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image on the screen. Then we heard a voice from the
screen.
“‘It said
(in a high-pitched voice): "You have been expected. You have been observed
since first you entered our domain. You gaze upon the upper regions of our
world. You are the first of your kind to be permitted this privilege. Let it be
known this truth - we harbor you no ill will; we depend not upon your superficial
world for our sustenance or pleasure. Those of your kind who make themselves
the interpreters of our intentions are nought but the picayunesh deceivers of
your civilization. Let it again be said that we desire man no harm and wish
only to pursue our independent existence on this, our mutual planet. We shall
not influence nor bring to you discord in any medium. We are not doers of evil.
Our world spans the inner gulf of your globe; we have existed since before your
time. Had we wished harm upon you we also would have been its receivers. We beg
you a friendly farewell and hope our message will be heeded and find wide
acceptance among those of your kind who find it necessary to concern themselves
with our domain."
“‘The
screen then faded, without our having seen a clearly defined image of the
person who had spoken. Luckily, Don had quickly written in his notebook what
the voice had said to us.
“‘The red
lighting in the chamber suddenly became even deeper in tint and all of us felt
light-headed. Rick shouted he was going to faint and started to fall, but we
caught him. Then we too had the same feeling and blacked out. When we regained
consciousness we found ourselves lying outside the mine entrance. We still
retained our personal effects: notebooks, pencils, wallets, etc.; but all our
equipment, such as safety hats, pick-hammers and chisels, and our Geiger
counter, had disappeared.
“‘After
returning to the States, Don found all the