Hyperdrive?

Behind her, Carl began to moan.

As calmly as she could, Judy said, “Put us back.”

Allen looked hurt. He hadn’t expected her to laugh. “I’m afraid I can’t just yet,” he said.

“Why not? You brought us here, wherever here is.”

“We’re somewhere between the orbits of Earth and Mars, and out of the plane of the ecliptic, but we could be off by as much as a few light-seconds from the distance I set. We shouldn’t try to go near a planet until I take some distance measurements and calibrate—”

“Whoa! Slow down a minute. We’re between Earth and Mars?” She felt a thrill rush through her as she asked the question. Could they really be? This was the sort of thing she had always dreamed of. Captain Gallagher of the Imperial Space Navy! Hopping from planet to planet at her merest whim, leading humanity outward from its cradle toward its ultimate destiny in space…

But right behind it came the thought, I’m not in command of my ship.

Allen said, “If my initial calculations were correct we are. We’ll know in a minute.”

“How?”

“I sent a timing signal just as we jumped. When it catches up with us I’ll know exactly how far we moved. It should be coming in any second now.”

Judy looked toward the computer. The top line of the display kept counting seconds and the radio remained silent. Allen began to look puzzled, then worried. He began typing on the keyboard again.

“Stop!”

He looked up, surprised.

“Get away from there. Reinhardt, get between him and that panel.”

Carl nodded and pulled himself over beside Allen.

“I’m just checking the coordinates,” Allen said. “I must have miskeyed them.”

After a moment’s thought, Judy said, “Okay, go ahead, but explain what you’re doing as you go along. And don’t even think of moving the ship again without my permission.” She nodded to Carl, who backed away again, then she suddenly had a thought. “Christ, go wake up Gerry. He’d shoot us if we didn’t get him in on this too.”