Chapter 7: Ephemeron

Book of Songs 150, "Mayfly":

Wings of the mayfly—
Dress so bright and new.
My heart is grieving;
Come back to me and stay.

Wing-sheaths of the mayfly—
Clothes so bright and gay.
My heart is grieving;
Come back to me and bide.

A mayfly that breaks out from its hole—
Hemp clothes, spotless as snow.
My heart is grieving;
Come back to me and rest

Peter had been worried that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, but he managed to very quickly, doubtless helped in a large part by the lateness of the hour when he finally got back to his house.

He dreamed about dinosaurs, at first. But then, after a few hours, he felt a touch and opened his eyes.

"Olivia?"

"Peter." She sat down on the bed next to him and took his hand. "I don't know how much time I have before I'm pulled back. I have a plan, but I need you to do exactly what I tell you. Tomorrow night, I need you to be at Reiden Lake, at the dock at the east shore, at 11:42. Can you be there Peter?"

"What are you going to..."

"No time. Can you be there, please?" Her eyes were desperate and imploring.

He'd have to evade his surveillance, and probably steal a car, both of which were doable. "Yes, of course."

She exhaled with relief. "Thank you."

He could already feel her slipping away as he grasped her hand. It was like trying to hold on to sand.

Olivia jolted into consciousness in the sensory deprivation tank. When Walter heard her splashing, he opened the door and helped her climb out.

Astrid wasn't there. They hadn't told her Olivia was going back in the tank. When Walter had come up with the plan, Astrid had objected in the strongest terms. Abandoning her usual composure, she had screamed at Walter that they had lost Peter and letting Olivia throw her life away wasn't going to bring him back.

Walter and Olivia had exchanged a look, then both agreed that they would find another way. As soon as Astrid left, they had started discussing how to put the plan into action. Astrid couldn't know, because Astrid would tell Broyles, and Broyles would stop them.

"Did you see him?" Walter asked anxiously. "Did you give him the message?"

"Yes," Olivia gasped out in answer.

"Will he be there?"

"I think so."

Walter's haggard face collapsed into a smile. "Thank you."

Olivia didn't have a reply. They still had a lot of work to do by that night. So many things could go wrong.

And even if nothing went wrong, there was no guarantee this would work. No guarantee that today wouldn't be Olivia's last day on earth.