Page Content (OCR)
“Yes,” I agreed. “Tell me how you think the nectar got into that glass.” With childlike glee, yet with deliberation for the sake of accuracy, he lowered his voice again and carefully gave me his explanation of what had occurred. “We are directly observed by the Space Visitors. From their ship, wherever it is, they were able to confuse my words, so that without knowing it, I asked the waitress to bring three glasses instead of two. Yet I remember only that I asked for two.” I nodded in comprehension. “Go ahead; I follow you.” “They directed water vapor, unseen by anyone here, into the glass, and condensed it back to water. At the same time they directed an invisible, fine stream of the nectar powder to mix with a ‘ m1 ‘ c the water. They cannot be too far away.” “Well spoken, Adam,” I interjected, “but wait. It does not matter where they are. The powder may not have come from their own supply. Count the pellets in your pocket.” “Good,” said Adam. “I should have four pellets, without 1 1.» doubt.” His hand went into his coat pocket and came out with only three pellets. Try as he would to find the fourth, he could not. We said no more. We knew that the Space Visitors, by remote control, had sublimated one of his pellets into vapor and directed it into the glass. Adam looked appraisingly at the pitcher of water. He put his finger on a spot on the outside and turned it around for me to see. “The water was up to this dark spot, exactly. There is just about half a glass now missing.” He paused pensively a moment, and then spoke a little somberly. “Yes, Orfeo, I have a story to tell you. I am certainly glad you have seen these things happen here. Now you should have no trouble believing my story.” “Adam,” I assured him, “you do not need to convince me. One thing alone was enough. When I saw the pellets that 29 ADAM IN THE DESERT