Anthony tries to puzzle that over as they get closer.

Eventually they do reach a three-way fork.

"Stop," Kel says. "Breathe. See if you can feel it."

Anthony stops and looks over at Kel to confirm he's not doing anything stupid, but then turns back to the fork and takes a breath.

He can feel exactly nothing.

… If he waits a minute?

It doesn't take a minute. There's... something like colour, if he could smell colour, or something like touch, if he could see touch.

He opens his mouth to talk, then frowns at the feeling's sudden absence.

"That was weird."

"I know, right? And you forget it if you defect, or so I'm told."

"Defect – how do you mean?"

"Like, switch sides, become pals with the evil dude, all that. When people turn traitor they can't come here anymore."

"Oh." He pauses. "If it has this protection… why all the other things?"

"Guy was paranoid? The protection came after?" He shrugs. "Dunno."

Anthony nods, puzzling it over.

"Also there were people who turned traitors and fucked up your rescue, right, 's not like it's foolproof, just 'cause they won't come back here doesn't mean they haven't caused problems."

"Has everyone been here, then – past this fork?"

"Not everyone, but lots of people yeah."

Nod. "Should I wait for the feeling to come back, then, direct us forwards?"

"Sure. Or your boyfriend can."

Anthony will try to do it himself. (If boyfriend succeeds before him, he'll probably get another chance later.)

Feeling!

He almost starts in that direction – then stops himself, as it occurs to him just where he is, and what he's just been through.

To Dayo: [I'm having… second thoughts about here.]

[Hmm? Here where?]

[Here, this… magical puzzle. It just… strikes me as a bad idea, doing this.]

[Oh, yeah, it's a terrible idea, I'm just throwing myself at everything to stall the grief until Chief Garland has the decency to talk to us like real people instead of a gaggle of sheep she has to herd,] he says, very cheerful.

Deep breath. [I think we should get back. I haven't heard from anyone in a while, we should make sure things are okay.]