"Certainly!" Michaelson said emphatically. Craig stared at the little man. Michaelson did not look like he had much on the ball but he spoke excellent English, and even if he was a queer duck, he seemed to be intelligent. Craig remembered that Michaelson had been trying to reach the bridge just before the bombers struck, also that the man had been trying to get in touch with the captain just before the warning sounded that the bombers were approaching. Craig turned to the officers. "Captain Higgins," he said. "Don't bother me now, Craig," the captain snapped. "There's a man here who wants to talk to you," Craig said. "I have no time--" For the first time, the captain saw Michaelson. "Who the devil are you?" he snapped. "What are you doing on my bridge?" "He's the man who wants to talk to you," Craig explained. "His name is Michaelson." Michaelson smiled shyly. "You may have heard of me," he said. "Are you Michaelson the scientist, the man who is called the second Einstein?" Higgins demanded. Michaelson blushed. "I am a scientist," he said. "As for being a second Einstein, no. There is only one Einstein. There can be only one. But it may be that I can help you with your problem." Craig saw the attitude of the officers change. They had heard of Michaelson. It was a great name. Until then they had not known that he was on their bridge. They became respectful. "If you can help us, shoot," Higgins said bluntly. "I will try," the scientist said. He pursed his lips and looked thoughtful. "If you are familiar with geology you unquestionably know something about 'faults'. 'Faults' are unstable areas on the surface of the earth, places where, due to joints or cracks in the underlying strata of rocks, slippage is likely to take place. There is, for instance, the great San Andreas Rift, in California, which is a 'fault'." "Sorry, Mr. Michaelson," Higgins interrupted. "If you've got something to say, say it, but don't start giving us a lecture on geology." "In explaining 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?