ain Klorantel commanding, asking for further
information on a request for emergency condensation. I informed him that
I had made no such request, adding that a light rain would be desirable
if he were in position and prepared to radiate.

During the conversation with Captain Klorantel, I noted that the sky was
darkening. There were several flashes of lightning, and I felt the signs
of imminent, heavy rain. I promptly started back to my station.

Upon my arrival, I discovered that Elwar had managed to open the
communications room and had been using the equipment. He was extremely
frightened, and made incoherent remarks about talking to a demon. When I
attempted to question him as to how he had opened the room, and where he
had learned the operation of the communications equipment, he became
hysterical and I could find out precisely nothing.

By this time, it was raining violently. There was a high wind. Several
trees had been blown down and lightning was frequent. A flood was
starting down the mountainside toward the village, threatening severe
damage. It was quite apparent that crops, such as they were, would be
almost completely destroyed.

At the time, I could do little to remedy the situation. I re-established
contact with the cruiser, informed Captain Klorantel of the situation,
and requested that he stand by. I then turned on my viewsphere to keep
watch on the village from the communications room. Since Elwar had been
in the room on several previous occasions, I saw no reason for excluding
him. On the contrary, I thought it would be advisable to keep him with
me, since I felt that he would be seriously injured if he were turned
loose in the village. I do not believe he would have survived the fury
of the villagers, who had taken shelter, and were watching the
destruction of their crops.

The flood had become a torrent, which overflowed the banks of the
village brook, tore at the bridge, and swept through the lanes. In the
fields, grain was beaten into the ground and it was clear that the
villagers would have little or no harvest to celebrate during the
approaching festival. The wind grew in force, lashing at the tall
festival pole, which bent, crashed down in the village square, and
partially demolished the front of the inn.

During this period, there was no human activity, since everyone had
taken what shelter he could find.

At 0448, the rain slackened, the wind died down, and people started
gathering in