It would appear that I inadvertently set off the events that ten years later would end manned space flight, and deny my friend Al the chance to be an astronaut.

I asked Healey, "What if I were to call General French and tell him I made a mistake, that Murdock was not fit to fly."

Healey replied, "Its not likely to make a difference. Unfortunately, Bellows doesn't have a lot of credibility as it is; and I have to take some responsibility for that. Besides, General French doesn't take much stock in psychiatry. He was almost kicked out of the Marine Corps during WWII, but his ability to fly a Corsair, and a Major 'Pappy' Boyington saved him from the brig. French is more interested in Murdock's flying skills, and Murdock is one of the best chopper pilots in the Army."

I spent the most of the rest of the day hiding out in Bellows' office, trying to figure out how to untie this time knot. I went home and had dinner with Amanda, and fortunately she didn't seem to expect much conversation. She also seemed content to go straight to sleep that night, which avoided a potentially awkward situation.

I was roused from my sleep by General Healey shouting, "Sam! Wake up!" fairly close to my ear. The clock read one a.m. I walked into the bathroom.

"What is it, Roger?" I asked. This new hologram really was starting to remind me of Al.

Roger said cryptically, "We need to go get Murdock. I'm going to tell you now, you're going to see some pretty incredible things tonight, but I know I can trust you of all people with a secret."

"How am I supposed to get Murdock?" I asked.

Roger answered, "He should be in the transient BOQ. Just tell him it's a stress test to complete his psych profile, and he'll come with you."

I went back in the bedroom and got dressed. Amanda rolled over and said, "Not another emergency."

I replied, "Yes, sorry to wake you." Mrs. Bellows just grunted. I imagine that Amanda is used to Alfred leaving in the middle of the night to deal with military and medical crises.

The holographic Roger and I went over to the housing unit said aside for temporarily assigned officers. I used the ruse Roger came up with, and Murdock came right along. He really did believe this was part of the psychological testing to become an astronaut.

Roger directed me to take Murdock to an unused launch pad. We walked down into an area near the launch pad marked "Bunker 18." What I saw at the bottom of the bunker even took me aback. It was Lt. Colonel Anthony Nelson.

Murdock asked, "Colonel Nelson, shouldn't you be up in orbit?"

Nelson ignored the question and stated, "Captain Murdock, at this point, I am authorized to share with you the greatest secret of the space program. Any disclosure of what you see here to unauthorized personnel will be dealt with, in the most extreme manner."

Now I was curious.

Murdock said, "Understood, Sir."

Nelson continued, "The entire manned space program has been a hoax, perpetrated here at Cape Canaveral. The Russians found out over a decade ago that man could not withstand the stress necessary to leave the Earth's orbit. Both we and the Soviets have launched unmanned rockets, and performed mock missions broadcast from this bunker."

Murdock looked shocked. The holographic Healey was laughing. I was wondering what Nelson was up to, not to mention how he managed to get from an orbiting space station to a bunker in Florida.

Nelson led us down a Hallway. Mrs. Nelson joined us.

Mrs. Nelson explained, "Anthony Junior is with my mother. I decided to spend the evening with my husband."

Lt. Col. Nelson added, "One nice thing about not really being in space is that we get to spend time with our wives." The astronaut came to a fire door. Mrs. Nelson appeared as if she were going to sneeze, but didn't. Lt. Col. Nelson opened the fire door, and we stepped into a full scale mock up of Skylab.

The "real" Lt. Col. Roger Healey greeted us with, "Hey Tony, Jeannie, Dr. Bellows. Les Wingate is actually asleep, like Houston thinks we all are." Then to Murdock, Healey said, "You must be Captain Murdock. Welcome."

Murdock managed to utter "How?"

The holographic General Healey looked at his younger self and said, "Ahhh, to be 40 again."

Tony answered, "Only a select few are in on it. Computers, sensors, cameras can all be fooled. Even the highest Generals honestly believe there are three men in Skylab."

I asked, "So Skylab is actually orbiting the Earth?"

Nelson answered, "Yes, it was sent up unmanned and placed in orbit. We'll let Roger and Les get some sleep." Tony then led us out of 'Skylab.'

Murdock then asked, "And the Russians go along with this?"

Tony answered, "Yes, actually they started the ruse to fool us that they put a man in space. We found out they were faking, but couldn't prove it, so we just became better con men. As a matter of fact, we will soon be doing a joint mission with the Soviets. It will be a 'link-up' between an Apollo and a Soyuz capsule. The unmanned capsules will really dock in space, but the 'mission' will take place at an abandoned warehouse in Siberia."

We then walked down a hallway and came to another metal door. Jeannie once again did that blinking thing, and Tony opened the door to expose a full-scale mock up of Tranquility Base. We walked out onto the "moon" and continued over to the "Eagle" next to the flag with the perpetual wave.

"Just think of it Murdock," Tony said, "you are standing were only a few score men have stood before."

I muttered, "Incredible," while the holographic Healey was snickering.

Murdock said, "This can't be. I don't think I could in good conscience keep this a secret."

Tony deadpanned and said, "Then its time for another unfortunate accident."

Murdock said, "No!" and then ran out of the bunker.

Once Murdock was gone, Tony started to laugh, then looked at me and asked, "Jeannie, are you positive that this isn't Dr. Bellows."

Jeannie answered, "I am sure, darling, he is a time traveler by the name of Dr. Samuel Beckett. General Roger Healey from the future is also here."

Lt. Colonel Roger Healey walked in and asked, "I make General?"

I carefully answered, "That is one possible timeline." I didn't want to do anything to change the future.

Nelson grinned, "Roger a general, wow. Jeannie, you better blink us back up to Skylab."

Jeannie blinked, and Anthony Nelson and the younger Roger Healey was gone. I asked my holographic companion, "Where did they go?"

He answered, "Orbit, of course. I can't explain much more, but suffice it to say that the space program is very real. I suggest you go back home and wait."