“Bud Redhead,” The Lagger sneered. “The so-called ‘Crack-Free’ one. You cannot stop the free market of time.”
Bud returned to his bench, content to tinker. He kept his phase-key on a ribbon around his neck and sometimes, on quiet nights, would climb the tower to listen to the town breathe. He never claimed to have stopped time from cracking everywhere — only from letting it crack here. bud redhead the time chase crack free