Joly nods, encouraging. "That's right, I'm a doctor here. This is-- someplace far from where either of you call home. It's a bit hard to explain, though I'll tell you all I can. This is Milliways, as I said. It's a sort of, well--think of it as a sort of retreat, one in a place and time no one can reach without permission--it calls itself the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, but it's far more than a restaurant, it's a whole --almost a whole village. And only Milliways itself grants permission for who might enter it, and when. That's how I know you both, from a later time--when you're older. And--well, I suppose it's decided to invite you both in from rather earlier than that. "

He raises a hand before objections can come in. "I know it sounds absurd, but I'll show you more of what I mean, and other people who'll agree, downstairs. Right now---you ?are both well?" Yes, he asked. But they're maybe ten. Time to make sure.