Arl was all wrapped up in his explanation, and he ignored the remark. "Now, then. The same situation applies. The same relation exists between a world of three dimensions and one of four. You merely extend the three dimensions out in a direction at right angles to them--a direction which is perpendicular to length, breadth and thickness, and the result is a world of four dimensions. That's my world." George was feeling chipper. "Well, a pat on the backside for you," he said. "Now I suppose you want me to send you back?" * * * * * Arl waved his hand. "No. I'm not finished. Let's go a step further. If a world of two dimensions existed--a whole world spread out perfectly flat on this table, with no dimension other than length or breadth, a flat world--if that world existed, do you realize all the power you, as a three-dimensional being, would have over it?" George said that he didn't. "Well, suppose something was enclosed in a square on that table. Just four lines, a square. That would be the equivalent of a cube in this world--say, of a safe. Say there was something in that square that the people of the flat world wanted to get out. But the square was locked. It was just four lines, forming an enclosed space, but because there was no such thing as up or down in that world, they couldn't get over, those lines and get out what they were looking for. It was utterly inaccessible. "Now, then. You're a three-dimensional creature. All you'd have to do is reach down, pick the item up, transport it through the third dimension, and put it down again outside the square. You would have done the impossible. You would have taken something out of an utterly inaccessible place and put it elsewhere. Mysteriously. "So, just change the situation a bit. A four dimensional being would have the same power over this three-dimensional world. He could make things appear and disappear, simply by transporting them through the fourth dimension. And that, my friend, explains everything strange and unreal and impossible which this man Fort reported. It was simply the intervention of a four dimensional being. One of my subjects. When the call comes through, your people are not even aware that they give it. But when it does come through, we answer. And here the call was the strongest on record. I'm the king and I came through myself. But we can't come through and we can't go back without the call. That's you, George, and it was all a mistake. Now will you send me back?" George smiled. He enjoyed this situation. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and he watched Myra's face turn white as he said one word: "No." * * * * * "Be reasonable, George. If you don't send me back, there'll be trouble. I won't tell you what kind of trouble, but don't say you were not warned in advance." "Well, maybe you ought to tell me. What kind of trouble?"