The thing bulged back away from us until its diameter was equal to that of the tunnel itself, and then, before my hypnotized gaze, the deepest section of the ruddy mineral gaped, like a hole suddenly pricked in the side of a bubble. The remainder of the parabolite wrenched violently away from the opening, leaving us a clear gateway into-- Into a vast chamber of eye-disturbing metal, that shifted and shimmered in some mind-chilling fashion that made me want to turn and run with Snow back down that black tunnel behind us. "Come in, Jery Delvin," said the voice of an _ancient Martian_. 15 Snow and I stepped into the great gleaming chamber. I was very much disconcerted when the wall behind us contracted suddenly back into place. Wherever we were, we were there until the Ancients decided to let us out. "Who is the person with you?" said a voice. It had a frowning note to it, but I could not discern the source of the words anywhere in that silver-white blur of metal universe that spread away from us in all directions. "She--" I said as boldly as possible, feeling like an escapee from Fenimore Cooper "--she is my woman!" Silence. Then, "She will be allowed." "Allowed to what?" I demanded. "Allowed to be," said the voice, without emotion. Snow's fingers nearly went through my hand. "Well, thanks," I said, figuring politeness wouldn't hurt. I held tight to Snow, supplementing our hand grip with an arm-in-arm lock. We took another step forward. "Where are you?" I asked. "You must come forward," said the voice. I took another step, then another, then came to a startled halt. As if materializing out of the air, the Martian was before me. I stared at him, stupified. "What's the matter, Jery? What is it?" Snow said. Then she looked where I was looking, giving a little scream. "It's all right, honey," I said, with hollow courage. "He's a little impressionistic, but--" "He?" she cried, clinging to me. "That--that thing?" I looked at her, mystified, then back at the sort-of man I was standing before. He made my head spin a bit, what with apparently seeing him from front view and both profiles simultaneously, but he was mannish looking. "This guy, the Martian, honey," I said. "Maybe you didn't take enough steps forward." "She cannot see me as you see me, Jery Delvin," said the Martian. "Her eyes only convey to her a fantastic whirl of hideous light and dark shapes. She, along with most others of your race, cannot apprehend my form as you can. This is why you were chosen, Jery Delvin." "That's crazy," I protested. "You're there, aren't you? You reflect light into the eyes, right? Why can't she see you?"