21
THE TEMPLE WAS AS SHE'D left it. The benches were polished, and the Eye sat at the front of the alter, glowing day and night. She knelt in front of it and poured out her heart to the Universal. She prayed for the life of her friend Chiza and for Jak. Countless more would be sick and could die if she didn't find an answer soon. Her shoulders slumped with the weight of the mission in front of her.
A soft shuffling to her left brought her head up. She saw an old woman coming toward the altar.
"I'm sorry, I need to be alone,” she said, hoping that the woman would understand she wasn't trying to be rude.
The old woman didn't speak, but eased herself down to her fragile knees and bowed her head to the Eye, her purple skin already ashen and her hair black with age. Rasha turned away, then
