"Then," said O'Day, "the first thing we must do is find a good hiding place for the Liberty. Or if there isn't one, camouflage the ship immediately. It's night now, but with morning I've got an idea the Magogean fleet will be circling this planet looking for us. Borisu and his buddies aren't dummies. They'll know we used the quad drive to scoot, and they'll leave no stone unturned—"
Dr. Kang interrupted quietly, "I think that is another point on which you need have no apprehension. By the time morning comes we shall have either accomplished or failed in our mission."
"What?" Gary Lane whistled. "Aren't you a little optimistic, Doctor? We're going to work as swiftly as possible, yes. But getting our job done in a couple of hours is a bit too much to expect."
Kang's ivory features framed a wisp of a smile. "Have you forgotten Borisu's remarks concerning the time differential between our planets?"
Gary said testily, "Not by a long sight. And it's been worrying me plenty. Borisu said Magog had been playing the cosmic ray cannon on our universe for only twenty years. Yet it is a scientifically recognized fact that the planet which existed between Mars and Jupiter in our system was destroyed no less than 40,000 Earth years ago. Isn't that so, Dr. Bryant?"
"Quite true, Gary," agreed the older scientist worriedly.
"Therefore," pointed out Lane, "every Magogean year is the equivalent of two thousand Earth years; every day on this planet the equivalent of three Earth years. And—" His breath caught in his throat—"since our calculations prove that the critical dwindling point of Sol can be at most no more than two months away, we must fulfill our task here in a matter of Magogean hours—or our universe will die!"
At his words the younger men in the turret sprang to their feet as one. Flick spoke for all when he cried, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going! My God, we've got to move and move fast—"
"Gently, gently," chided Dr. Kang. Again one of his rare smiles touched his lips. "Youth is impetuous. It is written, 'The young man tests the balance of the sword; the elder sage admires its chaste engraving.' Dr. Lane's discovery would be frightening ... if it were based on fact. But there is another way of viewing the matter. One you have not pondered. Have you failed to take into consideration the length of the Magogean year?"