hrough? As he
arose, brushing the sand from him, he saw the scout splashing out of
the sea, a fish impaled on his spear.

"Did we get through?" Raf blurted out.

"Since your friend cannot reply with the mind touch, we do not know.
But later we shall try again." To Raf's peering gaze Dalgard's face
had a drawn, gaunt look as if he had been at hard labor during the
hours just past. He walked up the beach slowly, without the springing
step Raf had come to associate with him. As he settled down to gut the
fish with one of the bone knives, the scout repeated, "We can try
again--!"

Half an hour later, as the rain swept in from the sea, Raf knew that
they would not have to try. His head went up, his face eager. He had
known that sound too long and too well ever to mistake it--the drone
of a flitter motor cutting through the swish of the falling water.
Some trick of the cliffs behind them must be magnifying and projecting
the sound, for he could not sight the machine. But it was coming. He
whirled to Dalgard, only to see that the other was on his feet and had
taken up his spear.

"It is the flitter! Soriki heard--they're coming!" Raf hastened to
assure him.

For the last time he saw Dalgard's slow, warm smile, clearer than he
had ever seen it before. Then the scout turned and trotted away,
toward a fringing rock wall. Before he dropped out of sight behind
that barrier he raised the spear in salute.

"Swift and fortunate voyaging!" He gave the farewell of Homeport.

Then Raf understood. The colonist meant just what he had said: he
wanted no contact with the space ship. To Raf he had owed a debt and
now that was paid. But the time was not yet when the men of Astra and
the men of Terra should meet. A hundred years from now perhaps--or a
thousand--but not yet. And remembering what had summoned the flitter
winging toward him, Raf drew a deep breath. What would the men of
Astra accomplish in a hundred years? What could those of Terra do to
match them in knowledge? It was a challenge, and he alone knew just
how much of a challenge. Homeport must remain his own secret. He had
been guided to this place, saved by the mermen alone. Dalgard and his
people must not exist as far as the crew of the _RS 10_ were
concerned.

For the last time he experienced the intimacy of the mind touch. "That
is it--brother!" Then the sensation was gone as the black blot of the
flitter buzzed out of the clouds.

From behind the rocks Dalgard wat