Chapter One: The Home Run That Hadn't Happened

Then, as the catcher returned the ball, the Japanese voice came early again. “Low and away. One ball, one strike.” Sato had not begun his motion. Cheng stared at the clock on the giant screen. Sato nodded, delivered, and missed below the outside corner. “Ball!” the Mandarin broadcast called. “One and one.” Exactly ten seconds. Cold sweat spread down Cheng's back. This was not signal leakage. He was hearing commentary on something that had not happened yet. The future called the third pitch inside for a strike. Reality copied it ten seconds later. It called the fourth pitch foul. Again, reality obeyed. Before the fifth pitch, static washed through the headset. Then the first impossible call returned, clearer and wilder than before.