Node Zero

" Nasser," Vivi asked, "what was the frequency and intensity of the abnormal Magic Fluctuation you detected on the plane?"

Nasser pulled up the records on the Analyzer.

"The frequency was 1430.75 megahertz, and the intensity was twelve times the normal background vibration. The fluctuation lasted about four minutes, then vanished abruptly. The moment it disappeared was exactly when you touched the ball of light."

"When the ball of light merged into me, she withdrew part of her consciousness from the network." Cassandra lifted the Silver Compass from her lap. "For nine thousand years, her consciousness has been scattered throughout the entire network, present in every node. But after the ball of light merged into you, the consciousness in the network began gathering in your direction. She may be paying more attention to you now than to the other parts of the network."

Vivi looked at Cassandra.

"You mean she woke up?"

"Her body is still asleep, and most of her consciousness is still in the network, but she focused part of it on you. You became an anchor for her in the real world, like Cohen's patch in Node Seven. The difference is that Cohen embedded himself voluntarily, while you were chosen without any choice."

After that, Vivi leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

The carriage continued flying north. Below, the land changed from Britain's green to the gray-blue of the North Sea, then from the gray-blue of the North Sea to Norway's deep green.

Hagrid landed the carriage on the tundra at the entrance to the Jotunheimen valley. The Thestrals folded their wings, their hooves striking the frozen ground with dull thuds.

Vivi jumped down from the carriage, her boots rustling against the tundra.

The air was bitterly cold, and white mist puffed from her