Book Two of The Current Mr. Orr, in which he wonders if he visited the afterlife after all. It seemed real. One of the few people who knows his identity suspects he really was there, and approaches him about going back. When he does, finding out it was all true provides no peace. His contact in the afterlife wants to help people on earth, but his creator on earth holds the key between the two worlds, and she wants to use intelligence from the afterlife to blackmail people. He cannot have one without the other, but is tempted to try.