PROLOGUE
Two figures looked out through the lichen-encrusted cave entrance at the darkening sky.
‘Ready?’ said one.
‘Um,’ said the other.
A moment passed.
‘You don’t sound very ready,’ said the first.
‘Well, it’s just… you know.’
‘I know. But the hard part is over. All we have to do now is…’
‘Wait?’
‘For want of a better word. But listen, if I'm right,’ said the first, ‘and this goes according to plan, then from our point of view no time will pass at all. All that will happen is that someone will suddenly show up in the cave entrance there. That, or everyone in the world except us will suddenly die.’
‘Um,’ said the second again. ‘Only one of those sounds okay.’
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‘It might not be as bad as it sounds,’ replied the first. ‘Oh, or the other possibility is that the world just ends without us realising.’
‘Oh,’ said the second. ‘Er. Well, um. Righty-ho, I suppose. Er. In for a penny.’
‘In for a penny?’ said the first, the single raised eyebrow somehow audible in the darkness.
‘Mm-hm.’
‘You’re aware these may be your last words?’
‘Sorry. It’s hard to know what to say.’
‘Let’s just get on with it then. This is it. Last chance to turn back.’
‘Nope,’ replied the second figure immediately. ‘I’ve said my goodbyes, and I meant them.’
‘Alright then.’ The first figure drew in a breath.
Baggy sleeves rustled in the darkness. Arms began to move in arcane patterns.
‘Wait, wait,’ said the second figure.
The rustling stopped.
‘Just for clarity. If this ends with us the only two people left alive, does that mean...’
‘No,’ said the first pointedly.
‘Well… not to labour the point or anything, but shouldn't we agree in advance what we'll do if that is what happens?’
The first figure paused.
‘Is there any point?’ it said after some thought. ‘In that scenario, with no one else around to pass judgement, I don’t think I’d feel bound to honour the agreement anyway.’
‘Oh,’ said the second figure. ‘Well hang on, that’s not very-’
‘Let's just hope it doesn't come to that,’ snapped the first.
‘Oh. Fine, I suppose,’ said the second, with perhaps a barely-detectable hint of umbrage.
‘Don’t grump over it. Imagine if we did make some... pact to… or whatever, and then this actually turns out well and there are lots of other people and everything's fine.’
‘Mmmm.’
‘Could be awkward.’
‘Oh, right! I see. Well, yes, in that case. Very sensible. Right then; just, fingers crossed and hope for the best, eh!’
‘Shush now,’ said the first. ‘Let me concentrate.’
Sleeves rustled some more.
The sun winked out.