Chapter Two: The Reflection Moves First

Lin placed Chen's boat before the glass and fixed silver-halide film to its prow. In the mirror the boat unfolded itself, revealing words that did not yet exist on the real paper. He photographed rather than observed them and developed the film in reverse. *Knock upon the Lost-Day gate with a shadow that moves first.* To open the door, they needed an action reality had not intended. Lin built a simple random trigger: water would soak through one of two unequal cotton threads. If the left broke, Su would raise her hand; if the right broke, Lin would. Neither knew who would act until the moment came. The right thread snapped. Lin raised his hand. For the first time, his reflection lagged behind.