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'I'm dying； chief。'
'I'll ring down for the bio stuff。。。'
'No good。。。 I've got to get back to Phnaargos。 Back to the germination beds and re…charge。'
'I'll get us a cab。'
'Wrong； all wrong。。。'
'Don't leave me。 Hell； I need you； fella。' Elvis plucked up the sprout and held it lovingly to his cheek。 There was no mistake about it； it was definitely starting to pong a bit。
'If I stay here any longer I'll rot。 I've got enough energy left to get us back to Phnaargos。 You've got to help me when we get there； OK？ I'll tell you everything on the way。'
'Right； right。 No sweat； OK。 Let's get。'
They got。
Elvis Presley's departure from the Hong Kong Hilton was easily as opportune as any of his previous sudden departures had been。 On this occasion he outran； literally by seconds； the hotel's security forces； who had just been tipped off that their penthouse guest was none other than the notorious international fivestar moonlight flitter； currently wanted on five continents。
Elvis bucketed through time and space。 He was being somewhat seasoned to it by now。 It was merely a toothbrush in the top pocket number。 And for all the Time Sprout's early fears； he showed no signs whatever of ill effect。 In fact he seemed to thrive on it。 He never got any smarter； though。
There was a crash…bang…wallop and the two fell through a crack in the clouds and wound up suddenly in a certain research establishment at Earthers Inc。 'Quickly；' croaked the failing sprouty。 'The vat at the end of the hyper…ponic bench。。。 bung me in or I'm a goner；'
'No sweat； small buddy。' Taking in only a blur of his fantastic surroundings Elvis stumbled along the bench。 He never saw the figure crouching near at hand； nor the post shovel as it arced through the air。 It struck him a resounding blow to the top of the skull。 As he toppled sideways； the sprout fell from his grip； bounced across the floor and came to rest at the feet of Gryphus Garstang。 'Gotcha；' said that very man。 'Oh shit；' said the Time Sprout。 'And farewell。'
Garstang turned to Jason Morgawr。 'I have to hand it to you；' he said。 'How did you know they'd e back？'
'I just reasoned it out。 I went through Mr Shaman's private papers and saw the flaw almost at once。 Genetics is my business。 I knew that the sprout would have to e back for a top…up and that it would most likely e in the pany of Mr Presley。 All we had to do was to wait。'
Garstang nodded approvingly。 Smart…arsed bastard； he thought。 He gazed down at the Time Sprout。 'And you。。。' Gryphus Garstang turned his heel。 The Time Sprout became history。
16
The universe begins to look more and more like a great thought than a great machine。
Dr J。 B。 Rhine
It was 3。35 on the afternoon of 7 June 2050。 The sun wasn't shining。
Rex took to pacing the floor。 It had never been a habit which found great favour with him。 Firstly because it was a waste of valuable viewing time and secondly it involved a good deal of ducking and diving； if it was to be achieved without cracking one's head open on the gilded cherub。 Now seemed a good time for it though。 Twenty…three hours had passed and MOTHER had told him precisely nothing。 Surely no…one could go a full twenty…four hours without watching television。 It was unthinkable。 Rex paced and cursed； cursed and paced。 Took it by rote。 But it didn't help one jaded jot。 Rex checked his chronometer。 Still two…thirty； he'd have to get that fixed。 Heroes always managed to pull off the big one in the nick of time。 Everyone knew that。 Old Adam Earth； lantern…jawed wunderkind of Buddha…vision's eternal foodie New Day Dawning； always managed to pull it off anyway。 Get the sabotaged food production line running again just as section so and so was on the point of starvation and the sneaky rival station was about to fly in the missionaries with the food parcels。 Always in the nick of time。
Of course that wasn't real life； although Rex was beginning to have his doubts regarding exactly what 'real life' was。 He gazed about his hovel。 Real life was this； and time was running out。
'e on；' Rex implored the screen。 'e on。'
A sun called Rupert shone in through a boardroom window。 Here it lit upon a pany of fellows who sat about a golden table。 This pany was suddenly called to stiff…spined attention by the unexpected arrival of a portly gent with greenly dyed moustachios。 'Out of my chair； Garstang。' The order was no sooner issued than it was obeyed。
Mungo Madoc seated himself before the assembly and examined faces to gauge the expressions thereupon。 Satisfied that； as ever； deceit and treachery numbered amongst his board's more noble qualities； he smiled wanly and began to speak。 'Gentlemen；' he said。 'You will be pleased to know that the pany medics have declared me Category A。 In the very rudest of rude good health。' There was much enthusiastic hand clapping。 'And so the captain returns to his ship； revitalized； extensively modified and fully informed as to the wayward vessel's present position and uncharted course。' Mungo dipped into his cigar box。 It was empty。 He frowned。 'During my period of recuperation； confidential aides have kept me fully informed as to your separate roles in this sad and sorry affair。 Oh； truly do I weep for the sons of Phnaargos。'
The board members peeped suspiciously at one another。 How much did Mungo know？ Who had told him what？ What whats which they had told him were the actual whats and which were not？ And things of that nature。
'The ratings are up；' said Diogenes brightly。 'As you are no doubt well aware；' he added for good measure。
Mungo nodded and said； 'Fergus； what do you have to say for yourself？'
Fergus Shaman straightened the fern fronds securing the wristlets of his tunic。 He had e； almost at once； to the precarious conclusion that Mungo was in all likelihood indulging in a little bullshit baffles brainery。 Taking a deep breath； and having very little to lose； he set forth to test his hypothesis。 'It is for certain；' said he； in a manner which left no doubt that it was； 'that having been precisely informed upon all matters concerning my role in this affair； you should find me an island of moral rectitude in a sea of infamy。 Whatever rewards you should wish to heap upon me I shall accept with just humility。'
Gryphus Garstang's hook nose cut the air as he rose to his feet。
'Rewards？' quoth he。 'You Haggard； sir。 Just desserts are all that remain to you。' Fergus looked aghast。 And very well he looked it too。
'Mr Madoc；' he said softly。 'I'm sure that I share the feelings of my fellow board members in saying that we will miss Mr Garstang； whose dismissal from the high position； that he has so sadly abused； must surely be on the cards。 I； for one； take this opportunity to wish him all success in the more earthy pursuits you no doubt have in mind for him。'
Mungo gazed towards Garstang； loving every moment of it。
Garstang threw up his hands。 'This man；' he spluttered； going purple in the face； 'this man all but wrought plete destruction upon all of us。 And now he seeks to cloud the issue by making preposterous allegations against the one who found him out。'
Mungo Madoc sn