From: ROBERT O'CONNOR

"I said, 'hello Herr Vogel'" he repeated again.  I continued to
stare into his luminous eyes, silent, as I sidestepped across the
threshold.  He led me to a room which could only have been the
Drawing Room.  He indicated a plush chair in the corner of the
darkened room.

"Well," he said, "it is about time you arrived.  You know, my wife
would have been terribly disappointed had you not shown up." 

As he spoke, a tall, lank and dark eyed woman emerged from the
shadows of another room.  "Herr Vogel!" She cried.  I walked over to
her and embraced her.

"Please, now is the time," said her husband.  Still uncertain of my
role in this odd game, I instinctively raised my wand and passed it
along the length of the wife -- from head to toe.  

She shuddered and emitted a loud, low cackle.  "Oh, Stephan, now I
see so clearly!  Just like before!"

Her husband responded excitedly, "What?  What do you see?" She said,
"Ibrahim.  I see him so clearly.  So dark, so peaceful.  Yes,
finally I can see him again."

My thoughts began to race behind my perspiring brow.  "Ibrahim.  I
know that name . . . How do I know that name?" 

The wife continued her low intonation, "Yes Stephan, he is still
here with us after so many years.  His strength has faded, that's
all.  He finds it harder to communicate with us now."

I became more confused and anxious as I heard her speak.  I grew
more afraid as I looked into her blank eyes.  With the uncertain
steps of a frightened child I moved to leave the room.  I walked
over the threshold of the room and discovered I had travelled in the
wrong direction.  In the darkness I saw someone staring back at me.
A faint figure -- a young man with hollow checks and blank eyes.  I
moved closer to the figure.  He moved closer towards me.  I could
see him now.  Dressed in a cape and carrying a wand.  I looked
closer.  Yes.  There I was.  Ibrahim.  I had made it home.