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Chapter 3 cups, for we did not particularly need a stimulant. Our condition was holding up wonderfully. We indulged in some small talk for a few minutes, and then I asked Adam if he would continue his story. At this point I could see the reason for his having asked me at the outset to narrate his story in the second person when I wrote it, for it was becoming clear that his reactions and experiences could not be adequately told in the first person. As he continued to unfold his story, I felt I was an eye witness to the events, hence I am following Adam’s original suggestion for the rest of the story, and will relate it in the second person. Adam awoke from his half hour nap on the ship feeling alert, yet calm. He looked into the eyes of lovely Vega and reminded her of his previous question. light?” “No,” she replied readily. “Nothing we know of can attain the speed of light in physical form. There is talk in our society that our superiors are looking into that possibility. There is not the slightest success as yet in their experiments. The only factors in which we have ascertained and measured the speed of light are magnetic waves, gravitational waves and light itself. “However,” she went on, “we are experimenting with the idea of propelling particles to velocities beyond the speed of light. The process is to focus a radar-like beam out into space, focus beam out process toa process is to focus a radar-like beam out into space, and then shoot particles into the waves of this beam and in the same direction as that of the beam. These particles may 57 THE SPEED OF LIGHT We ate the warmed buns and drank hot coffee. I did not fill the “Well, Vega, I ask you, can your ships travel at the speed of These particles may