“I think that was to prepare us for the prophet’s vision,” Ahmad said when he regained his breath. “If we’ve seen clearly the what-was and what-is, the what-will-be will not seem quite as frightening.”
“More than preparation,” Jafar replied. “I think it was a purification as well. Just as the water in the pool outside cleansed our bodies, so this fire cleansed our minds. I wonder if any truly evil man can walk through that fire and not go running back out the door we entered because he can’t face what he is and what he’s done.”
After several moments, when their nerves had recovered from the experience, the two men straightened up and looked ahead. There was nothing now between themselves and the door they were told to enter; not wishing to linger any longer in this enchanted hallway, the
