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ElapticAI-512

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Helen wasn't much better off. Her eyes looked like a pair of
sealed-beam headlights, and the most intelligent sound she could summon
was a faint, plaintive,
"Oooooh!"
Only Hank retained an iota of self-control. And to tell the truth, his
comment was far from enlightening.
"Well!" he said. "So that's it!"
"What's what?" I asked him shakily. My paralysis was slipping away, and
I prepared to do ditto. "Friends, did you see what I saw? Or has the
little brown jug finally done what the Temperance Society told me it
would do some day?"
Hank said, "Now, Jim! It ain't like you to act so. 'Specially when
we've reached what you might call a crooshul moment. Hmm! Now, lemme
see. You folks seen him most plain when he was what color? Blue?"
"Sort of. Bluish-green."
Helen said, "Greenish-blue."
"That's near enough," mused Hank. "That'd be Hmmm! 'bout.0005
millimetres. I'll tell him that when he comes back "
"When he comes back?"
"Why sure!" Hank stared at me amiably. "He'll be back any minute now.
He done a lot better this time than the first, don't you think? Next
time he'll probably get what he wants."
"And," I faltered, "and I suppose you know what that is?"
"Reckon I do," said Hank complacently. "He wants me."
I gave up trying. My brain was in a muddle, anyway.
I said, "All right, Hank. You win. Now get down to straight facts. Who
is he, where did he come from, why does he want you, how do you
know he does, and what is this all about?"
Hank shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, now, Jim, that's a powerful lot of questions at one lump.
Dunno's I can answer 'em all yet. Hafta talk to him first, o' course,
but as near as I can figger, here's the set-up.
"That guy ain't from our time. He's from some time which ain't come
yet. The future, so to speak. I don't know his name, 'cause he didn't
speak very clear, but I know who he wants 'cause he said me."
Helen said dazedly, "He said "
"'Where's Cleaver?'" explained Hank. "Oh, it wasn't very clear. He was
all excited. But that's what he meant, I reckon."
I swallowed hard and wished the goose pimples would get off my hide.
"You mean," I said, "he's coming back out of future time to talk to
you?"
"Seems as if. More like, he'll want to take me with him," Hank said
calmly.
"What! But, Hank, that would be awful! You mustn't allow anything like
that "
Hank said bluntly, "You want I should find out where Helen's old man
is, don't you? And them two puffessors? Way I figger, Jim, there must
be somethin' awful drastic goin' on there in the future. Somethin' so
bad, it's got 'em all upset an' they're back-draggin' the past for me.
By accident, they musta got Hallowell an' Tomkins an' Helen's pop. I've
got to get over there an' find out what's the trouble Here it is!"
For an instant there had flickered again that ray of light. Hank warned
hastily,
"You two stand back out o' the way! Keep calm an' don't worry. I'll be
back directly."
He stepped into the middle of the room as the bright, golden light
suddenly flamed anew. He lifted his voice.
"Point oh-oh-oh-five, friend. Or thereabout "
And the light changed. Slid swiftly down the wavelengths again to that
hue most favorable. The figure appeared, this time firm, unwavering. It
was the face and figure of a man remarkably like Hank Cleaver himself;
a young man, serious-eyed, hopeful of voice.
"Cleaver?" he cried. "You Cleaver?"
Hank nodded. "Mmm-hmm. I'm him."