us, no plagues, no strife, no famine, no slavery to labor. Our science and our government are incomparably further advanced over yours. And all this is yours for the taking. Such is the command of Tallu. The fruits of this life must be handed on to you."
A look of humility had fallen on the Quennians as the High Priest continued,
"Yet how are you to take with you all that we have shown? For soon you must leave, and there can be no return. There is but one way, the way I mentioned when we met before."
He opened his palm. A small, transparent vial lay there, half filled with a colorless liquid.
"Here," he said, "is the answer. If you were to empty the contents of this vial into the sea, it would of its own accord be multiplied ten million-fold. From your sea, it would rise to the clouds, together with the other vapors that rise from the waters of your world. The clouds would rain it upon your earth, and in time, some part of the contents of this vial would find its way to every corner of your world, to every stream and river, every well. And—" he hesitated a fraction of a second, "every part of your world that was touched by the liquid in this vial would become accessible to us!"
The High Priest rose from his dais.
"Do you understand what I am saying? The people of Quenna could come among you, to spread their teachings. In that way, and that way only, can our religion have meaning and the word of Tallu be fulfilled. We would make of your world a paradise beyond your wildest dreams!"
Sammy fumbled at his lips and muttered:
"Wow!"
"You do not understand?" said the High Priest. "There is no time now for explanation. This plan is the labor of the greatest minds in Quenna. It is the only possible bridge between our dimensions once our machine is gone, as go it must when you return. And all this rests with you. This awful, historic task is yours to bring about. Will you do it?"
The six Quennians fixed their eyes upon the two men, and they seemed to have stopped breathing. Neither Sammy nor Mike uttered a sound as they stood there, holding on to each other. The High Priest's words came again as he held out the vial.
"Will you take the means of bringing you to another world?"
Mike stirred.
"Another world, huh?" he mumbled. "Whazz going on now—somebody passing out drinks?" He stumbled forward and took the vial. "Certainly," he beamed. "Thazz for me and I'm for it and we're for each other. Don't mind saying my bottle's empty. Many thanks." He finished his speech with a series of hiccups. "Anything you say," he said loudly, with a flourishing bow that almost landed him on his face.
The Quennians hadn't moved. The High Priest raised his hands in supplication. The red disc on the floor was growing again—
Once again they were in the vacant, white hail where they had first arrived. The huge machine was waiting upon its jade altar. Lito led the two travelers up the stairs to where the room that had been scooped out of its own dimensional world still stood. Mike and Sammy could scarcely walk. Their eyes were half shut and they seemed oblivious of their surroundings.
When Lito had helped them sit down again on the couch and the bed, he turned away and softly made his exit. He walked down the carved stairs and motioned to Seydi. The transparent walls of the machine began to fog, and
