"Good morning." "Good morning, colonel." "Oh, hi, bill." "Well, did you make our reservations" "For lunch at the club?" "You and your easy living." "Boy, you better cut down on some of that weight" "Or I'm going to ground you." "Oh, yeah?" "Look who's talking." "You know, Marty, you're just jealous." "You're after my job, and I know it." "You know, you may be right." "Okay, hero, let's get you into your flight suit." "Right." "The flight is divided into three phases." "Ground to maximum altitude," "Maximum speed and controllability" "In the upper thin air," "And re-entry." "Now, the turbo jet engine will lose its efficiency" "At around 50,000 feet." "Allison will coast on it to 75,000 feet," "And then cut in the new rocket engine." "He'll level off at around 500,000 feet, 100 Miles above the earth, gentlemen." "For all practical purposes," "Major Allison will be in space." "Now, at this altitude," "He'll lower the ventral stabilizers" "And make his high-speed stability flight" "Progressing from position 1 to 20." "Now, we know the x80 is capable" "Of a speed of 5,000 Miles per hour." "In the thin air of 100 Miles altitude" "With no resistance, who knows?" "What we learn from this flight will pretty well determine" "Our next step into space," "The satellite," "A man in orbit." "You all set, major?" "Yes, sir." "Excuse me gentlemen." "I'll join you in flight control shortly." "Hello, tracking station number two." "This is sands flight control." "X80 standing by for take-off." "With your permission, tower." "Am I clear to roll?" "Weather clear." "You have a green light." "Good luck." "X80 to sands control." "Approaching altitude 40,000 feet," "Air speed 1,200," "Angle of flight 85 degrees." "Over." "50,000 feet, colonel." "Turbo power cutting out." "Hello, control." "Approaching 75,000 feet." "Cutting in rocket engine." "Hello, sands, this is x80," "Approaching altitude 400,000 feet." "Okay, colonel." "There's a new record for you." "Good work, Allison." "How do you feel?" "How's she handling?" "No pain, no strain." "Leveling off." "Proceeding with phase number two." "Over." "When you're ready, kid." "When you're ready." "This is x80 to sands control." "Approaching position number one." "Altitude 500,000." "Air speed 1,000-plus." "Ventral stabilizers in position." "You ready, colonel?" "Ready any time you are." "And the lord be with you." "Over." "Sands control from x80." "Position number four." "Air speed 2,000..." "Two, zero, zero, zero." "We're going all the way." "X80 to sands control." "Position number eight." "Air speed 6,000..." "Six, zero, zero, zero." "Position ten." "Air speed 7,000." " What is it, Martin?" " I'm not sure." "We've lost radio contact." "Colonel Martin, he's off the tracking field." "Keep trying." "Keep trying." "Sands control to x80," "Sands control to X, eight, oh." "Come in, x80." "Sands control to x80." "Sands to X, eight, oh." "Come in, x80." "Re-entry glide successful." "This is x80 preparing for a landing." "Are you reading me?" "Come in, sands control." "Hey, anybody here?" "Did you make our reservations for lunch at the club?" "You and your easy living." "Boy, you better cut down on some of that weight" "Or I'm going to ground you." "Oh, yeah?" "Look who's talking." "You know, Marty, you're just jealous." "You're after my job, and I know it." "You know, you may be right." "Okay, hero, let's get you into your flight suit." "Right." "Where is everybody?" "Hey!" "Anybody here?" "You." "Who are you?" "What are you doing to me?" "I said, "what are you doing to me?"" "Can't you hear me?" "Get me out of this thing!" "Who... who are you people?" "Where am I?" "In a hospital or something?" "Where am I?" "What's wrong with you?" "Can't you understand me?" "Say something." "I said, "answer me!"" "Can't you..." "Let go of me!" "Oh, sorry." "I didn't mean to do that." "The new prisoner has been cleansed of radiation," "My master." "That is well." "Let us hope we find him more cooperative" "Than the previous prisoners." "I hope Trirene has learned something" "From his thoughts." "We must be very careful." "He will use all the known tricks." "We can depend on that." "We will proceed with the usual caution, captain." "Who are you?" "Major William Allison, U.S. air force." "Won't you sit down, major?" "Sir, I'd like to ask some questions." "I'm very confused about what's happened to me." "Yes, of course, major." "Ask your questions." "I'd like to know where I am" "And how I got here" "And who all you people are." "And the airfield..." "What has happened to it?" "The air base, my supreme." "Yes." "I left there at 8:00 this morning," "And half hour later," "It was in shambles, deserted." "Where are colonel Martin and the others?" "I..." "I don't understand." "You are from a nation of speaking peoples." "How glorious that must be." "Our society's less fortunate." "Your society?" "Yes." "You see, we here in our citadel," "Save for my captain and myself," "Are deaf-mutes." "Even my own grandchild Trirene." "Deaf-mutes." "You mean everybody?" "I don't understand." "There will be time for understanding" "If you are cooperative." "Now tell us of your nation." "I don't know what you're talking about, sir." "I'm sorry." "You know very well what we're talking about." "You're not the first spy we've ever captured." "What do you mean spy?" "I asked some civil questions." "I expect some civil answers." "I want some answers." "What is this you're wearing, this symbol?" "What is this?" "New devices to deceive us, master." "We have seen such guises before." "They do not fool us." "It would be wise to tell us all you know." "I'm major William Allison," "United States air force, sir." "Serial number 03564629." "That's all I'm required to tell you." "I will use other measures, supreme." "I will get to the truth." "Wait, captain." "Major, we have saved your life." "You could have been captured by the mutants." "Won't you cooperate with us?" "With your permission, sir." "What was your purpose in coming here?" "I don't have any purpose." "You lie." "You were spying on our solar energy installation." "How did you find us?" "Find you?" "I don't even know where I am." "You're searching for Karl Kruse and Dr. Bourman." "You're one of them, aren't you?" "I never heard of them." "Where are your people living?" "Would you really like to know, captain?" "Yes, of course I want to know." "Well, at this very minute, I don't know myself." "Captain..." "He's impossible." "You're one of the scapes." "Admit it." "I'm an officer of the United States air force." "I'd like someone to tell me something that makes some sense." "Other nations, mutants?" "What kind of talk is this?" "He is very clever, my supreme, but I have a plan." "I can use him to our advantage." "Trirene does not approve of your plan, captain." "She has found some truth in the major's thoughts." "I do not trust him, especially his thoughts." "Even Trirene could be deceived." "Follow through with your plan, captain." "Yes, master." "It will be done." "Wait a minute." "Let me go." "What are you doing?" "It appears you have more than the usual interest" "In this young captive, Trirene." "He's very young." "This young man is an enemy." "You must be very careful." "I understand your wish, Trirene." "We see you, captain." "We see you up there." "Captain is alone." "Who are you?" "I can't see you." "Good lord." "What's wrong with you?" "We will kill you, captain." "Mutants." "I'm not the captain." "Do you understand?" "Who are you?" "You can talk." "Answer me!" "Yes!" "I will talk." "Stay or I'll break his arm." "Now, the captain and his people are your enemies." "Why?" "They are listening." "They are listening and watching us." "I don't care." "I want some answers." "Who are these people in this citadel?" "They are hiding from us." "They have food." "They have everything." "But we will find them, all of them," "And kill, kill, kill them." "Why are they hiding?" "They are infected too." "They cannot escape." "Escape?" "Escape from what?" "You are scape, like Karl Kruse." "Who are the scapes?" "You." "You and Kruse." "You are scapes." "We know." "You left us to die." "You ran from the plague." "What plague?" "When?" "Long ago." "Long ago you left us here to die." "You did this to us." "But we will find your hiding place," "And we will kill all of you." "I did this?" "Has the whole world gone mad?" "Young man, my granddaughter has chosen to protect you." "She has expressed faith in what you've told us." "My captain and I will trust her judgment." "Trirene has a gift we do not possess." "She has an extra sensory power." "She's able to perceive every thought within our minds." "Go with her, young man." "You will have the freedom of our citadel." "And our child will be happy." "Oh, thank you." "Uh, thank you." "Hey, am I starved." "That looks great." "Uh, thank you." "Thank you." "Oh, hi." "I was just looking around." "I mean, Trirene," "I want to thank you for rescuing me." "But, you know, that captain seems determined" "That I'm an enemy." "If you could only talk," "If I could only make you understand." "I'll go out of my mind if I..." "You know what I'm thinking, don't you?" "You know how important it is to me" "To find out exactly what happened" "And how I got here." "The city." "You and all the people here once lived in this city." "Is that right?" "No?" "Oh, your grandfather, the supreme," "He lived in the city." "I see." "Your father?" "And your mother." "They came here before you were born?" "And you've never lived in the air and sunlight, have you?" "Trirene, tell me." "Why did they abandon that city" "And move to the subterranean world?" "The mutants." "The plague." "Was it the plague they told me about?" "Trirene, try to understand this." "I was on an airfield this morning." "In less than an hour, everything had changed." "All the people I know were gone." "There was no plague where I came from." "What happened?" "What happened to your father and mother?" "The mutants killed them." "Oh, I'm..." "I'm very sorry." "You know my thoughts before I express them, so..." "You know I'm going to ask you about Karl Kruse." "Is he here in the citadel?" "Look, would you take me to him?" "I think if I can get to Karl Kruse," "He can help me understand all this." "Trirene gives me to understand that you are one of us." "I don't know." "I'm not sure." "I think you are." "How long have you been here in the citadel?" "Since this morning." "Well, I'm not certain." "I don't know." "I've lost track." "Time has very little meaning" "Here in the catalisosphere." "Trirene informs me that you have been here" "For three turns of the earth." "That is three days." "I've only been in this place a few hours." "I took off from the field at 0800 this morning." "I had hoped that you would be able to explain..." "Do not excite yourself." "We will explain." "There will be plenty of time." "Let me introduce myself." "I'm Karl Kruse." "Used to be general Karl Kruse." "This is Professor Bourman." "How do you do?" "Major William Allison, United States air force." "Did you say United States air force?" "Yes." "What's so unusual about that?" "Major Allison, what year was your flight in?" "I told you today, this morning." "But what day and what year, major?" "It is important we know." "March 5, 1960." "1960?" "He's from before the plague." "How is this possible, Professor?" "What is this plague I keep hearing about?" "You really don't know, do you?" "No, I don't know." "I don't know where I am or how I got here," "And I don't know who these people are" "In the citadel either." "Well, Trirene has found herself" "A big, good-looking playmate, and a fiery one too." "Major Allison, this is ex-captain Markova." "I don't know that I like what you have on your mind, captain." "Maybe when you find out what she has on hers," "You'll like that better." "What are you driving at?" "They've given you the run of this place," "Haven't they?" "Yes." "So little Trirene here can get busy and..." "What kind of female are you?" "I had to do it." "Don't you understand?" "You mean she was reading your thoughts," "Things you didn't want her to know?" "That's right." "We can talk now, but not for long." "The captain will be up here any minute" "To see what's happened to his gadgets." "Watch out for him." "He rules this place with an iron fist." "Yes, so I've found out." "He's determined I'm an enemy spy," "A "scape," he called it." "That's the name they have given us," "We who escaped the cosmic plague." "They hate us for leaving them behind." "Luckily, we convinced them they needed us." "Otherwise, we'd still be down in the pit with the mutants." "We keep the solar power system operating." "All their skilled have died off." "And the mutants are the ones who did not escape the plague." "Is that right?" "No, the people here in this citadel didn't either." "They are all first-stage mutants themselves." "Is that why they're deaf and mute?" "And sterile, except for Trirene perhaps." "Sterile?" "Yes." "They are a dying race." "There hasn't been a new birth on this citadel" "For the past 20 years." "That's where you fit into the plan, Allison." "Make no mistake about it." "What do you mean?" "Regeneration." "Trirene has chosen you as her mate." "You're the last hope for this society." "I don't understand it." "There wasn't any plague this morning." "When did it happen?" "Major Allison, have you any idea" "What year this is right here, right now?" "Of course I know what year it is." "What's that got to do with it?" "Everything." "Major, this is 2024." "It's what?" "2024." "64 years into the future for you, major." "The plague we are talking about," "It hadn't happened in your world in 1960." "It began in 1971." "Wh..." "Atomic war?" "No, no." "The feared nuclear war never occurred." "When man set foot on the moon," "All nations started to work together to push on into space." "By 1970, colonies had been established" "On both Mars and Venus." "Then if it wasn't nuclear war, what did cause it?" "A bombardment of cosmic radiation from outer space." "Bombardment from outer space?" "Oh, now, wait a minute." "You wait." "Now, listen to me, Allison." "The people of your world are concerned about nuclear fallout." "Well, the danger is in the other extreme." "The tons of radioactive dust that have mushroomed" "Up into the ionosphere since the very first a-bomb test," "That dust has remained up there," "And it's slowly destroying the protective screen" "That has filtered deadly cosmic rays from space" "Since time began." "Do you understand, major?" "Yes." "That all the nuclear explosions" "That have ever taken place on earth have contributed to this." "Yes." "And every human being left has become mutant" "Or sterile or a combination of both." "If what you say is true," "Then colonel Martin and all the others were caught up in it." "What's happened to them?" "How can I find out?" "There isn't any way." "Let's only hope they were amongst the lucky ones" "Who could evacuate." "Evacuate?" "Yes." "In 1973, the Mars evacuation began" "To the planet colonies." "Only the uninfected ones were permitted to go." "The ones left behind moved underground" "As fast as possible and started building" "Networks of tunnels like this one." "More than half the population of the world was wiped out" "During the first year." "I see." "When I landed on the air base," "It was completely destroyed," "Demolished, deserted." "You landed?" "You didn't crash?" "The captain." "When they found you, they destroyed your ship." "No." "No, I left the air base." "They captured me afterwards." "Then your plane is in operating condition" "Sitting out there on the air base?" "Well, I suppose so." "Unless the mutants have found it." "Well, Kruse," "I see you've become acquainted" "With our new prisoner." "Yes, captain," "And it is your good fortune, as well as ours." "Major Allison has an excellent technical background," "And he's eager to help us." "And as you know, captain," "We are in dire need of skilled help." "Well, we shall see." "Where's Trirene?" "I believe she's returned to her chambers, captain." "I think she's expecting a visitor." "Come along with me, major." "We have some things to discuss." "Kruse, I'm warning you." "I'll tolerate no more of your scheming." "If you persist, I'll see that you're back in the dungeon." "We've got to get to the major before they convince him" "We're his enemies." "But unfortunately," "I do not understand such things." "I am not a scientist." "My concern is a military one." "I must save the last of my people." "Then it is true." "Your society is doomed." "Major Allison, I must warn you." "Karl Kruse and his group are shrewd." "They'll use you." "They're the most dangerous scapes" "I've ever encountered." "It would be wise for you not to associate with them." "Come, I'll show you your chambers." "Major, I must tell you the truth." "Understand it's not an easy thing for me to do." "What they say about us is true." "We are sick and dying." "You cannot imagine what the envy that I look upon you," "Kruse, and Dr. Bourman." "I, myself, am in the first stages of mutation." "You?" "For this reason," "I have no love for you who have escaped the plague." "But as the supreme has told you," "We will trust in Trirene's judgment." "Major Allison, I ask you," "Do nothing that will bring harm to her," "For Trirene is our only hope." "Trirene." "Trirene." "Trirene, I want to talk to you." "Look, I'm very sorry about the things Markova said to you." "I don't believe any of the things they told me." "You know I'm telling the truth, don't you?" "You know, you're very lovely." "I keep forgetting you read my thoughts." "I wish you couldn't." "What can I say?" "You're not angry?" "You know, you have an unfair advantage over every man." "What are you doing here?" "Take it easy." "Don't you think I know what will happen to me" "If I'm caught?" "You were spying on us." "Don't be foolish." "I couldn't care less." "Come here." "I better get back." "Wait." "Kruse has to see you." "He has a plan." "I don't know whether" "I better be seeing any of you or not." "We may be able to get you out of this" "And back to your own time." "How can I possibly go back to my own time" "If I don't know how I got here?" "You don't, but Kruse and Bourman do." "Look, why should it be me?" "Why not Kruse or Bourman" "Or even you, Markova?" "There'd be nothing to be gained" "By our returning to our time." "It's different with you." "You're from before the plague." "You may be able to..." "I may be able to prevent it." "Is that what you mean?" "Of course." "You've got to take this chance." "If you can get back to your people and prevent the plague," "All this will never happen." "Let's go talk to Kruse and Bourman." "Yes, I agree." "I have to get back to my time, to 1960." "Well, we have a very good chance, major," "If we can reverse the phenomenon that brought you here." "What phenomenon did bring me here?" "It is what we know as a relativity paradox." "It's another dimension..." "A fifth dimension." "Fifth dimension?" "Professor Bourman's principle of gravitation propulsion" "Brought it about." "By 1970, it became the standard system" "Used to travel to the planets at the speed of light." "Speed of light?" "I thought 10,000 Miles an hour was fast." "Yes, but there is a pitfall in the system." "At speeds approaching that of light," "It is possible to break the time lock," "The barrier that holds all things" "In a normal time relationship to each other." "That's what happened to all of us." "We have slipped out of one time sphere and into another." "Captain Markova broke through in 1973 during her third flight." "She was transporting supply from central Europe" "To the Venus planet." "The captain's men destroyed her ship." "It happened to Kruse and I years later." "We had returned to earth for an observation flight in 1994." "Our ship crashed." "1994?" "But the speed I approached in the x80" "Was nowhere near the speed of light." "That may be, but it was just enough" "To create certain mathematical conditions." "Let me show you." "Here." "These symbols represent" "The earth, the sun," "And your ship." "Now, consider these known facts." "The earth is rotating at 1,000 Miles per hour," "But it is also revolving in orbit around the sun" "At 66,000 Miles per hour." "Time, as we know it, is relative to these movements." "But the entire solar system," "Together with other systems of our galaxy," "Are moving through space at over 6 million Miles per hour." "Theoretically, you were at a velocity" "Approaching the speed of light" "Before you ever left the ground." "Yes, but everything is moving at that speed" "Together as one unit..." "The air, the earth..." "According to the law of gravity." "Time is not affected by the laws of gravity." "This is what happened to you." "At some point during your high-speed flight," "You approached escape velocity, 25,000 Miles per hour." "It was at this time that you altered your flight angle." "If you hadn't, probably you would have gone on into orbit." "It was this angle at a specific altitude" "And velocity that broke the time barrier." "For a fraction of a second, you were suspended in space," "No longer interlocked with the time spheres" "Of the sun and the earth." "Now, during this split second," "Our galaxy moved onward in time" "For what amounted to 65 years." "An instant later, you had re-joined our solar system." "And the rest you know." "Yes." "Then if I repeat the altitude, angle of flight, and speed" "In directly the opposite direction," "I should go back into time 65 years." "Mm-hmm." "Precisely." "Dr. Bourman is working on the formula." "The three factors must be exact." "And we must locate an escape from the citadel" "So I can find my ship." "Right." "We must obtain an early map of the citadel" "With the tunnel work." "Your air base surely must be included." "They began construction as early as 1972." "The maps are on file in the supreme's chamber." "There is only one way to get them, major." "You mean Trirene?" "That's the only way." "No." "No, I won't turn her against her own people." "You have to do it." "It's up to you, major." "You haven't much time to decide." "Very well." "I'll do it." "You stay here." "I'll find my way back." "Trirene, I've got to have your help." "It's very difficult for me to know what to do," "But there's something..." "What would I do without you?" "Trirene, tell me you know I'm doing the right thing." "I've got to try and go back." "You do understand that, don't you?" "There won't have to be any citadel." "You and your people can live on the surface of the earth" "Without fear of any cosmic plague." "They're waiting." "I made this tracing from the original map," "Then Trirene returned it to the archives." "Here, let me show you." "Now, here's the citadel." "I remember a wooded area and a hill." "The solar antenna was atop the hill." "They must have hit me with that paralyzing ray about here." "This outlet must be perimeter 22b." "Here's the highway." "If I can find that," "I can follow it directly to the air base." "We'll need the gun we have hidden." "And your flight suit." "Yes." "What about the time lock formula?" "I'm working on it now." "I'm almost finished." "If nothing goes wrong, Allison," "You can be on your way within a few hours." "It should be no great problem." "Trirene will lead us by the guards." "Good." "No, it is not the equipment, master." "It's another one of their devices" "To prevent us from watching them." "They're planning an escape, and I know it." "I'll put a stop to this scheme." "Just say the word." "They will only try again." "Trirene's helping them." "I fear our future is done, captain." "We have returned to the cave" "Where men first lived on earth." "We have returned to our birthplace to die." "Through Allison and Trirene, there is hope, master." "Perhaps it is too great a hope." "There may be some truth in what they say," "Some chance that this young man can return" "To a time before the plague." "No, it's a trick." "We must not let the major escape." "Do not forget, master," "Our observers sighted mutant scouts again yesterday." "This is a time for great caution." "I will speak to him." "Perhaps I can persuade him to accept our way." "Yes, my supreme." "Let me bring him to you." "What's the meaning of this?" "Don't ask me questions." "The supreme and I trusted you." "We're aware of your scheme." "I could explain to you forever." "You'd never understand." "I warned you to stay away from those three." "Now you'll answer to the supreme." "Then you don't believe it's possible for me" "To return to my own time?" "Kruse and Bourman think the plague can be prevented" "If I can go back and inform my people." "I truly wish I could believe your reasoning," "But they are using you for their own purpose." "They will bring others." "They will destroy our citadel." "But you don't understand." "I'm from a time before any of this has ever happened." "I must go back." "Such things do not exist." "Kruse has created these illusions in your mind." "Look, as far as I'm concerned, it's 1960." "You people can believe it's 2024" "Or any time you please." "None of this is real." "It's all an illusion to me." "No, my son." "You're wrong." "Here, touch my hand." "Is that not real flesh?" "And these walls, are they not solid stone?" "And Trirene, you have touched her." "Can you say she's not real?" "Yes, they are all very real things." "But you can't prove that what you say is true." "The only proof I can offer" "Is the fact that here we are in this room." "Can you prove that you are somewhere else?" "Supreme," "Trirene believes in what I'm trying to do." "You have faith in her judgment, haven't you?" "Yes, but Trirene has fallen in love." "Please, I ask you," "Give up this futile scheme." "Remain here." "You will inherit our domain." "I'm sorry." "I value my freedom more than this." "Hear me, fellow prisoners!" "Hear me, fellow prisoners." "You're free." "The citadel is yours." "Hear me, mutants." "Come out of your pit of death." "Our time of vengeance has come." "Follow me, soldiers of revenge." "I'll lead you to the captain," "To food, to freedom!" "So you'll attempt this escape," "Even though we'll try and stop you?" "Yes." "I'll try to escape," "Even though the captain offers all resistance." "You will never leave the citadel alive." "Well, that's a chance I'll have to take." "I didn't think for one minute" "The supreme would change your mind." "Now you're my responsibility," "And I'm going to take charge." "You're going back to the pit." "They'll tear them to pieces." "Are you out of your mind?" "You set them free." "It's part of the plan." "Get to your room for your flying suit." "Move." "Where are Kruse and Bourman?" "We're meeting them at the elevator up." "You better go in and get Trirene." "We don't need her anymore." "The citadel's in chaos." "The guards are involved in that." "You don't think I'd leave her here to face this, do you?" "I'm taking her with me." "You can't, Allison." "You can't take her back with you." "I'll try." "Don't you understand?" "You can't take her back through the time barrier with you." "Your world is before she was born." "I'll try anyway." "No." "From now on it's you and me." "I'm going back to the time barrier with you." "I'm going back to my time, 1973." "The formula." "You're double crossing Kruse and Bourman." "Not for long." "Leave her, major." "There's no time." "Come on." "We are in luck." "The guards are being withdrawn." "What are you doing?" "I had to do it." "Because, you see," "He would have killed us all." "Like Markova, he wanted to take your plane, Allison." "I think you're lying Bourman." "I think you're the one that wanted to make that flight." "That will be all, major Allison." "Supreme was right about you and Kruse." "Because we wanted to return to 1994?" "Yes." "You said I could prevent the cosmic plague" "If I could go back." "You could, but your people won't believe you." "This is mass murder." "You're letting these people die." "I will never break through the barrier in 2024 again." "I will never know anything about it." "Get out of your flight suit, Allison." "You'll have to take it off me." "Trirene." "I'm sorry." "We're going back to my world." "We're free now." "I understand." "I'll take you to your grandfather." "Now the shadow of death" "Darkens the holes of our citadel." "Our bright ray of hope is gone." "It is the end of us." "No." "No, it's not the end." "As long as we believe, there is always hope." "I'll return to my time, to my people." "We will prevent the plague." "You'll not live in a world of darkness." "I pray that this you believe in is not a dream." "No, it isn't." "I promise you." "I believe in you." "I'll lead you safely to the surface." "I believe." "Sands control to x80." "Sands to X, eight, oh." "Come in, x80." "Hello, sands." "This is x80." "I'm in serious trouble." "Coming in for a landing." "Are you reading me?" "Alert all crash detail to stand by." "What room is he in, sergeant?" "Operating room two, sir." "How is he?" "I haven't..." "Good lord!" "What's happened to him, doctor?" "What could have caused this?" "I don't know." "I have no explanation." "Not one word of this to anybody." "Keep me informed, doctor." "I'll be in my office." "All right, colonel." "Call the duty officer, sergeant." "I want a guard posted outside this door." "This is now a restricted area." "Yes, sir." "This is the office of the chief of staff." "Connect me with secretary Lloyd Patterson's office." "Urgent." "Trirene was dead." "The supreme gave me her ring." "He showed me the way out of the citadel." "I got to my plane." "That's all I remember." "30 minutes later," "Allison brought the ship in" "For an emergency landing." "Now, the odd thing about it is this..." "Right after he reported in at position six..." "Major Allison is feeling much better." "Good." "Mr. secretary, general, as you know," "Bill Allison is our leading research pilot" "Here at the test center." "We've always considered him fully competent and rational." "Dr. Richman and I have been with him" "For the past eight hours." "Dr. Richman and I are convinced" "That he is as mentally sound right now" "As any normal, well-balanced person can be." "I suggest we go in." "Mr. secretary, general." "Mr. secretary." "Thank you." "How about it, kid?" "Feel like talking?" "I'm ready, colonel." "Now, if you feel like you need more room," "Just say so." "Yeah, okay." "Any questions, gentlemen?" "Mr. Patterson?" "No, I don't believe so." "The plague, the cosmic plague." "None of us should go through it." "We've got to prevent it." "Prevent what, son?" "The cosmic plague." "Marty, we've got to stop it!" "Mr. secretary, from intelligence." "They've run a check on Professor Bourman" "And Karl Kruse." "Kruse is enrolled in a west German university." "He's a leading student in astronautics." "And Bourman, another student of physics and mathematics" "In Amsterdam." "He's written papers on new propulsion systems" "That have astounded the scientific world." "Colonel Martin..." "This is Trirene's ring the supreme gave me." "Gentlemen," "We have got a lot to think about."