It was a wonderful bodyguard:no bark, no bite, no sting ...just conversion of the enemy!
At three-fifteen, a young manwalked into the circularbrick building and tooka flattened package of cigarettesfrom his shirt pocket.
"Mr. Stern?" he asked, throwingaway the empty package.
Stern looked with hard eyes atthe youthful reporter. He recognizedthe type.
"So they're sending aroundcubs now," he said.
"I'm no cub—I've been on thepaper a whole year," the reporterprotested, and then stopped,realizing his annoyance hadbetrayed him.
"Only a year. The first timethey sent their best man."
"This ain't the first time," saidthe young man, assuming a boredlook. "It's the fourth time, andnext year I don't think anybodywill come at all. Why shouldthey?"
"Why, because they might beable to make it," Beryl spoke up."Something must have happenedbefore."
Stern watched the reporterdrink in Beryl's loveliness.
"Well, Mrs. Curtis," the youngman said, "everyone has it figuredout that Dr. Curtis got stuck inthe fourth dimension, or else lost,or died, maybe. Even Einsteincan't work out the stellar currentsyour husband was depending on."
"It's very simple," repliedBeryl, "but I can't explain it intelligibly.I wish you could havetalked to Dr. Curtis."
"Why is it that we have tocome out here just once a year towait for him? Is that how thefourth dimension works?"
"It's the only time when thestellar currents permit the tripback to Earth. And it's not thefourth dimension! Clyde was alwaysirritated when anyonewould talk about his traveling toMars in the fourth dimension."
"It's interdimensional," Sternput in.
"And you're his broker?" askedthe reporter, throwing his cigarettedown on the brick floor andstepping on it. "You're his oldfriend from college days, handledhis financial affairs, and helpedhim raise enough money to buildhis machine?"
"Yes," Stern replied, a littlepompously. "It was through myefforts that several wealthy mentook an interest in the machine,so that Dr. Curtis did not have tobear the entire expense himself."
"Yeah, yeah," the reportersighed. "I read an old story onit before I came here. Now I'mout of cigarettes." He lookedhopefully at Stern.
Stern returned the look coldly."There's a store where you canbuy some about three blocksdown the road."
"Is that the room where he'sexpected to materialize with hismachine?" The reporter pointedto an inner door.
"Yes. Dr. Curtis wanted to besure no one would be injured.This inner circular room wasbuilt first; then he had the outerwall put up as an added precaution.The circular passagewaywe're in leads all around the oldroom, but this doorway is theonly entrance."
"And what are those holes inthe top of the door for?"
"If he returns, we can tell bythe displaced air rushing out.Then the door will open automatically."
"And when is the return scheduledfor?" asked the reporter.
"Three-forty-seven and twenty-nineseconds."
"If it happens," the reporteradded skeptically. "And if itdoesn't, we have to wait anotheryear."
"Optimum conditions occurjust once a year."
"Well, I'm going out to getsome cigarettes. I've got time ...and probably nothing to waitfor. I'll return though."
He walked briskly through theouter door.
"This is the hardest part ofthe year, especially now.Suppose he did come back,"Beryl said plaintively.
"You don't have to worry,"Stern assur