"Secrets of the universe? Where have I heard that before?" he said.
"It really is this time. The signs all point to it."
"Signs? What signs are you seeing?"
"Messages from all around. The music, the articles."
"Slow down," he said. "Are you feverish?"
"No, dammit! I'm leaving tonight. Are you coming or not?"
"Ok," he said. He had to make sure she stayed out of trouble.
She went to pack. He did some light packing too.
"It shouldn't take long before it's over," he thought.
That evening they were off.
***
"Do you hear it?" she asked.
"Hear what? The radio?"
"Yes, the radio. The songs, the lyrics."
"Yes I hear them. And?"
"You don't understand?"
"Understand what?"
"You don't understand." She was frustrated. "Nevermind, I know where to go."
The music, the road signs, they all spoke to her. Left here, right there. At times she'd miss an exit or something and have to double back.
***
"We're close," she said.
"Close to what?"
"I'm not sure. The end, I suppose. Hidden truths. We're going to save the world."
"I can't believe it. Again?" he answered.
"Oh ye of little faith."
She jumped out of the car. He trotted after her.
"There," she said, ducking behind some trees.
They spent nearly an hour wandering the forest.
"She's disoriented," he thought.
She brought them to a clearing.
"This looks like it," she said. "And now we wait."
"What are we waiting for?"
"We'll know it when we see it," she said.
Evening passed into night. The moon emerged from the clouds. It had been so long since he'd been out on a night like this. Eventually he noticed the fog rolling in.
It became difficult to see more than a dozen meters.
"I sense it," she said.
"You're bonkers," he replied.
She began dancing.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"It's the ritual. I'm summoning passage."
"What passage?"
"You'll see," she said.
She flapped her arms like bird, she pounced like a cat, she stood like a crane, a good ten minutes of this.
He heard a creak. Suddenly scared, "what was that?"
"It's here," she said, disappearing into the fog. "Hurry."
He followed her voice.
There was a door in the middle of the field where nothing was before. She was already inside.
"I have the book!" he heard her shout.
The door closed before he could reach it and disappeared. Then he was alone.
***
They would not meet again for 20 years.
She hadn't aged.
"I have to teach you new numbers," she said.