The bite of steak nearly got lodged in Peter's windpipe as he goggled at Lou. "You mean I wasn't hallucinating?"

"No, Peter, you weren't," Lou said. "Spartan really was running in slow motion."

"And then he went back to normal speed?"

Lou shrugged. "Of course. Horses can't run in slow mo forever..."

Peter stared at her as if she'd grown a third ear. "How is that possible? First of all, that's not what horses do. Second of all, there's this whole time dilation thing. Our whole Solar System would have to speed up for time to slow down. And why doesn't this happen anywhere else? Why is it just here?"

With a worried look, Amy turned to Jack. "Grandpa, is he an idiot?"

"I don't know, Amy, I don't know..."

"Look, Oil Man, I can explain," Tim said. "Out in the barn, we've got a device that alters the time-space continuum. With the push of a button, you can slow down, speed up, go backwards, whatever you want. And best of all: It's solar-powered."

Peter glared at him. "You're pulling my leg."

"Yeah, I am."

"But seriously, how does this work? Slowing down and speeding has gotta wreak havoc on their bodies. And look at what it's doing to me. Just thinking about it blows my mind."

Ty grinned at him leaned over to Amy. "He is an idiot..."

Amy returned it with a snicker. "Get a mop if his head blows up..." The whole table giggled in unison.

"You know what? Forget it," Peter said. "This whole thing is way beyond me. But let's say I ride one of your horses, and it goes in slow mo while I'm in the saddle. Does that mean I'm gonna talk in slow mo?"

Jack slammed down his napkin on the table. "We're trying to have a nice peaceful meal," he said through a mouthful of bread. "If you have any other stupid comments, save them for later, OK?"

Peter rolled his eyes and tried to concentrate on the steak hanging from his fork.

"Did y'all see the moon last night?" Jack said. "Big and bright and full..."

The bite of steak tumbled out of Peter's agape mouth. "Wait a minute, it was a half-moon when I came out here!"

Lou shrugged. "So?"

"Is the moon always full over Heartland, too?"

"Y'know what, there's no need to be stupid," Jack said. "I don't know what fancy world you live in where horses go at regular speed and the moon changes phases, but you're in Heartland. So don't overthink it, and don't ask questions, or your head's gonna detonate so hard, the police are gonna find an eyeball in Wyoming."

Peter gave no reply. He tried to eat in quiet, but he could feel every blood vessel hemorrhaging inside his skull.

THE END