could have answered it with two English
words and a numeral, and the same words and numeral that Gail had used.
But he didn't have the words. Especially, he did not have the number.
Fran's way of writing numbers was as complex as the system used in
ancient Rome, and Soames had no key. It took a long time to grasp the
quantity Fran had in mind. Then Soames had to make sure he had it right.

Then, abruptly, he knew that it was true. He knew why it was true. It
increased his anger over the situation and the treatment of Gail and the
children.

"According to this paper," he said icily, "my fellow-countrymen have
decided to pay a decent respect to the opinions of mankind, and to sell
you down the river. They suggest an international UN committee to
receive custody of you children. That committee could then set to work
on you to find out where you came from, why, and when you are likely to
be searched for. Now, you know and so do I that part of what they found
out they wouldn't accept. Time-travel is impossible. So when you
children told them where you come from they wouldn't believe it. They'd
try to pry back behind what they'd consider a lie. They'd use different
techniques of inquiry. They'd use inhibition-releasing drugs.
They'd ..."

* * * * *

Fran's expression did not change. Yet it was not passive.

"Which will not happen," said Soames in sudden fury, "except over my
dead body! Gail feels the same way. So let's go! We've got to plan a
really king-size monkey-wrench to throw into these works!"

He stepped on the motorbike pedal. He swung on down the winding mountain
road for the lowlands. He went into a relatively small town. He bought a
pup-tent, pliers, a small camp-stove; a camp-lantern; food; blankets;
matches.

They went back into the foothills and settled down to the strangest
scientific conference in history. The scene of the conference was a
remote and strictly improvised encampment by the side of a
briskly-flowing trout-stream. They fished. They talked. They drew
diagrams at each other.

Fran's English had improved remarkably, but this was a highly technical
discussion. It was two days before Soames had the information he needed
firmly in his mind. He made a working drawing of what had to be built.
He realized that the drawing itself was a simplification of a much more
sophisticated original device. It was adapted to be made out of locally
available materials. It was w