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"They'd got out! I saw them!"Dem shrugged. "Apparently they didn't like to be shot at, so they ran back in, but there were sometechnical problems over at Kenselton HQ and everyone inside got randomly sent to different parts of themultiverse. I had no part in it, I swear."Not-Tim jabbed a finger at the screen. "Then what about that?" he asked, anger rising in his voice."I merely work with circumstances," Dem said. "Went back in time to that spot with a Radoenix egg andconvinced the locals that it would grow up to be a great and powerful monster that would bring theminexhaustible wealth and good luck. All they had to do was to build it a little home right at that spot tocontain it because it kind of liked the taste of human flesh, and to feed it sacrificial virgins every fullmoon to keep it alive and happy. They don't take much maintenance, you see. One virgin can last 'ema month. Hardy creatures, these invisible radioactive phoenixes. I raised this one as my pet. His nameis Fred. We communicate psychically." Dem smiled.".......................," said not-Tim."Well, so what will it be?" Dem asked. "Hurry up. Fred's getting hungry, and if I tell him to let Jjaks liveafter too long a time has passed, he won't be happy. It's been ages since he had a sacrificial virgin, yousee. They got really hard to come by after the sexual revolution. And the nuclear war-""How many more would have died?" not-Tim cut in. "If I hadn't come here.""Oh, lots, I'm sure. Blame human nature. Some folks can get so worked up over a film that nothingwould please them more than to kill its characters in the most gruesome way they can imagine. You'rea funny species, you know-""And they wouldn't die if things remain the same."Dem shrugged. "Well, yes. But put it this way – you're not responsible for them. You're responsible forhim." He pointed at Jjaks on the screen. "He wouldn't be here if not for you. He could be at home now,drinking coffee, reading the papers, robbing a bank... it's your fault he's here."Not-Tim shook his head. "No. I never meant for this to happen-""Ah, but you made him, see? If you had just passed on that script, poor ol' Jjaks wouldn't be on Fred'slunch menu right now. Of course, he wouldn't exist either, but that's probably better than being killedand eaten by an invisible radioactive phoenix that doesn't brush its teeth."So, for the last time: One of your characters is about to be eaten by an invisible radioactive phoenixnamed Fred. If you just say the word, it'll be one week ago and you can promise to go on with your lifeand pretend that Kenselton Hotel doesn't exist. The evil unethical scientists responsible for this cancontinue doing their thing. They're happy, I'm happy, Fred's not happy but that won't matter becausehe'll never know what he missed, and Jjaks won't get eaten by an invisible radioactive phoenix, which,trust me, is a good thing."Dem grinned."Why are you doing this?""Forty-two!" Dem laughed. "...No, drats, that doesn't work either. Time's up, Mr. Reeves. Say yes tomy deal, he lives. Say no, he doesn't.""What if he's going to die anyway?" not-Tim demanded.Dem smiled. "Wrong answer, Keanu," he whispered.And on the screen, Jjaks suddenly fell out of the grasp of the Radoenix; straight at the stone bottom ofthe emptied pool where he landed with a sickening crack and was completely still. Shane running up tohim, screaming; Perry holding him back, grabbing him away as an invisible beak came down to tear intoits meal-"-But you're right," Dem said. "What if he's going to die anyway? Better he die alone than along with somany others, right?" He flicked the screen off. "I'll be back later to see if you've changed your mind,"Dem said.