"Stop that," Marc said. "Don't be ridiculous. There's no need for dramatics. You're far from old and ugly, and as for...." But suddenly the girl had fastened herself to him for the second time. "Then you really do think I'm a little sensational after all?" she cried ecstatically. "Kiss me! I'm yours!" "No!" Marc cried. "I didn't say that! I didn't even mention...!" "Yes, you did," the girl breathed in his ear, and drew her mouth quickly to his. "Wait a minute!" Marc objected, forcing her from him. "This sort of thing has got to stop!" "Why, for heaven's sake? I think it's perfectly divine." Marc stopped to consider her question. Actually, why did it have to stop? There was a reason, a good reason, if only he could think of it. And then something stirred in the far reaches of his mind and drifted slowly forward. _Julie!_ "Holy smoke!" Marc cried. "Julie. I have a wife!" "Of course," the girl said. "But what difference does that make? I don't mind in the least. I'm terribly broad-minded. Besides, it happens that your wife isn't in this dream. Why drag her into it and spoil everything?" "No!" Marc said excitedly. "No. You don't understand. I just remembered. There was an explosion. Julie was in the house--and a lot of her friends. Heaven only knows what happened. Oh, my gosh!" He drew away from the girl and glanced desperately around. "I've got to get out of here!" But even as he spoke another matter rose for his immediate attention. All of a sudden the little valley had been seized with a shuddering convulsion. The greenness underfoot began to tremble violently. As Marc looked frightenedly about, the trees on the knoll commenced a weird seesawing, weaving back and forth in mad counter rhythm. Then, with a great roar of agony, the quiet valley began to crumble apart beneath their very feet. Everything dropped away into blackness.... Falling, Marc was only incidentally aware of the tightening pressure of the girl's arms about his neck. And then the frightened words came breathlessly, close to his ear: "Marc! Marc! Don't leave!" * * * * * "Please, Marc! Open your eyes!" The imperative note of command sang hollowly in the depths of his subconscious, echoed back in some small chamber of his awareness. He stirred. "Open your eyes, darling. Look at me." Marc clawed at the edge of darkness, caught hold, and pulled himself upward toward the lighter region of consciousness. He struggled to the brink, caught a measure of leverage, and opened his eyes.... Julie's face peered down at him duskily, her blue eyes bright with fear even in the dim moonlight. A whisp of blonde hair had gone astray across her forehead. "Marc!" she cried. "Marc!" Marc tried his reflexes and sat up. "Julie," he murmured. "What happened?" "Never mind, dear," Julie said. "Are you all right?"