Chapter 4

“We’ve been together since the day I found her. Nelly was 13, and I was 17.”

“I enjoyed your story, especially the subtext. When you say Nelly replied in English and you offered to rescue her, it heavily implies she was a captive of the Indians.”

“She was. I ain’t implying nothin’. I’m stating a fact!”

“Not doubting you, Earl. Have you seen any more Indians since that first day?”

“What are you trying to dig up, young feller? Are you suggesting I killed a bunch? For argument’s sake, supposing I did, what does it mean to you?”

“My mouth has tripped me up again, and I meant nothing at all, sir. I was just wondering if your backyard is still on the same date or nearly the same day you found Nelly. Did time stop?”

“Not sure what you mean by ‘clock stopped.’” Earl studied me intently. “I’ll admit this part only: a couple of days after rescuing Nelly, we went back outside. Nelly stayed close to the house. I walked over to where I’d seen teepees before, but there was no evidence they ever existed. No fire pits, bones, or horse apples. The Indians had a large remuda on a picket line next to the village. There should have been spoor, but there was none. In the distance, I noticed a dust cloud I suspected was a fast-moving herd of buffalo, but I didn’t investigate further. I only walked out there to the site of the former Indian village much later, twice more and many years apart, and I never saw more Indians or any buffalo again.”

“Sounds like time moved on, then. Not a stopped clock. Um, you didn’t discover the door and Nelly during those first days you spent reading in the library?”

“It wasn’t too many days after, but no, it wasn’t during the first couple of days. Why?”

“Faye spent a lot of calm, sedate time in the library without adventures until I showed up. I suspect your door didn’t appear until Nelly was waiting on the other side. It seems likely it takes two to tango.”

Faye became agitated. “Then who was my mom’s partner? She’d need one too if you’re correct!”

“It’s a mystery if the partner was waiting beyond the portal or crossed over from this side with her. Maybe there are other options we’re not considering. But this much is plain to see: anyone observing your grandparents can tell they have a strong connection. I feel a strong connection too, with you, Faye. Not forged over time. It was immediate or nearly so. Whoever is with your mom likely has a strong attachment to her, I bet!”

Earl scratched his chin. “Interesting observations, and I suspect you’re close to correct, Mal. But how does it help? What good is it to know this time portal business is reserved for committed or empathic partners only?”

“Does the library, or whatever power or entity is behind this phenomenon, have an agenda? Is it sentient? Is it friendly? Well-intentioned? A dozen more similar questions along the lines of what are we dealing with.”

“Tough mysteries to solve. Do you knock on doors canvassing for witnesses? Where would you begin an investigation?”

Faye grinned. “Finally, I can contribute! I asked myself that same question long ago and began the investigation. In the library, where else?”

“Hoping the library is sentient and sympathetic to our cause. But how would we communicate? Shhh! No talking. Library rules. Pass notes?”

Faye’s face lit up, glowing with inspiration. In a small room not much larger than a closet was an antique teletype—a mid-twentieth-century radio typewriter used for sending and receiving messages. I think I recall seeing an instruction booklet with it.

The printed word. Seems appropriate for library communications. I shared my conclusion. The library also seems to favor antiques. “Shall we go?”

Earl and Nelly preferred to stay home. Faye and I strolled arm-in-arm to the library.