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]"){ 
        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); 
    } 
}