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“What about me?” demanded Param.
“Whatever the danger is, it probably already passed,” said Umbo.
“Danger?” asked Param.
“Probably?” asked Olivenko, who had just caught up.
“My future self was a mess. Broken arm, ear half gone, bleeding from a lot of places.”
“So you let my brother go on without a warning?” demanded Param.
“I did what I told myself to do,” said Umbo. “My future self could have given warning while we were still together. He came to me the very first moment that I was alone.”
“So the warning was for you,” said Olivenko. “Not Rigg and Loaf.”
“What if your future self is a lying traitor?” asked Param.
“What if your present self is an accusing idiot?” asked Umbo. So much for making a good impression on Param.
“So you’re just going to do what you’re told,” she said. “Hang back, like a coward.”
Resentment got the better of him. “Better than hiding the way you did,” said Umbo. “Turning invisible when there were things to decide. That was so brave of you.”
“If my brother gets hurt because you—”
“If I didn’t warn my friend Rigg,” said Umbo, “it was because he didn’t need a warning.”
“Or because a warning would do no good,” said Olivenko.
“You think Rigg is dead?” demanded Param.
“I think Umbo told us to wait here,” said Olivenko.
“And he’s boss of the expedition now?”
“Not me,” said Umbo. “My future me.”
“He must be from a long time in the future, if he’s smart enough to know what’s best for us to do.”
Umbo stood aside and gestured for her to go on. “By all means, find Rigg and save him, or die trying. I saw the condition my future self was in. You didn’t. So go ahead.”
“Stop it,” said Olivenko. “Neither of you knows anything, but future Umbo knew something, and that’s more than we know, so we’re going to do what he says.”
“You can’t stop me,” said Param.
“Think, Param,” said Olivenko. “You move far slower when you disappear. Whatever danger there is will be over by the time you get there.”
“Get where?” asked Umbo. “I could hear their footsteps, and suddenly I couldn’t. Yet they didn’t turn back to look for me. I think they went into some kind of passage and closed the door behind them.”
“It can’t hurt to look for that passage,” said Olivenko.
“I can think of lots of ways it can hurt,” said Param, “but I’m doing it anyway.” She strode out into the room.
“They were walking that way,” said Umbo, pointing.
“When you last saw them,” said Param.
“They were furtive. Walking near the wall. It’s a door in the wall.”
