The core chamber was smaller than I expected. The vast machine I had imagined was a circular room with two chairs and a narrow column of light rising from floor to ceiling.
Halden took one chair.
I remained standing until my knees forced the decision for me.
My reserve hovered above the column.
34 MINUTES, 51 SECONDS.
“Final review is authorized for twenty minutes,” Halden said.
“That leaves fourteen.”
“If you accept permanence, depletion will immediately slow.”
“If I don’t?”
“You will still have sufficient time to activate the exit window.”
Halden gave no qualifier. He never fabricated figures, even when a lie might have helped him.
The projection began with individual baseline outcomes in quiet succession.
A heating ward closed during a severe cold cycle.
A damaged water cha
