Summary

Chapter 51 finds Tom panicked that he has done something to change the future. He debates whether he should activate the device that will send him back, but decides to wait until Goettreider turns on the machine.

In Chapter 52, Goettreider realizes that his audience is getting impatient, so he disregards the new form of radiation he has noticed, gives a quick speech, and turns on the machine. Tom is struck by how impromptu the speech feels, given that many people from his world hypothesized its contents.

In Chapter 53, Tom moves from his hiding place to get a better view of the engine, which is releasing large silver plumes of light, memorizing everyone. Unfortunately, one of these plumes hits Tom, disrupting his invisibility field and making him visible to Goettreider, who gets incredibly startled (though, no one else sees him).

In Chapter 54, Tom describes what...