How did he do that?

How could he know what you would guess?

How is that possible?

When Shard took out a card and showed him the figure, in $US, that he wanted, Max paid without complaint. He knew there’d be more to come and wasn’t surprised when Shard took his hand again and began reading lines.

“You are a brave young man, very brave…”

There was a trace of amusement in his voice, but Max was still most unsure. All he could do was listen carefully.

“Many times you have been in hospital, but that is over now.

“No more hospital for you.”

Their eyes met. Was the old man talking about his life as a footballer? How did he know about that? Max had not mentioned a word about his injury since he’d left Australia. In fact, he hadn’t spoken about it for as long as he could remember!

“Now you show us a different kind of bravery.”

Bravery… mate… what’s he on about?

“Don’t worry – your effort will not be wasted, not at all.”

Shard winked –

“The seed you sow will bear fruit.”

What seed?

The fleeting moment of empowerment he’d felt when he was asked to come up with the name nobody could have guessed was by now fully subsumed by an overwhelming, stultifying apprehension of awe and entrapment. The old man had him spellbound. Any hope of resistance had dissipated completely. Now he was locked into a state of total receptivity.

“You will approach a gate, which only you can open.”

The old man’s sparkling eyes transfixed him.

“After you open this gate, others will follow.”

Mate… what is he getting at?

“Don’t worry – you will not be alone for long. At times you may feel alone but…” Shard waved this off – “You are Max – you will never be alone.”

He felt an urge to arc up somehow, put up some kind of fight. But faced with the old man he was trapped, overwhelmed – utterly defenseless against the subtle power of Shard’s patent purpose.

“You want to write.”

Shard looked to Max for confirmation before adding –

“You you will write your own story.”