We looked at seven or eight different job descriptions and this is a summation of those. This is intended to give us a starting point on what might be the attributes and the duties and responsibilities of the chief.

I never intended to be in this job this long.

Wow, hi,’ Eight says, and when he speaks it’s with his own voice.

It’s him. It’s really him.

Marina nearly doubles over with a delighted sob. She collects herself quickly, though, and grabs Eight first by the shoulders, then on the sides of his face. She pulls him in close.

‘You’re warm,’ she says in wonder. ‘You’re so warm.’

Eight laughs easily. He puts his hand over Marina’s and gently kisses the side of it.

‘You’re warm, too,’ he says.

‘I’m so sorry, Eight. I’m sorry I couldn’t heal you.’

Eight shakes his head. ‘Stop, Marina. It’s okay. You brought me here. It’s – I can’t even describe it. It’s amazing in there.’

Already, I see the energy spreading outward from Eight’s heart. It races through his body, fissures opening on his arms and legs. He doesn’t seem to be in any pain. He just smiles at Marina and looks at her like he’s trying to memorize her face.

‘Can I kiss you?’ Marina asks him.

‘I really wish you would.

And I went off to Ghana for what was intended to be seven days. I spent what was well over a year in Africa, teaching and travelling.

If I ever see you again, you traitorous bastard, I'll take out the other fucking eye!

Our admissions office has done a terrific job of bringing black students to campus. In the last seven to eight years, the numbers have increased particularly quickly.