"Then," said Carroll simply, "the only masses that can strike the repulsive celestial negative-mass are those other masses that possess the velocity that corresponds to the velocity of escape in normal mass!"
Majors looked thoughtful.
"I get it," said Majors. "The velocity of escape is that velocity attained by any mass in falling to the earth from an infinite distance. Converted, any mass given that velocity upon the instant of departure need have no more acceleration applied in order that the mass be driven to an infinite distance against gravity. Follow?"
"Uh-huh," said Pollard.
"In the case of a repulsive mass—negative mass—in order for any other object to strike it it must possess enough energy to overcome the repulsion. This would be the inverted equivalent of the velocity of escape!"
"Negative mass and positive mass would cancel one another?"
Carroll nodded. "Producing the Lawson Radiation!"
"Then all these years we have been following a bit of negative mass getting hit by normal meteors."
Carroll shook his head. "You check the orbit of that mass," he said, "and you'll find out that it is due to strike Sol!"
"You know?"