Jacob, love is the most powerful force in the universe. The love I feel for your mother has kept me from giving in. It was your love for me that reached out and saved me.

You’re far from saved. When Immanuel and I find you and rescue you, then you’ll be saved. Until then, I don’t have time for the nonsense of love. At least not now.

You found a girl, didn’t you? Someone special.

Yes.

And you love her?

Sometimes I can’t stop thinking about her.

I was the same way with your mother. At times, my love for her seemed to consume my every waking moment.

Exactly why I had to break it off. She was disfocusing me, interfering with my training.

Jacob—

Why prolong the hurt? In six years, I’m out of here, right? You of all people should understand why I did what I did. After all you’ve told me about the loop in space-time, about our failure during our first attempt—

Maybe I was wrong to allow this communication.

You’re preparing me for what lies ahead.

Or condemning you to it. If it was only my existence at stake, I would have given in long ago, I would never have allowed you to speak with me.

It’s okay.

It’s not okay! It infuriates me! Why must my family suffer so? Why must my sons and their mother have to go through this hell?

Dad, calm down … the Abomination might register your anger.

Let it, let God feel it, too! Do you hear me, God? I know you’re out there listening. What kind of God allows good people to suffer so? Why does evil often go unpunished? Where’s the justice in your universe?

Dad—

I hate you, God! Do you hear me? I hate you as much as I hate myself!

Jesus, Dad, you’re scaring me! Dad?

Dad?

I’m … I’m sorry, Jacob. I’m sorry for everything. If I had been stronger … if I’d been wiser, I would never have allowed the Guardian to manipulate and deceive me the way they did.

What? The Guardian deceived you? What did they do?! Father, tell me, I need to know.

I’m sorry … it’s so hard to focus through the rage. It blinds me … scatters my thoughts.

Then take it slow. Go back to your journey, to Bill Raby’s journey. That was his name, right? The space traveler who had escaped the coming holocaust.

Bill Raby … yes … yes, I had become Bill Raby.

And the transport. Tell me what happened after you crash-landed on Xibalba.

I remember now. I remember thinking I must’ve blacked out, because when I awoke, the cabin was pitch-dark and people were screaming.

Why were they screaming?

Our landing … the impact caused a flash fire. It must’ve been a bad one. A dozen colonists were dead, dozens more injured.

But you were okay?