Chapter 26

“You have a moving portal,” Mistress Eva said, “How does that work for you?”

“I don’t know. We were tied up to a slip the one time I’ve used it. We got back just fine.”

“We’ve never had a moving Portal ... well ... we’ve had portals that we’ve had to change the location ... fires, earthquakes, volcanos and whatnot but ... one that moves constantly? Never.”

“I’m guessing we’ll be finding out eventually. Cyn is at sea ... we left the boat about 40 nautical miles south west of Osaka ... Japan.”

Thinking about it, I wondered if we would be able to get back to the boat. Time enough for that when we’re successful ... or not.

“Where is your Companion?” Mistress Eva was interested.

“Sam has her,” I said. That drew a blank look. “The healing chamber.”

“The Healing Chamber has a name? When did that happen?”

No doubt about it ... Mistress Eva, Greeter coordinator of Crossroad greeters, was getting old. She was present when Sam announced he was Sam. Ah well ... three centuries ... Cassandran centuries.

“How long has she been in the chamber?” Eva wasn’t asking the chamber ... she was asking Ellen.

“I’m right here, you know,” Sam said. “About ten minutes and the repairs will be finished.”

“I didn’t ask when she’d be done. How long has she been healing?”

“Maybe 45 minutes,” Sam said.

“Forty-five minutes and 10 more? What the hel?”

“She had a bleed.”

“55 minutes for a bleed?”

“In her head. She’d have been dead before she got started.” Sam said, “Probably in the bank ... you know how Chaos affects first timers.”

“What did you have to do?”

“If she has an autopsy, the coroner is going to find an extremely suspicious hole. Earth doesn’t have the tech. Won’t have for a hundred years.” Sam spoke to me, “Don’t allow an autopsy. If she’s your wife?’’

“Whose wife?” Naturally Zo picked that exact moment to step out the door.

“JW’s” said Sam.

“Ooo ... I think I missed something important.”

EEP!