"I think you've been spending too many hours with those Science League friends of yours. It's no secret that they blaspheme and believe in such ridiculous fantasies. Don't tell me they've got you spreading their nonsense."

"This has nothing to do with the scientists. I believe they'd laugh at me, just as you did," Hissar said with dismay.

"Dear, that's because it's so impossible to believe. All our lives, we have known that we are the predominant species in the universe, that God created us in his image to rule his domain. No prophet, no philosopher in history foretold of multiple worlds beyond our own."

"They did not speak of our world revolving around the sun, either, until the telescope was invented and science proved it to be true."

"But if there are truly other worlds beyond our own, populated with strange beings unlike ourselves, why was it not prophesied? Why would our Lord not tell us of such things?"

"Perhaps because we were not smart enough to understand," Hissar answered. "How would it have appeared to Sissarn of Greer, if God had spoken to him of other worlds? He didn’t know anything outside of the Jungle, let alone about the stars above him."

"Does it not somehow lessen our importance, our divine place with God, if there are truly other beings of intelligence? Beings even more intelligent, and able to travel unfathomable distances to visit our world? I don't believe I can accept that."

"Perhaps not today, but in time our people will grow enough to believe, and understand that our place in the universe is no less important by the existence of other entities, nor are we any less blessed by our creator because of it."

"Come on, dear, it's so late. Let us rest," Haushina said, rolling onto her side to sleep.

"Good advice," Hissar replied, letting his eyes close and recoil inside his skull. This night had brought him too much chaos. The quiet of sleep would provide much needed perspective.

* * *

The next day brought Hissar curious thoughts, as he made his way to work. Walking the two miles to his office, he couldn't help but notice the people around him. Staring at the myriad masses, the passing strangers who shared these busy city streets with him, his eyes kept straying upon their plain faces. He couldn't help but wonder how many of these people were actually alien visitors in disguise. Any of them could be, from what he'd seen. Unless you had the fortune of scrutinizing their walk, their speech, or their mannerisms, that imaging technology could hide them in a crowd.

There he was, growing paranoid as he reached the steps to his medical office.

Reaching for the door knob, Hissar almost jumped out of his skin when a voice called him from behind. "Doctor," it exclaimed.

Turning around with his heart pounding, Hissar saw the speckled face of his friend, Nester, rushing up the handful of stone steps to the entry alcove.

"Don't sneak up on me like that, Nester," Hissar said, catching his breath.

"I didn't try. Your mind must have been elsewhere. What happened last night? You never came back to the Lounge."

"No, I had things on my mind. I caught up with that strange woman of yours."

"Sophia," Nester said, pronouncing it correctly with great strain. "What happened between you?"

"Come inside a moment. We should talk in private," Hissar said, seeing several pedestrians crossing the street toward his building.

Walking up a flight of stairs, Hissar reached his medical office on the second floor. Entering his waiting room, he saw his trusty secretary scribbling notes down on her appointment calendar.

"Good morning, Letz," he greeted her.

"Doctor Hissar, there's a patient waiting in your office, a very peculiar and insistent one, to be certain," Letz said, her rich, brown lips quivering nervously.

"I don't have any appointments for another hour," Hissar mentioned, hanging his cloak on the rack.

"I know, but she said you'd be expecting her. She seems in awful shape, with bandages all over her face. I assumed you must have penciled her in last night, or something."

Hissar had an odd feeling about things, and couldn't escape assumptions. There was only one person that could be waiting for him beyond that door.

"Is it Sophia?" Nester asked.