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SON OF THE SUN nap for half an hour, so the nectar I gave you will have time to be absorbed fully, and it will give you equilibrium.’ “T fell back in my chair obediently, thinking I had given her the Waterloo question—a man’s question. I still felt prankish, and even as I closed my eyes I thought I would give her the coup-de- grace in the form of another ‘man’s’ question. “ How is it, Vega, that we have not seen the sun yet? Not even its outline through the hull of the ship? Is that too fearsome a sight to look upon?’ “She burst out giggling. Then she managed to say, between the most beautiful spasms of laughter I had ever heard, ‘That is a real man’s question, Adam! Even that will be answered for you... by a woman, she replied, still shaking in laughter. “IT had opened my eyes, seeing all her utter beauty in her amusement. I laughed in unison with her. Still, there was an enigma in her words, and I felt a new destiny awaiting me. Suddenly, I felt comfortably and pleasantly drowsy. I closed my eyes, but before I dozed I heard her say: ‘Don’t forget to ask me about that speed of light problem when you wake up, Adam.’ Then I fell asleep.” “ “ “ “ Adam paused a while in his story. We slowly became aware again that we were on earth, in Twentynine Palms, and in this little house. We felt wonderful, still under the balm of the nectar we had drunk a few hours ago. I made fresh coffee and warmed up some buns, and found an all-night radio station playing good music. Soon we would drift off once more, and live again Adam’s experiences. He did not appear visibly moved by the memory of them. Indeed, he was forgetting them as fast as he related them, remembering only the part yet untold. I did not call this phenomenon to his attention, fearing I would disturb the flow of his story. 56