Elena crossed herself, but he touched her shoulder for reassurance. Leon came wistfully closer.
“Theodore of Mistra,” said the LOC tonelessly. “Governor of Peloponnese for five years, succeeded by-”
“Stop,” said Noel. “Cross file. Lady Sophia.”
“Lady Sophia weds Theodore. Bears three children, two sons and a-”
“Stop,” said Noel. “Cross file. The Emir of Aydin-”
“Malfunction,” said the LOC. “Override.”
“Cancel data retrieval,” said Noel quickly. His relief drained away. He stared anxiously at the LOC. “What is it? What’s malfunctioning?”
“Override. Override. Time course ending. Prepare.”
Emotion caught Noel in the throat. He looked at Leon, waiting for something, although he didn’t know what. Finally he held out his hand.
“Leave me,” said Leon, making it a plea. “I saved your life. Don’t make me go back.”
Noel lowered his hand, realizing the gesture had been misunderstood. “Very well,” he said, although his better judgment warned him he was making a mistake. “But you must not tamper with events.”
“How can I avoid it?” said Leon. “I can’t dither over every move and decision, wondering how it will affect others.”
“I don’t think you can stay,” said Noel, frowning. “I think whatever brought us here will take you back as well.”
“Then I’ll die!” said Leon in anguish. “I can only live here. Let me go. Please.”
Noel hesitated, knowing only seconds were left. “I don’t have control over this. I don’t know what will happen.”
‘Take off the LOC then, and we’ll both stay. I’ll cause you no more trouble. I swear it.“
“You don’t belong here,” said Noel. “And you know I have to go back. I don’t belong here either.”
Leon’s face twisted. “Then go to hell!” he said and ran.
Noel started after him. “Leon! Come back! You-”
But his feet were dissolving. He felt the cool touch of recession as the time stream opened around him. He stood still, watching Leon run down the street and vanish in the twilight. A part of him could not help but hope Leon managed to stay and carve out his own fate somehow; however, he knew that Leon would only cause more trouble. How to fix the problem of Leon would be for the Time Institute to solve.
Elena rose to her feet, her eyes wide with fear and astonishment. She stretched out her hands to Noel, and although he tried to clasp them her flesh passed through his. “Good-bye, ghost,” she called.
“Good-bye, Elena,” he said.
He did not know whether she heard his farewell. He hoped so. He hoped she would have the good sense to keep quiet about her vision and not be labeled a madwoman for the rest of her life.
“Good-bye,” he whispered.
Then he was sucked away into the time vortex.
EPILOGUE
Noel materialized with a blinding flash of lightning, squinted in an effort to clear his vision, and opened his mouth.
Water gushed in, making him cough and sputter. It tasted horrible, like mud and God knew what else, but it cleared his wits enough for him to realize that he was thrashing about in water running swifter than thought between two narrow dirt banks. Sweeping along with him were tree branches, tumbleweeds, snakes, and a dead antelope.
This was not the white, sterile, safe confines of Laboratory 14, where he should be.
Where the hell was he?
