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He hung up and said to himself, “This should be interesting.”Harris, Jean-Pierre, and Gaby heard him; Doc, across the room, did not. Harris asked, “What should?”
“That was the elevator captain. Joseph is on his way up.”
“You’re right. It should.” Harris rose and looked around.
“What do you need?” asked Alastair.
“A hammer and chisel. I’m going to try to get Doc’s attention.”
They were waiting for him when Joseph, somber as ever, stepped off the Foundation elevator. The giant was dressed in lighter, brighter garments than before, not work dress, and carried an enormous green cloth bag over his shoulder. Harris saw Gaby shudder; doubtless she was remembering her last experience with large cloth bags.
Doc stepped forward. “Grace on you, Joseph. I’m surprised. I thought that this was the last place you’d ever wish to visit.”
“It was,” Joseph said. “But I am ruined for work. Ruined for living. The dreams wouldn’t let me go. You stirred them up. I cannot work or sleep. So I am here.”
Doc considered a brief moment. “Joseph . . . Duncan is still alive.”
“On the grim world. I know.” He gestured at Gaby. “She told me.”
They all gave her a look. She shook her head and asked, “Was it on the talk-box?”
“Yes.”
“Then it was Gabrielle. The twin I’ve never met.”
“It does not matter,” Joseph said. “Duncan must die, or I must. So here is the place I must be.”
“And you are welcome,” Doc said. “Jean-Pierre, would you set him up in a room?”
Jean-Pierre and Joseph left for the residential floor; Gaby, visibly upset, took the stairs up to her room. Doc returned to his experiments, Alastair and Harris to their breakfast.
“Joseph acts like he expects the hammer to fall at any time,” Harris said. “Poor guy.”
“One of several.” Alastair gave him a sympathetic look. “Harris, why don’t you go home?”
“Back to the grim world?”
“You can go back anytime. It’s not a trivial effort, but we can do it. Doc has recovered, and I can also do the ceremony. All we have to do is find a spot that’s usually clear on both worlds. You