Stan read through the list once, then again.
His thoughts drifted toward the faint, unfinished outline of a second world he had sensed beside the globe on his terrace earlier that morning.
The connection at the bottom of the planet.
He filed the thought away.
It would matter eventually. In fact, he suspected a great many things from this week would become important sooner than he expected.
Meanwhile, Sarah had gone quiet against his chest.
She was staring at his left hand, particularly the watch resting around his wrist.
"You're wearing it," she finally said.
"I am."
"When did you put it on?"
"Last night. When I got home."
"Before you slept?"
"I didn't really sleep."
She slowly raised her hand. After a brief hesitation, she touched the watch face with one fingertip.
He thought about the alley, the glowing net surrounding the planet, and the enormous hole torn through its bottom.
