Part 7 — Chapter 2

Summary

• Gaspery, a time traveler, is considering staying in 1918 but ultimately decides to return to his own time, arriving at the Time Institute.
• Upon his arrival, he notices a publicist named Aretta, who he is surprised to find out is also a time traveler. He also sees Ephrem and a group of men and women in black uniforms with weapons drawn.
• Zoey, another character, is being restrained by two men in the room as well. She is taken out of the room while Gaspery apologizes for deceiving her.
• Gaspery reveals that he lied about his purpose in 1918. Rather than investigating as he had claimed, he had actually intended to save an individual, Edwin St. Andrew, from dying in an insane asylum.
• Aretta informs them that Edwin died 35 days after Gaspery's visit due to the 1918 flu pandemic. Ephrem laments Gaspery’s attempts to change the timeline and asserts that Edwin's fate would have been the same.
• Ephrem informs Gaspery that he will be sent far away, with no return, likely as some form of punishment. He also agrees to look after Gaspery's cat.
• Despite his forthcoming punishment, Gaspery asserts that he would repeat his actions without hesitation. Ephrem uses a glass bottle to spray a substance at Gaspery's face, causing him to lose consciousness.