Jeremy entered the trapezoid.

In an instant, everything changed. He was back aboard the Raven, standingwearing his suit, helmet in hand. Immediately, he rushed toward the controlstation, donning his helmet as he went. He felt the familiar drop into spaceproper. The tidal forces took hold of the Raven, and it began to groan andcreak.

He could see the switches for the Warton-Purg drive and he extended his arm,reaching. Then the ship came apart and he was drawn away from the controls. Heglimpsed a jumpsuited human form, turning and turning.

Later, drifting he met a Nik who did not recall him but who quickly understoodhis explanation as to what had occurred.

"Am I still in the dosed timelike curve?" Jeremy asked.

'Oh, yes. I know of no way of departing a CTC till it's run its course," Nikreplied. "In fact, theoretically, if you could do it you'd wind up inside theblack hole."

"Guess things get to run their course then. But listen, this time around it wasa little different than the first time."

"Yes. Your classical physics is deterministic, but this isn't classicalphysics."

"I actually got close to the Raven's controls. I wonder... ."

"What?"

"You've installed a form of telepathy in my mind. Could you also teach mesomething -- telekinetic, perhaps -- that would give me the ability to hold abubble of air around my head for a minute or two. I'm convinced that slowing toput on the helmet was what kept me from reaching the controls."

"We'll see what we can do. Take a nap."

When Jeremy awoke he had the ability to move small objects with his mind. Hetested this by removing units from his tool kit, having them orbit his arms, hislegs, his head, and returning them without touching them physically.

"I think I've got it, Nik. Thanks."

"You're an interesting study, Jeremy."

This time when he entered the trapezoid he had his mind flexed, and he gathered