“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Lewis Carroll PPenelope Spence had seen and heard many strange and unbelievable things in her life, but this one topped the cake. “You mean to tell me that you and I are going to walk out of possibly the most secure prison in America, and no one is going to try and stop us?” “Yes.” “With you in handcuffs and dressed in a bright orange outfi t with ‘Prisoner’ written on the back.” “Yes.” “Are you going to take me hostage?” “Of course not.” “Will my life or health be at risk in any way?” “No.” “Will I be considered an accomplice or charged with helping you escape?” “I don’t see how. But someone may threaten you later to try to make you talk.” 67 The Fourth Awakening Spence leaned back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest and blinked at Walker a few times. This was easily the most outrageous thing she had ever heard in her life. Every neuron in her brain was shouting for her to stand up and walk out of the room in the off chance that whatever mental deficiency Michael Walker suffered from might be airborne and contagious. She decided to try a diff erent tack. “If you can walk out anytime you want, why are you still here?” “I needed to meet you, remember?” “Me?” “Yes. I already told you that.” “But you were caught…” “I wasn’t caught. I let them catch me. Big diff erence.” “So, you’re telling me…” Penelope struggled for the exact words she needed. “You allowed yourself to be captured because you knew they would bring you to Charleston and I would stop in to see you?” “We’ve already discussed this previously. The only problem was they kept taking me to the wrong prison. I had to get arrested three times before they finally got it right. I think at some level Smith was on to me and was trying to make this as diffi cult as possible.” “What do you mean, Smith was ‘on to you’?” “As I said, very few people can be around me for any length of time without starting to show signs of advancing toward enlightenment. Somehow, Robert has been able to do it. I would love to know how.” “Enlightenment,” Penelope muttered, holding her forehead with both hands as if trying to keep her cranium from exploding. She was getting hit from so many directions with so many unbelievable concepts; her brain was swimming in a morass of irrationality. Instead of trying to sort out all of this at once, Penelope did what she normally did when confronted with multiple problems: prioritize. “You’re telling me, you’ve allowed yourself to be captured three times, and you’ve escaped three times, so you can meet me?” “You keep asking the same questions.” “I’m a reporter. It’s what we do.” “Why?” “To see if the answer has changed since the last time we asked.” “I see. Three and two, actually.” “Three and two what?” 68 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “I’ve been captured three times but I’ve only escaped twice, so far.” “Okay. Let’s try this. You can escape at anytime you want?” “Yes.” “Do I have to say or do anything for you to escape?” “No, quite the opposite.” “What does that mean?” “Since you know I’m leaving, it is important that you don’t say or do anything to give the guards a heads up. In fact, I need you to put it completely out of your mind.” “What? Why?” “Because you’re the only one who could stop me from escaping.” “What? What!” For once in her life, Penelope Spence was unable to form any words with more than four letters that didn’t begin with “W”. “While your mind is raw and you’re just learning how to use the power of thought, you are quite a formidable presence. If you’re thinking about me escaping, it might cause the others in the area, particularly Robert, to pick up on it and stop me.” “You are moon-barking mad! People can’t just walk out of prisons without being seen.” “Sure they can. A physical prison is easy to leave, once you’ve allowed yourself to leave the mental prison.” “Mental prison? It sounds to me like you should be in a mental hospital!” “Once you have mastered the power of thought many seemingly impossible options become effortless. In fact, some of the people who have already become aware of the Awakening are exploiting it for their personal benefi t.” “What are you talking about?” “There are books and weekend seminars on how to get everything you want just by controlling your thoughts.” Penelope’s mind flashed back to the book on her nightstand. “Th e power of positive thinking has been around forever. What’s wrong with that?” “We’re not talking Norman Vincent Peale, but something much more significant. Mankind is moving toward the Fourth Awakening, which will cause an upheaval with far-reaching implications.” Walker shook his head. “What?” Penelope asked. “I would have hoped more people, upon discovering this secret, would 69 The Fourth Awakening aspire to enlightenment instead of a nice vacation, cash, or,” Walker locked his eyes on hers, “a better parking place.” Penelope flushed slightly. Was it possible that this odd man could actually read her thoughts? Were her thoughts really being projected out into some unseen universe where voyeurs and mental peeping toms were lurking? No. That simply wasn’t possible. “It really is time to go. After all, we’ve been talking for over an hour.” Penelope checked her watch, which was just about to tick past the 15 minute mark. This guy really is crazy, she thought to herself. On the other hand, she had to admit that the conversation had seemed much longer than 14 minutes. “Here’s the deal. All you need to do is stand up and ask to leave, and I’ll meet you at your Prius. If we get separated, meet me tomorrow at noon at the East Bay Street end of the Old City Market.” “How did you know I drove a…never mind. Okay. Show me what you’ve got.” “One other thing.” “Here we go,” thought Penelope. She had been expecting some quibbling, or a potential excuse to be used later. “If I do exactly what I say I’m going to, will you believe me on some of the other stuff ?” Like so many things involving Michael Walker, this was unexpected. The only answer that seemed to make any sense blurted out of her mouth. “Sure. Why not?” Just then, the door flew open. Smith strode into the room and indicated that Penelope’s 15 minutes were up. “Ready?” Walker asked. “I’m definitely ready,” Penelope Spence said as she pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. Walker didn’t move. . AAs I rise to my feet I feel a slight dizziness and hear a faint buzzing noise like a conversation heard through the wall of another room. It is as if I stood up too quickly and all of the blood had rushed away fr om my brain. Walker is still seated and smiling at me. The sensation is like the one I felt earlier in the day at the bank. It wasn’t unpleasant, just different. I turn off the electronic jammer, look at the video camera closest to me and head for 70 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin the door. A burly guard holds the door open for me. As I walk around Smith I catch a glimpse of Michael Walker in the corridor ahead of me. Turning my head, I see him still in exactly the same place he had been during the interview. He smiles and waves to me again. But I know I just saw him in the hallway. Somehow he is in two places at the same time. I feel my knees wobble, but I don’t go down. Assistant Director Robert Smith begins to walk me out. I feel as if the world is moving in slow motion and an irrepressibly deep inner-peace settles over me. I feel detached from the concerns of my body and daily life; almost like a spectator watching events unfold below fr om the vantage point of a hot air balloon or while perched on a cloud. I still sense my worries and they seem to matter, just not nearly as much. Reaching my car I discover a man, in an orange jump suit, kneeling next to the wheel well of my right rear tire. It is Michael Walker. . TThe sight of Walker jarred Penelope out of her peaceful haze and caused her heart to race. He had done exactly what he said he was going to do. How was that possible? The only logical answer; it wasn’t possible. Walker pulled a small electronic box off Penelope’s car and stuck it on the car in the next parking space. “Tracking device.” He said. “I’ve found three others on your car. Someone is serious.” “I don’t understand.” “No time to explain now. Let’s go.” Penelope got behind the wheel but her hands were shaking so badly that she had difficulty inserting the key in the ignition. Penelope’s breath was coming in gulps and her mouth was watering. She could taste bitter bile building in the back of her throat, usually a precursor to throwing up. Walker, from the passenger seat, reached over and helped her get the key in the slot. His hand on hers stopped the trembling. “We really need to get going,” Walker said. “Why?” “Because in about two minutes, they will notice that I’m gone.” Penelope turned the key and headed toward the front gate. “How are we going to get past the guards?” “Let me worry about that,” Walker answered. 71 The Fourth Awakening As they approached the guard station, on the inbound side a car rear-ended a pickup truck that had been slow to pull away from the check-in. Both drivers got out of their vehicles and began yelling at each other. Th e guards manning the gate stepped out of their small building to intervene before any fists could be thrown. Walker ducked down as Penelope’s car moved under the video cameras. “Just keep driving slowly but don’t stop,&rd............