“You’re back!” Martin’s assistant claimed excitedly, as though he had made the discovery.
“Not exactly. I don’t think I went anywhere.” Martin wasn’t truthful, but how can one be truthful, when the truth isn’t known?
“B-but you were gone! I saw you! Er-didn’t see you and then I did, uh, do now. Come-on! Come on! Tell me what did you see?…Anything?”
This exchange might have been normal between two lab-coat, be-speckled scientists, but Martin and Jared were only in Martin’s library standing over a modified hot plate who’s contents seemed to be smoldering.
Jared realized that his mentor had just experienced something, and now he needed to carefully choose his words to extract the experience properly.
“Alright, Alright. Let’s review. You were standing over the heater when the isotope began smoking. There was a loud crack and you were gone! You were! I turned off the heater and when the remains cooled there was another sound and you were back.”
Martin remained still through the explanation. “Again.” he said.