"We missed the nineteenth jump," she says, taking the book from Will and closing it gently. "The nanites on our arms went from eighteen to twenty, except--"

And she pauses, there, partly for a wry smile, and partly for dramatic effect.

"For one passenger. I haven't spoken to him, myself, but he's from the universe and knew of the Tranquility. He's the only one of us who actually hails from this world, to my understanding."