w feared the things they had brought from
the city storehouse, how he had privately hoped that Hobart and Lablet
would be content to let well enough alone and not bring that knowledge
of an alien race back with them. If he had not secretly known that
aversion, he would not have been able to destroy the globe and the
treasures piled about it.

"But"--his protest was hot, angry--"we are not _them_! We can do much
for you."

"Can you?" The calm question sank into his mind as might a stone into
a troubled pool, and the ripples of its passing changed an idea or
two. "I wish that you might see Homeport. Perhaps then it would be
easier for you to understand. No, your knowledge is not corrupt, it
would not carry with it the same seeds of disaster as that of Those
Others. But it would be too easy for us to accept, to walk a softer
road, to forget what we have so far won. Just give us time--"

Raf cupped his palms over his watering eyes. He wanted badly to see
clearly the other's face, to be able to read his expression. Yet it
seemed that somehow he _was_ able to see that sober face, as sincere
as the words in his mind.

"You will come again," Dalgard said with certainty. "And we shall be
waiting because you, Raf Kurbi, made it possible." There was something
so solemn about that that Raf looked up in surprise.

"When you destroyed the core of Those Other's holding, you gave us our
chance. For had you not done that we, the mermen, the other harmless,
happy creatures of this world, would have been wiped out. There would
be no new beginning here, only a dark and horrible end."

Raf blinked; to his surprise that other figure standing in the direct
sunlight did not waver, and beyond the proudly held head was a stretch
of turquoise sky. He could see the color!

"Yes, you shall see with your eyes--and with your mind," now Dalgard
spoke aloud. "And if the Spirit which rules all space is kind, you
shall return to your own people. For you have served His cause well."

Then, as if he were embarrassed by his own solemnity, Dalgard ended
with a most prosaic inquiry: "Would you like shellfish for eating?"

Moments later, wading out into the water-swirled sand, his boots
kicked off, his toes feeling for the elusive shelled creatures no one
could see, Raf felt happier, freer than he could ever remember having
been before. It was going to be all right. He could _see_! He would
find the ship! He laughed aloud at nothing and heard an answ