Albert touched my arm, signalling that it was time to leave. I took one last look at 'Bob,' and an unexpected surge of emotion made me realise just how important those books were in providing an escape from my lonely childhood. I composed myself before Albert noticed, and we continued along the road, turning onto Turl Street—home to two university colleges, Jesus, and Exeter—walking halfway down before stopping on the right at a set of double oak doors embedded in the ancient stone wall.
Exeter College. Come in, Albert."
We walked past the lodge, where a sleepy porter was dozing over a newspaper.
"This is the college I want to join. Do you think they will have me?"
"Not possible, Peregrine. You don't exist here."
"I do in this form."
We stood in the quadrangle, and I pointed high up to the left of the building in front of us.
"See that window? 6:6. That's where I am going to live."
"Peregrine, this is fantasy."
I burst out laughing.
"You know what you just said, Albert?
"That's priceless!"
We walked through the quadrangle, down the narrow passageway on the right, and past the library into the Fellows' Garden at the rear. Across the grass and up the crumbling stone steps at the bottom of the garden, we could see the roof of the Bodleian Library glinting in the sun. It was a perfect English summer day, with not a cloud in the sky.
"I'm going to study here, Albert, go to all the lectures, educate myself, and retire from the world."
"Nice dream, Peregrine, but you can't; it's not possible; you can't live here as a ghost, because that's what you would be: a ghost, unable to talk to anybody, drifting about totally alone. Study? You wouldn't be able to write a word or even pick up a book."
"I could listen and think."
"No, Peregrine, it's not possible, and not only for the reasons I've mentioned. There is a physical limitation on the length of our stay here, and that time is up."
The yellow door suddenly materialised in the middle of the lawn.
"Come on, take your last look; you may return one day," said Albert. We stepped through the portal, and a moment later, we were back home.
"Thanks for a brilliant experience, Alber, "I said. It is the time I will remember as the moment when I rejected objective reality, and accepted the idea of multi-realities, each one as real and valid as any other."
"Good," said Albert, but his tone carried a sense of unease. "I fear that we may be asking you to change too many fundamental ideas too quickly. I have no time to fully induct you into a universe of which you know nothing. The challenge Ernest and I are about to set you is not an easy one. You will face dangerous situations where your life will be at risk. Should you become injured or die, it will be the same as if it had happened in this world, and the consequences will be equally permanent. All that happens to you will be no different from ordinary life."
"Please answer me honestly, Albert. If you were me, would you accept the challenge?"
" I would," he said. "There is too much at stake not to accept."
"Then I will. When do I start?"
"Are you sure? Peregrine?" Montana asked.
She had been quietly listening as Albert talked, but I could see that she was happy that I had accepted the challenge.
"It is for the best." She added, "Uncle Albert would never ask you to do something that he did not believe you could complete."
"Your faith in me is touching," said Albert.
"Now for something completely different.
The connection between you and Peregrine is obvious, Montana, even to an old codger like me, and with your permission, I would like to tell him more about you."
"I have already told him quite a lot; it just came out without me thinking. But go ahead." Montana said
"Thank you," said Albert.
"Now, Peregrine. I know that your intentions are good, and I will pass on the little I know. Did Montana tell you her mother was Cheyenne?"
"Yes, and that her father was French Canadian."
"He was a distant cousin of ours," said Albert. "We have links to France in our family, and when he died, Ernest brought eight-year-old Montana back here from Earth Major as his ward. We gave her a home and sent her to a good school, and Ernest officially adopted her. She is a wonderfully kind and exceptionally talented young woman. Without any pressure from us, she developed a great interest in business, especially interdimensional travel.
"Montana is not only exceptionally clever in the conventional sense, but she also has advanced emotional intelligence and a gift for intuitive understanding that goes far beyond the limits of rationality and science. She believes that within her lifetime, we will come to understand the true nature of the multi-reality universe in which we live."
"Yes, even in the brief time that we spent together, I think I sensed that otherworldliness about her."
"You have a natural empathy, Peregrine. Did she tell you how she got her name?"
"No, only that it suits her."
"Yes, it does. Her mother was one of the Indigenous peoples of America, and she named Montana in honour of the southeastern part of the state, which was home to her maternal family. I hope you will be her true friend, Peregrine; she needs the company of somebody her own age."
"I will, Mr Albert. I will."
Albert became silent and looked rather uncomfortable.
"May I speak frankly to you, Peregrine?"
"Of course," I said.
"It concerns the relationship between you and Montana. As I have already said, the connection between you two is plain to see."
I looked down, a bit embarrassed, and in the corner of my eye, I could see that Montana was blushing.
"What I have to say is not easy," said Albert. "Ernest and I have no objection to a friendship between you two; in fact, we are glad to see it, but it must go no further than friendship. There must never be a romantic relationship."
I was too stunned to even speak at first.
"Is it because I am too poor? I managed to ask. "Am I not good enough for her? "
"No," said Albert, "that is not the reason."
"Then, what is it?" I asked.
Albert's face was full of concern.
"I cannot tell you, dear boy, "not at the moment, perhaps, never…"
His voice petered out.
I heard Montana crying, but when I turned to her, she ran from the room with her head in her hands.
"Don't follow her, Peregrine," Albert said sharply. "No good can come of it, and there is nothing she can tell you. When you see her again, and you will, if you agree to the conditions, make no mention of what has just passed between us. Montana will have the same instructions. You must have faith that we are acting for the good of you both, but you must remain only friends. I know it will be hard, but will you give me your promise? If not, I will be forced to ask you to leave."
"I promise," I said. It was the only way of keeping Montana in my life.
I could not think of a life without Montana, but little did I know how hard it was to stay together, or even in the same dimension.
"And will you still accept 'The Green Door Challenge'? Albert said.
I agreed, but my mind was in turmoil.
"Good," said Albert. You have made a noble choice.
"Before you go to sleep tonight, drink this small bottle of liquid that I have prepared. It is quite harmless but will help you relax and go into a deep sleep."
I took the bottle.
"I will do as you say, Albert."
Albert grasped my hand, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes.
"You are a fine boy, Peregrine. A born traveller. Never give up hope."