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happen。 Tori？ Why is he gone？''
Tori said nothing。 What was there to say？
〃Greg was destined for great things； I knew it the moment he was born。'' Ellis Nunn seemed drained of the spasm of anger that had gripped him。 He seemed genuinely confused。 〃Why was he taken from us？ Your mother says it's God's will。 Well； if that's so； then God's an unforgivably cruel and capricious creature。〃
Now Tori felt the words ing； she could not help herself。 〃So that is what you think I've done with my life： nothing。 Well； I'm not what you wanted me to be； an astronaut； stretching the envelope of space。 I'm not like Greg。 You trained him； he wanted to be just what you wanted him to be。 It was the perfect union of generations。 You were so proud of him。 You understood what motivated him； Greg was like an open book to you。 But you couldn't fathom why on earth I would want to go to Japan to study。 Of course you couldn't。 You've spent all your adult life here in L。A。； in many ways as far from global politics and economics as Fiji。 This is the original land of Nod； and you built yourself Diana's Garden； a dream within the dreamland of L。A。 Is it any wonder that yon have no conception of what makes me tick？ 'Japan；' I remember you saying。 'What the hell could be so damn important in Japan？' You never understood。 You never wanted to。〃 She shook her head。 〃I must be such a disappointment to you。〃
Her father was studying the last of the sunlight as it slid down the folds of Diana's stone robe。 He had that faraway look on his face he sometimes had during long meetings at the office； as if he were there only in body； not in spirit。 It was a sad look； as well； so similar to the one she had caught in the corners of Greg's face now and again when he was sure no one was watching him。
Tori put her head down。 Too late she remembered her promise to her mother not to start a fight with her father。 What did it matter？ she thought。 This isn't about me or my father…it never was。 It's about Greg。 It's always been about Greg； and there's nothing I can say or do that will ever change it。 As she let the silence of the encroaching evening steal up on them； she was aware of a great sadness welling up inside her。 She recognized that she was angry at her father； but also at herself for letting him get to her again and again。
She said； after a time；''Are you going to tell me the story of the Zen Policeman？''
Ellis Nunn nodded； but whether it was in simple assent or in acceptance of the fragility of their relationship； she could not tell。
〃Many centuries ago；〃 he began； 〃there was a young Buddhist priest who traveled to Tibet in order to further his understanding of religion and philosophy。
〃He possessed the proper credentials as well as a letter of introduction from his superior at his temple in central China。 When； at length； he came upon the monastery he was searching for； he had climbed so high he felt as if he had breached the very vault of heaven； and it took him some time before he was able to adapt his breathing to this dizzying height。
〃In due course he was accepted into the monastery； but it was some days before he was summoned to the presence of the high lama。 The old； wizened man looked three hundred years old。
〃 'I understand that though you are a priest you do not believe that your spiritual education is plete。'
〃 'That is correct； sir；' the young priest said in a somewhat overawed voice。
〃 'What is it you seek to learn here？' the old lama asked。
〃 'Why； all there is to learn；' the young priest said immediately。
〃The old lama looked at him and smiled。 'We shall see；' he said。 'In the meantime； we require you to remain awake and on guard during the night。'
〃The young priest looked confused。 'It took me two months to reach here。 I know how remote this monastery is。 How could you have enemies here？'
〃 'The monk who brought you to this chamber will tell you where you must sit tonight；' the lama said。
〃 'But I am a priest； not a guard；' the young man protested。 'Besides； I am a Buddhist。 I have pledged never to harm a single creature。 I cannot even till the earth for fear of killing a worm or an insect。'
〃 'You do not yet know who or what you are；' the old lama said。 'That is why you are here。'
〃That night； the young priest was shown to the spot in the exact center of the monastery where he must keep watch。 A pillow was placed for him to sit。 It was a crossing of the four main corridors of the stone structure； and from his vantage point he could see most； if not all； the monks' tiny sleeping cells。
〃The hours of the night crept by with agonizing slowness。 Nothing happened。 The silence became a weight on the young priest's eyelids； so that once or twice he found himself drifting off into a light slumber before starting awake。 He yawned and stretched to keep himself alert。 He began to wonder why he had e here； or if he had e to the right place at all。
〃Then； all at once； he stood up。 He looked from corridor to corridor； sure that he had heard a sound。 But there was only the heavy awful silence； claustrophobic as the inside of a tomb。 Then he became aware that the 'sound' was an ethereal stirring； as if in his own mind； and he whirled around。
〃He was not alone。 Something was in the west corridor。 It came toward him but； in the flickering light of the reed torches； he could not make out what it was。
〃Suddenly； it burst out of the corridor； ing upon him like a whirlwind； and he felt a chill race down his spine。 It was as translucent as the wings of an insect； he could clearly see the corridor behind it； through it。
〃The wraith brushed past him； careening down another corridor。 Soon the intersection where the young priest now stood was thick with these wraiths。 Sometimes it seemed to him that they had faces； bodies； hands and feet。 At other times they were nothing more than pure energy。
〃The young priest felt a fright welling up inside of him。 What were these forms？ Were they the enemies of the Tibetan monks？ If so； how was he to bat them； when violence was anathema to him？ These questions and ten thousand others crowded his mind in the same way the wraiths crowded the corridors of the monastery。 The terrible fear built inside him； until he contemplated abandoning his post； turning tail； and putting this mad place behind him forever。 But； as if in a dream； he felt rooted to the spot。 He did not know whether to fear for the loss of his mind or his life。
〃Then he noticed a curious thing。 The fear was ing from inside him。 When he concentrated his spiritual powers； he realized that the wraiths； whatever or whoever they might be； posed no threat to him or to the people of the monastery。 The chaos of their rushing to and fro was； in a way； self…contained。
〃And then he set about trying to turn the chaos into order。 He found that； with continued concentration； he could move closer to these darting wraiths； could feel where they wanted to go and； eventually； guide them on their way。
〃It was at that moment that he recognized one of the wraiths as the monk who had led him to the lama's sanctuary； and to this crossroads。 And then the young priest understood everything。
〃These wraiths were the spirits