"Religion? This is a church?"

"Not a church. The church. We are the church of the AhnEl."

I looked at him quizzically. "I've never heard of it."

"You have now."

"What kind of church are you?"

A slight smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "We are a pearl of great price-a rarity of rarities. A church of truth."

"What kind of truths?"

"The word is not plural. There is one truth, simple and unified, and millions of extrapolations, subterfuges and delusions."

"Tell me about this ... truth."

He crossed his arms, his gaze leveling on me. "Are you prepared to receive it? I have neither the time nor inclination to cast pearls before swine."

His arrogance surprised me. "Try me," I said.

"If you have ears to hear, you may ask me anything."

"Does your church believe in the Bible?"

"Do we believe in the Bible, or do we believe the Bible? Be specific."

"Do you believe the Bible to be the word of G.o.d?"

He grinned. "Now that's a question. The answer closest to your intent is yes. Of course we do. Not that it's His word. It's not. He didn't write it. But we do know that it's a record of His teachings and history. But, unlike the rest of the Bible-blind world, we actually understand the book."

Again, I was taken aback by his arrogance. "You don't believe that anyone, besides you, understands the Bible."

"I'm quite certain of it," he said. "For centuries, before Gutenberg came along, the clergy hid the Bible from the people. Today, the people shroud it in mystery and hide it from themselves.

"You see, the Bible must be understood in context. The Bible is true, at least it was in its earliest, unadulterated renditions. It's common knowledge, or should be, that through time there have been tens of thousands of alterations to the Bible. In fact, there have been more words changed in the book than there are words. But, that aside, even a.s.suming that it was all truth and preserved as such, it would still only be true within the realm of its authors' experiences, since all writing is tainted by the context of the writer."

"What do you mean?"

"Allow me to explain it this way. If an aborigine should find a radio and hear a voice coming from it, he might say that there is a spirit in the strange box. He isn't being deceitful, he's just explaining his experience from what he understands. Even if he were to break the radio open and examine its parts, he still couldn't possibly understand what he sees-the circuit boards and transistors that make the sound possible. His explanation doesn't make him a liar, it's the best he can do given his cultural and educational limitations. The interpreters of the Bible are the same as this poor aborigine."

After a moment I said, "That makes sense."

The man smiled, pleased with my answer. "KaEl, could it be that we have found an Earthman who is more interested in truth than patching up the holes in his own leaking belief system?" He took a few steps toward me. "What is your name?"

"Alan."

"I am Master El. You may call me El. Why are you wandering the world, Alan?"

I didn't want to tell him. "I'm just walking."

He examined my pack. "Where are you walking to?"

"Key West, Florida."

"Where did you begin your journey?"

"Seattle."

"You've walked the whole distance?"

I nodded.

"Then you are a man with stories. I would like to hear them. A man who has walked all day must be hungry. Come dine with me."

For a moment I said nothing, hesitant to go anywhere with a religious nut who would tie someone to a tree. "I have food," I said.

"I'm sure you do, but, if you're eating from your pack, I guarantee I can do better. I'll make you a deal. I'll provide you with a hot meal and you can tell me of your travels. Agreed?" He put out his hand.

I just looked at him.

"Come on, Alan. You have nothing to fear. I may be sly as a serpent but I'm harmless as a dove. Come with me and I will feed you-body and, should you desire, soul."

"Where do you live?" I asked.

"Just a mile or so from here," he said pointing east. "I have a vehicle."

I thought a moment more, then my curiosity got the better of me. "All right."

"Splendid," he said. "Splendid." He turned toward the woman. "We will leave you to your quest. The celestial spirit abide with you, KaEl."

She bowed her head. "Praise be to my Master."I followed him about twenty yards to his car, a brand-new Range Rover with the paper dealer plate still in the window. Kyle Craig had owned a similar model. I knew enough about the vehicle to know it was worth more than a hundred thousand dollars.

"You can lay your pack on the back seat," he said.

I started feeling hesitant again, wondering what I had gotten myself into, but still I opened the back door and set my pack inside. I climbed into the pa.s.senger's seat.

El started his car and pulled out of the grove onto a dirt road, which we followed back for nearly two miles.

"How far have you walked today?" El asked.

"About sixteen miles."

"Is that how far you walk every day?"

"I usually try for twenty. Sometimes more."

"You must be in very good physical condition."