"Something new is happening in the world, Brandon. Imagine you're trapped in a speeding car being driven by a woman who's looking for someone. She is among the lost, trapped between two worlds. The road will be difficult ahead, but she means you no harm and, if you trust me to protect you, you'll both get where you need to go."

I looked at him. "A woman?"

"The one who has captured you."

My gaze returned to the floor. Fear grew inside of me.

What woman? Did he just say she "captured" me? What can I do? How do I get back? How-

I felt Raskob's hand on mine again. The fear evaporated and was replaced by a measure of joy. I looked at him like he was a savior, as if he were the only one who could reach down and pull me from the cliff.

"Does that make you the good guy?" I asked in anticipation.

"Why do you call me good?"

I felt confused at his response.

"What is good?" he continued. "What is evil? On what basis can a man judge such a matter? If the one who considers such things can neither liberate nor condemn another, how much less can the one who does not consider such things?"

"I'm sorry," I said, meaning it, "I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"That's because you hear my words and nothing else, Brandon. Many can speak words, and many do speak words, in my name, to those who do not know me; but I tell you now that your eyes and ears can be opened, and when you find understanding you will know that it was a gift and that the only power you had was to accept or decline it. Know that the gift is the only thing that can save both you and your captor."