The ring of stone stood alone on the plain, and centuries moved across its surface like weather.
MANY JOURNEYS TO YOUR PAST ARE POSSIBLE. LET ME BE YOUR GATEWAY.
"A time portal," Kirk said.
"More precisely, Captain, a mechanism through which any period of history may be observed. And, it would appear, entered."
McCoy folded his arms. "Then let's make very sure nobody does."
Kirk almost smiled. "For once, Doctor, we agree." He raised his communicator. "We'll leave this one for a full science team. Uhura, mark it with a buoy and have them beam us up. I want a report to Starfleet before we break orbit."
"Aye, sir."
The transporter room took them, and set them down, and it smelled the way it had always smelled, of ozone and floor polish. Kirk stepped off the pad already thinking about the next thing, easy, unhurried, and went out toward the bridge without looking back.
The rest of the landing party moved off the pads so the remaining security team could be materialized; it was not usual to move seven people in a single transport. And as Lieutenant Galloway, the last of the team, took shape on the pad, McCoy turned to watch the door close behind the captain.
Then he turned to Spock.
"Where do we go from here?"
Spock did not answer at once.
"Nowhere, Doctor," he said. "He should never know."