"Commander, I'm afraid we won't be able to use the parts after all. They don't fit. The specifications are all wrong. They look all right, but--" With a hastily muttered excuse, Rhondu broke off. A short time later his voice returned. "I'm sorry, Commander, there must have been a mistake. My men just checked the parts again--and they're all right. It's very strange, though. Everything seemed to blur, and then ... well, the parts were correct--down to the last detail." Thettumir and Kasthel stared at each other. Kasthel said, "The grass ... the trees...." Thettumir nodded somberly, his broad face tightening. Within ensuing seconds, audio beam calls came from the other ships. Their engineers announced their replacements also to be incorrect specifications--only later puzzledly to contradict themselves. The repairs now went on without interruption. Thettumir was thoughtful. If materials appeared from the very air merely by thinking about them, or wishing for them, perhaps.... He whirled abruptly to Kasthel and Sthalor. "Look--consciously or unconsciously, we wished for those supplies. We got them. Now if we were to wish for other things--" "Of course!" Sthalor exclaimed. "We should have thought of that before." "Come, we will give it a test." Thettumir led the way hurriedly from the ship. Outside he said, "Now--what shall we wish for?" "A weapon!" Kasthel said. "I've always wished we had several of those new Class IV atomic cannons. The Executive Council thought it would take too much time to make them." Thettumir prompted, "But the specifications, Kasthel. Remember, you must know the exact specifications." "I know them well, Commander." Kasthel closed his eyes, concentrating deeply. Tense with eagerness, Thettumir watched. Suddenly, in a spot several feet to his right, a transparent angular outline appeared. It darkened, took on color and detail. And finally--there stood a Class IV atomic cannon. At the exclamations of Thettumir and Sthalor, Kasthel opened his eyes. "It worked!" Thettumir exulted. "It worked!" Kasthel's crest quivered with excitement. "Commander, if we can cause the materialization of objects like atomic cannon--" Thettumir nodded quickly. "Then we can cause the materialization of objects like ships--the mightiest warships that ever blasted space!" * * * * * Thettumir got swiftly to work. He called a meeting of the various scientists and engineers of the fleet and explained his plans. After what had been experienced, none doubted that his idea was feasible. Designs and specifications were drawn up for an invincible battle cruiser, which, serving as a pattern, could be duplicated in countless numbers.