“I’m surprised,” said Hutch, “that they have oxygen masks. What use would they have for them?”

“They have factories,” Ken said. “Probably have to deal with chemicals. I’m impressed that they were able to come up with one that fits you.”

“They made it specifically for me.”

“Oh, yes. I forgot. Arin did that measurement on the boat.” Ken took a deep breath.

“Something wrong?” asked Beth.

“If everything goes well, we might be looking at our last couple of days here.”

“That’s probably true,” said Hutch. “If it’s about to end, we have to decide what we’re going to tell them.”

Derek’s eyes closed for a moment. He looked in pain.

“We’ve got enough of the language,” Beth continued, “to let them know what’s coming. Are we going to do it?”

“I think,” said Derek, “it would be a terrible idea. Let’s forget it. They have sixty years left. Why should we ruin it for them?”

•  •  •

Arin was confident that everything would work. There was no way they could have missed that. The impression was confirmed when he came back the following day and invited them to return to the temple later for dinner. He was saying good-bye.

They went, of course. And this time the meal was served not in his quarters but in a meeting room connected to the rear of the building. Approximately twenty Volarians were present. Three tables occupied one end of the room, with the locals already seated. But there was still substantial space available. When Arin came through the door with the four humans trailing, everyone stood.

Derek, Beth, Ken, and Hutch were shown to their seats. Three volunteers were serving dark liquid of the type Hutch had already tried. It looked like wine but did not seem to have an alcoholic element. When all the glasses were filled, Arin said something and the Volarians raised the glasses to their guests. Then he repeated the toast in English: “To our good friends from Earth, a place that is now much closer.”

Beth leaned toward Hutch. “I think they got that from us.”

“Maybe.” Hutch raised her own glass in a return gesture. “I’m beginning to seriously like these guys.”

Arin spoke for about three minutes. Hutch caught part of it. He understood the loss that the visitors had suffered, and he appreciated their courage. They had proven good friends. When he finished, he looked at the humans, closed his eyes, and delivered what was clearly a prayer. The other Volarians bowed their heads.

The food was digestible, more or less, and it was as good as anything Hutch had tasted on the island. She cleared her plate and looked over at Beth, who shrugged. It probably has some vitamins. Have faith.