Two Timer

By FREDRIC BROWN

 _Here is a brace of vignettes by the Old Vignette Master ... Short and sharp ... Like a hypodermic!_

Illustrated by STONE

[Illustration]

Experiment

"The first time machine, gentlemen, " Professor Johnson proudly informedhis two colleagues. "True, it is a small-scale experimental model. Itwill operate only on objects weighing less than three pounds, fiveounces and for distances into the past and future of twelve minutes orless. But it works. "

The small-scale model looked like a small scale--a postage scale--exceptfor two dials in the part under the platform. 

Professor Johnson held up a small metal cube. "Our experimental object, "he said, "is a brass cube weighing one pound, two point three ounces. First, I shall send it five minutes into the future. "

He leaned forward and set one of the dials on the time machine. "Look atyour watches, " he said. 

They looked at their watches. Professor Johnson placed the cube gentlyon the machine's platform. It vanished. 

Five minutes later, to the second, it reappeared. 

Professor Johnson picked it up. "Now five minutes into the past. " He setthe other dial. Holding the cube in his hand he looked at his watch. "Itis six minutes before three o'clock. I shall now activate themechanism--by placing the cube on the platform--at exactly threeo'clock. Therefore, the cube should, at five minutes before three, vanish from my hand and appear on the platform, five minutes before Iplace it there. "

"How can you place it there, then?" asked one of his colleagues. 

"It will, as my hand approaches, vanish from the platform and appear inmy hand to be placed there. Three o'clock. Notice, please. "

The cube vanished from his hand. 

It appeared on the platform of the time machine. 

"See? Five minutes before I shall place it there, it _is_ there!"

His other colleague frowned at the cube. "But, " he said, "what if, nowthat it has already appeared five minutes before you place it there, youshould change your mind about doing so and _not_ place it there at threeo'clock? Wouldn't there be a paradox of some sort involved?"

"An interesting idea, " Professor Johnson said. "I had not thought of it, and it will be interesting to try. Very well, I shall _not_ ... "

There was no paradox at all. The cube remained. 

But the entire rest of the Universe, professors and all, vanished. 

Sentry

He was wet and muddy and hungry and cold, and he was fifty thousandlight-years from home. 

A strange blue sun gave light and the gravity, twice what he was usedto, made every movement difficult. 

But in tens of thousands of years this part of war hadn't changed. Theflyboys were fine with their sleek spaceships and their fancy weapons. When the chips are down, though, it was still the foot soldier, theinfantry, that had to take the ground and hold it, foot by bloody foot. Like this damned planet of a star he'd never heard of until they'dlanded him there. And now it was sacred ground because the aliens werethere too. _The_ aliens, the only other intelligent race in theGalaxy ... Cruel, hideous and repulsive monsters. 

[Illustration]

Contact had been made with them near the center of the Galaxy, after theslow, difficult colonization of a dozen thousand planets; and it hadbeen war at sight; they'd shot without even trying to negotiate, or tomake peace. 

Now, planet by bitter planet, it was being fought out. 

He was wet and muddy and hungry and cold, and the day was raw with ahigh wind that hurt his eyes. But the aliens were trying to infiltrateand every sentry post was vital. 

He stayed alert, gun ready. Fifty thousand light-years from home, fighting on a strange world and wondering if he'd ever live to see homeagain. 

And then he saw one of them crawling toward him. He drew a bead andfired. The alien made that strange horrible sound they all make, thenlay still. 

He shuddered at the sound and sight of the alien lying there. One oughtto be able to get used to them after a while, but he'd never been ableto. Such repulsive creatures they were, with only two arms and two legs, ghastly white skins and no scales. 

 --FREDRIC BROWN

Transcriber's Note:

 This etext was produced from _Galaxy Science Fiction_ February 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S. Copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.