Forty miles into the wilderness the bus came to a road construction site. The Bus Driver announced, "We'll be here a while if you want to get out and stretch your legs."

Outside, Aulden and The Wind found themselves in the rubble of a large city, destroyed as if bombed in a war. Nearby was a cathedral - what was left of it - and they walked silently to the broken altar.

A priest approached them, saying, "I am Father Andrew Thomas." Aulden immediately asked the primary question, "What is your function in my life?"

The priest said, "Follow me," and he led them up a long flight of stone stairs. On the roof of the cathedral were two stone chairs - thrones. Father Thomas sat in one and Aulden in the other. From these seats Aulden had a view of the world, in the smoldering ruins of war. Father Thomas gestured with his arm and said, "I can give you this world."

Aulden answered, "Why would I want that? I don't want the world. I just want to write and to love and be loved."

The Father answered, "Why are you so obstinate?"

Aulden became introspective, "Many reasons. I think I'm fighting a death. Some part of me is dying."

Then Father Thomas offered, "Did you think I meant the outside world? I meant the world inside you."

Aulden whispered to The Wind, "I don't trust him. He reminds me of someone." Then Aulden shouted at the priest, "I don't trust you! I don't believe the world is yours to give! Even if it is, look at it! It's a desolation!"

The priest asked calmly, "What do you want?"

Aulden, still angry, responded, "What do I want?"

"What do you want," the priest asked, "so I can give it to you."

Aulden repeated his first question, "Tell me your function in my life."

The priest was forthright, "To tempt you."

"Tempt me with what?" Aulden pressed him, "Tell me more."

Father Thomas said, "To tempt you with empty things."

Aulden was ready to banish him, the way Christ treated Satan in the wilderness. Get behind me Satan! But this was different, because Aulden understood that he needed to make friends with these figures who were his inner complexes. Aulden said to Father Thomas, "Show me what you have. Show me your empty things."

The Father said, "You might like it." He waved his arm and a large black box appeared. The priest opened the lid and said, "Look inside, Aulden."

Then Aulden realized the value of Father Thomas. Aulden said, "Father Andrew Thomas, I apologize for being angry at you. I don't want to be tempted, but it would be great if you could teach me about the emptiness in things. Can you be my teacher for that?"

Aulden extended his hand and the priest seemed surprised. They shook on it, and Father Thomas said, "I'll be that teacher."

Then Aulden looked inside the box.

Father Andrew Thomas then sat with Aulden and taught him about emptiness, telling him things that Aulden preferred not to share in this story. After the conversation ended, Aulden and The Wind walked back to the bus.

Aulden said, as they walked, "You never asked me what was inside the box, Wind."

The Wind answered, "It was empty, wasn't it?"