A short while later, he lay on his bed. He closed his eyes listening to the quiet sounds in the house. All the events of the last twenty-four hours and their possible ramifications for future actions that could change so many lives, including his own, ran through his head. He realized that he looked forward to the changes, even though he didn't know exactly why or what those changes would be. He soon dozed off and dreamed. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

The clergy's words ...