Alternative histories (Fiction); Multiverse -- Fiction; Science fiction; Short stories; Space flight to the moon -- Fiction
Einstein sat silent for a moment before he answered. "No, there was no
opportunity. I have always been sure that they could be constructed,
but have never put it to the test. The Germans felt the same, and at
one time even had a heavy water project that aimed towards controlled
nuclear fission. But their military successes were so great that they
abandoned it along with other far-fetched and expensive schemes such
as the hollow-globe theory. I myself have never wanted to see this
hellish thing built, and from what you have told about it, it is worse
than my most terrible dream. But I have approached the President about
it, when the Nazi threat was closing in, but nothing was done. Too
expensive. Now it is too late. But perhaps it isn't. If _your_ America
will help us, the enemy will be defeated. And after that, what a wealth
of knowledge we shall have once our worlds are in contact. Will you do
it?"
"Of course," Dan Coye said. "But the brass will take a lot of
convincing. I suggest some films be made of you and others explaining
some of this. And enclose some documents, anything that will help
convince them what has happened."
"I can do something better," Einstein said, taking a small bottle from
a drawer of the table. "Here is a recently developed drug, and the
formula, that has proved effective in arresting certain of the more
violent forms of cancer. This is an example of what I mean by the
profit that can accrue when our two worlds can exchange information."
Dan pocketed the precious bottle as they turned to leave. With a sense
of awe they gently shook hands with the frail old man who had been
dead many years in the world they knew, to which they would be soon
returning.
* * * * *
The military moved fast. A large jet bomber was quickly converted
to carry one of the American solid-fuel rocket missiles. Not yet
operational, it was doubtful if they ever would be at the rate of the
Nazi advance. But given an aerial boost by the bomber it could reach up
out of the ionosphere--carrying the payload of the moon capsule with
its two pilots. Clearing the fringes of the atmosphere was essential to
the operation of the instrument that was to return them to what they
could only think of as their own world. It seemed preposterously tiny
to be able to change worlds.
"Is that _all_?" Gino asked when they settled themselves back into
the capsule. A square case, containing records and reels of film, was
strapped between their seats. On top of it rested a small grey metal
box.
"What do you expect--an atom smasher?" Dan asked, checking out the
circuits. The capsule had been restored as much as was possible to the
condition it was in the day it had landed. The men wore their pressure
suits. "We came here originally by accident, by just thinking wrong or
something like that, if my theory's correct."
"It isn't--but neither is mine, so we can't let it bug us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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