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“You can see her again.” The man finally moved, walking forward, then kneeling next
to Gunner. He placed a hand on his shoulder, a mocking sign of comfort that enraged
Gunner, but he forced himself to rein his anger in. “Do as I ask. Help me. Change the
world. Then we’ll find you a new body and you can be reunited with your wife. Again,
you have my solemn promise.”
Gunner looked up at the man through the tears that streamed from his eyes. “What?
What do you want me to do?”
The stranger slowly stood, helping Gunner do the same so that they faced each other,
only a few feet apart. Then the Tangent who’d taken everything away from Gunner
Skale told him what he had to do to get it back.
“I want you to help me build a Path,” the man said. “And then I want you to guard it.
And someday you’ll be reunited with Rachel.”
Rachel, Gunner thought, his mind fuzzy. I know that name. Don’t I?