Trudi thought back to some of Murray’s reactions to their more intimate oral interactions.

“There is one more thing I could do back then to sweeten the pot,” she said.

“Do tell,” said Daniel.

“Well you must understand, that I really don’t like talking about it while I’m still at this stage of this timeline,” said Trudi, “But if you think it would be something you’d enjoy, I could sit little you on my lap and slowly lick the cheeks on each side of your face.”

Daniel gaped at her in awe.

“What’s the first lesson in consciousness time travel?” he asked.

It took them two weeks, before Daniel was able to attempt some twenty minute backjaunts. He performed them with distinction, and then they both went back the same twenty minutes together.

“Do you know we’ve travelled?” asked Trudi.

“I was just going to ask you,” said Daniel.

“Daniel, it works! I’ve never tried this before, not even with the guy who taught me fifteen years ago. The whole plan would have fallen apart, if this test had failed. It works! We can really go. We can be 15 and five years old again!”

“Except in our minds. My grandma once said I was ’30 years old in the head’. Now I’ll be back there and 29 years old in the head,” said Daniel.

“And I’ll be 15 years old in the tongue,” said Trudi, with a look of warmth and affection.

“I can hardly wait for that!” said Daniel, “Well you told your boyfriend you’d be another two weeks. Do you need to call him again and let him know you’re off ...? No, of course you don’t. You’ll be back there with him again, after a 25 year wait for yourself and a few days for him, I suppose.”

“That’s pretty much how it will work out,” said Trudi, “He’s not expecting me back for another five days in this time now, since I last called him. Why don’t we have a last look around the lives of our adult selves, and perhaps a celebration before we backjaunt?”

“Its not as if we can announce it to either village and throw a party,” said Daniel.

“You could take me to the village dance,” said Trudi.

“You’re still a celebrity. If anyone recognises you and takes photographs of you with a younger man, it could get back to your boyfriend. I don’t want to spoil what’s left of this timeline for anyone,” said Daniel.

“You’re a gentleman,” said Trudi.

“I could put on some dance music here, and there are two spare beds to save you walking back to the hotel in the other village at the end of the evening,” said Daniel.

“That sounds nicer than the village dance anyway,” said Trudi, “An evening with your poetry alone would have gone better the night we first met. If it weren’t for you, I might have time travelled back and come up with a way to make them call the whole thing off. It’s the only thing I could think of to save the audience.”