Page 114 of The Paradox Club

“It’s true,” said Vivian. “I see that night in my dreams now and then, but one dream never agrees with another.”

Tess liked this extra layer of detail Vivian had added to her lie.

“All of which means that I’m the only one who knows how this works. I’m the only one who can get you through that portal and back.”

“And will you?” said Pilgrim 3.

“What Harry in my universe understood,” said Tess, ignoring Pilgrim 3’s question, “but apparently the Harry here did not, is that the Maxwell’s Island inorganic UFOs, both of them, need to be in the circle before the portal opens. Of course, in 2005, Gatsby the Great was secure in the Paradox Club and his book of Darwinn was sitting in his office in Madison.”

“Harry had another UFO book?” said Pilgrim 3.

“Harry had many secrets from you,” said Tess.

“And where are those two books now?” asked Pilgrim 3, excitement edging into her voice.

Tess nodded slightly to Richard.

“Valentine 6 brought them here,” he said. “I have them both in this bag. He held up the gray canvas tote in which Valentine 6 had delivered the books.

“I should have kept that little thief under lock and key when I had the chance,” said Pilgrim 3.

“You can give them to her,” said Tess.

Richard handed the bag to Pilgrim 3, who snatched it from him like a toddler going after a cookie.

“All I need to do is place these in the circle?” said Pilgrim 3.

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” said Tess dismissively. “The radio must be there, of course, and it must be turned on and properly tuned. I’m the only one who knows how to do that.”

“But there is no electricity on the island,” said Pilgrim 3.

“We brought a generator,” said Richard.

“Excellent,” said Pilgrim 3. Had she not been grasping the bag of books, Tess thought she might have rubbed her hands together with glee.

“Always happy to do your work for you,” said Richard, but Pilgrim 3 ignored the jab.

“And what about you?” said Pilgrim 3, turning back to Tess. “You said all inorganic UFOs must be in the circle before the alignment, but what about the organic UFO?”

“You noticed that, did you? That was another thing my Harry understood that your Harry didn’t. Anything organic that wants to pass through can’t enter the circle until after the portal opens. Otherwise, it risks being destroyed. That’s what happened to your Harry.”

“But once you enter the circle, you just step through?” said Pilgrim 3.

“I just stepped through,” said Tess. “My Harry thought I’d have time to step back, but he wasn’t quite as good at the math as your Harry. Or me. The 2005 alignment only lasted six seconds.”

“And you know how long this one will last?”

“Thirty-seven seconds. Thirty-seven point six nine three, to be precise.”

“That’s enough time for someone to step through and step back.”

“I’m not stepping back,” said Tess.

“No,” said Pilgrim 3, “I am.”

“Do what you like,” said Tess. “But I’m staying in universe A.”

“Universe A?” said Pilgrim 3.