"He was in such close contact with his xelton that he's immortal, and put himself into a state of suspended animation to await the Great Fusion."

"No, really."

"You're a big boy: Read between the lines."

Jack shrugged. "He's dead, right?"

"He was on in years. You can't have the founder of an apocalyptic cult die before the apocalypse. So he doesn't die, he goes into suspended animation to wait for it."

"In Tahiti?"

"That was where he was living. Probably where he's buried."

Jack sensed a lack of conviction on her part.

"What's a paladin?"

"Security." Grant jetted a stream of smoke from the corner of her mouth. "Think of them as the Dementedist KGB. The Grand Paladin's name is Jensen; he's their Beria."

"Sounds ominous."

"He is."

Jack read on.

Other Designations: Fusion Ladder (FL)-The progressive steps ascending toward FF.

Fusion Aspirant (FA)-One who has pa.s.sed through the FI stage and has started to ascend the FL.

Full Fusion (FF)-One who has ascended the FL all the way to the top and achieved complete fusion of both xelton halves.

Null (N)-A member of the unfortunate 7.5 percent of humanity who houses a xelton that cannot be awakened. A certain number of FAs do not learn until they are far along the FL that they are nulls and have been experiencing SF. (N)-A member of the unfortunate 7.5 percent of humanity who houses a xelton that cannot be awakened. A certain number of FAs do not learn until they are far along the FL that they are nulls and have been experiencing SF.

Sham Fusion (SF)-When a null FA's desire for fusion is so great that they enter a state of denial, believing they are achieving levels of fusion when they are not. This is a tragic occurrence.

Xelton Name (XN)-When the FA reaches the fifth level, his TO will be able to discern the name of his or her xelton. The name always contains a double-o.

Lapsed Fusion Aspirant (LFA) (unofficially called a "lapser")-An FA who progresses well, then exhibits sudden LFP (see below) tendencies. A meeting with the local temple's Fusion Progress Review Board (FPRB) is mandatory; punishment must be accepted or the LFA will be designated DD. (unofficially called a "lapser")-An FA who progresses well, then exhibits sudden LFP (see below) tendencies. A meeting with the local temple's Fusion Progress Review Board (FPRB) is mandatory; punishment must be accepted or the LFA will be designated DD.

Low Fusion Potential (LFP)-This can be anyone deemed too skeptical, too questioning, not accepting enough. Although it's highly unlikely they'll ever achieve FF, they are allowed to take the courses but are closely monitored.

Wall Drone (WD)-Most of humanity. They are content to allow things to remain as they are. They aspire to nothing better than their present circ.u.mstances. It is the Church's mission to win them over to Dormentalism so that they may proceed with the fusion of their xelton with its Hokano counterpart.

Unwelcome Person (UP)-Anyone who unintentionally causes ripples in the tranquil pool of Dormentalism. These are often people with disruptive personalities incompatible with the Church's goals.

Detached Dormentalist (DD)-LFAs who have become too frustrated or have lost their direction and refuse to accept their punishment from their FPRB. They are banned from all temples and no Dormentalist is allowed any contact whatsoever with them. The DD has a high potential of becoming a WA.

Wall Addict (WA)-The greatest threat to Dormentalism: These are ruthless, disturbed persons who, for whatever reason, want the Home and Hokano worlds to remain separate. They infiltrate and attempt to interfere with, undermine, and sabotage the Church's mission to break down the Wall of Worlds. They act as roadblocks on the path to maximal human potential and should be treated as enemies of humanity.

Negative Null (NN)-A WA subset; as a rule, nulls are to be pitied, but there are some nulls who, out of spite, envy, or resentment, try to undo the Church's work.

In Season (IS)-A WA, DD, or NN who poses such a threat to the Church that they must be brought down by any means necessary-lawsuits, character a.s.sa.s.sination, wiretapping, physical and mental hara.s.sment, the works.

Jack shook his head in amazement. "These folks are crazier than I ever dreamed."

"Just don't confuse crazy with stupid. Look how they've covered their a.s.ses with the Null category. If someone spends a small fortune going through a whole bunch of rungs on the FL and still isn't finding any new powers, he must be a Null. But no way he gets his money back."

"I think I'll designate myself LFP now, just to save them the trouble."

Grant's laugh broke up into a phlegmy cough.

He glanced at the two sheets again. This would save him hours and hours of reading.

"Can I have a copy?"

Controlling her cough she waved at him. "Take it. I've got it filed on my computer."

"One more thing," Jack said. "You mentioned you might have a better source. Mind telling me who that might be? Once inside, maybe I can-"

"Forget it. That's my exclusive. And believe me, it just might overturn the Dementedist rock and shine a-you'll pardon the expression-light on all the slimy things beneath." on all the slimy things beneath."

Jack watched her. What-or rather, who who-was she hiding?

"You told me The Light The Light isn't afraid of anyone. How about you? These Dormentalists scare you?" isn't afraid of anyone. How about you? These Dormentalists scare you?"

"s.h.i.t, yes. But that doesn't mean they're going to stop me. Installment two hits the stands next Wednesday."

Jack smiled and nodded. "Good for you."

This Jamie Grant was one tough broad. He liked her.

4.

Jack left The Light The Light and turned east, heading for Lexington Avenue. He put in a call to Ernie as he walked. and turned east, heading for Lexington Avenue. He put in a call to Ernie as he walked.

"It's me," he said when Ernie answered. "My shipment ready for pickup?"

"Not yet, sir. I have confirmation that it's in transit, if you know what I'm sayin', but it ain't here yet. I expect it tomorrow."

"What's the holdup?"

"Well, sir, this item was pretty freakin' hard to find and took longer to track down than I originally thought. Plus it's real delicate, so the packin' has to be perfect, if you know what I'm sayin'."

Jack knew what he was saying. "Let's hope it's worth the wait."

"Oh, it is, sir. Some of my best work." Ernie's voice took on a gleeful tone. "You might even say it's a, whatchacallit, work of art. Yeah. A work of art, if you know what I'm sayin'. Should be ready first thing in the morning."

Jack kept walking toward Lexington. From what Jamie Grant had told him, he wouldn't need a full set of ID when he signed up. Might as well get the intake process out of the way so he could set up his first Reveille Session for tomorrow.

He remembered Grant's vaguely malicious grin when she'd mentioned the Reveille Session. What was he getting into?

5.

When Jack arrived at the Manhattan Dormentalist temple, he had to admit it was pretty impressive: twenty-plus stories of red brick and white corner blocks, with setbacks at the tenth and twentieth floors. And spotless. Looked like it had been scrubbed with a toothbrush. No New York City building had a right to be so clean.

According to Grant's article, the Dormentalist Church owned and occupied the whole thing.

As he approached the arched entrance he saw a group of half a dozen people, four men and two women, exiting onto the sidewalk. All wore steel gray double-breasted jackets b.u.t.toned all the way up to their high military collars. Two of the jackets sported braided fronts.

Jack occasionally had seen similar uniforms on the subway and around the city, but hadn't connected them with Dormentalism. As the group approached he considered asking them whether they were going for the Sergeant Pepper or the Michael Jackson look, but decided against it. He simply nodded and they smiled back and wished him a good afternoon.

Such happy people.

He stepped through the etched gla.s.s front doors and stuttered a step when he saw the metal detector. Another one? Why hadn't Grant mentioned it? Not that it mattered; he was still unarmed.

The detector stood to the left; to his right was a turnstile. A smiling, young, uniformed woman stood behind a barrier table between them.

Jack opted for the turnstile but the young woman called to him.

"Sir? May I see you over here?"

As he turned and approached her, Jack put on an uncertain expression that was only partially feigned.

"This is, um, my first time here and..."

She beamed at him. "I could tell. My name is Christy. Welcome to the New York temple of the Dormentalist Church."

Jack detected an uppercase C C in her tone. in her tone.

Christy wore her dark hair long and couldn't have been much past twenty. A college girl, maybe? She had three braids across the front of her jacket. She also had circles under her eyes. Looked tired. Probably one of the volunteers Grant had told him about.

"How may I help you?" she said.

"Well, I'm interested in, um, joining the Church, or at least looking into it, and-"

"Were you at the rally yesterday?"

"Rally?"

"Sure. In Central Park. We were there to spread the word."

Jack remembered pa.s.sing a cheering group on his way to Maria Roselli's.

"Oh, yes. I heard some things that interested me and I..." He pointed to the metal detector. "Why's that that here?" here?"

Her smile held. "Just a necessary precaution in this world of terrorists and fanatics from other religions who feel threatened by the miraculous spread of Dormentalism."

Jack wondered how long it had taken her to memorize that.

"Oh. I see."

"If you'll just put your keys and change into this little bowl-just like at the airport-I'll clear you through."

Just like the airport... Jack's last airport experience had had a few shaky moments. But he expected none here.

As he emptied his pockets, he looked beyond her and saw other gray uniformed people of all ages bustling around the two-story lobby- Lobby... right. That was what it was. This place hadn't been built as a church or temple; it looked like a hotel. A balcony ran along the rear wall. A closer look revealed a lot of old Art Deco touches still hanging on; enough so you might expect to see George Raft or William Powell hanging out near the registration desk.

Instead, with all these uniforms pa.s.sing back and forth, he felt as if he'd wandered into a Trekkie convention.

"Do you wear the uniforms all the time?"

"Oh, no sir. Only in the temple-and traveling to and from, of course."

"Of course."

He saw a uniformed woman enter and walk to the turnstile. She swiped a card through a slot, waited a couple of seconds, then pushed through.

Jack put on a smile. "You take MetroCard here?"

Christy giggled. "Oh, no. After you reach a certain level, you get a swipe card that's coded into our computers. See that Temple Paladin over there?"

Jack spotted a burly man seated in a kiosk a dozen feet away. His jacket was like Christy's but deep red, almost purple.

"When you use the card your face pops up on his screen and he lets you through." She smiled apologetically at Jack. "But newcomers like you, I'm afraid, have to go through here."