"What is it?"
"How should I know?" Toffee said blandly. "Just a gadget. There's never been one before."
"You mean you just developed it out of your mind?"
"Sure," Toffee said. "It's a thought product—like me. Now if it only works right...." Picking up the instrument, she looked at it carefully and nodded with satisfaction. "It should be simple to operate."
"But what's it for?"
"I'll show you," Toffee said. She pointed to a nearby tree. "See that?" Marc nodded. "Keep looking at it."
Turning to the tree, she held the cylinder toward it, so that one of the funnels was aimed squarely in its direction.
"Now watch," she said, and pressed the switch.
Marc, staring at the tree in rapt attention, started with surprise. Suddenly the tree was gone with no sign that it had ever been there.