Page 166 - my-people-abbie-harris-beck

contraption off his belt and used it like a blowtorch! Why, he grabbed that rod and
pointed it toward the ship. When he did a bluish-green light about six feet long shot out
like a roman candle. But it didn't go out, and it didn't leave the rod. It just beamed the
light toward the sheet metal plate.

I don't need to tell you that I was getting real scared again. I had never seen
anything like this. He quickly melted the sheet metal just enough to stick like glue to the
hull of his plane. It was not quick enough for me, cause I was ready for him to leave.
Quick as a wink he pressed the rod and the light beam seemed to retract inside the rod and
disappear. He reattached the rod to his belt and recranked the engine. The patchwork
held and the engine whined along like a well oiled sewing machine. "That'll get me home,"
he told me. "Then I can get a complete overhaul." I was relieved, but somewhat sad that
my experience with this stranger was coming to an end.

He again seemed to read my thoughts, and told me he appreciated everything I had
done, had it not been for my help, he would have been stuck for some time, he stuck the
spare piece of sheet metal in his storage compartment, and then he loaded his transporter.
I had hoped he might leave the transporter as kind of tip or something,. However, he
soon loaded the transporter and said something about the people around here not being
ready to accept this kind of transportation. I guess he was right because most people in
Geneva did expect to see wheels on their motor scooters. Any way, he climbed toward
the cockpit, adjusted his helmet and climbed into the pilot seat.

As he sat there he seemed to debate with himself on whether to tell me anything or
not. After a few seconds of silence, he sensed I needed some kind of explanation. This is
when he leaned over, motioned for me to come close and whispered his story to me. I
can't tell you everything he said because you would think I was crazy. But I will tell you
he said he was from a galaxy far, far away, and that he had gotten lost in our galaxy when
some star dust hit his rocket and knocked a hole in it. Gravity pulled him down into our
atmosphere and he crash landed into our swamp. Lucky for him I was hunting nearby and
could help him make repairs. The he told me there were three riddles that if I could solve,
that I would know the secret to the universe. I wasn't sure I wanted to know the secret of
the universe. I had rather have the transporter. I would be the envy of all the kids at
school!

Anyway he said riddle number one was simply: "How high is up?" Well I thought
that was a little too simple. I thought there must be something else to it. I told him a tree
was high. The moon was high. He replied that if I climbed to the top of a tree, would I be
"up?" or would "up "still be above me? "If a man stood on the moon, would the earth be
"up?" "Would the sun be "up?" I laughed at this. Why man could never stand on the
moon. I agreed that I would have to think about the answer to that one. "up" must be
pretty high.

Then he asked if I were ready for riddle number two? I said sure, but I hoped it
was a little easier. Then he asked: "Where does fire go when it goes out?" This was