I dreamed of Geb. I dreamed of him praying to the Lords of Kobol as he had when Eonla was sick. He made offerings and spent countless hours on his knees appealing to the Lords in general, and to Lord Apollo the healer in particular. And when Eonla got worse, he switched Lords and made his petition to Hera. In my dream I saw my husband, on one knee, two fingers to his forehead. A female hand reached out and touched his head in benediction. Eonla was healed, but I put no credence in the gods' intervention. The infection she'd harbored had simply run its course. I tried to explain this to Geb, but he only smiled at me patiently, believer to non-believer. Where is your proof, I asked him and he said a single word.

Kobol.

I opened my eyes...

It was early morning, ship's time. People were stirring around me, waking up, because there was a message coming over the speakers. It was the voice of Captain Zaria. She sounded as if she were reading something:

...play my part in the plan. Therefore, at the appointed hour, I will give the signal to the fleet. All those wishing to honor the gods and walk the path of destiny will follow me back to Kobol...

I looked around quickly, not sure I wasn't still dreaming. Kobol? It wasn't a word that was used lightly.

"Did she say Kobol?" It was Nesta, the woman who Jackie had persuaded to watch her baby after I refused. Nesta jounced the infant nervously on her knee while he slobbered over his fist. She looked as unsettled as I felt. Before I could say anything, the Captain continued her announcement, no longer reading.

"This ship is going to Kobol," Captain Zaria said. "Anyone who does not wish to go should debark immediately. That is all."

There was silence, followed by the incoherent murmuring of freshly woken people. "I thought Kobol was a myth," I said, to no one in particular.

Nesta looked awed. "It's the home of the gods," she said. She put two fingers to her forehead. It was Geb's gesture in my dream and it unnerved me.

"Follow who?" I said. Between the dream and the captain's vaguely threatening announcement I could feel myself beginning to unravel. Not that there was much warp and woof to begin with.

"The Prophet," Nesta said at the same time a man whose name I'd never learned said, "President Roslin. They say she's dying."

"Just like in the scriptures," Nesta said reverently. "'A dying leader will--'"

"It's bullshit," the man said, gathering his things together. "And the gods take care of those who care for themselves. I'm not going to Kobol..."

"If it's bullshit then what difference does it make if you go or not?" Nesta asked, pretty reasonably I thought. The man looked at her as if he'd like to kill her, then picked up his swag and stomped off.

"Where's he gonna go?" I said, watching his departing back. This ship was the only home I had, now. I would not be leaving it unless it was feet first or to live on a new world far away from Cylons who wanted to kill me although I had done nothing to them.

"Who knows?" Nesta said, getting heavily to her feet. She balanced the baby on her hip. "I have to try to contact this boy's mother. I don't think Galactica will be following anybody."

I put my hand to my mouth. Oh, no. What about Jackie and her baby? Jackie had turned her back on me when I refused to take care of Joe while she went to be of military service. I hadn't said I wouldn't watch Joe because I didn't care, but because I did care, but Jackie didn't hear me and she had cut me off. Nesta was a good woman but she was old and creaky and barely up to the task. I had a feeling that Joe was going to fall into my hands anyway, no matter what I wanted or said or did. But how could I care for another's child when I'd done so badly by my own?

Iheard the people talk about President Roslin. ("The woman," Jackie had said, the night I'd drawn a woman dancing with a stern-faced man. "Our President is a woman.") I heard them say she was crazy. I heard them say she took drugs. She was a politician, you can't trust them. I heard them say she was the prophet sent by the gods to guide us to our salvation. I'd also heard that the military knew where Earth was, so what was all this about salvation? I listened but I didn't understand.

I got up and folded my blanket and put my shoes on. I decided not to eat breakfast. We were going to jump and you don't make as big a mess when you puke if your stomach is empty.