Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby, #3)

by William Ritter

“I asked him,” said Charon. “You asked him?” I said. “Asked him what?” “About the waters,” said Charon. “I do not think that English has all the right words to explain it, but I will try, if you like. He calls it the Terminus. The End Soul.” “That thing is a soul?” “Yes. All souls have power, you see. Every person has a unique soul — a spirit — and so too does every place. Human spirits and the spirits of the places they inhabit can become bonded, and their bond makes both souls stronger. Your friend, Jennifer Cavanaugh, has such a bond — and it is powerful enough to allow her to remain above. The underworld also has a soul. It has the End Soul.” “So,” I said, “if we had fallen in, we would have become bonded to this Terminus thing the way Jenny is bonded to Augur Lane?” “Not exactly. In a way, you already are. All souls are bonded to the End Soul. What they can become is lost in the End Soul. They can become a part of the single energy that powers all eternity, but at the cost of everything that makes them unique. For some, those who are ready, it is a great reward. For others — those who would prefer to remain distinct — it is less pleasant. Does that make sense to you?”