g the unknown, it is best to start with what is known," the
scientist answered. "Earth faults are known. When I talk about them, you
will understand me. However, there is another kind of fault that is as
yet unknown, or known only to a few scientists who suspected its
existence--" He paused. "I am referring to the space-time fault."

* * * * *

The faces of the officers registered nothing. Craig frowned, but
listened with quickened interest. A space-time fault! What was
Michaelson talking about?

"You will not find a space-time fault mentioned in any scientific
treatise," Michaelson continued. "There is no literature on the subject,
as yet. Certain erratic phenomena, of which the apparent slowing of the
speed of light in certain earth areas was the most important, led a few
scientists to speculate on the existence of some strange condition of
space and time that would account for the observed phenomena. The speed
of light is regarded as being constant, yet in certain places on earth,
for no apparent reason, light seemed to move slower than it did
elsewhere. What was the reason for this strange slow-down? Investigation
revealed the existence of what I have called a space-time fault."

"Please, Mr. Michaelson," Captain Higgins spoke. "We are not scientists.
With all respect to your ability, I must request you to come directly to
the point."

"Very well," the scientist said. "We have fallen into a space-time
fault. I have been conducting certain researches in and near this area
in an effort to locate the boundaries of what I had hoped would be
called--since I discovered it--the Michaelson Fault. Under ordinary
circumstances the ship would, in all probability, have passed directly
through the fault, though I suspect, from certain data of ships that
have disappeared mysteriously, that _all_ ships have not always passed
through the fault. In our case, the explosion of the bombs was
sufficient to cause a momentary dislodgment of the space-time balance in
this area, with the result that we were precipitated through the fault."

He paused and looked expectantly at his audience. It was his impression
that he had made a complete explanation of what had happened. He
expected the officers to understand. They didn't understand.

Craig, watching in silence, caught a vague glimpse of what the scientist
was saying. He felt a cold chill run up and down his spine. If he
understood Michaelson correctly