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MISSING: ONE WINDOW
ONE VERY SPECIAL ‘window’–the point of egress from an alien dimension–ceased to be
and with its disappearance there vanished the means of return to our own
spatima
continuum, our own universe of space and time and matter.
Perry Rhodan learns whether a man can drown in an ‘ocean of time’.
And the crew of the spaceship
Sherbourne
–does coincidence, chance, a lucky accident or
fate determine the outcome of their adventure in the Other Dimension?
The lens-field generator and the dread Druufs are all part of the package of those who, like
you when you read this breadth taking episode, sense—
A TOUCH
OF ETERNITY
1/ OPERATION: OTHER WORLD
THE MYSTERIOUS CURTAIN. Of time. It swept inexorably over Tats-Tor and like a giant invisible
vacuum sucked up all organic life, leaving in its wake an empty world: cities intact but uninhabited by any
form of life. The men and women who had breathed, lived, loved and striven there to realize their
individual destinies, were missing from the planet. They were not dead or destroyed but they no longer
existed in the normal scheme of things: they existed now in another time dimension.
The star Morag was 7132 light-years from Earth. For a period of 5 millenniums its 2nd planet, Tats-Tor,
had been colonized and settled by Arkonides. They made their living as exporters of valuable raw
materials and through general commerce with the peoples of the Arkonide Empire, which was governed
by a gigantic positronic Brain.
Perry Rhodan had a very special reason for landing on Tats-Tor: to organize a Time Expedition under
the leadership of Lt. Marcel Rous. Here it was that the expedition had disappeared into an enigmatic…
nothingness.
That had been in January, more than 7 months ago—January in the year 2041.
So now on the 16th of July, Perry Rhodan was returning to Tats-Tor for the 3rd time. As the
depopulated planet began to emerge on the viewscreens of the mighty spaceship
Drusus
, its
commander’s thoughts returned to his first 2 visits to this distant world. Unfortunately they had been
 fruitless and barren of hope for the members of the ill-fated expedition.
13 January 2041: for 10 days there had not been the slightest trace of the time expedition. Lt. Rous and
his 5 companions had penetrated the circular field window produced by his energy lens generator and
had just entered the alien time dimension when the frontal overlap of the 2 planes of existence had rolled
over Tats-Tor and lapped up all life there like a ravenous giant. Contrary to expectations, Marcel Rous
did not return.
Rhodan landed on Tats-Tor in the super battleship
Drusus
, a spherical spaceship measuring a mile in
diameter. After some searching he found the deserted Gazelle, in which the energy lens generator had
been installed.
With the help of this ingeniously constructed apparatus it was possible to penetrate the other time-plane
at the moment of overlap without losing one’s own time relationship. The critically different time-ratio of
the other plane had not the slightest effect on a person coming through the energy lens.
The normal universe was being traversed by an alien time-plane. At every location where a direct
interface of intercepting planes occurred, any organic life disappeared. The most monstrous menace ever
known was threatening all life in the Milky Way.
It was with very mixed feelings that Rhodan, Reginald Bell and a few of the Mutant corps approached
the Gazelle where it stood lonely and deserted in the middle of the desert. Other than themselves there
was no life left on this world, not even the smallest insect that crawled, the lowliest worm. The time
curtain had swept everything with it except lifeless matter and plants. Oddly, there was a definite
indication that a difference between fauna and flora was recognized by the natural laws of the other time
dimension.
Reginald Bell cleared his throat unobtrusively and attempted to conceal his anxiety. Under no
circumstances must the others know that he was fearful or apprehensive.
However his voice was slightly strained when he spoke: "They have—uh—disappeared since 10 days
ago. If they went into that other time plane through the energy ring, then why haven’t they come back?"
Rhodan glanced askance at him briefly while continuing calmly. "We came here to find an answer to that
question, Bell. I have a feeling that there could be a hundred answers—but it’s going to be our job to
discover the right one. Well, there’s the Gazelle." He pointed to the long-range reconnaissance flier, a
disc that was 100 feet in diameter and 60 feet high. It was still about 200 yards away. "In its control
room are the controls for the energy-ring generator. We’ll soon find out what’s the matter with it."
"What can be wrong with it?" grumbled Bell in a welter of uncertainties.
Rhodan didn’t look at him when he replied: "There’s actually nothing that can’t go out of commission…"
Bell fell into a stubborn silence the rest of the way.
The outer lock was open and they were able to enter the small spaceship without hindrance. Slightly
more than a half mile away towered the mighty shape of the
Drusus
. At the slightest sign of danger the
giant’s guns would open fire.
But nothing occurred as Perry Rhodan and his companions passed through the airlock of the Gazelle and
moved onward to the control room. It didn’t take long to find a very graphic answer to their question but
 it was by no means a satisfactory one.
The cooled droplets of melted metal on the smooth deck of the control room said enough but Rhodan
was never satisfied with halfway answers. He attempted personally to get the equipment into operation
but he soon had to realize how futile his efforts were.
The energy-ring generator of the Gazelle was knocked out, completely ruined for all time. The coils were
burned through and the conductors were melted. Under the circumstances the thought of repairing it was
hopeless.
"At least now we know the actual facts," murmured Bell.
Rhodan nodded. "A small consolation, I’m afraid, because it’s not any help to the members of our
vanished time-expedition. How are we going to get them out of their time prison?"
"We build another generator," suggested one of the mutants.
"Quite right," Rhodan agreed. "There’s no other alternative. But in that case we’ve got to return to the
Earth. Only the research centre in Terrania has the means to complete such a project. Let’s hope that in
the meantime Rous and his crew don’t lose their courage or hope."
Bell stared pensively at the blank viewscreen of the Gazelle. "If they just don’t lose too much time in the
process…"
Rhodan shook his head. "Or we, either," he said and without further ado left the small spaceship. He
knew that they couldn’t accomplish anything more here without losing valuable hours and days.
And so it was that Perry Rhodan returned a 2nd time a few weeks later and landed on Tats-Tor, this
time with a very large and powerful energy-ring generator on board.
* * * *
They required an entire day to erect the equipment on the desert next to the Gazelle. The technicians
who had come along from the Earth were very confident that their newest creation would function.
Rhodan and Bell hoped they were right.
And also Pucky, of course, who had been permitted to come along this time. The mouse-beaver
waddled gravely along behind the 2 men, his ears sticking straight up and his broad beaver’s tail lending
him both guidance and support. In his brown hound-dog eyes was a faint glimmer of despair but the
intelligent animal maintained an outward appearance that led none to suspect his inner feelings.
Moreover, Pucky was really much more than a mere animal. As a member of the Mutant Corps he was
endowed with at least 3 parapsychological faculties and no one was quite sure whether other gifts of this
nature were not slumbering within him also. At any rate, he was a telepath, a psychokinesist and a
teleporter all in one package, besides being able to speak a number of languages with perfect fluency.
And he possessed an IQ level that many humans might have envied.
 Pucky walked in an upright position, measuring about 3 feet in height. He was a cross between mouse
and beaver but comported himself in a completely human manner, although for the most part he chose to
skip the matter of clothing. His rust-brown furry pelt seemed to be fully adequate for his needs.
Rhodan came to a halt when he reached the technicians, who had set up their equipment directly
alongside the deserted Gazelle. The projectors were turned in the same direction that the ruined
generator had been pointing toward. Barring anything unforeseen, an activation of the machine should
now produce the circular ring of light which would form a doorway into the other time dimension.
"Are you ready?" Rhodan inquired of the head engineer as he indicated the complicated apparatus.
"When can we make the first try?"
"As soon as we hook up the main conduits to the power generators on board the
Drusus
, sir. The
energy-ring generator requires a lot of energy for building up its time-field."
Rhodan nodded and turned around. "I’m going through myself. Pucky and the mutants will accompany
me. Bell will stay behind and take over the command in case anything goes wrong…"
"Wrong…?" inquired Pucky in his sharp, squeaky voice. "What could go wrong?"
"Whatever, Pucky—we have to take the risk," Rhodan explained calmly. "That’s what Lt. Rous did and
he’s vanished; but at least we know the reason why. Without a generator there isn’t any way back. But
this equipment here isn’t going to break down. Our technicians will see to that. So we’ll be able to return
at any time." He turned once more to the scientists. "When will you be all set?"
"In 1 hour, sir."
* * * *
The sun Morag had only moved a short distance and now stood high in the sky. The desert of Tats-Tor
lay deserted and dead under its scorching rays, giving mute testimony to the lifelessness of a world swept
by the curtain of alien time.
Rhodan adjusted the impulse beamer in his belt and took a last look at his companions before starting
the dangerous journey. Beside him Pucky seemed to tremble with impatience but Rhodan sensed his
small friend’s inner apprehension before the unknown. However brave and spirited the little
mouse-beaver might be, the alien time dimension was something he couldn’t quite grasp in its
concept—and so he was instinctively afraid of it.
"We will stay together," said Rhodan while placing his right hand on Pucky’s shoulder. "As soon as we
have climbed through the forcefield window I want you to put out your telepathic tendrils so that we can
trace Lt. Rous as quickly as possible. John Marshall will handle the radio. I’ll keep a lookout for any
possible surprises from the unknown enemy but we already know that events occurring behind that time
curtain take about 72,000 times longer to happen. So in that sense we really won’t have to fear any
enemy action." He gave a sign to the technicians. "We are ready, gentlemen."
Bell stood to one side and strove to maintain an air of indifference. Within him raged a veritable storm of
 feelings, however. Naturally he was glad he didn’t have to go along on the expedition. He had no fear of
flesh and blood enemies but to penetrate into an alien, unknown environment was a hazardous venture
which required more than raw courage alone.
Nevertheless he would have liked to go along. The call of adventure was always irresistible.
Then on the other hand…
He did not finish his counter-argument because the telepathic mouse-beaver suddenly turned to him.
"You don’t know what you want, do you, Fatso?" Of course Bell wasn’t fat in the least, being at the
most what might be referred to as thickset, but Pucky loved a bit of exaggeration when it came to ribbing
his bosom pal. "First you’re glad that somebody else is going to pull the castanets out of that other time
plane and then you’re stewing over not being along when we singe our paws. If you’re a good boy, I’ll
bring you back a clock from the other side. Since it is 72,000 times slower than yours, you can gauge
yourself to it when you’re off duty."
Before Bell could find the appropriate words for a retort the head engineer turned on the power switch.
With a muffled hum the magnetic fields built up which were to warp an opening in the time barrier. This
opening, or window, would reveal itself in the form of a faintly shimmering ring of light.
But then the expected effect failed to materialize. In spite of the fact that the solidly anchored apparatus
vibrated energetically and the fields increased their humming sound, the light-ring refused to appear.
The engineer shook his head in bewilderment as he watched the wavering needles on his meter panel.
Rhodan stepped closer to him and shouted above the noise of the field generator. "What’s happening? Is
the field building up or not…?"
"It’s building," confirmed the engineer in puzzlement without taking his eyes from the meters. "I can’t see
anything wrong. Everything is operating exactly as it was designed to do and actually the light-ring should
be visible by now. I don’t understand…"
In fact, nobody understood it for a good 6 months after that. At first the disappointment was almost a
crushing blow. They kept looking for an error in the ring-field generator itself until somebody in the
research centre in Terrania was sharp enough to think of looking elsewhere for the missing factor.
Namely, in the governing circumstances on Tats-Tor!
It had been a hard blow for Rhodan in the meantime to have to assume with an overwhelming certainty
that Lt. Rous’ time-expedition was lost for good.
But 3 months following the foregoing events chief physicist Erb of the electronics department stepped
into his office far above the streets of Terrania.
Rhodan had just concluded a conversation with the Administrator of Venus and cut off the connection.
The viewscreen faded out. Not particularly interested in this visit, he offered the physicist a chair across
from him. He was expecting this to be another routine report.
"What can I do for you?" he said by way of opening the conversation but actually his thoughts were
elsewhere. The settlers on Venus were asking for more administrative freedom and he didn’t see why it
should be denied them. In addition, there was the fact that…
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