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The latest contact occurred on August 23, 1954. Desmond Leslie was in Los Angeles at the time for the purpose of fulfilling a lecture engagement. He knew that | was about to have this contact and was most anxious to be taken with me. While | too hoped for this, the Brothers, for reasons which they did not give, were not able to grant the request. As | look back, | think it was because the nature of some of the things which were shown and explained to me this time were not designed for one without previous contacts. My friends Firkon and Ramu met me as usual. En route to the Scout, Firkon said, ?! must tell you that tonight?s meeting will be a farewell for you and for us. After we bring you back to your hotel tonight, we return to the Scout, and then on out to the carrier which will take us back to our home planets. Our mission on Earth is fulfilled.? A great sadness surged up in me. Ramu said quickly, ?But you are losing us only in bodily form. Don?t forget that we can still communicate mentally, wherever we are. | took what comfort | could from this thought, but at the moment it seemed little enough. Then Firkon said, his voice full of comprehension, ?You are our friend, and all the space that may stretch between us can never change that.? | felt ashamed of my emotion. Although | could not entirely banish it, | did manage to rise above it to some extent. | found myself wondering if some other ?contact? man, or men, living temporarily on our Earth, might possibly be assigned to meeting me in future. But to this unspoken question, neither vouchsafed an answer. | was left with the feeling that this might indeed be farewell, at least for some time to come, not only to the two friends between whom | now sat as we rode along, but to any further excursions into space. This emotion, as | think can be imagined, lent to all the new and wonderful things | was to see this night a poignancy which quickened my deep appreciation. This, added to the gratitude for what had already been granted, produced a fullness in my heart that | could never put into words. Inasmuch as | have already described in detail a journey in this same Scout, | shall state only that | found Orthon awaiting us with the little ship hovering slightly above the ground, ready for an immediate take-off. On this trip we did not even sit down. | divided my attention between watching the changing graphs and Orthon at the control panels. As we entered the Venusian carrier, this time | was entirely free of any dropping sensation in the pit of my stomach. We reached the platform and stopped again, as on our first trip. The same man was there to attach the clamp over the Scout for its recharge, but this time he followed us down the steps and into the lounge. Immediately on entering, | was struck by a general air of festivity. There were a great many people present whom | had never seen before. | was delighted when | saw Ilmuth and Kalna coming forward to greet me warmly. ?Did anyone tell you about the surprise we have for you tonight?? Kalna asked, and without waiting for a reply continued enthusiastically, ?A certain promise made to you will be fulfilled!? THE BANQUET AND A FAREWELL