Barlow moved away, intending to follow Laurine.
"Don't go," said the queer newcomer. "I think I've settled down, and I want to talk to you."
The haze flickered uncertainly. Barlow's last doubt was removed. He must know how Laurine was faring. But before he could get started, the violet haze and the talking image had returned.
"Hello," it greeted cheerfully. "I'm glad you waited. I've made it at last. Inconvenient—that time-lash."
"Yes," Barlow agreed uncertainly. He stared at the newcomer. The fellow appeared to be an ordinary human being. The violet haze had vanished and in the poor light Barlow couldn't see him very clearly, but it seemed that he was rather tall, strongly built, not too good-looking, and dressed in loose, comfortably fitting clothes. At the moment the newcomer was staring in the direction Laurine had fled.
"Too bad I frightened her," he said with a shake of his head. "She's a cute little trick."
Barlow frowned at the familiarity. "Who are you?"
"Valnar one-oh-oh-three-oh-seven-one-oh-oh—"
"I didn't ask for your telephone number," snapped Barlow. "What's your name?"
"That's it," said the newcomer. "You see, I'm from—well, from the future. I was experimenting with time, and discovered a few of the natural laws that I could control. I constructed this traveler"—He tapped a plaque strapped to his chest. "—and since then I've just been wandering around ... trying to get back home."