CHAPTER 29Mara awoke, looking up at an unfamiliar light fixture, a gold-framed square of glass etched with frosty curly flowers. The quality of light struck her as odd, more glowing gas than incandescent filament, until she realized where she was—the realm with the kerosteam lightbulbs. It came to her now. She was in her counterpart’s bed, with no memory of how she got here. Detecting movement by the dresser, she rolled over and saw Ping placing the Chronicle of Cosms on top of it.
When he turned around, he smiled and said, “Ah, you’re awake. I thought the Chronicle might be uncomfortable against your leg, so I removed it. I hope that was all right.”
Mara rubbed her eyes and squinted at him with a confused look.
“I’m the other Ping, not yours,” he said.
“What happened? How did I get he
