"Shall I go aboard?" He nodded again, and waved his hand toward the ladder. I went aboard lithely, and he followed. The girl and I glanced at each other; I was surprised and rather disturbed by her beauty and cleanness of body. I turned to the man, a little embarrassed, as she manipulated some controls and set the ship in motion again.
"You'll have to forgive me," I said. "Something has happened, and I don't know things. I've completely lost my memory."
They understood at once.
"Your name is Baret." He pronounced it oddly. "I am Edvar, and this girl is Selda." We all looked at each other intently, and I went on hesitantly.
"I don't know where I am. Can you tell me something about myself?" Edvar shook his head.
"Only this," he said, "that we were notified of your presence and your name. This city is Richmond." I glanced about quickly.
"Richmond!" I exclaimed. "Virginia?" But he shook his head.
"I don't understand you," he replied.
I went on, with a puzzled frown. "It has changed...." Both of them looked at me curiously.
"How has it changed, Baret?" the girl, Selda, asked me. I glanced at her absently and closed my eyes.