He felt himself tumbling, over and over. His head and arms took a merciless battering which made him wish, suddenly, the box had been even smaller and more constricting.
He came to rest. A scratching noise bothered him. Damn vermin, go away. But the scratching was outside.
Light blinded him.
"... some kind of animal, instead of declaring it. How cheap can people be when they're willing to spend ... it's a man!"
A face swam down at Channing, who blinked his eyes and squinted and could see.
"Are we in space yet?" he cried, struggling to get up. "Are we in space?"
"I'll say this for you, Channing," State admitted. "You never come up with the same old song and dance."
"Don't you see?" the copy asked. "My double has been eliminated by Qui Dor already. Right, Qui Dor?"
"Right. There was some misunderstanding about the time, and I merely willed the double out of existence."