Vrin_ Ten Mortal Gods Part 37

"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 shimmer in my perception, but I wasn't disturbed by it; I innately understood it as a natural result of shifting dimensions. Dantra, being a timeless environment, waited for me to rejoin it. And as my consciousness completed its shift, 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 shifting 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."

"Yes. Dantra! I remember this place. --Why didn't I remember before?" She looked at me.

"Because," I explained, "you were trapped in physical thought. But now you are remembering your true nature. As a complex being, the physical is only one aspect of who you are."

She looked back at Vrin. "I remember."

"All of us remember before we pa.s.s through The Separation," Humphrey said. "But few remember here in Dantra. There was a time when Dantra was filled with glowing beings, sharing experiences, comforting one another-- but so many have been weighted down by selfish desires contrary to G.o.d. They'd rather struggle than know peace."

"But some have chosen obedience," I added. "They're not perfect, but they trust in the promises of G.o.d, and use his his strength to protect themselves from evil thoughts. These were the ones the angels led into Vrin, to help your father complete his work." strength to protect themselves from evil thoughts. These were the ones the angels led into Vrin, to help your father complete his work."

"Why would G.o.d do that?"

"Because he loves loves your father." I leaned in toward her. "G.o.d's ways can sometimes be difficult to understand." your father." I leaned in toward her. "G.o.d's ways can sometimes be difficult to understand."

"G.o.d's ways are perfect," said Humphrey, clearly annoyed by my choice of words.

"What I'm saying is, G.o.d has a plan meant for our good, even though sometimes we don't understand it." I looked at Humphrey as if to say, Will that work for you? Will that work for you?

He gave a little shrug.

Constance looked at Humphrey, then at me. "So-- why did you bring me me here?" here?"

Humphrey pointed. "See those strands reaching from Vrin to the ceiling?"

"Yes."

"Your father is preparing to destroy Vrin."

Constance snapped a look at Humphrey.

"If he succeeds," Humphrey continued, "the explosion will send a tremendous shock wave up those threads. And millions millions will die in their sleep." will die in their sleep."

Her face twisted in horror. "Why would he do that?" would he do that?"

I looked at Humphrey, but spoke to Constance. "Because your father doesn't understand G.o.d's plan."

Humphrey scowled.

I looked back at Constance. "Your father believes wrongly. He thinks G.o.d is cruel. He doesn't understand his own failings, and he doesn't understand that everything occurring is actually for his good. He wants his family back, he wants you you back, and he is willing to destroy and rebuild Vrin a thousand times to get what he wants." back, and he is willing to destroy and rebuild Vrin a thousand times to get what he wants."

She began to cry. I put my arm around her.

"You can help him," said Humphrey.

"How?" She sniffed.

"By bringing him a message. --But there is a catch." He reached out and gently lifted her chin. "You may not pa.s.s beyond the threshold into Vrin to be with your father."

"Why not?" She sniffed.

"G.o.d says you cannot."

"Why?" she asked again.

"It's difficult to understand." He shot me a glance. "But do you accept the terms?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"Good. Then it's time to go see your mother."

CHAPTER 32.

A MESSAGE FROM ETHRAL.

001001011001110.

The living cannot pa.s.s into Ethral, so we stood at the barrier between. Shimmering transparent silver separated us from a brilliant city of crystal. In this place, G.o.d's love was overpowering, and Constance struggled with it. It was almost more than she could bear.

"I don't belong here," she said. "I have done too much. I have seen too much."

Humphrey laughed. "No one deserves to be in the presence of G.o.d. It is by his forgiveness alone that anyone can be with him."

"Someone approaches," I said, pointing.

Three figures in white flowing robes were walking toward us along a golden path. Long hoods shrouded their heads. As they neared, Constance covered her face with her hands.

Reaching the barrier, the one in the middle removed her hood. She was beautiful, with crystal blue eyes and fiery red hair that touched her shoulders in curls. Her expression was one of overwhelming compa.s.sion, and her gaze was fixed on Constance. "You do not need to be afraid, little one. You are loved."

Constance dropped her hands and looked up. "Mom?" Her voice quivered.

"Yes, honey. It's me."

Constance tried to run forward, but the barrier's energy held her back. The woman placed her hand on the barrier. Constance did the same.

"You cannot enter where I am, sweetie," the woman said. "Not yet. You have work to do."

"I've missed you so much, Mom." Constance choked on the words.

"I have missed you too, honey. But we must think of your father now. He is in a very dark place."

"Yes. I know."

"You must travel to Vrin and give him a message."

"Then can we come and be with you?"