Dorothy’s lip twitched. “Uh, something like that,” she said, trying not to picture the look of horror that would surely cross Zora’s face if she were to learn that Dorothy had referred to the two of them as friends. “I was coming to see whether I could convince you to come with me.”

“Ah . . .” The Professor frowned, his nose twitching. “I see. It’s just . . . I was rather hoping I’d have a bit more time.”

“Professor, the future is a mess just now. The earthquakes are getting worse, and there’s a man trying to take over New Seattle, and time travel—”

She was cut off by the sound of footsteps. She turned, her heart hammering. “Blast. I must’ve been followed.”

“Actually, I think they’re after me,” the Professor said. He was looking down at his gun now, fumbling with something that Dorothy couldn’t see. “I really shouldn’t be here.” He looked up, eyebrows lifting above the frames of his glasses. “Then again, I doubt you’re supposed to be here, either.”

“Definitely not,” Dorothy admitted, glancing anxiously, over her shoulder. The footsteps were drawing closer. “How are we—”

“Ah, that.” The Professor lifted his gun. “I’ve been working on something special.”

“Time travel without a vessel,” Dorothy said, staring at the gun.

“Without a vessel, without an anil, without anything.” The Professor stroked the sides of his gun, his grin widening. “That’s why I’ve come back here, as a matter of fact. To see if I could arrange for a way to travel through time without causing the earthquakes. I do believe I’ve done it. One shot of this, and we can vanish anywhere in history without remotely disturbing the structure of the tectonic plates.”

Dorothy cast one last glance at the door behind her. She didn’t exactly have time for second thoughts. She could either trust the Professor, or face whatever was about to come through that door.

Swallowing, she asked, “Does that need to be injected into my aorta as well?”

“Oh, no, dear, any arm will do.” He looked at her now, holding out the gun. “May I?”

She nervously offered the old man her arm.

Here goes nothing, she thought, squeezing her eyes shut.

It was like getting pricked with a needle, just a quick jab, a flicker of pain, and then nothing. Dorothy opened her eyes in time to see white light swirl beneath her skin and then vanish.

“Oh my,” she said, amazed.

The door burst open and soldiers spilled onto the roof, surrounding them.

“Ah. Well, then.” The Professor pushed his glasses up on his nose with one finger. “I suppose we are a bit later than I intended. Best make this quick.” He aimed the gun at his own arm and pulled the trigger again, cringing a little. “Time to go,” he said to Dorothy.

Dorothy was confused. “Go?”