There was a sort of awkward silence hanging over the cottage the next morning, while Saoirse and I were having breakfast. She can’t be this upset at the possibility of me leaving soon, right?

But then again, it’s like what that Tomás guy was saying back when they all came here a few weeks ago, that Saoirse finally had a friend her own age. And as I learned from that baptism record I found yesterday, he’s right!

Although now I wonder when Saoirse’s actual birthday is. Do they even celebrate birthdays here?

“Hey Saoirse, when’s your birthday?”

She looked at me cluelessly. Yeah, I don’t think they do birthdays here.

“Birth-day? Do you mean... my ‘day of birth’?”

“Yes, exactly!”

Saoirse thought for a moment.

“Mam told me once… I was born six nights before St. Nicholas’ Day, when the land was frosty and the cows hadn’t calved.”

“But no exact date.”

Saoirse shook her head.

“I don’t know it. But I was baptized on the 5th of December, so it must be around then.”

I nodded. I made a mental note to look up St. Nicholas’ Day 1637 once I got home.

“Do you know your birth-day?” asked Saoirse. I smiled.

“Yeah, the 14th of August. It’s usually a fun time, I love birthday parties.”

Saoirse was about to say something when Maebh burst in through the door. This time it was a rather shocking sight: her arms and legs were completely covered in cuts, bruises, and scrapes.

“MAEBH!!!” cried Saoirse, immediately running over to the girl. “WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO NOW???”

Maebh started crying.

“I… I fell again…”

I wanted to do something, to… fix… but I couldn’t think of anything.

“Wait outside, I’ll come in a bit,” said Saoirse. She turned to me.

“I have to help her. I don’t know how long this will take.”

“Oh okay, yeah, take your time,” I said, nodding. “She clearly needs you right now.”

She smiled at me, then left with Maebh.

Not a problem. At all. We’d started preparing the potash last night, so I’ll be occupied the whole day anyway. Nope, definitely not a problem. I’m completely… fine…

… oh, who am I kidding. Well, back to work. If all goes well today, then I’ll be on my way home tomorrow. There'll be no chance of seeing the woman I love ever again. Ever. Why get hung up on an inevitability, am I right…?



By noon I had finished chiseling out the quartz from the fairy stone, and had set up a crude electrolysis system using the batteries from my earbuds. It will take some time, but by evening I should have a somewhat pure little supply of potassium. This better work, I only have two days of hormones left.

A few hours later, I finished installing the final part. The device looked a bit… jerry-rigged, let’s say, but I think it should work for one single jump. The only thing left was the new core, which was taking its own sweet time… kinda like Saoirse today.

Okay, okay, I can’t be too mad at her, she was tending to an injured child after all. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little sad that I couldn’t spend more time with her.

I looked at the electrolysis again. It’s been hours, why isn’t anything happening? Did I do it properly?

Damn, I wish I had the Internet right now…

Okay, I guess it’s time for Plan B. Pure potassium won’t be possible, so I’ll have to just use the potash and hope for the best. Luckily I didn’t put all of it in for electrolysis. My poor earbuds though…

Now, to combine it with the quartz I think I’ll need to heat it in some way, but the wood fire in the hearth won’t be hot enough. I’d probably have to borrow Aodh’s forge, but Saoirse isn’t here to translate… plus she told me not to go into town alone.

Come on Radha… think…

OH! Saoirse keeps her dry peat in the barn. That might work.

Hehe… “wet peat”…

I put the potash and quartz into an iron pot to use as a makeshift crucible, and headed out to the barn. Once there, I found the peat, piled it up, placed the pot onto it, and lit it up. I really hope she forgives me for ruining her pot…

But hey, it’s working! The potash and quartz were reacting.

After a few minutes the pot became filled with gas, which then gave way to translucent little pellets. Yes! This is what I was after, I think it's called potassium silicate.

I put out the fire. As the pot cooled I stared at the chemical I just created. I really hope this works, or else all of this will have been for nothing. Also the pot was now oxidized from the fire, rendering it useless. I really really hope she forgives me…

Just then Saoirse’s cow walked over to me.

“Hey, cow.”

It mooed, then wandered off. I grabbed the pot and ran back to the cottage.



It was now early evening. I installed the new core, the last and final step, and waited for a reaction.

But nothing happened.

My heart sank. Well, there goes any chance of going home.

I love Saoirse. And I love the fresh air and scenery here. But…

I miss my apartment. I miss San Francisco, and I miss my friends. I miss toilets and warm showers. I miss having all the information in the world at my fingertips. I miss chocolate, spices, and Earl Grey tea. But most of all, I miss the smell of freshly toasted bagels in the morning…

Please, device. I want to go home. I’ve been wearing the same underwear for the last four weeks.

… no?

Okay then.

I buried my head into my arms. I haven’t cried in years, but I think I just might today.

*Zzt*

I lifted up my head. What was that noise?

*Zzzzt*

It sounds like… sparking? But electricity isn’t a thing here… so it must be–

*Zzzzzzt*

*CLICK*

THE DEVICE!!!

I stared at it. It was glowing a faint purple now from the new core. My heart started racing in excitement.

I can finally go home…