nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
  nereidFadeTimers = new Object();

  function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta) {
    if (!document.all)
      return
    if (object != "[object]") {
      setTimeout("nereidFade("+object+","+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",0);
      return;
    }
    clearTimeout(nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]);
    diff = destOp-object.filters.alpha.opacity;
    direction = 1;
    if (object.filters.alpha.opacity > destOp) {
      direction = -1;
    }
    delta=Math.min(direction*diff,delta);
    object.filters.alpha.opacity+=direction*delta;
    if (object.filters.alpha.opacity != destOp) {
      nereidFadeObjects[object.sourceIndex]=object;
      nereidFadeTimers[object.sourceIndex]=setTimeout("nereidFade(nereidFadeObjects["+object.sourceIndex+"],"+destOp+","+rate+","+delta+")",rate);
    }
  }