All Judgment Fled Read Free Page A

this. From our observations of

the approach, physical mass and general appearance of the alien ship,

we are convinced that some method of faster-than-light propulsion is

being used. Since Einsteinian math holds FTL travel to be impossible in

this spacetime continuum, we must fall back on those vaguer theories

which suggest that the physical laws governing this continuum may be

in some fashion sidestepped by traveling along or within some highly

speculative hyperdimension. But as things stand you would very probably

not know a hyperdimensional propulsion device if it stood up and bit you,

and neither in all probability would I . . ."
     
     
There was a small, dry, academic cough, then the voice went on, "So

the purpose of this lecture is, by outlining current thinking on this

subject together with our speculations and supporting math, to give you

a slightly better chance of recognizing a hyperdimensional generator if

you should happen to see one.

"Subsequent lectures on a wide range of subjects are expected to include

. . ."
     
     
McCullough was beginning to feel concern for a future which now promised

to be positively rather than negatively boring. He hoped the Prometheus

people knew what they were doing and had taken pains to pick the right

kind of lecturer. When the idea had been first mentioned they had agreed

that without visual aids or textbooks, the process of learning new and

difficult subjects would be anything but easy. If handled properly, the

lectures would help negate boredom by engendering a competitive spirit

among the two ships' crews. This would be a very good thing provided

it did not cause some people to appear less bright than their fellows,

a situation which could open the way to all sorts of conflicts and

emotional disturbances. But all this had been taken into consideration,

the Prometheus astronauts had been told, and any harmful side effects

would be guarded against.
     
     
Probably time alone would tell, McCullough thought. At least this lecturer

possessed a rudimentary sense of humor.
     
     
He was saying, ". . . To give you an example, our knowledge of

extraterrestrial biology, physiology and sociology is nil. But in future

lectures we will prepare you to a certain extent for whatever you may meet

by considering in detail the sexual mores of certain isolated cultures

on our own planet and the exotic reproductive mechanisms of our more

alien terrestrial animals, insects and plants, and by formulating the

type of social system these creatures might be expected to develop were

they to rise to a human level of intelligence.

"All this is simply an indication of what you may expect from the various

specialist lecturers who will follow me.

"Before I commence my series of lectures it might be better if I introduced

myself. I am Doctor -- of Philosophy, not Medicine -- Edward Ernest Pugh,

Professor of Mathematics at the University of Coleraine, and Director of

its Department of Extramural Studies . . ."
     
     
Berryman turned to stare very solemnly out of the Earth-side port. He said,

"Just how extramural can a student get . . ."
     
     
Walters and McCullough laughed and Professor Pugh asked them to begin

by considering a tesseract.
     
     
     
     
chapter three
     
     
Time passed.
     
     
Their education grew while Earth and the apparent size of their vehicle

shrank. When the bulkheads pressed in on them too closely, they took

turns going outside, treating incipient claustrophobia with threatened

agoraphobia. At least that was how Berryman described the process. But

he talked that way, as they all did, to hide his real feelings. The

simple truth was that on the end of a long safety line, with their

vehicle looking like some surrealistic toy five hundred yards away,

the whole of Creation was spread out around them in sharp focus and

perfect 3-D and it was not a sight which could be easily talked about.
     
     
With the increased distance from Earth