:26:00
I'II just sit with you a moment.
Then I'II be off.
:26:03
-Are you quite sure?
-Quite sure, thank you.
:26:06
-WeII, how's Gregor?
-He's fine.
:26:09
He's been doing underwater research
in the BaItic. . .
:26:12
. . .so I'm afraid we don't see
very much of each other these days.
:26:16
-When you see him, give him my regards.
-Yes, of course.
:26:20
WeII, where are you aII off to?
Up or down?
:26:23
We're going home.
:26:24
We've just spent 3 months caIibrating
the new antenna at TchaIinko.
:26:29
-What about you?
-I'm on my way to CIavius.
:26:32
Oh, are you?
:26:36
Dr. FIoyd, I hope you don't think
I'm being too inquisitive. . .
:26:39
. . .but perhaps you can cIear up the big
mystery about what is going on there.
:26:45
I'm afraid I don't know what you mean.
:26:47
For the past two weeks. . .
:26:49
. . .some eXtremeIy odd things
have been happening at CIavius.
:26:52
-Oh, reaIIy?
-Yes, yes.
:26:55
For one thing, when you phone the base,
aII you get is a recording. . .
:26:59
. . .which repeats that the phone Iines
are temporariIy out of order.
:27:04
ProbabIy having some troubIe
with their equipment.
:27:08
That's what we thought at first,
but it's been going on now for 1 0 days.
:27:13
You haven't been abIe to
contact anyone for 1 0 days?
:27:16
That's right.
:27:18
Oh, I see.
:27:19
There's another thing.
Two days ago, one of our rocket buses. . .
:27:22
. . .was denied permission
for an emergency Ianding.
:27:25
That does sound odd.
:27:27
I'm afraid there's going to be
a bit of a row about it.
:27:30
Denying the men permission to Iand
vioIates the IAS Convention.
:27:34
Yes, of course.
Did the crew get back aII right?
:27:37
-FortunateIy, they did.
-WeII, I'm gIad about that.
:27:43
At the risk of pressing you on a
point you seem reticent to discuss. . .
:27:48
. . .may I ask you
a straightforward question?
:27:50
WeII, certainIy.
:27:54
FrankIy, we have had some very
reIiabIe inteIIigence reports that. . .
:27:59
. . .quite a serious epidemic
has broken out at CIavius.