The Quantum Chain by Nick Jones

Author:Nick Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Published: 2022-08-18T00:52:18+00:00

19

We pass through a narrow, dimly lit entrance tunnel. Iris places her right hand against a panel in the wall. Green light passes over her face. As she says her name, a circular door opens like a retina adjusting, and we walk into the dome.

“I don’t get to spend much time in here,” Iris says. “It always takes my breath away.”

The colossal dome initially appears to be transparent, but as sunlight cuts through a thin layer of cloud, it highlights a honeycomb mesh cut into the glassy surface. The air is cool, pure, and still. I gaze up in wonderment at the cyan-blue sky. The lush green forest I saw earlier is visible all around us, even the mountains in the distance. I force myself to remember that my physical body is seated, motionless in a hotel in Montenegro, and yet here I am, magic marble-man walking around in the world’s largest snow globe.

A man approaches wearing a white shirt, cream-colored chinos, and shiny black shoes. If it weren’t for an extravagant red bow tie, he would be your classic scientist.

“Hello, Devon,” Iris says.

“Iris . . . Always nice to see you here.” The man’s voice is deep, with a hint of the Caribbean somewhere around the edges. His black skin is smooth and unblemished, but specks of gray in his hair and beard betray his forty or so years. “Joseph Bridgeman, it’s good to meet you.” He holds out a hand, and we shake. “Professor Devon Campbell, but please, call me Devon.” He has a cheerful, youthful disposition. He gazes around the dome. “Welcome to the Observatorium.”

“Thanks,” I say, “it’s impressive.”

To Iris, Devon says, “We just fired a pulse, should have the data in a few minutes.”

“Excellent. Where’s Felix?” Iris asks.

“You know Felix, he’s downstairs with his baby.” Devon offers a sideways grin, but when Iris doesn’t reciprocate, he asks if she’s all right.

Her brow narrows. “We’ve received some rather disturbing information. Would you mind letting Felix know that I’m here with Joseph? We need to talk.”

“Will do.” Devon heads to a nearby console, where a young man and woman are talking and interacting with projected visuals and objects.

Iris turns to me. “Downstream is how we study the past, a unique way of visualizing history. This is how we find focus objects and change events. Without it, there would be no Continuum.”

I follow her toward a circular railing in the middle of the dome. A cylindrical chamber, twenty feet in diameter, descends into the earth, a gleaming chrome sphere in its center. The upper third of the ball is gloss black, with the dome’s honeycomb pattern reflected on its surface: a metal eye, surveying the sky. Cables spill out from its base, connecting to an unseen power source that throbs faintly beneath us. Circling the ball is a spiral staircase, lit neon blue. A man ascends the stairs, illuminated head to toe. The last time I saw Felix Greystone, I was surprised by his laid-back demeanor and attire. It’s less of a shock this time, but Felix certainly stands out among his peers.

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