Link by Summer Wier

Author:Summer Wier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, space opera, space travel, time travel, black holes, black hole
Publisher: REUTS Publications, LLC

10

“How could you?” I screamed, leaping at him, my desire to rip his face off winning.

Luckily for the professor, Zane was close enough to head me off. He threw his arms around my waist, holding me as I continued my frenzied attack. The professor, having raised his arms in defense, relaxed once Zane had me under control.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he said. “The trade was only a theory until tested. By the time I realized what I had done, it was too late. Your father could not be retrieved, and I could not cross back.” He shook his head and chuckled. “A hazard of testing the unknown, I suppose.”

“This isn’t a joke,” I said.

“No, it most certainly is not,” he agreed.

“So where is my father?” I spoke slowly and let out a breath, forcing myself to relax. Zane loosened his hold.

“I’m not sure—another unknown variable,” the professor said. “There are two theoretical outcomes. The first involves a direct trade, in which we simply took each other’s place in our respective worlds. The second is sporadic. I ended up here, but your father could have traveled to any world connected to the shadow of light.”

Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply before opening them again. “You’re telling me you have no idea where my father is?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I do not.”

Learning the truth about my father was a small victory, stifled by the looming uncertainty of his actual whereabouts. Guilt quickly replaced my subsiding rage.

I looked at Zane, for strength. He put his hand on the back of my head, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. “I spent years hating him for abandoning his life, but he was robbed of it. I need to find him. To bring him home.”

Zane leaned back, just far enough to look at me. “We’ll find him. I’ll help you find him.”

His assurance was what I needed, shoring up the crumbling edges of my resilience. Knowing I wasn’t in this alone helped me gather my thoughts. I couldn’t change what had happened in the past, but I could try and fix things, now. “So, Maggie assumed she could trade me for you in a simple swap.”

Professor Teller shrugged. “Seems she did. I shared my theory with her, but, at the time, I hadn’t clearly identified the expected outcomes.” He stared at the map, rubbing his chin. “Arranging subjects at precise trade points on either side of the border with no method of communication . . .” He trailed off before turning to face us. “I can’t even begin to imagine how she expected to pull that off. If only I had my journal, I might be able to piece something together.”

I exchanged a questioning look with Zane. A journal? “Maybe she hadn’t thought through that part yet,” I suggested. “She seems a little erratic.”

The professor shook his head. “If there is one thing I know about my mother, it’s that she always has a plan. Though she might be disappointed to know that I have no intention of returning until my work here is finished.

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