That night the High Counselor returned to his quarters early. Although he had tried not to let on, the Newmer's appearance disturbed him greatly. He needed to consult his Oracle to see what this might portend. He went to a tapestry hanging above his bed and pushed it aside to reveal a series of ten levers set in the wall behind the tapestry. They were numbered from 0 to 9. Above the levers was a strange drawing that he'd never paid much attention to. It consisted of a horizontal line separating a circle and a diagonal line. Ignoring these symbols, the High Counselor moved the levers according to a complicated pattern passed down to him by the previous High Counselor. He pulled on the lever numbered 3, then 1, then 4, then 1, then 5, then 9, then 2, then 6. When he finished, a portion of the wall slid away to reveal a smooth flat surface. In addition, a flat gray panel made of an unknown material slid out from the wall. The panel was covered with several rows of symbols. Derek would have recognized it immediately, as it was identical to the strange object his father had left him. The High Counselor touched several of the symbols in sequence. As he did so, the symbols he touched appeared as if by magic on the flat surface he'd revealed by using the levers. He used the panel to spell out a short phrase.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Request Access."

  The High Counselor sat down in a nearby chair, and prepared himself for a long wait. He knew from experience that sometimes it took a while before the magic panel responded. This time, though, he did not have to wait long. Symbols appeared on the magic panel almost immediately.

  "Access Granted. State your business."

  The High Counselor spelled out his request quickly, and with great care. He did not wish to anger the Oracle by taking more time than necessary.

  "A Newmer has appeared fully grown, wearing strange clothing. I seek guidance."

  This time the panel remained blank for several moments. The High Counselor began to fear that he had angered the Oracle. Finally, the panel responded again.

  "This is a system anomaly. We will investigate. Deal with the Newmer in the usual manner."

  The High Counselor was puzzled by this response. He had no idea what a system anomaly might be. Still, his instructions were clear enough. He would complete the process of organizing the public execution as planned. He returned to his office and signed the documents ordering a public execution that his secretary had prepared for him.