"Something is still lacking," said Frost, settling to the ground. "Iam now capable of gathering data in a manner analogous to Man's afferentimpulses. The variety of input is therefore equivalent, but the resultsare not the same."
"The senses do not make a Man," said Mordel. "There have been manycreatures possessing His sensory equivalents, but they were noit Men."
"I know that," said Frost. "O the day of our bargain you said that youcould conduct me among the wonders of Man which still remain, hidden.Man was not stimulated only by Nature, but by His own artisticelaborations as well - perhaps even more so. Therefore, I call upon younow to conduct me among the wonders of Man which still remain, hidden."
"Very well," said Mordel. "Far from here, high in the Andes mountains,lies the last retreat of Man, almost perfectly preserved."
Frost had risen into the air as Mordel spoke. He halted then, hovered.
"That is in the southern hemisphere," he said.
"Yes, it is."
"I am Controller of the North. The South is governed by the Beta-Machine."
"So?" asked Mordel.
"The Beta-Machine is my peer. I have no authority in those regions,nor leave to enter there."
"The Beta-Machine is not your peer, mighty Frost. If it ever came to acontest of Powers, you would emerge victorious."
"How do you know this?"
"Divcom has already analyzed the possible encounters which could takeplace between you."
"I would not oppose the Beta-Machine, and I am not authorized to enterthe South."
"Were you ever ordered _not_ to enter the South?"
"No, but things have always been the way they now are."
"Were you authorized to enter into a bargain such as the one you madewith Divcom?"