32

This was the night hed almost given up.

Now his shoulders burned. The sudden urge to let his wings out almost brought him to his knees. His insides roiled with shame-filled horror. It was rising in him, the temptation hed fought so long to repress.

In the circle around the fire, Daniels past self looked at Noah . Youre unusually quiet tonight.

Noah didnt answer right away. What would you have me say?

You faced this problem once. You know--

"And what would you have me say?"

Noah sucked in his breath. Something charming and persuasive.

Annabelle snorted. Or something underhanded and absolutely evil.

Everyone waited. Noah wanted to burst forth from behind the rock, to rip his past self away from here. But he couldnt. His Announcer had brought him here for a reason. He had to go through the whole thing again.

Youre trapped, Noah said at last. You think because there was once a beginning, and because youre somewhere in the middle now, that there is going to be an end. B