I wiped the water from my face, studying the lake, trying to see through it to the other side. What now? Why was it here, tilted upright like this? Slowly, my hand trembling, I touched my fingertips to the water. They disappeared inside, stirring up the faintest ripple.

Inside the lake back at the Senate mansion, I'd seen images of Paul, the real Paul in his god form. Roseff had called this a lake, but what if there was more to it than that. Paul had needed it to be down here, so ...