THE CONTROL ROOM (CON'T)

Feeling follows the lead of Ignorance. The three walk out the door. Awareness addresses Enlightenment and Illumination in a military fashion. “Turn up your luminescence so we can see what’s going on here.”

“Yes sir.” Enlightenment and Illumination say in unison. They look at each other with surprise and do as they are commanded. They increase their luminescence to an incandescent flame. Although its brilliance is only ten candles it is still enough to make everyone in the vicinity cover their eyes and scream in pain.

As they pass the office of the Secretary of State of Being, Simplicity opens the door and demands. “What’s going on? Ugh!” He covers his eyes and quickly closes the door.

The light suppresses Feeling and Ignorance being partially blind covers his one good eye as they come to the office of Innocence. Awareness pushes his way into the office where the Critical Parent stands beside a badly abuses child. The sight takes Awareness aback. “Innocence, are you alright?” Awareness asks.

“Who are you?” Innocence asks timidly.

“I am Awareness.” He says compassionately. “Origin, King of the Land of New Beginnings, has sent me into Castle Glade to find you. Are you alright?” Awareness repeats himself.

“Yes,” Innocence weakly says, “I think so.”

“Sure he’s alright.” The Critical Parent snaps. “Why wouldn’t he be?”

“You!” Awareness commands. “HOLD YOUR TONGUE!

“Innocence.” Awareness repeats. “Are you alright?”

“I am tired.” Innocence says. “And the light it hurts my eyes.”

“Enlightenment.” Awareness commands, “Come in here and dim your luminescence to a dusky luster. The rest of you out! And Illumination if anyone gives you any trouble blind them all.”

“Yes sir.” Illumination obeys.

Awareness looks at Innocence with compassion. He cannot believe the abuse that the boy has gone through. Innocence has bruises on his face, neck and arms. He cannot look at Awareness in the eyes. Innocence appears to have been demoralized. Awareness feels so deeply for this young boy. It suddenly occurs to him what he must do. As he realizes this, a ripple of fear runs through his body. Still he knows.

Suddenly Wisdom appears in the room before Awareness. She, knowing and understanding the situation, too has her luminescence toned down to a dusky luster. “Now you know your objective, Awareness. You must become one with the Wounded Child. If you don’t the child will die, and Castle Glade with it. You are their only hope.”

“But if I become one with Innocence I will no longer be Awareness.” He appeals to Wisdom.

“You will always be aware.” Wisdom smiles. “You will simply make Innocence aware and you will bring awareness to Castle Glade. No more will darkness dwell in Castle Glade for with you comes the light of New Beginnings.”

“I need some time to think about this”. Awareness tells Wisdom. He leaves the office and walks back into the stairwell. As the door behind him closes the light from his two companions is lost and Awareness is left in the darkness, alone to come to the most important decision of his life.

What should I do? I am so afraid. If I become one with Innocence I will never have privacy again. I will never be able to make my own decisions. I will never have any of my own private thoughts. Innocence will know everything about me. He will know my loves, my fears, and my imperfections. He will know my very essence. And I will know his. I will never know aloneness again.

And what if there are things that I want to do that he doesn’t? What if he doesn’t have the same likes and dislikes as I do? What if he is a late riser? What if he goes to bed too early? What if he doesn’t like the same foods I like?

O if only I knew how it would be. If only there was some way that this can be done without me becoming one with Innocence. If only Origin had asked someone else to go on this mission. If only I would have refused to go.

Suddenly Awareness remembers the snipers and how they attacked and tried to divert Awareness from fulfilling his mission. No, that will not happen! I will not be ensnared by ‘what if’s’ and ‘If only’s.’ However I must think this thing through for it will mean that I will no longer exist as I have before. I must count the cost.

“Awareness.” A voice calls to him out of the darkness. “You must not do this thing.”

“Who are you?” Awareness asks.

“I am King My Way.” The Erie voice answers.

“What do you want?” Awareness asks.

“I want you to think about what you are going to do”. King My Way replies from out of the darkness. “You have so much to lose and nothing to gain. You have more than your identity to lose. You will lose your very existence. You have undoubtedly thought of all the privacy you will lose but do you also know that you will lose all your friends. Your friends may not like Innocence. They may not get along with him. You may not like his friends. There is so much uncertainty in this making this decision.

Awareness begins to ponder the things that King My Way is saying. He has not considered that. There are so many uncertainties. There is the uncertainty of contentment. There is the uncertainty of happiness. There is the uncertainty of peace. There is the uncertainty of comfort. There is also the uncertainty that I will survive this ordeal. It is then that Awareness remembers the words of Limbo while they rode in his Elevator. You know where you’ve been it’s where you haven’t been that bothers you. The problem comes from the uncertainty of THERE. If they only knew that every new experience was ultimately GOOD they would look forward to enter.

“Have you considered what I can do for you?” King My Way asks. “I can give you fame. I can give you fortune. I can make you great. Your name will be heralded throughout the Land of Uncertainty.”

“It is better serve in the light,” Awareness answers, “than rule in the darkness.”

Suddenly the stairwell begins to get lighter. Awareness looks around for one of the Beings of Light, but as he turns he sees only King My Way standing behind him near the stairway. He turns again looking for the source of light and then he looks down at his own body and it is giving off an aura of light. It is he, Awareness, which is the source of the light. King My Way covers his eyes with the hood of his cape. Awareness has come to the decision. He will become one with the child.

Awareness grabs the handle of the door and heads for the Office of Innocence. King My Way calls to Awareness “Stop Awareness”. Awareness ignores his appeals. King My Way calls to his officers. “Stop him!” Fear reaches for Awareness but Awareness throws him aside. Worry leaps to tackle Awareness but Awareness maneuvers away from his grasp. Doubt throws himself in front of Awareness but Awareness leaps over his body. Awareness throws open the door to the Office of Innocence and the Critical Parent shouts obstinacies to Awareness and attempts to intimidate him with vicious threats but Awareness grabs the Critical Parent by the shoulders and throws it away from the Wounded Child.

“Innocence.” Awareness says gently to him. He takes Innocence by the hand and pulls him gently out of the chair and draws him to himself. “Come to me.”

Awareness embraces the Wounded Child and as he does the room begins to fill with a radiant blinding light. The light shines with such force that it blows the dome off the top of the tower and fills all of Castle Glade with its glory.

Feeling and Ignorance are knocked unconscious. King My Way and his forces flee. The light of the Oneness of Innocence and Awareness continues flooding the castle.

It is the kind of day in which most fairytales would begin. A day children love to lie in the soft green grass and look up at the bright blue sky, imagining the different shapes in the white fluffy clouds as they float by. There is a cloud formation that resembles a rabbit, another cloud that takes the shape a great cat chasing a small bird, still another takes the shape of a huge grizzly bear reaching toward heaven… and then suddenly a fragile white dove flies into view. It’s two eyes shine like crystals of light reflecting the image of the castle as it peers down at it. It glides over the castle and rest upon a crystal dome. In surveying the castle the refection of small boy sitting at a large desk mirrors in his one eye like the future emerging from a crystal ball.

Reflectively the boy looks up from his desk and sees the dove and smiles.

THE CONTROL ROOM

They finally reach the Control Room door. Standing just outside the three discuss how they will enter. After much discussion, it is finally decided that they will simply walk in like they own the place and let Origin give them the words to speak at the moment they are needed. Enlightenment and Illumination look back down the stairwell and then back at each other as if they were saying to one another. ‘There is still time to go back down”. But Awareness looks at the door with great ambition and determination. He takes a deep breath, reaches for the handle and opens the door.

“Well, there you are!” Feeling says with a smile as he turns and notices Awareness and his companions. “We‘ve been expecting you. Come in, Come in”. Feeling beckons them.

The three walk cautiously toward Feeling.

“Don’t be timid.” Feeling tells them as he motions for them to come closer. “I won’t bite.”

The three reach arms length and stop. Feeling is so much taller than Awareness had expected him to be. He also seems so much more genuine than he imagined him. That is what scares Awareness the most, because he knows the damage that Feeling has caused to Castle Glade and how he has done it through manipulation and deceit. However the character that is before him is not the character that he had envisioned. He is actually likeable. He makes Awareness and his companions’ feel welcome and at home. This is truly NOT what he had expected. Awareness keeps he guard up.

“Let me show you around”. Feeling raps his arm around Awareness and walks him to the Point of View room where a lanky, tall character sits with a peculiar type of spotlight.

“Awareness.” Feeling says. “This is Wrong Focus. He is the Guardian of the Spotlight. He is in charge of making sure that Castle Glade behaves the way we desire him to. See that thing he is holding?” Feeling points to a device that Wrong Focus is holding on his shoulder. “That is the Spotlight. It is a powerful tool in the hands of an ally but a dangerous weapon in the hands of an enemy. Are you an ally or an enemy Awareness?”

Awareness remains silent but attentive.

“Never mind.” Feeling says as he removes his arm from around Awareness’s shoulder. “I will take you on a tour of this place. You probably are dying to know how this place operates and what it is used for. These rooms here are very similar to the ones on the lower levels that you may have learned about when you first arrived at the Tower of Perspective. The difference here, of course, is that in the rooms below you see what the View Ports want you to see. In these rooms we see what we want to see. We control all the ports from this location, hence the name CONTROL Room. The Spotlight that Wrong Focus is holding is able to penetrate the View Port and track who and what we want to track. It can telescope to great distances as well as microscope to equal depths. It can project into the past, present or future. It can penetrate into the depths of reality as well as explore the furthest regions of the imagination. It can see through walls, around corners and under carpets. There is nothing that can be hid from the spotlight once the Guardian of the Spotlight wishes to view it. He merely projects the Spotlight through the view port that I direct him to, turns towards the direction he desires to look and wills into view what he wishes to see.”

Awareness looks up at the ceiling.

“Above your head there is a dome.” Feeling perceives Awareness’s interest. “It was originally made of crystal clear glass so one could view life with clarity but King My Way had the glass dome removed and installed an opaque dome in its stead making life appear to be dull and hard to understand. The underside of the dome is mirrored so that those in the Control Tower are constantly focused inwardly and therefore blind to outside influences.”

Awareness could see that many of the rooms were occupied with several different families.

Feeling senses Awareness’s curiosity. “Those are the members of the Board of Administrators. I moved them up here so they could actively be involved in the control of Castle Glade. Each one of their family members take their turns in the chair while Wrong Focus records the scenes on a viewer that is played over and over to Memory.”

Memory sits there idly, at the INFORMATION booth, wearing headphones and viewing the most hideous scenes imaginable. Awareness looks at Memory who appears old and worn out. It is obvious that he has been abused and manipulated into submission.

While Feeling gives Awareness a tour of the Control Room they come to a door that reads Secretary of State of Mind on the frosted glass. Awareness notices that over the door there is a wooden plaque with the words WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW WON’T HURT YOU burned into it. Awareness shakes his head.

“This is the office of Ignorance.” Feeling tells Awareness. “Would you like to meet him?”

Awareness shrugs his shoulders. “Sure.” Enlightenment and Illumination stay in the corridor while Feeling and Awareness enter.

Sitting behind a large desk working by a single candlelight is a small boy.

“Hello Ignorance, I hope you don’t mind if we disturb you.” Feeling says.

“No, come right in.” Ignorance replies.

“I want to introduce you to someone”. Feeling addresses the Secretary. “Ignorance this is Awareness. He is come here all the way from the Land of New Beginnings, just to meet us. Haven’t you Awareness?”

“Yes that is correct”. Awareness answers. “How do you do Ignorance? It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard much about you.”

“It is nice meeting you too, Awareness”. Ignorance stands and reaches out his hand to Awareness. The two shake hands. “Sit down, please.” Ignorance gestures to the chair in front of his desk. Feeling sits in a chair near the door. Awareness sits. Then Ignorance sits using diplomatic edicate. “What brings you to Castle Glade, Awareness?”

“I have been sent here on a mission by Origin, King of the Land of New Beginnings”. Awareness tells Ignorance. Feeling listens intently. “My mission is to find the Wounded Child.”

“Wounded Child?” Ignorance asks.

“Yes.” Awareness reiterates. “The Wounded Child. I have been told that he is being held here.”

“Oh!” Ignorance exclaims. “You must mean Innocence. Yes he is here. He is in his office. What do you want from him?”

“Excuse me sir”. Awareness says sternly. “But that is between the Wounded Chi… I mean Innocence and myself.

“Well,” Ignorance insists. “You will have to tell me why you want to see him. All Innocence’s visitors come through me.”

“I am sorry sir”. Awareness stands his ground. “That is not going to happen. My business is with the Wounded Child and not his subordinates. I want to see him and I want to see him now. I am here by the Authority of Origin, Creator and Ruler of all things and nothing you can say or do will keep me from fulfilling my purpose.” Awareness stands. As he does so do Ignorance and Feeling. The authority that Awareness has suddenly displayed intimidates the two.

“Yes sir,” Ignorance shutters. “Right away.”

THE TOWER OF PERSPECTIVE (CON'T)

Awareness looks at Enlightenment and then he looks at Illumination and it is obvious that they can all tell what one another are thinking. They, all three, make a mad dash to the stairwell door and quickly run up the stairs, and don’t stop, until they come to the twentieth floor. That is the age they all were when they had entered the Tower of Perspective, before they were humbled to adolescence. They enter the vantage point huffing and puffing. Just to the right of the door is an INFORMATION booth with a twenty-year-old Memory smiling. “I remember you.” Memory laughs.

Awareness and the others step back into the stairwell.

“We have got to plan a strategy for entering into the Control Tower”. Awareness tells his companions. “We can’t go in there without a plan.”

“I agree, Awareness.” Enlightenment says. “But if we don’t know what to expect how can we make any plans. What will we plan for?”

“It is hard to make plans without any understanding”. Illumination agrees.

“Well maybe we should try to find someone who will tell us what we can expect.” Awareness says trying to figure it all out.

“Well, I know what helps me.” Enlightenment interjects.

“What’s that?” Awareness asks.

“ I usually make a list of the pros and cons.” Enlightenment answers.

“Good idea!” Awareness exclaims. “Let’s write them down”. Awareness reaches into his armor and pulls out a writing implement. He bends over and draws a cross on the floor. On one side of the cross he writes ‘Pros’ and on the other side he writes ‘Cons.’

“Let’s see”. He writes ‘Getting older as we reach each higher level’, under the ‘Cons’ column. “Yeah!” Awareness says aloud and writes. ‘Don’t know what to expect when we reach the Control Tower’, under the ‘Cons’ column. “And there is the possibility of getting an aging disease”. Awareness says as he writes that down in the ‘Cons’ column.

“Aging disease?” Enlightenment and Illumination ask together.

“Yeah”, Awareness is surprised that the two have never heard of it. “You know, Senility, Dementia and Alzheimer Disease. And oh yeah, there is the dreaded Second Childhood syndrome. I had a hard enough time going through my first childhood. I am not going through that again.”

“I can’t think of any ‘Pros’ to add.” Enlightenment says.

“I can” Awareness says. “One thing and it balances the whole list. “Purpose… This is my purpose and it will bring the entire castle into wholeness.”

Awareness stands up with a look of determination on his face. He sticks the writing element back beneath his armor and says. “Let’s go. No sense worrying. We have a number of levels ahead of us and plenty of time to figure things out. Something is bound to come up”. With that Awareness grabs the handrail and catapults himself up the stairs, two at a time. Enlightenment and Illumination followed with equal enthusiasm.

At the Thirty-Fifth Level, as Awareness begins to enter the room he drops the writing implement, which somehow had found its way loose from beneath his armor. He reaches back into the stairwell to pick it up when Enlightenment says with surprise. “Awareness!

Look at yourself!”

“What?” Awareness asks with equal surprise.

“Once you opened the door to enter the room and stepped in you aged according to the level of the floor. However, when you stepped back into the stairwell to retrieve your writing implement you went back to your normal age.” Enlightenment says with amazement.

“Really.” Awareness says. His companions could see Awareness’s brain begin to glow with ideas. “We can use this information. We had better check it out to make sure.”

Awareness steps into the room and walks over to the INFORMATION booth to the right of the stairwell door with a thirty-five year old Memory sitting at the booth.

“Memory,” Awareness says. “My companions and I have discovered a piece of information about the Tower of Perspective and I wanted to ask you if you can confirm it.”

“Yes.” Memory says patiently. “What is it?”

Awareness begins. “When we arrived at this level, just a moment ago, I dropped my writing implement upon entering the room. It rolled back into the stairwell. I stepped back into the stairwell to pick it up and Enlightenment informed me that he had witnessed an interesting occurrence. Enlightenment had told me that he had noticed I had aged upon entering the room but when I stepped back into the stairwell I returned to my normal age. Why is it that he observed such an phenomenon?”

“The stairwell is neutral.” Memory replies. “It is open all the way up. There is no way to separate one year from another in an open corridor. The Entry’s to the Vantage Point Levels are the Separation Partitions. There is a force field over the opening as you pass through when the doors are open. This would be impossible to construct separating each level in the stairwell.”

“So,” Awareness says. His brain is going a mile per minute. “We retain the age that we were at the time of entering the Tower of Perspective in the stairwell. What about at the Control Tower?”

“The Control Tower is also timeless.” Memory tells them.

“Then we retain our age there also.” Awareness states.

“That is correct.” Memory replies.

“Great!” Awareness slaps his hand on the counter of the booth. “Let’s go.”

The three walk back into the stairwell and Awareness gives Enlightenment and Illuminations the details of his plan… so far.

“We are going to stay in the stairwell”. Awareness explains. “We won’t go out into the Vantage Point Level areas unless it is absolutely necessary. This way we will avoid any unforeseen events there. So at least we know what to expect in the stairwell.”

And so Awareness and his companions continue their climb to the Control Tower.

When they come to the thirty-ninth level Awareness and his companions feel like they have just stepped into somebody’s living room. There is a large sofa with an end table on each side. Next to it there is a high back chair with an end table beside it. The furniture completely surrounds the object of their focus, which is a big screen TV. The three are amazed to see that the television is on and when they walk closer they can see, sitting in the high back chair, a character totally engrossed in watching the television

“Excuse me” Awareness says meekly, not wanting to startle the character.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” the character says, “I didn’t hear you knock.”

“We didn’t.” Awareness says. Feeling he really hasn’t done anything wrong being that they were in a stairwell and there was no door indicating that this was a private residence.

“Well, what is it that you want?” The character asks.

“We, my servants and I, are on our way to the Control Tower.” Awareness answers. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure, why not, you are already in my living room.” The character says rudely

“I have noticed that in all of Castle Glade there are no lights and yet here you have the whole landing of the stairwell lit by the light of your television set. How is that?” Awareness asks.

“King My Way doesn’t mind us watching television.” The character answers confidently. “In fact he encourages it.”

“My name is Awareness.” He says politely. “And these are my two servants and friends, Enlightenment and Illuminations. What is your name?”

“My name is Rerun.” The character answers reluctantly.

“Why do they call you Rerun?” Awareness asks.

“Did I ask you why they called you Awareness?” Rerun replies rudely. “But if you must know they call me Rerun because I love to watch the reruns on TV. My favorite is ‘The Jack Benny Show.’ He’s the reason I live here on the Thirty-ninth floor. Whenever somebody asks his age he would answer that he was Thirty-nine years old. I think that is so funny.”

“Why are you living in the stairway?” Awareness asks.

“Well, I have discovered that I have this disease.” Rerun says. “The doctors call it senescent phobia.”

“Senescent phobia?” Awareness asks, “What’s that?”

“It is the fear of growing old.” Rerun answers. “So when I discovered that I had it I moved into the stairwell. Here you don’t age. You stay the age in which you are when you entered the Tower of Perspective.”

“Yes, we know.” Awareness says, “We just found that out.”

“How long have you been living here?” Awareness asks,

“Since I first found out that I had this disease.” Rerun answers.

“And when was that?” Awareness asks.

“Boy, you ask a lot of questions.” Rerun replies rudely. “I was Thirty-nine years old.”

“And how old are you now?” Awareness asks.

“Thirty-nine.” Rerun laughs.

“Can you tell us anything about the Control Tower?” Awareness asks.

“What would you like to know?” Rerun asks.

“Well, what characters reside there?” Awareness asks.

“Feelings is in charge.” Rerun answers. “He is the Chief Predominant Influence in Castle Glade. He is also in charge of Wrong Focus, the Guardian of the Spotlight.”

“Wrong Focus?” Awareness asks, “What does he do?”

“He directs the attention of Castle Glade to whatever characters that Feelings desires him to focus on.” Rerun answers.

“What for?” Awareness asks.

“Well,” Rerun explains. “Let’s say that Feeling wants to direct Castle Glade to the attention of Worry. He will instruct Wrong Focus to shine the Spotlight on Worry and keep it there. Once the attention is directed towards Worry then the entire castle’s Attitude, Disposition and Appearance will demonstrate worry. Now if Feeling wants to direct Castle Glade’s attention towards Fear then he will have Wrong Focus shine the Spotlight on Fear. All the while the attention is on Fear the castle is experiencing its emotion.”

“Why would King My Way want to do that?” Awareness asks.

“The ways of King My Way are beyond comprehension.” Reruns answers.

“You can say that again.” Enlightenment replies

“As well as beyond understanding.” Illumination adds.

“What can you tell us of the Wounded Child?” Awareness asks

“The Wounded Child is being held hostage there in the Control Tower”. Rerun says with concern. Here is the first sign of humanity that Rerun exhibits. “The Critical Parent is keeping watch over him and keeping him in line.”

“What can you tell us about the Critical Parent?” Awareness continues to probe Rerun for any information that might be helpful.

“Well the Critical Parent has two faces.” Rerun says solemnly. “It has the face of both the Father and the Mother. However their voice is critical, demanding and demeaning. It badgers the Wounded Child all day long. It tells him he is stupid when he makes a mistake and when he fails It tells him he will never amount to anything. To the Critical Parent the Wounded Child can never do anything right. It demands total perfection from the Wounded Child. Anytime the child attempts to let his voice be known the Critical Parent quickly shuts him down with demoralizing ridicule.

With the information Awareness now has he is confident that he will know what to do when he arrives at the Control Tower. He thanks Rerun for his help and apologizes for intruding into his living room. As he leaves to head toward the Control Tower he says to Rerun as a last farewell. “Enjoys your reruns my newfound friend.”

“Good-bye.” Rerun says as the three climb out of sight.

THE TOWER OF PERSPECTIVE

When they awaken Insightful departs and Awareness and his companions walk down the path through the park until they come to a large courtyard. The courtyard is circular and in the center of the courtyard is a tall circular building whose name is The Tower of Perspective.

“It looks to be a mile high!” Awareness exclaims.

It has windows completely around the building on each floor. Awareness and his companions enter the building through the huge glass doors and enter the lobby of the building. In a large glass case there is a model and set of plans of the entire building. Illumination walks over to the glass case and begins to look at the plans.

He reads the specifications out loud.

“The Tower of Perspective has a diameter of 80 feet. It has a circumference of 250 feet with an area of 5025 square feet. There are twenty-four view ports on each floor. The view ports are eight feet high and eight feet wide. Each view port represents a different point of view. On each floor there are twenty-four rooms. The rooms are ten feet wide at the view port and six and a half feet wide at the entry and thirty feet long. In the center of the building is a stairwell. The stairwell is twenty feet in diameter with the stairway being six feet wide, raps around the circumference of the stairwell. There is a landing on each level that is ten feet wide by twenty feet long. The height of each level is twelve feet high.”

“Wow!” Awareness exclaims. “This is almost like an Amusement Park. Lets go up and look through the different Points of View.”

“Wait!” Enlightenment stops Awareness with caution. “There is a warning. Let me read it to you. ‘WARNING! As you arrive at each Point of View it is important for you to understand not to take that Point of View too seriously. (It could prove to be fatal). Each time you arrive at a different Point of View your view point may change and you may find that your views had not taken into consideration the broader viewpoint.’”

“I think we should read further before we venture in.” Illuminations warns.

“Very well.” Awareness submits to logic.

“Here look at this.” Illumination continues reading the building specs on the plans.

“ ‘ One level of the tower shall be scheduled to be constructed each year. The construction of each level shall take one year to complete. The construction of each level shall commence on the anniversary of the first day that ground was broken on the first level, which shall hereafter be referred to as the Control Tower. It will be completed on the day before that anniversary of the following year. Each new level will elevate the Control Tower one level above itself. Therefore always giving the Control Tower the greatest vantage point.’”

As Enlightenment and Illumination read the specifications Awareness’s excitement builds. “I can’t wait any longer.” Awareness says. “Let’s go in.”

Awareness runs over to a large circular structure in the center of the lobby. “This must be the stairwell.” He says. He runs over to the door and discovers it is locked.

He knocks on the door. Looking through a small glass window in the door he notices two strange looking security guards walk up to the glass.

”What do you want?” They ask in unison.

“We want to go up to the Control Tower.” Awareness answers.

“What is the Password?” They recite together.

“First tell me your names.” Awareness demands, trying to appear that he has some right or even authority in the Tower of Perspective.

“My name is Near-sighted,” The character says squinting, trying to ascertain who Awareness is and what authority he might have. “And this is Narrow-minded.”

He gestures to his companion.

Now what does this character Narrow-minded look like? Well he can look like anyone. He can look like you. He can look like me. But you don’t know what I look like so then image him to look like you, or better yet image him to look like someone you know who is narrow-minded. The important thing is that you understand how he acts. He cannot comprehend broad ideas. He has a limited imagination. He is unsuccessful with multi-tasking. He has a prejudiced mind pertaining to persons and/or opinions. He is not

receptive to new ideas and he has a closed mind. Well, upon looking at what this character is like if you have gotten this far in this book you are certainly NOT a narrow-minded person. But you undoubtedly know someone who is so insert his or her picture here.

In like manner there is Near-sighted. How can I describe him? He can also look like anyone of us. However he has a limited vision. He lacks tolerance and understanding. He is unable and unwilling to act prudently. He lacks foresight and discernment. He has a hard time seeing the big picture and he squints a lot.

Well now that you have an idea of what these characters look like let’s get on with our adventure.

“You may not pass unless you say the password.” Near-sighted and Narrow-minded recite in unison

Awareness, Enlightenment and Illumination huddle together and discuss a strategy to outwit the guards into giving them the password.

Enlightenment is the first to walk up to the stairwell door and speaks up loudly so he can be heard through the closed door as he looks through the small glass window. “Is the password something that I should know about from every day life?”

“Yes” Near-sighted nods in agreement.

“Do I experience it everyday?” Enlightenment asks again

Again Near-sighted nods enthusiastically “Yes!”

“Would I know it if I see it?” Enlightenment continues.

“Yes! O Yes!” the guards chorus together.

“Is it in plain view?” Enlightenment asks.

“That’s it!” They cry out. “At least that’s half of it.”

“Here let me try.” Illumination relieves Enlightenment.

“Does it have a direction?” Illumination yells at the door

“O, it most definitely does.” Narrow-minded replies.

“Will I understand it when I see it?” Illumination continues

“That you can, that you can!” The guards chorus together.

“Have I ever had it?” Illumination desperately asks whatever comes to mind.

“O yes you certainly have!” Narrow-minded exclaims

Illumination strains to think of what it might be. His mind begins to hurt from trying to think so hard. He simply has no idea. He looks at the others who have blank expressions on each of their faces. He cannot think of any more questions to ask.

“O what’s the point!” Illumination lifts his hands in frustration.

“That’s the other half!” The two guards rejoice. “But you must say both halves together in their proper order.”

The three look at one another in bewilderment and then huddle together again. They chatter back and forth for a moment and then Awareness exclaims, “I GOT IT!”

He stands directly in front of the door, looking through the small glass window at the two guards and says confidently, “View Point.”

“You’ve got it alright!” the two guards chorus together. “You may pass.” The door opens. Near-sighted bows politely. “We may escort you only to the lower levels and then we must return to our post.”

Awareness and his companions, along with Near-sighted and Narrow-minded walk up the stairs together and Awareness asks. “Can you tell us a little about this place?”

“Well,” Near-sighted begins. “Our views are quite limited remaining on the lower levels as we do. From where I stand my outlook is rather confined. Actually my only view port is the window that looks out into the lobby. But that doesn’t matter much since King My Way came in and took away all the light. There’s nothing much to look at now. I guess you could say that Castle Glade is completely near-sighted if not blind.”

“What’s your opinion, Narrow-minded?” Awareness asks.

“Opinion?” Narrow-minded growls. “Why should you care about my opinion? I am utterly intolerant of yours. I don’t care much for strangers and I don’t care much about you. You three look like trouble to me.”

“But you don’t even know us?” Enlightenment questions the comments of Narrow-minded.

“That doesn’t matter!” Narrow-minded answers.

“How could you understand us without hearing our thoughts on any subject?” Illumination asks.

“That doesn’t matter either!” Narrow-minded again answers.

“Is there no reasoning with you?” Awareness asks.

“Don’t waste your time!” Narrow-minded replies.

“Well,” Near-sighted interrupts. “This is as far as we go.”

“Good reddens!” Narrow-minded storms down the stairs.

“Wow!” Awareness exclaims to his companions. “What do you think of that?”

There was no comment worth making so the three climbed the stairs quietly. As they come to each floor they attempt to enter but the door is locked. They keep trying until they come to the Tenth Level.

Awareness and his companions open the door to the Tenth Level Vantage Point. As they enter the level, they notice a series of doors surrounding the perimeter. On the other side of each door is a room with a large window. At each window there has a chair in front of it. Awareness walks into one of the rooms and sits down in the chair. Suddenly a scene appears on the eight-foot by eight-foot window. On the screen is a young ten-year-old boy playing in a park. Awareness thinks to himself, this seems so familiar. As Awareness continues to watch he comes to realize that he is watching himself when he was ten years old back in the Land of New Beginning.

“This is AMAZING!” Awareness exclaims. “ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Where did they get such a thing? How do they know all about me?”

“Perhaps he can help us.” Enlightenment points to a small booth just to the right of the stairwell door. There, a young ten-year-old boy sits. Above his head is a large sign, attached to the booth that reads, “INFORMATION.”

Awareness walks over to the booth. “Hello, my name is Awareness. What is your name?”

“My name is Memory”. The boy answers politely.

“Can you please tell me what these rooms are all about?” Awareness asks, “ And what do those windows do?”

“Well first of all these rooms, which you refer to, are called Points of View. The area that you are currently in is called the Tenth Level Vantage Point of the Tower of Perspective. And ‘those windows’ are not windows they are called View Ports. There are twenty-four View Ports on each floor. Each View Port represents a different point of view. For instance, the View Port that you were just looking at is for a ‘Child at Play’. From that point of view the child learns to do all the things that are expected of him while he is at play. Such as, learning how to interact with children he doesn’t know. He is also learning to stand in line for the slide and learning the boundaries of sharing and taking no for an answer, when other children don’t wish to share. The View Port next to that is for the student. Here the child learns the educational process. He learns order. And once again he learns to wait his turn when he wants to give an answer but has to raise his hand and wait until he is called upon. Then there is the View Port of the son. Here he learns to interact with Mom and Dad. He also learns about authority. And of course there is the View Port of the brother with an older or younger brother or sister…”

“But how come I saw myself at that … View Port?” Awareness interrupts.

“That is because you sat in the chair.” Memory patiently answers. “Whoever sits in the chair in front of the View Port will see himself at the age of the level Vantage Point he or she is on and whatever the Point of View room that he or she is sitting in.”

Awareness runs back into the ‘Child at Play’ Point of View room and calls out to the others.

“Here, Enlightenment.” Awareness beckons. “Sit down here”.

Upon sitting in the chair in front of the View Port Enlightenment and the others witness a swarm of 10-year-old beings of light running around a schoolyard with their lights blinking off and on like a swarm of fireflies.

Awareness shakes his head, “Absolutely amazing!”

The three leave the Tenth Level Vantage Point and climb the stairs until they come to the Twelfth Level Vantage Point. Awareness and the others enter the area and just as below on the tenth level there is an INFORMATION Booth to the right at the stairwell door. And sitting at the booth is Memory… only he looks little older. Awareness thinks to himself, This must be Memory’s older brother. Awareness walks up to the booth and introduces himself. “Hi my name is Awareness, I met your younger brother downstairs.”

“That wasn’t my younger brother”. The young boy replies “That was me two years ago.

“What?” Awareness asks.

“I remember meeting you two years ago”. The boy answers emphatically. “You had asked me about the View Ports. I remember you were very funny.”

“Two years ago!” Awareness exclaims, “It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes ago. How long does it take to climb two flights of stairs?”

“Oh, I see.” Memory says understanding the problem. “You don’t know the ways of the Tower of Perspective.”

No”. Awareness replies, “We are strangers from the Land of New Beginnings. We are only just learning the ways of this marvelous castle.”

“Well then”. Memory tells them, “I will explain them to you. Each level of the Tower of Perspective represents one year. Whatever level of the tower you are on that is your age. That is also your outlook”.

“You mean to tell me,” Awareness asks mortified. “That when we were on level ten we were only ten years old?”

“That is correct.” Memory answers.

“I don’t believe it!” Awareness exclaims. “That would mean that we are only twelve years old now.”

“That is correct.” Memory answers.

“Impossible!” Awareness exclaims. He looks at the others and they don’t look any different to him. The two Beings of Light shrug their shoulders.

“See for yourself.” Memory says as he points to the mirror just to the right of the booth.

Awareness and his companions look into the mirror and they see the reflections of themselves as twelve-year-old children.

”I still don’t believe it!” Awareness exclaims. “Why did we see ourselves as young adults when we looked at one another but when we looked into the mirror we saw ourselves as children?”

Memory shrugs his shoulders and simply says. “The mirror doesn’t lie.”

POWER PLANT

After walking for, what seemed to be, a half hour in the dusky luster of Enlightenment and Illumination they come upon a door to a building with a large sign on it with big bold red letters that reads POWER PLANT. They all enter. In the center of the room is a huge turbine engine whose name is Reactor. He is powered by impulse fueled by rejection, is designed to create negative energy with destructive force. In a small room off to the side is the residence of React and his wife Impulsive. Their children are Knee Jerk, Get Back, Overreact and Revenge. Awareness introduces himself and his company to React.

“How do you do sir.” Awareness says, “We are searching for the Wounded Child. I was wondering could you explain your purpose to us?”

“Well” React thinks for a moment, “We run the Power Plant in Castle Glade. We supply all the energy in the castle for utilities such as lights, heat and fresh air. Although since King My Way has taken over we haven’t had much need for light.”

“And how does that work?” Awareness asks.

“We, of course,” React explains, “being a reactionary system require outside stimulus. For every action given we return an equal reaction.”

“And what happens,” Awareness asks, “If no outside stimulus is directed towards you?”

“O there is never a need to worry about that.” React laughs. “There is plenty to react to.”

Awareness notices a bright yellow switch on the wall behind him.

“And what is this?” Awareness asks as he reaches to throw the switch.

“NO!” React yells, “DON’T TOUCH THAT!”

Too late! Awareness throws the switch. Immediately the room is transformed. Now instead of a huge turbine engine in the center of the room there is a giant solar collector, whose name is Responder. He is powered by reflection, fueled by injection, designed to create positive energy with constructive force. In the residence reside Response and his radiant wife Reflect. Their children are Thoughtful, Considerate and Sensitive. They also have a set of twins whose names are Think First, Then Act.

“What just happened?” Awareness asks.

“You must have thrown the switch.” Answers Response. “There is a switch in each room of the castle that determines out of which kingdom it will operate. The creator installed it in the beginning. It is called Free Choice. Each castle has a choice to React or Respond. The former is impulsive; the latter requires reflective. The former operates out of the Land of Uncertainty and the latter operates out of the Land of New Beginnings.”

“But with you being a solar collector, how do you operation without any light?” Awareness asks.

“Operating from the Land of New Beginning I receive my energy from that kingdom. My light comes directly from the Throne of Amazing Grace. She gives me all the power that I need to function. In all actually my power is limitless.”

“But how can this be?” Awareness asks.

“Origin is the creator of all things,” Response replies. . . Everything originates with him.”

“But I thought Origin was king of the Land of New Beginnings”. Awareness says.

“He is, but he is also the rightful king of the Land of Uncertainty.” Response answers. “It was originally called the Land of Promise until King My Way usurped it from Origin. He renamed it the Land of Uncertainty when his wife Insecurity had taken the form of the very soil of the land making it unstable and subject to many earthquakes. Somehow Origin must have known this would happen because in his wisdom he installed a switch into every room in every castle of the kingdom.”

“You mean to say that every castle has the ability to dwell within the wonderful Land of New Beginnings by choice?” Awareness asks.

“No.” Response corrects Awareness. “I mean that the Land of New Beginnings dwells within every castle, but in order to experience that wonderful country you must choose to.”

“Then,” Awareness asks, “why don’t they?”

“King My Way” Response answers, “has blinded them. When he first enters a castle he removes all light. Next he has his mason Paranoid brick and mortar over all the windows and doors so no light can enter. Then he has his servant Blindness overshadow the entire region. They remain in the darkness and are unconscious of any kingdom other than the Land of Uncertainty.”

Awareness is amazed at the knowledge that he is acquiring. At times he becomes almost overwhelmed. He thanks Response for the information that he has given him and Awareness and his company takes their leave.

Resting just outside the Power Plant in a small park, Awareness sits leaning against an oak tree and notices the faint silhouette of a large building. He makes a mental note of its location but with all he has been through emotionally he decides to take the time to breathe a deep sigh and relax.

“How long have we been in this castle?” Awareness asks.

“I don’t really know.” Enlightenment replies. “It is difficult to judge since there is no day, only night. The division of day and night is the only way I know to distinguish one day from another.”

“I wonder why King My Way hates the light so much.” Awareness responds.

“My Way hates the light because he was once a Minister of Light in the Palace of Origin.” Insightful blurts out.

The others look at Insightful with surprise.

“Yes, King My Way was once a servant to Origin in the Land of New Beginnings.” Insightful continues. “He held one of the highest ranks in the kingdom. I believe only the immediate family of Origin were of higher rank. I’m surprised you didn’t know that Enlightenment and Illumination, being creatures of light yourselves.”

The two sit looking rather sheepishly. “We did.” Illumination replies. “However we were commanded by Victor not to let it be known unless it was absolutely necessary.”

Awareness stares at his two companions feeling somewhat betrayed.

“Victor thought it would be wise if you found out naturally rather that being told before hand.” Illumination explains to Awareness. “He believed you had enough to concern yourself without overloading you with more than you could handle.”

Awareness begins to understand slightly but still feels a little uncomfortable about what else he may not know.

“King My Way’s name used to be Light Bearer.” Insightful continues. “ He was the Guardian of the Light. Many called him the Morning Star. He was most visible of all the creatures in Origin’s domain. The most exposed to view or revealed to public notice.

You could say he glowed in the limelight. He was known to be an outstanding leader, what many would call a celebrity. He contained an immeasurable supply of light”.

“What made him change”? Awareness asks.

“No one but Origin really knows what made him turn. Some say that he grew tired of serving and wanted to be served. Others say he saw the Throne of Origin and it became his goal. It seems he grew jealous of the adoration that Origin received and desired it for him. Whatever the case he left the Land of New Beginnings and took with him one third of the kingdom. When he left little by little the light began to leave him. He grew to hate the light. It reminded him of his former state. His mission is to eliminate all light from the Land of Uncertainty and after that he wants to snuff out the stars in the heavens. He is obsessed”.

“Wow!” Awareness is awestruck.

“Can you see why Victor chose to conceal this information from you in the beginning?” Enlightenment asks Awareness.

“Yes but it is still a surprise to hear.” Awareness responds. “Are there any other secrets I don’t know?”

Enlightenment hesitates a moment then answers. “You will have to trust me to tell you when it is needed to be known.”

Awareness stares at both Enlightenment and Illumination.

“Well I have some news for you.” Insightful breaks the frigid silence. “I will be taking my leave in the morning.”

“O no!” Awareness exclaims, “We so much enjoy your company and your presence is so valued among us.”

“Still my intuition tells me I must leave in the morning.” Insightful says regretfully.

“There is nothing I can say to convince you to remain with us?” Awareness bids Insightful.

“No, I am sorry Awareness.” Insightful replies. “I must be true to my instincts.”

“Then we will respect your perceptive nature.” Enlightenment responds.

Illumination smiles.

SILENT ALARM

In the Tower of Perspective alarms are going off within and great confusion is happening throughout the castle.

“Phones are ringing off the hook Your Ugliness,” Feelings says with excitement to King My Way’s headshot in the monitor. “Yes my lord there has been a great flash of light. It lit up the entire sky. Calls are coming in from everywhere. We are even receiving messages from other neighboring castles.”

“Perhaps it was an explosion.” King My Way assumes.

“No Your Cruelness, It could not have been”. Feelings reacts, “There was no sound and even if one was reported there would be fire. It was as if a great flash of daylight filled the sky for a moment and then there was nothing.”

“Could it have been lightning?” the king asks.

“No Your Wretchedness,” Feelings answers, “It lasted too long and it was not an electric light. It was like the light of the Revelation that awakened the entire castle.”

“Don’t be silly.” The king mocks. “The clouds of the storm are miles thick and the cover of Blindness is impenetrable. Revelation could never enter the castle without me detecting his presence.”

Discomfort calls from the corner, “AWARENESS! COME, I HAVE GOOD NEWS!”

Awareness and his companions walk rapidly towards Discomfort eager to see what he has discovered.

“I have found Patience.” Discomfort says with great enthusiasm, “He will be at the Coliseum watching the gladeators. We will meet him there. I will get tickets.” Discomfort hurries ahead as the four others lag behind.

“This should prove to be very knowledgeable,” says Enlightenment. “I have heard much about the gladeators of Castle Glade.”

“Yes” Illumination responds. “I understand this to be very exciting to watch. Their fame has been heralded across both kingdoms.”

As Awareness and his companions reach the ticket booth in front of the Coliseum they are awe struck as they behold the greatness of the arena. It is ten stories tall and circular.

It takes up five square street blocks. The architecture is breathtaking. They marvel how any structure could be built with the hands of the inhabitants.

“COME! COME!” Discomfort beckons them. “HURRY! IT’S STARTING.”

Awareness and his followers rush into the arena eager to see what awaits them.

Discomfort leads them to their seats. The arena is grand even in the dimness of the castle. Enlightenment and Illumination are tempted to turn up their light so they may enjoy the spectacle in its entire splendor. Still they resist their impulses and keep their light way down hoping no one will notice that they are not of the castle inhabitants.

The Announcer steps up to the microphone. “HEAR YE ALL YOU INHABITANTS OF CASTLE GLADE! THIS IS THE MOMENT FOR WHICH YOU HAVE ALL AWAITED. TODAY IS THE DAY YOUR EYES WILL BEHOLD THE WONDER OF GREATNESS. NO GLADEATOR HAS EVER MATCHED THE AWESOMENESS OF MAXIMUS MINIMUS.”

A roar goes up throughout the entire Coliseum. All the inhabitants leap to their feet cheering with all their strength. Awareness, Enlightenment and Illumination can hardly believe their eyes and ears. Insightful however is NOT impressed. As a matter of fact it is only he who sits while all others, including Awareness, Enlightenment and Illumination are on their feet.

The Announcer continues. “HE IS HERE TO DEFEND HIS POSITION THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH HIM AND EVERYTHING IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

Another cheer goes up as the stadium once again rises to their feet.

Again the Announcer continues “HE WILL ONCE AGAIN STRIVE TO MAXIMIZE THE SHORT COMINGS OF OTHERS AND MINIMIZE HIS OWN.”

Again the entire arena rises to their feet with waves of adoration.

The Announcer resumes. “HE WILL BRAG ABOUT HIS OWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BELITTLE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OTHERS.”

The Coliseum goes wild.

The Announcer picks up where he left off. “HE IS BELIGERENT, OBNOXIOUS,

AGGRESSIVE AND INCAPABLE OF GETTING ALONG WITH ANYONE!”

The Coliseum is in pandemonium.

The Announcer climaxes, “O YE INHABITANTS OF CASTLE GLADE… MAXIMUS MINIMUS!!!!!”

The house comes down. Out into the center of the arena walks Maximus Minimus. He wears a Trash Can around his chest and back to cover his stony heart. He doesn’t need a helmet because he has a thick skull. A two edged sword flies out of his mouth to rip his opponents apart. His feet are planted in concrete to keep him immoveable. He has great mind control he calls ‘mind over matter’. He doesn’t mind and you don’t matter.

“Can you believe they are actually cheering for this character?” Enlightenment says.

“I don’t understand,” Illumination says with confusion.

“Sound like a lot of hype to me.” Awareness adds.

“The whole castle is so entirely repressed they admire the moron.” Insightful replies. “They want someone like this guy to be their champion. They have so much pent up resentment in them. This is how they release their hostilities.”

They listen to the roar of the crowd.

“If you wait long enough there is always something that causes change.” Says a quiet stranger calmly that has been sitting amongst them silently watching the spectacle. “Nothing ever stays the same. Sooner or later something always happens that changes the entire course of history.”

“This is Patience.” Discomfort introduces him to Awareness and his companions.

Patience has a peaceful look on his handsome face that makes him appear youthful even though it is aged by experience. His body is a bit worn from the longsuffering he has had to endure throughout his lifetime. And yet he carries himself rather well for all that he has been through. He sits with his hands resting on an ornate cane between his legs. His smile has a trace of all knowing or at least knowing enough to get him through the day.

“How do you do sir,” Awareness bows with respect. “My name is Awareness and these are my two servants Enlightenment and Illumination. We are citizens of the Land Of New Beginnings. And this is our new friend Insightful who is a citizen of your Castle Glade. And you of course know Discomfort.”

“Better than you will ever imagine.” Patience smiles at Discomfort. In the background occasional cheers can be heard throughout the arena. “How do you do. I am very pleased to meet you all.” Patience extends his hand to greet each of the group.

“Sir,” Awareness says respectfully. “We have become lost in this Maze of Confusion after we were attacked by King My Way’s Snipers, What If and If Only. As we attempted to escape we were then lead astray into this maze by Distraction who set up roadblocks and detoured us into this place. Once here we lost our way. The more we struggled to find our way out the more we became entangled in this web of confusion and the storm has disoriented us. Discomfort has informed us that you know all about confusion and we hoped perhaps that you would lead us out of this maze.”

“Discomfort has told you the truth.” Patience responses with dignified repose. “I know every house on every street. I greet every citizen on a first name basis.”

“After meeting you I can see why you are so widely accepted and so well esteemed.” Awareness compliments Patience.

“O I would not be so hasty to say that my newfound friend.” Patience rebukes Awareness gently. “I have not found my nature through favor but rather through great adversity. Longsuffering, Forbearance and Toleration have disciplined me well. They have been my teachers, my soul mates and my companions. Much as Enlightenment and Illumination, as well as your new friend Insightful are yours Awareness.”

“I believe I understand.” Awareness responses with a smile. For over the time that Awareness has spent with each of his companions he has grown to love them, even as he loves himself.

“Let us leave this place.” Patience says pushing himself up on his cane. The group takes their leave while cheers and shouts of adoration continue as Maximus Minimus performs for his admirers

Awareness and his company arrive at the home of Patience. The family of Patience greets them at the door.

“This is my wife Calm, and my children Still and Composed.” Patience introduces his family as they bow to Awareness and his company. “And this is my good friend and companion, Trust.” Patience extends his hand towards a character quietly sitting the shadows. “Please come in.”Patience beckons.

“I’ll fix some tea.” Calm says serenely as she walks off into the kitchen.

“Sit.” Patience invites his guests with a hand gesture towards his comfortable couches and chairs. As Awareness and the others sit Patience continues. “I know that you all are anxious to leave this place but I believe it will be to all our advantage for us to talk.”

Awareness and the others nod.

“In order to leave this place with a minimum of difficulty I would like to explain to you how this Maze operates.” Awareness and the others give their full attention as Patience continues. “The storm that you are experiencing outside is generated by the activity of all those that dwell within. In other words the storm within the Maze is a direct product of the storm that goes on within each of the inhabitants that live within this place”.

Awareness and the others listen with greater intensity.

Patience continues. “You can do nothing about the storm itself, however you have two choices”. Patience stops and looks at each of them. “You can dwell in the whirlwind or abide in the eye.”

Awareness interrupts. “Well I for one would rather find my way out of the storm and watch it go by.”

Patience smiles, “It doesn’t work that way Awareness. You have two choices, you can dwell in the whirlwind or abide in the eye”.

Once again Awareness interrupts. “Then I choose to abide in the eye.”

“Good”, Patience continues, “then here is how you abide in the eye. Think of the maze as a giant fish bowl that has been shaken. When it remains still the sand begins to settle and the water will clear well enough to see through but if you continue to agitate the fish bowl it will continue to blind you from what is outside. Therefore if you allow my son, Still, to teach you how to settle yourselves we will find our way with a minimum of difficulty. As our emotions become motionless an Aura of Clarity will surround us as we attempt to find our way out of the Maze of Confusion.

Calm walks into the living room carrying a tray of tea for each of her guests. “Enough talking shop. It is time to rest and refresh yourselves. You will all spend the night. I will prepare a place for you all to sleep. After you have rested you may again resume your conversation.” Calm serves each of her guests as Patience submits to the request of his dear wife.

In the morning Patience instructs his sons, Still and Composed to teach Awareness and his company how to evenly temper their emotions to allow the Aura of Clarity to develop around them. Once satisfied that Awareness and the others were able to comprehend and thus initiate it they were on their way.

“Quiet Trust will lead the way,” Patience explains to Awareness and his company. “I will be at your right hand, Calm will be at your left and Still and Composed will be your rear guard.” After saying that the troop is off. Awareness and his company are astounded as they witness the Aura of Clarity around them. It is truly an eye of the storm. Complete calm and stillness encompass them. No breezes, no sounds but beyond the Aura of Clarity the storm rages about them. However within the eye Awareness and his company walk unharmed with absolute clarity.

“This is truly a marvelous thing!” Awareness exclaims.

“Yes it is.” Patience replies. “It is too bad that all of the inhabitants do not understand this. Then confusion would not be able to exist within Castle Glade.”

“How is it that they do not understand?” Awareness asks.

“King My Way has blinded them from this revelation.” Patience explains. “As long as they do not see they can never understand.”

In the Tower of Perspective the hologram of King My Way stands before Feelings as he reveals his findings. “There is a great calm that has been detected within the Maze of Confusion, Your Wretchedness.”

“Undoubtedly the movement of our intruders.” the king replies.

“Yes sir that would be my impression.” Feelings answers.

“Well, what do you recommend that we do about it?” the king asks Feelings.

“We can predict where they will exit the Maze and have a company there to capture them,” Feelings suggests.

“No.” The kings answers thoughtfully. “I do not want them harmed nor do I want them captured. I want to win them over. Let’s see where they are headed and I will meet with them myself.”

“As you desire, O Deceitful One.” Feelings bows as the hologram disappears.

Awareness marvels as he stands at the gate that leads out of the Maze of Confusion. “You mean we are here already?”

“Yes.” Patience answers in a restful voice. “Once you are able to establish clarity it is not long before you will find your way out of confusion.”

“Thank you so much for all your help.” Awareness says to Patience. “I have one more request before you leave to return to your home. I have been sent on a mission to find the Wounded Child. It has been brought to my attention by Discomfort that you know the whereabouts of the Wounded Child who is being held hostage in the Tower of Perspective.”

“Yes I do.” Patience replies to Awareness. “The tower is just beyond the Power Plant. You will not be able to miss it. It is a tall tower. I wish you Godspeed and I wish you success in fulfilling your purpose.” Patience and his company return to the Maze of Confusion. Awareness and his companions watch them as they disappear in the sand storm.