let it disturb
me--though it seemed so real I find it hard to dismiss as I should."

Two overly-real dreams not only on the same night, but apparently at
the same time . . . "I just had one of those myself," he said. "If
yours matches, I think we can count on interesting times ahead--tell me
about it."

When she finished, he rubbed his scar. "Word for word, and as close to
action for action as possible with you in here and me outside. Not a
dream, then, was it?"

"No." Chang managed a shaky smile. "To live in interesting times is
an ancient curse of my people, did you know that?"

"I'd heard," Odeon said. "This was a blessing, though." He fell
silent. "If we can believe the visions, anyway. On the other hand,
Shayan is the Father of Lies, and his only absolute limitation is that
he can't create life. He could be trying to trick us."

Chang shook her head. "I have felt Shayan's touch, Michael; I would
know it anywhere, and that was not he. More, what benefit would he get
from such trickery?"

"None that I can think of," Odeon admitted. "And I don't really
believe the idea myself--comes from a career of questioning everything,
especially when there's no physical proof one way or the other."

"There is a form of proof possible," Chang said. "If either of us can
do something we know to be sinful, the vision was false. If not, which
I am certain is the case, it seems safe enough to assume its truth;
even in my most cynical moments, I cannot believe that Shayan would
render a human incapable of sin, even if such lies within his power."

"I can, under one condition, but since I don't believe he's capable of
love--especially where Enforcement people are concerned--I agree with
your conclusion."

Odeon thought for a minute, then made the attempt, with a total lack of
success. Giving the nun a half-smile, he shrugged. "Can't violate the
First Commandment, at any rate. I can consider it intellectually with
no problem, but when think comes to do, no way." His attempt at a
humorous grin turned into an elated smile. "Sis, it's great! I've
been praying for this since I was a boy and learned what the Protector
would do--I not only can't sin now, I can't even want to!"

Chang gestured him to quiet down before his enthusiasm woke the rest;
it was still well before normal time to get up, and waking someone
unnecessarily was rude at best. His pleasure was infectious, though,
and she couldn't help returni