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Chris and Marie shared the center table alone, Chris facing the east, Marie facing the west. Marie, leaning across to Chris, feigned a long reach across the table and whispered, "Did you feel the columns drop?" They had connected on a psychic level, created a psychic temple and set the Tube of Light for spiritual protection . The invisable temple enhanced their connection to the ethereal world of the Priesthood, Christ Jesus, and the Universal Angels. Often at special ceremonial gatherings or when they were alone the energy of the Masters moved through their hearts and bodies with such beautiful intensity they could feel the rhythm of spheres dance through them.

"Yes," Chris answered, "it's so strong and powerful this morning that we may have a visitor. Are you sensing anything?"

Marie looked up but made no visible response. Chris listened carefully with her heart, felt the tiny breeze cool and settle her thoughts. When she was certain she continued, "Stay close, I can see them now, the Seraphim, so serene are at the top of the room."

She heard the little soft moan of splender escape from Maries thoughts and the little smile of contented safety soften and smooth her face and she knew Marie too had sensed the angelic protection for the gathering. For a few moments she embraced their protection and let the peace settle in her heart.
Taking a breath she changed the subject without realizing it, "You know, I'll never get used to this, us sitting here alone. Why isn't Ann here too? I don't like being separated from the group like this, do you?"

Softly Marie replied, "No. At least it would feel more comfortable if John and Richard sat with us. Sometimes I think we�ve become more and more isolated at special ceremonies." Marie had wondered about the increasing separation and isolation the three of them had been experiencing in the last few weeks. They were called together more often and for longer periods of time than ever before. It was beginning to make her nervous, expecting something, yet not being able to define the expectation, but knowing it had serious ramifications.

"I think you�re right," Chris answered. "We can ask about that on Sunday." Then very deep, almost morosely she said, "Marie, there are only five years left."

"I know," Marie answered, and wondering aloud asked, "What does it all mean?"

"I don't know. Perhaps there are some things that are better left unknown." Chris answered.

Chris let her mind drift to the people in the community and the rituals, and celebrations they managed to maintain these last few years. She asked herself the same questions she had asked herself a thousand times. When will it end, or better yet, has it begun, or is it over? She wished with all her might that it was over and the Christ Consciousness, what ever it meant was already here, filling the earth. Remembering how hard and with so much sacrifice these people had worked to return the earth to God, she thought, What more can we do? How much more can these people endure?

Thinking back to the early years she recalled the recognition for the blessing of the gifts of food, safety, health, and love that sustained the village came in the first spring. The week long celebration was initiated that first fall during the second counting and had been incorporated into the send off of the group. The communication directed the title, The Ember days of September. Why that first year? Is there some meaning here I'm missing? It was true everyone was grateful they had survived, but there really wasn't any question of our survival. We had been independent of the town since 1998. So why the ritual? I must remember to talk to Marie and Ann about this in the next few days, she thought.

The entire village had participated in the harvest celebration. It had been wonderful, fun, and uplifting, much like the old county fair. They showed off their talents and wares, the special flowers, fruits and vegetables they had grown, their canning, needlework, woodwork and the animals they had raised. Games were planned for the children, picnics and entertainment, even a little rodeo with sheep and pig riding. This tiny community had worked hard to maintain a semblance of normalcy, tradition as it were, a connection with the past. Chris felt the sadness, the loss creep into her thoughts, �I do fear that if this doesn't end soon there will be few left who remember those days.�

Her thoughts continued, and a trading journey, how long will the outer circle continue to believe that one? It's really an expedition, a very dangerous expedition in more ways than one.

The villagers knew only the mundane tasks the travelers completed on their journey: the record keeping, what villages were left, and who was living in each village. They will count and record the living, the dead, the births, the newcomers, the seers, the healers, and the number of gang attacks and lone raider incidents that occurred during the past year. The information will be logged and analyzed and the results returned to each group.

Dennis and Al would study the size of nearby herds, count the year�s animal progeny, check the bird migration, and look for signs of rodents increasing or decreasing. They charted the forest losses and river, creek, and stream changes. They would search for new villages that may have formed, touch base with villages that are documented but not connected to any communication link, and offer assistance to anyone wandering and in need. They would inspect the dams and mark any new trails that look regularly traveled. And, of course, they brought back news on video, in letters, and on tape of what had happened in their limited outside world.

Even the mundane tasks were dangerous; it was not a day out to run errands and shop in the city. Two years ago Big Mike had been killed by the raiders, and last year they brought back a virus that infected the village, causing sickness and death to twelve residents. The decision to quarantine came only after the entire Boren family had died. They learned from that experience and were grateful they didn't lose more.

Leslie had worked all year developing a viro safety plan. This year they are ready with a quarantine plan that will begin with the travelers. They will live in the new quarantine unit for seven days following their return. Their blood and urine will be analyzed, temps and blood pressure monitored, their clothes will be burned, they will scrub with disinfectant, eat only antioxidant foods, drink rieshi tea and pure spring water, and rest. Chris laughed at her own thoughts, now that really makes me want to venture into the outside world. But, as they say, 'You gotta do what you gotta do.' That clich� sounded better in those old self help books. We needed a plan, but this is almost sci-fi. A village wide plan is also ready and will be executed at the first sign of any outbreak of fever, aches, rashes, or sniffles. Will it work? That's really the question. What if the viruses are stronger, more deadly this year, then what?

Marie, having seen that look of deep thought many times before, finally said, "Penny for your thoughts."

"They're hardly worth a penny," Chris answered, "but you're welcome to them. What does it all mean? How in the hell did we get here? Is it over? Did it start yet? Quarantine doesn't sound like a vacation I'd like to take. You know, the agony of trying to figure out what happened to the world as we knew it, and I was wondering how and why, in the first year, did we decided to include gratitude for the harvest. I made a mental note to talk to you about it later. I guess it's later, now. And why is it called Ember Wednesday?"

Marie thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know, at least not right now. I'll give it some thought, sleep on it, and Sunday after devotion we'll talk about it. What are you on to?" Chris shrugged as Marie continued, "This room gets such a glow when it's decorated in purple. With those purple candles on the white cloths I feel like I'm in the Tube of Light physically and spiritually. I think all of this has to do with your question about Ember Wednesday. Why do we always use purple?"

With a smile, a little laugh, and a raised eyebrow up Chris answered, "To coin a phrase, I don't know."

Both women laughed, knowing full well they would probably never know, it was just how it happened every year.

"Do you think we're about ready to read the communication?" Chris asked after a moment.

"I think we're close,� Marie replied.

Marie felt Anns glace and turning very discreetly showed her five fingers suggesting five more minutes. Ann nodded almost imperceptably, acknowledging the message without losing a beat in her conversation with Randy. Five minutes later almost to the second, Ann looked their way again, placed her napkin on her plate, nodded, and the three of them rose from their chairs at precicely the same moment and made their way to the stage.

Everyone, attentive and anxious to hear the fall equinox directive, brought their conversations to a whisper when they saw the three women walking toward the stage.

Their hearts heavy with the words of the communication, their spirits connected, they approached the stage. The entire room fell into a deep, respectful silence yet the expectant energy nearly singed the air and intensified the spiritual connectedness in the room.

They always found this moment nearly unbearable. Looking out into the hopeful eyes of this of rag-tag group of people always brought them humbly to their knees. How they had found and embraced each other from nearly every corner of the globe