"I see," he said, a smile tugging at his lips to match his friend's.

Nokosi disappeared from view for a moment, then returned. He very s l o w l y leaned forward and placed an origami crown on one side of the 'sleeping' man's head, then crouched back in place as if he'd never moved at all.

"While you're in there, let the dream you know that it needs to pinch itself. There is someone on the other side waiting for a Billy that is very clearly awake."