"Why, that is amazing. It just goes to show you, there's nothing new under the sun. Come along, and get that drink. I found some exquisite wine."
Sethos stopped. His hand slipped from Paton's arm.
"Paton.... Did you hear what I said? Didn't it penetrate? I said man has reached the stars! We already own the universe...."
"Of course. But I must say I don't know what we want with it all. Won't you join us now? Say, Ela has been looking for you."
"Ela? Yes, Ela. I want to see Ela...."
She came down the walk, and took him by the hands.
"There you are, you elusive boy! I want to go home now. I simply have to adjust my crystals or they'll overflow the bedroom. Oh, Matya! Thank you for a splendid time. I'll be having you over next week, don't forget."
Then they were down from the hill and in the park, and the party flowed on behind them, forgetting.
They were home again, and Ela hurried off to add nutrients to the huge crystal sculpture that was growing in the bedroom. It glowed and vibrated in every color of the spectrum, and strange textures developed at those edges where Ela hovered with a glass dropper and her chemicals, touching, wiping, smoothing....