Foregone Conclusion

"Actually," Jude said after a moment's pause, "I think Borges was being pretty damn cynical. That story's not about the open-endedness of time. It's about a guy who only has one option, so he uses it and gets hung." She put her head on one side, stuck out her tongue and yanked an imaginary noose.

Victor Gardner slapped his forehead. "O wow, so that's the ending."

"End of his rope, end of the line," chimed in Amanda.

"Now wait just a darned minute," Macarthur protested.