Something For Nothing

Countdown for blast off. X-5, 4, 3, 2, X-1, fire. From the far horizons of the unknown, come tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future.

Adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds. The National Broadcasting Company in cooperation with Galaxy's science fiction magazine presents X, X, X, X, X, X, X, X, Xx pesticide I woke up when I thought I heard a voice, but I must have been mistaken because there was no one in my room

There was the same network of cracks and the muddy yellow ceiling and the same water dripping slowly and mournfully through from the root I'd seen it a hundred times before, the worst room in a cheap hotel.

But then, when I swung my feet onto the floor, I saw it. It was a machine on the floor. It hadn't been there when I went to sleep the night before. It was about three feet square, and it was humming softly.

The crackle grey surface was featureless, except for a red button in one corner, and a brass plate in the center. I leaned in closer and read the marking. Class A Utilizer. Series AA 1256432. Warning, this machine should be used only by Class A ratings.

Where did you come from? Utilizer, huh? What are you utilized? Those switches, no knobs. Just one red button. Okay, we'll give it a try. Here goes the button. Alright, what happens now? A little green men drop from the ceiling?

Okay, we'll push it again. Oh, come on, do something. So I'll have to pawn it. Unless Charlie, they'll give me a dollar for the medal for junk. Oh boy, it's heavy. I didn't get the corner off the floor.