The man's smile said everything was going to be all right and because little girls understood smiles and believed them even more than words, it wasn't necessary to go into the subject any further. "What's your name?" The man said some funny word that Biddy couldn't understand. She laughed and he laughed too and then said, "Why don't you call me Joe? That's a nice easy name to remember." "It's a nice name. Do you live in the cave there where the shiny box is?" The smile left Joe's face. "You were inside the cave?" "Yesterday. You left the door open." "Yes. I'm staying there for a while." Joe changed the subject quickly. "What's the matter with your leg?" "I had polio." "Polio? You were sick?" "Yes, I was very sick, but I didn't die, so I was very lucky. I only had my leg get so I can't use it." "Only that, eh?" Joe mused and seemed intensely interested in the brace. "What a crude conception of efficiency," and when Biddy asked what? he said, "Oh nothing. May I look at that mechanism?" "You mean my brace?" "Yes." Biddy came close and the man concentrated on the brace. Except that Biddy thought he was more interested in her leg. His hands were very gentle and then he looked up suddenly and said, "How would you like to see the things I have inside the cave, child?" "You can call me Biddy if you want to. My name is Ruth but Biddy's my nickname." "It's a nice one. Let's go inside." Joe had a small thing on his shirt and it was only when he reached up and touched it and the door of the cave swung open that Biddy noticed the peculiar way he was dressed. And it was strange, she thought, that she hadn't even seen the tight-fitting silver colored shirt and the pants that were silver too and almost like skin they were so tight to his legs. But even in noticing them now, Biddy didn't say anything because they really weren't strange at all. Not when Joe wore them. Joe took her hand and led her into the cave. He said, "Now don't be afraid. None of this is made to hurt little girls." "What's it for?" "It's called a primary relay station." "Like our space station?" "No--not exactly. This station hasn't any guns. At least it hasn't the kind of guns you know about." "I'm glad. I'm afraid of atom and hydroshells. They kill people and poison them and make them suffer." "This station doesn't do that. It reaches out into space and brings in all kinds of power. It's a magnet, you might say." "What are you going to do with the power you bring in, Joe?" "Now that's a very interesting question." Joe smiled. "Maybe we'll tickle little girls with it." Biddy laughed. "You're just joking with me." "No, I'm not. Tell you what we'll do. Suppose I give you a little sample?" "That would be fun." * * * * *