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And then he did see some folks； though he wasn't sure at first cause they were Black and he hadn't seen but one Black man in his life； a slave owned by a peddler from the Crown Colonies； who happened to e through Vigor Church maybe two years back。 But they looked like human people； all right； Black or not； and they were pulling fruit down out of trees and berries off of bushes； feeding each other； a passel of pickaninnies following in their tracks。 Two of the young ones got to fighting； and the big one killed the little one。 The papa came back then； and kicked the one who did the killing； made him go away。 Then he picked up the dead one and brought him back to the mama； both of them crying； and they laid that dead child down and covered him up with rocks。 Then they gathered up their family and walked on； and after just a few steps they were eating again； and the tears stopped； and they went on； just went on。 These are folks； that's sure； thought Alvin。 This is just the way human people are。
The Earth kept turning； and by the time it e round again there was all kinds of folks； dark ones in the hot countries； light ones in the cold countries； with all shades in between。 Except when America came under the light of the sun。 In America folks was pretty much all the same kind； all Red； whether they lived north or south； hot or cold； wet or dry。 And the land was at peace； pared to the other part of the world。 It was strange for him to see； because when the big part of the land came by； with all its different races and nations； why； it changed with every sweep of the Earth； whole countries moved from one place to another； everything always shuffling around； and wars every minute everywhere。 The smaller land； America； it had some too； but it was all slower； gentler。 The people lived in a different rhythm。 The land had its own heartbeat； its own life。
From time to time more people would e from the old world fishermen； mostly。 Off course； led astray by storms； running from enemies。 They'd e； and for a time they'd live their old…world life in America； trying to build fast； and breed fast； and kill as much as they could。 Like a sickness。 But then they'd either join in with the Reds and disappear； or get killed off。 None of them ever kept up their old…world ways。
Until now； thought Alvin。 Now when we came； we were just too strong。 Like getting a couple of colds maybe； and you begin to think you won't never get real sick； and then you get a dose of smallpox and you know that you were never truly sick before at all。
Alvin felt a hand on his shoulder。
〃So there is where you looked；〃 said the Prophet。 〃What did you see？〃
〃I think I saw the whole creation of the world；〃 said Al。 〃Just like in the Bible。 I think I saw〃
〃I know what you saw。 We all see this； all who have ever e to this place。〃
〃I thought you said I was the first you brought。〃
〃This place there are many doors inside。 Some walk in through fire。 Some walk in through water。 Some through being buried in the earth。 Some by falling through the air。 They e to this place and see。 They go back and tell what they remember； as much of it as they understood； and tell it； as much as they have words to say； and others listen and remember； as much as they can understand。 This is the seeing place。〃
〃I don't want to leave；〃 said Alvin。
〃No； and neither does the other one。〃
〃Who？ Is there somebody else here？〃
The Prophet shook his head。 〃Not his body。 But I feel him in me； looking； out of my eye。〃 He tapped the cheekbone under his good eye。 〃Not this eye； the other。〃
〃Can't you tell who it is？〃
〃White；〃 he said。 〃It doesn't matter。 Whoever it is did no harm。 I think maybe will do a good thing。 Now we go。〃
〃But I want to know all the stories in this place！〃
The Prophet laughed。 〃You could live forever and not see all the stories。 They change faster than a man can see。〃
〃How will I ever e here again？ I want to see everything； all of it！〃
〃I will never bring you back；〃 said the Prophet。
〃Why？ Did I do something wrong？〃
〃Hush； Roach Boy。 I will never bring you back； because I will never e here myself again。 This is the last time。 I have seen the end of all my dreams。〃
For the first time； Alvin realized how sad the Prophet looked。 His face was haggard with grief。
〃I saw you in this place。 I saw that I had to bring you here。 I saw you in the hands of the Chok…Taw。 I sent my brother to get you； bring you back。〃
〃Is it cause you brought me here that you can't never e here again yourself？〃
〃No。 The land has chosen。 The end will be soon。〃 He smiled； but it was a ghastly smile。 〃Your preacher； Reverend Thrower； he said to me once if your foot gets sick； cut it off。 Right？〃
〃I don't remember that。〃
〃I do；〃 said the Prophet。 〃This part of the land； it is already sick。 Cut it off； so the rest of the land can live。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Alvin conjured up pictures in his mind； about pieces of the land breaking off and failing into the sea。
〃Red man will go west of the Mizzipy。 White man will stay east。 Red part of land will live。 White part of land will be very dead； cut off。 Full of smoke and metal； guns and death。 Red men who stay in the east will turn White。 And White men won't e west of the Mizzipy。〃
〃There's already White men west of the Mizzipy。 Trappers and traders； mostly； but a few farmers with their families。 〃
〃I know；〃 said the Prophet。 〃But what I see here today I know how to make the White man never e west again； and how to make the Red man never stay east。 〃
〃How're you going to do that？〃
〃If I tell；〃 said the Prophet； 〃then it won't happen。 Some things in this place； you can't tell； or it changes； and they go away。〃
〃Is it the crystal city？〃 asked Alvin。
〃No；〃 said the Prophet。 〃It is the river of blood。 It is the forest of iron。〃
〃Show me！〃 demanded the boy。 〃Let me see what you saw！〃
〃No；〃 said the Prophet。 〃You wouldn't keep the secret。〃
〃Why wouldn't I？ If I give my word I won't break it！〃
〃You could give your word all day； Roach Boy； but if you saw the vision you would cry out in fear and pain。 And you would tell your brother。 You would tell your family。〃
〃Is something going to happen to them？〃
〃Not one of your family will die；〃 said the Prophet。 〃All safe and healthy when this is over。〃
〃Show me！〃
〃No；〃 said the Prophet。 〃I will break the tower now； and you will remember what we did and said here。 But the only way you'll ever e back and see these things is if you find the crystal city。〃
The Prophet knelt down at the place where the wall met the floor。 He pushed his bloody fingers into the wall and lifted。 The wall rose up； dissolved； turned to wind。 They were surrounded now by the scene they left so many hours before； it seemed。 The water； the storm； the twister rising back up into the clouds above them。 Lightning flashed all around them； and the rain came down； so fast it made the shore disappear。 The rain that landed on the crystal place where they stood turned to crystal； too； became part of the floor under them。
The Prophet went to the edge nearest the shore； and st