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Show 7?i the Almighty- Dread t h a t I had f e l t before we reached the building had vanished. Rivalry, bigdry, self-righteousness and fear seemed p a r t of another, lesser world. Was this a taste of c e l e s t i a l b l i s s ? Had my f a t h e r ' s spiritual ambition, humility, and s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n won him a heaven on earth once more? "I haven't been so happy since I was five years old." I murmured to Brian. He l i f t ed an eyebrow i r o n i c a l l y . "That's not a very flattering thing to t e l l your husband." I flushed. "Well... there have been moments. . ." But nothing as pure, as complete and sustained as the warm, honey-like love t h a t flowed around us. The only break in my hallucinatory happiness came at one point when the door opened and no one came in. I glanced at the door, then around the room. No one seemed to have noticed the phenomenon but me. Then I saw that my father was eyeing the door, too. He s t a r t e d quickly and l e f t his place on the platform, hurrying up the s t a i r s to the upper story. My heart leaped a f t e r him; I wanted to follow and ask what was wrong. But I couldn't move my feet. I nudged Brian. "My f a t h e r ' s afraid of something," I whispered. Brian glanced up, but was drawn back into conversation. I watched the s t a i r s , feeling something shadowy and threatening in the room. I wanted to go after my father. L°rd, help us, I prayad. |