Strangers were standing behind Socero. Andrew's vision suddenly blurred. All remained at their places for a while. "Your shirt's all bloody," said Socero finally. "I had to brake abruptly." Andrew's voice was hoarse. "And I didn't really need that near-collision with the idiot on the spaceskaph boat..." There were tears in Socero's eyes. And pride, and pity, and traces of fear, too. "You'll loose your yacht license, too." "Not the first time," answered Andrew, and Socero nodded. "You could've gone right through the roof of a hangar." "To hell with it." "Andrew, they're gonna send you back immediately!" "I flew so fast that the nearest patrol is ninety minutes away," said Andrew. "Besides, I may not be in the best shape for another space flight," he added with a challenge in his voice. Socero's lips started trembling. And then Socero hugged Andrew, but he felt Andrew's full weight on his shoulders -- Andrew was sinking to the ground. Socero did not have time to cry. He took Andrew in his arms and carried him away from the blindingly bright ribbed hangar. "This is my friend," he said to the people who stood some distance away. They were silently looking as Socero went by. Then one of them quickly moved to open the heavy door to let Socero out. "You should've seen me fly," happily whispered Andrew, sniffing. He closed his eyes. "It was a dream... it was beautiful... You should've seen me." "Yes, I saw it. You psycho! Criminal!... This is my friend," he said to two people who hugged the walls as they let Socero pass down the narrow corridor." "Wait, I can walk by myself!" Suddenly Andrew came to. "Oh shut up, for God's sake!" said Socero. "Shut up and take slow deep breaths. Are you capable of that?" "I used to be, once." Andrew smiled. "This is where I live," Socero brought Andrew to his quarters and slowly put him on a bed. Again he looked straight into the Andrew's eyes, lips trembling. "Andrew, you know, I really couldn't tell you anything. It would've been more than a security breach... Especially to you..." He did not finish and shook his head. "If we didn't make it on time," his face grew gloomy. "You would have found out yourself. But if we'd made it -- you would have been the first to know! You know, I dreamt so many times: everything's all right, I try to tell you everything, but can't open my mouth." He squeezed out a laugh, looking into Andrew's eyes, as if trying to find something there. "It's OK," said Andrew. "Let's just breath slowly now." "You aren't cold, are you? A blanket?" "No, I'm all right, don't worry about it," Andrew felt so cozy and relaxed, as he probably had not felt since his childhood. "Just sit down." "Listen, how did you guess? Who told you?" Andrew smiled again. "Magic," he said. "There, at the intersections of astral highways that bring together the worlds of ascending and descending incarnations..." Socero burst out laughing, visibly relieved. "Hey, you want some coffee? Tea? I have some nice tea with honey?" "No, I'm all right for now," said Andrew. "I'll be fine in no time. Better tell me the whole story. I can't blow this one again, can I?" _______________________________ * Shakti is the dynamic energy of a Hindu god personified as his female consort, it is a cosmic energy as conceived in Hindu thought.