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De Bailhache, Fresca, Mrs Ca Bear

In fractured atoms

- Eliot

SOS FROM NOWHERE

I realized the piano had deserted Erich and I crankedfor the control divan The Major Maintainer was blinking eh for even nize the Spider distress call and for a second I felt just sick Then Erich blew out his reserve breath in the ave myself another of those helpful mental boots at the base of the spine and we hurried after the with Mark

The blinks faded as we got there and Sid told us not to lued an eye to the telltale and we held still as statues as he caressed the dials like he waslove

One sensitive hand flicked out past the Introversion switch over to the Minor Maintainer and right away the Place was dark as your soul and there was nothing fora green light I couldn&039;t even see, although ht finally came back very slowly and I could see the dear reliable old face - the green-goldhim like a merht and Sid flicked on the Place lights and I leaned back

"That nails them, lads, whoever and whenever they may be Get ready for a pick-up"

Beau, as closest of course, looked at hied uneasily "Meseelobe a thousand years before our Lord, but that indication ffickered and faded like witchflre As it is, the call co smaller than the Place and certes adrift from the cosmos Meseemed too at one point I knew the first of the caller - an antipodean atomicist named Benson-Carter - but that likewise changed"

Beau said, "We&039;re not in the right phase of the cosmos-Places rhythm for a pick-up, are we, sir?"

Sid answered, "Ordinarily, not, boy"

Beau continued, "I didn&039;t think we had any pickups scheduled Or stand-by orders"

Sid said, "We haven&039;t"

Mark&039;s eyes glowed He tapped Erich on the shoulder "An octavian denarius against ten Reichsrin showed his teeth "Make it first through the Door next operation and I&039;s were serious, or the thought that there&039;s always a first ti from really outside the cosmos The Snakes have broken our codeout weapons and Doc was helping her Only Bruce and Lili stood off But they atching

The telltale brightened Sid reached toward the Maintainer, saying, "All right, h this Doorway pass the fishiest finaglers in and out of the cosmos"