One may be only a few inches from another person, and yet if those inches are occupied by an impenetrable wall of solid steel, the two will be as much separated as though an ocean rolled between them.

On the other hand, Austin had read of cases in which two friends were actually on the opposite sides of an ocean, and yet, through some mysterious channel, were sometimes conscious, in a sub-conscious way, of each other's thoughts and circumstances.

Perhaps his mother could even see him, although he could not see her.

It was all a very fascinating puzzle, but there was some truth underlying it somewhere, if he could only find it out..