Gareth rose and approached the door. He inspected the frame, then stepped around it and looked through the empty space behind. He did not touch the handle.
'Is there someone on the other side?' he asked.
Cortez folded his arms. 'There can be.'
Gareth frowned. 'That's not an answer.'
'It's the answer you earned.'
Raze sat straighter.
There can be.
The door was not a passage through space. It was a condition. Something had to exist on the other side before opening it made sense.
He stood and walked toward the platform.
Gareth glanced at him. 'Any ideas?'
'Possibly. Do you mind if I test one?'
'Go ahead.'
Raze faced the door. 'Who is this meant to admit?'
Cortez raised an eyebrow. 'An excellent question. Ask the door.'
Raze felt ridiculous. He asked anyway.
'Who are you waiting for?'
A soft pulse traveled through the wood. Words appeared briefly across the grain.
SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHY THEY WISH TO ENTER.
The watching students fell silent.
