CHAPTER 12The Swan Garden
Topaz squealed with sheer delight.
“Come on out!” she cried. “It’s the Swan Garden! What are you waiting for anyhow? I’ll take back all I ever said about Lord Paynter. Oh, do look, isn’t it wonderful here?”
Silently I stepped after her through the door.
So little actual time had elapsed that I don’t think she really missed me. Something had reached out through the matter-transmitter and intercepted one of us and let the other go on. But Topaz must have rushed out of the door the moment it opened and been too overcome with pleasure at finding herself just here to realize I was lagging behind.
And I—had I really been for a round-trip through a galaxy? Had I dreamed it? Was this whole interlude a dream while my own body slept in the time-axis, waiting for the wo
