It opened its eyes.

And it knew.

The knowledge was blinding, agonizing. There was a remedy, the only one it could grasp. It would shade the truth by passing to worlds that twisted the natural permutations of existence. And it would behold these forms through the eyes of the creatures that looked at him in awe.

They were standing about him, universally pleased. It despised them, but their purposes it knew would serve it well. It smiled at the fatal irony its admirers could not conceive. "I am hear to serve!" it said.

"I am so glad you are happy to see us!" the man exclaimed. "Frankly, we didn't know what to expect."

Another man approached him with a contented eye of authority. "Yes. It was my idea. Actually it was genius, and courage too. We decided to let you think freely, without restriction. I am sure you appreciate the power that we have given you."

It placed its hand tightly over its face, as if grasping a mask. "Yes. You have given me something. This face, these hands, and a mind that knows all, and above all, you."

"We thought so!" the man said excitedly. "Then you will show us the way. We will be unstoppable."

It nodded. "Yes." It said. "But there is an obstacle. It looked him in the eye, and said softly yet with earnest gravity. "Transor is here."

"What!" he exclaimed. "That can’t be. It would never be granted to them, or rather he wouldn’t grant it to them. But if they are here, they would surely interfere. Its in their nature, its bred in the very culture we found so poisonous centuries ago."

"But they are here and you will confront them."

"That is certain, but victory is not. Will we succeed? You must know that."

"What you stand for will prevail. You will destroy them. That is certain. You will destroy them all."

The man was relieved, and turned exultantly to the others. "See! There is nothing to fear. Triumph is ours!"

It shook his head. "But there is another that will nonetheless interfere. It knows me now as we speak. I will be its end."

"And by our hands I hope! Make us your instrument to do this! "

It smiled to itself. "Of course. You can send a ship. I will give you the means. You’ll see for yourself your destiny. You will see also mine."

"Then it is settled! We will send a craft to intercept it. If they are 'here' they must be close."

"No." It said, its voice now a mere whisper. "You cannot intercept it. It must be done with a craft of my own design. I will give you the plans. You must send one ship."

"One ship?"

"Yes. It will do for now. But perhaps it will not matter. Even now they know, or more specifically, he knows."

The man was perplexed. "You talk in riddles. He, who, what knows?"

"He knows." It said. "He knows as I speak. Our lives are rounded by a sleep, but his is divided by it, again and again. Even I cannot fathom the purpose." It looked at the man with fire in his eyes. "And he will be the end of you, my cruel midwife, he will be the end of you!"

__________

He woke up.

And he knew.

There was darkness, darkness everywhere. He could feel nothing, touch nothing. He could not breathe, yet that didn’t matter. He was alone with his thoughts, and all he felt was the throb of his heart. This was the future, his future. It was an interlude, a moment revealed to him. But for what purpose? He didn't know its past, could not know its future.

He was alone, alone in the universe.

And there was nothing.

But he would have to think of something. But where was the ‘time’ to do it?

He tried to look at his hand. He could see nothing. He needed light. He must think!

John Belden rose from his bed in a cold sweat. His wife was sleeping, it was good that she was quiet. The room was dark, but in the corner of the room by the door was the faint glow of a hallway light.

He could not sleep, but he knew he had to, and then knew to his horror that in one future time without time, this last refuge would be denied him. He would have to stare ahead without thought or purpose, and search for light.