“That’s how rumors get started about places being haunted,” Cyprus said.

“Well, they’re Lydia’s favorite shells,” Seven muttered. “I don’t like meeting here like this anyhow. Can’t we go someplace else?”

“All right. Think of a cloud,” Cyprus said. She and Seven left immediately. At the last moment, Seven dematerialized one perfectly shaped shell to save for Lydia. He and Cyprus emerged on a cloud just within the borders of Earth’s atmosphere.

“I want to give you a quick review before I tell you about the next part of your examination,” Cyprus said. “First of all, though, what did you learn so far?”

“Well,” Seven said, frowning. “I have trouble staying with Ma-ah exclusively. At first I couldn’t get away from her. Now I get called willy-nilly from one personality to the other as they get into trouble, and it seems like something comes up constantly for me to deal with. Then, I lose my sense of perspective—”

He went on. “Proteus still doesn’t believe in anything but the good old days. Lydia doesn’t recognize me, and I’ve always liked her,” he said petulantly. “Josef knows me, more or less, but he just gets in needless trouble. Ma-ah, well, I like her much better now. But I have the feeling that you’re holding out on me again.”

“I’m holding out on you?” Cyprus said, smiling. “How about that shell?”

Seven just shimmered around the edges. “Oh, that,” he said. “Well, I peeked into Lydia’s future and there’s one place where she could really use it; I mean, where the shell could help her.”

“That’s what I thought.” Cyprus sighed. “Now what’s illogical about that statement?”

“But there’s a difference between ideal circumstances and practical action,” Seven exploded.

Cyprus looked as stern as Seven had ever seen her. He said, “All right. I know I’m supposed to experience time as they do, day by day, and I have. I’ve only snitched a few glimpses into the future—”

“Into what?” Cyprus said.

“Into … uh, the probable future,” Seven amended quickly.

“Your personalities have free will just as you do,” Cyprus said. “You must never forget that. You looked into one of the probable futures as they exist for Lydia; and at any point she can alter circumstances and choose one probable future over another. Do you understand?”

Seven nodded, properly chastised.

“Now, let me explain this more clearly,” Cyprus said, “You’re Proteus, Lydia, Ma-ah and Josef in all of their probable presents, pasts and futures; and yet they are themselves, and also more than the selves they know themselves to be. And you, of course, are more than the Oversoul Seven you presently identify with. As you help them and instruct them when you can, others who you may not recognize help and instruct you—”

“And I’m a part of them?” Oversoul Seven asked.