"Well, Andy, suppose this Nela wanted to make absolutely sure you'd be
happy in the future, that nothing would interfere with your efficiency
and general well-being. There was a big job ahead of you, and a lot
depended on your particular field of knowledge and type of skill. So
to make absolutely sure of you she stopped off along her route back to
spend your last several months here with you. It wouldn't be hard for
a clever girl like her to get acquainted with you and Dave. And you
hadn't seen her for fifteen years, Andy. You wouldn't recognize her
easily--especially if she'd had her hair cut short and wore Twentieth
Century clothes and make-up."
Pearce stared at her a moment longer, then caught at her arms. "Ellen!
You ... you're Nela!"
She nodded slowly, her smile uncertain and touched with shyness. "I
hope you aren't disappointed, Andy, or that you hate me for having
tricked you the way I did."
He laughed, a wild delight surging up in him. "Neither," he said. "And
I'm going to prove it!"
He proved it to her entire satisfaction. Finally, hand in hand, they
turned to the doorway of the globe.
"I suppose you brought the machine here by remote control or something
of the sort," Pearce told Nela.
"Yes. I had a special gadget in my purse. The machine was here all
along, you see, traveling a few minutes ahead in time."
"And Dave?" he said suddenly. "Did you tell him?"
"I told him I was going with you and hinted the reason why. He'll
figure it out presently--even if he never completely believes it.
Little has really changed for Dave. He'll marry Susie and lead a
perfectly normal life."
Pearce halted Nela as she was about to enter the globe. "There's a
little custom of this time that I'd like to observe. If you're as
much of an authority on Twentieth Century life as you claim, you'll
understand."
He gathered her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold. Her
smile and then the pressure of her lips indicated that she understood.
The door closed. The trees at the edge of the glade grew crazily
distorted, shimmering bands enclosed the globe like ripples in water,
there was a humming sound like a giant harp string--
And then the glade was empty.