I looked out the window and saw another large mass of green land revealing itself towards the front end of the car. Behind me, the continent of North America was long gone, and South America would soon follow. It seemed I won’t be meeting any other candidates on this trip, unless there was someone that needed to be picked up in Antarctica. The old man mentioned a young girl, so that meant at least two of us would have arrived by then.

Our vehicle descended into the illuminated grassy field beneath us near the center of the continent. Trees with tiny leaves stood in the distance, albeit few in number compared to the fields from where we departed. Now there was no turning back, especially since I have just one set of clothes and a banana.

Driving past the field, the vehicle then hovered over a dirt clearing, which transitioned into an asphalt road. Structures rose in the horizon as we approached our destination uphill. Before long, we could see at the bottom of the hill what felt like an indigenous town. Drawing closer, I could make out the architecture that consisted of shaped stone, mud, and wood.

I do not know how I would survive in this place because the setting was too simple, barren of wildlife, and devoid of a lurking community. Perhaps morning was on the horizon, and only time will display the town’s residents. The officers and I trusted the Integrator; and from my conversation with them on this trip, they would agree that the Integrator would not act and place me here without reason.

The young officer drove to a halt at a large, gated enclosure and told us to exit for we had arrived. I stepped out with the officers and surveyed the scene. Thick hedges surrounded the perimeter, preventing access from any direction besides the entrance we stopped at.

Looking through the arched gate into the distance, I saw a single-floored building in front that reminded me of the pictures of temples I saw in previous disciples’ lectures. The shrubs blocked a full view of that building even though it was a far walk away on a gravel path. But judging by the height of the tall hedges, the buildings inside could not have been taller than a single floor.

Peering more closely through the gates, the temple's opened double doors stood at the end of the gravel walkway. Squinting, I barely made out a well-lit corridor that led to a more spacious room.

The young officer walked up to me with my forgotten backpack and its hidden banana, which I quickly hoisted over my shoulder. The old man stepped up beside his colleague and looked at me with smiling, bright eyes.

“Well, this is it,” he said in his hoarse voice. “I’ve got to get back to my routine, so enjoy your time with new friends, boy. I’m sure my young colleague here wants to get away from my scratchy, talkative voice too.”

We all shared a moment’s laugh. The young officer bowed and extended a straight and precise arm angled towards the gate. The old man smacked my upper back hard enough that I felt my heart escape my ribs for a moment and stumbled forward onto the gravel path, feeling the round and oblong stones massaging my soles. I turned my head back as the old man lowered into his seat once more, giving a parting wave and a bright grin through the window before the vehicle’s acceleration into disappearance.

I returned my head forward and walked. The closer I came to the temple, the more I appreciated the structure. The patterns and placement of its design seemed intentional that it matched the ambiance of the shrubs, trees, and flora around it. Much like a collection of clouds, my eyes could not settle into one particular detail and it invited me to take on its whole presence instead of just a part.

I wanted to make this my home, but putting my personal desires aside, this felt like home.

I walked through the double doors and into the well-lit corridor of warm browns. This led into the lobby where an expecting lady stood behind a desk. She pointed to the side down a grand hall, where a door resided at the end of its length. I bowed as a thanks, adopting the young officer’s mannerisms.

Turning, I walked down the arched hall that would take about ten average-sized men to reach its height. The lighting was dimmer even with the bright candle flames that lined the two walls, held in place by black discs. The fragrance of well-watered fresh grass and leaves carried into the building and mixed with the scent of candles, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

After an unexpectedly long stroll, the rectangular door intimidated me because of what laid ahead. Who would already be there besides the girl mentioned by the officers? The Integrator? I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.