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Back Whirlwind Save as PDF
Chapters (95)
  1. Title Page
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. Also by DAVID KLASS
  95. Copyright Page

Kidah blinks twice, and his eyes become the eyes of an old man, bleary and unfocused. He looks up at us, still unknowing and unspeaking.

We all stand there waiting silently to hear the first words of the greatest mind of the future.

I can almost hear my heart thumping. What deep truth will this living oracle impart to us as he wakes from the dead? Will he explain the purpose of life or the secret of death? Will he unravel the mystery of my own destiny and explain why I was sent back in time to live a childhood that was a lie, or predict how my future will unfold?

Kidah’s eyes slowly focus. They may be the eyes of an old man, but they’re exceptionally bright. They almost seem to glow. It’s clear that he knows where he is now. His mouth opens. His tongue creeps out and wets his lips. Finally he says, in a hoarse whisper, “Wow, who turned out the lights?”

I glance at Eko, and ask her telephatically: That’s it? Who turned out the lights? Are you sure he’s the mastermind of the future? Because, frankly, I expected a little more. Based on what I’m seeing, the Dark Lord will eat him for breakfast.

Eko steps by me and bows her head to Kidah. “Great Soul of Dann,” she says in a reverent voice, “something happened to your mind when you made the passage back through the tunnel of years.”

“You’re not kidding,” Kidah says. “Talk about headaches. Who are you?”

“Eko,” she says, “Priestess of Dann.” She bows her head again. “It’s a true honor, 0 Great Soul, knower of the past, revealer of what lies ahead—”

“Please,” he says, holding up a hand. “No mumbo jumbo before lunch. Just call me uncle.” He studies her for a second more. “You’re a nice girl,” he says, “but you should try to smile more.”

I think to myself that that’s actually pretty good advice for Eko.

The old wizard’s eyes swing in my direction. “And who are you?”

“Jack Danielson,” I say, holding out my hand.

“No you’re not,” he says, studying me carefully. And then he bursts into delighted laughter, jumps to his feet, and gives me a hug.

78

78

I have had a few unexpected hugs in my life, but never one quite this odd. The time-traveling Tiresias squeezes me tightly and chortles in my ear, “My boy, you’re the spitting image of your father. But where did you get that Jack nonsense? Your name is Jair, which means ‘he shines’—and I can see that it suits you.”

His words rake up all my insecurities. I pull away forcefully and look back at him. “No, my name is Jack Danielson. I’m glad you’re okay, and we do need your help, but I don’t need you to tell me who I am.”