Kennely shook his head decisively. "No. Absolutely not. It's too dangerous. We know nothing of the time transport machine. Maybe it can't carry live cargo. And I don't trust that guy, Tarman. He'd be just as likely as not to accept the offer, knowing that we'd come through crisped to cinders. I wouldn't want my neck in his noose for anything. We'll figure out some way to get this machine. That will be big enough jackpot for us."
"And you're the guy that's been shot at by Chinese bandits, South American Indians armed with poison arrow blowpipes, and by Jap fighter planes!"
"Exactly. That's why I say this is too dangerous."
They returned to the attack on the packing case.
"Give me a hand here," said Kennely. "These nails they use are something, too. They expand like fish hooks. Must be a trick of closing them to get them out —"
A second shrilling in the air turned them about. Slowly, as if dissolving in some mysterious acid vapor, a drill press and a section of the turret lathe vanished before their eyes.
"He's coming closer," said Devon.
Kennely tore the last of the packing case away. The machine stood exposed. It seemed featureless until he discovered the almost invisible snaps on the drop panels which revealed the faces of instrument panels complex beyond understanding. The engineers could see no external power connections unless some of the silver threads were tapping the power line. It seemed impossible that such thin carriers could supply the current to operate a complex creation like this.
"It looks like they include a free copy of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary to all cash customers," said Devon. He nodded towards a receptacle where a thick volume reposed. He began to pull it out and glanced at the cover.
"Hey! This can't be... it is! Brian, here's an instruction book on how to run the gadget!"