“There is no way that can be true. Can it?” Jon asked the room.
“I do not know. All I know is what I see,” Madeleine answered him.
Then, quietly, Karyn’s voice came from beside her.
“And what is it that you see?” She spoke in a tone Jon could not remember ever hearing her use before.
“Everyone who pauses accepts you ’ere. Zey seem to believe that you ’ave always been ’ere,” Madeleine told her.
“Just because they think that doesn’t make it right,” Jon said.
“True, it does not. But zere are other matters to consider,” Madeleine continued.
“Like what?” Karyn asked, still looking at the floor.
“You paused. People who come through ze Door do not pause. People from ’ere do.”
“I only have your word for that,” Karyn replied, sounding almost angry with Madeleine now.
“No, Karyn, I was there as well,” Jon said. “You didn’t move at all. I looked you straight in the eye, and you didn’t even blink.”
“It must ’ave had something to do with your collision with Simone, but I do not know what,” Madeleine admitted.
“You said that this was only a theory,” Karyn said.
“Yes, but, as you yourself said, it fits ze facts as we know them so far. If you ’ave another idea, we could consider that instead,” Madeleine answered.
“That’s the problem—I don’t,” Karyn replied. “I’ve sat here listening to everything you’ve said, and I can’t think of any other explanation that fits.”
“There has to be something we’ve missed,” Jon said, trying to think of another possibility.
“What, Jon? If you have an idea that works, I want to hear it.”
“I don’t have anything right now,” he admitted, “but there has to be something.”
“There is one matter I ’ave not yet resolved,” Madeleine said to them both.
“What’s that?” Jon asked, hoping that whatever it was might help.
“If whoever—or whatever—is responsible for setting matters right believes that you belong ’ere and are meant to pause with ze others, will you be able to leave through ze Door when it returns?” Madeleine asked.
“Why not? Simone could.”
“Yes, she could. But she could do so only because she was able to move during ze last pause,” Madeleine told him.
“And you still don’t know why she could,” Karyn said, finishing the French woman’s thought for her.
“True. I am still attempting to understand that as well. It is why I said that this was a théorie, and not an explanation of why zese things ’ave happened,” Madeleine replied.
(True. I am still attempting to understand that as well. It is why I said that this was a theory, and not an explanation of why these things have happened.)
“I need some air. I’ll be back in a minute,” Karyn said as she rose and walked towards the office door.
“Karyn?” Jon called after her.
“Don’t worry. I’m not running away. I just need a minute to myself. I need to think everything through,” Karyn said.
“Are you certain you do not wish one of us to accompany you?” Madeleine asked.
“No, thanks. I’ll only be five minutes. I just need to clear my head and think.” Karyn looked back at Jon. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Honestly.” She crossed the office, opened the door and stepped through it.
