"As I did it tonight it was a trick," Unger whispered. "But as the rules go, it is no more a trick than the floating. We go into the light by a path that none may see."
"Then you deliberately stepped out of the spot of light—"
"Yes, my friend."
"In heaven's name, why?" One mystery had been solved only to open a greater one.
"Perhaps because I wanted you to see me go, and follow me. Some Venusian saw me go, the one that screamed, 'I saw him!' It was a chance I took. The rules of the Dreamers say that if any watcher sees one come or go, his life is forfeit."
"You wanted me to see you go. Unger, why?"
"Because I saw your vision, your dream." Unger's voice was very weak. "Tell me, my friend, was not your dream that of a space ship flying through far-off voids, the pathway to the stars?"
"Yes. Yes. That was what I saw. But...."
"That is my dream too." Unger gasped. "It is a dream which you humans can bring to fruition. But it is not only a dream, it is a prophecy. Some day you humans will sail such a ship to the far-off stars. Here, tonight a Dreamer helped that prophecy to fulfillment. When that ship sails to the stars, Venusians will sail with you because of what a Venusian did here tonight. Two dreams met tonight and will meet again in the far-off stars."
"Lord!" Johnson whispered. Here was magic beyond comprehension. But if it was magic now, in one time to come it would be the laws of science, of energy, of space, and of time, when the records of the recorder had been translated.