Albert Teichner

“ Every once in a while it would pick up unaccountable Doppler shifts from the direction of Arcturus but the disturbing area was too small for an accurate fix at such a distance. That was the beginning—Crane and I worked out the rest. But Lowen made the great practical achievement. Together we achieved a hypothesis that proves beyond any question that the universe has no beginning, will have no end and is constantly receiving new matter as it expands, matter from other dimensions—in a word, continuous creation. ”

“ As they moved toward the craft, the exit hatch opened and three wizened men came creeping out, leaning forward as if they were resting on canes. Their individual differences were barely distinguishable beneath the levelling networks of wrinkles but they were giggling hysterically. ”

“ You still can always see to the heart of the matter, Learned Master."
Huddleston sank into a chair, shaking his head as if dazed. "It won't work."
"Why not?" they demanded, astounded.
"I don't know. I just know that it can't work. You never get something for nothing. What would you lose at each wellspring?"
"Nothing!" Lowen insisted. "You see, the ship's structure would be strengthened as the empty electron positions were refilled. Then we would shift back into hyperdrive and move on to the next wellspring. The ancient systems of caravan waterholes but on a cosmic scale." ”

“ Huddleston spryly took the sheaf of reports that Lowen had been holding and started to glance rapidly through them. "Brilliant, brilliant! What I'd give to be young again."
"You'll tire yourself," Fitzhugh said. "We didn't expect you to do an analysis."
"Nonsense," the old man snapped waspishly. "This gives me new life, just seeing what you youngsters are up to. Of course, though, continuous creation can't make any difference as far as parsec travel is concerned." ”

“ Lowen tried to keep contempt out of his grin. "A little entertainment, somewhat more theory and lots of practical technical applications—that's my personal prescription for staying fully alive."
"Anyway your work fits the present social bill to a T," President Collins went on, choosing to disregard the unpleasant aspects of his visitor's one-sided nature for the pleasant fruits they had borne. "For close to two centuries now we have known we were trapped in the general area of the solar system and society has learned to live with the limitation. ”

“ Then, two days later, the last planet behind them, they moved into hyperdrive, heading for the first node of continuous creation.
Crane made his hundredth re-check and said, "We'll be there in forty minutes."
Outside the nearer stars had become tiny beeps of light, visible only for miniseconds, and only those of the farther reaches accompanied them fixedly on their way. Lowen gave regular two-minute interval readings of structural fatigue. "The electron loss is within one part in a million of estimate—and the error is in our favor. We can proceed five hours without danger." ”

“ Crane said, speaking down to Huddleston as if he were the tallest man in the room, not the shortest. "Lowen has shown that continuous creation does not take place everywhere. That's his great practical discovery and—"
"It happens at specific, restricted points," Lowen broke in. "Great streams of hydrogen and free electrons welling into our universe the way water does out of dry ground." ”

“ Fitzhugh beamed his contentment. "So much margin of safety—it's a beautiful universe!"
They established voice contact with Earth on the carrier components and spoke all at once into the receiver as the "Are you all right?" query came: "Never better!" they shouted. ”