"My son," Powl said, "the father of Lea and San took my tower and once stopped in the year you call about 1925. He paused for just a moment, but when he returned here there was found a young man with him. A stowaway, as you would call it. That man was Wolf Turber."
It was all presently clear to Alan. Turber had come here; had stolen the secret of the tower and the Time-vision, and getting followers had built himself his Time-vehicle—and departed.
"He said he was in love with Lea. But she was afraid of him—his attentions were unwelcome. We told him so."
Like Nanette! "I understand," said Alan bitterly. "My sister—"
"He has her now, you tell me. That is bad. You must get her back. And kill him."
The old man's mild blue eyes suddenly flashed. Lea spoke. He interpreted.
"She says, I must tell you—we have sworn to kill Turber. He murdered my son—father of Lea and San. Stole our platinum treasure—and murdered my son, who was defending it."
Alan thought he had never heard such intensity as came into the old man's voice. "We are careful with our tower—we do nothing evil with it. Turber's vehicle is all for evil. My son died—and there as he died we swore—myself and Lea and San—that some time we would kill Turber and destroy his vehicle."
Lea and San understood what he was saying. They stood beside him, with faces white and solemn. He added: "But there seems little that we can do. There are no weapons here. We have no need in this age for any scientific weapons. I cannot travel in the tower—I am too old to stand the shock. San must always stay with it—to guard it. And so it all falls to Lea. She has passed through the different ages in the tower. There are weapons in the Past, of course. But I have not wanted Lea to stop. And Turber is very powerful, very elusive."
Lea interrupted again. Powl said: "We know that Turber has a strong-hold in the year 2445 A.D."