Then the helicopter returned.

Van put forth his remaining energy and sprinted for the dragon. "Through! Through!" he cried at Violet.

She turned—and the dragon swallowed her.

Van almost stopped running. Then he realized that this was the way of it. The dragon was the portal. He plowed on. "Through!" he gasped at the dog.

The dog ran ahead and leaped into the dragon's open mouth. But now the light of the helicopter was spearing down. It illuminated the dragon—and lo, it was merely the mockup, lifeless and pointless.

Then the light moved on. Now! the dragon thought.

Van held Veeda out before him, and dived up and into the place where the mouth should be.

He entered a gullet-tunnel, sliding on his belly, the child still held before him. His body seemed to turn inside out and do a cartwheel without changing its orientation.

Then it stopped. He found himself standing in a pleasantly warm place. But where was it?

"We're here," Veeda said. He had forgotten he was holding her! "Now I'm all-the-way real."

"Ah, there you are." It was Violet's voice, as she approached. She came to kiss him and take Veeda. "What was illusion there is reality here. I hope you like it, Van."

Now light was coming. They were standing at the top of the hill, watching the first gleam of dawn. All of the beautiful people were there. The tops of the great exotic trees were beginning to show, and the smells of strange spices wafted down. A breeze stirred, caressing them.

Van knew that this was only the beginning of their job. They would have to teach the people of this world all that they knew of science and economics and politics, before this knowledge was lost, so that a more perfect defense against the brutal other world could be forged. So that no one would have to be hurt, and there would be no ravaging of nature here. Some of them might even have to go back, on spy missions, so that there would be no ugly surprises. It would not all be easy or fun; some might die on such missions.

But meanwhile they would be part of this magic society, living in harmony with their world instead of exploiting and destroying it. For these people were not only physically perfect, they were emotionally perfect. Science, in the other world, gave man power, which he too frequently abused Magic, in this world, gave him understanding.

"I like it, Violet," he agreed.

The world became gorgeous around them.