Summary

Tristan and Mel finally meet Erszebet, a tiny old Hungarian woman dressed in ill-fitting 1950s clothing and living in a retirement home. She insists that she met Mel in the mid-nineteenth century and was told to extend her life magically just before magic ended in order to be given access to an ODEC. Her impatient answers to Tristan’s questions include memorized technical explanations of the ODEC’s current flaws and their solutions. Erszebet reacts with contempt to Tristan’s authoritative tone, but is protective of and grateful to Mel. She insists Mel accompany her into the ODEC for her first spell, but as usual Mel becomes woozy and does not remember what happens inside. Erszebet, however, has undone her spell of slow aging, and is now a very young, stunningly beautiful woman.

All of the DODO team members are stunned...