But whether it did that or not, the reinforcement did seem to help Dan. He went wild on the World War II questions, slamming the buzzer at every turn.

When they neared the twenty-minute mark, Amir announced where the point totals stood.

Next to her, Nina made a note of it, and as they kept answering she made little tally marks to keep track.

The game would be over soon. A winner would be determined.

“What is the name of the circle at zero degrees latitude on planet Earth?”

“The equator,” Nina answered.

Extension round.

“What is the name of the far-right party in France once represented by Marine Le Pen?”

“Front National,” History Girl across the way answered.

Extension round.

“What is the name of the most powerful god in Norse mythology, the father of Thor?”

“Odin,” Vi answered.

Extension round. All mythology. Marianne remembered a couple from reading the Percy Jackson series in fourth grade, but she hadn’t gotten any further than that.

They only answered one correctly.

Looking at Nina’s tallies, the two teams were nearly tied, with the Ermines two points down. The game would end when the timer ran out. If they tied, then they’d go into overtime. If they got an answer correct now, they’d get their chance in an extension round, where the timer was paused. They needed an extension round to catch up.

And glancing at the clock, Marianne saw there was only one minute left.

“Come on, come on, come on,” Marianne murmured again.

Next, Amir asked, “What is the name of the largest asteroid?”

They had to get this. Marianne sensed Nina going for the buzzer and heard her take a breath.

“Um, Ceres?” Nina asked, biting a lip.

“Correct.”

“Yes,” Marianne and Dan whispered.

An audible celebration or two slipped out of the audience. The game was up for grabs.

They were almost caught up. They just needed to get two extension questions right and they’d be the winners. They were almost there.

“Extension round, with an astronomy focus. Turn the timer off, if you please,” Amir announced.

And time really did seem to stand still. Marianne heard nothing but the sound of Amir’s voice and the rustle of her teammates picking up their pencils, ready for anything.

“Which moon in our solar system is the only one with its own magnetosphere?”

Buzz. “Ganymede,” Vi answered with total confidence.

“The sunspot cycle is how many years?”

Marianne had no clue, but they only needed one more question answered. Certainly, one of the other kids knew it.

But no one said anything.

“What is it?” Nina whispered in a panic.

“Hmmm. I think about a dozen? But I can’t remember? I— Argh,” Vi growled, slapping a hand to her head. “What is it?”

Their time was running out. Someone had to guess.

Buzz. “Twelve,” Marianne answered.

“Incorrect,” Amir said. “The correct answer is eleven years.”

She saw Remington inch forward further in their seats. This was it, the question that would determine who went on to the state championship. If they didn’t get it, the questions went back to both teams. If they got it right, they won.