Chapter 8 Summary

After Conway guesses that the High Lama is Father Perrault, there is a strange pause that reminds Conway of pauses in musical phrasing. The High Lama is telepathic and picks up on Conway's thoughts. They talk about music and favorite composers. Conway asks him if the four travelers have to stay there forever. The High Lama prefers to call it "staying for good." Conway wants to know why these four people (him, Bryant, Brinklow and Mallinson) were chosen. The High Lama says they were chosen on the basis of age, nationality, race and other classifications. The lamas want new people from new groups. For instance, they have never had an American.

The High Lama says they haven't had visitors for twenty years. One of their young people came up with the idea of using an airplane, a modern means to circumvent the problems...