Please, Kate, the voice pleaded. The image of the young woman appeared again, with emotions to go with it. Love, longing, frustration, courage, compassion, independence. The young woman had had a good life. Her body was strong. While the animals presented fascinating possibilities, the soul realized that the limitations were too great.

I am Kate.

Daniel stepped back, his breath catching in his throat, as Kate materialized in front of him. He averted his eye quickly at her nakedness, and angels silently entered the room to robe her.

“Kate? Are you all right?”

“I – I think so.” The soul that was now Kate again rubbed its new face. “I saw… so many things.”

Daniel rushed forward and grabbed her in a hug, burying his head in her shoulder. “I’m so sorry I let you go ahead without protection. I wasn’t thinking, and you were so upset. I thought I’d lost you. I’m just so sorry.”

Kate stood still, staring at the opposite wall. “I’m not sure I remember what you’re talking about.”

Daniel raised his head to look at her. “You don’t remember?”

She shook her head as he stepped back. “I remember that am Kate. You are Daniel. I remember that we are friends. And- and we died together,” She rubbed her face again. “I’m sorry. It may take me some time.”

The Japanese woman came up behind Daniel and stood by his side. She bowed low and said, “I am Kazuko. Is an honor to meet again the woman who drives my companion to such passionate acts.”

Kate stared at her. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you either.”

“That’s OK, you’ll remember,” Daniel said. He turned to Kazuko. “I’m right, right? She’ll remember?”

The woman shrugged delicately.

Kate made to stick her hand out, but then pulled it back and bowed clumsily.

“What happened to your eye, Daniel?”

He grimaced, touching the edges of the bandages that were spotted with blood. “That is a very, very, long story. How about some other time?”

* * *

The three sat in silence, content to recover from Kate’s disorientation and Daniel’s discomfort from his injury. They all looked up gratefully when the study door opened and a small boy came in.

Daniel’s eye widened. “Ganymede. Why aren’t you in Olympus?”

The boy, whose golden curls hung into his blue eyes, frowned at the floor.

“I am no longer needed,” he said. “There were too many deaths at the battle of Elysium.”

Kate raised her head sharply. “Who?”

Ganymede’s eyes filled with tears. My master, Zeus. The goddess Aphrodite. The god Hermes.”

Kate gasped and sat back into her chair.

Daniel put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m very sorry, Ganymede.”

The boy shook his head. “I am instructed to bring this to you.” He handed Daniel a pair of backpacks and left the room.