Part 24 (1/2)
She stood up and stepped toward me. ”You are are something greater. You hold the secret to Vrin in your very existence. We thought the people of this world were dreams, but you are now a part of the dream.” something greater. You hold the secret to Vrin in your very existence. We thought the people of this world were dreams, but you are now a part of the dream.”
Her words echoed in my mind. A part of the dream. A part of the dream. I was no longer in Sam' Dejal. I was Charm. I had all of his memories, every detail of a life lived here in this computer generated world. Had I entered the computer, or were the people of Vrin real? I remembered the soldier sitting on his helmet. His concern for his brother showed complex human emotion. A program capable of that kind of complexity was impossible, as far as I was aware, and yet every inhabitant of Vrin apparently possessed a similar set of programming instructions. I was no longer in Sam' Dejal. I was Charm. I had all of his memories, every detail of a life lived here in this computer generated world. Had I entered the computer, or were the people of Vrin real? I remembered the soldier sitting on his helmet. His concern for his brother showed complex human emotion. A program capable of that kind of complexity was impossible, as far as I was aware, and yet every inhabitant of Vrin apparently possessed a similar set of programming instructions. Did I enter the program? Or were the people of Vrin real? Did I enter the program? Or were the people of Vrin real?
Kitaya was close. Yet her words were distant. ”Vrin is real, Jason, and you you are the key.” are the key.”
The key. I was the key. I was not from Vrin, and yet here I stood. Was I from both places? When I was Sam' Dejal, Charm was frozen. Frozen over the book. I was the key. I was not from Vrin, and yet here I stood. Was I from both places? When I was Sam' Dejal, Charm was frozen. Frozen over the book.
”The book!”
Kitaya jumped.
I ran to the case, which held the Book of Reason, and threw open the lid. The scroll sparkled on the rose felt cus.h.i.+on. I s.n.a.t.c.hed it up and unrolled it.
”What is it?” said Kitaya, peering over my shoulder.
”I have studied these scrolls a million times. I know every inch of this parchment. There.” I pointed. ”There it is!” I could hardly believe my eyes as I read, ”'Then the voice of the one true G.o.d spoke to the people, from the world in dreams beyond the darkness, and their eyes were opened. No longer did they sleep, for they knew all that G.o.d had created them to be.' That's IT!” IT!”
”What?”
I turned toward Kitaya. ”The people of Vrin are are real. real. This This is the world in dreams beyond the darkness!” is the world in dreams beyond the darkness!”
She squinted at me. ”I am not following you.”
”I don't understand how, but it's the only thing that makes sense. When I was trapped in Rath's fortress, I was rescued. I was told I would be taken home, but I'm still here. I couldn't understand why I returned to Charm when I should have gone back to my body-- the one lying in a coma where Doctor Solomon is. But I must have awakened, and then returned to Vrin through sleep! This verse indicates a world in dream beyond the darkness. If the void is the darkness, then that would indicate that Vrin is some form of shared dream state.”
”I thought Vrin was in the computer.”
”Vrin is a computer program, program, but somehow I am able to enter Vrin without being connected to the computer, and it has something to do with dreams.” but somehow I am able to enter Vrin without being connected to the computer, and it has something to do with dreams.”
”How?”
”I don't know-- but it's very very intriguing.” intriguing.”
She smiled, then frowned. ”That is all very interesting, but does that scroll mention anything about how to stop Gaza?”
I thought for a moment, then lifted a finger. ”Yes, I believe it does.”
I unrolled the scroll again, and read. ”In those the last days, G.o.d rose up the prophet Tardin, who having the secret to The Circle, turned the tide of darkness. And G.o.d banished Kric' tu with Rath in flames.”
Her eyebrows rose. ”Are you you the prophet Tardin?” the prophet Tardin?”
I looked at her with wide eyes. ”Apparently, and as long as this verse remains unchanged, I will learn the secret of The Circle, which will turn the tide of darkness.
”The secret secret to The Circle?” to The Circle?”
”Yes. Which means I will have to travel to see my friend Arganis. The wizard.”
”May I join you?”
”Yes.” I put the scroll back in its case. ”But first I need to speak with Sajin.”
”Then I will go check on the others and return when you call for me.” She placed a thread delicately on my neck.
”Kitaya?”
”Yes, Jason?”
”You cannot reveal my ident.i.ty to anyone.”
”I won't,” she said, slipping her arms around me. She placed her head against my chest. ”I am glad you are alive.”
The energy engulfed me, and I found myself standing on the bottom floor of the capital building, hugging thin air. I was mildly embarra.s.sed, but recovered quickly.
”Charm!” It was the voice of Sajin. I turned and saw him walking up the stone corridor toward me. ”Where is Kitaya?”
”She had other business.”
”That is unfortunate. The council decided to allow her request.”
”She will be glad to hear that.”
”Do you have a moment?” He gestured toward his office.
”I do.”
”I still have questions.”
Sajin's office was not nearly as royal or regal as the other council members'. He was a man of the people, and as such, kept his office comfortable and simple. I walked over to the tall narrow window looking out over the many gardens of the capital building.
”Would you like a drink?” he offered.
”Juice would be well received. I can barely remember the last time I ate or drank.”
Sajin popped the cork from a bottle of raspberry juice and gave me a pensive look. ”So tell me, Charm. What was it like being a G.o.d?”
”Have you told the others?” I continued to look out the window.
”No, and I don't think they would believe me anyway.”
”It's imperative that you do not.” I turned back toward him. ”It would place my life in danger.”
”Yes, I am aware of the ramifications.”
”You were always the wise one.”
”Here.” He handed me the juice and gestured to his black leather couch. ”I have many questions, as I'm sure you are aware.”