Sea of Tranquility

This chapter turns to Edwin in 1918. He lost a foot in the war (Passchendaele) and has symptoms that resemble post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He lives with his parents, and his brothers died in the Battle of the Somme. While he is aware that Gilbert is dead, Edwin sometimes talks to him in the garden. Edwin also mourns the loss of his beloved, another man who died in Belgium.

Gaspery visits Edwin in the garden and explains that he was the man disguised in priest’s clothing in Caiette and that what Edwin saw in the woods was real. Gaspery goes on to explain that Edwin heard a violinist in an airship terminal in 2195 due to a corruption of moments in time. Edwin is somewhat comforted that this event was not a hallucination and considers his future in a different light. Gaspery then says he must leave for an appointment in Ohio.

Gaspery considers running away in 1918, but he lets his device send him back to the Time Institute. There are uniformed men, as well as Olive’s publicist, Aretta, who turns out to be a time traveler. Zoey is being restrained. Gaspery apologizes to Zoey, explaining that he never meant to complete the investigation, but simply wanted to keep Edwin from his previous fate of dying in a psychiatric care facility.