Part 37 (1/2)

”Yeah, well, you got short changed.”

”Why do you say that?”

I slumped. ”I don't know. I guess I'm feeling bad because I don't want to be a part of this whole battle for humanity battle for humanity thing. I feel like a selfish jerk.” thing. I feel like a selfish jerk.”

”Is it so bad you want to reclaim your life? You've been through a lot, lot, and besides, you need time to recuperate! I'm sure there are plenty of capable people at the center who can handle this kind of stuff. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it.” and besides, you need time to recuperate! I'm sure there are plenty of capable people at the center who can handle this kind of stuff. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it.”

”What? Are you saying I'm not action hero action hero material?” material?”

She laughed. ”Look at you, you're skin and bones.”

”And wrinkly.” I smiled. ”Don't forget wrinkly.”

She leaned over and nudged me with her shoulder. ”You're right where you're supposed to be, Dad. The cloak and dagger games are best left to the professionals. But you know what, you you are a remarkable man.” She looked at me, her eyes smiling. ”I believe G.o.d has a plan for you. I don't know what it is, but something tells me you were meant for something great. are a remarkable man.” She looked at me, her eyes smiling. ”I believe G.o.d has a plan for you. I don't know what it is, but something tells me you were meant for something great.

”Well something tells me I will be spending a lot more time at home now, than at the office.”

Rebecca smiled-- the smile melted into a yawn. ”Sorry.”

I gave her a warm hug. ”Yeah. I'm tired too. I'm going back to bed. You coming in?”

She nodded. ”I just hope I don't have any more nightmares.”

”Yeah.” I chuckled. ”Me neither.”

I did not dream this time, but pa.s.sed quickly into the darkness, through The Separation, and beyond. When I entered the substance of Dantra, there was a s.h.i.+mmer in my perception, but I wasn't disturbed by it; I innately understood it as a natural result of s.h.i.+fting dimensions. Dantra, being a timeless environment, waited for me to rejoin it. And as my consciousness completed its s.h.i.+ft, I found myself standing in the exact spot I had been in before I departed. Humphrey was moving, and Constance filed in behind him. I thought to tell Humphrey about the experience of s.h.i.+fting to Earth. But I sensed he already knew.

I was beginning to understand a great many things about Dantra, as dormant memories deep within me awakened. It felt like returning home, though, I had never truly left.

We pa.s.sed under the great and ancient archway of the crystal fortress. And Constance stopped.

”What is it?”

She raised her hands into the air and closed her eyes. ”It is strong here.”

”What is?”

”The love.”

Humphrey smacked me on the arm. ”Hey! Has your memory completely returned?”

”Ow! Would you stop Would you stop doing doing that!” I said, rubbing my arm. that!” I said, rubbing my arm.

”Sorry.” He winced. ”Well-- has it?”

”Yes, I believe it has.”

”Great! That will make things a lot easier.” At once his body began to glow. Then points of light burst through cracks in his skin. Until there was nothing left, but light.

”You know,” I said, ”even though I can remember now, that still still freaks me out.” freaks me out.”

Constance gasped.

I motioned for her to calm down. ”It's okay, it's okay, it's just Humphrey.”

She approached him and cautiously touched him on the chest. ”He's tingly,” she said, running her fingertips downward.

”Are you okay with this?” I said.

”You talking to me or her?” asked Humphrey.

She continued to touch Humphrey's chest, so I figured everything was cool. She did not have her memory back. That was why it had scared her. But she knew deep inside, that it was natural.

I stretched out my arms and pushed away the energy of Dantra, revealing my true form. It had been a long time since I had moved about Dantra as pure thought. It was exhilarating!

”Come, there's more to do,” said Humphrey, telepathically. said Humphrey, telepathically.

We lifted Constance into the air and traveled out into the brightness of Dantra. Below, the white bridge faded, and was replaced by a desert.

”There.” Humphrey pointed. Humphrey pointed.

We touched down in front of a single story nondescript building. Humphrey gathered the substance of Dantra and became corporal again. Reluctantly, I did the same. In the center of the building, was a single red metal door. It was chipped and rusted, with a large yellow hazard sign upon it.

We approached the tiny building, and the door slipped upward, revealing an elevator.

”Ladies first,” I said, gesturing to Constance.

She stepped in. I followed. Then Humphrey stepped in and pushed the b.u.t.ton for the one-hundredth floor.

Constance looked confused.

I nudged her gently. ”Think of it as a dream, and it won't be so disconcerting.”

She gave me a pensive look, and the elevator creaked into motion. The lights on the panel glowed slowly one at a time. And we waited. Finally the door opened and a blue light filtered in. I stepped out to see a metal catwalk stretching off in both directions as far as the eye could see. Beyond the railing, the enormous ma.s.s of Vrin hovered, suspended by millions of blue iridescent threads from the porous ceiling high above.

Constance came up beside me. ”What is is it?” Her eyes were wide. it?” Her eyes were wide.

”That,” I stated, ”is Vrin.”

”I know that name,” she said slowly. ”Where have I heard that name?”

”Your father created it.”

”Yes. I remember! Vrin! Vrin! Virtual Reality Interface Network!” She tilted her head slightly. ”But that would mean Solomon succeeded.” She grabbed my arm. ”Solomon got through! He did it! He said he was going to use my father's technology to speak directly to his mind, and...” She shook her head in awe. Virtual Reality Interface Network!” She tilted her head slightly. ”But that would mean Solomon succeeded.” She grabbed my arm. ”Solomon got through! He did it! He said he was going to use my father's technology to speak directly to his mind, and...” She shook her head in awe.

”And,” Humphrey finished, ”we are looking at the result of his experiment as it appears in Dantra.”