Ch.6 - No need for a Space Odyssey
"We're what!" Ayeka screamed in surprise
"Yay! A space trip!" Mihoshi said with excitement.
"Eh... Mihoshi..." Kiyone muttered as she held her face in her hand with disgust.
"We're going to travel to Jurai, via the Yagami. To make sure that it doesn't get drafted for war, Zack's ship will disguise itself as a Juraian Merchant ship. This way, with special documents that Ill 'get a hold of', we can pass through Checkpoints all the way up to Jurai itself. From their, we will find out who's running the show and stop them and this war." Washu said, finishing off her cup of Tea. "And the sooner we leave, the better. The Yagami is already fully repaired, and the Zenith will be ready in a few short hours. I suggest you all get packed tonight for the voyage. It will take maybe a week or so's time. Ill get the usual provisions and pack them onto the Yagami. We wont be taking along the house this time, however. I feel it is better that we leave it here, and Ill get something thrown together for the Hanger of the Yagami so we have living space."
"Hey Wait, when did I ever agree to this!" Kiyone protested, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Why can't we just use the Ryo-Oh to go back?" Sasami asked.
"Its tagged as a royal ship. With assassin's out to get you two, it wouldn't be wise to pass through the check points with that ship." Washu said in a matter of a fact voice. She was somewhat thrilled about going. Not only would she actually have some action and something to do, as for the longest time, things seemed quite peaceful at the Masaki residence.
"Do we all have to go?" Ryoko whined from the rafters. She was in a laying back relaxed and enjoying some sake instead of tea.
"Yes, we all have to go." an annoyed response came from below Ryoko. "Lord Yosho is going to stay here and look out after things with Nobuyuki. Having him along last time was not enjoyable..."
Washu grimaced at her own comment.
"Damn it, Ayeka. You're a royal pain in the ass, you know that. Its always this or that with you, isn't it?" Ryoko said bitterly. She poured herself another glass of sake and took it down in one gulp.
"Like I want this kind of attention!" Ayeka retorted. "Hmph" (Atleast I don't sit around and drink sake all day...)
"What'd you say?" Ryoko said with anger in her voice. "Your nothing more then a good for nothing princess who causes problems for the rest of us!"
"Oh yeah!" Ayeka raged. " Im not the one who got captured by Kagato and forced Tenchi to come rescue me! Which almost got him killed, need I remind you!"
"Why you.." Ryoko bared and gritted her teeth and anger. She charged her energy in her hands agian, and Ayeka stepped up to the line and summoned her 'logs'.
"Eh! Not again!" Tenchi bolted for the door to escape the situation. Zack sat their a bit confused about the situation.
Washu pulled out a small hand gun, pointed and shot both Ayeka and Ryoko. A dart pricked both and they both passed out on each other. "Geez, both these girls are a pain in the butt."
Sasami poured herself another cup of tea. "They never know when to quit..."
Tenchi sat himself down again at the table. Zack was a bit taken back by what just happened. "That a normal everyday thing?"
Tenchi and Sasami nodded. Washu got up and dragged Ryoko and Ayeka off. She came back a minute later and sat back down to her cup of tea.
"Where'd you take em?" Tenchi asked, now looking a bit worried.
"Oh, no place special. I just turned 'em both into kappa's and jammed them in the upstairs closet. They can sit up there for a while until they come to terms with each other. I mean geez, what a headache. I hope they get some sleep though, because they will need it." said Washu.
"I see..." Tenchi said unenthusiastically.
Washu got up from the table. "Well thanks for the tea, Sasami. It was good. I've got a lot of work ahead of me to get ready. I say we will probably leave tomarrow."
"What about Kiyo?" Zack asked before Washu left.
"Hm. Ill probably just freeze dry her or something, and turn her in after we settle things." Washu said, obviously not giving much thought to the matter. With that she walked into her lab via the closet door.
Tenchi bent down and began to help Sasami clean up the mess from the afternoon tea. Sasami busied herself in the kitchen cleaning the dishes and re-organizing things. It would only be an our or two before she would start on making the dinner. Zack sat there and finished off his cup of tea and put it by the sink for Sasami to take care of. He offered to help out in some fashion, but she turned down his offer, like she always did for everyone else.
The afternoon sun sifted through the windows and blinds, creating a warm haze that fell about the house. Mihoshi was napping on the sofa and Kiyone had went to Washu's lab to inspect the repairs on the Yagami. Tenchi was out in the fields getting everything cleaned up settled for the up and coming trip, while Ayeka and Ryoko were still trapped in the an upstairs closet as kappas.
Zack sat on the door step of the house and looked out over the water. A bug hovered over the water in the distance, and a fish jumped out and ate it. He sighed.
"Its like the calm before the storm. So peaceful and quiet." Zack said to himself. He turned and looked down the walk way. Tenchi was walking back from the fields. It was mid afternoon by this time, evening fast approaching. The sky was turning a golden hew as the sun began to sink behind the hills.
"Hi Zack. What are you doing out here?" Tenchi asked in a warm tone.
"Nothin'. Just looking at the sun set and stuff. This place is very nice. In its own way, I mean. Dracadia's sunsets are in a league of their own, but this is nice too."
"Ah," He smiled.
"Tenchi! Oh Tenchi!" yelled a voice inside the house. A panicked look came across Tenchi's face.
"Seems that Ryoko and Ayeka were let out of their confinement a little while ago." Zack said with a half chuckle. He knew from the earlier incident and from a gut feeling what this would lead to. Tenchi darted inside as Ryoko appeared next to Zack.
"Aw. I thought he would be out here too. Have you seen him, Zack?" Ryoko asked in a pseudo sad voice.
"Hm. Maybe he's still at the fields." Zack said signaling towards the fields.
"Ah, must be where he is. Thanks Zack" Ryoko said as she faded away again and reappeared down the long walk way flying towards the fields.
"Hm, that should keep her occupied for a few minutes." Zack said with satisfaction. He got up and walked inside. The aroma of that nights dinner was already filling the house.
A few hours later, after dinner and everyone was settling down for the night, Zack was wandering around Washu's lab, looking at all the specimens that were kept there. He eventually came to where his ship was. It was in a room with robotic arms and other devices attached every where. His ship was in a lock of some kind. He walked over to one of the platforms and it took him up to it. He climbed a small out side ladder and opened the hatch to his ship. Descending inside of his ship in darkness, he made his way around to the helm. It was his ship, and he knew the insides of it like the back of his hand. He took a seat. A light blue glow came over the control console. It awaited activation codes to start the ship.
Zack began to punch in numbers and symbols but stopped half way. He sat back, and looked into the black abyss of the main view 'window' of his ship. A blast shield was covering it preventing anything from being seen. His mind drifted a moment. Flashes of memory came to him. About his childhood and past, about his accomplishments at the War Academy, witnessing the first conflict in deep space over territory issues. He was shocked by the destruction that could occur over a planet from territory disputes. His mind continued to drift about what may come from the approaching conflict with Jurai. He could see the destruction and wastelands left by battles and the ruined nature of planets, both Juraian and Dracadaian planets. The wasted life on such meaningless power struggles. He blinked, and the image was gone. His eyes slowly closed and he fell asleep.
In the dark, a figure proceeded to climb out the hatch of Zack's ship. It hurried across the platform and back down the elevator platform back into the darkness that was ever present around Washu's lab.
"Bah! Wake up you fool!" Washu said hitting Zack over the head with a paper fan. "We've been looking all over for you."
"Ow, some wake up call." Zack said rubbing the back of his head. "What do you need, anyways?"
"We're leaving." Washu said walking down a set of stairs from the bridge, where Zack sat.
"What? Already? Its still early." Zack said getting up from his seat in a hurry. "I haven't even primed the engines."
"Its not early! It's nearly noon. And we've been looking for you since breakfast. Geez..." Washu said in annoyance. She climbed up the ladder to the top hatch and climbed out. Zack was about to follow when she peaked her head back. "Oh no. We're leaving. Start your engines up and prepare to take off." With that she shut the hatch.
"D-don't I even get something to eat?" Zack pleaded. A faint no could be heard. He frowned. "Damn. And Im hungry too."
Zack went back to the bridge. The console was still emitting a light blue glow. The sequence to start the ship was half entered. Zack finished it. The ship let out a few clicks and a large cylinder like compartment began to rise at an angel from behind Zack's seat. A rumble could be heard as the lights on the ship began to turn on, illuminating the once dark interior. Protocol was being automatically ran on the console and the blast shields over the window powers began to with draw, so that he had a dome shaped view around the bridge. A sturdy looking teal wall was in front of him. He looked over to see the Yagami Hovering to his right facing the same teal wall. A few crates were being loaded into his hanger.
"Welcome, Lieutenant Zackalazeriath. All Systems are Functional. Reactors are reading good. Out put is 40. Weapons systems are online and primed. Targetting systems are online and primed. Jump drive is charged. Life support systems are online. Phantom systems are online. Detection of allied ship within your proximity. Open link?" said an online computer.
"Dammit. Ok first off, computer, just refer to me as Zack." Zack said in frustration. It responded with a formal 'Understood.' "Second, has your programming been tampered with? What allied ship?"
"The Galaxy Police Cruiser, Yagami, is listed as an allied ship and is approximately 100 Meters starboard. The Ryo-Oh-Ki is also listed as an allied ship. Reprogramming logs detected as of 37 hours, 43 minutes, and 25 seconds ago. Programmer Identified as Washu. No previous information is known about new programmer. Purge all files and reboot system?" the on board computer questioned.
"What the hell did she do to my ship, exactly..." Zack said asking no one in particular. A holographic screen appeared in front of him.
"Oh, I gave it a tune up. Your ship is supposed to be the best in the Dracadian fleet, you say?" Washu said laughing.
"Yeah it is. What the hell are you comparing it to?" Zack said in a bit of anger.
"Oh nothing. Its not all that great, compared to the Soja." Washu said taking time to reflect on her masterpiece of a ship that was stolen by Kagato.
"I ..see. Yeah well that ship got destroyed and not to mention it happen to fly around the damn universe destroying any ruins it saw in sight." Zack retorted as he mad little hand signals in a mocking manner.
"Oh Hush. That was Kagato's fault. The Soja would have been the perfect ship if it werent for him. Anyways. I've called in to tell you to leave the things as they were. I don't want my hard work going to waste. Ill be very angry with you if you do anything. Anyways. Prepare to take off."
"How am I going to take off, theres nothing but a wall in front of me?"
"Just watch and learn." And with that, Washu cut the communication. The computer posed the same question about partitioning itself, but Zack told it to keep the information. Another formal 'Understood.' followed up.
"Damn, and what are we going to..." Zack began. "Woah. What the?"
The locks on his ship were taken off and his ship was now free floating inside the dock. Zack reorientated the ship.
"Warning. A high field of energy is detected starboard by bow. Activating detection fields." droned the computer.
"What the. Raise shields." Zack said.
"Unable to comply. Requires direct link up. Please direct link crew member to power shield systems."
"Oh yeah, err forgot about that. Then never mind. Huh?" Zack watched the Yagami. A black portal opened up in the wall in front the red cruiser and the Yagami slowly flew through it. When the ship was completely enveloped by the portal, the portal began to shrink away and disappear.
"High field of energy dissipating. Contact with the Yagami has been lost... Warning. High field of energy detected to the bow of the ship. Gravity constant is changing." warned the computer.
Zack looked forward to see a black hole begin to grow in front of his ship. Its size kept on growing and almost seemed it would devour his ship. And the lab. Platforms pulled away from Zack's ship and tucked neatly into the wall.
"Warning. We are being drawn into the energy field." The computer warned once again. Zack tried to reverse thruster but couldn't. It seemed he was going to be drawn in either way. He went inside and everything outside turned black. He began to feel his ship rock unevenly and felt as if his ship was drifting. It apparently was because a moment later he could see the hole that he entered through from the dock shrinking into nothing ness. It was complete black. Nothing there. Zack began to panic, but a bright flash took his attention. He couldn't see anything any more outside the view ports. Just blinding white.
"What the hell is this?" Zack said in frustration, trying to make sense of what was happening. The ship rocked violently and the outside vision was restored. He was hovering outside the Masaki residence. He just sat there trying to comprehend what just happened. It was not like anything ever done before. A communication came over the speakers.
"You just going to sit there, or you going to get a move on?" It was Kiyone. Zack's computer blipped and whirred for a moment.
"Allied Ship detected approximately 3 miles above our current location, and ascending." It informed Zack. He powered up the thrusters and began his rise through earth's atmosphere. "Minor electrical disturbance in reactors 2 and 3. External disturbance detected on port side boosters. Coarse of Action?"
"Its probably nothing. Run a diagnostic later." Zack said. He plugged in new data as their heading. The evening sky soon faded away into darkness as he rose out of the Earth's atmosphere and into space. He was on the darkening side, and as he continued to fly 'upward', the rays of sunlight peaked around the edges of the third planet. He spotted the Yagami, as another communications came over his speakers.
"Now would be the time to use that handy Phantom of yours and disguise yourself as something Juraian in nature." This time it was Washu. Zack plugged in more information, though he stumbled a few times when trying to get it down correct. He wasnt over what had just occured. (I've got to remember to ask about what that was...) He thought to himself.
"Phantom Systems active. Redirecting Power. Engaging Phantom." the computers droned on more. The ship rumbled a bit as the front of his ship began to glow softly. Soon enough it was disguised by the look of Juraian craftsmanship, as the ship's external appearance was now a small Juraian trade ship. The ship rumbled again.
"Hm.." Zack said to himself.
"Hi!" A holographic monitor appeared right in front of Zack. Washu's face was in the picture with everyone else in the background.
"Gwah!" Zack fell backwards. "Gah, what exactly did you do to my ship!"
"I gave it a tune up. And updated some of the systems. Neat, huh?" Washu boasted.
(Neat my ass...) Zack mumbled. "Anyways, what was that thing I came through? You know, when I was in that dock then outside."
"Oh that, thats just a dimensional door. I kept the ships in the dock, and when they needed to be moved, I just opened up that and voila. By the way, I've modified the Phantom Program a tad too. You can set it up now so that you can affect the outward appearance of your ship in many different ways. Like, lets say a damaged communications tower instead of a pristine looking ship so that they aren't quick to think something is up if you don't respond to being hailed."
"Gee, thanks.. I guess." came a semi sarcastic response.
"Well, we'll keep in touch. Lead the way." and with that, the holographic screen disappeared.
"I kind of wish she would have just left you alone..." Zack sighed as he patted his console. "Make the heading for Jurai."
"Understood. Plotting shortest coarse. Approximately 15 days till we reach Jurai at top speed, in Phantom, without jumping." the computer responded.
Hours passed since leaving earth, and life was uneventful during that time. On the Zenith, Zack sat back and read some magazines he happened to pick up before leaving Earth. The story was the same on the Yagami. Washu set up some what of a replica house in the cargo hanger of the Yagami. Ayeka sat in the main room on one of the long sofas reading a small article. Mihoshi was sleeping on another sofa. Scents of something good being made drifted through the air, hinting that Sasami was at it again in the kitchen, making something for them to eat. Washu busied herself with a small device shed had started working on before they left and Ryoko sat sipping on some sake. Tenchi was keeping out of sight, and Kiyone was at the helm of the ship, keeping things in order.
"Washu... how is Zack going to eat if he's on his own ship?" Sasami said as she came out of the Kitchen.
"Oh, were well within 800 meters of his ship. We'll just use that dimensional door I brought along to drop things off on his ship." Washu reassured her.
"mm huh..?" Mihoshi mumbled something, half asleep. She opened her eyes slowly, and rubbed the sleep out of them. "Uhh..wah...Is it time to eat yet?"
"Not yet." Sasami said in her cheerful self.
The speakers came on. "Mihoshi, get up here. Your on duty." Kiyone's voice spread through the room. The sleepy blond galaxy police officer crawled off the couch.
"Wah... and I was having a good dream." Mihoshi said.
Kiyone came down from the helm, as Mihoshi went up to take over. She stretched out. "Everything seems to be running smoothly. We should get there in about 15 days or so."
"Huh? Why so long?" Ayeka said looking up from her reading material.
"Because we are following Zack's ship, and well the disguise its using isnt that fast I suppose, so it takes longer. Also looks beat up" Kiyone said taking a seat and putting her feat up on a small coffee table. "We wont have much to worry about for the most part. Not till we reach the first check point. Im sure there's going to be more then the usual with heavier security and all. Stupid war proclamation."
Jupiter was slowly passing by the Yagami's external windows that was located in the cargo bay. Kiyone looked out unto the massive gas planet and its huge red spot. The lights flickered a moment. Kiyone looked up curiously, but shrugged it off as they came back on. No one else seemed to have noticed the lights.
"Kiyone" came a whiny voice over the loud speakers. "Wah, I think we have a problem."
Kiyone got up and rushed up to the bridge along with Washu and Ayeka. Everyone else was either busy or drunk or hiding. "What is it, Mihoshi?"
"Look" Mihoshi said pointing at a monitor. It was a picture of Uranus.
"What about it?" Kiyone asked.
"There!" Washu said pointing. A glint of light caught Kiyone's eyes. She bent over and took control and zoomed the image. Sure enough, there was trouble. Or possible trouble. A small group of Juraian battle ships were passing through the system.
"Hm. It looks like they are not going to change direction any time soon, and they arent coming for us, so its no worries." Kiyone said standing back up. The lights flickered again, this time longer then before. As soon as they came back on, the ship's alarms were sounding off. "What the? What is it?"
"Wahhh, I told you it was trouble." Mihoshi said crying.
Kiyone took the other seat and began checking problems. She turned off the siren, as the door behind her opened up and Tenchi ran in with Ryoko hanging around his neck.
"Ahg, let go Ryoko.. Erk, Whats the matter!" Tenchi exclaimed.
"I..I dunno." Kiyone said sifting through her screen for the problem. "Huh?"
"Get your hands off Lord Tenchi," Ayeka yelled at Ryoko. Ryoko mumbled something that was like make me, making Ayeka try to pry her off of Tenchi.
"Hey, you two. Nows not the time.." Tenchi said trying to calm them. His plea fell on deaf ears like usual.
"What is it?" Washu said looking down at her screen. The lights flickered agian.
"The ship's power unit was being tampered with, along with the communications unit... What the heck is this?" Kiyone said frustrated as she tried to make out the situation.
"A communication is being sent out?" Washu said looking at the monitor.
"Wah, Kiyone!" Mihoshi whined.
"Not now, Mihoshi. Im trying to figure this out." Kiyone said, still frustrated.
"Ki-yo-ne!" Mihoshi continued to plead.
"Not NOW, Mihoshi." She yelled.
"Uh, Kiyone..." Tenchi said, also taking notice of Mihoshi's trouble.
"What, What is it?" Kiyone said finally snapping.
"We've got company." Tenchi said, pointing to the main monitor.
" Not good..." Washu said.
"Huh?" Ryoko said, still drunk and looking up from the fight she was having with Ayeka.
The small Juraian battle group was changing directions and accelerating towards the Yagami.
"You don't think that..." Kiyone said.
"Oh yeah, they are coming our way." Washu said reassuring her of her fear.
Kiyone held her head in her hands. "Well, no worries. We'll just tell them were escorting this ship and all. No worries." The Yagami rocked, and lights flickered again. Another holographic monitor popped up. "Huh, what now? EH? An escape shuttle just launched!"
"Haha. You fools thought you could just lock me up?" Came a voice over the communications line. "Im not some absent minded fool! Now you will all be destroyed!"
"Its Kiyo!" Tenchi stated. "How'd she get onboard. I thought she was still at the lab."
"I don't know. She's more clever then I anticipated, it seems." Washu said.
"Eh? Why not jush blasht the bitsh?" Ryoko said slurred.
"I, I cant. The weapon's systems arent responding." Kiyone said.
"Heh, heh, Why don't you sit down Ryoko. You seem to be drunk." Tenchi said. Ryoko latched onto Tenchi.
"Tenchi" Ryoko said in her usual demeanor.
"I told you to get your hands off Lord Tenchi, you hag!" Ayeka said. This prompted Ryoko and her to resume their fight.Another holographic monitor popped up.
"Hey guys. Did you guys notice a Juraian battle group is approaching us?" Zack said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Of coarse we knew. We just got screwed by Kiyo. We cant attack, and it seems she contacted them to change direction." Kiyone stated in frustration as she meddled with the control console. Mihoshi was crying in the back ground saying they were all going to die.
"Damn." Zack cut the communication. He ran up some data.
"Battle zone is being set up. Approximately 3 and a half minutes until battle zone is active. Power surge detected from Juraian battle formation. High probability that their weapon systems are arming and they plan to destroy us." the computer droned on as if it didnt care one way or the next.
"You don't say..." Zack said in a sarcastic tone. He re-opened the communications link. "They will be on us in about 3 minutes, and they mean business. They are already charging their weapons."
"Got any ideas?" Kiyone said frustrated. Washu was sitting there looking stumped.
"I don't have anything in particular in mind. We could..." Washu said. The holographic monitor appeared again.
"I've got it. Ill drop the facade and jump past them. They should turn around and follow me. Ill just ditch them then, and we can meet up again." Zack said over the communications.
"Wait no, thats probably... oh boy. He's going to do it anyways..." Washu sighed as the communication was cut.
The Zenith returned to is original look as the fake ship exterior seemed to fade away, like mist.
"Power up and prime the jump reactors. We're goign to jump passed them and make em follow us." Zack said.
"Jump reactors are powered up and primed. Awaiting launch order." the computer questioned.
Zack pushed the throttle the back and activated the jump. But it did not go as planned. The ship rocked violently.
"Electrical disturbance detected in reactors. Warning, Reactors 1 through 4 are over heating. Electrical rift detected. External electrical power surge detected." the computer droned on as the warning sirens came on.
"Erk dammit, Abort Jump." Zack said doing the reverse procedures to stop the jump.
"Unable to comply. Malfunction in the engine. Warning, Electrical spike detected. Allied ship Yagami is caught in a temporal electrical discharge from our ship. They are being drawn into the jump sphere by our ship. High probability of system instability." the computer continued to express concern in its monotonous tone.
"Oh damn..." Zack muttered. An energy sphere was already forming at the bow of the Zenith. It was through this energy bubble that jumping was done.
"Ah what is happening?" Kiyone said typing feriously away at the control console. "The Yagami is being pulled towards the Zenith. I cant stop it."
"We seem to be getting drawn in by electrical discharges from their ship." Washu said veiwing the situation from her holo-computer. The Yagami rocked violently. The Juraian fleet was coming on fast. It would be in firing range. Small orbs of light began to bud all over the Juraian ships as they approached. "That fleet will be in our firing range in half a minute. We've got to break away and get control of the weapons syste.."
Washu never got that chance. Bright light enveloped the helm. It subsided slowly as the ship was rocking heavily. Multi colored light just flew by. Warnings were popping up all over the ships console as the Yagami began to creak and moan violently. The Zenith could be seen in front of them shaking heavily.
"I-I-ca-nt-m-move" Said the voice of tenchi as he was pinned to the wall. Flickers of star's and light flashed by. It seemed like they were in a large glass tube, as light traveled around them.
Just as fast as the light came and left, it would return and leave, in a similar fashion. When the regained normal space, they were not near Jupiter like they had been before. Tenchi picked himself up from the floor, along with the others. Tenchi looked out the window. They were in the middle of nowhere, it seemed. A few asteroids passed by, but other then that, there were no near by planets or stars. Everything seemed so distant.
A holographic monitor popped up. "Are you guys alright?" It was Zack. He seemed a bit flustered.
"W-What was that?" Kiyone asked, sitting herself down in her chair again.
"It was a jump, but I don't know how you guys got sucked in." Zack said.
You idiot! That wasnt very bright. Anyways, It happened because an energy leak created a gravity well near your ship. We got pulled into the jump as well. That was interesting." Washu said scientifically.
"The ship has pressure fractures all over, so we may have to sit tight." Kiyone stated as she typed away at a small console. She sighed heavily. "We need to make repairs before continuing."
"I think we need a better plan, too." Tenchi said. "Ah. Ayeka! Ryoko!"
Ayeka was knocked out on top of Ryoko, who was also knocked out. Tenchi helped Ayeka off Ryoko, as Mihoshi went to help.
"Im stuck here too. Washu, could you come over here when you get the free time and help out. Im in a bit of a jam." Zack said rubbing the back of his head.
"Why? What happened?" She asked, not pleased.
"I burnt out my reactors. Creating a jump sphere for both ships was to large a mass for the reactors. They're kind of fried." replied the Dracadian.
"Ill be on over after I fix things here. Tenchi, why don't you get those girls to their rooms and then come help me fix things. Kiyone, why don't you come up with another plan. Mihoshi, you just sit there and don't touch anything." Washu said giving out orders. The holographic monitor fizzed out.
"Well damn, this space voyage certainly started off swell..." Zack said leaning back in his chair. Nothing but deep space was to be seen. And it seemed to him that it would be like that for a few hours at the very least.