Chapter 6

I don't understand.

Gabriel

"You look like you're struggling to believe it."

Kira

"What do you expect? I'd believe any number of explanations before I'd believe time-travel."

Gabriel

"It's true that a newspaper can be easily faked. Maybe this will convince you?"

Le Comte moved toward a window, where an old-fashioned brass telescope was set up.

Sebastian

"What an excellent idea, M. le Comte. Seeing is believing, they say."

Gabriel

"It is our good fortune that, owing to the genius of one of our guests, this telescope provides an excellent view of the city."

I let them guide me to it and peered within. When my vision focused, I saw-

Kira

"…It's all real?"

There were no neon signs. No skyscrapers. I counted one car but saw a hundred carriages. I'm seeing it, but I can't believe it. turned the telescope to someplace closer. Gentleman in morning coats escorting ladies with bustles. Dressing up actors in a mansion was one thing. You couldn't dress up an entire town. was not in the 21st century.

Kira

"Then I've traveled through time?"

Gabriel

"There's a phrase you use in Japanese. Do you recall it, Sebastian?"

Sebastian

"Yes. We call it a 'time-slip."

Kira

"It's true. That is what we call it, but that doesn't matter right now."

How do you come to terms with the impossible?

Gabriel

"That door connects to both the past and the present. You used it to travel here, to the past." "You may have read or seen stories about time-travel." "But in my experience, it is neither a simple nor an everyday occurrence."

It's not an ANY day occurrence!

Gabriel

"Time-travel has very particular rules. In this case, you cannot return for the next month."

Kira

"When all the sand in the hourglass falls?"

Gabriel

"Yes. When that time comes, either you or I could open the door." "But even I must follow the rules. It remains sealed to me for a month as well."

He doesn't control it?

Gabriel

"If the door hadn't shut, you could have passed through it exactly the way you came." "But once it is closed, that particular passage ceases to exist. And the door requires time before it can open again."

You mean I could have walked back if the door hadn't closed? ...Well, that's great.

Gabriel

"The men you've met tonight, all of them were gathered here by way of a 'time-slip." "That is why people from such diverse times and countries are all here, living in my mansion."

If what he's saying is true, then the men I met at dinner-could they be real?

Gabriel

"I can see you still have some doubts." "But I assure you, you met the real us"