"And I don't suppose I could go back with you to your world, spend some time there, either?"
"No, that would be to travel into your own future, which cannot be done."
"I see." Dolan leaned back against the tree, thinking.
"Well, there's one thing sure," he said. "If the machine can't be fixed, it can't be fixed, there isn't much they can do about it. You may all stay in this time yet."
She shook her head gently. "Not all. At least, not all alive. There would be no displacement, and the only hope they would have to avoid the Alwyn action would be to preserve absolute secrecy. You have a saying, I believe: 'dead men—'" She hesitated. "Even if you and I could find a way to escape, even if they told me I might leave, I could not trust them. They are very dangerous men. As long as we and they are both in this time, there would be no safety for me, nor for you."
"I suppose you're right," Dolan said reluctantly. He looked down at her searchingly. "What do you want to do?" he asked. "Do you want to stay with me, or do you want me to forget you?"
"I want to be with you," she said softly. "Always."
"And I, with you," he said. He bent his head toward hers.
Below, the door of the cottage opened. Smith's figure appeared. He glanced around and then came plodding up the path.
Moirta pulled away and got to her feet. "We might as well start back, I suppose," she said unenthusiastically.