"Please, sister!" she cried, "Please don't run away! Please? Please stop? Don't betray me, please? Please help me? Please don't run away! Please stop!"
The Ancient One's helper turned and looked at her. "I can't destroy you!" she cried, "That was horrible! I can't do that! You're so beautiful. You're so pretty. It's not right!"
The woman took her hand and put it to her cheek. "I have to try, dear one," she moaned. "I have to give my children another chance. I have to try. If they're lost my whole blood line will be gone. The hopes and dreams of all our generations passed will be gone. We will have nothing. Our line will end. If I can give them an hour, if I can give them a day to contemplate what they're doing and come to the realization that it's wrong, then what I'm doing is worth it. You can't destroy me, precious one. I'm good! I can't be destroyed! I am forever. I will simply be changing my form. Instead of being this one big thing I will be thousands of little things that will be growing and keeping the world alive. You can't destroy me! I'm not immortal, but maybe some day if you help me, part of me will be. I'm not afraid. Please come back? Please give me my chance? Let me try to save them?"
The Ancient One's helper sighed. "This is nutsville!" she complained, but she let the woman lead her back to The Ancient One and took his hand.
"Oh," the woman continued as she went back to her place, "because we're innocents only the four of us have to go. We're counted as two. So that's four of our precious ones that are already saved. Thank you!"
She put her hands into the flow and was quickly gone. The next two quickly followed her.
The Ancient One quietly stood for a few moments, then nodded. "It'll work," he muttered. "One little problem but I don't think it's too serious."
"What?" his helper asked.
"Well, some of the natural souls didn't just carry fragments along with them," The Ancient One explained, "they absorbed them! They wouldn't be able to be reincarnated as flies. They'd reincarnate as something a little more intelligent, a little bit more massive. But I don't think it would be enough that anybody would bother about it." He turned and looked at his friend. "You've got to understand, we cannot violate their free will. Our responsibility is to assist them, to help them find solutions for problems. But they must make the decisions themselves. If this is what they want we are required to fulfill their wishes, as long as what they request isn't evil. This is really very beneficial. This way virtually nothing is lost, yet punishment is dealt that I think will be acceptable!"
"You sometimes violate Their wishes!" his young companion snapped. "What about what They want to do with the girls?"
"I just said I can't do evil," The Ancient One answered. "That would be evil, that would be unacceptable. I couldn't do that to children. Yet I have presented an alternative. Others could be found to fulfill the purpose. I even know of one right now that could help me get souls that are damaged into The Afterlife and help them survive. But the authorities would never let me have her, however if she exists there has to be another somewhere in similar circumstances. Sometimes I can't do things the way people want me to do them. Sometimes I can't even do what God wants, but I always give alternatives. Come along!"
He lead his friend to a beautiful area where there were many people gathered around tables. People were talking, some were even dancing to a nice little band.
"These are the ones that have chosen to give themselves," The Ancient One explained, "they're Islamic but this is Indian territory. They're adjusting themselves to The Indians' vibrations so it will be easier for them to enter their life force, become part of them. The Indian People are greeting them and giving them what comfort they can. They are showing their deep appreciation of what is being offered. Go talk to some of the women! I think they'll basically say what the last one told you. But I want you to know that they're all like that, that they're all looking desperately for a way to help. How do you think one of these young terrorists is going to feel when he hears that his mother became maggots to restore God's honor and give him eternal life? How do you think someone would act knowing their mother had made such a sacrifice trying to get him to see reason, or, that his father had done the same because they had to restore his honor and give him a chance for eternal life? This is love in its greatest form, in its greatest beauty. Go ahead! I'm just gonna sit up here for a while and listen to the music."
The Ancient One's helper smiled at him and headed off. After a while she returned. She just said "Can we go look at the portal again before we leave? It's just so beautiful!"
"Sure!" The Ancient One answered.
They stood watching the portal for some time, then his helper remarked, "You know something?"
"What?" The Ancient One asked.
"That girl was right the other day. Sometimes you're a real, real bastard! When you're ready I'll help. But please try to find another way, try to get the terrorists to accept something else. Try to make them understand if they don't they'll sacrifice their loved ones."
"Always do!" The Ancient One answered. "Come on! Better get you home. He woke up once while you were visiting. But he's gone back to sleep now."
The Ancient One's young companion frowned. He took her home and went back to his body. As The Ancient One woke up he moaned. "It'll work!" he muttered, "God help us, it will work!"