"Yes," said Ackerman. "You showed it to me."
"No such thing," replied Laurie. "But we will, if you like."
Ackerman began to catch on. "You may, eventually," he said with a cryptic grin. "But tell me, how is my sending them back into their own world going to be instrumental in destroying yours?"
"Theirs is the world of free research," said Blaine. "Up to now, they know little of the true state of affairs, but once they return with the information, there will be trouble."
"I gather that if I'd kept them here, the initial knowledge would never reach that world?"
"You aren't properly acquainted with the chronological factors involved with the conservation of matter and energy," said Blaine. "When you sent them back, you sent them back to the precise instant of their leaving. In that way and in that way alone can the 'Real Time' constancy be preserved. This 'time-space' state is unreal, and therefore most anything can happen here. But they will return complete with all the knowledge they need to start the destruction of my world."
"Then," said Ackerman, "I shall stop them."
"You have 'time'," said Blaine. "But first, tell me how you happen to know of us."
Ackerman explained his actions up to the point of his meeting with Tansie. At that point, both Blaines exploded: "Tansie Lee!"
"Know her?" asked Ackerman quietly.