Guardian’s home was small and simple. Bruce could see only two rooms and everything, even the lights, were apparently gas powered. The kitchen table and chairs were an unusual blue-toned wood and looked rough-hewn, although all surfaces were smooth and almost soft to the touch.

She watched Bruce run his hands gently over the tabletop. “Heart of ironwood,” she said. “Lignum vitae variety. My favorite of the hardwoods. It is known as the Wood of Life.”

“Huh. Never heard of it.”

“No matter. It is time for the third step of your journey here.”

Bruce raised his eyebrows. “Steps? What were the first two? And what if I’m not interested in any more steps?”

“Steps. The first was your invitation, also known as the ‘Summons’. The second was your experience on Remembering Rock, during which old memories surfaced, memories you had forgotten. And you can leave at any time.” She waited in silence.

Bruce thought about trying to out-wait her but gave up after less than a minute. “As long as I’m here, I might as well find out what the third step is.”

Guardian smiled. “Nothing to it, really. You just decide what you will do next.”

Silence.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’ll just be going on home, then.”

“Are you in a hurry? I wouldn’t mind hearing about your memories.”

Bruce shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I don’t know…”

“If these memories trouble you, it may help to share them.”

More silence.

“I guess it can’t hurt,” he said.

Guardian listened as he described the pleasant memory first.

“That memory isn’t the one bothering you,” she said.

“Not exactly. Not by itself, anyway.”

“Go on.”

It was much harder to relay the other memory, and he faltered several times. When he finished, Guardian did not speak. He waited, then finally blurted, “How could the same mother be so different?”

Guardian leaned forward. “You know the answer to that from your own experience, and you know it isn’t what’s important. There is another memory, one you haven’t told me.

“Not true. There were only two and I told them both.”

“Close your eyes and relax.”

Bruce frowned, but then did as he was told. Almost immediately he fell into the third memory. When it was over, he gasped and opened his eyes.

“I swear I didn’t have that memory earlier.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“You are correct.”

“Then what—”

“Your experience on Remembering Rock will stay with you for some time. It is possible you will continue to retrieve more lost memories from time to time. Typically the third memory is the most important one. Do you think you are ready to describe it to me?”

“It is painful,” he said, “but I can tell you.”

“Please.”

“I was in high school, in my last year. I had already applied to and been accepted by, the university of my choice. I was not surprised by this. I knew I was destined to be graduated at the top of my class due to my grades, and my extracurricular activities were mainly academic in nature. My favorite was tutoring younger students. I had a knack for explaining their work in ways they could easily understand. It was very rewarding and I wanted to be a teacher. I hadn’t talked to many people about this. Not my parents, for instance. I don’t know why, but I probably suspected their reaction. My mother’s anyway.”

He paused. “This wasn’t all part of my memory. I’m just giving you some background.”

Guardian nodded.

Bruce continued. “This is the memory. My mother came to me and asked me what I planned to study at university. She was smiling like she expected a nice birthday gift. I told her I would be studying education, as I wanted to be a teacher. Her face changed like dark clouds had suddenly rolled across the sky. ‘You idiot!’ she exploded. ‘Teachers don’t have any respect. They don’t make any money. How would that look? I wouldn’t dare show my face in public. Can you imagine what people would think? And there’s no excuse for it. With your brains and your grades, you can be anything you want.’

He paused. That was the end of the memory, but he went on.

“I was devastated. She was wrong. I couldn’t be anything I want. I wanted to be a teacher. When it was time for me to register for college, she went with me, and she filled out all my papers. She signed me up for my classes. She did this throughout my college career. I majored in business. She said the money and prestige were in acquisitions, and she hunted for job opportunities for me after I graduated. She found me an entry-level position with Pro-Ack, and that’s where I’ve been till now.”

“Are you happy?”

“I think so. I’m good at what I do. I have a wonderful family.” His face lit up as he reached for his wallet. “I have pictures.”

Guardian smiled and allowed herself to be distracted long enough to admire photos of his wife and children. Then she returned to the subject.

“You may see yourself as happy now, but you are not living the life you wanted. Why did you let your mother push you? Why didn’t you defend yourself and your choices?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I hate conflict.” He grimaced. “Ironic, isn’t it, considering my line of work.”

“Perhaps you have been preparing yourself for a change.”

“A change? What kind of change?”

“That is up to you, of course. I am merely pointing out this fact: you have been training yourself to face conflict, to learn how to resolve differences. You have gained these skills. You can use them to make new choices. If you choose to do so. Think. What would happen now if you decided to take a new path, start a new career? How would your mother react? How could you respond?”

As he sat and pondered, the breeze of his thoughts blew changing emotions across his face. In quick succession he frowned, lifted his eyebrows, pursed his lips, took a big breath and puffed the air out forcefully. He opened his mouth, closed it, opened it, and closed it again.

“I could…I can…I can do whatever I want.” He sounded surprised. “I just haven’t thought about this for a long time. I figured the time for choices was past and I needed to make the best of what I had. I’m only 28. I could start all over.” He frowned. “But I don’t know if I should. It might be a hardship for my family.”

Guardian laughed and clapped her hands. “Yes, yes, yes! You can do what you want. You can do something new with your life. You can stay where you are. It is your choice, and you can choose freely.”

“I need to discuss this with my wife. She should have some say.” He jumped up. “I better go. I want to get home, so we can decide what to do next.”

Guardian stood. “You will make a good choice, because it will be your choice.”

Bruce hugged her impulsively. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t believe this. I am so excited.”

He nearly danced out the door. “I feel like running,” he said. “I feel like jumping up and down. I feel like…like a great load has been lifted from my shoulders.”

He twirled around, then stopped and looked at Guardian with a silly grin on his face. “I’m embarrassing myself,” he said.

“Off with you, now.” She watched him trot to the north side of the grove and pass through the trees. “Have a happy life,” she said softly.

She could feel the Purities stir as the forces of light gained a little strength.