elt the hesitancy dissolve,
felt Bradford's awed pleasure as God's Presence filled and cleansed
him, shared his fear that it would end--and then his joyous realization
that it wouldn't, that he'd been accepted and was wholly God's now.

When it was over, Bradford shook his head, looking dazed. "I had no
idea . . . and Mike, I don't feel like conducting even a Stage One
after that. I need to come down, if you don't mind."

"Me too," Odeon said. "The repetitions, or whatever they end up being
called, won't be that prolonged or intense, of course, but I'm
beginning to think the Sealing itself always will be. And that we'll
have to allow for a wind-down period--most likely sexual, the way I
felt and felt you feel. Though Sis and I didn't, until after Joanie
was on her feet."

"Of course not," Bradford said. "I'd like sex--but what I need is
talk. To help Joanie effectively, I've got to know exactly what she
and we are trying to accomplish, and--if possible--why." He found a
chair without looking, settled into it. When Odeon had followed suit,
he went on. "Since you and Sis were chosen directly by Jeshua, you two
are the obvious leaders of our group. If she's around, maybe she
should join us."

"If she's awake, you mean," Odeon corrected, grinning. "When I saw her
last night, she and Ivan were heading for her room, looking like they
intended to make a night of it."

Bradford looked at him quizzically, then echoed the grin. "And a
disciple of him, I'd be willing to bet."

"A bet you would win, Colonel." Chang stood just inside the door, her
arm around the St. Dmitri Inquisitor's waist. "He, and the rest of
Team Azrael--including Lieutenant Powell. Pardon the intrusion, but I
felt we would be needed, and no one answered when we knocked." She
smiled at Bradford. "It is good to have you in our group, Colonel."

"Thanks--I'm happy I could be. And we are off duty." Bradford
gestured the newcomers to seats. "At least off Enforcement duty, and
you and Mike outrank the rest of us in this field."

"As we heard you tell him, yes." Chang and Illyanov took seats.
"However, it is we four, not two, who are her primary staff. Your
responsibility will be liaison with the Church. Mike and I must guide
her into her temporary role. Ivan is to show her that her dual role of
judge and exalter is complementary rather than contradictory."

"That's going to be hardest, I think," Bradford said. "I know who she
is,