“Precisely,” Cyprus said. “But here let me show you how it works, using images as a method of instruction.” And before Seven’s eyes, a wide endless flat surface stretched as far as he could see in all directions. Looking down, he saw all the centuries man had known and was knowing and would know, laid out like countries all at once. He couldn’t see everything though, simply because there seemed to be no end to the glittering surface.

Cyprus said, “Now watch as closely as you can.”

“I am watching closely,” Oversoul Seven said, emphatically.

This time, the endless flat surface became the top part of an infinite circle, so that while the scene itself filled up all space, Seven could only see a portion of the circle itself. And from each century, other spirals constantly arose.

“I’m getting dizzy,” Seven complained.

“Seven, pay attention to your lesson,” Cyprus demanded. “Now all of that is just one Moment-Point; one ‘point’ wherein creativity knows itself. So in Earth terms, probable presents are born in each ‘moment.’ The one that is physically materialized is the only one that your personalities accept as real. But you’ll learn how to keep track of all of them.” She paused and added, “theoretically.”

“But in all of that, how can I know myself?” Seven asked—reasonably enough, he thought.

“You do know yourself though, don’t you? You certainly know enough to ask questions,” Cyprus said. “Your knowledge of yourself is self-evident.” (So is your lack of it, she thought, smiling figuratively.)

“I got that!” Seven shouted.

“Oh well, you are improving then,” Cyprus said.

“You wanted me to get it. You were testing me all along,” Seven said, suddenly understanding. “It takes the edge off my triumph.”

“You may not know all of yourself, but that’s a process of self-discovery, of becoming,” Cyprus said. “The more you discover of yourself, the more you are—”

“I can hardly handle the parts of me I know already,” Seven said sadly. “But can’t you show me more of the images?”

“You just aren’t ready, Seven,” Cyprus said. “And you have to learn through direct experience. There really isn’t any other way. Now, for the next part of your examination—”

A jet passed by. Cyprus and Seven dropped down on top of it and rode along, occasionally looking down at the Earth. “You have to get through to Proteus and Lydia,” Cyprus said, without pausing. “And you have to get all of your personalities together in some way, so they can better benefit from each others’ separate experiences.”

“How on Earth am I going to do that?” Seven asked.

“How can you do it, on Earth?” She asked, smiling. Then she added, “But Seven, you must become more involved in the activities of your personalities. But then, I know that you will.”