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where CCY…21…21 resides。
She was conceived without passion in the same month as 89…58； though she was the project not of Doctors Blom and Ramlock； but of Rose Tucker。 She is a lovely child； delicate； fair of face； with golden hair and amethyst eyes。 Although the majority of the orphans living here are of average intelligence； CCY…21…21 has an unusually high IQ； even higher perhaps than 89…58； and she loves to learn。 She is a quiet girl； with much grace and natural charm； but for the first three years of her life； she exhibits no paranormal abilities。
Then on a sunny May afternoon； when she is participating in a session of supervised play with other children on the orphanage lawn； she finds a sparrow with a broken wing and one torn eye。 It lies in the grass beneath a tree； flopping weakly； and when she gathers it into her small hands； it bees fearfully still。 Crying； the girl hurries with the bird to the nearest handler； asking what can be done。 The sparrow is now so weak and so paralysed by fear that it can only feebly work its beak…and produces no sound whatsoever。 The bird is dying； the handler sees nothing to be done； but the girl will not accept the sparrow's pending death。 She sits on the ground； grips the bird gently in her left hand； and carefully strokes it with her right； singing softly to it a song about Robin Red Breast…and in but a minute the sparrow is restored。 The fractures in the wing knit firm again； and the torn eye heals into a bright； clear orb。 The bird sings…and flies。
CCY…21…21 bees the centre of a happy whirlwind of attention。 Rose Tucker； who has been driven to the contemplation of suicide by the nightmare of Project 99； is as reborn as the bird； stepping back from the abyss into which she has been peering。 For the next fifteen months； 21…21's healing power is explored。 At first it is an unreliable talent； which she cannot exercise at will； but month by wondrous month she learns to summon and control her gift； until she can apply it whenever asked to do so。 Those on Project 99 with medical problems are brought to a level of health they never expected to enjoy again。 A select few politicians and military figures…and members of their families…suffering from life…threatening illnesses； are brought secretly to the child to be healed。 There are those in Project 99 who believe that 21…21 is their greatest asset…although others find 89…58； in spite of the considerable control problems that he poses； to be the most interesting and most valuable property in the long run。
Now； look here； e forward in time to one rainy day in August； fifteen months after the restoration of the injured sparrow。 A staff geneticist named Amos has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer； one of the deadliest forms of the disease。 While healing Amos with only a soft and lingering touch； the girl detects an illness in addition to the malignancy； this one not of a physical nature but nonetheless debilitating。 Perhaps because of what he has seen at Project 99； perhaps for numerous other reasons that have accumulated throughout his fifty years； Amos has decided that life is without purpose or meaning； that we have no destiny but the void； that we are only dust in the wind。 This darkness in him is blacker than the cancer； and the girl heals this； as well； by the simple expediency of showing Amos the light of God and the strange dimensional lattices of realms beyond our own。
Once shown these things； Amos is so overe with joy and awe that he cycles between laughter and weeping； and to the eyes of the others in the room…a researcher named Janice； another named Vincent…he seems to be seized by an alarming hysteria。 When Amos urges the girl to bring Janice into the same light that she has shown to him； she gives the gift again。
Janice； however； reacts differently from Amos。 Humbled and frightened； she collapses in remorse。 She claws at herself in regret for the way she has lived her life and in grief for those she has betrayed and harmed； and her anguish is frightening。
Tumult。
Rose is summoned。 Janice and Amos are isolated for observation and evaluation。 What has the girl done？ What Amos tells them seems like the happy babbling of a harmlessly deranged man； but babbling nonetheless； and from one who was but a few minutes ago a scientist of serious…if not brooding…disposition。
Baffled and concerned by the strikingly different reactions of Amos and Janice； the girl withdraws and bees unmunicative。 Rose works in private with 21…21 for more than two hours before she finally begins to pry the astounding explanation from her。 The child cannot understand why the revelation that she's brought to Amos and Janice would overwhelm them so pletely or why Janice's reaction is a mix of euphoria and self…flagellation。
Having been born with a full awareness of her place and purpose in the universe； with an understanding of the ladder of destinies that she will climb through infinity； with the certain knowledge of life everlasting carried in her genes； she cannot ever fully grasp the shattering power of this revelation when she brings it to those who have spent their lives in the mud of doubt and the dust of despair。
Expecting nothing more than that she is going to experience the psychic equivalent of a magic…lantern show； a tour of a child's sweet fantasy of God； Rose asks to be shown。 And is shown。 And is forever changed。 Because at the touch of the child's hand； she is opened to the fullness of existence。 What she experiences is beyond her powers to describe； and even as torrents of joy surge through her and wash away all the countless grieves and miseries of her life heretofore； she is flooded； as well； with terror； for she is aware not only of the promise of a bright eternity but of expectations that she must strive to fulfil in all the days of life ahead of her in this world and in the worlds to e； expectations that frighten her because she is unsure that she can ever meet them。 Like Janice； she is acutely aware of every mean act and unkindness and lie and betrayal of which she has ever been guilty； and she recognizes that she still has the capacity for selfishness； pettiness； and cruelty； she yearns to transcend her past even as she quakes at the fortitude required to do so。
When the vision passes and she finds herself in the girl's room as before； she harbours no doubt that what she saw was real； truth in its purest form； and not merely the child's delusion transmitted through psychic power。 For almost half an hour she cannot speak but sits shaking； her face buried in her hands。
Gradually； she begins to realize the implications of what has happened here。 There are basically two。 First； if this revelation can be brought to the world； even to as many as the girl can touch…all that is now will pass away。 Once one has seen…not taken on faith but seen…that there is life beyond； even if the nature of it remains profoundly mysterious and even as fearsome as it is glorious； then all that was once important seems insignificant。 Avenues of wondrous possibilities abound where once there was a single alley through the darkness。 The world as we know it ends。
Second： There are those who will not wele the