Dr. Wagner is a scientist in New York. He meets with the Dalal Lama, who asks Wagner for one of his computers so that the Buddhists in Tibet can finish out their centuries-long project of writing out each possible name for God. Wagner consents warily, and he sends over one of his computers of two of his engineers to the monastery. In Tibet, George Hanley, one of the engineers, is growing weary of the project. At least, he figures, it’s almost over. The other engineer comes up to George and reveals that the Buddhists think that, upon writing out all of God’s names, the world will end. George isn’t too shocked at the news. The computer finishes printing out all the permutations, and George goes out to see the night sky. One by one, the stars go out.