They could feel the space ship's screen cut off. The port opened.
From the vast crowd of Nirvans spread across the space port there came a great whispering noise, something between a sigh and a moan of sad farewell, as Screed turned and followed the other two through the port and into the ship.
"Ah, Captain," said Screed, smiling a thin smile of triumph. "You doubted my ability to remake Nirva. But now you have seen it. Quite a change, eh?"
"Oh sure. Quite a change. Of course, there always is."
"And, Captain, you will note that we are all here. All three of us. You have, I fear, lost your bet."
The Captain shrugged. "Better get to your cabin now, ready for take off."
In the cabin Screed settled back in a chair and looked up at the other two with an odd air of defiance. "All right," he said, "I did it, didn't I? Just the way I told you."
"Screen on," said the Captain over the intercom.
To the three in the cabin the air seemed to turn shimmery, hazy, indistinct for a moment. Then it cleared.
Garten and Viola stood by the doorway, arm in arm, staring. Screed, Secad Screed, the leader, was gone.