To the north was now a climate that held snow from September to June. Only three brief months availed for agriculture. The mixed peoples there did not rise to master such rigors. Centuries of struggle turned them almost primitive, with arts and sciences and ways to conquer their environment lost and forgotten. They became barbarians. Such is the condition as I have found it. I can give you details only of our northern half of the western hemisphere. Transportation is back nearly to the primitive; the rest of the world is almost unknown to Azeela's race. Toroh, I've learned now, is an Anglese, but they banished him. He was plotting to overthrow the government. When he was banished, he went among the barbarians of the north and began organizing them for an attack on the island. Toroh has scientific knowledge; up there in the north he has been manufacturing weapons. Then he came back to the island secretly, and abducted Azeela. She's the daughter of Fahn, the leading scientist of the Anglese--he's the man who holds the reins of power. With Azeela as hostage, Toroh planned to make Fahn yield. But now that I have released Azeela, Toroh's attack will come swiftly. That is why I send you this message. Toroh is a menace--the greatest figure of evil in this time-world. There will be war, a struggle in which the Anglese may go down before the onslaught of Toroh and the hordes of barbarians with whom he has allied himself. Oh, I can't tell you all the details...I'm too tired. I'll stop now, and send this message back to you in the cube. And, Father, you know what we arranged--that you would come and join me if I needed you. Well, I do; I need you here now. As we agreed, I will raise a light-beam signal, which will mark the exact point in space and the exact moment in time at which I want you to be here. For me, that moment _is now_! So as soon as I dispatch this message off to you, I shall raise the signal. It will be at the southeastern tip of our island. For you geographically, it will be about Miami. From that point in space, you cannot fail to see it, if your time-flight is slow enough. I will hold it in the sky for as long as I can, so that it will have enough duration for you not to miss it. Please tell _Mamita_ not to worry about me, or about you either. We will both come back to her safely. You may bring one or two of our friends who wish to make the trip. I think that George will want to come and I would like to have him. You need bring no weapons; they would be worse than useless. _Please hurry, Father. I need you!_ CHAPTER SIX Roger's slow, solemn voice died away. He rustled the pages of Loto's message in his hand. "That's all, gentlemen. All of the message itself. The other pages give detailed instructions--data based on Loto's flight and memoranda for the construction of another plane, gathered from previous notes made by Loto and myself."