h America to Europe. It would reach Japan
via the Aleutians and a relay-ship, by wire from Japan to all Asia
and--again relayed--to Australia. South Africa would get the coverage by
land-wire down the continent from the Pillars of Hercules. The
Mediterranean basin, the Near East, Scandinavia, and even Iceland would
see the spectacle. Detailed instructions were given to Gail to give to
the children.

The very top feminine TV personality of America would serve as hostess,
substituting for Gail, who must try to make the children understand.
Miss Linda Beach could establish a personal contact with any audience.
One had only to watch her to respond to her charm, her wholesomeness,
her adroit sincerity. She had sold soap, automobiles, vitamin tablets
and dessicated soup. Obviously, she was the perfect saleswoman for the
children out of space.

"I hope the professionals know what they're doing," Soames had said to
Gail. "I'm a simple soul who'd be inclined to tell the truth without
trimmings. It might not be easy, and it might not be comfortable, but it
would be fact."

* * * * *

A small fast transport came to get the children and Gail and Soames. It
took off.

Soames took a seat beside Fran. He took out a pencil and a pad of paper.
He drew a sketch of a boy flying a kite, and added a close-up drawing of
the kite. He drew a boy walking on stilts, and a drawing of how stilts
were made. Soames hadn't actually seen a boy walking on stilts for
years, and it might now be a lost art, but Fran showed interest. Soames
drew a bicycle with a boy on it, and then modified the bike into a
motorcycle. He hoped his sketches would strike Fran as interesting, if
primitive, things a boy might do for his own satisfaction.

Fran was intrigued. Presently he took the pencil and made sketches of
his own. A boy with a belt like his rode something which vaguely
resembled a sledge or a motorcycle. He made a detailed drawing of a
runner. This was an air-sled, such as Zani had pictured in more
elaborate form. Fran sketched the air-column generator, and it was
utterly simple and a boy of fourteen could make it. After painful
scrutiny Soames realized that it was a ram-jet engine which would start
itself and operate in still air. In the modern world, it would make
gas-turbine engines practical for locomotives and motorcars.

The transport landed. A motorcycle escort surrounded the car with drawn
curtains which carrie