"But… behind the scenes of what?"

"Why, everything of course!" Karol grinned, and took another swallow of his podpiwek.

Joseph was quiet for several minutes. Finally he said, "How did you know that I thought of a movie studio? I didn't tell you that."

"You were lost. I heard you calling."

"Yes, I called out. But I did not speak of a movie studio. I thought of a movie studio."

"As I said, I heard you calling."

"Are you saying you can read my mind?"

"That is not what I am saying at all. I am saying that just because you did not speak, does not mean you were not calling."

Joseph paused, flummoxed. "I don't think I understand any of this."

Karol smirked. "Fortunately, existence does not require understanding."

Joseph's cheeks flushed, his anger rising. He took a deep breath to compose himself. "The most confusing part of all of this is you. For many years you were my mentor. More than that, you were my friend."

Karol dabbed the corners of his mouth with a linen napkin. "I am honored you thought of me that way."

"And are you still my friend, Karol?"

"I don't know. Do the dead have friends?"

"How would I know? I've never been dead. Tell me now, are you my friend?"

Karol's brow furrowed while he considered the question. "Yes, I am still your friend."

"Then tell me what is happening."

"I do not completely understand what is happening."

"Then share with me your incomplete understanding, Karol!" He punctuated this last by softly striking his fist on the table. A bottle wobbled dangerously before righting itself.

Karol sighed. "Ask your questions then, if you must."

Joseph was unsure where to begin. He smoothed the wrinkles on the front of his pajama shirt, stalling for time. "How can I know I'm not dreaming?"

"There is no answer to that question. At least not one that will satisfy you."

"How do you know you're dead?"

"I can remember dying."

Joseph leaned forward. "What was it like?"

"Have you ever watched a candle burn down to nothing, seen the flame sputter and go out?"

"Yes, many times." Joseph waited, expecting more. When the ensuing silence became uncomfortable, he realized he had all the answer he was going to get. He decided he'd try to raise the subject again later.

"Is this… heaven?"

Karol grinned. The grin somehow ended up looking like a grimace. "No, I do not think so."

"But… this can't be hell?"

"No, I do not think it is hell. I think this is something else."

"What else can there be?"

Karol waved a hand at the plates on the table. "There can be this. Perhaps there can be other things as well."

"You were a good man, Karol. You lived a life of faith. Why aren't you in heaven?"

Karol closed his eyes. When he spoke, his voice dripped with sadness. "I do not think I'm supposed to go to heaven. At least not yet."

"But… why?"

"Did you see the crowd? The people there moved with urgency. They had places to go. I currently do not."

Joseph looked down at the table, then scratched his cheek contemplatively.

Karol interrupted his reverie. "Have you come to the important questions yet?"

Joseph looked up, a bit startled. "I think the questions I've asked have been important ones."

"Neither your questions nor my answers have granted you knowledge or wisdom. They have not satisfied you. They have not made you happy. They have not eased your doubts. You are asking the wrong questions."

Joseph thought a moment then asked, "Why am I here?"

Karol grinned broadly. "Now we are getting somewhere."