“But they need God’s forgiveness.”

He put a hand on her arm. “What they need is life. And they do sense their need for that. Even in the midst of all their high-tech pleasures and diversions, people are empty. Physical life alone, with an empty spirit, never satisfies. People need spiritual life; they need God. You have God. Relax in that reality—he is living through you this very moment. When you spoke to the woman in Dallas, he was living through you. He was speaking through you. Be at peace with that, and people will see the life within you and be drawn to it.”

He placed his hands around hers. “You need to return. We’ll talk more. God will make this clear to you. Growing up with a distorted gospel, as we all did, we need to do some unlearning, I’ve found. Tomorrow bring that professor friend of yours. And Agent Steele. We have to make plans.”

Abby emerged from VR. She looked downcast.

“Well?” I asked. “How did it go? Did you get the answers you wanted?”

She turned to me and shook her head. “Not entirely.” She removed her VR helmet. “What he said made sense, I guess. I just don’t see how it’s all that different from the way I’ve been trying to live. I’m not sure what it means practically—what I actually need to do.” She inhaled deeply and looked toward the window. “Maybe if we talk some more…”

I felt impatient. We didn’t have time to waste on spiritual matters when life-and-death physical matters confronted us. “Is he ready to discuss our situation?”

“Yes.” She sounded distant, lost in her thoughts. Then she turned and looked at me and Ben. “We have to get him out.” She started pacing the small room. “I can’t stand him being in…wherever he is in that place.”

Ben shook his head. “I don’t think that’s wise. Not yet. Nichols thinks I’m keeping quiet about Ray’s still being alive. It was a way to buy some time for these meetings. If we take any action…”

“But he’s already in danger, then, right?” Abby bumped into the edge of the bed with her hip. She winced, then gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Creighton.”

“Yes,” Ben replied, “and you’d be in danger too if you tried to get him out. Promise me you won’t do anything rash, Abby.”

She sighed heavily. “He wants us there tomorrow at the park.” She looked at me. “All of us.”

“Abby, do you want me there tomorrow?”

She answered without hesitating. “Yes.”

The next day the four of us met at the picnic table. Abby and I filled Ray in on the details that Ben hadn’t.