The face puckered more. "Flattered?" The meaning of the word seemed
to escape him for a moment. "Perhaps. It is a great task. I have not
chosen you because of your physical attributes alone, although they
seem exceptional enough. Your ideological background will synchronize
perfectly with the job that you must do in Mohln."
"Mohln?"
"It is another world. A future and far distant one."
"You are from some future time? Really?"
"Yes. Mohln is another planet of this system, to which your descendants
will migrate in a length of time you would label one million years.
Our greatest scientist, the atavistic female, Jokan, demanded that
I go back into the past of the race and seek out an object for her
laboratory experiments."
I accepted him as he presented himself, which is always advisable under
such circumstances. "I'm afraid that doesn't sound inviting at all," I
explained. "A guinea pig of some sort for future scientific probing.
Sorry." I started away, though I knew he could stop me when he pleased.
It was a test. But he stopped me with a word.
"Wait, Ivan."