“Yes,” Dis said. “This is a service entrance to the Hall of Advanced Technology. There are many exhibits here, but the machine you seek should be on display — if at all — in the experimental section. This area lies to your right as you go in.”
They entered and closed the door. Light came from a far corner of the chamber, and as they neared it, Gene doused the torch.
They saw a bell shaped contrivance standing in a pool of blue light cast by an overhead spot. A circular access port stood open in the side of the machine.
“Dis, is that it?” Gene asked.
“Difficult to be sure. We made what we hoped was an intelligent guess. As you are carrying a transponder on your person which amplifies our signal, you must get closer to the device in order to ascertain whether it is indeed the interdimensional traveler.”
“It fits your description of it,” Gene said.
“There were approximately four hundred other Umoi vehicles that answered to that description, fifty of which were exotic or experimental in nature.”
“One in fifty? Those are the best odds I’ve had so far. Let’s go, Vaya.”
The torch fell out of Gene’s belt and clattered to the floor. He stopped to pick it up.
An energy bolt sizzled over his head. Vaya returned fire as they ran for cover. They took refuge behind a huge contraption, a cross between a cement mixer and a jukebox.
“What now?” Gene said.
“I’m sorry,” Dis said, “but our invasion of the ambient circuitry has alerted the irrational units of your presence. We had hoped, by using low-level current, to preclude this eventuality. Obviously we have failed.”
“Forget it,” Gene said. “Topside knew exactly what we were looking for, and all they had to do was wait. I figured as much, but didn’t really have a choice. The traveler’s my only hope of getting home.”
“You will have to tell us about your home sometime,” Dis said. “This interests us greatly.”
“I’ll be sure to write. If you’ll excuse us now, we have to battle our way to freedom.”
“Certainly,” Dis replied. “We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. It has been a pleasure serving you.”
“For Pete’s sake, Dis, don’t leave now!”
Another energy bolt scorched the wall behind them.
“Who, may we ask, is this individual named Pete for whose sake we must act?”
“Me, that’s my nickname. Forget it. How many units are you picking up?”
“At least six in the immediate vicinity, Pete.” Dis answered. “You have them at a disadvantage inside the museum. They are programmed to protect the exhibits.”
Vaya sent a beam into the shadows. An explosion shook the chamber.
“You got one!” Gene said. “Good shooting!”
A third bolt came from another direction. Vaya returned fire, this time failing to hit anything but a hulking contraption in a far corner of the hall.
“Dis, are you still there?” Gene said.
“Yes. Do you require further assistance?”
“What do you advise?”
“Immediate surrender. You are surrounded and cannot win.”
“Great. Anything else?”
“You might try using the traveler as a redoubt, if you can successfully fight your way there. As far as can be ascertained, they will not destroy the device to get to you. However, you will be trapped inside.”
“Our one hope, then, is that the machine works and can take us out of here. Right?”
“That is your only hope,” Dis agreed.
Gene thought, if only he didn’t sound so damned cheerful all the time. The kind who’d announce the end of the world and add,Have a nice day.
“Give me the gun, Vaya,” Gene said. “I’m going to try to make it to that thing over there, the one that looks like a washing machine mating with a giant hair dryer. Never mind. That one.”
Vaya handed him the weapon and nodded. “Be quick and careful, my husband.”
“You bet your crown jewels, Queenie. Then I’ll cover you from there.”
Gene sprang out from cover and made his dash, bolts crackling around him. He ducked and slid on his stomach the last third of the way. But he made it. He drew a bead on the source of the firing.
“Pick your own time, Vaya!”
Vaya ran and did a textbook-perfect slide into second base. Then she took the weapon and covered Gene’s next mad dash.
Using this method, they made their slow way closer to the Umoi device. After ten minutes, however, a vast stretch of open floor still separated them from their goal.
“We’re just going to have to make a run for it,” Gene said.
“I am with you, my husband. Always.”
He kissed her, then scanned the darkness. The shuffling tread of the sentry robots came to his ears. Probably positioning for a cross fire, Gene thought grimly. He considered surrender as a possible way out. Maybe Topside would let them go.
No, there was no turning back.
“Ready, my Queen?”
Vaya nodded, then hugged him again.
“Right. On three. One … two …three!”
Gene led, firing blindly left and right, a brilliant explosion quickly marking one lucky shot. Return fire was swift and accurate, bolts sizzling inches behind their heels.
Vaya was hit just a few feet from the vehicle’s hatch, a wide-focus beam sweeping over her. She went down and lay still, her long hair trailing smoke. Gene dragged her, lifted her up, and threw her into the machine. He dove in after, the beam weapon clattering to the floor, out of reach.
The hatch closed immediately, and darkness fell.
“Vaya!” Gene reached for her. She was moaning softly, semi-conscious. Her skin felt hot and oily, like under-cooked meat. The stench of burning hair filled the compartment.
He let her down. She seemed pretty bad. If only he could see.
The lights came on.
“Dis! Is that you?”
“Yes. We are activating the machine.”
Gene looked down at Vaya. The left side of her entire body was beet-red. Second-degree burns at least. Part of her hair was singed away.
“We have a report on the condition of the machine,” Dis said.
Gene got up and went into what appeared to be the control compartment. There were two squat Umoi seats and a control panel in front of an oval view port. He sat.
“Report,” Gene said. “Is this machine real or a mock-up?”
“It is the original device, in complete working order.”
“Wonderful. Can it get me home?”
“No. This machine — named the Sidewise Voyager — was tested once. It failed to work, and was abandoned. The data are stored in the machine.”
The finality of it came down on Gene like a landslide. This was it. He had come as far as he could, to find nothing but a dead end.His dead end. And Vaya’s. A bitter lump of remorse rose at the back of his throat.
“Is there any other service we may render at this time?”
Gene took a deep breath. “No. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Please come back and visit us soon,” Dis said. There was a pause. Then: “We are very sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Gene said.
Thirty-four
Lab
A strange machine had appeared on the platform. It was a sledlike affair of brass and steel, having at the back a circular decorated screen that looked like an open parlor fan and appeared capable of revolving. There was a seat for the operator or pilot, upholstered in red plush velvet. Numerous other Victorian touches graced the thing, here lace, there ornate chasing. A quartz rod protruded from a simple control panel in front of the operator’s seat.
Linda said, “Is that it?”
Incarnadine approached the platform. “I don’t know. Strangest damned thing.”