A man, dressed in robes similar to the woman's, came from the door of the house and walked into the yard. After helping the woman to rise, he picked up the vase, and the two of them went back inside the house. He hadn't even looked at the Earthmen.
After awhile, Parker said, "Do you suppose they're both mirages?"
"Maybe that's it," Compton said. "Maybe it's all a mirage, the woman, the vase, the man, the house, maybe even the planet itself." His voice had risen in his excitement.
"Take it easy," Hinckley advised.
"Let's get back to the ship before the whole planet evaporates," Compton said.
"Go back if you like," Hinckley said. "I'm going to investigate this. How about you, Parker?"
"Okay with me. Always wanted to see what makes a mirage tick." He glanced contemptuously at Compton.
"Okay," Compton said, gripping his rifle, "we'll all make fools of ourselves."
"C'mon, then."
Hinckley led the way into the house, hesitating only briefly at the doorway. Inside, a blue light flickered as the man bent over a flaming trough and poured sand into it from the silver vase. The flames leaped high, filling the room with a sweet fragrance. The man emptied the vase, rose and took it to one corner of the room. He sat down on the couch by the woman. He did not look at the Earthlings.