President Auritu: “I am not accustomed to entertaining visitors who appear without prior appointment.” Kargaz: “I would not encroach upon your time, Lady, were it not of great importance that I consult you.” (Kisses her hand.) A: “About what, exactly? Explain, if you can, why you have brought that outlandish insect here.” K: “It is not a real beetle. It is a girl who has been enchanted.” A: “So? I do not deal in magic, sir; I am a Time Lady, not a spell-caster. How then do you suppose I can break this enchantment of your young lady?” K: “She’s not my young lady, actually; she is the enchantress Silvanu.” A: A maiden in distress! And you are her rescuer, her knight in shining armour, are you? So she herself has been enchanted? Her powers must be very weak! K: “The power that enchanted her emanated from a device that came from here, Lady. A Time Key.” A: “I have no knowledge of such a device.” K: “It came into her possession; we think she tried to master its powers - with the result that she was transformed into her present body.” A: “I will need to consult my archivists.” (Raising her voice) “Magdalena!” M: “Madam?” A: “Fetch the Head Archivist. And send one of the servants with refreshment for me and my guest.” M: “At once, Madam.” (Leaves the room.) A: (turning to Kargaz): “Come, sit down. Now, I think you should you should explain who you are and just what part you play in this little drama. The truth, mind; how you managed to get past the guard at our gates … You are not just a soldier, are you - maybe not even a soldier at all. There is definitely something unusual about you.” K: “I would not dream of trying to deceive one as wise as you, my Lady - “ A: “And I would like to make it clear that flattery in any form will get you nowhere; I suspect it is part of your stock in trade.” (There is a knock on the door.) “Enter!” (A maid enters with a tray.) “You may leave that here, on this table; I will serve us both. You may go. And now, sir, while we await the arrival of my Archivist, begin your story.”