Free Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint by Jay Williams

midair.
    Professor Bullfinch was the first to recover.
    â€œI fear,” he said, brushing aside a few small bits of radio that floated before his face, “we’ll never learn whether Beach figured out a way to fix the relay.”
    Joe, who was hanging near the ceiling, said in a shaking voice, “I’m dead. I’m an angel.”
    â€œNot quite yet, Joe,” said the Professor. “We are simply completely free of the earth’s gravity. To all intents and purposes we simply don’t weigh anything.”
    Joe felt himself nervously. “I guess you’re right.” He looked down at the deck, eight feet below him, and groaned. “But I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe being dead would be easier.”
    Dr. Grimes growled, “Don’t worry. We’ll all be dead soon enough. Well, Bullfinch, what do you propose to do about this?”
    At this Danny broke in. “Yes, before you do anything else, why don’t you all get right side up?”
    The Professor looked at him and chuckled. “I have news for you, Danny,” he said. “You’re the one who’s upside down. That is, if there can be said to be any right side up where there’s no gravity.”
    â€œBut—but—” Danny stammered, “I don’t feel upside down.”
    â€œThat’s partly because without gravity the blood cannot rush to your head, nor can you orient yourself. Just a minute.”
    The Professor began to make awkward swimming motions and succeeded in thrashing his way over to a locker. Hanging on to the door handle with one hand, he fished out a pair of boots with magnetic soles. He struggled into them, and at once his feet swung down and clicked against the metal deck. He took out another pair and handed them to Grimes. Then he reached up, took hold of the boys, and fished them down out of the air.
    â€œYou’ll have to learn how to pull yourselves around by handholds,” he said. “There are only two pairs of boots, and I’m afraid they were made for men, not boys. For the time being hang on to the edge of the table. Grimes, are you all right?”
    â€œI’m all right in an all-wrong sort of way,” Grimes puffed angrily. He clumped to a chair and sat down. Danny now noticed for the first time that all the furniture was bolted to the deck, and he understood why.
    â€œWe had better hold a council of war,” the Professor said, sitting down at the head of the table.
    Danny tried to smile, although he was feeling far from happy. Part of his misery came as a result of hearing his mother’s voice and realizing just how far away she was. And part of it was a sense of guilt that all this was his fault and his alone.
    The Professor said, “I can see that our two junior members are feeling better. Now, let’s face the facts. At this moment I don’t know where we’re going or how we’re ever going to get back. I do know this, however: as a scientist I’m not afraid.”
    He paused and looked round at the others. Then he said solemnly, “The unknown is not to be feared, but studied. If this is to be the end, I intend to see and learn all I can before I die. But to waste time in worry is useless and unscientific. And death is itself only one more experience for a scientist.”
    Dr. Grimes frowned. “Bullfinch,” he said, “if you are implying that I’m wasting time, you’re wrong. I’ll admit I was a little startled, that’s all.”
    The Professor smiled. “Fine. I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t ready to argue with me and keep me on my toes.”
    Joe said slowly, “I don’t seem to be as scared as I was. I guess I’m getting used to it.”
    â€œHow do you feel, Danny?” the Professor asked.
    â€œOh, I’m all right.” Danny sighed. “Only I wish there was something I could do to—to make up for getting