“Grammar of energy!” Seven cried, mentally. “That experience was awful.”

“You just got caught in the middle of a process, the process by which energy speaks its atomic structure,” Cyprus’ voice answered.

“But where are you?” Seven asked quarrelsomely. “And where am I? I just feel suspended….” Seven broke off, for suddenly he felt … portions of himself coming together and joining him, like thousands of glowing bolts of energy hopscotching to join his own consciousness. “Oh,” he said, in a small voice. “Oh. Now I remember.”

“Well, remember more, and you’ll be in Framework Two with me,” Cyprus replied.

“Remember what?” Seven thought, but even as he asked the question, the returning bolts of energy joined with his consciousness so quickly that he forgot the question. He didn’t need it any longer. As the energy mixed and merged with his own awareness, Seven cried, “Of course,” and instantly a group of images appeared. At the same time, Seven saw Cyprus waiting for him—and he gasped as Framework Two formed about him.

They were standing in a natural garden in which each flower seemed to be the most beautiful one that Seven had ever seen in any space or time. Each leaf also seemed to be itself, and more than a leaf at the same time. Surrounding the garden grew the liveliest forest that Seven could imagine; each tree more supple and delightful than any Seven had ever seen. He could hardly begin to examine the environment. Even the air had the sweetest odor, as if it were the essence from which all summer air was distilled.

Cyprus said, “Seven, because you’re an earth soul, I thought you’d like Framework Two to look like this,” and Seven was so enchanted that he could hardly answer. At the same time, the landscape was constantly changing as if a million summers were forming.

Cyprus had also outdone herself as far as her image was concerned, but exactly what she’d done was almost impossible for Seven to discover. It wasn’t just that she looked like the model from which all female and male elements were first drawn—being at the same time handsome and beautiful, athletic and supple, combining all of the characteristics of each sex in one form—but that these characteristics seemed intensified to an incredible degree….

“You’re on the right track,” Cyprus said.

“But … everything looks … brand-new,” Seven cried. “As if it were all created this instant. I mean, that one rose—look, there, the third one in from the first row. It’s a bud, so of course it looks new. But beside it is a much bigger rose, with all of its petals opened, and it looks brand-new too!”

“Precisely,” Cyprus replied, with the most innocent and yet the most enigmatic smile.

“And the older trees look as fresh or … new, anyhow, as the younger ones,” continued Seven, even more puzzled.