“I'll take the chance,” you say. “I’ll try to control my thoughts.”

“Then I wish you good luck. Follow me.”

Qally shows you the way through a maze of passageways. Finally you reach an area so dark that you can barely see. You feel Qally's tentacles on your shoulder.

“You must continue alone,” he says.

You thank Qally for his help and bid him farewell. Then you grope your way along a passageway which presently opens into a round chamber filled with soft, violet - hued light.

Your eyes fasten on the three round objects suspended in the air, glowing with pale violet light like three moons floating in space. As you stand there, almost hypnotized by this vision, you hear their voices sounding inside your brain.

TOMORROW WE LEAVE EARTH ORBIT FOREVER. FIRST, WE SHALL TAKE TREASURES FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO ESCAPE AND WANT TO HELP US REACH ULTIMA, YOU SHALL HAVE AN HONORED PLACE AMONG US.

You take a deep breath before replying — “I will help you. I do not wish to escape.”

VERY GOOD. WHEN IT IS NEXT MIDNIGHT IN NEW YORK, WE SHALL LAND BEHIND THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. WE SHALL OPEN AN ENTRANCE. OUR ROBOTS WILL TAKE ART TREASURES. THE GUARDS WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SEE, BECAUSE THEY WILL THINK THAT WHAT THEY SEE IS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU ARE POSSIBLE, BECAUSE YOU ARE AN EARTH PERSON, SO THEY WILL BELIEVE THAT THEY SEE YOU. OUR ROBOTS WILL RESCUE YOU WHEN WE ARE READY TO LEAVE.

The U-TY rise a few feet in the air and drift toward you. For a moment you tighten up with fear. Then you realize that they only want to touch you. You hold out your hands and feel a tingling sensation as the glowing forms brush against your skin.

A moment later they pass through the walls of the chamber.

The U-TY have just told you of their plan to take treasures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You pretended you would help them; but remember, they were able to read  you were with them, were you able to keep from thinking, even once, about your plan to escape?

~ If you couldn't keep from thinking about escaping,

< GO TO CHAPTER 48 >

~ If you were able to keep from thinking about escaping,

< GO TO CHAPTER 49 >