Technician

           AndrewHarlansteppedintothekettle.ItssideswereperfectlyroundanditfitsnuglyinsideaverticalshaftcomposedofwidelyspacedrodsthatshimmeredintoanunseeablehazesixfeetaboveHarlan’shead.Harlansetthecontrolsandmovedthesmoothlyworkingstartinglever.

           Thekettledidnotmove.

           Harlandidnotexpectitto.Heexpectednomovement;neitherupnordown,leftnorright,forthnorback.Yetthespacesbetweentherodshadmeltedintoagrayblanknesswhichwassolidtothetouch,thoughnonethelessimmaterialforallthat.Andtherewasthelittlestirinhisstomach,thefaint(psychosomatic?)touchofdizziness,thattoldhimthatallthekettlecontained,includinghimself,wasrushingupwhenthroughEternity.

           Hehadboardedthekettleinthe575thCentury,thebaseofoperationsassignedhimtwoyearsearlier.Atthetimethe575thhadbeenthefarthestupwhenhehadevertraveled.Nowhewasmovingupwhentothe2456thCentury.

           Underordinarycircumstanceshemighthavefeltalittlelostattheprospect.HisnativeCenturywasinthefardownwhen,the95thCentury,tobeexact.The95thwasaCenturystifflyrestrictiveofatomicpower,faintlyrustic,fondofnaturalwoodasastructuralmaterial,exportersofcertaintypesofdistilledpotablestonearlyeverywhenandimportersofcloverseed.AlthoughHarlanhadnotbeeninthe95thsinceheenteredspecialtrainingandbecameaCubattheageoffifteen,therewasalwaysthatfeelingoflosswhenonemovedoutwhenfrom"home."