You are wrong, said Sutton's destiny. Destiny is real although you cannot see it. It is real for you and for all other things…for every single thing that knows the surge of life. And it has always been and it will always be.
This is not death? asked Sutton.
You are the first to come to us, said destiny. We cannot let you die. We will give you back your body, but until then you will live with me. You will be part of me. And that is only fair, for I have lived with you; I have been part of you.
You did not want me here, said Sutton. You built a screen to keep me out.
We wanted one, said destiny. One only. You are that one; there will be no more.
But the screen?
It was keyed to a mind, said destiny. To a certain mind. The kind of mind we wanted.
But you let me die.
You had to die, destiny told him. Until you died and became one of us you could not know. In your body we could not have reached you. You had to die so that you would be freed and I was there to take you and make you part of me so you would understand.
I do not understand, said Sutton.