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attend to the Ancient of Ancients." |
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"What about your husband?" |
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"If he had been among the chosen, he would have lived to see this day." |
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"What's your role in all of this?" |
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"My mission will become known to me as the great hour approaches." |
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"Are you saying the hour is near?" |
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She closed her pinched little eyes as though she was savoring the thought of the momentous event. "It is an occasion of great joy for the true believers. It is the time of the cycle; it is so ordained." |
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"Something in your voice tells me you think this so-called awakening is somehow different than the rest." |
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The old woman nodded dreamily. "Eleven times eleven." For one brief moment the rasp disappeared from her voice and assumed an almost celestial quality. "On the calendar of Sate this is indeed a special occasion." |
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"How do you know these things?" I pushed. |
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"These are revelations from the Great Book of Comprehensions," she answered flatly. |
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"Are you a true believer?" |
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I was tempted to tell the old girl that I couldn't be sure until I went back to the |
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