Page:Fantastic Universe (1956-10; vol. 8, no. 3).djvu/95

Rh follows that the seven aeons are not yet up."

"It's beyond me," the Ace Commander said hopelessly.

Professor Grant was speaking to Cartography.

"Jupiter VIII, second arc of sector. Thank you, Sidbee. Flash Challenge Queen telling her to proceed there at once and to clear all space stations, pending further instructions. Note for Operation Elemental: all minnows to be overhauled and in readiness for instant launching. Good."

He turned to Dr. Walstab. He said: "I'm doing what I can, but I say frankly I don't see how we're to get Sommers, so to speak, into the open. I'll say this, too—win or lose, this I.G. of yours, "Walstab, has at least made it possible for us to contact and perhaps comfort the poor fellow. He'll know our thoughts are with him "

Walstab smiled.

"I'm not without hope, even so, Graut. I glimpse a way out a bare glimpse. No, I can't go into details—yet. Everything depends on what next the I.G. brings us."

"God bless you," Jaguers stammered. "I can—hold on The screen's moving "

"He's waking," Dr. Walstab warned.

When he opened his eyes he found nothing changed. Oddly, he was not in the least thirsty or hungry. He tried to reckon up how long it was since he had fallen through the Vibrant's shute, but there was no means of telling. The watch on his wrist had not only stopped, but the hands seemed to have fused, and when he shook it they just crumbled into dust. The half light beyond the window was unaltered. What he could make out of the sky had a smooth waxy shine to it. There was no sun, or hint of any natural luminary, that he could see. It was like a perpetual twilight. Perhaps, in Elemental, there was no night or day. Perhaps the Elementals didn't need any sleep

Yet, maybe they did. Maybe, although the light remained the same, there were intervals in which they rested. At any rate, there was no sign of any life on the great landing field. The queer-looking ship had vanished. The hangar door was closed. There were a few small craft resting on speedways, whose design he couldn't make out, but otherwise the place was deserted. Asleep. The idea persisted. And with it came a second idea, an exciting idea. Now was his chance to get out of this place—this building, anyhow. Maybe, if he could get hold of one of those parked m.ichines, he could fly it out But he gavo-that up at once. He was convinced now that all this was no dream. So long as his vibrations held up, he was imprisoned in Elemental.

But the thought led on. He was beginning to find the answer to some things at least. The talk