When I awoke the next morning I found Bernibus and Wagner conversing quietly in the corner of my bed chambers, and as I first opened my eyes I saw Wagner looking at me with a blank, glazed expression, while Bernibus' was one of apprehension, apparently on my behalf. It seemed odd to me, but as Wagner became livid again quickly after his split-second lapse and gave me a hearty "Good morning", I thought nothing more of it. After his greeting, he continued: "The day is ripe for victory, my friend, and the time is come for battle. We both have some preparations to complete, and so must separate, but we will meet again at noon in the entrance hall. Farewell until then," and with that he quit the room. I looked at Bernibus, yet before either of us could speak, we heard a low, hollow grumbling, like the shaking of some building or foundation. He looked in my direction for a moment with an alarmed countenance, before I said defensively, "Tis but my stomach." "Then we must get you some victuals," he laughed, "And I have just the thing to satisfy you and keep you so for a day or more: some mirus. It is our traditional energy food, for though its taste is bitter, its after-life is pleasant." "And what is food except a servant to the body?" I said, "Let us eat." "Very well," he replied. And eat we did, for it was brought by a food service Canitaur on a tray, and I was surprised to see that it was a mixture of broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms, with a flavorless, glowing sauce. He was right, incidentally, for it was both bitter before and pleasant after its consumption. "I know of the solids, but what is this sauce?" I asked of him. "Carbon," he replied. I looked at him and questioned, "Pure carbon? I have never heard of its having this use before." "Your civilization was long ago and had not developed it yet." "That has perplexed me, now that you mention it," I said, "Onan seemed to mean that I was going back in time to help my ancestors, but you say that I went forward, that I am one of the ancients." He was wary for a moment, though if it was because of the apparent conflict, or because I was on a first name basis with his god I couldn't tell. He soon recovered his countenance and said, "It is a complicated question, and I believe you should ask Wagner the next time you see him, after the raid though, of course. The time of departure is nigh now, however, so you should put on your anti-electron suit," he said as he picked it up from the corner and brought it to me.