nereidFadeObjects = new Object();
      nereidFadeTimers = new Object();
      
      /* object - image to be faded (actual object, not name);
       * destop - destination transparency level (ie 80, for mostly solid)
       * rate   - time in milliseconds between trasparency changes (best under 100)
       * delta  - amount of change each time (ie 5, for 5% change in transparency)
       */
      
      function nereidFade(object, destOp, rate, delta){
      if (!document.all)
      return
          if (object != "[object]"){  //do this so I can take a string too
              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);
     }
}