The fantastic pictures overlaid Sura's concerned face. Erwal rubbed the leathery skin around her eyes. Her sight clouded by other worlds, she clung to comforting fragments of reality: the sound of children's laughter, the sweet, milky scent of the mummy-cow. "I'm all right. Just a little dizzy, perhaps. I need to sit down..." With Sura's help she touched the warm, soft wall of the Room and, as if blind, worked her way to the floor and sat down.

...She soared over the vast, tangled Ring; her fingers trembled in the glove-controls...

She opened her eyes, shuddering.

Sura sat down beside her, still holding her hand. "It isn't just dizziness, is it?"

"...No." Erwal hesitated, longing to unburden herself. "Sura, I think we have to travel again. Go away from here."

Sura's grip tightened. "Brave the snow again? But--"

"No, you don't understand. In the ship. We have to travel in the ship."

"But where to?"

Erwal said nothing.

Sura said slowly, "Why do we have to go? I don't understand. How do you know all this? You're frightening me, Erwal."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to. But I don't think I can explain. And..." And I'm frightened, too, she told herself. Not by the mysterious visions -- not anymore -- but by what they represented: a journey the likes of which no human had undertaken for a million years.

She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay here, in the warmth; she didn't want to face anymore danger and uncertainty. But the visions were powerful, much more so than before; it was as if the Friend were screaming into her face.

The Friend was frightened, she realized suddenly. And what could such a godlike creature be fearful about?

"We have to go," she said. She could feel Sura's hand grow stiff in hers. "You think I'm mad, don't you?" she asked gently.

"No, Erwal, but--"

"For now you'll have to trust me," Erwal said, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "Look, I've been right in the past. About the healing panels, and the food boxes. Haven't I?"

"...Yes."

"Well, now I'll be right again. We're in great danger. And to escape it we have to go to this other place." The visions cleared briefly -- miraculously -- and she was afforded a glimpse of Sura's wide eyes. "Sura, we'll be safe in the ship. We'll be warm and dry."

Slowly the girl nodded. "It can't be worse than the snow."

"That's right," Erwal said firmly. "Not as bad as the snow."

After a time Sura said: "What do you want me to do?"

It took the fattened, slow-moving villagers several days to organize themselves to Erwal's satisfaction.