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Chapter 10 All was arranged much as a fine restaurant would be in any city of earth. An elegant stage and elaborate scenery adorned the front of the large dining room. The music was soft and soothing. No one made Adam feel conspicuous by undue attention, though all knew he was an honored guest from earth. They were escorted to a table, and as soon as they were seated one wall became a three-dimensional television screen. Sailing ships ona realistic sea were shown, and Columbus’ landing on the eastern shores of the Atlantic—an actual picture four hundred and fifty years old—was viewed, the voices of Columbus and his men plainly heard. Then the Mayflower giving its passengers to America, as well as many other outstanding events of earth’s history were shown, all of them actual recordings. After dinner there was an hour’s stage show. Adam knew it would be many centuries before anything like this could be reproduced on earth. Had he not taken the nectar it would have been too much for him to see and hear. Included were a few of the best compositions of earth, arranged in the incredibly beautiful orchestrations of the Alpha Centaurians. Among the several hundred diners this evening, not one of the peers was there, but all of the diners were elegant in appearance wood and behavior. On the way home, Adam noticed nearly no traffic overhead. In the dome-like sky above Andromeda he saw the heavy clouds again, all moving in one direction, with occasional darts of lightning flitting here and there. Strangely, there was no thunder. They approached the home cottage, which Adam noticed 146 A NIGHT OUT ON VENUS The Cafe Venus was ready for them. Tables had been bedecked with gay tablecloths. Plates and silverware were familiar to Adam.