His mouth was now very close to mine. He softly went on: "Do you still remember Franz Kromer?" he asked.
I blinked at him and managed to smile too.
"Listen, little Sinclair! I have to go away. You may need me again someday, against Kromer or something else. The next time you call me, I won't come so obviously on horseback or by train. You will have to listen inside yourself, and then you'll realize I'm in you. Do you understand? . . . One more thing! Eve said if you're ever in trouble, I should give you the kiss from her she sent with me. Close your eyes, Sinclair!"
I obediently closed my eyes and felt a light kiss on my lips, where I still had a little blood that refused to ever go away. Then I fell asleep.
Someone woke me up the next morning to be bandaged. When at last I was fully awake, I turned quickly to the neighboring mattress. On it was lying a stranger I had never seen before.
The bandaging hurt. Everything that has happened to me since has hurt. But sometimes, when I find the key and climb fully down into myself, where the images of destiny slumber in their dark mirror, I need only bend down over the black mirror and I see my own image, which now looks exactly like Him, Him, my friend and my guide.