Onolyn drank the rest of thewater then handed back the glass. He pushed a pouch thorough the barsand into her cage. She untied the string holding it shut and found apiece of cheese, a chunk of bread and a few squished berries inside.Her eyes filled with tears as she shoved the cheese into her mouth.“Thank you.”
He reached his hand through thebars and touched the spot on her temple where he’d hit her. “I’msorry.”
She clasped his hand. “I’msorry, too. I sensed Seetva had gained some power over you in theswamp. I shouldn’t have left you alone at the hotel.”
He jumped as if startled andpulled his hand away. “I have to go. Seetva’s looking for me. Ifshe finds me here, she’ll hurt you. I’ll bring more water andfood when I can.”
“Find the key, Zac, and free mefrom this cage. We can escape together.”
“She carries the key on her.”Sweat appeared on his brow. “She’s too powerful for me to take itfrom her. Most of the time, I’m completely under her control. Ican’t fight her spells.” He looked away apprehensively, thenturned back at her. “Today I fought it. I focused on the Light. Iknew you needed food and water.”
“If you can’t get the key,escape on your own and bring back help.”
He bit his lower lip and shookhis head. “I won’t leave you. You don’t know how evil sheis—how dark her power is. There isn’t any good left in her.”The fear receded from his eyes and warmth entered them. “Lightshines around you and I can hear the Sound Current when I’m nearyou. You’re all that’s keeping me from coming completely underher power.”
Zac looked down, then met hereyes again. “When I knocked you out, I was completely under herpower, but I’ve since found small ways to break through.” Hischeeks flushed, matching the color of his hair. “Every time I’m—youknow—withherthe control becomes stronger and it takes longer to come back. I’mnever totally free. I’m concerned one of these times I won’t comeback.”
“You have to fight her powerover you.” Onolyn put a berry in her mouth.
“I try, but her hold on meisn’t just physical. It’s mental and emotional. I wish it werejust physical torture, so I’d be left with some feeling of self. Ihave to go,” Zac said abruptly, lifting the candlestick andhurrying across the room. He paused at the door and looked back atOnolyn before slipping out the heavy door.
Onolyn pondered theirconversation. Why had his face flushed red when he mentioned beingwith Seetva? Then she gasped, realizing he meant when he was withSeetva sexually. She shuddered. How horrible!
She bit off a piece of bread andchewed it slowly, wishing she had more water to wash it down with.She knew she should save some of the food, but there wasn’t muchand within minutes it was gone. After shoving the empty pouch intoher pocket, she leaned against the bars.
Zac appeared to be totally underSeetva’s power the previous two times Onolyn had seen him. How hadhe found the strength and courage to overcome Seetva’s hold on himenough to bring food and water tonight? He’d probably saved herlife by doing so.
That evening, Michio visitedErling’s room and found him working on a laptop.
“I’m glad to see you out ofbed.” Michio sat on a nearby chair. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better. The antidoteworked quickly.”
“What are you writing?”
A serene expression settled overErling’s face. “About my near-death experience.”
“It’s a good to write aboutit while it’s still fresh in your mind. Do you think you’re wellenough to go see the Master tomorrow? We can fly to a landing sitenot far from the Village of Kumba and walk there. If you like, youcan stay in Kumba for awhile, although I’ll need to return tooversee the defense of Jaipar.”
“Tomorrow should work.” Heclosed his laptop. “Mich, I know Kori doesn’t understand what I’mgoing through. The physical world just doesn’t mean much to meanymore, except for Kori, of course. If I marry her—when I marryher—I’ll be responsible for governing Jaipar alongside her and Ican’t remain dispassionate about the affairs of this world. It’san odd position to be in. I feel I could stay at the Village of Kumbaand be celibate for the rest of my life. I love Kori, but I don’tdesire her as a woman anymore.”
Erling shook his head. “I can’tbelieve it’s mespeaking. I’ve always enjoyed women. I don’t understand whathappened to me and Kori understands it even less. She feels hurt andrejected. Moreover, as ruler of Jaipar, she wants me to share herconcerns about its welfare.”
Erling leaned forward earnestlyin his chair. “What’s wrong with me, Mich? Why can’t I be as Iused to be? Fearless, living for today, enjoying life, involved inthis world to the fullest.”
“You experienced death and nowrealize things of this world are transitory. They’ll never have thesame hold on you. Yet you didn’t die because your higher purposefor this life isn’t over. You still have things to do and learn inthe physical world.”
Michio held out a hand, palm up.“Life is a gift. It’s not something to be escaped from in amonastery. Living in this world is how you grow. It may take sometime, but eventually you’ll find balance between your physical andspiritual life. You’re just at a point where your craving for Godis so great that nothing else seems important. I spent many yearslike that, but I wasn’t engaged to be married and wasn’t themilitary leader of an entire planet.”
“Where did your spiritualjourney take you?”
“As a young man, I left myparent’s home, gave up all my possessions, and set off to seek Godand the meaning of life. I devoted days to contemplation, studiedunder many different masters, did extended fasts, and spent weeks ina dark cave. All that time, Master Bakka was as close to me as myheartbeat, letting me grow and experience things in my own way.
“That was my journey to awakento my Higher Self,” Michio continued. “You have a differentjourney. You don’t have time to spend years searching and Korianncan’t wait that long. But your relationship with her is anadvantage, for it’s through human love
