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nice bar and grill in New Brunswick.”
    â€œHe’s no good,” said Nancy emphatically. “Youshould steer clear of him, Sondra. Do you know what he said when I told him about world hunger? He said, ‘There’s too damn many people anyway.’ Isn’t that horrible? And what was it he said at Serena’s christening, Joe? Something about dying?”
    â€œâ€™Born to die’ is what he said: ‘Fletcher, you’ve just made something else that has to die.’ I know it sounds bad, but there is a certain point to it. If there were no more people, there’d be no more suffering.” I was trying to sound as cool as Alwin Bitter. “We want to be alive. Fine. But that means we have to accept the suffering that comes along with living. Don’t you agree, Sondra?”
    â€œI’m all for accepting reality,” said Sondra with a laugh. “Though I’m not sure that Harry is. Were you serious when you said that he was building a machine to give him control over the universe? Harry Gerber? I love Harry, Joe, but—”
    For the first time I really let myself imagine the kind of world that Harry might design. The guy had no respect for the ordinary human things that make life worth living. Weirdness was all he cared about. Weirdness and sex and plenty to drink.
    â€œI better go up to New Brunswick,” I said abruptly. “Before he gets carried away.”
    â€œI didn’t mean, Is it a good idea? ” said Sondra. “I meant, Do you seriously believe it’s possible? After all, Harry’s just a TV repairman. There’s a big step from that to—”
    â€œGo, Joey,” Nancy urged. “Before it’s too late.”
    â€œThis is getting awfully hysterical,” said Sondra. For such a plain woman, she had extraordinary presence. “Maybe I better come along.”
    â€œYou’ve got your reception to go to,” I reminded her. “And by the way, welcome to our church.”
    â€œYes,” said Nancy, “we’ve been meaning to come more often. But are you going back to New Brunswick after the party, Sondra?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell, stop in at Harry’s shop then and make sure Joe’s on his way home. When he and Harry start working on something, they lose all track of time. Maybe there isn’t any big danger, but still—”
    â€œI’ll check up on them, Nancy.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Nancy and I strolled home together, each of us holding one of Serena’s hands. She liked us to swing her in the air. Nancy didn’t say much—I could tell she was doing some thinking.
    â€œIf it works,” she said after a while, “if it works, what are you going to ask for?”
    â€œFive million dollars.”
    â€œAnd for me?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? The money’s for both of us.”
    â€œI want more than money. I want you to make a wish for me.”
    â€œAll right. What do you want?”
    â€œMake Harry eliminate world hunger. Make him come up with something that turns dirt into food.” Nancy smiled happily at the thought. “That’ll show him!”

7
100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000
    H ARRY’S shop was locked tight. I pounded and pounded, but nobody came, not even Antie. I decided to try in back. There was a two-story wooden porch. Harry was sitting on the steps in the afternoon sun. He was wearing pajamas and looking through a stack of dirty magazines.
    â€œHey, Harry!”
    â€œSay, Fletch. You’re in time for lunch. Antie’s stewing some chicken and my pet lizard, Zeke. He got some wounds and today he died.” Harry gave me one of his wet, unfocused smiles.
    â€œThe lizard!” I yelped. “I saw him in your store window yesterday! Was he the—”
    â€œThat’s right. Tonight, when I go back to visit you on Friday, Zeke will jump forward from Thursday to visit you on