Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Space Science Fiction May 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
THE ULTROOM ERROR
by JERRY SOHL
Smith admitted he had made an error involving a fewmurders—and a few thousand years. He was entitled to asense of humor, though, even in the Ultroom!
HB73782. Ultroom error. Tendal 13. Arvid 6. Kanad transferout of 1609 complete, intact, but too near limit of 1,000days. Next Kanad transfer ready. 1951. Reginald, son of Mr.and Mrs. Martin Laughton, 3495 Orland Drive, Marionville,Illinois, U. S. A. Arrive his 378th day. TB73782.
ancy Laughton sat on the blanket she had spread on the lawn in herfront yard, knitting a pair of booties for the PTA bazaar.Occasionally she glanced at her son in the play pen, who was gettinghis daily dose of sunshine. He was gurgling happily, examining a ball,a cheese grater and a linen baby book, all with perfunctory interest.
When she looked up again she noticed a man walking by—except heturned up the walk and crossed the lawn to her.
He was a little taller than her husband, had piercing blue eyes and arather amused set to his lips.
"Hello, Nancy," he said.
"Hello, Joe," she answered. It was her brother who lived in Kankakee.
"I'm going to take the baby for a while," he said.
"All right, Joe."
He reached into the pen, picked up the baby. As he did so the baby'sknees hit the side of the play pen and young Laughton let out ascream—half from hurt and half from sudden lack of confidence in hisnew handler. But this did not deter Joe. He started off with thechild.
Around the corner and after the man came a snarling mongrel dog, eyesbright, teeth glinting in the sunlight. The man did not turn as thedog threw himself at him, burying his teeth in his leg. Surprised, theman dropped the screaming child on the lawn and turned to the dog. Joeseemed off balance and he backed up confusedly in the face of thesnapping jaws. Then he suddenly turned and walked away, the dog at hisheels.
"I tell you, the man said he was my brother and he made me think hewas," Nancy told her husband for the tenth time. "I don't even have abrother."
Martin Laughton sighed. "I can't understand why you believed him. It'sjust—just plain nuts, Nancy!"
"Don't you think I know it?" Nancy said tearfully. "I feel like I'mgoing crazy. I can't say I dreamt it because there was Reggie with hisbleeding knees, squalling for all he was worth on the grass—Oh, Idon't even want to think about it."
"We haven't lost Reggie, Nancy, remember that. Now why don't you tryto get some rest?"
"You—you don't believe me at all, do you, Martin?"
When her husband did not answer, her head sank to her arms on thetable and she sobbed.
"Nancy, for heaven's sake, of course I believe you. I'm trying tothink it out, that's all. We should have called the police."
Nancy shook her head in her arms. "They'd—never—believe me either,"she moaned.
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