either to keep them there, or to scatter out at sea. If, by some chance, they spilled as you were carrying them, well, who would argue with you?"

"Thank you, Sheriff," Giselle said, "then I'd like his remains sent to the nearest funeral home that can cremate him please. Let me know which one it is and I'll go make the arrangements."

The sheriff gave us the name of a funeral home in the next town, along with directions on how to get there. Giselle and I got into the car and started heading over. Neither one of us had said anything since leaving the sheriff's office. Giselle broke the silence, "Helen, you don't mind me wanting to scatter his ashes there, do you?"

"Of course not, Giselle. I think that it's fitting for him to be there always. Does this mean you've reached a decision about the future?"

"I have made some decisions." Giselle talked slowly, "I know that I'm Daddy's sole heir. So I now control the architectural firm, and the money. I also know I am not ready to run the business. I am going to keep the same people in place who have been there all along. My father's vice president will take over operational control. The only thing I am going to insist upon is that the Sanctuary project continue."

A great weight was lifted from me, but I felt a little guilty, too. I didn't want to be so selfish that I was only worried about what was important to me. I also wanted to make sure Giselle wasn't making a rash decision without thinking straight. I told her so. "Giselle, are you sure. I'm not sure you should be making any major decisions at a time like this. Maybe you should wait until you've had a chance to reflect more."

"Helen, I understand what you're saying. I was up all night last night thinking about this. What it came down to was trying to figure out what my father would have wanted. I don't know how to run his business. I can't make any decisions that will affect the company. Some day I will be able to, but not now. The only decision I am making, and insisting on, is that the Sanctuary project continue. I know it was important to him. It's important to me that it be completed."

"There's no way I can thank you."

A few days later, our entire group gathered on the island in the shadow of the new Sanctuary. Giselle spread Fred's ashes on the ground. I spoke briefly, "Fred, you are the first member of our group to depart this earth. We will miss you every day. But now, thanks to Giselle, we will always feel that you are here with us. Whenever we walk these grounds, we will be with you. I know you are with us, though we cannot see you. In just a few months, this Sanctuary that you offered to build for us will be completed. We will use it to perpetuate the ideals of the Path to Peace, ideals that you embraced and vowed to help spread.

Fred, you were a wonderful father to Giselle and a wonderful friend to all of us here. I promise here, in front of these witnesses, that we will look after Giselle as you have. She will always have family here to rely on. Each member of our group is a member of our family. We will take care of Giselle as you would have."

Giselle hugged each of us, and we all had a good cry. We then went back to the house for a celebration. It was not a celebration of death, but a celebration of Fred's life, and a celebration of Fred's ascension to heaven. At my insistence, Giselle stayed with us for a week before going back home. I felt she needed to spend time with friends before going back out to the world.

To Sanctuary

The next five months were both uneventful and hectic. I went out to the island at least three times a week. It wasn't that I could actually do anything to help the construction, but being there somehow made me feel calm.

Giselle came to visit almost weekly. In addition to school, she was getting a crash course in design and construction at the office. Visiting the site was part of the crash course, as well as a way to visit with her father.

Nick and Virginia settled in nicely. Nick was writing freelance, so being out at the far edge of nowhere wasn't a problem. He worked by mail. It seemed that everyday Virginia got bigger and bigger. She found a nice obstetrician in town, Dr. Harris. He was a small town doctor, who, it seems, liked the ocean. He would come out to make house calls just to be able to spend some time sitting by the ocean. He quickly became as much a friend as Virginia's doctor.

As spring progressed, Sanctuary changed from a construction site to a beautiful compound. The main building and the cottages were all but finished. I was getting anxious, the waiting was getting to me. We were busy decorating Sanctuary, but we couldn't move until the local building inspector said it was ready. It always seemed there was one more detail that had to be addressed.

Then, once beautifully clear June afternoon Giselle returned from the island virtually glowing. She ran up to me, breathlessly she said, "He approved it. We got the C O. We can move in!"

We had our first real meeting in Sanctuary about a week later. There were two ceremonies that we needed to do to inaugurate the new building. The first involved Mike and me. I felt that when a person joined the Path to Peace that in addition to showing they had overcome their inhibitions by masturbating for the group, there should be some official ceremony accepting their transformation. Talking to Sally, we realized that this welcoming ceremony was as if the person was losing their virginity.

A new person joining our group, male or female, might be a virgin. But, whether they were or not, surrendering your virginity in the Sanctuary, even symbolically, was a way of showing the rebirth necessary to fully accept The Path to Peace.

The first ceremony we held was me giving my virginity to Mike. It was fitting that Mike had taken my virginity the first time, though that wasn't the reason I had chosen him this time. I chose him this time because he had become a leader in our group. He would be in charge of rituals at the original Sanctuary, and giving him the honor of ritualistically deflowering me here gave him a little more authority.

This ritual is different than all the other rituals in that we both had our clothing on. We started out kissing and slowly moved to petting. Though Mike and I had had sex too many times to count, this time felt different. It had been quite a while since we had started with clothes on. The way he caressed my breasts, tentatively at first, through my shirt was so much like being with him for the first time.

I could tell that the rest of our group watching was affected by the innocence being portrayed. The silence was total as, with my shirt and bra open, Mike slid his hand into my unbuttoned jeans. Everyone let out a low moan as Mike slid both my pants and panties off and spread my legs apart for the first time. As he slowly kissed and caressed his way down my body, I too was overcome by the tenderness and novelty of moment.

"Mmm. You two are really into this ritual, I see," Sally commented.

"It is the most intense sex I've had in quite a while, I'll admit that."

"Helen," Sally said, a serious look on her face, "now that Sanctuary is complete, you've got to formalize the rituals."

"I know," I answered, "I'll work on it. We're just getting settled."

"Remember Helen, your time is short. You need to make sure that things will continue without you."

"How short," I asked, "there's still a lot I want to do. We have so many plans to spread the word. I'm thinking of traveling around for a while, personally spreading the word."

"Helen, I told you, your time is short. You must prepare your disciples for the time when you are not here."

"I'm afraid Sally," I admitted, "I don't want to die. Not yet, not so young."

"You will be with me," Sally reassured me, "and you'll be able to oversee your flock. There will be another that you will be able to talk to."

"Who?" I asked, suddenly hopeful.

"I can't tell you that. Just go back and prepare the group."

I promised I would. One orgasm flowed into another as Mike once again took me as a virgin.

After Mike and I were done, I invited each member of the group to come into the center and inaugurate the new sanctuary in their own way. Giselle and Grace each masturbated for us. Scott ritualistically deflowered Joe, and a very pregnant Virginia engaged in mutual masturbation with Nick. And, for the final demonstration, in a totally unselfish act, Annie used every part of her body to pleasure Jim, without letting him touch her. By the time she let Jim orgasm I could tell that she too was exceptionally aroused. Without saying a word I went to her, laid he down on the center area and performed cunnilingus on her until she screamed in pleasure.

When our feast of giving was over, I made an announcement about the second ritual I needed to perform. I invited everybody to Mike and Annie's wedding, the next day, in Sanctuary.

Mike, Annie and I had been planning the wedding for months. We didn't announce it earlier because we wanted to avoid what weddings have become. We didn't want it to turn into 'how much money can we spend on a party' and 'how many gifts can we get.' We wanted it to be simply a joyous celebration of two people's commitment of each other. So, the next day I found myself officiating at my first wedding.

Annie was wearing a plain white dress. She looked so happy. Mike was wearing a nice suit. I think it was the most dressed-up I had ever seen him. I was wearing my robe. "Friends," I began, "we are gathered here to witness the union of Annie and Mike. This union is not one of possession, but is rather one of freedom. A person much wiser than me once said 'If you love someone, let them go. If they come back, they are yours for life.' Mike and Annie have pledged to love each other for the rest of their lives.

Somewhere, early in human history, love and sex became so intertwined they seem to be the same thing. We have all used the expression 'making love' when we really meant 'had sex.' We here have separated these two, wonderful things, into the separate things they should be. When Mike and Annie make love it is not a physical act, but an emotional act. Their love does not mean possession. Mike does not possess Annie, nor does she possess him. They share their love with each other. This does not preclude them from sharing their bodies with others.

The greatest gift one person can give to another is the gift of an orgasm. The greatest thing on person can share with another is love. Mike and Annie share that most wonderful thing, they love each other unconditionally. So, I as you Annie, do you vow to love Mike with all your heart as long as you both live?"

"I do" Annie said with a smile.

"Mike, do you vow to love Annie with all your heart as long as you both live?"

"Yes, I do," he answered, looking lovingly into Annie's eyes.

"Then, by the powers vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife."

Mike and Annie kissed for quite a while. Then, when they broke to the sound of applause, Mike spoke, "As Helen has reminded us, the greatest gift a person can give to another is an orgasm. So, Annie and I would like you all to witness our wedding gifts to each other."

With that, Mike and Annie turned to each other. Mike unzipped Annie's dress and let it drop to the floor. She was naked underneath. Annie then helped Mike undress, giving a stroke of approval as his penis leapt into view.

For the next half hour we watched Mike give Annie three of four orgasms, with his tongue and with his penis. Then we saw Mike, on his back, deliver his first orgasm onto Annie's chest as masturbated him.

As Annie finished squeezing the last of Mike's seamen out of him he told her, "You have given me my first orgasm as your husband, and I have given you my seed. From now on, my seed is yours. With it we will start a family, and raise it together. I will give no one else my seed. It is yours."

Annie lay down on top of him, and they again kissed passionately.

The Group Grows Again

We had been on the island for about 3 weeks when Mike came rushing to find me. "I just got a call from Nick. Virginia is in labor!"

Mike, Annie and I got on our small boat, headed over to the mainland, and took Mike's car to the hospital. We spent the rest of the day and most of the night in the waiting area. Shortly before dawn Nick walked into the room. He looked exhausted, but happy. "Helen," he said, as he walked over to me, "you're an Aunt. My son, Adam, was born about 20 minutes ago."

I threw my arms around him. I didn't expect to be so happy, but it was almost like Adam was my son. "Virginia's OK?" I asked.

"She's doing fine. You'll be able to see them in a little while. Right now I've got to go call mom & dad."

It was about an hour before we got to see Virginia and Adam, but it was worth the wait. When Virginia saw me she started crying softly. "Thank you," she mouthed to me.

I kissed her on the forehead. There wasn't anything I could say to make this moment more special.

Virginia and Adam came home from the hospital three days later. A week later we had a ceremony in Sanctuary to welcome Adam to the family. We held the Sanctuary's first circumcision, and planned a big party. But first, I had to talk to the entire group.

"Well, it's been a long road, but Sanctuary is finally established. We've had our first wedding, and our first birth.

Each of you has, in your own way, contributed to the establishment of this place. And, each of you has taken more steps on the Path to Peace here. I have to tell you that changes are coming. These changes are the natural order of the world, and they are necessary.

The first change is, I will be leaving"

There was a shocked collective "What?!"

"It is not my choice," I responded, "but my time on this earth is short." I had to hold up my hands to silence the group. "That is the way it is. Nobody knows how long we have here. I have been privileged to have the opportunity to finish Sanctuary, and to know my time is limited. Do not worry about me. Sally and I will be watching you all.

I have spent many hours trying to figure out who will replace me. I am conflicted. This group needs to remain open and free. The leaders, your leaders, must be chosen by you. We who lead must not be dictators, nor should we be imposed upon you. But, I care for you all deeply. The continuity of our group and our principles is vital, so I will make recommendations to you about whom I believe should lead you. These are not divinely inspired directives, but only my mortal, flawed opinion.

I see the Path to Peace as having two component pieces. The first piece is, of course, this Sanctuary. This is the place where we all gather as one. This is the place where we, and future generations, will come to study and learn. This Sanctuary is the heart and soul of the Path to Peace.

The second piece is the part that exists in the outside world, the satellite campuses, if you will. These other Sanctuary's, including our original Sanctuary, are the places that will spur our growth and spread the word. New members will have their first experience there, at the other Sanctuary's. I would hope that all members would, at some point in their life, come here to visit, and learn. But, I realize that people will not leave their lives to come live here, nor should they. The other Sanctuary's will be there primary link to The Path to Peace.

Having given this long-winded explanation, I have decided to recommend that we split the duties. First, to lead you here, to help this place grow, to help The Path to Peace flourish I would like to recommend that Virginia assume the post of Sanctuary Director. She has the skills, the compassion and the education to guide you all through the challenges to come."

I had to wait while the applause died down. "For the post of Outreach Director I'd like to recommend Mike. He has been with me since the beginning. He has the knowledge and the temperament to carry out our mission to bring The Path to Peace to the Entire world."

As I finished talking, Giselle stood up, and said, "I'd like to suggest that we accept Helen's recommendations by acclamation. All in favor?"

The entire group virtually yelled, "Yes."

Giselle continued, "Opposed? Then it's done. Congratulations Virginia and Mike." Then, she sat down.

I was done with what I had to say. I looked over to Virginia and asked, "Is Dr. Harris coming?"

"He should be here any minute," she replied.

"Let's all go outside to greet him," I suggested.

By the time we all got outside I heard the small boat we had left at the house dock approaching. In just a couple of minutes Dr. Harris came up the path to us, meeting us in sitting area outside the Sanctuary building. He walked up to Virginia and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then looking around he said, "Hello everyone. Thanks for inviting me."

Virginia took the lead. "Well, I felt that you had almost as much to do with this baby as anyone. I thought you should be here for the party."

"Before the party starts, I need to talk to Virginia, Mike, Nick and Annie. If you could just wait a minute."

The five of us walked from the circular area to the cliffs, a hundred yards away. There, I said farewell to my best friends and family. Amidst tears and laughter, I passed the mantle to those that I loved the most.

Epilogue

This is Virginia writing now. That day was one of great joy and great sadness. Mike, Annie, Nick and I walked away from the bluff overlooking the ocean. When we got back to the rest of the assembled group, we turned to look at Helen. She was standing on the bluff when a strong breeze began to blow. Then, in front of us all, she faded away. It was as if she was made of sand. Slowly, she became transparent, and then she was gone.