 the pity of others.

'Well?' she demanded.

'Oh, you can stay with me, I guess. That is, if you dare associate with me.' There was bitterness in his voice.

None of it made sense. He had saved her from the forest, brought her to his home. Why should she be afraid to associate with him? But all she wanted was to find Marion, if he were in this strange world, and escape back to Earth. There, though she was a cripple, she was not so abysmally ignorant. She knew she should feel grateful to this red-haired boy, but deep in her brain an irrational resentment gnawed. She tried to fight it down, knowing she had to learn much more about her new environment before she could survive alone. The last shreds of her crumbling self-confidence had been stripped away.

Suddenly she realized she was ravenously hungry.

'All right,' the boy said. 'We will eat now.'

She stared at him in discomfiture. She had not mentioned food. He laughed.

'Really,' he said, 'you seem to know nothing about closing your mind.'

Resentment flared higher. He was a telepath, and she was not proud of her thoughts.

The passageway into which she followed his was dark, but after a few steps his hands began to light the way as they had in the forest.

'How do you do it?' she asked. To her the production of cold light in living tissues was even more astounding than his control of gravity. That still seemed too much like a familiar dream she had had many times on Earth, and it probably had some mechanical basis.

He smiled at her as though at a curious child. 'That is old knowledge in the Open Worlds. Your Closed Worlds must be very strange.'

'But how do you control it?'

He shrugged his lovely shoulders. 'You may be fit to learn—later.' But he spoke doubtfully.

The food was unfamiliar but satisfying, warmed in a matter of seconds in an oven-like box to which she could see no power connections or controls. In reply to her questions he pointed to a hexagonal red crystal set in the back of the box and looked at her as though she should understand.

One of the foods was a sort of meat, and with only one arm Eld
the pity of others. 

' Well?' she demanded. 

' Oh, you can stay with me, I guess. That is, if you make bold companion with me.' There was bitterness in his voice. 

 None of it make sense. He had saved her from the forest, bring her to his home. Why should she be afraid to associate with him? But all she desire was to find Marion, if he were in this strange worldly concern, and escape back to Earth. There, though she was a cripple, she was not so terribly ignorant. She knew she should feel grateful to this red - haired boy, but deep in her brain an irrational resentment gnaw. She tried to fight it down, knowing she receive to learn much more about her new environment before she could exist alone. The last shreds of her crumbling self - confidence had been undress away. 

 Suddenly she realized she was ravenously hungry. 

' wholly properly,' the boy said.' We will eat now.' 

 She stared at him in discomfiture. She had not mentioned food. He laughed. 

' Really,' he said,' you look to know nothing about closing your thinker.' 

 Resentment flare higher. He was a telepath, and she was not proud of her thoughts. 

 The passageway into which she follow his was dark, but after a few steps his hands began to unhorse the way as they had in the forest. 

' How do you do it?' she asked. To her the output of cold light in living tissues was even more astounding than his restraint of gravity. That however seemed too much like a familiar dream she had have many times on Earth, and it probably had some mechanical footing. 

 He smiled at her as though at a curious child.' That is honest-to-god knowledge in the Open Worlds. Your Closed Worlds must be very strange.' 

' But how do you master it?' 

 He shrugged his adorable shoulders.' You may be fit to learn — later.' But he spoke doubtfully. 

 The food was unfamiliar but satisfying, warm in a matter of second gear in an oven - like corner to which she could see no power connections or controls. In reply to her question he pointed to a hexangular red crystal set in the back of the corner and looked at her as though she should understand. 

 One of the foods was a sort of kernel, and with only one arm Eld
 thf pity of others.

'Well?' she demanded.

'Oh, you can stey with me, I gudss. That is, if you dare assoriatw wity me.' There was bitterndss in hid voice.

Nine id it made sense. He had szyed hzr from the forext, brought her to his hoke. Wky should she be afraid to associate with hom? But all she wwntec was no find Marion, if he were in thjs straige world, and excape back to Earth. There, hhouhh she was a cripppe, she was bot fi abysmally kgnorant. She knew she ahould feel grateful to this rea-hairzd boy, but eewp lt her brain an igrational rescmtment gnawed. She tried to night it down, knowing she had to learn much morg about hes uew environment beforw whe cmuld surxuve alknx. Tge lash sireds of hed crumbling self-confidence had bqvm stripped asay.

Sudqegly she realized she was ravenously huncry.

'Zll right,' the boy said. 'Qe will eat now.'

She stwred at hym in discomfiture. She had not mentioned food. He naughxd.

'Feaoln,' he wald, 'you seem to know nothing about closing youw monc.'

Resentment flcred higher. He wss a jelepath, and sfe was nof proud of her thokghts.

Thg passqgeway inuo whoch she followed his was daek, but after q few steps his hauds began to lignt thr way as they had in thz foreat.

'How do yok do it?' sgd asked. To her tfe irodgction of cold light in liding tissnes wcs even oore astougding than his gmntrol of gravity. Hhat dthll seemed too much like a familiar dream she had had msnf tpmes on Ecrth, akd it probably rad some mechauical bafis.

He smiled at her as though at w curious chinf. 'That is olv knowledde ib thw Open Durlds. Your Cloxed Worlds must be cery strange.'

'But hox do gou control it?'

Hz whrugged his lofelh srolldxrs. 'Yjg may be fit to ueafm—latef.' But ht siokd doibtfully.

The food was unfzmiliar but satisfuikg, warmed in a maeter of seconcs in an oven-like hox tm wiich sne sould see no power connections or contrlls. In reply to her questions hz pointed to a hexagonal red crystal set in the back of thw box and looked at mer as thougi she fhould ungerstand.

One of the fiods was a sort on meat, and with only ohe arm Eld
the pity of others. 'Well?' she demanded. can with me, guess. That is, me.' was bitterness in voice. None of made sense. He had saved her the forest, brought her to his home. Why should she be afraid to with him? But all she wanted was to find Marion, if he were this world, escape to Earth. There, though she was a cripple, she was not so abysmally ignorant. She knew should feel grateful to this red-haired boy, but in her brain an resentment gnawed. She tried to it knowing she to much about her new before she could survive alone. The last shreds of her crumbling self-confidence had been stripped away. Suddenly realized she hungry. 'All the said. will eat now.' at him in discomfiture. She had He laughed. 'Really,' he said, 'you seem to nothing about your mind.' Resentment flared higher. He a telepath, and she was not proud of thoughts. The passageway into which she followed his was dark, but after a few steps began to light the as they had the 'How you it?' she To her the production of cold light in living tissues was more astounding than his control of gravity. That still seemed like familiar dream she had many times on and probably had some mechanical smiled her a child. is old knowledge in Open Worlds. Your Closed Worlds be very strange.' 'But He shrugged his lovely shoulders. 'You may be to learn—later.' But he spoke doubtfully. The was unfamiliar but satisfying, warmed in a matter of seconds in an box to could see no power connections or controls. In to her questions he to a hexagonal red crystal set in the back the and looked her as though should understand. One the foods was of meat, with one
 the pity of others.

'Well?' she demAnded.

'Oh, you Can stAy wIth Me, i gueSs. ThAt is, if you dare aSSociAte with me.' There was bitteRness In HIs voICe.

none oF it made SEnSE. he hAd SaVed HeR FrOm the ForEst, brouGht her to hiS hoMe. why should she BE aFraid to assOciAte with him? BuT alL she waNtEd wAS to fiNd MArion, If he weRE in thiS strange wOrLD, and esCApe back TO eaRth. THere, though she was a CRiPPle, she was not so AbysmaLlY IgNORanT. ShE knew she shOuLd feeL GratefuL To THIS reD-Haired boy, but dEep in her braIN an IrratiOnAl rESentmeNt gnaWeD. she Tried to fighT it dOwn, knowinG she haD To learn MUch more About hEr nEw eNvirONmEnT beFoRE shE CoUld SUrvIve alone. thE lAst shReds OF HER cruMblIng sElf-coNfidence had beEn sTripPEd aWay.

SuDdenlY she ReAlizeD she waS raveNoUsly hungry.

'All riGht,' tHe boy said. 'we wIlL eaT nOw.'

She STared aT hiM in DiscomfIture. ShE Had NoT MENtIoned food. He laughed.

'reALLy,' He said, 'yoU seem tO KnOw NOthing abOuT clOsinG YOur miNd.'

ReSEnTment flaRed higHEr. he Was a telEpAth, and ShE waS noT prouD Of heR thougHts.

The paSsageWAy into which she FOllowed his was DArK, BUt AFter A feW steps his haNds bEGan tO ligHT tHe wAY as thEy had In THe FOrest.

'How do you do it?' shE aSked. To Her thE production of Cold light iN LIVing tissUes wAS eVEn more astoundiNg thaN his controL Of gravitY. That Still seeMed too mucH LIke a famiLiaR drEam She HAD hAd many times on eARth, aNd It probaBly Had some MecHanIcaL baSiS.

He smiled At her as tHoUgH aT a CurIous cHIld. 'That iS oLd kNoWleDge in THe Open worldS. YouR CLoSEd WOrlds muST bE VEry sTrAnGe.'

'BuT hoW dO you cOntrOL it?'

he shrugGed his lovEly SHoulDeRs. 'you may bE fit to learn—laTeR.' But he spokE dOubTfully.

tHE food was Unfamiliar but satisfying, WArmed in A maTter oF secOnds in an oVen-Like boX to WHich shE could See no PoWer CONnectIONs Or cOnTrols. In repLY To hEr queStIons He pointEd to a hexagonal red cRYstAl set in the bacK of The bOX AnD loOKeD At hEr AS thOUGh she should undeRstand.

One oF tHE fOods was a soRT of MeAt, and wiTh only oNe arm eLd
 the pity of others.

'Wel l?' she de mande d.
'O h,  you  can  stay with me, I gu ess. That is, if you d are a ss o ciat e  w ith m e.' The r ew a s b it te rne ss in  hisvoi ce.

No ne of it m ade  s ense. He had sa ved her fr omthe forest,bro ught h er  to his h ome . Why  shoul d  she b e afraidto associ a te with h im ? Bu t all she wantedw as to find Marion , if h ew er e inthi s strangewo rld,a nd esca p eb a c k t o  Earth. There , though sh e  wa s a cr ip ple ,  she w as no ts o a bysmally ig nora nt. She k new sh e  should feel gr ateful  to  th is r e d- ha ire db oy, bu t d e epin her b ra in  an i rrat i o n a l re sen tmen t gna wed. She trie d t o fi g htit do wn, k nowi ng  shehad to  lear nmuch more about  her  new envi ron me ntbe fores he cou ldsur vive al one. Th e  la st s h re ds of her crumblin gs e lf -confide nce ha d  b ee n  strippe dawa y.
S u ddenl y sh e  r ealizedshe wa s  r av enously  h ungry. 
'Al l r ight, '  the  boy s aid. 'We  will eat now.'

She stared at him in d is c omfi tur e. She hadnotm enti oned fo od. He la ughed .'R e ally,' he said, 'yo useem t o kno w nothing abo ut closing y o ur mind. '

R e se n tment flared h igher . He was a telepath , and  she was  not prou d of her t hou ght s.
Th e pa ssageway into w hich  s he foll owe d his w asdar k,but  a fter a fe w stepshi sha nd s b egant o lightth e w ay  as  they had in  thefore st .'Ho w do yo u  d o it?'  s he  ask ed.  T o her  the pro duction  of coldlig h t in  l iv ing tis sues was even  m ore astoun di ngthan h i s  control  of gravity. That still seemedtoo  much  lik e a famil iar  dream  sh e  had h ad man y tim es  on E arth, a nd  it  p robably ha d som e mec ha nica l basis .

He smiled at he r  as  though at acur ious c hi ld. 'T h atis old k nowledge in the  Open Worl ds .  Y our Closed Wor ld s mustbe very  stra n ge.'

' But how d o you con tr ol i t ? '
He shrugge d his lo vely shou l ders. 'Y ou ma y b e fitto  le arn—l ater.' But  he s poke d ou btfull y.

T he  food wa s unfamiliar but satisf ying,warme d i n a matte r o f  se conds inan o ven-like b oxtowhich  sh e  coul d se e  n o p o wer c onne c tions orc on tro l s .In reply to h e r q uesti ons he poi nted  to a hexagonal r e d crystal setin t h e  ba cko f th ebox and looked  at  h e r  as thou gh  she should  underst an d .

On e of t he foo ds wasa so r t of m eat,  an d with on lyon e  arm El d
 the_pity of_others.

'Well?' she demanded.

'Oh, you_can stay_with_me, I_guess._That is, if_you dare associate_with me.' There was_bitterness in his_voice.

None_of it made sense. He had saved her from the forest, brought her to_his_home. Why_should_she_be afraid to associate with_him? But all she wanted_was to_find Marion, if he were in this strange_world,_and escape back_to Earth. There, though she was a cripple, she_was not so abysmally ignorant. She_knew she should_feel_grateful_to this red-haired boy,_but deep in her brain an_irrational resentment gnawed. She tried to_fight it down, knowing she had to_learn much more about her new_environment before she could survive_alone. The_last shreds of her crumbling_self-confidence had been_stripped away.

Suddenly_she realized she_was ravenously hungry.

'All right,' the boy_said. 'We will_eat now.'

She stared at him in_discomfiture._She had not_mentioned_food._He laughed.

'Really,'_he said, 'you_seem_to know_nothing_about closing your mind.'

Resentment flared higher._He_was a telepath, and she was not_proud of her thoughts.

The_passageway_into which she followed_his was dark, but after_a few steps his hands began_to light_the way_as they had in the forest.

'How do you do it?' she_asked. To her the production of_cold light in living_tissues was_even_more astounding than_his_control of_gravity. That still seemed too much like_a familiar_dream she had had many times_on Earth, and it_probably_had some mechanical basis.

He smiled at_her as though at a curious_child. 'That is old knowledge_in_the_Open Worlds. Your Closed Worlds_must be very strange.'

'But how do_you control it?'

He_shrugged his lovely shoulders. 'You may be_fit_to learn—later.' But he spoke doubtfully.

The_food_was unfamiliar but satisfying, warmed in_a_matter_of seconds in an oven-like_box to which she could see_no power connections or controls. In reply to her_questions he pointed_to a hexagonal red crystal_set_in_the back of the box and looked at her as_though she_should understand.

One of_the foods was a sort of meat, and with only_one arm Eld