Part 25 (2/2)

Arkalion smiled. ”Yes and no. It is not a dream like the others because I a.s.sure you your bodies are not now resting on a pair of identical white tables. Still in the other dreams physical things could happen to you, while now you'll find you can do things as in a dream. For example, neither one of you knows the intricacies of a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, yet if you are to save your planet, you must know the operation of the most intricate of all s.p.a.ce s.h.i.+ps, a giant s.p.a.ce station.”

”Then we're not dreaming?” asked Temple.

”I never said that. Consider this sequence of events about half way between the dream stage you have already seen and reality itself.

Remember this: you'll have to work together; you'll have to function like machines. You will be handling totally alien equipment with only the sort of knowledge which can be played into your brains to guide you.”

Sophia sighed. ”Being an American, Kit is too much of an individual to help in such a situation.”

Temple snorted. ”Being a cog in a simple, state-wide machine is one thing--orienting yourself in a totally new situation is another.”

”Yes, well--”

”See?” Arkalion cautioned. ”See? Already you are arguing, but you must work together completely, with not the slightest conflict between you.

As it is, you hardly have a chance.”

”What about you?” said Sophia practically. ”Can't you help?”

Arkalion shook his head. ”No. While I'd like to see you come out of this thing on top, I would not like to sacrifice my life for it--which is exactly what I'd do if I remained with you and you lost.

”So, let's get down to detail. Imagine s.p.a.ce being folded, imagine your time sense slowing, imagine a new dimension which negates the need for extensive linear travel, imagine anything you want--but we are in the process of moving nine hundred thousand light years through deep s.p.a.ce. There is a great galaxy at that distance, almost a twin of your Milky Way: you call it the Andromeda Nebula. Closer to your own system are the two Magellanic Clouds, so called, something else which you table NGC 6822, and finally the Triangulum Galaxy. All have billions of stars, but none of the stars have life. To find life outside your galaxy you must seek it across almost a million light years. My people live in Andromeda.

”Guarding the flank of their galaxy and speeding through inter-galactic s.p.a.ce at many light years per minute is what you might call a s.p.a.ce station--but on a scale you've never dreamed of. Five of your miles in diameter, it is a fortress of terrible strength, a storehouse of half a million years of weapon development. It has been arranged that the one man running this station--”

”Just one?” Temple asked.

”Yes. You will see why when you get there. It has been arranged that he will leave, ostensibly on a scouting expedition. You see, I am not alone in this venture. At any rate, he will report that the s.p.a.ce station has been taken--as, indeed, it will be, by the two of you. The only s.h.i.+ps capable of overtaking your station in its flight will be the only s.h.i.+ps capable of reaching your galaxy before cultural development gives you a chance to survive. They will attack you. You will destroy them--or be destroyed yourselves. Any questions?”

The whole thing sounded fantastic to Temple. Could the fate of all Earth rest on their shoulders in a totally alien environment? Could they be expected to win? Temple had no reason to doubt the former, as wild as it sounded. As for the latter, all he could do was hope. ”Tell me,” he said, ”how will we learn the use of all the weapons you claim are at our disposal?”

”Can you answer that for him, Sophia?” Arkalion wanted to know.

”Umm, I think so. The same way I had all sorts of culture crammed into me on Jupiter.”

”Precisely. Only take it from me our refinement is far better, and the amount you have to learn actually is less.”

”What I'd like to know--” Sophia began.

”Forget it. I want some sleep and you'll learn everything that's necessary at the s.p.a.ce station.”

And after that, ply Arkalion as they would with questions, he slumped down in his chair and rested. Temple could suddenly understand and appreciate. He felt like curling up into a tight little ball himself and sleeping until everything was over, one way or the other.

CHAPTER X

”It's all so big! So incredible! We'll never understand it! Never....”

”Relax, Sophia. Arkalion said--”

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