“No, there are drawings upon it that my countrymen can interpret.”

“And you—you will not return?”

“No, for it has taken too long to come this far, and it will be almost two years before we return home.”

Otahu was astonished. “But your countrymen, they will come later?”

“Perhaps, when they learn about Oaeetee, they may wish to visit the island for themselves.”

“When will this be?”

“I cannot say. It may take many years, for it is an arduous journey.”

“In that case, we will pass on the memory of your visit to our children, and they to theirs, until your countrymen return, at which time they will be welcomed as friends.” Otahu smiled. “And your fire-sticks, what purpose do they serve?”

“We call them muskets, and they are our weapons, which we use in battle.”

As Otahu spoke with Marchand-in-Fetu, on the other side of the circle, Fetu-in-Marchand was deep in discussion with the strangers’ medicine man.

“And Fetu,” asked the man sitting beside me, “is he now in my body?”

“Yes, he is visiting your mind and your body, just as you are visiting his,” said Otahu, gesturing toward the other side of the circle. “He is conversing with your countryman, just as you are conversing with his.”

“That countryman is our medicine man, Roblet.”

“Roblet,” Otahu repeated. “Fetu will be very pleased, because he is our medicine man, and the keeper of the crossing.” At that moment, Fetu-in-Marchand looked in our direction to signal it was time to make the return crossing, which the Law required of all. Otahu squeezed the hand of Marchand-in-Fetu. “Friend,” he said by way of farewell, “I wish you well in your journey.”

The gazes of the two men met once again. Looking at each other thus, each underwent the same process as before, which is to say the dissolution of the bodily union followed by its restitution in the other body, so that each man found himself entered once more into his own body and his own mind, with no difference in sensation. None of the other strangers seemed to have noticed anything even slightly out of the ordinary.

“I have learned much,” said Fetu, upon his return to his own body.

“And the stranger?” asked Otahu.

“The return crossing went well. He will remember nothing of it.”