Persistence of Vision

  ***

  Marcus waited under the shadow of the sweet-smelling tree. The moonlight glinted off the blossoms, making them look white against the black sky and gray, residential shadows. In daylight they were probably light purple or pink.

  Maggie’s silhouette disappeared around the corner. A few minutes later an audible commotion sprung up from the next street. She’d been spotted. There were voices, sirens from farther off, more lights being turned on.

  Marcus heaved a sigh. At least she’d be taken care of. His feet felt heavy as he trudged back the way he’d come. Karl had actually found a flat, sawed-off stump to sit on. As Marcus passed, Karl got up and fell into step beside him. They walked without speaking, their steps thudding in unison on the concrete sidewalk.

  Marcus’s mind was full of all the things he had to do. He planned to stay busy, if for no other reason than to keep from missing Maggie, and there were other reasons to keep busy as well. He had to do things that would ensure her protection and her return to him.

  “You aren’t going back to Interchron, are you?” The two of them had been walking in such unison that Karl’s voice made him jump.

  Marcus glanced over at his friend, wondering how much Karl had already guessed. “I am…”

  “But not for long.” Karl nodded. “I’m coming with you.”

  There was no sense in lying about it. Karl knew him too well. “There’s no way to tell how long I’ll be gone, Karl. You may be needed.”

  “I assume you’ll be gone long enough to take care of Colin. And what would they need me for? Until we go get Maggie, I won’t be doing any Traveling. We can’t function as a team until she gets back, and we have others to fill the vacant roles. I might as well be with you. You may have need of me.”

  Marcus couldn’t see any way to debunk Karl’s arguments. Until the team was whole, they stood no chance of bringing down the collectives. “You may be safer at Interchron. The collectives are actively searching for a Traveler.”

  “And they have no reason to think I’m anywhere but there. If you’re going after Colin, I’m coming with you. End of story.”

  After a moment, Marcus nodded. “Thank you.”