"What did they think about it?"
Mark frowned in an effort to recall. "It had to do with this universe being basically illogical, or at least seeming to be, because it didn't agree with your father's theory. They started building up fantasies on it. One I remember was a good one."
"What was that?"
"I think it was Jimmy. He said it would be funny if we were here because we believed this universe was the only real one. Something about inherited memory. Our coming from a long line of people who believed this was the only place, because all our ancestors who didn't believe it shot off into some other universe and had their children there. Utterly crazy. You know."
"Yeah, I know," Fred agreed. "You going to be around in case I want to see you again?"
"God! I hope so!" Mark said. "It makes me nervous."
"You're safe enough," Fred said. "Well—thanks. I'll be seeing you."
He smoothed out the crumpled sheet of paper and glanced at it.
"What do you hope to find, Fred," his mother asked.