Page 107 of The Paradox Club

“These are solvable problems, Tess,” said Richard.

“Yeah,” said Tess, “and you can solve them by sending me back. Besides, if keeping me safe is so important, why did you ever let me off the island to begin with? Didn’t I pose a threat to all humanity?”

“We talked about it,” said Vivian. “I stayed here with you for a few days, and then we holed up together at a rental cottage down the road. I even drew your blood while you were sleeping and had it tested for foreign viruses. But I couldn’t leave you here. You were twelve years old.” Vivian, choking back a sob. “And your mother had just rejected you. I couldn’t.”

“Sure you could have,” said Tess. “You could have left me here to die. It would have been the responsible thing to do. After all, I was nobody to you.”

“You were Tess,” said Vivian. “I couldn’t leave you here because you were Tess.”

“I still am Tess.”

“Look, the most important thing right now is keeping you safe from Pilgrim 3,” said Richard.

“Other than Richard, the only living people who have ever set foot on this island are your family and me,” said Vivian. No one else knows where it is. No one can find us. You’re safe here. That’s what matters.”

“The alignment is only four hours away,” said Tess. “If you send me back, we only have to hide out here until then. Then you can go back to your lives.”

“We don’t even really understand how to do it,” said Richard.

“Vivian does,” said Tess. “She knows what Harry did. She was there in that circle of trees with him.”

“Four hours isn’t enough time,” said Vivian.

“Then when is the next time?” asked Tess. “When is the next time Harry calculated the two universes would align?”

“The math is very complicated,” said Richard. “No one but Harry understood it and Harry is gone.”

“But he told you, didn’t he,” said Tess. “I can see it in your eyes. He told you about October fourteenth, 2015, and he told you about the next alignment. When is it?”

After a long silence, Richard spoke.

“Eighty-five years from now.”

“So, this is my only chance,” said Tess.

“You could die, Tess,” said Vivian. “Last time Harry did die.”

“I’d rather die than spend the rest of my life trapped on this island or even trapped in a universe where I don’t belong. If I die, then I won’t be a threat to humankind anymore.”

“It’s just not safe,” said Richard.

“Jesus!” said Tess. “Do you honestly think this is safe? You really think they won’t find us before the alignment?”

“No one knows—” began Richard, but Tess shouted back at him.

“Marie knows! How have you not figured that out? Marie knows how to get to the island. Do you honestly think she’s not going tell Montag 5 when he starts pulling out her fingernails or puts a gun to the temple of her new husband? Marie knows and she hates me. She’d be more than happy to give me up.”

“Christ,” murmured Richard. “That’s why Montag 5 went to see Marie. And it’s why he stopped at the airport. He wasn’t going back to New York; he was picking up Pilgrim 3. They know they need Tess and they’re on the way here.”

“Tess is right,” said Vivian. “Now that Pilgrim 3 knows she exists, she’ll never be safe here. She’ll never be safe anywhere in this universe.”

“Finally you’re talking sense,” said Tess. “So you’ll send me back?”

“There’s one problem,” said Vivian.

“God, I wish there was only one,” said Richard. “But which one are you thinking of?”

“It’s what Harry said, isn’t it?” said Tess. “What he said in the circle of trees about needing all of them. What was he talking about?”