Page 115 of The Paradox Club

“It’s what I call my UOO,” said Tess. “To me, this place will always be universe B, and I’m ready to leave it behind. So, I’m stepping through the portal and I’m staying there. I’m not interested in fame or scientific breakthroughs. I just want to go home, and clicking my heels together four times isn’t working.”

“Three times,” said Richard.

“What?” said Tess.

“Dorothy clicked her heels together three times.”

“Maybe in your universe,” said Tess.

Pilgrim 3 laughed and seemed to relax for the first time since landing on the island.

“You know what time the alignment takes place?” said Tess.

“Five twenty-two a.m. and seventeen seconds,” said Pilgrim 3.

“Correct. We have some time to rest.”

“I want everything set up now,” said Pilgrim 3.

“Suit yourself,” said Tess.

“And there’s one more thing,” said Pilgrim 3. “You said all the Maxwell’s Island UFOs needed to be inside the circle.”

“That’s right,” said Tess.

“But you never told me the location of the missing one.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Did you really think I didn’t know that Nova 1 had a UFO? Every time she stepped into the club the vibrations radiated off her. I don’t know if it was her shoes or that awful purse she used to carry or those paste earrings, but that woman reeked of UFO, and I’m guessing she got hers on this island, too.”

“She never said anything to me about it.” said Tess. “Besides, in this universe I basically have no relationship with Marie Maxwell—the woman you call Nova 1.”

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” said Pilgrim 3. “Montag 5 might be disarmed, but he can certainly cause some damage to an old man and a middle-aged lady if you choose not to cooperate.”

Tess stood silently for a moment, trying to look as conflicted and angry as possible. It was important that she not capitulate too easily.

“If you wanted her UFO so badly,” said Tess, playing dumb, “why didn’t you go visit Marie? She lives in Madison. As far as I know.”

“Montag 5!” shouted Pilgrim 3, and when Montag 5 arrived at her side she said, “When you interrogated Nova 1 in Madison, did you sense a UFO?”

“That was never my strong suit,” said Montag 5.

“There are so many things that aren’t your strong suit,” snarled Pilgrim 3. “But I have no doubt that whatever her UFO was, Nova 1 gave it to our little miracle here. I could smell it on her all those years ago, and I can smell it on you. Now, Miss Maxwell, you can hand it over, or Montag 5 can bring me every item you’re wearing one by one until I figure out what the final Maxwell’s Island UFO is.”

Tess turned toward Richard and away from Pilgrim 3. She winked at him and Richard said, in what Tess knew to be a mock-serious voice, “You’d better give it to her. She’s going to get it anyhow.”

“Fine,” said Tess with a sigh of false resignation. Pilgrim 3 was taking every piece of bait Tess set out for her. She reached behind her neck and unfastened the clasp on the chain that held Marie’s pendant, removing it and handing it to Pilgrim 3. “I guess you really will cross over,” said Tess.

“Amusing that you thought you could stop me,” said Pilgrim 3.

“I had to try,” said Tess. “Will you still let me go home?”

“My dear, your going home is part of the demonstration.”

THERAPIST N − 1

“You never feel in control?”