I hesitated.

“All right,” I said finally.

As I made to leave, he called me back.

“Wait!” He had an uneasy look, as if he wanted to add something but was finding it difficult to bring out the words. After a pause, he said:

“There used to be three of us here. Now, with you, there are three of us again. Do you know Sartorius?”

“In the same way as I knew you — only from his photographs.”

“He’s up there, in the laboratory, and I doubt if he’ll come down before dark, but… In any case, you’ll recognize him. If you should see anyone else — someone who isn’t me or Sartorius, you understand, then…”

“Then what?”

I must be dreaming. All this could only be a dream! The inky waves, their crimson gleams under the low-hanging sun, and this little man who had gone back to his armchair, sitting there as before, hanging his head and staring at the heap of cables.

“In that case, do nothing.”

“Who could I see?” I flared up. “A ghost?”

“You think I’m mad, of course. No, no, I’m not mad. I can’t say anything more for the moment. Perhaps… who knows?… Nothing will happen. But don’t forget I warned you.”

“Don’t be so mysterious. What’s all this about?”

“Keep a hold on yourself. Be prepared to meet… anything. It sounds impossible I know, but try. It’s the only advice I can give you. I can’t think of anything better.”

“But what could I possibly meet?” I shouted.

Seeing him sitting there, looking sideways at me, his sunburnt face drooping with fatigue, I found it difficult to contain myself. I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him.

Painfully, dragging the words out one by one, he answered:

“I don’t know. In a way, it depends on you.”

“Hallucinations, you mean?”

“No… it’s real enough. Don’t attack. Whatever you do, remember that!”