In the center of the clearing rested a spaceship! From where they stood they could see that its hull was rusted and weather-beaten. "That hasn't flown in a long time," Saxton said, after the first few minutes of wonder. "Probably not since it first landed here," Wallace answered. The clearing about the vessel had been kept free of brush and bushes, and when they went across, and through the open portal of the ship, they found the inside immaculate. "They certainly keep it clean," Saxton observed. "It may be a shrine to them," Wallace said. "That would explain why we found Al-fin kneeling when we landed, and yet why he treated us so nonchalantly. He was worshipping our ship, not us." "I hope they don't find us here," Saxton remarked. "We might be violating some taboo." Most of the interior fittings of the vessel, they found, had long ago rotted away. Only the metal parts still remained intact. The instrument board was unfamiliar to them. "Pretty definitely an early model," Wallace said. Saxton found something on one wall that held his absorbed interest. "Come here, Ivan," he called. "What is it?" Wallace asked, going over to stand beside him. "Read that." Wallace read aloud from the engraved plaque: "_Spring, 2676. We, the Dukobors, leave our Earth homes in the hope that we may find a dwelling place for ourselves and our children, where we may worship our God as we believe proper. We place ourselves in His hands and pray that He will watch over us on our journey, and in the time to come._" "That's over nineteen hundred years ago," Saxton said. "Soon after the discovery of spacebridge," Wallace added. Without being aware of it they both spoke in whispers. They inspected the vessel for some time more, but found little of any further interest. * * * * * A short time after they left the ancient spaceship Wallace and Saxton stumbled on Al-fin and his group of naked natives. This time they made a concerted effort to communicate with Al-fin, and one or two of the others, but with no more success than before. Neither side could understand more than a few words of the other's language, and they could accomplish very little with signs. Al-fin sat with them for a time, until they saw him tilt his head in the gesture they remembered. On his face was the same expression of listening. After a moment he rose leisurely and indicated that they were to follow him. Most of the other natives, Wallace noticed on rising, had already gone over and bunched together at one end of the clearing. They appeared restless, but not frightened. "What's it all about?" Saxton asked. "I suspect there's another cat in the neighborhood," Wallace answered. Saxton pointed to the center of the clearing. Beneath a tree the oldster with the scar on his arm sat alone, seemingly unaware that the others had left him. "Are they using their chief for a decoy?" Saxton asked.