Colonel Johns had taken only two steps toward the door when he seemed to stagger. MacCulloch leaped to his side and caught him by the arm. There was an uproar in the auditorium as the Colonel faded slightly and the professor hurried him down the steps toward the Reintegrator.
"I'm afraid the Colonel isn't going to be with us much longer," the professor explained.
Thank goodness, Decker thought, I don't believe the poor man could have stood it much longer.
"I'm afraid the reintegration time of Colonel Johns is running out and he must return to his own time," the professor went on.
The grim-faced Colonel said nothing as MacCulloch led him up to the machine.
"Goodbye, great-great-great-great-grandfather," Mrs. Johns-Hayes called from the platform. "It has been so nice having you with us."
"Goodbye, Rebecca," the Colonel said as he began to fade away.
"Give my regards to great-great-great-great-grandmother."
The figure in the dirty, faded blue uniform was gone but Decker and MacCulloch heard him mutter just before he disappeared altogether, "I will, if I ever see her again!"
MacCulloch turned to stare at the platform and Decker turned to follow his gaze. A sudden dizziness overcame them both and there was a slight haze about the auditorium. When it cleared, the podium was empty. Mrs. Johns-Hayes was gone as if she had never been.