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); 
        } 
}