Philip Photon waits in the matrix of his gestation nucleon for the moment of his release. Beads of perspiration trickle down his charmed exterior. Will he be able to solve the riddle of his escape equation?
   His n-fold twin, Freddie Photon, departs in a relative hurry from the nucleon adjacent. His chaotic, Markovian dance makes him easy prey for Adam Atom and his molecular gang. They swallow him within a nanosecond.
   "If only I knew how to speed directly." Philip's naivete should not be surprising, even considering his advanced age. For millions of expulsions, Philip had watched the inevitable feasting of Adam Atom and his molecular gang. Only one in ten thousand seemed to have solved the equation of escape.
   While Philip mulled over this, three hundred thousand more photons left, but only a few escaped.
   "Riiippple." The holding force retracted momentarily. The nucleonquake allowed Philip a test of his solution. Just enough to see that he wiggled and waved with disconcerting probability.
   Too soon, the final quake released Philip. He wanted to see the universe, but first he had to avoid Adam Atom and his gang.

 

   The time dragged on, seemingly eternal, and Philip's equation seemed no better solved than Freddie's. Adam loomed directly ahead. Nothing to do but strive to the last nanosecond.
   A bolt of low probability blessed Philip's path. A tunnel from the here-and-now to the there-and-then gaped before the fortunate Photon.
   Philip, following the path of least resistance, thanked his lucky charm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calliope July/August 1985