Transcriber's Note
This etext was produced from the September 1960 issue of If.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U. S.copyright on this publication was renewed. Obvious printer's andpunctuation errors have been fixed. Original page numbers havebeen retained.
THE |  |
[109]Time heals all wounds.
Given time,
anything is possible.
And now he had all the
time in the world!
He began by breakingthings that morning. Hebroke the glass of water onhis night stand. He knockedit crazily against the oppositewall and shattered it. Yet itshattered slowly. This wouldhave surprised him if he hadbeen fully awake, for he hadonly reached out sleepily forit.
Nor had he wakened regularlyto his alarm; he hadwakened to a weird, slow, lowbooming, yet the clock saidsix, time for the alarm. Andthe low boom, when it cameagain, seemed to come fromthe clock.
He reached out and touchedit gently, but it floated off thestand at his touch and bouncedaround slowly on the floor.And when he picked it upagain it had stopped, norwould shaking start it.[110]
He checked the electricclock in the kitchen. This alsosaid six o’clock, but the sweephand did not move. In hisliving room the radio clocksaid six, but the second handseemed stationary.
“But the lights in bothrooms work,” said Vincent.“How are the clocks stopped?Are they on a separate circuit?”
He went back to his bedroomand got his wristwatch.It also said six; and its sweephand did not sweep.
“Now this could get silly.What is it that would stopboth mechanical and electricalclocks?”
He went to the window andlooked out at the clock on theMutual Insurance Building. Itsaid six o’clock, and the secondhand did not move.
“Well, it is possible that theconfusion is not limited to myself.I once heard the fancifultheory that a cold shower willclear the mind. For me itnever has, but I will try it. Ican always use cleanlinessfor an excuse.”
The shower didn’t work.Yes, it did: the water camenow, but not like water; likevery slow syrup that hung inthe air. He reached up totouch it there hanging downand stretching. And it shatteredlike glass when hetouched it and drifted in fantasticslow globs across theroom. But it had the feel ofwater, wet and pleasantlycool. And in a quarter of aminute or so it was down overhis shoulders and back, and heluxuriated in it. He let it soakhis head and it cleared hiswits at once.
“There is not a thing wrongwith me. I am fine. It is notmy fault that the water isslow this morning and otherthings awry.”
He reached for the towe