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The door swung open swiftly with a forceful suck of air. "Mr. Fick...
Tanis, ...and Mahmud," George said eagerly as he reached for their hands, "this is surely an
honor," he said shaking Tanis' and then Mahmud's hand while gripping their wrist at the
same time; the sign of universal friendship and brotherhood. "Come in, please, come
in," he said cheerfully, herding the two into the room, and kicking the door closed behind
them as they entered. "I'm George;" everything was happening in a ball of fast
confusion, "welcome gentlemen." He motioned the two visitors to the seating area across
the room. "And this is my associate Charlie." Charlie stood behind the desk with his
arm outstretched in greeting, wearing a broad smile. Tanis approached the man, grabbed
his hand, and then noticed his companion Mahmud on his knees with his head bowed, and arms
outstretched in front of him. He was bending deep at the waist repeatedly touching the
ground and mumbling incoherently. Tanis' eyes betrayed his distress; George kept things
rolling.
"Oh, your friends' fine Mr. Fick," George said with a reassuring tone and a
slight pat on the back. "You see, Mahmud there is present in a far off tent somewhere
with Allah and Mohammed, while your present here in this office with Charlie and me," he said
matter of factiously. "It's all quite simple really; It's what one's mind expects to
see that they really see, or experience is perhaps a better word. But enough of that
for now, I'm sure your more concerned about what the hell is going on; what's happening, and
why are you here, right?" he asked rhetorically. Tanis half stared, half nodded, and
said nothing. Continuing, George said, "As for the reasons why your here, well that
will become clear to both of you simultaneously, in a manner you can understand on a familiar
level, and it concerns in part a message we have for the both of you, and perhaps to ask a
favor as well." He breathed, "But lets take it one step at a time."
George noticed for the first time the disk in Tanis', and glanced aside to
Charlie, who raised a curious eyebrow. "I see you brought the disk, good... good.
Have a seat," he added innocently.
Tanis became aware that he was still standing, and edged his way over to an
awaiting chair; Mahmud was still lost to him. For the first time since entering
the odd light in the odd chamber he was beginning to regain some part of himself, and he
slowly started to resolve something of his current situation, as unbelievable as it
was. He was obviously dead. The all consuming bright light had all but consumed
everything but the last few moments, and soon as he was done his present thought there would
no longer be any Tanis Fick. This he was certain of. But first he must have to
sit through this; this what? Was this his final judgment, the Grand Reckoning? He
didn't see any big books, or accounts anywhere; but of course not. They probably got
some electronic system that spits out a tally, or just a thumbs up or down. But then
why this strange office, and what was the elevator all about, and The receptionist, and he
saw gaggles of angels, but no clouds, and where was all the harp music, or was that after one
crossed over, and what did one have to cross over anyway? Was this office, or interview
the big crossover point? Was St. Peter, or some other saint going to show up with a big
set of keys, or maybe some guy dressed in red; burning for eternity, that didn't sound very
good. And what about these two guys? A favor? So he was dead; just
great...
Tanis sat and as a reflex he muttered, "Am... Am... I... Where..." was all he
could manage.
"Dead? Nooo... No No No my friend," said George with a chuckle.
"Your fine. Your fine, and so is your good friend there. Relax, we know this is out of
the ordinary for you, but it will all begin to make sense real soon," George started. "Bottom
line is we need your help Mr. Fick. The absolute truth is that our destinies - mine," he
indicated each of them as he spoke, "yours, Charlie's, Mahmud's, and quite literally, the Earth,
destinies have become forever linked; joined, interwoven. We need you to help us help you in
ways that - even though you don't understand them yet - we need you to help us in ways that only
you can," he paused for a moment. "We have a lot of work to do Tanis old boy, a lot of
work. Please, let me and Charlie explain. Charlie?"
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