"That's better. At any rate, we will do best to leave his apparatus absolutely unmolested. Here, apparently, science is not a restricted thing, in the sense that the individual is not limited by law in its study and practice. Technological secrets of the government are of course carefully guarded, and periodically divulged to the public in vague or distorted form. However, the individual may be a free agent in science to the limit of his wealth, interest and intellectual ability. That is why our host was able to complete a project similar to that upon which Zercheq was at work when he was apprehended. Although even my technical training at Quadrature Academy excluded detailed study of space-time mechanics just as it did nuclear fission, I'm quite positive that our host has constructed a successful Chronospan, as Zercheq called it. If we tamper with it, his chances of returning here and ours of returning to our phase in time are reduced to absolute zero. As it is, he will be faced with the task of building another to effect his return--and unless he is a clever man indeed, his chances are of course exceedingly slim. Zercheq was only half-finished when the S Council apprehended him." "We are the--innocent victims of a trap, then." "It need not be a trap, precisely, my dear. There is a slim chance that we may return--but that must of course remain in his hands. Quite probably, he may fail. Therefore, we must go about the process of adapting ourselves, and in any measure possible, alter and adapt this civilization to our own methods and standards." "Please, Douglas--" "Yes?" * * * * * She looked away from him for a moment, then back, but with her eyes lowered. "I suppose changing them," she said softly, "would be a--a challenge to you, Douglas." Then her eyes came up, looked full into his. "Please, let us use his device. Let us go back. I--It is that I--I _am_ afraid, Douglas," she said. "Afraid?" His tone was that of a man speaking half in doubt, half in impatience. "I still fail to understand you, Lisa. A moment ago you said--" "Then forgive me," she interjected with a nervous suddenness. "It is--let us say it is the shock."