“We have to get her back,” said Rigg.
“Any bright ideas about how to do that?” asked Loaf.
“I can write her a note. I used to write her notes on a slate back in Flacommo’s house. Before we actually met.”
“She can’t have gotten far,” said Olivenko. “It’s not as if she was in any shape to move.”
“If she isn’t moving,” said Rigg, “she wouldn’t disappear. Time-slicing only makes her invisible if she’s moving.”
“How can she move with that elbow?” asked Umbo.
“She doesn’t walk on her elbows,” said Rigg.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m an idiot,” said Umbo. “I’m the one who came up with a plan to get us and ten thousand mice through the Wall at exactly the right time.”
“Well, now we’re not doing anything,” said Olivenko.
“Listen to yourselves,” said Loaf. “Is there anyone here with a brain? This didn’t have to happen.”
“But it did!” shouted Umbo. “And it’s not my fault!”
“Nobody thinks it’s your fault,” said Loaf. “And it was Param whose ignorant arrogance caused this particular problem, that plus Rigg’s misguided loyalty to you. So here’s what you’re going to do. Rigg and Umbo, you’re both going to go to the top of this ramp and make a magical appearance a few minutes back in time, just before stupid Rigg pushed his stupid sister down the stupid ramp so she could shatter her stupid elbow.”
“But then all this will be undone,” said Umbo.
“Yes,” said Loaf, incredulous. “That’s what we need to accomplish—undoing all this wonderful nightmare!”
“But then I’ll never know that Rigg is still my friend!” said Umbo. And to his surprise, he had tears on his cheeks. He was crying. Why was he crying?
“Silbom’s left . . .” Loaf began. “Silbom’s left and right and middle everything. Go up there and tell yourselves what happened but stop this stupidity from going so far. Do you understand me?”
“You’re not my father, you know,” said Umbo.
“I’m as close to a father as you’ll ever get,” said Loaf, “and don’t you forget it.”
“I will forget it,” said Umbo. “That’s what you’re sending us up the ramp to do.”
“Yes, I am. So do it. Erase this lovely moment of agony for Param and stupidity for you and Rigg and utter frustration for the only grownups in our little company.”
“Are you counting me as a grownup?” asked Olivenko. “How sweet.”
“Go,” said Loaf.
Umbo and Rigg walked up the ramp together.
Umbo hit the ground after his fall from the ramp. He could hear Param saying, “Now let’s take the flyer and go.”
“I see,” said Rigg.
“See what?” asked Param.
But instead of Rigg answering her, Umbo heard his own voice coming from above him. “Don’t do it, Rigg,” he said.
“Don’t do what?” asked Rigg.
“Don’t push her, you fool,” said Rigg.
Rigg?