The monster followed in our wake, complaining and demanding a rematch, but falling behind. We paid it no further heed and raced down into the hidden valley, crossing the last kilometer or so through a forest of tall trees. Cuspitui reached out, yowling with satisfaction as she plucked some fruits before our craft coasted across a final clearing, halting next to the shimmering cube-building.

The moment we arrived, Commander Nomlin and Coalshack and Cuspitui leaped overboard, eagerly searching for a way in. Meanwhile, the finder device began whirring and hiccupping and finally clicked to a stop… though humming with what felt like anticipation. It sounded to me like an old show tune, one that I couldn’t quite place… and would not like once I did.

“It’s waiting,” said Karakal.

“Yeah.” And if I could, I would have destroyed the dangerous thing, right then and there. But it takes special tools and skills to do that safely.

“Maybe someone better give it something to do?” suggested Fu Tichi, perhaps sensing the danger.

He was right, of course. And I knew who would do that, without hesitation. Nuts was distracted at the moment, searching for a latch or entry-control system for the building, but when she came back…

“Yeah, give it an order. Ask it a question,” urged Karakal, holding it at arms length as the fey machine hummed louder.

“Well,” Dr. Katske said. I do have a long list of—”

“Okay,” I said hurriedly. “Finder, show me how to get back to the Clever Gamble.”

The fey demmie device instantly began clicking again, even faster this time. And let me add an adverb. Ominously.

“Maybe you should have asked its favorite food, or what it thinks of the weather,” Murmured Katske uneasily.

The clicks suddenly grew very loud, almost deafening…

… and lo! That must have been a sonic code, because the closest panel of the cube abruptly slid back and aside, exposing a way within.

So entering the cube is somehow related to –

But I was soon too busy to complete the thought. Stuffing Moulder into a canvas sack so the top of his head stuck out, letting his one good eyeball see, I schlepped him down the ship’s gangway then through the shadowy doorway.

A tunnel-ramp led down to a truly vast chamber, taking up nearly all of the building. Though dimmer, adequate illumination poured in through semi-transparent walls that looked out, past the clearing and forest at surrounding hills. But everything seemed somehow clear and sharp, as if the walls were acting as prescription lenses, different for each of us. Comparing notes we all came to realize: we each felt like we were seeing, really seeing, perhaps for the first time.

“Obtainia!” murmured Fu Tichi, with beatific satisfaction, like a man who has finally discovered God, or Buddha, or sex, or a 30-to-1 shot that can’t possibly lose. “The transformer of our world.”