only in the future?" Thus spoke the King.

Once both of them had finished there was a short pause, each reflective
and absorbed with his own thoughts. At last the King broke through the
still waters of the moment and sent his rippling voice across its
formless surface, which revived at once and was joined by many others,
until the outward expression of consciousness sent the waters of the
mind again into their complex and interwoven dances. He spoke in the
department of host and concluded the short session with these words,
"Now the cases are stated, though but briefly, for they were already
well-known. As planned prior to the infractions of the treaty, we will
adjourn for the night, and in the morning Jehu will deliver his verdict,
whether we undo our problem through the future, or through the past."

We all rose and Bernibus, my only friend on the island, came up to me
and warmly embraced me, while Wagner and the King conversed formally a
few yards away. When they were not looking and our backs were turned to
them, Bernibus slipped me a piece of paper that was rolled up into a
tight scroll. Seeing his caution and secrecy, I quickly stashed it in
the inside of my shirt, where it could not be seen. I was alarmed at the
momentary expression of his face, which showed that he was greatly
worried about me, and made me very interested in what the paper would
contain. His face quickly returned to its original countenance, an
impermeable barrier to his insides, and no one except myself had any
inclination about what had happened. The other two turned towards us,
and quickly made their farewells, Wagner and Bernibus departing for
their quarters, and the King to escort me back to my prison.

He took my arm in his genially, though only superficially so, for he
still had a subdued sense of distrust about him, and we went through the