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rejected materialism and mechanistic pursuits. "Their lives revolved entirely around ritual and religious observances," he said. "They eventually transcended the limits of gross corporeal reality and entered a sphere of pure mind and spirit."
    "On what evidence do you base these beliefs?" I said.
    "On the evidence of their having left only objects associated with ritual practices. Not a single device or mechanical contrivance has ever been found."
    "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," I quoted, and saw that either Ulwy Munt was unused to contradiction or that he encountered it so frequently that it occasioned a sharp response.
    "It also happens that they can communicate from the timeless realm in which they now exist," he said, "providing, of course, that their communicants command sufficient spiritual advancement to receive a message from the higher plane."
    "Indeed," I said. "And are there any such worthy recipients in the vicinity?"
    "In all humility," Munt said, "I believe I count myself among the few who have reached the required level."
    "How convenient," I said. "Are there any other like-minded souls about?"
    The Academician's face formed sharp edges. "Until your revelation of Mitric Galvadon's perfidious past I thought he was one such. His impressions of the Thim corresponded closely with mine."
    "I'm sure they did," I said. "I assume that he told you he could create a device that would enhance the Thim's communication efforts?"
    "He did."
    "Did he offer this assistance without charge, or was there a fee involved?"
    "He volunteered freely," Munt said. Then his brows knit. "Once we began to work together, however, he required certain sums to import the abstruse components of his device. He said its key materials had to be brought from offworld at considerable expense."
    "Indeed?" I said. "Perhaps we should examine it."
    Mitric Galvadon had stood by during my conversation with Munt, not denying the obvious import of my questions to the scholar. Indeed, he wore an expression reminiscent of a prankish schoolboy caught in undeniable mischief, and when I turned to him he raised his hands, palms up, simultaneously elevating his shoulders in a gesture that said, What can I tell you?
    He now led us to a separate building where his apparatus waited. For convenience's sake we were still referring to Galvadon by his latest name, rather than as Orlin Borissian, which for all anyone knew was only another alias.
    Galvadon's demeanor was as cheerful and brash as it had been the day before. I reflected that he could not have become one of the most successful of confidence tricksters if he had been afflicted with a conscience that dared to show itself in his face.
    "Here is the device," he said with a theatrical flourish of arm, hand and wrist. I saw an odd assortment of rods and tubes, a tripod supporting a cube. Various components and couplings were strung together in haphazard sequences. I saw elements that I recognized from a variety of sources and said that it appeared the purported inventor had merely cobbled together odds and ends from domestic devices.
    "Just so," said Galvadon. "That is exactly what I did."
    Ulwy Munt made a spluttering sound and had to be restrained by the Dean. Galvadon ignored the commotion and indicated his device again. "Look," he said.
    He touched a control and the assemblage hummed and vibrated, producing a wavering blue glow.
    I declined to be impressed.
    "Quite understandable," Galvadon said, "yet behold."
    He drew my attention to a point in space a short distance from the machine. A tiny spot of darkness had appeared in the air. It grew steadily until it had become the shape of a flattened lens, viewed edge on. It was about twice the width and length of my hand. I bent to peer more closely at it and saw what seemed to be a hole in the air leading to a region of utter lightlessness.
    I walked to and fro, examining the dark lacuna from different angles. It did not change shape or waver, as