Page 108 of The Paradox Club

“The Maxwell Island UFOs,” said Vivian. “All the untethered foreign objects that have appeared on the island over the years. Harry realized that to control the portal he needed to bring them all back into the circle.”

“And I’m one of them,” said Tess.

“You are one of four that we know of,” said Vivian. “There could be others—sticks or rocks that we never recognized. But there are three besides yourself that we need if we’re going to try to send you back.”

“Then you’ll try?” said Tess.

“I’m not sure we have much choice,” said Richard.

“But I don’t think we have a chance of success without the UFOs, and I don’t know how we’re going to get them in four hours,” said Vivian.

“What are they?” asked Tess.

“Two are books,” said Vivian. “One is called Gatsby the Great. It’s a favorite of Pilgrim 3 and lives in her office in the Paradox Club in New York City.”

“Which will make it impossible to get here in time,” said Tess.

“And another was a book in Harry’s library,” said Vivian. “The Descent of Man by Charles Darwinn with two ns.”

“I saw that book,” said Tess. “It’s in your house with all the others I unpacked.”

“But we can’t make it to Madison and back before the alignment,” said Vivian. “It’s hopeless.”

“Not entirely true,” said Richard. “I hesitated to say this, because I still think trying to send Tess back is incredibly dangerous, but I have taken the precaution of securing both of those books. They should be arriving at the island shortly.”

“How?” said Vivian.

“As president of the Paradox Club, I still have allies. In this case a young member called Valentine 6.”

“But even if we get both books to the island in time,” said Vivian, “that still leaves the third UFO. It’s a turquoise-and-gold pendant…”

“Set with emeralds and sapphires,” said Tess.

“You know where it is?” said Richard.

“Yes,” said Tess with a smile.

“We both do,” said Vivian.

“Would someone care to enlighten me about the location of this pendant?” said Richard. “Harry never told me anything about it.”

“Marie,” said Tess. “Marie’s pendant is the final Maxwell UFO. That’s why Harry said she had something I needed. We’ve got to find a way to get her to bring it here.”

As her words died in the cold night air, a pair of bouncing headlights appeared on the road to the boat landing.

“We’ve got company,” said Richard.

“Montag 5 and Pilgrim 3?” said Tess.

“Judging from the time on Nemo 7’s last text, they shouldn’t be here yet,” said Richard.

“Your friend Valentine 6 then?” said Vivian.

“She’s coming in your minivan,” said Richard, holding up the binoculars. “That’s a sedan.”

The headlights had come to a stop and the faint sound of a car door slamming drifted across the water.

“Let me see those,” said Tess, taking the binoculars from Richard. She peered through the lenses, then handed them back to Richard. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said, and before Richard or Vivian could stop her, she had run to the canoe and was pushing off the shore.