Lorenz forgot that he was several feet underground, standing by a machine that couldn"t exist, listening to a life story beyond belief, and smiled, his grey eyes sparkling.
“No, sir, y"all don"t.”
MacDonald smiled at Lorenz. “Tis now time to enter the craft. Have ye figured out how we twill do that?”
Lorenz shook his head, a head that was swimming with a tale more bizarre than any he could ever imagine, but there was one thing he had to know. “How many people died?”
“When? Where?”
“When your maw-mother blew up the other place.”
“Oh, there twas about one million Justines living there. As I said, they are an eld race, and their births few.” He smiled with a certain satisfaction. “Do ye have any more questions ere we go into the craft?”
Lorenz shook his head no. He did have more questi
