"I puts in a word, and it tells me what's gonna happen in the future. There's a code hidden in the s.p.a.ces."

"I'm going to pretend like I know what that means." I put my hand to my head. "What do I I have to do with this?" have to do with this?"

"I need a name. Your name."

"Why?"

"Cause I need to know what Tardin's gonna do. He's the key, the prophet. But I don't know who he is is in Vrin, so I can't ask the book what he's gonna do. And if I don't know what in Vrin, so I can't ask the book what he's gonna do. And if I don't know what he's he's gonna do, I don't know what gonna do, I don't know what I'm I'm s'pose to do." s'pose to do."

I began to pace in frustration.

"I know you struglin' with this, son. I wish it wasn't so confusin'."

"How do you ask the book questions?"

"Well, it's complicated."

"Give it a shot."

"I use a computer. It has a program what was given me by a man in the NSA. He works in cryptography. It lets me look for words in the book. It skips letters. Like I put in Charm, and it finds it in a sentence that has the letters, but they don't appear normal. It might look for the letters every tenth letter, or twentieth letter. That's why we don't see it when we read it normal. It's hidden."

"So-- what's the big deal? What does it matter if you can find my my name in the book?" name in the book?"

"It's what's 'round it that matters. If I find your name, then I looks at what's before and after it, in the same letter s.p.a.cin'. Then I know what's gonna happen."

"Have you tried all the names of the frozen people?"

"Yep, and yours was the most interestin'. But I needed to know you was Tardin before I went and did somethin' crazy."

Sajin spoke up. "So you know the future?"

She smiled. "Yup."

"Can you prove it? What does the book say will happen next?"

She winked. "It wouldn't be fair for me to tell y'all how it ends."

Sajin did not look pleased.

"O-kay," I said, formulating my question. "Do you know the I said, formulating my question. "Do you know the nature nature of Vrin?" of Vrin?"

"Since I was a child. I could remember where we go when we sleep. Well, we don't actually go go anywhere, we stay in our mind. But that's beside the point. What I wanna tell you is, I was here anywhere, we stay in our mind. But that's beside the point. What I wanna tell you is, I was here before before Vrin, and so was you. See, on earth-- that is, when I'm awake, I have a rare form of autism. In many ways I'm simple, but the part of my brain what controls and remembers Dantra, is smart." Vrin, and so was you. See, on earth-- that is, when I'm awake, I have a rare form of autism. In many ways I'm simple, but the part of my brain what controls and remembers Dantra, is smart."

"Dantra-?" Arganis had spoken of The Circle being connected to that place. "What Arganis had spoken of The Circle being connected to that place. "What is is Dantra?" Dantra?"

"It's the spirit world outside Vrin. It does appear to be another thing altogether, but it ain't. Vrin's made of the same stuff as Dantra. Vrin is thought energy. Robert Helm started it."

Robert Helm? I was Robert Helm. I opened my mouth to speak, but she gave me a look as if to say all my questions would be answered. was Robert Helm. I opened my mouth to speak, but she gave me a look as if to say all my questions would be answered.

"Robert Helm is Gaza."

I gave my head a quick shake, my brain was starting to hurt.

Hazel continued. "'Cause Gaza can form Dantra with his mind like clay, the computer used his mind to form Vrin. I knew this cause of my condition. You see, most people don't understand they in Dantra. They make Dantra into what they like, and can't see it for what it is. When I saw Vrin growin' like a big ball of blue fire in the middle of Dantra, I knew it was unlike anythin anythin' I'd seen before. It scared scared me, so I went to the elders. They tol' me the conflict between G.o.d and Kric' tu was comin' to an end, and that Vrin was the last battlefield. They tol' me I had a special place in G.o.d's plan, and that I would go into Vrin with others chosen by G.o.d. It was hard for all of us once we was in here, 'specially for me, 'cause I could remember. But the history of Vrin was put into the other's minds by the computer, and they took it as real." me, so I went to the elders. They tol' me the conflict between G.o.d and Kric' tu was comin' to an end, and that Vrin was the last battlefield. They tol' me I had a special place in G.o.d's plan, and that I would go into Vrin with others chosen by G.o.d. It was hard for all of us once we was in here, 'specially for me, 'cause I could remember. But the history of Vrin was put into the other's minds by the computer, and they took it as real."

"So the people of Vrin are are real." real."

"Real as anythin'. I started to search for information 'bout Vrin on the inside and the out. This led me to Solomon. He didn't believe me at first, but after awhile he couldn't deny what I knew. And he became grateful, 'cause I knew things he couldn't see. When Solomon started Vrin, he could see what was goin' on, but when G.o.d chose others to go into the program, it changed the code, and he couldn't see in anymore. The best he could do was track the data bein' stored on the main frame and read it. And as you know, he also sent a message. When you you responded, he thought you was Robert 'cause you understood the programmin'. Anyway, since he made a connection, he could see into the program again. He tracked you in the system as a number, and sorted out which of the ten you was while buildin' a visual representation of the data. It took a while, and the computer figured out who you really was. That was just before you came out of the coma. So I came to make sho' you was Tardin, and you confirmed it for me." responded, he thought you was Robert 'cause you understood the programmin'. Anyway, since he made a connection, he could see into the program again. He tracked you in the system as a number, and sorted out which of the ten you was while buildin' a visual representation of the data. It took a while, and the computer figured out who you really was. That was just before you came out of the coma. So I came to make sho' you was Tardin, and you confirmed it for me."

"So I did did wake up from the coma-?" wake up from the coma-?"

"Yup. But came back to Vrin when you went to sleep."

"I knew it!" I started pacing again. "So now that you have what you came for, what's next?"

"Now I check the code again, and make sho' I'm doin' what I'm s'pose to."

I remembered back to the scriptures I'd read to Kitaya. Was I I the one to stop Gaza, or would the prophecy change? "So on the outside the book stays the same?" She nodded. "Can you check a verse for me and tell me what it says?" the one to stop Gaza, or would the prophecy change? "So on the outside the book stays the same?" She nodded. "Can you check a verse for me and tell me what it says?"

Her eyes lit up and she pointed at me. "I knew you was gonna ask that!" She took a journal out of her belly pocket. "What is it?"

I gave her the verse.

"I'll let you know tomorrow," she said tucking the pad back in her pocket.

"Are you going to come back here?"

"No. You comin' with me."

I gave her a look.

"Charm. Gaza prob'ly knows you're here. You'll be safer with me."

"No offense, but I don't even know know you." I sized her up again. "That makes it a little difficult for me to trust you with my you." I sized her up again. "That makes it a little difficult for me to trust you with my life life."

"Oh, you'll wanna see my work. Once you see it, you'll understand everthin'. Listen. I'm an old woman, what am I gonna do, bite you?"

"It's not you I'm worried about, it's those you would turn me over to that frighten me."

"If I wanted to turn you in, you wouldn't a seen it comin', son."

"Go with her," said Sajin. "It seems she has information that will help us bring this conflict to a close."

I looked at Sajin and considered his words. "All right." I turned back to Hazel. "How far do we have to travel? Time is precious."

"It's jest the next town over."

"Then let's be on our way. Sajin I know you have more questions."

"That's an understatement." He reached out and gripped my hand. "Just give me the courtesy of keeping me informed."

"I will do my best." I shook his hand firmly.

"You have a fantastic journey ahead. Our thoughts and prayers go with you."

"Thank you, Sajin. I'll try to not let you down."

CHAPTER 24.

GAZA.

001001011001110.

I let Kitaya know I would be delayed, and then sat on the front steps of the capital building. The brilliant sunset was sending dazzling cascades of gold and orange across the structures to the east. As Charm, this was the time of day I enjoyed the most. Many an evening I'd sat on these very steps, watching the radiant fusion of color playing on the coliseum, the Eiffel, the Sphinx... Tonight however, it was the Statue of Liberty who caught my eye. She was a symbol of unity for the people of Vrin. Her proud form had always spoken to me of freedom and harmony. --But now, she was just another structure in the skyline. Vrin simply wasn't the same. Her beauty was waning in my heart.

A horse drawn coach pulled up to the steps. The driver tipped his hat to me, and I headed down to greet him. "Have you been instructed?" I asked the gentleman.

"Yes, sir. We are to go to Bagidar."

"Very good." I stepped up into the carriage.

"Uh-- Sir?"

"Yes? What is it?"

"I was told you would be traveling with a companion."

"Yes. She will meet us at the gate."

"Yes, sir."

The thin door closed with a metallic click and I took a seat in the darkened carriage. Across from me, a shadowy figure sat, a guard I a.s.sumed.

"What is your name, soldier?" I asked, trying to sound authoritative.

"What's wrong, Jason?" came a hollow voice from the darkness. "Don't you recognize the creator of Vrin?"

My heart quickened. I wanted to leap from the carriage, but knew it wouldn't do any good. Instead I began an internal counting to keep from bringing any thoughts to the surface for Gaza to prey upon. "I'm sorry? Have we met?" One, two, three, four... One, two, three, four...

Casually he opened his eyes and looked out the window, only pa.s.sively involved in our meeting, as if my presence was an irritation for him. I was immediately shaken by his eyes. They were not blue like the rest of the G.o.ds', but green, like two smoldering emeralds.

...eight, nine, ten, eleven...

"You have created for me a conundrum." His distant, lifeless voice held an eerie quality.

"How is that?" I asked cautiously. One, two, three, four...

"Your reanimation is a paradigm." He shifted in his chair. "Are you comfortable in your former habitation?"

"I don't understand." One, two, three, four... One, two, three, four...

"You are Charm once more. How do you feel about this?"

"What do you mean?" ...five, six, seven, eight...

His eyes darted to his right and his hand rose to a fixed and invisible destination. Quickly his fingers wiggled in the air. A sigh escaped his lips. "Your confidant approaches, but our business has not yet concluded; you have information which I require." He tipped his head slightly. "Your attendance, of course, is non-negotiable." His hand snapped out and grabbed my wrist. I felt his power enter my body, and the world exploded in blue fire.

The room spun like a carnival ride as tiny aftershocks erupted randomly across my back. Glowing objects streaked past my eyes, leaving visual trails on my retina. Colors pooled with colors in a blur of pulsating substance.

I needed something solid to fixate on, something I could use to rebuild my visual perception. I felt a groove in the floor and slid my fingers lengthwise across it to let the sensations register. They encountered an intersection. Slowly and methodically I followed the downward path. With effort, I slid my body until I was hovering above the floor tile. As my mind grasped the shape, it began to perceptually construct the floor. Soon the room took shape around me, and the spinning in my head subsided.

Just in front of my eyes were four wheels, and above them, a red seat. I drew the chair toward me. It let out a series of gentle squeaks. Gripping the cushion, I hefted myself onto it and sat up. Hovering on the desk in front of me was an illuminated screen within a gla.s.s box. Iridescent numbers rose line upon line. I reached out and touched the cold surface. Slowly my finger slid across the gla.s.s cube and my mind deciphered the information with unexpected efficiency. I had seen this text before. It was the very essence of Vrin.

Where was Gaza? I scanned the room. Many more illuminated gla.s.s plates balanced on metal stands, filling the room with a ghostly glow. I looked from one panel to the next, and as I studied each image carefully, I began to notice a theme. Gaza was watching. Not only was he tracking me and the other G.o.ds, but also Sajin, and several others I did not recognize. Gaza could see and hear everything!

Frantically I searched for Rath. If Rath was here, then Gaza knew! Or did he? Was he watching when his daughter was killed? My eyes darted from one image to the next. Then stopped.

Floating before me, frozen in time, was the horrifying moment I wanted so desperately to forget. The little girl's face filled the screen. Her eyes pleaded through the ghostly gla.s.s as the gnarled fingers of Kric' tu gripped her tiny forehead, and the knife pressed deep into her delicate neck. The image was so real I felt I could reach out and touch her tears.

"Looking for something?"

I twisted around in panic and met Gaza face to face. He appeared completely indifferent to my total lack of composure. "I imagined you would be longer recuperating. It appears I miscalculated," he said in the same cold, impersonal manner he'd displayed in the carriage.

"I was just..."

His hand lifted, and an invisible force squeezed my throat. "You are only alive because I have not grown tired of you. It would be auspicious of you to retain that perspective. Now," he said, releasing me, "you have information I need, and I do not have a great deal of time."

"I'm here to help," I said, rubbing my neck.

"You were taken to the realm outside of Vrin by a spirit being, yet you do not remember this place?"

"No. I don't remember anything."

"And now you are Charm again."

"So it would seem."

He turned and examined the wall of monitors. "You have been quite the busybody, Jason. I have watched your exploits with great interest." He tossed me a shadowed glance. "In fact, I have watched you you most intently." most intently."

He gestured, and the screen holding the image of the girl pushed forward and expanded.

"I tried to save her," I said reflexively.