29

   When he fled from Hewitt, Lee Winance went straight to Captain Gourdy's apartment, found him there, and told his story of meeting Hewitt.
   Gourdy listened with narrowed eyes as the man's improbable story unfolded. A suspicion grew in him that somehow this person – Winance – whom he had always regarded as a nonentity, was involved in a conspiracy.
   Swiftly, the absurdity of such an idea struck him.
   'Just a minute!' he said peremptorily. 'Stay right here!'
   He walked to the door leading to the captain's study. The moment he was out of sight, he ran headlong for a small private connecting room where the detector system was located... He focused the scanners on the engine room.
   For many seconds he gazed incredulously at the apparition of Hewitt and his mobile capsule, and then, as the import of the conversation between the two men penetrated, he listened with increasing thoughtfulness. When Hewitt hurriedly drove off, Gourdy followed him with his scanners and watched him hide in one of the storerooms. Throughout, the only question in his mind was: 'Shall I kill him, or use him?'
   He had the abrupt realization that whichever it was would require as a preliminary that he capture the intruder. As he shut off the detector system, intending to return to the outer room, he grew aware that the elder of Captain Browne's two widows had slipped into the room.
   'Who is that man?' she asked in amazement.
   Her name was Ruth, and she was a patrician-looking woman in her early thirties. He had already developed a strong desire for her, and had restrained himself only because of even stronger political considerations; so now he treated her with the respect of a man who presently hoped to take possession.
   He explained about Hewitt but also added that it looked as if Earth had been destroyed, and finished, 'Better get everybody up, eat breakfast, and await events. Looks like important decisions will be made shortly.'
   She nodded and went off. Gourdy joined Winance.
   He tossed a spare automatic at the other. Winance caught it awkwardly.
   'Come along!' said Gourdy.
   He headed for the corridor door.
   Winance trailed behind him, pale and breathless. 'Where we going, sir?'
   'Going to catch that fellow you saw.'
   'But he's armed.'
   'So are we.'
   'Oh!'
   Gourdy smiled. The man's reaction reassured him about human nature. Fear still ruled all and, paradoxically, frightened people could still be forced to take risks by someone who was not afraid.
   Gourdy said, "You just stand by and do as I say.'
   'O.K., boss.'
   As they emerged onto the corridor, Harcourt came into view around a distant bend. Gourdy waited for him, and a minute later the three of them headed for the nearest elevator. In the elevator, Gourdy silently read the letter. It was a confirmation of what he had already seen and convinced him that he had better not do anything hastily.
   But his plan to capture Hewitt remained unchanged.
   When they came to the storeroom in which Hewitt had taken refuge, it was Gourdy who softly led the way inside. His strategy was to take up position beside Hewitt's vehicle and from there call for surrender.
   And so he had his first shock when he couldn't find the mobile unit. It was an electrifying sensation, like suddenly stepping from something solid into emptiness. The three men spent ten frantic minutes searching the storeroom. But there was no one in it. The conviction that finally came to Gourdy was that he had somehow been outsmarted, but he didn't quite know how.
   'Still,' he thought, 'if we've really slipped into the future, he can't get away.'
   Another urge had been growing on him. He wanted to get up to the bridge to see if Earth and its sun really were nearby.
   That was where he now headed.

30

   After Hewitt left the engine room, Lesbee ostensibly returned to his work on the panel he was removing. But his attention was actually on the flickering spy light.
   It stopped flashing suddenly.
   He waited to make sure. When there was no longer any doubt, he ran for the viewplate that connected with the bridge, turned it on, and looked through it at the solar system.
   The sun was a bright star of the first magnitude. He made a computation on the basis of his measurement of its brightness, that it was somewhat less than a hundredth of a light-year away.
   Taking into account what Hewitt had said of the motion of the Hope of Man through the solar system, Lesbee made various readings on his slide rule, and calculated that the ship had been projected from fifty to one hundred and fifty years into the future.
   That was something to know.
   It defeated any plan Hewitt might have to assert his rights to command the ship.
   Lesbee's next act was to tune in on the bridge's radio receivers, which automatically picked up all incoming messages from the surrounding space. Since Gourdy's take-over, no one but Gourdy and himself had had any real opportunity to receive such messages.
   The message that came through now was the first Lesbee had heard.
   The message began with a simple three-bell signal and was followed by the words:
   'Earth calling. Incoming ships use control channel 71.2 meters for initial communication.'
   Lesbee broke the connection, shut off the engine-room viewer – and ran for the door. He had to take the chance that Gourdy was preoccupied with Hewitt and that accordingly he would not be seen.
   Although it was a dangerous thing to do, he used one of the elevators to go up to the bridge.
   Arrived there, he opened the radio-receiver panel, reached in, and tore loose the wires that connected the radio with the enormous aerial network that picked up incoming messages from space.
   Hastily, Lesbee replaced the panel and raced down to the alternative control room. Still depending on Gourdy being occupied, he used the scanner system of that complete control board to locate the room where Tellier was held prisoner.
   Through the scanner, he saw Tellier lying down in one of the bunks. Lesbee called out softly, and Tellier sat up, then came over to the communicator. Lesbee said, 'Listen, we're going to have to get off the ship fast at some specific future time.'
   He explained rapidly what he had done and said that if necessary he would come down and rescue Tellier at the proper time. He finished, 'Don't ask any questions. Just tell me – you'll be prepared to come?'
   Tellier was properly responsive. 'Same old Lesbee,' he said admiringly. But there was a strained look on his face as he added, 'John, this is going to be a close thing. But yes, I'll take the chance of going on your say-so.'
   Lesbee broke the connection and once more ran at top speed along the corridors. Arrived at the engine room, he sank down in a chair for a few minutes to catch his breath. Then he resumed the phony task of fixing the engines.

31

   When Hewitt left the storeroom, he headed up to the captain's cabin by way of the ramps.
   He came upon the four women cheerfully getting breakfast ready. They turned as he drove in. Four frightened women stared at him.
   Hewitt said in his gentle voice, 'Don't be alarmed. I've come to talk to Captain Gourdy.'
   They grew calm as he explained who he was. Also, it was evident that Ruth had already told the others what she had seen in the detector viewplate.
   She asked, 'Is it true that Earth is destroyed as our husband says?'
   Since Hewitt had not discussed that topic with Lesbee, he realized he was listening to Gourdy propaganda. It gave a bitter irony to his present situation on the Hope of Man. He had virtually ruined his reputation by predicting grave danger to Earth from a change in the sun. Yet here on the ship it would be to his advantage if that prediction proved untrue.
   For reasons of the struggle for control of the ship in which he was now an unwilling participant, he needed these people to believe that Earth and its military might existed. Only thus could he establish his ownership rights.
   It suddenly seemed too dangerous a subject to discuss at all.
   He said evasively, significantly, '-our husband?'
   'Captain Gourdy!' explained the oldest of the four women, who had already introduced herself as Ruth. She continued with pride in her voice, 'We are the captain's wives. That is' -she went on carefully – 'Ilsa and I were the original wives of the late Captain Browne. Then we became the second and third wives of Mr. Lesbee when he was captain.' She pointed at the slim blond woman, whose blue eyes reminded Hewitt a little of Joan. 'This is Ann, Mr. Lesbee's first wife. I understand she's to be sent back to him.' The blonde shrugged, but said nothing. Ruth next indicated the sullen young brunette beauty at the table. 'Marianne is Captain Gourdy's first wife. Naturally, Ilsa and I will now be taken over by him.'
   Hewitt was discreetly silent. But as he glanced from one to the other of the women and saw their agreement with what Ruth had said, he felt an inner excitement of his own.
   These women, he realized, amazed, were the male fantasy come alive. Throughout history, men periodically maneuvered the State so skillfully that women were motivated to accept multiple-wife roles, at least in connection with the top leaders. A percentage of men dreamed of having a harem of compliant females all in the same household, at peace with each other, free of that jealous madness which men normally found so painfully ever present in women outside of their own fantasies. The desire for many women was probably some deep psychological need, which those who were possessed by it did not even want to have explained.
   Hewitt had never had such needs as an adult. So he could look at these women as would a scientist confronted by a phenomenon of nature.
   And – just like that – he had an intuition.
   'I shall be the captain,' he said. 'Therefore, you'll be my wives. So, when I call on you later for any kind of help, you give it immediately.' He added, 'Don't worry, it won't be anything dangerous.'
   He finished, 'And, of course, don't mention to anyone, not even Captain Gourdy, what I've said until I give you permission.'
   The women were all suddenly white-faced again. Ruth said finally, breathlessly, 'You don't understand. A woman does not choose among men or do anything at all that would indicate that she favors one man over another – until she is taken to wife by a man. Then she automatically favors her husband.'
   Hewitt glanced from one woman to the other. He was both fascinated and shocked. He was well aware of the long history of man and his dealings with women. But it was one thing to know of a condition that had existed in the past and quite another to see that these women actually regarded themselves as pawns. They didn't even realize how much degradation was implied by the words they were speaking.
   Because of his knowledge of the past, it seemed to him that he understood this situation as no one aboard could possibly understand it.
   Understanding it, he said firmly, 'I'm sorry, ladies, for once you will have to make a choice among men. I can tell you right now, when I become captain, which of you I shall retain as my wife will depend entirely on how you show your choice at the moment when I ask you to do something on my behalf.'
   His words had a shock effect. A strange expression came into the face of Ruth. Ilsa suddenly looked shy. Ann Lesbee became very pale. Marianne stared at him with bright eyes.
   Hewitt had the impression that all four were suddenly feeling timid, and there was a quality in them that he identified as old-fashionedness: a combination of extreme femininity, acceptance of male dominance, and a peculiar practicality.
   Exactly how such a condition had come about – what dynamics were involved – could well be someone's project for a later social study.
   At the moment, Hewitt said, 'When Captain Gourdy returns, tell him that I was here and that I'm going now to the dormitory where the men are. I'll remain there and wait for him.'
   When Gourdy had this information conveyed to him half an hour later, he went to the detector room and switched on the scanners. He tuned in on bedlam. The dormitory was filled with excited men who clearly believed that they would shortly be arriving at Earth. What shocked Gourdy was that his own men, whom he had placed as guards, were as aroused as anyone. They mingled with the prisoners, having apparently made up their minds that there were no further problems.
   As he watched the wild scene, he realized belatedly that he had not taken into sufficient account the impact of Hewitt's appearance on the people of the ship. All that would now have to be rectified. Tensely, he considered what he might do. Then he called Harcourt in and showed him the scene.
   He ordered, 'You get down there as fast as you can. Take the elevator. Wait till no one is looking and slip into the room. Then talk to each of our own men privately. Tell them this is a very dangerous situation for us all. We have to remain in control till we get to Earth. If we lose command of the situation, those prisoners may take their anger out on us. Have our men leave the dormitory one at a time and come up to the small assembly room. I'll talk to them there. Tell 'em no hard feelings. Everything is O.K.'
   He felt better when Harcourt hurried out of the room on that mission.
   He next tuned in on Lesbee. For several moments, he watched that intent young man at his labors. He had a regretful feeling. There were many things about Lesbee that he liked, but he had a growing intuition that the former captain was a permanent opponent, and that like Hewitt he would have to be disposed of. Of course, that was for a later time. Right now -
   He called Lesbee on a communicator.
   'Mr. Lesbee, I'm assigning you officer cabin Number Three and I want you to go up to it right now because I'm sending your wife over there. Who among the officers do you think should be released in this situation?'
   He took it for granted that Lesbee would know what situation.
   Lesbee, who had his own plans, said promptly, 'I wouldn't let any of Browne's officers go, sir.' Under his breath he added: 'Not while I'm doing all this meaningless work on the engines.' Aloud, he continued: 'And since for obvious reasons, you wouldn't want too many of mine loose during this period of confusion, why not let me have Mr. Tellier to help with these engines?' He thought: 'That's really going straight to the heart of the matter.' He finished his answer to Gourdy by saying respectfully, 'Just to make sure that I'm not misunderstanding, what precisely is the special situation?'
   Gourdy explained about the excitement in the dormitory.
   Then he said frankly, 'Obviously, we can't let that develop into a take-over by Hewitt. What do you think?'
   Lesbee said, 'I agree. Do you mind if I offer some advice?'
   'Go ahead.'
   'What Hewitt has done is arouse hope. So we'll have to go take a look at Earth. These wild people won't believe anything but their own eyes. Now, since it is to your interest to continue to pursue the original purpose of the voyage,' – that was nicely worded, it seemed to Lesbee – 'I suggest the following: appear to accept Hewitt without argument. Agree to go to Earth. That will take the pressure off you right now. Later, we can discuss what to do next.'
   The apparent frankness of the discussion greatly relieved Gourdy. Once more he regretted that there seemed to be no way that justified his leaving Lesbee alive. But it was out of the question. The situation aboard the ship had become too complex. Mercy was not practicable.
   Because he was a man in a hurry, Gourdy said quickly, 'I'll have Mr. Tellier assigned an upper-level cabin and I shall return his wife to him also. And I'll do what you suggest as soon as I can brief my own men.'
   He broke the connection and stood up briskly. His confidence was back as he went out to where the women were finishing breakfast. He at once informed Ann Lesbee that she would return to her husband.
   To his surprise, she burst into tears and showed visible unwillingness to leave. The other three women also wept. Ruth and Ilsa accompanied Ann into the second bedroom to help her get her things.
   Marianne berated her husband. 'It's not fair!' she sobbed, but there was anger in her voice. 'We women have so little. You shouldn't send her away.'
   Since Gourdy was merely making a move as in a game, he considered the reactions he had observed with puzzled interest. 'Look,' he said, 'I'm returning her to her handsome husband. What more can a woman want?'
   'You're just talking silly!' said Marianne tearfully.
   Gourdy couldn't wait to find out what was silly. But as he hurried out to deal with the severe emergency of Hewitt's arrival, it seemed to him that the last thing he had time for was the problem presented by a group of crying women.

32

   'Now why,' thought Lesbee, 'does Gourdy want me to go up to my cabin right away, merely because my wife is being sent there?'
   He decided not to go. It would be too easy to imprison him up there without anyone knowing.
   As he reasoned it then, Lesbee pictured Captain Gourdy as trying to neutralize him till the situation in the dormitory was brought under control. When that was done, Gourdy would have to decide whom he would kill. He would need somebody to help him run the ship. As Lesbee saw it, it would be safer for Gourdy to use Miller and other Browne followers than himself. Because, apart from Miller's greater competence and training, the former first officer had it in his favor that he had never aspired to the captaincy. That, it seemed to Lesbee, would now be decisive in the mind of Gourdy. So it was he and his supporters who were doomed.
   If the murders were done quietly following the excitement below, and if the arrangements with Miller were clear cut, then in a single decisive act the brilliant little former garden worker would have reduced his opponents once more to one: the stranger, Averill Hewitt.
   ...With so much attention focused on the intruder, probably Hewitt was temporarily safe... It seemed to Lesbee that a clue to the intensity of Gourdy's desperation would be the speed with which he released Tellier -
   Even as he had the thought, Tellier walked into the engine room.
   Silently, the two friends shook hands. Lesbee made sure the spy signal was not flashing, then he asked in a deliberate tone: 'Ready?'
   Tellier's face took on a shocked expression. He said, 'You mean – right now!'
   'Now.'
   'But we're a hundredth of a light-year away – you said. And we must still be traveling at practically the speed of light.'
   'It'll certainly take longer to slow down in the lifeboat than in the ship,' said Lesbee. 'But we've got to do it.'
   'Oh!' Then: 'What about our wives?'
   Lesbee was startled. He had not anticipated such near twelfth-hour objections. Impatient, tense, he caught Tellier's arm, pulled him. 'We can't wait!'
   Tellier held back. 'I hate to leave Lou.'
   'She'll lose you one way or the other. If you stay, you'll be killed-'
   'She won't understand.'
   So much concern over a woman was alien to Lesbee. 'Since when has a woman ever understood anything!' he said irritably.
   There must have been some sensibleness in that for Tellier, for he abandoned that line of resistance. Yet he still hesitated. He looked very downcast. 'I guess I just can't bring myself to leave the ship,' he confessed. 'Why don't you stay and fight Gourdy scientifically?'
   'Because the mass of the people aboard are for Gourdy,'
   'You could kill him outright. After all, he took the ship from you.'
   'Then I'd have to fight it out with his henchmen. Besides, if I killed him, then I might be subject to trial on Earth. I don't want to risk that. I've had my fill of being out in space.'
   'But there must be something we can do against an ignoramus like Gourdy, with all the power equipment on this ship!'
   'Look!' said Lesbee, 'you can't do anything, not anything, without support. My rebellion against Browne had almost everybody's sanction. Gourdy's rebellion against me was a surprise. But people were relieved and accepted it when Gourdy announced Earth was our destination. They still haven't realized that he can't go there, and we have no quick way of convincing them. Until they understand that, they'll never back another rebellion -'
   'You make it all sound as if what that mob down there thinks or feels actually has some influence.'
   'When they know what they want, it makes all the difference.'
   'Then how come they stood for all this nonsense all these years?'
   'Because they didn't think of it as nonsense – that's why.'
   'Then they're not very bright.'
   'True. But now they want to go to Earth and nothing can stop them. I don't want to be in the middle when the man who can't go – Gourdy – tries to hold them back. Smart as he is, he's so suspicious he won't think of it as a mass movement. And so, if he hasn't already killed us for other reasons – he'll kill us then because he'll think we're inciting the crowd against him. So let's go, man!'
   The expression on Tellier's face had been softening for some seconds. Suddenly, the admiration was back. He grabbed Lesbee's arm in a spontaneous gesture of affection. 'You really have thought everything out,' he said. 'John, you're a marvel.'
   He hesitated no longer but began to walk toward the door. 'After all,' he said, 'if you're right, they'll be landing on Earth and I'll see Lou then.'
   Out in the corridor, Lesbee caught Tellier's sleeve, urging him forward. The two men broke into a run. They ran all the way to the airlock and climbed into the landing craft that Lesbee had surreptitiously readied. The machine, like the others, was fitted into a compartment in one of the walls. They settled breathlessly into the twin control chairs, and Lesbee pressed the switch that triggered the launch sequence.
   The outer door of the big ship began to unscrew. Simultaneously, the inner door opened. The small craft slid out of its cradle and was propelled forward into the airlock. The inner door closed behind it. The air pumps started and swiftly sucked the air out of the lock.
   As the outer door swung open a minute later, a powerful spring mechanism catapulted the small craft with the two men in it into space. When they had drifted several miles, Lesbee started the forward drives. Instantly, they began to decelerate. Off to one side, the Hope of Man visible only by the dark shadow it made against the stars – seemed to forge ahead.
   Lesbee knew that automatic warning lights were flickering on the big ship's two control boards. But he knew also that no person – at least, no person who understood – would be looking at the flashing signals.
   Beside him, Tellier broke the silence. 'Look at those stars,' he said in a hushed tone. 'We must be spinning.'
   Lesbee's gaze flashed to the stabilizer needles. They were steady. Frowning, he stared into the viewplate. And there was no doubt that something was wrong. The 'fixed' stars seemed to be moving.
   Gently, he took hold of the controls, gingerly moved them -first one way, then the other. The small ship responded perfectly, tilted to the left, then to the right. He brought the control back to dead center. The lifeboat came smoothly back into its electronically stabilized position.
   Outside, the stars continued their slow movement. In all his years in space, Lesbee had never seen anything like it. In fact, one of the psychologically numbing realities of being out in space was that, almost literally, nothing ever changed position. As the years went by, a few 'near' stars gradually shifted a few degrees. Only when the ship rotated did the stars seem to move at all.
   Now, the entire stellar universe was visibly in motion. At least, that was his first impression. As he watched the fantastic scene, Lesbee slowly grew aware that the great nebulae, the distant star clouds, were as steady as ever.
   That proved the movement of the stars was real. Even if the distant nebulae were in motion that equaled the speed of the nearer stars, it wouldn't show. They were simply too far away. Even if they should start to move at scores of light-years a second, it would not be immediately detectable.
   And since an instrument defect would show all the stars moving, not merely those that were close, the fact that those remote galaxies appeared to be stable proved that the star motion was not such a defect but a genuine event in space time.
   'But,' Lesbee wondered uneasily, 'how can such a movement be explained?'
   The only possibility – or so it seemed – was that the stars were actually speeding up in relation to the lifeboat -
   He dared not utter that terrifying possibility to Tellier.
   An hour went by. Two. Many.
   In the darkness ahead was a star, which Lesbee believed was Earth's sun. What disturbed him was that the star began to dim. Although they were presumably approaching it, it grew smaller. And what confused Lesbee for a while was that even as it shrank it kept moving slowly across the face of their viewing lens. Each time he would bring it back into focus -and the creeping action would occur again.
   Lesbee was baffled. According to the figures on the velocitor needles, they were going toward the solar system at a speed that was still almost light-speed.
   Yet the sun was visibly receding, as if it were speeding away from them faster than they were approaching it.
   If that were true, then the cross-movement meant that the solar system was receding at an angle away from their craft.
   Each passing minute, as Lesbee watched, the stars moved faster in their already accelerated courses. Since they were not all going in the same direction, they presented more and more the appearance of chaos.
   Minute by minute by minute, the scene grew wilder.

33

   Gourdy had invited Hewitt to join him on the bridge.
   With them were several of Browne's former officers, including Miller, Selwyn, and Mindel, and several scientists. Two astronomers, Clyde Josephs who was chief of the astronomical staff, and his chief assistant, Max Hook, were among the latter.
   In the background, five of Gourdy's henchmen stood. Each of these five was armed with two blasters.
   After they had gazed at the careening stars for at least a minute, Hewitt grew aware that the chief astronomer's eyes were beginning to shine.
   'Gentlemen!' the man said in an awed tone. 'We are witnessing a spectacle that surely no man ever dreamed he would see – certainly no astronomer who has taken the rigidities of the space-time universe for granted.'
   He seemed to become aware of the tension in every person who was watching him. His eyes widened. Then he looked at Hewitt with an innocent, questioning expression, but it was Gourdy he addressed.
   'What is it you want to know, Captain?'
   Gourdy made a strangled sound. 'What's happening?' he asked explosively.
   'The whole universe seems to be moving at millions of light-years a second.' He stopped, as though he had just realized the fantastic thing that he had said, and stood blinking. He must have been in shock, for he went on, 'I hope you will give me an opportunity to make a detailed study of the phenomenon.'
   He appeared to realize, from the choleric expression on Gourdy's face, that his request was not the exciting thing for Gourdy that it was for him.
   He glanced around the circle of tense, staring eyes, and his somewhat round face took on an understanding expression.
   'Don't be alarmed, gentlemen! If you have some fear that the stars are going to run away from us, or that time will run out for us – don't worry. This can probably go on for billions of years.'
   Again, he paused. Again, he must have realized that he was still not making a warm place for himself in the hearts of the dozen men who were watching him so grimly.
   It was Hewitt who suddenly relaxed and said in a friendly tone, 'Mr. Josephs, the figure you have used – millions of light-years – indicates that we are in trouble as no human beings have ever been. At this moment I'm frightened. Are we ever going to see our own people again, and if so, how are we going to do it? This is what concerns us.'
   Josephs stood stock-still, blinking. Then he said, 'Oh!' And in a subdued tone, 'The sun is only moving away from us slowly. I would venture to say that that proves that what we are witnessing is not entirely a speed phenomenon.'
   Hewitt said, startled, 'But that would mean a time expansion of absolutely incredible proportions. I can't even imagine it.'
   Josephs said apologetically, 'Perhaps the sooner I begin my study -'
   'But where are the planets?' Gourdy yelled. 'That's what we want to know. What's happened to Earth, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and – and – the others? They aren't there.'
   He was more perturbed about that than about the speed. Earth was his ultimate goal. His special situation required that he go there more slowly than the others desired.
   But he wanted Earth to be there when he finally arrived.
   Once more Josephs was apologetic. 'They probably are there, sir, but orbiting around the sun at such a high velocity we can't see them. I imagine that if we could look closely enough we'd see rings of light. The superspeed cameras aboard will undoubtedly be able to obtain some kind of picture.'
   Gourdy said from between clenched teeth, 'Take 'em. Take the pictures, damn it, and send them to me.'
   The photographs – which were delivered to Gourdy's desk later that day – showed all the planets. Josephs had appended a note:


Dear Captain:
The solar system is speeding away from us at an angle. This angle derives from the fact that it is still heading toward Aries, and we are approaching from another direction.
In this connection, we are entitled to consider Mr. Hewitt's story of how the Hope of Man entered the solar system, caught up to Earth, and entered the atmosphere in such a fashion that we seemed to move at only a few miles an hour. Yet, so far as the ship was concerned, we were traveling faster than light.
Now that we have slowed down, apparently the solar system is pulling away from us. This is logical in the frame of that 'earlier' relationship.
Apparently, as we decelerated below light-speed, our time orientation altered drastically, but spatially we seem to be still operating in the same general area.
However, if we are not to lose sight of the sun, I suggest we speed up somewhat – and then decide what to do next.
(signed) clyde josephs


   Gourdy riffled through the photographs with impatient fingers. He was about to put them down when an oddity about one of the pictures struck him. He drew it out of the pack and stared at it with a frown.
   The camera had taken a picture angling across a part of the curved outer hull of the Hope of Man. In the distance, this starry scene was of a portion of the sky. It was bright and beautiful with points of lights – thousands of distant suns. On the back of the picture, Josephs had written in connection with this part of the scene: 'Looking toward Aries, toward which the solar system is moving.'
   That part was understandable, obvious.
   But there was a whitish blotch across the lower part of the photograph. At that point, the curving surface of the ship was already falling away. The blotch seemed to be an extension of a condition that came up from the ship, below the range of the camera.
   About this phenomenon, Josephs had noted on the back, 'I have no idea what the semicircular shape is. It looks like too much light got onto the film. In view of our unusual matter-state, I decided not to make the automatic assumption that it was merely a defect.'
   Gourdy couldn't make anything out of it either. So he shrugged presently and put it aside. He felt incompetent in the face of so many unusual conditions to make any kind of a scientific judgment. But he was as convinced as ever that he was the logical person to supervise the research that would have to be done. As he saw it, the scientists would have to report to him. He would decide what to do, and when.
   He said to Harcourt, who had brought the photos, 'We got plenty of scientific brains to take care of our scientific problems.'
   Thus, lightly, he dismissed a situation that had no parallel in human experience.
   He saw now, clearly, that this condition was the opportunity he had been seeking.
   'Call everybody up to the main assembly room,' he commanded. 'See that the boys are armed, and tell 'em to act and look as if they can take care of anything and anybody.'
   'You want everybody?' Harcourt asked, incredulous. 'All those guys from downstairs, too!'
   'Everybody. Meeting right after dinner.'
   At the meeting, Gourdy had the projectionist show the photos, and he had Clyde Josephs explain what they meant.
   When that was done, Gourdy stepped forward. 'Now, folks,' he said, 'what this really means is that we won't be landing till we solve the problem. I promise this. The best scientific and engineering brains aboard will be assigned to the task and' -he indicated Hewitt, who sat in the front row below him – 'I'm sure Mr. Hewitt will contribute what he can from his overall knowledge of the ship.'
   He beckoned Hewitt. 'Will you come up here, sir?' he asked graciously.
   Hewitt climbed onto the stage grimly. He was disturbed by the skill with which Gourdy was manipulating the meeting in his own favor. He glanced questioningly at Gourdy.
   Gourdy said courteously, 'Mr. Hewitt, will you tell all of these people how and under what conditions you came aboard?'
   When Hewitt had done so, Gourdy said, 'In your opinion, is there any chance of using your method in reverse to get these people to Earth?'
   Even if there was, it was the last thing that Hewitt – with his purposes – would have admitted.
   Aloud he said, 'Since we don't even know exactly what happened, the answer has to be that it's impossible. I've tried to imagine the time-space condition that existed when I came aboard the Hope of Man – what, for example, was the relationship in terms of physics and chemistry between me and the ship? I cannot get a satisfactory concept. My suggestion is the same as Mr. Josephs' – that we catch up with the solar system, and then make our next move on the basis of what we observe at that time.'
   Gourdy stepped forward beside Hewitt. He was smiling, but alarm bells were ringing inside him. Although he could see no harm in the actual suggestion, he suddenly suspected a conspiracy. The fact that Josephs and Hewitt had made the same recommendation seemed significant and sinister. He had a feeling that the scientists understood something that he didn't.
   At the moment, he saw that he had no alternative but to accept it. He said loudly, 'I hereby authorize Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Miller to accelerate this ship to match velocities with the solar system.'
   He turned to Hewitt, and with apparent openness said, 'What about the repair Mr. Lesbee was doing on the engine?'
   Hewitt had already examined the engines and recognized the repair for what it was. He said smoothly, 'Only the instrument panels have been removed so far, and we should be able to replace them by the time the sleep period begins.'
   'Then act!' said Gourdy in the decisive tone that he considered necessary to reassure the people of the ship at this special meeting.
   Thus the assembly came to its end.
   Back in his cabin, Gourdy settled into his chair with savage satisfaction and gazed up at Harcourt. 'And now,' he said, 'we've got to get rid of Hewitt. What he did there did him no good, but it was a try.'
   The quick, earlier suspicion had become a solid certainty in his mind.
   He added, 'Hewitt is our only danger now, since Lesbee took off.'
   Thought of Lesbee made him shake his head in wonderment. 'That guy Lesbee really had a head on his shoulders. He had me figured, all right. But I'm kinda glad he got away – if he did; maybe he's lost out there in that spinning universe.' He broke off: 'Here, have a sip of this!'
   Ilsa had been pouring wine while he talked. He ignored her as one might a servant. He was unaware that his attitude toward the women was changing. More and more, he treated them as if they were total nonentities.
   Paying no attention to Ilsa, he said, 'Killing Hewitt should be made to look like an accident. But don't waste any time. Do it just before morning. Best thing I can think of is, make it look as if his machine short-circuited in some way and exploded.'
   'That'll be pretty hard for me to put over.' Harcourt spoke doubtfully.
   Gourdy was contemptuous. 'Don't be a nut. It doesn't matter how something is done, just so's you leave yourself a loophole. Something that confuses these poor dopes is all you need. And then you make it damned dangerous for anyone to be suspicious.'
   There was what seemed to be a continuing resisting expression on Harcourt's face. Gourdy scowled at his henchman.
   'Look– ' he said flatly, 'we've got to do it. Don't give me any argument!'
   Harcourt protested, 'I'm not arguing, boss. I'm just thinking how to do it. Since you didn't take any of that stuff away from him, who knows what he's got in that space capsule. My idea is I'll just blow it up, but I'll have to see how to do it.'
   Gourdy said, 'I let him keep it because I didn't want him to have any suspicion that I was going to move against him. So now we use it against him.'
   'The way I've got it,' said Harcourt, more confident now, 'I'll brief some of the guys. Then I'll go down to the engine room when Miller and Hewitt start the acceleration. And I'll stick with Hewitt from that time on. I'll follow him to his room. I'll wait in the hallway outside until the other guys join me. My idea is, we'll go in some time during the last half of the sleep period and catch him in bed. O.K.?'
   'Sounds perfect,' said Gourdy.
   It was at that point that the woman slipped out of the room. Although she went quietly, her departure brought her to Gourdy's awareness.
   He said, 'As soon as Hewitt is out of the way, I'm taking over these women. I've already had Lesbee's wife brought back. Since she didn't want to go in the first place, I decided to return her to the status of captain's wife. If that makes her happy, I can't complain.'
   He gazed up at the big man cynically. 'Now listen, I'm giving each of you fellows permission to take on a second woman. I warn you, though. Don't just grab one. Tell the men to look over a few and then come to me. We'll decide between us which one. We can't monkey with the wives of men we need, and there'd be trouble if somebody took one of the young girls. But we'll figure it out and keep it damn secret for a while.'
   Harcourt's eyes were glistening. 'That fellow, Tellier – his wife! Can I have her?'
   'She's yours – after tomorrow,' said Gourdy, casually. 'Now, get!'
   Harcourt got.

34

   Surprisingly, Hewitt found a brief comradeship with Miller. The two men submerged any personal animosity they might otherwise have felt, in their mutual discovery of how to operate the matched-drive system.
   They examined the almost magical alteration that Dzing had made in the giant Bev system for accelerating particles so that they actually expanded.
   They were astounded by the simplicity of the method of particle removal by the process of tilting the antigravity plates.
   By this means, the original method of maintaining a one-g antigravity could be amplified, theoretically, to any limit -hundreds, even thousands, of g's.
   The discovery, though highly stimulating was also sobering; for there was now so much power that it had to be dealt with cautiously.
   They carefully repeated Lesbee's earlier tests, bringing the acceleration gradually up to twelve g's while they balanced the antigravity at eleven g's. The perfection of it made their eyes glisten, and when the programming was complete, with acceleration set to continue at the one-g differential, they shook hands in the most friendly fashion.
   Miller at this point announced that he had to report to Gourdy, and departed. Because of Harcourt, Hewitt did not leave tie security of the engine room at once. Something about the big brute – he had a morbid intuition.
   As his first act of defense, he slipped a small wrench into one pocket. Then, while pretending to examine what was inside one of the panels that Lesbee had removed, he loosened from its socket and put into his other pocket a special tube... The gas in the tube was a rare, potent poison. If threatened, he could throw it on the floor at Harcourt's feet. At very least, the man would get a whiff. Hewitt would then have time to attack him with the wrench.
   It was the best he could do under the circumstances.
   As he headed back to the officer's cabin, which he had ostentatiously been assigned by Gourdy, Hewitt was aware of Harcourt following him... It was very disturbing in those silent, empty corridors.
   So he stopped, finally, and waited for the man to catch up with him. When Harcourt's lumbering gait brought him close, Hewitt said, 'Why don't we walk together?'
   The man mumbled something. But he offered no objection as Hewitt fell in step beside him. When they came to Hewitt's cabin, Hewitt unlocked the door, aware that the large man had paused also and was waiting.
   He turned, and asked frankly, 'Is there anything I can do for you?'
   Harcourt pretended open honesty. 'I'm supposed to keep an eye on you, Mr. Hewitt, and see that you don't get into or cause trouble. I'll be in the room across this hall with my door open. O.K.?'
   It sounded O.K. But Hewitt entered his apartment with an unhappy feeling. The fact was he could not delay.
   His mind seethed with schemes. But what he swiftly settled on was that he would simply get into his tank suit and drive down the corridor. If Harcourt fired a blaster at him, then he would run the man down.
   The suit itself was built to withstand bullets or blasts from handarms.
   The decision made, he started toward the spare bedroom, where he had the machine – and stopped!
   A soft sound...! From his own bedroom!
   Hewitt snatched for the wrench – then let his hand slide away as the woman, Ruth, appeared in the bedroom doorway. She put a finger to her lips, a cautioning gesture.
   Quickly, she whispered to him what Ilsa had overheard: the plot to murder him. She ended her account. 'We had to choose. I chose you!'
   Hewitt, whose mind had started to reach past what she had said, came reluctantly back to the woman, her words, her -choice!
   He was embarrassed. With him, what had brought her here had been a move as in a game. Simply and forthrightly, he believed in monogamy. Her flushed cheeks and the shy way she avoided looking into his eyes told him that it was no game to her and the others.
   The woman spoke again. 'I knew I would have to come here before Harcourt and you returned. So now you'll have to think of something to do with me... I brought this to help!'
   She reached into a fold in her dress, produced a small blaster, and held it out to him. Hewitt took the weapon gratefully. The feel of it in his hand eased the awful chill of the murder plan she had described.
   It also changed his own plan.
   Quickly, he explained to her what he wanted her to do: hide in his bedroom, wait till Harcourt and he entered the adjoining bedroom, then slip out. 'Be sure,' Hewitt finished, 'to take off your shoes, so you can go silently -'
   She started obediently for the bedroom door; then she stopped. Hesitantly, she faced him, said simply, 'Am I chosen?'
   A lump came into Hewitt's throat. Gazing at her, he thought: 'Space did this to these women. The awful emptiness of space reduced them, gave them a sense of loss that made even the best of them vulnerable to total control.'
   He divined that words were not enough in this situation. This woman needed to be touched. He stepped up to her, took one of her hands in his, and placed his other hand on her shoulder, squeezing it slightly. 'You are completely chosen!' he said softly.
   The expression of relief that came into her fine-featured face was something to see. Abruptly, she was an accepted woman, calm, practical. 'I'd better go!' she said. She stared at him earnestly. 'You'll be all right?'
   Hewitt released her hand. 'I'll do my best,' he said. 'I'll see you later.'
   She whispered, "We're all waiting for you!' She turned and went into the bedroom, pushing the door almost shut-
   Hewitt slipped the blaster in with the wrench, walked over, and opened the corridor door. He called across the hallway to where he could see Harcourt sitting in a chair just inside the open door of the apartment there, 'Will you come in here and give me a hand, Mr. Harcourt?'
   The big man climbed to his feet and slouched to the door, stared insolently at Hewitt. 'What do you want?'
   'I need a hand here with my machine.'
   'Going some place?' Harcourt asked.
   But he came over, looking puzzled and undecided. He was not a man who could easily change from one plan to another. At Hewitt's request, he walked into the spare bedroom.
   'Hey!' he said, as he saw the blaster that Hewitt was pointing at him. His whole body stiffened. There was shock and horror in his face.
   Slowly, he put up his hands.
   Minutes later, Hewitt was guiding his tank suit along the corridor at its top speed. He was a man in a hurry.

35

   In his excitement, Lesbee shook Tellier awake.
   'Hey! I've figured out the true nature of the universe.'
   The thin, intellectual face of his friend seemed to gain a little color. The pale, 'watery skin looked more alive. 'You've what?'
   As Tellier sat up sleepily, Lesbee repeated his statement, adding: 'With what I've analyzed, we can do anything: land on Earth, retake the ship... anything.'
   Tellier turned red. 'For God's sake, John,' he whispered, 'are you serious? You know what respect I have for your ideas when you tell me you mean them.'
   'Listen – ' said Lesbee. 'First, the facts as we've seen them, or had them accurately described -'
   He thereupon outlined the aspects of the long voyage related to the physics of space: the initial impossibility of accelerating particles to light velocity, the discovery through the Karn of the correct pattern -
   He continued his summation: 'Hewitt's story of the Hope of Man arriving in the solar system in a special matter-state, which turned out to mean that the ship was traveling faster than light in some space of its own. Finally, as the ship reduced to light-speed, Hewitt was precipitated into the world of the ship -
   'These are the facts, aren't they?' Lesbee demanded.
   Tellier nodded, wide-eyed.
   'Actually, there are more points,' Lesbee continued. 'For example, the time and pressure ratios were 973 to one. But the outside of the ship remained round. And the corridors inside were only three to one. I understand all that now.'
   'But what's the practical value?'
   'Watch!' said Lesbee.
   He disappeared.
   ...Vanished inside a small craft millions of miles from anywhere... Tellier was frantically looking around, when he heard a sound behind him. He whirled. Lesbee stood there, a triumphant grin on his face.
   The smile faded and was succeeded by a grim expression. 'We're going back to the ship!' Lesbee said.
   'Whatever for?' Tellier was astonished.
   The steely eyes gazed at him. 'For your wife – for mine – To make sure that the ship lands... We had to forget all that when it was life or death. But that doesn't apply any more.'
   Tellier grasped his hand gratefully. 'Good man!' he said. Then he stepped back. 'For God's sake, tell me what it is you've discovered.'
   'First, let's get started,' said Lesbee. He turned to the control board, went on, 'Now, theoretically, it should be possible to go there, literally, in a moment. The machine could. But remember what happened to Hewitt – the squeeze feeling. Human cells would not long survive instantaneity. So we've got to accept that life has to have a little time.'
   'But– '
   'The universe is a lie,' said Lesbee, a few moments later. 'That's the secret! Listen-'
   It was a subjective plenum that he described then, consisting essentially of levels of motion. In that universe, life had got its start by holding onto bits and pieces of dead matter. From this precarious vantage point, like a bug clinging to a straw in a whirlpool, it surveyed the heavens and itself.
   Tentatively, it explored the great flows of motion all around, enclosed itself in sealed containers so that it could confront the energy at the lower levels, at the higher levels, and beyond light-speed.
   Here, in an environment of infinite expansion and zero size, was the real norm of time and space. 'Below' was the nether darkness of stopped motion and matter. 'Above' was the infinite, timeless light of foreverness.
   As life in the sealed containers – spaceships – crossed the dividing line and entered the norm, the barriers went down. It was as if a man had crawled out of a black well, and now he stood on the meadow, and gazed into the bright blue of the sky. The laws governing the meadows were different from, though related to, those in the well.
   Lesbee said, 'We could theoretically go instantly from no motion to millions of times the speed of light. But as I've said, from a practical point of view, the inner motions of cells hold us back a little. We fear at some level that the movement is threatening, and we grab for a handrail, and hold on for dear life.'
   He finished, 'My thought is, naturally, that we respect that feeling of the cells, and proceed with caution, but proceed.'
   Tellier stared at him blankly, 'I don't get it,' he said. 'All right, so the matter-state beyond light is the norm. I've been there, too. Nothing that I could notice happened to me.'
   'That is because you lay very still during the whole time,' said Lesbee. 'That's because you weren't tuned in to a landing device that could operate on thought impulses.'
   Tellier looked at him blankly. Then he blurted out: 'You don't mean to tell me you left that connected all this time?'
   'No. But that's the one thing I reconnected when I was fooling around with the drive controls.'
   As he explained it, he had been striving to think of every possible precaution before they left the ship. And so he had come early to the thought that the arrangement whereby the lifeboat-landing mechanism operated through the controls of the Hope of Man – exactly as he had used it with Dzing -would enable them to control the big vessel from a distance, if necessary.
   'It was really all just scheming,' he confessed. 'I pictured Miller being used to follow us or something – and so I did one thing that might give us control at a key moment. I had no other purpose in mind than that. All the rest of this came when I was reviewing, among other things, what happened to Dzing when I operated that switch.'
   'Didn't he just blow up?'
   'That's what it looked like.'
   'The corridor was a shambles; the explosion literally almost dissolved him. The pieces found were like pieces of fluff, without weight.'
   'Don't you think that was odd?' Lesbee was smiling faintly but tautly.
   'Well– ' Tellier looked baffled.
   Gazing at the other's face, Lesbee realized anew how difficult it was for people to have creative thoughts. His own brain had evidently attained some peak of quick comprehension from his years of operating under the basically hostile control of the Brownes. Overstimulated by fear, rage, envy, feelings of the rightness of his cause... he had seen the whole picture, as he now understood it, in a single flash of vivid comprehension.
   Tellier, lacking that background, would have to have the explanation spelled out for him.
   Lesbee hesitated before the fact of the other's inability. For the first time he questioned his impulse to share with Tellier.
   He had been sitting on the edge of the control chair. The doubt brought him to his feet. He stood, eyes narrowed, considering what it was he had to say.
   What remained to tell was fantastic but simple, unquestionably related to the basic structure of the universe – but explainable. When he had activated Dzing's self-destruct system, he had destroyed the robot. The evidence was the shattered wall and the indented ceiling and floor of the corridor where it had happened. But the Karn had been at the norm period when it happened.
   Throughout, Dzing had operated and functioned outside the space-time limitations of the Hope of Man. The robot had been unaffected by four g's of acceleration. That could not be explained by energy flows. Even more important, the light weight of what was left of the robot body fitted what Browne had said about the nature of matter at light-speed. The Lorentz-Fitzgerald Contraction Theory applied in all its remarkable meaning.
   And so he had – while Tellier slept – reached into his pocket and pressed a control button of the landing mechanism; and he had let its energy amplify his thought.
   Instantly, he was in the norm state of the universe, at light-speed and beyond. He had set the time ratio at 973 to one, because of Hewitt's experience. Lesbee decided that the cells of a human body – perhaps of all bodies – had some natural balance at that ratio. He preferred not to go counter to such a native state of being without a lot of experimentation.
   That first time, he had stared down at Tellier, eager to wake him up, and tell him the great discovery. Now, the excitement faded, he changed his mind.
   He turned, and faced his friend, and said quietly, 'Armand, I can see I've given you as much new data as your brain should absorb at one time.'
   Tellier did not reply. The high excitement of what he had seen and heard was fading from him. There was something in his friend's manner, a certain hardness, the presence of which had always surprised him. It surprised him again now. Suddenly, he saw that such a momentous discovery by a man who, despite his many likable qualities, was at heart a dictator... was not a good thing.
   Lesbee was speaking once more, his voice friendly, his manner kind, as always. He said, 'I'll tell you the rest at some later time.'
   But he never did.

36

   A bright light gleamed in Gourdy's eyes. He stirred in his sleep, then awakened with a start.
   His bedroom was brightly lighted. He blinked the brightness away and saw Hewitt and half a dozen men dressed in the uniforms of – Gourdy stared unbelieving. He recognized the gray-blue cloth from old films:
   ...Space Patrol...!
   One of the uniformed men, a stern-faced older person, said in a deep baritone, 'Mr. Gourdy, you are under arrest and will be taken off this ship.'
   Two of the uniformed men stepped forward and grabbed him, brought his wrists together. There was a gleam of metal, the cold feel of it on his skin. Handcuffs clicked with a steely sound.
   Gourdy managed to sit up at this point. He was still struggling to shake off sleep. As he stared down at the gleaming metal things, he had the feeling that he was having a nightmare.
   To one side, a uniformed man said to Marianne: 'You may accompany your husband to Earth, if you wish, Mrs. Gourdy.'
   'No, no, no -' Her voice was high-pitched, unnatural. 'I'll stay right here -'
   'That is your privilege, madame. It is Mr. Hewitt's decision that the voyage shall go on. You are one of the few aboard who may choose to stay or go.'
   Strong hands were now pulling Gourdy to his feet. 'Come along!' somebody commanded.
   He made his first real resistance. 'Hey!' he said. He tried to jerk away.
   The stern-faced man made a gesture to the two men who Were holding him. Without a word, they picked him up and carried him out of the bedroom into the main room.
   As Gourdy's glance flicked over the room, he saw that the three other women – Ruth, Ilsa, and Ann – were in their dressing gowns, huddled in the doorway of the second bedroom.
   Even as he watched, a woman in the uniform of a Space Patrol officer went over to them, and said, 'Please get dressed, ladies!'
   Ruth nodded and drew the other two gently back into the room, out of sight. The door closed.
   Gourdy saw now that two uniformed men stood at the corridor door. They stepped aside. A few moments later, Harcourt, one other of his men, and four Space Patrolmen, entered. Gourdy's two henchmen were handcuffed to each other. They appeared bewildered and at first they did not seem to notice Gourdy.
   The patrolmen held a low-voiced conversation with Hewitt, then they went out.
   During the next hour, all eighteen of Gourdy's men were captured and brought to the captain's cabin. When they were all there in a sullen group, Hewitt motioned the patrol officers aside and addressed the prisoners.
   'That photograph with the splotch of light on it was the key,' he began. 'It was not defective, a fact which I began to suspect right away. When I looked at the enlargement as it was projected onto a screen by Astronomer Josephs, it occurred to me that I was looking at a section of my own salvage ship, the Molly D.
   'And when I opened the airlock and went through, there it was, big as life.'
   He continued: 'The scientific reason for such a dual space-time condition is not yet known. But there are several unique features in this situation.
   For example, when I looked out from the bridge of the Hope of Man yesterday, the solar system was many, many quadrillions of miles away. Yet from a porthole of the Molly D, I saw that in some time fashion, it is well inside the solar system. In fact, I could see Earth, and it seemed to be going along normally.
   'We may surmise that some of the beings you saw out in space have solved these space-time confusions, and obviously the Hope of Man must remain in space until the problem is solved for the human race also. To help us solve this problem, several leading scientists, have volunteered to come aboard. We shall also have a full complement of other scholars and experts and, of course, a Space-Patrol unit to keep order. Some of these men will bring their families. Others are single.
   'As soon as they are aboard, the Molly D will cast off, and we shall be alone again. As for you men -'
   He paused to make sure that he had their full attention, then continued:
   'As far as I know, no one will be charged with unlawful acts. The history of the ship is regarded as a sociological and not a criminal phenomenon. But we don't want you on the ship.'
   Hewitt turned to the patrol chief, said quietly, 'I think that about does it.'
   When Gourdy and his cronies had been herded out of the apartment, Hewitt confronted the women who were now fully dressed.
   'Be calm,' he said. 'Everything will be all right. Why don't you have breakfast? I have many things to do.'
   He went out without explaining further. He anticipated that the women would have a problem adjusting. But, then, many others would have the same problem.
   Law and order were about to come aboard the Hope of Man.
   Hewitt remained away from the captain's cabin during the entire transformation period that followed... On the eighth day, a patrol craft arrived with the first of the new passengers.
   Among the arrivals was the redoubtable Peter Linden. 'Young man,' he said to Hewitt, with eyes that twinkled, though his face was serious, 'the unsuspected existence of so many unusual space-time conditions finally made me take a look at the mathematics of John Lesbee I. I have accordingly advised the government of the Combined Western Powers that his theory and proof have shaken my confidence and that I believe that something will happen, that the sun may indeed take on – what is the famous phrase that was so often ridiculed? – "some of the aspects of a Cepheid Variable." We'd better figure out something to do about that.'
   Hewitt, who had years of frustration behind him on this subject, was silent. He had no facile solution either.

37

   Lesbee and Tellier arrived at the Hope of Man almost in no time. He had brought the entire craft up to 973-to-one time ratio, and so their coming was not visible to those aboard.
   At the airlock, he reduced the ratio to ship time. His purpose was to enter quickly, which was done. But he was nervous now. As soon as the small craft was stowed away, he activated its airlock, emerged from it – and only he stepped up to the higher time ratio.
   In this state he went directly to the bridge, and, with a small power tool that he had brought with him to fast time, released the relay that had snapped up when the lifeboat entered its compartment.
   Next, he headed for Tellier's apartment and literally materialized before the eyes of Tellier's wife. It took a while then to give reassurances, to make clear what he wanted; the woman remained in a disturbed emotional condition longer than he had anticipated. She kept closing her gray eyes tight, then opening them and staring at him as if in disbelief. And she talked steadily about how she had missed her husband.
   When she did grow calmer, it was only to break out on a new level of compulsive chatter. This time Lesbee learned about the coming of the strangers. He could have become interested at that point; could have questioned her closely. But even that, he decided, could wait.
   At last, she subsided, smiled wanly, and said, 'What do you want me to do?'
   He wanted her to get her clothes together and accompany him to the landing craft.
   That also took time, but presently he had her in the lifeboat, and he left her there with her husband.
   Lesbee returned to look over the ship. This time he saw the newcomers. He found vantage positions from which he could examine them; Lou Tellier had been singularly unclear as to who they were.
   ...Patrol officers and civilians.
   He traced them to the Molly D, and examined the situation there with some interest, tried to analyze what was going on. Since a considerable amount of luggage had been moved into cabins, and several families were already aboard, he realized with amazement that the intention was to continue the voyage.
   Lesbee hid in an empty case and accompanied one of the Molly D 's landing craft back to Earth.
   And so he stood on a planet, stood with his two feet on soil, on pavement. For most of the first day he wandered in a normal state around the streets, watched the traffic, read the papers. Reverting briefly to high-time rate, he went into a bank vault where a responsible officer was getting money. Lesbee helped himself to a thousand dollars and departed. It would be months before anyone would discover that it was gone.
   He came one to one, timewise, checked in at a magnificent hotel, and ate the finest meal he had ever had. Afterward, in the hotel bar, he picked up a good-looking young woman who was also staying at the hotel. Late in the evening, they retired to his apartment. For several hours he listened to her chatter, striving to orient himself to the world. In the morning they had breakfast together, he made her a suitable gift, and went his way; she hers.
   The papers that morning reported that Gourdy had been re-arrested.
   Lesbee read the charge with alarm. The Space Board had decided that it would extend its hold across a century of time, down five generations – claiming that only thus could space travel be kept orderly. No matter how long the voyage, people must learn that if they did not in the end accept the 'natural' -the word was actually used – development of authority aboard a space vessel, they would be punished to the full extent of the law.
   What this reasoning told Lesbee was that his own rebellion might be illegal. The Browne take-over could easily be considered natural.
   Suddenly, he had two choices only: Remain on Earth, live quietly, call no attention to himself... Go back to the ship, take it away from Hewitt, and resume the voyage...
   Since a man with his special information should not remain silent, the first choice had no meaning.
   But what really decided him was that several newspapers carried Peter Linden's reasoning on the possible validity of John Lesbee I's theory of change in the sun... It was carefully done by Linden. He predicted that there would be plenty of time to consider the matter and act on it.
   Lesbee, who had read his ancestor's account in the ship's records, recalled that his great-great-grandfather had decided that the change would occur – as Lesbee remembered it – in from six to ten years.
   He did a quick mental calculation, and realized anxiously: 'Good lord, we're already into that period!'
   He switched to superfast time rate and went to the prison for a talk with Gourdy. After the shock effect of his abrupt materialization in the cell had passed – they talked.
   ...Agreement: retake the ship! Lesbee to be captain, Gourdy his chief lieutenant. To Lesbee, it was a dangerous but necessary compromise. One man could not capture a vessel by himself, and hold it.
   He took Gourdy and his followers into the high time speed with him. They boarded the Molly D landing craft, carried out of the little vessel the contents of several packing cases,... then hid on a normal time basis inside those cases. So that when the craft took off that night it had aboard twenty unsuspected passengers.
   Because of these activities, Lesbee did not see the evening papers that printed Hewitt's radioed protest on the arrest of Gourdy. Newspaper editorials supported Hewitt's position... Shortly before midnight, the Space Board yielded to the mounting opposition and promised to reconsider the matter at the next meeting a week hence.
   But it was too late.
   Back in the Hope of Man, Lesbee installed Gourdy and his men in a storeroom that would not normally be opened, and the equipment in it used, until a landing was made on an alien planet... It was agreed the group would remain quiet until all connection was severed between the interstellar vessel and the Molly D.
   Technician Lesbee disconnected the wiring from the control room to the listening and scanning devices within the walls. He brought the men food and comforts: cots, blankets, games and books – there were a hundred thousand new books aboard.
   When he was with Gourdy's group, and listened to their coarse humor, Lesbee felt uneasy. But each time, he fought off his doubts because there was no other solution.
   Lesbee saw no difference between the decision of the Space Board to arrest and try Gourdy for murder, and the decision Gourdy had made to kill the two technicians and the scientist. By its action, the Space Board intended to pressure future space travelers into submitting to control of appointed kings. Gourdy's intent had been to frighten anyone who opposed his being king.
   – No difference! Thus reasoned John Lesbee V. And his jaw tightened with the determination to carry through on his personal take-over plan.
   While he waited for the Molly D to cast off, Lesbee watched what was happening on the ship -
   Changes were occurring. Science had come aboard. Psychologists were lecturing. Sociologists traced the history of the ship for those who had been too close to the actuality to see its significance. The military aspect – which had been fastened onto the people virtually at the last minute when the voyage originally began – was replaced by a system worked out, not by military experts but by scientific people.
   From a hidden point on a balcony overlooking the assembly room, Lesbee listened to a lecture by Hewitt on the difference between a scientific approach and other systems. Among other things, Hewitt said:
   'Scientists are an amazing breed. On the one hand, they are conservative. But within the frame of their training, a group of scientists represent truth, integrity, order, sensitivity, and sensibility on the highest level...'
   He compared the extreme difficulty of obtaining top scientists at the beginning of the voyage, with the ease he had had in obtaining any number of volunteers on this occasion. The reason: a ship returned from a voyage of over a hundred years represented a clear and immediate problem. Every aspect of that problem had aroused scientific interest and enthusiasm -
   Lesbee watched the result of that enthusiasm. Humanitarian laws were codified. There were a police force, judges, a jury system. A captain, yes – Hewitt – but he became the administrator of the law through the system. He had his rights and duties...
   Universal equal education was set up, with an administering board and teachers with personal rights and privileges...
   Lesbee listened to Hewitt explain in another lecture why only on a ship could such a complete, perfect system be established. Outside force and technology, scientifically altruistic, could move in upon such a limited world as the Hope of Man and in a short time create a model system.
   Hewitt explained that among nations on Earth there was no comparable altruistic outside force. Victors in wars, motivated by hatred and the need to control, degrade, despoil, and punish – were virtually the only outside forces human beings had ever known. The defeated knew their fate, held still for the disaster through fear, built up their own hatred, waited their chance -which usually came through the conniving of international politics.
   Lesbee's first impulse was to consider Hewitt naive.
   Hewitt didn't seem to be aware that, while the ship's inhabitants accepted their rights, there was already muttering against the duties.
   And that the men were outraged by the attitude of the newcomers which implied that the women aboard had not been treated right.
   Presently, Lesbee found himself wondering if Hewitt's apparent unawareness was not part of a skillful game, another way to power.
   While all this was developing, the Molly D cast off.
   For Lesbee, when he heard this, all the turmoil aboard the ship became as nothing.
   The time had come for his take-over.

38

   Lesbee had a strong impulse to go and see Tellier before he did anything.
   But he recognized the desire as a weakness. He actually thought, 'Maybe I want him to talk me out of this.' He did not go.
   For a few moments before he came down from high to even time, Lesbee stared at the twisted caricature figures of the Gourdy gang. It was an unhappy stare. He disliked this whole group. But unfortunately these were his only possible allies at this stage.
   Most of these negative feelings were still strangely heavy on him a little later as he explained the situation to Gourdy. There were so many doubts – 'It's almost,' Lesbee thought, 'as if I consider what I'm about to do an outdated solution. Perhaps I've let all that scientific propaganda affect me.'
   He reassured himself that Hewitt was simply another power seeker.
   The faraway expression in Lesbee's eyes did not escape Gourdy.
   It was the moment of carelessness he had been waiting for all these days. He glanced significantly at Harcourt, who, by instruction, had watched the two men alertly during their discussion.
   Lesbee sighed. 'Better start the attack on the ship,' he thought, 'and get it over with.' His intention was to begin by disarming everybody aboard.
   At that final instant he caught Harcourt's movement, and his fingers closed convulsively over the control device, squeezed it in a grip of iron.
   It was the last thing he ever did.
   The blow of energy from Harcourt's blaster caught him in the side of the head and upper shoulder.
   Blackout!... death!... instantly.
   Pressing the control button knocked him into another time ratio barely short of the ratio related to light-speed, about the same as Hewitt's original 973 to one.
   There he lay as dead as any man would ever be.
   Gourdy gazed down at the twisted body. In his sharp way, he had observed the one thing Lesbee did consistently in connection with his fantastic disappearing act: the putting of his hand in his pocket. There was no other repeated action.
   So – Gourdy had reasoned – Lesbee had some device there by which he was able to become invisible.
   He said, 'Roll him over and see what he's got in that pocket.'
   The dead body was lifted as if it were made of feathers.
   A moment later, Harcourt triumphantly handed Gourdy the control device.
   Gourdy pressed the button and turned the switch, one after the other, to the three positions. Nothing happened. Maybe this wasn't it... They searched Lesbee's pockets frantically for some other mechanism, but found nothing.
   Again and again, Gourdy manipulated the three-stage switch. Since it was a thought-amplifying device that reacted to certain thoughts only, there was no response.
   Baffled, finally, he stared at the almost weightless, fragile body of his dead enemy; and in him were those bitter, hopeless feelings of an untrained man confronted by a scientific complexity.
   Not for the first time he realized how much he actually needed Lesbee, or somebody like him.
   But he knew also what had driven him. He wanted the captain's wives for himself; it was such a naked desire that had built up in him unbearably during this period when it seemed ' that he had lost everything.
   Standing there, he accepted the partial defeat that was here.
   'O.K., O.K.!' he said to his henchman in a savage tone, 'we'll take the ship just like we did the first time – except we'll wait for the next sleep period and catch them by surprise. That gives us about ten hours. So let's get some sleep and be ready.
   When the ten hours were up, his instructions were: 'Kill only the Space Patrol guys – and Hewitt. We'll need the old ship people.'
   The attack on the ship led by Gourdy began as a movement of a straggling line of men traversing one deserted corridor after another. Presently, the first trio of men broke off from the main group and headed for the engine room. Two other segments of three soon turned off, one heading for the alternate control room, the other for the bridge. The main body of men accompanied Gourdy to the upper levels.
   It was here in the first officer's apartment – according to Lesbee – that the Space Patrol headquarters had been established. Other patrol men occupied various adjoining cabins.
   Two groups of three men were sent into that area with master keys and with instructions to attempt total surprise and show no mercy to any of the new men on the ship.
   Gourdy and the remaining two men went cautiously on to the captain's cabin. Using another of the numerous keys Lesbee had made, Gourdy softly unlocked the outer door and tiptoed inside... A minute later, two sleepy, startled women stared up at him from the beds in the master bedroom: his own wife, Marianne, and the woman, Ruth.
   One of the other men had gone into the second bedroom. This individual now reported that it was occupied by Ilsa and Ann.
   – No Hewitt. Never had been! Why hadn't Lesbee told him-?
   Gourdy felt an intense but momentary rage. His emotion yielded to urgency. He left the women and headed for the detector instrument.
   All the apartments he scanned were occupied.
   After a few minutes of hastily searching for Hewitt, he realized that such a survey would take too long. As a final check, he switched to the dormitory in the lower part of the ship. It was deserted. So they were probably all back with their families.
   He sought and found the button that flashed on the interior of patrol headquarters. It was a grimly satisfying scene: two dead men in pajamas. A woman lay sobbing on one of the bodies.
   Flicking over to the cabins, one by one, he saw with total delight that his men had made a victorious sweep... In two of the apartments there had been fighting, the surprise evidently not complete. In one room, one of his own henchmen lay dead. But across from him was a dead stranger.
   These two cabins were in shambles.
   Jubilant, rubbing his hands with his absolute joy, Gourdy stepped out into the main room. The two men were standing nervously out in the corridor; he could see them through the door. The four women had put on dressing gowns and stood in a tight little group near the door of the main bedroom.
   His women. Soon.
   'Well, ladies,' he said, grinning widely, 'looks like I'm going to be captain again.'
   Silence greeted his words. After a moment, the glum expressions on all four women's faces irritated him. 'By God!' he said, 'I'll kick you all out of here if you don't show a little interest!'
   Tears came into Ruth's eyes. Then a sob escaped her lips. It was like a signal. All four women started to cry.
   Gourdy went into an instant, towering rage. 'Get into that room over there!' he ordered. He indicated the second bedroom. 'And stay there.'
   The sobs subsided. Silent again, they went inside and closed the door.
   The two men had entered the room while this interchange was going on. One asked nervously, 'What's happening, Captain?'
   'We're winning,' said Gourdy.
   But he hurried back to the detector instrument, to make sure.
   With fumbling fingers, he tuned in on the engine room.
   There, also, was victory. Former First Officer Miller had been captured.
   Gourdy broke in upon the scene via his viewplate communicator. Addressing Miller, he said, 'Where's Hewitt?'
   Miller was visibly in a state of shock but his answer sounded sincere: 'In one of the cabins upstairs. I don't know which one – honest!'
   Gourdy believed him. 'We'll get him!' he said savagely. And broke the connection.
   Unfortunately, there were well over a hundred apartments in the upper part of the ship. It disturbed Gourdy that somehow his luck hadn't enabled him to pick out the one Hewitt was in.
   'Damn it!' he thought. 'Why didn't he try to grab these women, like any normal man would do?'
   These emotions subsided as, one by one, his men reported in person. It was victory all along the line.
   '– Went into some wrong cabins!' Harcourt said. 'Soon as we saw they were old ship folk, we told 'em -like you said -to just stay indoors and no funny stuff... But some of them know now what's going on.'
   Almost all his followers made similar reports.
   Gourdy was indifferent. 'We know what those characters are like,' he said contemptuously.
   There was the musical sound of the intercom turning on. Gourdy automatically headed toward it. Abruptly, he stopped, frowned with amazement. 'But who can be calling?' he said.
   He was still scowling as he clicked on his end of the machine.
   Hewitt!
   The two men stared at each other's images, Gourdy's eyes narrowed, Hewitt's were grave. It was Hewitt who spoke.
   'I've just been advised of your attempted take-over, Gourdy. I don't know how you got aboard, but you've made the mistake of your life.'
   For Gourdy, one word stood out '– Advised! -'
   He snarled, 'Who advised you? Wait till I lay my hands on-'
   Hewitt went on grimly, 'And I've got a score of men already gathered, and more coming every minute -'
   Gourdy felt his first chill.
   '– We're armed!' said Hewitt. 'And in a few minutes we're starting up there to get you, so you'd better surrender before it's too late.'
   Gourdy had recovered. 'You won't get far with that gang of cowards!' he said scornfully, and he broke the connection.