ELEGY
By Charles Beaumont
[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories ofScience and Fantasy February 1953. Extensive research did not uncoverany evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Would you mind repeating that?"
"I said, sir, that Mr. Friden said, sir, that he sees a city."
"A city?"
"Yes sir."
Captain Webber rubbed the back of his hand along his cheek.
"You realize, of course, that that is impossible?"
"Yes sir."
"Send Mr. Friden in to see me, at once."
The young man saluted and rushed out of the room. He returned with asomewhat older man who wore spectacles and frowned.
"Now then," said Captain Webber, "what's all this Lieutenant Petersontells me about a city? Are you enjoying a private little joke, Friden?"
Mr. Friden shook his head emphatically. "No sir."
"Then perhaps you'd like to explain."
"Well, sir, you see, I was getting bored and just for something to do, Ithought I'd look through the screen—not that I dreamed of seeinganything. The instruments weren't adjusted, either; but there wassomething funny, something I couldn't make out exactly."
"Go on," said Captain Webber, patiently.
"So I fixed up the instruments and took another look, and there it was,sir, plain as could be!"
"There what was?"
"The city, sir. Oh, I couldn't tell much about it, but there werehouses, all right, a lot of them."
"Houses, you say?"
"Yes sir, on an asteroid."
Captain Webber looked for a long moment at Mr. Friden and began to pacenervously.
"I take it you know what this might mean?"
"Yes sir, I do. That's why I wanted Lieutenant Peterson to tell youabout it."
"I believe, Friden, that before we do any more talking I'll see thiscity for myself."
Captain Webber, Lieutenant Peterson and Mr. Friden walked from the roomdown a long corridor and into a smaller room. Captain Webber put his eyeto a circular glass and tapped his foot.
He stepped back and rubbed his cheek again.
"Well, you were right. That is a city—or else we've all gone crazy.Do you think that we have?"
"I don't know, sir. It's not impossible."
"Lieutenant, go ask Mr. Milton if he can land us on an asteroid. Givehim all the details and be back in ten minutes." Captain Webber sighed."Whatever it is," he said, "it will be a relief. Although I never made aspecial announcement, I suppose you knew that we were lost."
"Oh yes, sir."
"And that we ran almost entirely out of fuel several months ago, in factshortly after we left?"
"We knew that."
The men were silent.
"Sir, Mr. Milton says he thinks he can land us but he can't promiseexactly where."
"Tell Mr. Milton that's good enough."
Captain Webber waited for the young man to leave, then looked again intothe glass.
"What do you make of it, sir?"
"Not much, Friden, not much. It's a city and that's an asteroid; but howthe devil they got there is beyond me. I still haven't left the ideathat we're crazy, you know."
Mr. Friden looked.
"We're positioning to land. Strange—"
"What is it?"
"I can make things out a bit more clearly now, sir. Those are earthhouses."
Captain Webber looked. He blinked.
"Now, that," he said, "is impossible. Look her