“The gray time has to be why I’m here,” she reminded him, not really arguing.

“Maybe. Which means that ability may be needed here. Or it could be that your ability was needed to get us here. But, either way, we agreed you shouldn’t try to go back. Not now when we know so little. It’s dangerous, Diana.”

“I know. I know it is.” She was silent for a few steps, then added, “At least Hollis hasn’t been able to go unless I’m there. For a while, I was worried she could open that door. And with so many other abilities, that’s one she doesn’t need.”

“I imagine she agrees with that.”

“Oh, yeah. Says she’d much rather see spirits here in our world than there. If I had a choice, maybe I’d say the same.”

“Would you?

She considered for a few more steps, then laughed ruefully. “Probably not. Creepy as it is, it’s what I’m used to. Where I’m strongest and most sure of myself. I just don’t know if being able to go into the gray time will be useful here.”

“We’ll have to wait and see. It could be an ace in our pockets.”

“Maybe.” Diana sighed. She hated feeling useless, especially after spending so many years being useless. “I never envied telepaths before, but at least they can look with more than their eyes.”

“So can we,” he reminded her calmly. “Our eyes are trained, like our minds. And even if we aren’t telepaths, our senses tend to be more acute.”

“At least you have the spider senses if you need them. I haven’t been able to manage even one.”

His fingers tightened around hers. “I’ve been at it a lot longer, remember?”

Suddenly realizing, Diana said, “You’re probably trying to listen. I should shut up, and—”

“Never. And, actually, I’m not. I tried the spider senses just a moment when we were leaving the B and B, and it was like an echo bouncing back at me. Painful.”

“Thought I saw you wince.”

“Yeah. The spider senses are, really, probes of energy we send out, the way a telepath or empath reaches out when they want to. But the usual five senses have more of a . . . presence, for want of a better word. Something solid. More tangible to the world around us.”

Diana hadn’t heard it explained that way before. But it made sense. “Sort of like a radar signal? So they can hit something and bounce back?”

“Apparently. Though unlike radar they’re no help here and now, with so many shields around us to bounce off. At least, I think that’s what’s happening. I’ve felt something similar, though not often. Generally there’s nothing large enough or solid enough to completely block the way. But with all these shielded minds around us, it might be like looking for a chink in some pretty damned good armor to find a way through.”

“There always is one.” Diana’s tone was thoughtful now. “A chink. A weakness. Maybe that’s what we’re looking for.”