Ian began his journey the moment he fell asleep, and despite the discomfort of his body he was far removed from those effects in his mind. He found his past life as a soldier during World War I and joined his past body. Although his physical appearance was different, he found that his soul readily knew and accepted Eve's as he experienced their time together. All remembrance of the chief's warning to remain uninvolved, to be only an observer of this past life, was gone. He freely joined his former life and embraced the love that he had felt for Eve and reveled in her love for him. As he relived their time together, he felt joy in being with her once again. However, as his former self was called to war, he realized that they would not meet again in that lifetime and his deep grief began to overwhelm him. Their heartfelt goodbyes were so painful that it was reflected physically in the body that Lucy tended in the hut.

Ian found himself shipped off to a battlefield, wielding a weapon and fighting alongside others who seemed equally as terrified as he felt. He knew without a doubt that his dislike of firearms was caused by this life of war, and wondered what would happen to his mortal body when he died in this lifetime as Eve had told him he would. He knew when it was happening; he could see the deadly gas creeping over the ground in front of him and knew there was nowhere to run. As his lungs and eyes burned from the gas he collapsed in suffocation as did other members of his company.

Ian found himself in complete darkness, not seeing his body or experiencing any sensations. He found himself wondering if he had already died from the effects of the herb that he had taken. He was surprised that death would be so still and empty, and wondered if he would soon see his path to another life. After a while, he felt pain in his chest and heard rattling breaths… soon realizing that it was his body and his eyes were closed. As he discovered that he had not died, he remembered the chief's warning to be only an observer of his lives. He determined to do as he was told in the hopes that he could survive and return to Lucy on Tirama Island.

Ian's eyes fluttered open and he found himself lying on a bed in a very bright, white room. A young man in a medic's uniform was removing a soiled bedpan from beneath him and smiled at him as he replaced it with a clean one. Ian felt pain and confusion, but suddenly realized that he knew the medic who was caring for him… although he couldn't quite place him. The medic looked up from his duties and smiled warmly at a nurse who came to check on Ian, looking at her with a great deal of affection. In that instant, Ian realized that the medic was Kevin in a past life and as he looked at the nurse he immediately recognized as his Lucy.

She spoke to him with a pronounced accent, explaining that he was in a hospital and could not speak due to the damage to his lungs. She offered to bring him pencil and paper as he gained strength so that he could communicate. Before he could even ask the questions in his mind, she was answering them. He had been found among the dead, all identification stripped from his body, but barely breathing. He had been transported to the hospital where he had lain in a coma for several months. As he learned what had happened to him, he realized that he had no memory of his name or any other personal information. The gas that had nearly stripped him of his life had also ravaged his memories, and Ian had no way of informing his past self of the things that he knew.

The nurse, Lucy, spent a great deal of time with him, reading to him and talking to him of her home in Spain. As he lay listening to her musical voice, he learned that she came from a large and wealthy family who were involved in the sherry business. Their home was in Jerez, a town in Andalusia, Spain. Her father and brothers had vineyards and created some of the finest sherry, as well as raising cattle and fine horses. Unfortunately, all of her family had been wiped out by the influenza epidemic and she was the only member to have survived. She became a nurse in the war in an effort to find purpose in her life and to escape the sad memories of her home. While he gained the strength to communicate through writing, they shared their emotional frustration and comforted each other. This past Ian was tortured by his missing memories, just as this past Lucy was tortured by the visions of losing her family. They found solace in each other and became friends.

During this time, the medic was constantly in attendance and noticed the growing affection between them. Although he had feelings for the nurse, he never overstepped his position and took excellent care of his patient. When he received orders to leave that hospital, he departed with kindness and wished them both well. He never voiced the love that he felt for the beautiful nurse and never saw her again in that lifetime.

The nurse invited him to her home in Spain to finish his recuperation. The climate in Andalusia was hot and dry, which would aid in his recovery and be kind to his damaged lungs. Since he had no knowledge of who he was or where he belonged, he agreed to her offer and they traveled to Jerez where he stayed in her family's home as an honored guest. Over time their friendship turned to love, and through her tender and thorough care he recovered much better than the doctors had hoped. After two years without the return of his memory, he gave up the hope of his past and looked toward his future. They married and he found himself talented in both the work of the vineyards and in training their fine stallions.

In this past life, Lucy and Ian lived completely content in each other. They were blessed with children and enjoyed their life together. Unfortunately, the damage to his lungs was permanent and his health was frail for the remainder of his life. Although they had several years together, he succumbed to pneumonia one winter and died, leaving that Lucy to raise their children alone. Ian felt sadness at leaving Lucy, but in his position as observer he was even more grateful to realize that they shared a common destiny and that no matter what happened during this journey, they would meet again in another life. As Ian once again entered the darkness, he felt himself pulled back to the tortured painter he had once been in nineteenth century Paris…


Maya and her husband kept vigil over the sleeping Ian and Lucy. They were both sensitive enough to the effects of the morca to recognize the subtle changes in their body temperature and kept the fire burning to make sure that they were not chilled. Maya continued to cast worried glances toward the chief, knowing that there was much they hadn't revealed to Ian or Lucy… and that it was very unlikely that either would survive unscathed.


Lucy had always been much attuned to her body, and found that she could control her spirit in its journey much better than Ian had explained. Perhaps the battle that he was waging was having an additional affect on his spirit, but Lucy found traveling to her past life a peaceful experience. She joined her past self as a nurse and felt surprise and consternation upon seeing Ian and Kevin together in the hospital ward. She was pleasantly surprised at Kevin's care for Ian… while shocked at the lowly position that Kevin had held. She found herself very little interested in Kevin's past life, though, as she concentrated on this Ian and watched their life together unfold.

After that Ian's death, Lucy felt grief for her past life's loss and wondered at how she would manage to go on. She was looking for strength and comfort, still unsure that she would ever be with Ian again in her present lifetime. She watched the woman she had been remain strong for her children and raise them to be responsible, loving adults. Once they had reached adulthood and started families of their own, she was finished. In all the years she had lived without her love, she had a goal of raising their family. As soon as the task was completed, she easily succumbed to a mild cold and died.

As Lucy entered the darkness of her former self's death, she felt both happiness and pain at their life together. Just as this one might very well be cut short… they had much more loving to accomplish… and she fervently wished for the chance to live a full life with Ian in their next lifetime together.


The chief sent Maya to her sister to check on the children and get some rest while he remained vigilant at Ian and Lucy's side. He sat near the fire and waited patiently for a vision to inform him of their journey. Without Maya beside him, he allowed himself to feel the concern that had been growing the longer they slept.