"It's little comfort, I know," said Mallory, "but tomorrow I will lead a party out to find find him."

They reached the end of the canyon, and the entire expanse of a great valley opened up before them. Mallory placed his arms around the shoulders of Annette and Tirseng and said quietly "Behold Shangri La."

The valley appeared to be some 10 miles in diameter, and of a slight oval shape. Three streams, including the one in whose canyon they stood, converged on a lake at the far end of the valley. Around the lake were a group of large monastery-like buildings, and several watercraft were seen plying the waters. On a ridge high above the lake, several windmill towers turned in the breeze that surged over the surrounding ridges, standing alongside two large mirror-like disks. The fertile green valley lay within the frame of the surrounding white-clad ridges and peaks like a mirage. The varied greens of orchards stretched along the converging streams. "Those trees are citrus," said Mallory."Oranges, tangerines, grapefruit along the left hand stream, the one we call Jop Phang. Between it and the center river, the Maltan, are apple, pear, and lemon trees. The delta between the center and right hand stream, the Ang Bator, is very rich farmland where barley, wheat and vegetable crops are laid in. We are primarily a vergetarian population, but the lake and streams are stocked with trout as a protein supplement to the diet." Tirseng inquired about the windmills and mirrors. "Ah," said Mallory, "the windmills supply our power, for we are not so primitive as you may think. We have electricity for lights, heating, cooking and so on. The mills must be built high to catch the Himalayan winds, for there is little enough breeze in the valley. The mirrors are shallow concave plates of metal which were mined, smelted and forged within the valley. They are the remedy to the problem of peak shadowing, which otherwise would keep much of our valley, and hence our crop in darkness and cold especially in winter months. The disks catch the weak sun and diffuse it across the valley floor to keep us and the crops warm and in sunlight."

They began the descent into the valley, and Annette, despite the nagging concern over her friend Curioso, was filled with questions about the magical place. "You asked me what year it was for us, Ambrose," she said," for US...what does that mean." Ambrose looked at Mallory, who began to speak."This place seems to fall outside the normal time continuum. We have received visitors from almost all times and places. Just two weeks ago, three men found their way to our valley who were discovered to be the remnant of a Persian exploration party. Their chief is named Xerxes." Mallory paused for effect. "as you may know, Xerxes lived some 500 years BC according to our western histories. And yet, outside the valley, his time seems to co-exist with your own, and in fact all other eras. A woman arrived among us some ten years ago, who is from your time. She was an aviator who crashed her plane in the Pacific ocean and was rescued and imprisoned by Japanese Imperial Navy forces. Later, she managed to escape from her prison, stole a plane, and crashed in the Himalaya during an attempt to reach India. She was badly injured, but some of our people found her and brought her to the valley." Annette's eyes widened as she said "this woman, she is American?" Mallory replied "oh yes, from Iowa or Kansas somewhere. Her name is Amelia Earhardt."

They paused and Mallory offered them a flask of juice to drink. "We are ruled here by the Prince Monatek. He lives in the palace by Lake Belol. You will find him infinitely wise and just when you meet him. His word is law among us, although in truth there is little need for law here, except the Great Law." Tirseng cleared his throat and said "And what, George, is the Great Law?"

"It is simple. Once within the Valley, no one, with the exception of the Royal Guard, may leave it. But it is not a problem. No one really wishes to leave. " As Tirseng and Annette glanced at one another, Mallory started again down the path into the valley of Shangri La.