"Swallow it?" he said tentatively.
"Correct," Vulcan said.
"But—"
"This object is a—well, call it a talisman. It will not dissolve, and it is recoverable, but for the Investiture it must be inside you."
"But—"
"You will find it so easy to swallow that you will need no water. Go ahead."
Forrester put the thing in his mouth and swallowed once, just to test Vulcan's statement. The effect was surprising. He could barely feel it leave his tongue, and he couldn't feel it go down at all. He swallowed again, experimentally, and explored the inside of his mouth with his tongue.
"It is gone," Vulcan said. "Good."
"It's gone, all right," Forrester said wonderingly.
"The sandals are next." Vulcan selected a pair of sandals with rather thick soles and handed them over. They were apparently made of gold. Forrester obediently strapped them on, and Vulcan next handed him a pair of golden cylinders indented to fit his curved fingers.