Bodhi arrives late evening at the Governor’s House of the Hills of Hope with a box in his hands. Hope greets Bodhi at the door and welcomes him into her study where they sit on the couch. She says:

did you find zar

if so, what did he say

was he the lion with you

behind the prison that day

Bodhi responds:

zar had the same vision

but asleep within his views

it is like reality 

has shown its hidden clues

i gave him a book

but he had no more clues

as to why our minds aligned

to face ts, and see love set loose  

Hope pauses in deep reflection and says to herself:

ts’s heart is not rotten

compassion is at its core

he’s led by something deeper 

than what he takes for war

She turns to Bodhi and says: 

your whispers and echoes

although truth they may contain

what is more dangerous now

is that the lie hides his pain

Hope points to the box and adds:

leave that with me

the four that remain

i will safeguard them here

their truth is yours to claim

Hope places her hand on the box between them smiles at Bodhi. They stand, warmly embrace, and then the assistant escorts Bodhi out of the study. Hope picks up her copy of Bodhi’s book and says to herself:

the mighty dragon

could not kill

his heart lies frozen

beneath a darker will

but his actions

are seized by fear

and turn toward harm

when truth draws near

this mountain is threatened 

by those who seek control

wealth, power, submission 

in exchange for the soul 

i will take my stand

we will not retreat 

we will build an encampment

at the willow’s feet 

Bodhi pauses outside the Governor’s house, confused about which direction to go. He is torn between standing against what rises and returning to his family. Unsure, Bodhi departs for the Sea of Sunyata.