I could feel his stare, like a cool hand touching me. It drew me up, into the dimness....
I felt my eyes widen with recognition.
"Bob," I said.
His reply sounded deep inside my mind, "Hello, Rosebud."
"I knew you'd be here," I said, and then I drew him close to me.
"It's been a long time."
"Don't ever forget," I said, and opened myself to him at last.
The lights in the Arena dimmed, rose, dimmed again. The first signal I pressed against the straps, but they were firm and unmoving. Yet I—we—leaned forward, and watched the panel with its blue light. Our stomach was knotted like tight leather cords.
The blue light flashed. I reached out a hand to the small red button. The straps bit into our flesh. The panel was dim, ghostly beneath the glaring lights from the dark above.