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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24418-h.zip b/24418-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..80039a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/24418-h.zip diff --git a/24418-h/24418-h.htm b/24418-h/24418-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c24cb19 --- /dev/null +++ b/24418-h/24418-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1454 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Quantum Jump, by Robert Wicks</title> +<style type="text/css"> + /* slight differences for print and screen */ + @media print { + p {text-indent: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: .1em; } + span.pgmark {border: 0 !important; + display: none; visibility: hidden; } + hr.pg, .nopr {display: none; visibility: hidden; } + } + + @media screen { + p {text-indent: 0; + margin-bottom: 0.75em; } + span.pgmark {border-top: thin solid silver; + border-bottom: thin solid silver; + display: inline; } + div.tp {padding-top: 2em; + padding-bottom: 4em; } + } + + body {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: medium; + text-align: justify; } + + div.main {margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + max-width: 40em; + page-break-after: always; } + + p {margin-top: 0; } + p.tb {margin-top: 2.25em; } + p.firstword {text-indent: 0 ! important; } + p.firstword:first-letter {font-size: 275%; + float: left; + line-height: 95%; + padding-right: 4px;} + p.fin {text-align: right; + font-weight: bold; + font-family: sans-serif; } + + img {padding: 5px; } + p.illus {text-indent: 0; + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: -5%; margin-right: -5%; } + + div.tp {font-size: large; + font-family: serif; + text-align: center; + page-break-after: always; } + .tp h1 {page-break-after: avoid ! important; + font-family: sans-serif; + font-weight: normal; + font-size: 125%; + line-height: 1.8; + padding-bottom: 1em; } + .tp big {font-size: 170%; } + .tp h5 {font-family: sans-serif; + font-weight: normal; + font-size: 80%; + padding-bottom: 1em; } + .tp p.blurb {margin: 0 10% 0 10%; + padding: 10px; + border-top: medium solid black; + border-bottom: medium solid black; } + + /* for transcriber's note at the beginning */ + div.tnote {border: dashed 1px; + padding: .5em; + margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.tnote p {text-indent: 0; + margin-top: .5em; + font-size: 85%;} + div.tnote h3 {text-indent: 0; + text-align: left; + font-size: 110%; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: bold; + padding-top: 0; + letter-spacing: 0;} + + hr {background-color: black; color: inherit; padding: 0;} + hr.pg {width: 100%; + height: 5px; + margin-top: 15px; + margin-bottom: 15px; } + + span.pgmark {font-size: x-small; + font-family: serif; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 1.2; + text-indent: 0; text-align: left; + margin: 0; padding: .05em 0.5em !important; + position: absolute; left: 1%; } + + /* for documenting trivial corrections */ + ins.TNsilent {text-decoration: none; + border-bottom: 0; } + + .ns {display: none; visibility: hidden; } + + /* just in case */ + em, cite {font-style: italic;} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Quantum Jump, by Robert Wicks + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Quantum Jump + +Author: Robert Wicks + +Release Date: January 24, 2008 [EBook #24418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE QUANTUM JUMP *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<hr class="pg" /> + +<div class="tnote"> +<h3>Transcriber’s note:</h3> + +<p>This story was published in <cite>Amazing Science Fiction Stories</cite>, October 1958. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="main"> +<div class="tp"> +<p class="illus"><a name="png.001" id="png.001"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">20</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span><img src="images/title.jpg" width="600" height="465" + alt="Frontispiece" title="Frontispiece" /></p> +<h1><big>The QUANTUM JUMP</big><br + + />By ROBERT WICKS</h1> + +<h5>ILLUSTRATOR LLEWELLYN</h5> + +<p class="blurb"><i>Captain Brandon was a pioneer. He explored the far +reaches of space and reported back on how things were +out there. So it was pretty disquieting to find out that +the “far reaches of space” knew more about what went +on at home than he did.</i></p> +</div> + +<p class="firstword">BRANDON was looking at the +Milky Way. Through his +<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + original lacks hyphen">perma-glas</ins> canopy, he could see +it trailing across the black velvet +of space like a white bridal +veil. Below his SC9B scout-ship +stretched the red dust deserts of +Sirius Three illuminated by the +thin light of two ice moons. He +looked at the Milky Way.</p> + +<p><a name="png.002" id="png.002"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">21</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span>He looked at it as a man looks +at a flickering fireplace and +thinks of other things. He +thought of the sun, 52 trillion +miles away, a pinpoint of light +lost in the dazzle of the Milky +Way—the Earth a speck of dust +in orbit just as this planet was +to its master, Sirius.</p> + +<p>Nine light years away. Of +course, thirteen years had passed +on Earth since they had left, because +the trip took four years by +RT—relative time. But even +four years is a long time to be +shut up in Astro One with five +other men, especially when one +of them was the imperious Colonel +Towers.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />“A quantum jump—that’s the +way to beat the Reds,” the colonel +had said a thousand times. +His well-worn expression had +nothing to do with quantum mechanics—the +actual change in +atomic configuration due to the +application of sufficient energy. +Rather, it was a slang expression +referring to a major advance +in inter-planetary travel +due to a maximum scientific and +technological effort.</p> + +<p>“Let ’em have Mars and +Venus,” the colonel would say—“Let +’em have the whole damn +Solar System! We’ll make a +quantum jump—leap-frog ahead +of ’em. We’ll be the first men to +set foot on a planet of another +solar system.”</p> + +<p>Four years had gone by in the +ship; thirteen years on Earth. +Four years of Colonel Towers. +Military discipline grew more +strict each day. Space does +funny things to some men. The +“we’ll be the first men” had +turned into, “<em>I’ll</em> be the first +<em>man</em>.”</p> + +<p>But it was Captain Brandon +who drew the assignment of +scouting Sirius Three for a suitable +landing place for Astro, of +sampling its atmosphere and observing +<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + original reads 'meteorlogical'">meteorological</ins> conditions. +Even as Brandon climbed into +the scout-ship, Towers had cautioned +him.</p> + +<p>“Remember, your assignment +is to locate a firm landing site +with ample protection from the +elements. Under no circumstances +are you to land yourself. +Is that clearly understood?”</p> + +<p>Brandon nodded, was launched +and now was cruising one hundred +thousand feet above the +alien planet.</p> + +<p>Brandon tilted the ship up on +one wing and glanced down at +the brick-red expanse of desert. +Tiny red mists marked dust +storms. Certainly this was no +place to set down the full weight +of Astro nor to protect the crew +and equipment from abrasive +dust.</p> + +<p>He righted the ship. Far on +the horizon was a bank of atmospheric +clouds. Perhaps conditions +were more promising there. +He shoved the power setting to +90 per cent.</p> + +<p>A fire warning indicator light +blinked on. Instantly Brandon’s +eyes were on the instrument +panel. The tailpipe temperature +seemed all right. It could be a +false indication. He eased back +<a name="png.003" id="png.003"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">22</span><span class="ns">] + </span>on the power setting. Maybe the +light would go out. But it didn’t. +Instead he felt a surging rumble +deep in the bowels of the ship. +Luminous needles danced and +a second red light flashed on.</p> + +<p>He snapped the <ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + spelling of original retained">vidio</ins> switch +and depressed the mike button.</p> + +<p>“Astro One, this is Brandon. +Over.”</p> + +<p>A steady crackling sound filled +his earphones; a grid of light +and shadow fluttered on the +screen. A thought entered his +mind. Maybe he had put too +much planet curvature between +Astro and himself.</p> + +<p>“Astro One, this is Brandon. +Come in, please.”</p> + +<p>A series of muffled explosions +rocked the ship. He chopped the +power back all the way and listened +intently.</p> + +<p>“May Day! May Day! Astro, +this is Brandon. May Day!”</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />A faint voice sputtered in his +ear, the face of Reinhardt, the +radioman appeared before him. +“Brandon, this is Astro One. +What is your position? Over.”</p> + +<p>Brandon’s voice sounded +strange and distant as he talked +to his oxygen mask. “Heading—one-eight-zero. +Approximately +six hundred miles from you. +Altitude one hundred thousand +feet.”</p> + +<p>“What is the nature of your +trouble, Brandon?”</p> + +<p>Before Brandon could answer, +the face of Colonel Towers appeared +beside the radioman’s.</p> + +<p>“Brandon, what’re you trying +to pull?”</p> + +<p>“Engine trouble, sir. Losing +altitude fast.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the nature of +the trouble?”</p> + +<p>“Negative. Might have thrown +a compressor blade. Got a fire +indication, then a compressor +surge. Chopped off the power.”</p> + +<p>Towers frowned. “Why didn’t +you use straight rocket power?”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir—”</p> + +<p>“Never mind now. You may +have encountered oxygen or +hydrogen-rich atmosphere—melted +your compressor blades. +Try an air start on straight +rocket. I want that ship back, +Brandon. Repeat, I want that +ship back!”</p> + +<p>“I may be able to ride it down. +Get it on the deck intact.”</p> + +<p>“Try an air start, Brandon.” +Towers leaned forward, his eyes +fixed on Brandon. “I don’t want +you to set foot on that planet, +get me?”</p> + +<p>But there wasn’t time to try +anything. The cabin was filling +with fumes. Brandon looked +down. A fringe of blue flame +crept along between the floor and +the bottom of the pilot’s capsule. +A cold ache filled the cavity of +his stomach.</p> + +<p>“Too late. I’m on fire! Capsuling +out. Repeat, capsuling out.”</p> + +<p>“Brandon—!”</p> + +<p>The colonel’s glaring face +flicked off as Brandon pushed the +pre-ejection lever into the lock +position severing all connections +between the ship and the pilot’s +capsule. Brandon had a strange, +detached feeling as he pushed +the ejection button.</p> + +<p><a name="png.004" id="png.004"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">23</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span>There was an explosion and +the pilot’s capsule shot up like +a wet bar of soap squeezed out +of a giant’s hand.</p> + +<p>The ship turned into a torch +and sank beneath him. Brandon +closed his eyes for a moment.</p> + +<p>When he opened them he was +staring at the Milky Way, then +the desert as he tumbled over +and over. He talked to the Milky +Way.</p> + +<p>“Ten seconds. Should wait at +least ten seconds before releasing +the drogue chute so I’ll clear the +ship.” Then he spoke to the desert. +“And maybe another ten to +give the capsule time to slow +down.”</p> + +<p>He counted then pulled the +chute release. Nylon streamed +out behind him and snapped +open with a tremendous jar. A +moment later, bundles of metal +ribbons floated out and billowed +into a giant umbrella. The last +thing he remembered was the +taste of blood on his lips.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />When Brandon opened his eyes +he was staring at the silvery +disks of the twin moons. They +were high in the sky, obscuring +the center of the Milky Way. +Funny he should be lying on his +back looking at the sky, he +thought. Then he remembered.</p> + +<p>The capsule was on its back +and Brandon was still strapped +securely to the seat. His whole +body ached. Tendons had been +pulled, muscles strained from the +force of the ejection. His oxygen +mask was still in place, but his +helmet hung partly loose. He adjusted +it automatically, then +unbuckled the seat straps. He +took a deep breath. Under the +oxygen mask, he was aware of +dried blood clotted in his nostrils, +caked around the corners +of his lips.</p> + +<p>With an effort he sat up on +the seat back and looked through +the perma-glas. A tangle of +cords stretched out to the nylon +of the main chute draped over a +dust dune. Beyond it he could +see the gleaming metal ribbons +of the drogue chute.</p> + +<p>Ahead of him, behind some +low hills, he could see a dull red +glow. The ship, he thought. Astro +may already be hovering +over it.</p> + +<p>He dragged the survival kit +from behind the seat and pulled +out some rations, a first-aid kit, +finally a tele-talkie. Raising the +antenna, he plugged in the mike +cord from his mask and held +down the “talk” key with his +thumb.</p> + +<p>“Astro One, this is Brandon. +Come in.”</p> + +<p>As he talked a picture flickered +on the screen. It was the +radio room on Astro One. Colonel +Towers was pacing back and +forth in front of the radioman.</p> + +<p>“Shall I keep trying to raise +him?” he heard Reinhardt ask.</p> + +<p>“Damn fool stunt,” Towers +sputtered. “Know what I think? +I think he went down deliberately. +Just to be the first human being +to walk the ground of a +planet of another solar system.”</p> + +<p>“Astro, this is Brandon. +Come in please.”</p> + +<p><a name="png.005" id="png.005"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">24</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span>Towers continued to pace and +talk. “He did it to spite me.”</p> + +<p>“But we can’t raise him sir,” +the radio operator said. “Maybe +he didn’t get out of it alive.”</p> + +<p>“Colonel Towers, can’t you +hear me?” Brandon yelled into +his oxygen mask.</p> + +<p>“He got out all right,” the +colonel said. “He’s just stalling +to make it look good.”</p> + +<p>“We aren’t going to give up +the search are we, sir?” asked +the radioman.</p> + +<p>“It would serve his soul +right.” The colonel stopped pacing +and faced the radioman. +“Keep trying to raise him, Reinhardt. +I’m going to bring us +down to forty thousand feet and +search the area where he went +down. Helluva waste of rocket +fuel tooling around in the atmosphere,” +he muttered, disappearing +through a bulkhead +door.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />“Wait! Colonel Towers!” +Brandon called. But he knew it +was no use. Obviously he could +pick up Astro but they could +neither see nor hear him.</p> + +<p>“Captain Brandon, this is Astro +calling. Over.” The radioman +repeated the phrase a dozen +times and each time Brandon +acknowledged, swore and acknowledged +again. Finally, in +desperation, he switched off the +tele-talkie.</p> + +<p>He snapped open the back of +the unit and studied the maze +of transistors, resistors, and +<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + spelling of original retained">capacitators</ins>. If there was something +wrong it was subtle, like +a burned out resistor or a shorted +condenser. Whatever it was, +it was beyond emergency repair. +He dropped the tele-talkie behind +the seat and examined the +gauge on his oxygen tank. There +was enough to last the night but +not much more.</p> + +<p>He sat down in the capsule to +think. The first thing they’d locate +is the burning ship, he decided. +Then they would probably +start searching in ever-widening +circles. But would they see him +in the faint light of the ice +moons?</p> + +<p>He looked back at the nylon +chute again. Another thought +ran through his mind. Suppose +they don’t spot me in the dark. +When the sun—Sirius, I mean—comes +up, there’s a good +chance they’ll spot the parachute +and search for him.</p> + +<p>He slid the canopy open and +looked down at the red soil of +Sirius Three. He hesitated for +a moment, then swung his feet +over the side and dropped to the +ground.</p> + +<p>“At least I’ll have that satisfaction,” +he said, grinning under +his oxygen mask.</p> + +<p>Very much aware of gravity +after years of weightlessness, he +walked to the canopy of the +chute and spread it out on the +flat ground in a full circle. It +billowed in the wind. He searched +around, found some glassy +black rocks and anchored down +the chute.</p> + +<p>Then he looked at the orange +glow that marked the funeral +pyre of the ship. He had a decision +<a name="png.006" id="png.006"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">25</span><span class="ns">] + </span>to make; stay here with the +capsule or head for the fire.</p> + +<p>Couldn’t be more than a thousand +yards away, he decided. +Charging a <ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + original lacks hyphen">walk-around</ins> oxygen +bottle, he transferred his oxygen +hose to it. He snapped the survival +kit to his belt and picked +up the tele-talkie.</p> + +<p>The ship was more than a +thousand yards away. The first +mile was across flat desert. He +picked his way cautiously, his +boots churning up clouds of +powdery dust. He remembered +the Russian reports of the weird +and deadly creatures they had +encountered in the Martian deserts.</p> + +<p>But aside from a few gray +patches of brush there seemed +to be no sign of life. After all, +he thought, the Earth held no +life for the better part of its +existence. And Towers had selected +this planet because it +bore relatively the same relationship +to the brighter, hotter +Sirius as did the Earth to the +sun. While farther away it +should have approximately the +same conditions as did the +Earth. And it had seas, not as +large as on Earth, but seas, +nevertheless.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />Yet there was a fallacy in the +argument. Presumably all of +the stars in the outer arms of +the Milky Way and their planets +were about the same age. With +similar conditions as the Earth, +life must have been born and +walked out of the seas of Sirius +Three just as it did on Earth.</p> + +<p>Something scurried into a +<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + original reads 'whisp'">wisp</ins> of brush, as if to bear out +Brandon’s realization. He froze, +his eyes on the brush, his hand +reaching for his hydro-static +shock pistol. He could hear +nothing but the wind hollowing +his ears. He stood for a long +moment, then cautiously skirted +the brush, and continued on toward +the burning ship. There +was an odd clicking sound and +he stopped. It sounded again. +Brandon realized he was perspiring +despite the chill of the desert +night. Again he moved on, the +sound fading in the distance behind +him.</p> + +<p>The next mile brought him to +a great sheet of ancient lava laid +bare by the elements. He climbed +to the top. The fire still seemed +to be about a thousand yards +ahead, beyond a ridge of low +hills.</p> + +<p>A distant flare lit up the sky +ahead of him. It glowed for a +few moments and died. They’ve +found the ship, he thought. After +four years, I had completely +forgotten about the store of +photo-flash flares.</p> + +<p>He watched for awhile but +saw no more flares. Finally he +scrambled down the other side +of the lava sheet and continued +on toward the wreck, moving +slowly but steadily.</p> + +<p>The third mile brought him +to the scene of the crash. A +smoking cylinder of fused metal +lay in a gully. Parts were strewn +along the bottom. A wing, untouched +by the fire, was leaning +tip down against the edge of +<a name="png.007" id="png.007"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">26</span><span class="ns">] + </span>another lava sheet some distance +away.</p> + +<p>He sat down. Another flare +flashed in the sky behind him +silhouetting a row of grotesque +trees. I’m over here, you fools, +he thought. He watched until the +flare flickered out, then turned +his head back toward the remains +of the ship. There wasn’t +much of a glow to it now. It +would be hard to see unless Astro +was right on top of it.</p> + +<p>He raised the antenna on the +tele-talkie and snapped it on. +The screen glowed into life. +Towers was stepping through +the bulkhead door into the radio +room. Just like a television +play in installments, Brandon +thought. Scene two coming up.</p> + +<p>“No sign of him at the scene +of the crash,” Towers told Reinhardt.</p> + +<p>“If he got out,” observed Reinhardt, +“he could be a hundred +miles away or more.”</p> + +<p>“<em>If</em> he got out,” Towers said +in a tone that irritated Brandon.</p> + +<p>“I got out,” Brandon said. +“And right now I’m walking +around your precious planet like +a boy scout. Damn this tele-talkie! +I’d give a year’s pay if +you could see me now, Towers.”</p> + +<p>“We may yet spot the escape +capsule,” Reinhardt was saying.</p> + +<p>“We’re still continuing the +search,” put in Towers. “But I +don’t mind telling you I’m not +wasting much more fuel.”</p> + +<p>The radio operator started to +say something, hesitated and finally +settled for, “yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>Brandon swore and snapped +off the set. He looked at his +walk-around bottle.</p> + +<p>“Can’t stay here any longer,” +he muttered.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />He couldn’t find the capsule. +He walked three, perhaps four +miles. He stopped and blotted his +moist brow with his sleeve. He +wasn’t going to find it. Before +him stretched an endless carpet +of red dust. The light from the +two moons was growing dim, as +each settled toward different +horizons.</p> + +<p>He sat down. A cloud of powdery +dust settled over his legs. +The lightness in his head told +him that his oxygen was running +out. The weakness in his muscles +reminded him that it had been a +long time since he had walked +in a planet’s gravity. A distant +flare lit up the horizon. He +choked off a sob, and beat his +fist in the red dust. A wave of +nausea swept over him. Bitter +stomach juices welled up in his +throat but he swallowed them +down again.</p> + +<p>Desperately he turned on the +tele-talkie.</p> + +<p>“Astro, this is Brandon,” he +said.</p> + +<p>“Brandon, this is Astro,” +Reinhardt said.</p> + +<p>Brandon’s body tensed. +“Thank God I finally got through +to you. Listen, Reinhardt, I must +be about three—”</p> + +<p>“Brandon, this is Astro,” said +Reinhardt in a monotone. He +said it again and again and +again.</p> + +<p>Brandon fell back on the +<a name="png.008" id="png.008"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">27</span><span class="ns">] + </span>ground. His breathing was +short, strained. His face was +bathed in perspiration. The oxygen, +he realized, was giving out.</p> + +<p>What are the odds, that the +air of Sirius Three is breathable, +he wondered. One in a hundred? +The planet has water and both +animal and plant life. Certainly +it has sufficient gravity to hold +its oxygen. But what other elements—noxious +gases might be +present. Maybe the odds are +closer to one in fifty, he decided.</p> + +<p>“But it’s no gamble when you +have nothing to lose,” he told the +Milky Way.</p> + +<p>Ripping off his oxygen mask, +he took a deep breath of the +alien atmosphere. The dust +choked him, his ears rang. Black +spots danced before his eyes, +then melted into solid blackness.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />Brandon could hear Towers’ +voice in a vortex of darkness.</p> + +<p>“Let’s face it—Brandon is +dead. Must have burned with the +ship, at least that’s the way the +report will read. Get me, Reinhardt?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” the disembodied +voice of Reinhardt replied +quietly.</p> + +<p>“We’re going to set her down +on a solid piece of ground near +one of the oceans.” There was a +pause and Brandon could almost +see Colonel Towers drawing up +to his full height. “I’m going to +be the first man to set foot on +a planet of another solar system. +Know what that means, Reinhardt?”</p> + +<p>“A quantum jump sir?”</p> + +<p>“Right. <ins class="TNsilent" title="Transciber's note: + original reads 'Leap-froging'">Leap-frogging</ins> ahead of +the Reds. Wait till they read the +name Colonel John Towers—maybe +<em>General</em> John Towers—<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transciber's note: + original lacks period"><em>General</em>.</ins>”</p> + +<p>Brandon opened his eyes. +Sirius was turning the sky to +gray, trimming a few scattered +clouds with gold. As he stared +at the sky, Sirius rose with a +brassy glare. Near it he could +see its white hot dwarf star companion. +It was going to be a real +scorcher, he decided; worse than +any desert on Earth. He sat up +stiffly.</p> + +<p>On the tele-talkie screen, Reinhardt, +alone in the radio room, +was calling quietly for Brandon. +The bulkhead door swung open +and Towers poked his head +through.</p> + +<p>“Knock that off,” said Towers +sternly, “and take your landing +station.” As Reinhardt rose to +his feet, Brandon reached over +and turned off the set.</p> + +<p>Brandon took a deep breath. +His head spun and for the first +time he realized that he was still +alive. He gazed across the shimmering +desert to a ridge of +scrubby hills. Blue mountains +rose up beyond them. Great floes +of black lava had rolled down +onto the desert floor at some distant +time. They were spotted +with clumps of gray grass even +as was the desert. The hills were +studded with weird trees standing +stiff, branches outstretched, +like an army of scarecrows.</p> + +<p>The air of Sirius Three was +doing strange things to him. +Two of the trees seemed to be +<a name="png.009" id="png.009"></a><span class="ns">[p</span><span + class="pgmark">28</span><span class="ns">] + </span>moving. He swayed and sat +heavily.</p> + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />As he watched through a haze +of red dust whipped up by the +morning breeze, the two trees +came closer, turned into men +wearing desert uniforms and +leaned over him.</p> + +<p>“Are you okay?” one of them +asked.</p> + +<p>Brandon said nothing.</p> + +<p>“We saw you from our observation +station over on the hill,” +said the other pointing.</p> + +<p>They helped Brandon to his +feet and gave him a swig of cool, +sweet water from a canteen.</p> + +<p>“I’m Captain Brandon, of the +Astro One.”</p> + +<p>“Astro One?” The man removed +his pith helmet to wipe +his brow and Brandon noticed +the gleaming US insignia on the +front of the helmet. “The Astro +One left Earth thirteen years +ago,” the man said.</p> + +<p>“Only four years by RT,” +Brandon said.</p> + +<p>The man smiled and put his +helmet back on his head. “A lot +of things have happened since +you left. There was a war which +we won, and I guess you guys +were almost forgotten. And +there was a lot of technological +<ins class="TNsilent" title="Transciber's note: + original lacks closing quote">development.”</ins></p> + +<p>“You mean you had a quantum +jump?” asked Brandon <ins class="TNsilent" title="Transcriber's note: + original reads 'parrotting'">parroting</ins> +Colonel Towers’ favorite +expression.</p> + +<p>“Odd you would know that,” +replied the second man. “It was +through quantum mechanics that +we learned to approximate the +speed of light. While nine years +pass on Earth when we make +the trip, our RT is mere moments.”</p> + +<p>“Good Lord!” Brandon said. +“You must have passed us up.”</p> + +<p>“Been on this planet for nearly +a year,” the first man said. +“Got men on dozens of planetary +systems throughout the Milky +Way. One ship went a thousand +light years out. By the time they +come back, civilization on Earth +will be two thousand years +older.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got a tele-talkie?” +Brandon asked.</p> + +<p>“Sure,” said the first man, +producing a set one-third the +size of Brandon’s.</p> + +<p>“Could you tune it to 28.6 microcycles?”</p> + +<p>“Sure,” the man said again. +He turned a dial with his thumb +and handed the unit to Brandon. +Brandon depressed the “talk” +button. A crystal clear image of +Colonel Towers, putting the finishing +touches on his full dress +uniform, appeared on the screen.</p> + +<p>“This is an historic occasion,” +Colonel Towers was announcing +to his crew. “Open the +hatch—and, Reinhardt, be sure +to stand by with the motion picture +camera.”</p> + +<p>“Excuse me, Colonel Towers,” +said Brandon quietly.</p> + +<p>Towers swung around and +looked out at Brandon. The colonel’s +face paled.</p> + +<p>“I have something to tell +you,” said Brandon grinning, +“about the quantum jump.”</p> + +<p class="fin">THE END</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="pg" /> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Quantum Jump, by Robert Wicks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE QUANTUM JUMP *** + +***** This file should be named 24418-h.htm or 24418-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/1/24418/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Quantum Jump + +Author: Robert Wicks + +Release Date: January 24, 2008 [EBook #24418] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE QUANTUM JUMP *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +------------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's note: | + | | + | This story was published in _Amazing Science Fiction Stories_, | + | October 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence | + | that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. | + | | + +------------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + +THE QUANTUM JUMP + +By ROBERT WICKS + +Illustrator Llewellyn + + + _Captain Brandon was a pioneer. He explored the far reaches + of space and reported back on how things were out there. So + it was pretty disquieting to find out that the "far reaches + of space" knew more about what went on at home than he did._ + + +Brandon was looking at the Milky Way. Through his perma-glas canopy, he +could see it trailing across the black velvet of space like a white +bridal veil. Below his SC9B scout-ship stretched the red dust deserts of +Sirius Three illuminated by the thin light of two ice moons. He looked +at the Milky Way. + +He looked at it as a man looks at a flickering fireplace and thinks of +other things. He thought of the sun, 52 trillion miles away, a pinpoint +of light lost in the dazzle of the Milky Way--the Earth a speck of dust +in orbit just as this planet was to its master, Sirius. + +Nine light years away. Of course, thirteen years had passed on Earth +since they had left, because the trip took four years by RT--relative +time. But even four years is a long time to be shut up in Astro One with +five other men, especially when one of them was the imperious Colonel +Towers. + + +"A quantum jump--that's the way to beat the Reds," the colonel had said +a thousand times. His well-worn expression had nothing to do with +quantum mechanics--the actual change in atomic configuration due to the +application of sufficient energy. Rather, it was a slang expression +referring to a major advance in inter-planetary travel due to a maximum +scientific and technological effort. + +"Let 'em have Mars and Venus," the colonel would say--"Let 'em have the +whole damn Solar System! We'll make a quantum jump--leap-frog ahead of +'em. We'll be the first men to set foot on a planet of another solar +system." + +Four years had gone by in the ship; thirteen years on Earth. Four years +of Colonel Towers. Military discipline grew more strict each day. Space +does funny things to some men. The "we'll be the first men" had turned +into, "_I'll_ be the first _man_." + +But it was Captain Brandon who drew the assignment of scouting Sirius +Three for a suitable landing place for Astro, of sampling its atmosphere +and observing meteorological conditions. Even as Brandon climbed into +the scout-ship, Towers had cautioned him. + +"Remember, your assignment is to locate a firm landing site with ample +protection from the elements. Under no circumstances are you to land +yourself. Is that clearly understood?" + +Brandon nodded, was launched and now was cruising one hundred thousand +feet above the alien planet. + +Brandon tilted the ship up on one wing and glanced down at the brick-red +expanse of desert. Tiny red mists marked dust storms. Certainly this was +no place to set down the full weight of Astro nor to protect the crew +and equipment from abrasive dust. + +He righted the ship. Far on the horizon was a bank of atmospheric +clouds. Perhaps conditions were more promising there. He shoved the +power setting to 90 per cent. + +A fire warning indicator light blinked on. Instantly Brandon's eyes were +on the instrument panel. The tailpipe temperature seemed all right. It +could be a false indication. He eased back on the power setting. Maybe +the light would go out. But it didn't. Instead he felt a surging rumble +deep in the bowels of the ship. Luminous needles danced and a second red +light flashed on. + +He snapped the vidio switch and depressed the mike button. + +"Astro One, this is Brandon. Over." + +A steady crackling sound filled his earphones; a grid of light and +shadow fluttered on the screen. A thought entered his mind. Maybe he had +put too much planet curvature between Astro and himself. + +"Astro One, this is Brandon. Come in, please." + +A series of muffled explosions rocked the ship. He chopped the power +back all the way and listened intently. + +"May Day! May Day! Astro, this is Brandon. May Day!" + + +A faint voice sputtered in his ear, the face of Reinhardt, the radioman +appeared before him. "Brandon, this is Astro One. What is your position? +Over." + +Brandon's voice sounded strange and distant as he talked to his oxygen +mask. "Heading--one-eight-zero. Approximately six hundred miles from +you. Altitude one hundred thousand feet." + +"What is the nature of your trouble, Brandon?" + +Before Brandon could answer, the face of Colonel Towers appeared beside +the radioman's. + +"Brandon, what're you trying to pull?" + +"Engine trouble, sir. Losing altitude fast." + +"Do you know the nature of the trouble?" + +"Negative. Might have thrown a compressor blade. Got a fire indication, +then a compressor surge. Chopped off the power." + +Towers frowned. "Why didn't you use straight rocket power?" + +"Well, sir--" + +"Never mind now. You may have encountered oxygen or hydrogen-rich +atmosphere--melted your compressor blades. Try an air start on straight +rocket. I want that ship back, Brandon. Repeat, I want that ship back!" + +"I may be able to ride it down. Get it on the deck intact." + +"Try an air start, Brandon." Towers leaned forward, his eyes fixed on +Brandon. "I don't want you to set foot on that planet, get me?" + +But there wasn't time to try anything. The cabin was filling with fumes. +Brandon looked down. A fringe of blue flame crept along between the +floor and the bottom of the pilot's capsule. A cold ache filled the +cavity of his stomach. + +"Too late. I'm on fire! Capsuling out. Repeat, capsuling out." + +"Brandon--!" + +The colonel's glaring face flicked off as Brandon pushed the +pre-ejection lever into the lock position severing all connections +between the ship and the pilot's capsule. Brandon had a strange, +detached feeling as he pushed the ejection button. + +There was an explosion and the pilot's capsule shot up like a wet bar of +soap squeezed out of a giant's hand. + +The ship turned into a torch and sank beneath him. Brandon closed his +eyes for a moment. + +When he opened them he was staring at the Milky Way, then the desert as +he tumbled over and over. He talked to the Milky Way. + +"Ten seconds. Should wait at least ten seconds before releasing the +drogue chute so I'll clear the ship." Then he spoke to the desert. "And +maybe another ten to give the capsule time to slow down." + +He counted then pulled the chute release. Nylon streamed out behind him +and snapped open with a tremendous jar. A moment later, bundles of metal +ribbons floated out and billowed into a giant umbrella. The last thing +he remembered was the taste of blood on his lips. + + +When Brandon opened his eyes he was staring at the silvery disks of the +twin moons. They were high in the sky, obscuring the center of the Milky +Way. Funny he should be lying on his back looking at the sky, he +thought. Then he remembered. + +The capsule was on its back and Brandon was still strapped securely to +the seat. His whole body ached. Tendons had been pulled, muscles +strained from the force of the ejection. His oxygen mask was still in +place, but his helmet hung partly loose. He adjusted it automatically, +then unbuckled the seat straps. He took a deep breath. Under the oxygen +mask, he was aware of dried blood clotted in his nostrils, caked around +the corners of his lips. + +With an effort he sat up on the seat back and looked through the +perma-glas. A tangle of cords stretched out to the nylon of the main +chute draped over a dust dune. Beyond it he could see the gleaming metal +ribbons of the drogue chute. + +Ahead of him, behind some low hills, he could see a dull red glow. The +ship, he thought. Astro may already be hovering over it. + +He dragged the survival kit from behind the seat and pulled out some +rations, a first-aid kit, finally a tele-talkie. Raising the antenna, he +plugged in the mike cord from his mask and held down the "talk" key with +his thumb. + +"Astro One, this is Brandon. Come in." + +As he talked a picture flickered on the screen. It was the radio room on +Astro One. Colonel Towers was pacing back and forth in front of the +radioman. + +"Shall I keep trying to raise him?" he heard Reinhardt ask. + +"Damn fool stunt," Towers sputtered. "Know what I think? I think he went +down deliberately. Just to be the first human being to walk the ground +of a planet of another solar system." + +"Astro, this is Brandon. Come in please." + +Towers continued to pace and talk. "He did it to spite me." + +"But we can't raise him sir," the radio operator said. "Maybe he didn't +get out of it alive." + +"Colonel Towers, can't you hear me?" Brandon yelled into his oxygen +mask. + +"He got out all right," the colonel said. "He's just stalling to make it +look good." + +"We aren't going to give up the search are we, sir?" asked the radioman. + +"It would serve his soul right." The colonel stopped pacing and faced +the radioman. "Keep trying to raise him, Reinhardt. I'm going to bring +us down to forty thousand feet and search the area where he went down. +Helluva waste of rocket fuel tooling around in the atmosphere," he +muttered, disappearing through a bulkhead door. + + +"Wait! Colonel Towers!" Brandon called. But he knew it was no use. +Obviously he could pick up Astro but they could neither see nor hear +him. + +"Captain Brandon, this is Astro calling. Over." The radioman repeated +the phrase a dozen times and each time Brandon acknowledged, swore and +acknowledged again. Finally, in desperation, he switched off the +tele-talkie. + +He snapped open the back of the unit and studied the maze of +transistors, resistors, and capacitators. If there was something wrong +it was subtle, like a burned out resistor or a shorted condenser. +Whatever it was, it was beyond emergency repair. He dropped the +tele-talkie behind the seat and examined the gauge on his oxygen tank. +There was enough to last the night but not much more. + +He sat down in the capsule to think. The first thing they'd locate is +the burning ship, he decided. Then they would probably start searching +in ever-widening circles. But would they see him in the faint light of +the ice moons? + +He looked back at the nylon chute again. Another thought ran through his +mind. Suppose they don't spot me in the dark. When the sun--Sirius, I +mean--comes up, there's a good chance they'll spot the parachute and +search for him. + +He slid the canopy open and looked down at the red soil of Sirius Three. +He hesitated for a moment, then swung his feet over the side and dropped +to the ground. + +"At least I'll have that satisfaction," he said, grinning under his +oxygen mask. + +Very much aware of gravity after years of weightlessness, he walked to +the canopy of the chute and spread it out on the flat ground in a full +circle. It billowed in the wind. He searched around, found some glassy +black rocks and anchored down the chute. + +Then he looked at the orange glow that marked the funeral pyre of the +ship. He had a decision to make; stay here with the capsule or head for +the fire. + +Couldn't be more than a thousand yards away, he decided. Charging a +walk-around oxygen bottle, he transferred his oxygen hose to it. He +snapped the survival kit to his belt and picked up the tele-talkie. + +The ship was more than a thousand yards away. The first mile was across +flat desert. He picked his way cautiously, his boots churning up clouds +of powdery dust. He remembered the Russian reports of the weird and +deadly creatures they had encountered in the Martian deserts. + +But aside from a few gray patches of brush there seemed to be no sign of +life. After all, he thought, the Earth held no life for the better part +of its existence. And Towers had selected this planet because it bore +relatively the same relationship to the brighter, hotter Sirius as did +the Earth to the sun. While farther away it should have approximately +the same conditions as did the Earth. And it had seas, not as large as +on Earth, but seas, nevertheless. + + +Yet there was a fallacy in the argument. Presumably all of the stars in +the outer arms of the Milky Way and their planets were about the same +age. With similar conditions as the Earth, life must have been born and +walked out of the seas of Sirius Three just as it did on Earth. + +Something scurried into a wisp of brush, as if to bear out Brandon's +realization. He froze, his eyes on the brush, his hand reaching for his +hydro-static shock pistol. He could hear nothing but the wind hollowing +his ears. He stood for a long moment, then cautiously skirted the brush, +and continued on toward the burning ship. There was an odd clicking +sound and he stopped. It sounded again. Brandon realized he was +perspiring despite the chill of the desert night. Again he moved on, the +sound fading in the distance behind him. + +The next mile brought him to a great sheet of ancient lava laid bare by +the elements. He climbed to the top. The fire still seemed to be about a +thousand yards ahead, beyond a ridge of low hills. + +A distant flare lit up the sky ahead of him. It glowed for a few moments +and died. They've found the ship, he thought. After four years, I had +completely forgotten about the store of photo-flash flares. + +He watched for awhile but saw no more flares. Finally he scrambled down +the other side of the lava sheet and continued on toward the wreck, +moving slowly but steadily. + +The third mile brought him to the scene of the crash. A smoking cylinder +of fused metal lay in a gully. Parts were strewn along the bottom. A +wing, untouched by the fire, was leaning tip down against the edge of +another lava sheet some distance away. + +He sat down. Another flare flashed in the sky behind him silhouetting a +row of grotesque trees. I'm over here, you fools, he thought. He watched +until the flare flickered out, then turned his head back toward the +remains of the ship. There wasn't much of a glow to it now. It would be +hard to see unless Astro was right on top of it. + +He raised the antenna on the tele-talkie and snapped it on. The screen +glowed into life. Towers was stepping through the bulkhead door into the +radio room. Just like a television play in installments, Brandon +thought. Scene two coming up. + +"No sign of him at the scene of the crash," Towers told Reinhardt. + +"If he got out," observed Reinhardt, "he could be a hundred miles away +or more." + +"_If_ he got out," Towers said in a tone that irritated Brandon. + +"I got out," Brandon said. "And right now I'm walking around your +precious planet like a boy scout. Damn this tele-talkie! I'd give a +year's pay if you could see me now, Towers." + +"We may yet spot the escape capsule," Reinhardt was saying. + +"We're still continuing the search," put in Towers. "But I don't mind +telling you I'm not wasting much more fuel." + +The radio operator started to say something, hesitated and finally +settled for, "yes, sir." + +Brandon swore and snapped off the set. He looked at his walk-around +bottle. + +"Can't stay here any longer," he muttered. + + +He couldn't find the capsule. He walked three, perhaps four miles. He +stopped and blotted his moist brow with his sleeve. He wasn't going to +find it. Before him stretched an endless carpet of red dust. The light +from the two moons was growing dim, as each settled toward different +horizons. + +He sat down. A cloud of powdery dust settled over his legs. The +lightness in his head told him that his oxygen was running out. The +weakness in his muscles reminded him that it had been a long time since +he had walked in a planet's gravity. A distant flare lit up the horizon. +He choked off a sob, and beat his fist in the red dust. A wave of nausea +swept over him. Bitter stomach juices welled up in his throat but he +swallowed them down again. + +Desperately he turned on the tele-talkie. + +"Astro, this is Brandon," he said. + +"Brandon, this is Astro," Reinhardt said. + +Brandon's body tensed. "Thank God I finally got through to you. Listen, +Reinhardt, I must be about three--" + +"Brandon, this is Astro," said Reinhardt in a monotone. He said it again +and again and again. + +Brandon fell back on the ground. His breathing was short, strained. His +face was bathed in perspiration. The oxygen, he realized, was giving +out. + +What are the odds, that the air of Sirius Three is breathable, he +wondered. One in a hundred? The planet has water and both animal and +plant life. Certainly it has sufficient gravity to hold its oxygen. But +what other elements--noxious gases might be present. Maybe the odds are +closer to one in fifty, he decided. + +"But it's no gamble when you have nothing to lose," he told the Milky +Way. + +Ripping off his oxygen mask, he took a deep breath of the alien +atmosphere. The dust choked him, his ears rang. Black spots danced +before his eyes, then melted into solid blackness. + + +Brandon could hear Towers' voice in a vortex of darkness. + +"Let's face it--Brandon is dead. Must have burned with the ship, at +least that's the way the report will read. Get me, Reinhardt?" + +"Yes, sir," the disembodied voice of Reinhardt replied quietly. + +"We're going to set her down on a solid piece of ground near one of the +oceans." There was a pause and Brandon could almost see Colonel Towers +drawing up to his full height. "I'm going to be the first man to set +foot on a planet of another solar system. Know what that means, +Reinhardt?" + +"A quantum jump sir?" + +"Right. Leap-frogging ahead of the Reds. Wait till they read the name +Colonel John Towers--maybe _General_ John Towers--_General_." + +Brandon opened his eyes. Sirius was turning the sky to gray, trimming a +few scattered clouds with gold. As he stared at the sky, Sirius rose +with a brassy glare. Near it he could see its white hot dwarf star +companion. It was going to be a real scorcher, he decided; worse than +any desert on Earth. He sat up stiffly. + +On the tele-talkie screen, Reinhardt, alone in the radio room, was +calling quietly for Brandon. The bulkhead door swung open and Towers +poked his head through. + +"Knock that off," said Towers sternly, "and take your landing station." +As Reinhardt rose to his feet, Brandon reached over and turned off the +set. + +Brandon took a deep breath. His head spun and for the first time he +realized that he was still alive. He gazed across the shimmering desert +to a ridge of scrubby hills. Blue mountains rose up beyond them. Great +floes of black lava had rolled down onto the desert floor at some +distant time. They were spotted with clumps of gray grass even as was +the desert. The hills were studded with weird trees standing stiff, +branches outstretched, like an army of scarecrows. + +The air of Sirius Three was doing strange things to him. Two of the +trees seemed to be moving. He swayed and sat heavily. + + +As he watched through a haze of red dust whipped up by the morning +breeze, the two trees came closer, turned into men wearing desert +uniforms and leaned over him. + +"Are you okay?" one of them asked. + +Brandon said nothing. + +"We saw you from our observation station over on the hill," said the +other pointing. + +They helped Brandon to his feet and gave him a swig of cool, sweet water +from a canteen. + +"I'm Captain Brandon, of the Astro One." + +"Astro One?" The man removed his pith helmet to wipe his brow and +Brandon noticed the gleaming US insignia on the front of the helmet. +"The Astro One left Earth thirteen years ago," the man said. + +"Only four years by RT," Brandon said. + +The man smiled and put his helmet back on his head. "A lot of things +have happened since you left. There was a war which we won, and I guess +you guys were almost forgotten. And there was a lot of technological +development." + +"You mean you had a quantum jump?" asked Brandon parroting Colonel +Towers' favorite expression. + +"Odd you would know that," replied the second man. "It was through +quantum mechanics that we learned to approximate the speed of light. +While nine years pass on Earth when we make the trip, our RT is mere +moments." + +"Good Lord!" Brandon said. "You must have passed us up." + +"Been on this planet for nearly a year," the first man said. "Got men on +dozens of planetary systems throughout the Milky Way. One ship went a +thousand light years out. By the time they come back, civilization on +Earth will be two thousand years older." + +"Have you got a tele-talkie?" Brandon asked. + +"Sure," said the first man, producing a set one-third the size of +Brandon's. + +"Could you tune it to 28.6 microcycles?" + +"Sure," the man said again. He turned a dial with his thumb and handed +the unit to Brandon. Brandon depressed the "talk" button. A crystal +clear image of Colonel Towers, putting the finishing touches on his full +dress uniform, appeared on the screen. + +"This is an historic occasion," Colonel Towers was announcing to his +crew. "Open the hatch--and, Reinhardt, be sure to stand by with the +motion picture camera." + +"Excuse me, Colonel Towers," said Brandon quietly. + +Towers swung around and looked out at Brandon. The colonel's face paled. + +"I have something to tell you," said Brandon grinning, "about the +quantum jump." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Quantum Jump, by Robert Wicks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE QUANTUM JUMP *** + +***** This file should be named 24418.txt or 24418.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/1/24418/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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