Laurena stared helplessly from one to the other. It was clear she couldn’t figure out which was the frying pan, which the fire.
To help her, Boy turned back to the madwoman. “You do trust the Galaxy, don’t you?”
“Of course!”
“Whatever this dear child says to us,” Boy promised, “you will read in the Galaxy. Trust me on this.”
“I do,” the madwoman said with great solemnity.
Turning to the other, Boy said, “Dear, five million readers are waiting to hear. How was it done? Who are you? Time’s getting short, dear.”
Laurena struggled to wrap her self-assurance around herself. “You won’t leave,” she said. “You couldn’t.”
“Too bad,” Boy said with a shrug. “However, the story works just as well the other way” Turning, he took a step toward the hall door as the madwoman took a step forward.
“Wait!” cried the former Laurena Layla.