“Of course. Ark Three is built the same way, except that our river is a trickle compared with this.”

“How strange it is to make heat and light out of water.” “That's funny. I never thought about it.”

“But I suppose it is no stranger than people's minds meeting and exchanging ideas. I know the generator works. I must try to believe that your minds also work in a mysterious way.''

“It would help.” Ruth smiled. “But you didn't explain why we don't have to cross the river. How does Tomi leave the Ark to bring you things, like the plough?''

Swift hesitated. “It has been our secret for so long. But if I am to believe in you I must trust you. Across the top of the dam, over there, is a way down inside the Ark. It is to let workers come out and clear the grating of tree boughs and drowned animals, anything that might block the intake. That is the way Tomi leaves the Ark. He comes over the top of the dam and leaves the things we need out of sight among the trees. “

.

Ruth nodded and stared at the dam. The sound of the water was deafening and the ground seemed to shake with its power. What must it be like to crawl across that concrete span in the dark, with the noise battering at one's body, dragging a plough? She shivered. It was her dream, of course. Not a bridge, but a dam. And she began to dream it at the full moon, when Tomi had to make his fearful trip. His fears had reached out and met her Own and she had dreamed and redreamed them.

“But we are to stay over here,” she explained to the Initiator. “So that means the others are on the wrong side. What should we do?”

“We won’t worry about it until we've met this Tomi. He must know the proper way in - the underground route. And it will be on the other side of the river, that's obvious. No, it's probably all for the best that they're over there. But I must get in touch with them and let them know our plans. Ruth, help mc make contact.”

They sat with their backs against a tree and concentrated. Ruth was getting better at this. It seemed that as her tele- kinetic powers increased, so did her Esper faculties. It was too bad that the Warden hadn't worked that out back in Ark Three. She took a deep breath and let the sound of the river fade into the background. Her eyes shut and she joined the Initiator’s mind.

They reached out and probed. And met nothing. Again they tried. And again.

“What's the matter? Is it me? Have I forgotten how?”