Chapter 6
She was standing in front of a strange alien-looking temple. From its triangular base, it twisted around and upward until it reached a point where a light of constantly changing color shone. Leading to the temple was a walkway which Sallymae followed. Upon reaching the temple, an opening appeared, and Sallymae walked through. Inside was a burning flame surrounded by darkness. A voice came from the flame saying, “Come closer and look into me.”
When Sallymae reached the flame and looked into it, she saw herself when she was a little girl. She was at her grandfather’s farm, sitting on the muddy bank overlooking the duck pond. Suddenly the bank gave away with her weight, and she fell deep into the water. The ducks dived down to where she was and pulled her up out of the water and into the air, higher and higher. Sallymae was somehow both herself as a little girl, and also at her present age. She didn’t have time to think about this, and was distracted when they went through a cloud bank. After they were above it, Sallymae noticed that the ducks were changing.
“We’re not really ducks at all,” said one of them, in a strange familiar voice, “At least what you consider ducks to be. We are actually from another universe, and take on the form of ducks when we’re on your planet. Once out of view, we change to more natural shapes.”
By this time, the pseudo ducks were completely transformed and looked something like extremely intelligent flying toads.
“I have often had strange thoughts about ducks,” said Sallymae to the one who had spoken to her, “I sometimes get the feeling that they have some deep purpose in my life.”
The toad-like creatures looked at each other and smiled.
“This is the sign that we have been looking for,” said the first one, “All of your life, we have been observing you.”
“Now I know where I’ve heard your voice,” said Sallymae, “it was the one from the tape recorder.”
“Right, and we now fell that you’re ready to learn the truth, that you are really one of us,” responded the creature.
