The Porthole of Infinity hung in the air without any apparent means 
of support.  This, while highly unusual, was the lesser of its two major 
properties.
   "What's this?" Robert asked, as he leaned over the edge of the 
hovercar.  This brough him closer to the Porthole so that he could see 
what was depicted in it.
   "I call this world CCD 1041," said Count de Cluny.  "I haven't the 
faintest idea where it is, other than that it is certainly not part of 
the Earth that we know.  That sun that you see rising there is not our 
Sun, nor does its spectrograph match that of any star visible from 
earth.  Therefore we cannot even be certain that we view something 
within our own three-dimensional space, and not another parallel space."
   "Can you open the Porthole?"
   "I dare not.  There is simply no telling what atmosphere, if any, 
exists on the other side.  Even were I to see green trees and blue skies 
on the other side, I would not breach it; for this view will shift in a 
matter of hours, and show me another world, as different from this one 
as this one is from ours.  I am presently developing intruments that can 
withstand the range of conditions I expect are to be found on the other 
side, and when they are satisfactory I shall have my servants place them 
on the other side."

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