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“We have other plans,” Zani corrected. “And no time to waste.”

“We need to be quick, Buffalo,” Amrita echoed Will and Zani’s sentiment. She was still holding his hand and gave it a squeeze, but he pulled away.

“I wonder what the great pyramids looked like in this era…” Buffalo said, speaking quietly, to himself more than anyone else. He was gazing south now, toward something that was not visible from here, the binoculars clutched in one hand.

“Buffalo.” Will laid a hand on his former boss’s shoulder.

Buffalo dropped the binoculars. “Right. Of course. Business first.”

“We’ll need to wear these.” Zani passed out Reversible Rogue’s Cloaks to everyone. Amrita was already familiar with the charmed robes. They adapted to the styles of clothing in any environment, allowing you to blend in without changing your entire outfit. She’d been tempted, on more than one occasion, to throw one on over her pajamas for a quick trip to the supermarket.

“I find the cloaks pair best with a NIP clip.” Zani handed each of her fellow time travelers a small plastic claw clip. “You can put it in your hair or clip it to your cloak. The N-I-P stands for ‘No one In Particular.’ If you have it on, you’ll be unmemorable. Almost, but not quite, invisible. We’ll all be impersonating visiting scholars. This ensures unfettered access to the Library. At least that part is simple.”

Amrita turned the plastic NIP clip over in her hands and then clipped her hair back with it. Buffalo reached out a hand to touch her hair.

“I’m not so sure that thing is working,” he said. His hand lingered against her cheek and he met her eye. “You still look particularly particular to me.”

FORTUNE TELLING FOR THE HUNGRY WITCH

Peel an apple, keep it straight,

and toss the peel to floor.

The shape it takes will spell the name,

your heart has long hoped for.

Cut a pear clean in two,

and count the pips inside.

An even number brings good luck.

An odd one, step aside.

Tuck a sunflower ’neath your head,

before you close your eyes.

Before the next day’s sun is high,

the truth in full will rise.

FROM THE LITTLE GLASS OWL’S BOOK OF LUCKY CHARMS AND AUSPICIOUS OMENS, COMPILED BY ELECTRA GLASS

TEN

BOISE BOUND

Tempest flung an arm across her face to block the light. She didn’t want to wake up yet.

Outside, birds were chirping and she heard cars rushing by on I-84. She’d wanted to make it to Pendleton, but when the dark shapes of trees started to blur and she wasn’t sure she was safe to drive, she had pulled over at the first wide shoulder she found, cut the engine, and slept.

The sun was streaming through the side windows and reflecting off the rearview mirror.

It caught the cover of the atlas, sitting on its stand, and sent undulating ripples of reflected light dancing across the surface and across the ceiling of the bus. Tempest pulled her jacket over her head. She’d fallen asleep in her seat and spent the night folded with her feet up on the console, using the jacket like a blanket. Her entire body ached. She regretted not making up her bed and lying down properly.

She didn’t open her eyes right away. She sat still and listened. She thought she heard the Columbia River now too. It was somewhere close by. Her seat creaked as she tried to roll sideways and block the light with her arm.