If it was true, it was a miracle. If it wasn't ... Julia, you're a realist! "It would be a meaningless term for you. It's an age, an eon away." Julia sat down on the edge of the overstuffed chair. She noticed a faint layer of dust on the coffee table. The apartment looked messy with the bed out of the wall. Ever since the first visit to the doctor three weeks ago, she hadn't thought of cleaning. "I'm afraid the apartment doesn't look very presentable." "Aren't you comforted to know that the world has survived?" "But I won't survive." She looked at the dust again. "You see, I don't do much entertaining." "Is that so? I wouldn't know. Do you mind if I record our conversation?" "I don't mind. It's nice to have someone to talk to, even if I can't see you." Julia, you're a realist! "Yes. Well, that is a bother. Now would you mind telling me a few pertinent facts about civilization as you know it?" "I don't think I know too much about that sort of thing," said Julia. * * * * * "I'd hoped to land in the middle of a library of some sort...." His voice broke off. "You don't seem to have much of a collection of books here." Julia said, "Are you near the bookcase?" "No wonder the records didn't last, if this is the way they were kept." "Vassi, can you touch the books?" She got up and went to the bookcase. "Yes." "Pick one up." "They're no use to me. This isn't history." "Pick one up!" "I haven't got the time. I have to move on." "Vassi, you touched the faucet, didn't you? And you knocked on the door." "Yes.... That _does_ mean I can bring back artifacts!" "Why can't you touch me?" "Now I have to get to a place that will do me some good. A library, a store, isn't that what you call them? A museum.... Are any of these things nearby?" "Let me go with you. I'll be your guide. I'll--I'll show you my time." "But won't you be uncomfortable? I'm invisible." "I don't care! No one can steal you from me this way." "Steal me?" "Vassi, why can't you touch me!" "I'm not too sure. I think it's because you're alive. You see, life is a transient thing. Matter is continuous in one form or another. Matter existing today always existed and will always exist, or something like that. I didn't listen too carefully. Anyhow, it's possible for someone to travel back in time but not ahead. Do I make myself clear? It's out of my line, you know." Julia reached down and scooped up Belle. "Can you touch her?" "What is that?" "My cat. Can you touch her?" "A cat? My, the anatomists would love to see that! But it's the same as with you. My hand passes right through her." Julia put Belle back on the floor. Her mind was racing. Vassi said, "She's sitting right where I'm standing." "I've got to believe it's not a nightmare. I've got to believe you're real and that you can help me." "If I can do it quickly. I have so much else to do. Others are waiting to use the machine." "Are people well where you come from?"