"I've cut Hafen from Holl forever! The workers aren't to be slaves any longer; they're to have their world to themselves, to use entirely for their own benefit; not for the owners!
"And the owners—back there—they're going to have their own world, too, just as they've always insisted! But from now on it's to be their farm, too, and their factory; they've got to get along without Holl from now on.
"Mona—the commission wouldn't allow evolution, and the workers wouldn't listen to revolution! So I've given them—devolution!"
"What?" she cried.
"I've given them devolution. I've given the race of man—a fresh start."
But Mona was scarcely listening.
"Turn back!" she screamed. "I want to go back to my home! I don't want to live in Holl. Turn back, I tell you!"
Fort's face went white. He looked up at her appealingly. "You don't mean that, Mona! Say you don't!"
"I do! I want to go back!" She glanced down at the ever-widening gap. "Hurry! Turn back, or I'll do it myself!"
Fort gazed straight into her eyes for an instant; then, his face whiter than ever, he brought the craft to an abrupt halt in mid air. He looked at his watch for the last time, and said, in a strangely hollow voice: