“Butbeforetheballoons, saveforspasmodicjumpingandtheinequalitiesofthesurface, manhadnofreedomofverticalmovement.”“Stilltheycouldmovealittleupanddown,”saidtheMedicalMan.
“Easier, fareasierdownthanup.”
“AndyoucannotmoveatallinTime, youcannotgetawayfromthepresentmoment.”
“Mydearsir, , whichareimmaterialandhavenodimensions, ’ssurface.”
“Butthegreatdifficultyisthis,”interruptedthePsychologist.“YoucanmoveaboutinalldirectionsofSpace, butyoucannotmoveaboutinTime.”
“, ifIamrecallinganincidentveryvividlyIgobacktotheinstantofitsoccurrence: Ibecomeabsent-minded, , , andwhyshouldhenothopethatultimatelyhemaybeabletostoporacceleratehisdriftalongtheTime-Dimension, oreventurnaboutandtraveltheotherway?”
“Oh, this,”beganFilby, “isall —”
“Whynot?”saidtheTimeTraveller.
“It’sagainstreason,”saidFilby.
“Whatreason?”saidtheTimeTraveller.
“Youcanshowblackiswhitebyargument,”saidFilby, “butyouwillneverconvinceme.”
“Possiblynot,”saidtheTimeTraveller.“ —”
“TotravelthroughTime!”exclaimedtheVeryYoungMan.
“ThatshalltravelindifferentlyinanydirectionofSpaceandTime, asthedriverdetermines.”
Filbycontentedhimselfwithlaughter.
“ButIhaveexperimentalverification,”saidtheTimeTraveller.
“Itwouldberemarkablyconvenientforthehistorian,”thePsychologistsuggested.“OnemighttravelbackandverifytheacceptedaccountoftheBattleofHastings, forinstance!”
“Don’tyouthinkyouwouldattractattention?”saidtheMedicalMan.“Ourancestorshadnogreattoleranceforanachronisms.”
“Onemightgetone’sGreekfromtheverylipsofHomerandPlato,”theVeryYoungManthought.
“.”
