Jack.
He pulled himself onto the edge of the frame and extended hand, helping Mel to balance on the frame edge.
She jumped to the ground and saw them.
“Jack,” Mel said.
“What…”
His gaze found them.
“Well, fancy meeting you here.”Jack jumped down next to Mel and looked around.“Where is here?”
“We were hoping you knew that,” Ty admitted.“You two okay?”
But his attention was on theRay.Alice knew why.It might be their only way out of…where ever they were.
“Bruised but not broken,” Mel said.“Not sure we can say the same for theRay.”
She turned to look at the downed ship.Jack was already circling it as best he could.Ty joined him in the examination.
It wasn’t a vain hope that prompted the examination, Alice knew.In the case of damage, the hold of theRaywas packed with all kinds of parts to use to repair it.
Alice walked over to Mel and studied her.She looked okay, though she suspected that her gaze was as anxious as Mel’s.
They still had some supplies in the camper, but not enough to feed five people for very long.
“We were actually hoping to run into you,” Mel said.She checked the ship for stability, then leaned against it.“We found out…”
She straightened again.
“Who is that?”She pointed in the direction of the camper.
Alice turned to see Ness standing uncertainly at the edge of the road.
“That’s Ness,” Alice said.“We happened on her outside the relocation camp.”
“Ness.”
Mel said the name like it meant something to her.
“Do you get the feeling that time is messing with us?”Mel asked, starting toward the girl.
“Time or something.”Someone?That was possible, too.There were other time travelers out there.Ness’s father?It was a distinct possibility.The dots were slowly connecting.Too slowly?
That was her fear now.Things looked quiet—too quiet—for now, but how long would that last?What was their best move, or best place to be?Her instincts were to stick with the camper.
At least it had food, water, and a bathroom.But theRay.Could it get all of them out of there?
They reached Ness.She looked both relieved and wary.
“I was afraid,” Ness swallowed, “you’d disappear.”
Alice couldn’t blame her.It was a possibility.She glanced back, relieved to still be able to see the men and the ship.
“This is Ness,” Alice said.Should she tell Ness Mel’s name?
“I’m Mel.”Mel extended her hand and Ness took it cautiously.
