"Very well, thank you." "Are there any incurable diseases?" She tried to listen for his breathing. "Incurable? You mean sickness that doesn't respond to treatment? No, of course not." "Then take me with you!" she cried. "You just said you wanted to guide me here." "Take me with you to your time." "I can't do that. I can't even touch you." "There must be a way. You have got to think of something." "Even if I could take you, I'm not supposed to." "Why?" "It would mix up history to remove persons from their time. It might even be dangerous with artifacts. I suppose we couldn't hold onto them very long." "History? I have no history. I'm going to die very soon. No one depends on me. I have no one. Please take me, Vassi." "I feel very strange." "Are you all right?" "Yes. I just feel--odd." "How...." "First you want to guide me, then you want to come with me, you don't care about mankind's survival. You sound so terrified and confused." * * * * * Julia sank down on the couch. If only she could see him. "Don't leave me to die." "How strange to talk about dying," said Vassi. "We all live so long we never think about it." "You will take me with you, Vassi?" "If people in your time have such short lives, then why does dying trouble you? It would seem a matter of course." "Vassi, I haven't lived yet." "This is out of my line. I'll tell you what. When I return, I'll talk to one of the scientists. If they're interested in the project, they'll send someone back." "How long will that be?" "Now let's see if I can figure in your time. Hmm.... I'd say about a year...." Julia closed her eyes. She felt dampness under the lids. Her voice was hollow as she spoke to the empty room. "I'll be dead in six months." And the voice in her head echoed, "Six months...." "Vassi, isn't there someone you can talk to now?" He didn't answer her. Julia looked around the room. "Vassi, are you still here? Vassi? Vassi, if you don't talk, I can't tell if you're still here! Vassi, please answer me. Did I talk too much? I didn't mean to run on about my problems. I know you have a job to do. Maybe you can squeeze me in. I don't want to keep you from your work. Vassi, you didn't go, did you? You didn't leave me! Don't leave. I believe in you. I believe in you...." And now she had the aloneness she had longed for. He was gone and she would be left with the Mrs. Shultzes and the doctor. She went from the living room to the kitchen to the bathroom and back into the living room, listening, hoping to catch the small sound of his breathing. But her body would not be quiet and she heard nothing except herself.