“Mark!” his dad shouted. “This is about the future of humanity, not just your mother and me.”
“I know that, Dad,” Mark said patiently. “But the damage is done.”
The three stood staring at one another. Mark was right. The damage was done. Nevva had the ring. A soft knock came on the door. “Come in,” Mr. Dimond called.
Courtney poked her head inside to see the tense standoff. “Oops, sorry. Family stuff,” she said, and started to close the door.
“No,” Mark called out. “Come in. You’re part of this too.”
Courtney sheepishly entered the stateroom and looked at the Dimonds, saying, “I guess tennis is out of the question?” She gave them a big, hopeful smile, trying to lighten the mood. All three Dimonds stared back at her blankly. “Got it,” she added. “I’ll just slink off.”
“I told them,” Mark said. “They know about Nevva and the ring.”
Courtney relaxed, happy that the truth was out. She plopped down in an easy chair. “Sucks, doesn’t it? Now what do we do?”
Mark walked to the porthole. It was obvious he had something to say, so the others didn’t offer their own opinions. Not that they had any.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot,” he began. “It’s pretty much all I’ve been doing since I gave up the ring. After we read Bobby’s last journal from Ibara, we thought it was all over. It wasn’t. Bobby’s trapped. Saint Dane is trapped. Nevva isn’t, obviously. She’s on the loose, and whatever she wants to do with that ring, it can’t be good.”
Courtney blurted out, “You think maybe she can use the ring to get Saint Dane off Ibara?”
“Maybe,” Mark answered. “I don’t know.”
“How would that work?” Mrs. Dimond asked.
“Mom,” Mark said with a touch of impatience. “You ask that like we know how any of this works.”
“You’re right,” she said quickly. “Sorry. Sorry.”
Mark continued, “I’m pretty sure what we should do. We’ve got to stay on First Earth. All of us.”
“We couldn’t travel if we wanted to,” Courtney added. “No Travelers here, remember? I doubt Nevva will let us hitch a ride with her.”
“Even if we could travel, I think it’s better that we stay here.”
Mr. Dimond entered the conversation, saying, “I told you not to worry about us.”
“But I do,” Mark shot back. “As long as you’re here, I think you’re safe. I don’t believe Nevva. If you go back home, all bets will be off.”
“But why?” Courtney asked. “She’s not Saint Dane. She wouldn’t do something horrible just for fun. Would she?”
“I don’t want to take the chance,” Mark said with finality.
“But, Mark-,” Mr. Dimond complained.
“Dad!” barked Mark. “We have to stay here. This is where we belong now.”
Mr. Dimond looked at his wife. They had never heard Mark speak to them like that. He wasn’t a sheepish little boy anymore.
“All right, son,” Mr. Dimond said calmly. “This is your show.”
“What are we supposed to do in 1937?” Mrs. Dimond asked. “Start a new life?”
“If we have to,” Mark said. “We can get by. The money from KEM will help with that. It’s the other reason I think we should stay. As much as it hurts to admit, I’m in business with KEM. Dado is a real thing. Maybe if we accept it and become part of the process, we can find a way to sabotage Forge. It’s still First Earth. It’s still 1937. We might be able to change history yet.”
“It’s true,” Courtney chimed in brightly. “We’re not done here. We could still scuttle the dados!”
“And don’t forget Nevva,” Mark added. “We need to find out why she wanted my ring. If she finds out we’re creating trouble for KEM, she’ll be back. I want to be waiting for her.”
“I like that,” Courtney said with an evil gleam in her eye. “Let’s make her come to us.”
Everyone exchanged glances and nods. Mark’s words rang true. Better, they contained hope. That had been in short supply.
“I guess that’s it then,” Mrs. Dimond said. “We’re going to be living in the past.”
“I wasn’t much for cell phones anyway,” Mr. Dimond said with a smile. “Or microwaves or computers or sushi.”
“I kind of liked the microwave,” Mrs. Dimond said wistfully.
It actually gave them all a chuckle. This was a family, including Courtney. There was a bond between them that they knew would help get them through, or even better, help them start doing damage control.
Another knock came at the door. Without being asked, Dodger poked his head in. “Hey hey! The gang’s all here! It’s our last night on board. I made dinner reservations. Who’s with me?”
Everyone looked to Mark, who shrugged and exclaimed, “Why not? Let’s celebrate the beginning of our new lives.”
It was a wonderful evening. They ate in the same opulent dining room where Dodger and Courtney had cornered Mark on their voyage to England. This time, there was no pressure. Dodger acted as host, ordering for everyone. Mrs. Dimond danced with her husband to the music of the swing orchestra. She even coaxed Mark onto the dance floor. Courtney and Mr. Dimond shared a dance, but Dodger cut in and spun Courtney around the floor expertly. Since the age of twelve, Courtney had taken dozens of ballroom dance classes, all under protest, thinking it was a dork skill she would never have to use. It never occurred to her that one day she’d travel to the past, where an orchestra would play swing music for her dancing pleasure on an ocean liner.
The group did their best to forget their troubles for a while and enjoy their last few hours on the most elegant ocean liner of its time. They spent hours in the restaurant. There was no hurry. They weren’t going anywhere. At one point Courtney grabbed Mark by the hand. Before he had a chance to complain, she pulled him onto the dance floor. The song was slow-a ballad.
“I’m actually starting to recognize this music,” Courtney said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I’m kind of starting to like it too,” Mark added.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Courtney groused.
The two swayed back and forth in time to the orchestra. Mark stepped away, took Courtney’s hand and spun her around with surprising grace. Seconds later she was back in his arms.
“Where the heck did you learn that?” she asked in surprise.
“We were in the same ballroom class for two years, Courtney,” Mark said flatly.
“Oh. Really?”
“You didn’t know I existed.”
“I wouldn’t say that! I just thought, I mean, I really kind of…
Okay, you’re right. I didn’t know you existed. Did we ever dance together?”
“No. I was afraid of you.”
“That was a long time ago,” Courtney said with a touch of sadness.
“So much has happened.”
“Really.”
“At least I’m not scared of you anymore.”
Courtney laughed and held Mark closer.
“You’re my best friend, you know that?” Courtney said.
“I’m your only friend,” Mark replied with a smirk. “It’s kind of hard to maintain a social life when you’re bouncing around Halla. I haven’t been to many parties lately.”
“True.” Courtney sighed. “Then again, you didn’t go to many before, either.”
“Gee, thanks for that.” Mark chuckled.
Courtney added, “For what it’s worth, I think you’re great.”
Mark had never had a girl tell him he was great before. He barely spoke to girls at all. This was alien territory. He didn’t know what to say.
Courtney answered for him. “You’re supposed to say, ‘Thanks. I think you’re great too.’”
“I do.”
They danced for a few more moments, then Courtney asked somberly, “Do you think we’re going to spend
