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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29931-h.zip b/29931-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..578cdee --- /dev/null +++ b/29931-h.zip diff --git a/29931-h/29931-h.htm b/29931-h/29931-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b8c352 --- /dev/null +++ b/29931-h/29931-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1772 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Big Tomorrow, by Paul Lohrman + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 1em 1em 0; padding: 0; text-align: left; width: 376px;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 144px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .bx1 {margin: 4em auto;} + .sp1 {font-size: 150%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Big Tomorrow, by Paul Lohrman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Big Tomorrow + +Author: Paul Lohrman + +Illustrator: Sanford Kossin + +Release Date: September 8, 2009 [EBook #29931] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG TOMORROW *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/001.png" width="376" height="550" alt="" title="" /> +<small><b>Illustrator: Sanford Kossin</b></small></div> + +<h1>THE<br /> +<span class="sp1">BIG TOMORROW</span></h1> + +<h2><small>BY PAUL LOHRMAN</small></h2> + +<p class="bx1"><i>There are certain rare individuals in this world who seem bereft +of all common sense. These are the people who set their eyes upon +an objective and immediately all intelligence, logic, good advice, +unsolvable problems, and insurmountable obstacles go completely +by the boards. The characters we refer to are obviously just +plain stupid. What they want to do, just can't be done. The objectives +they have in mind are unachievable and anyone with an +ounce of brains can tell them so and give them good reasons. They +are usually pretty sad cases and often land in the funny house. +But then again, some of them go out and discover new worlds.</i></p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> hadn't gotten any work done +that morning. He'd spent +most of the time pacing the floor +of his small back office, and the +rest of it at the window—hands +clasped behind his somewhat +bowed back—staring up into the +cloudless sky.</p> + +<p>At ten-forty, the intercom +buzzed. He snapped the switch.</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"I've got those figures, Mr. +Lake. We have nine—"</p> + +<p>"Maybe you'd better come in +and tell me personally, Lucy."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Lake."</p> + +<p>The intercom snapped off and +a few moments later a girl entered +the office—if the prim little wisp +that was Lucy Crane could be +so generously classified.</p> + +<p>Joshua Lake stared at the elongated +bun of black hair on the top +of her head as she came toward his +desk. There was an odd streak of +rich imagination in Joshua Lake +and he always felt Lucy Crane's +bun was a symbol of disapproval. +"Sit down, Lucy. You use up too +much energy."</p> + +<p>"I try to do my job, Mr. Lake."</p> + +<p>"You do that—and more. +What are the figures, Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"We're in desperate shape. We +have nine thousand, four hundred +and twenty dollars in the payroll +account. That leaves it over five +thousand short. There is only +about two thousand in General +Disbursements, but that isn't +enough to cover invoices due tomorrow. +I'm afraid—"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid, Lucy. That's +negative. If we waste our time +sitting around shivering, we won't +make any progress at all."</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean it that way, +Mr. Lake. I'm not shivering. I was +merely stating that we haven't +got enough money."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll go to the bank and +get some more."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Mr. Lake. Is that +all?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all, Lucy. You run +on to lunch."</p> + +<p>"You aren't going out?"</p> + +<p>"No. I'm not hungry today."</p> + +<p>Her bun bobbed in disapproval +as she left the office. Joshua Lake +stared at the closed door and +sighed. Lucy knew exactly how +things were. She wasn't one to be +fooled. But Joshua hoped the rest +of the personnel were not so perceptive. +The engineers and the +draftsmen particularly. They could +all walk out at noon and be working +somewhere else by one o'clock, +what with the huge current industrial +demand.</p> + +<p>He walked again to the window; +an old man; bone-weary, with the +weight of his sixty-odd years bending +his shoulders like a brick-carrier's +hod.</p> + +<p>"<i>Then I'll go to the bank and get +some more.</i>" He hadn't even fooled +himself this time. His chances at +the bank were nil. Less than nil. +His very presence there could tip +the balance of their decision. Loans +could be called; the doors locked +before nightfall.</p> + +<p>At the window, he lowered his +eyes from the sky and looked to +the gate that led into the horseshoe +sweep of low buildings and +back to the great, bulking hangar +where precious work was being +done.</p> + +<p>A man and his dream, Lake +mused.</p> + +<p>He could see only the back of +the sign hanging over the gate, +but he was quite familiar with the +other side. <i>Lake Interstellar Enterprises</i> +in bold, brave letters; and +in the lower right-hand corner—barely +discernible—<i>Joshua Lake—President</i>.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A visitor looking closely at the +sign could see that it had been +done over—that a discarded legend +lay beneath a coat of white +paint. The old name of the firm +was still faintly visible: <i>Lake and +Gorman—Castings and Extrusions</i>.</p> + +<p>It wasn't difficult for Joshua to +conjure up Lee Gorman's craggy, +hostile face. Nor his words. Lee +had a voice like gravel being +ground to powder. A voice to +remember....</p> + +<p>"Of course I won't go along +with this damn-fool idea of yours! +Turn a perfectly sound, entrenched +business into a blue-sky factory? +You've gone crazy, Joshua."</p> + +<p>"But it's feasible, Lee! Entirely +feasible. All we need is a +little imagination. I've investigated. +I've hired the best brains +in the world. I have all the necessary +preliminary data. A rocket +<i>can</i> be built that will take three +men to the Moon and bring them +back!"</p> + +<p>"That's idiocy, Joshua!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe it can be +done?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care whether it can +be done or not!"</p> + +<p>"But open your eyes, man! +This is an age of development. +An era of movement. We're on +the threshold of the big tomorrow, +and we can't let it pass us by! +We can't let the honor and the +glory go to others while we sit on +our hands and hoot from the +gallery! Come alive, Lee! The +world is passing us!"</p> + +<p>"I don't want honor and glory. +All I want is a sound going business. +Suppose we could put a +rocket on the Moon and bring it +back? Where would that leave us? +Broke and famous. And laughed +at probably in the bargain."</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the kind. We could +write our own ticket. We'd control +the gateway to the greatest +mineral deposits within reach of +Man! Think of it, Lee. Use your +imagination."</p> + +<p>"I won't go along with you, +Joshua. That's all there is to it."</p> + +<p>More of the same; days of it, +and finally: "You can have the +customers then, Lee. I'll keep the +plant—the physical properties."</p> + +<p>"But that's not fair."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, but it's legal."</p> + +<p>"How can I service them—from my basement?"</p> + +<p>"I offered you an alternative +only a fool would have turned +down—"</p> + +<p>"That only a fool would accept!"</p> + +<p>"—so now I'm going ahead +and nothing can stop me. I've got +a dream, man—a dream of a big +tomorrow. I'm going to make that +dream come true."</p> + +<p>"Name it right, Joshua. You've +got an obsession."</p> + +<p>The end of <i>Lake and Gorman</i>....</p> + +<p>Joshua turned from the window, +then paused and looked again into +the sky. The Moon was up, a +round, white will-o'-the-wisp in +the clear blue afternoon sky. He +stared at it and the old feeling of +affinity swept over him, stronger +than ever. The Moon was, for +him, both a goal and a tonic. Sight +of its illusive form could always +sweep away his doubts; straighten +his shoulders.</p> + +<p>The intercom buzzed. Joshua +went over and snapped it. "Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Coving to see you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Send him in."</p> + +<p>Rayburn Coving was probably +the best rocket-fuel man in the +world. He had a little of his sandy +hair left, not much, and his forehead +was permanently creased +from frowning. "I'm afraid that +new benzoic derivative is a failure, +Chief. It piles up corrosion in the +tubes too fast. They'd be clogged +halfway through the trip."</p> + +<p>One hundred and twenty thousand +dollars up the spout. Joshua +sighed. "Well, I suppose the +chance of success was worth it. +The added power in relatively +smaller space would have solved +so many other problems."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry it failed."</p> + +<p>Joshua smiled. "To paraphrase +a certain American inventor—we're +finding any number of ways +you can't go to the Moon. What +now, Coving?"</p> + +<p>"Back to the old method—and +the other problems. None of +them are insurmountable, though. +A little more time—"</p> + +<p>"Yes—a little more time." +Joshua grimaced inwardly. He +was talking to Coving as though +they had years—not as though +their time had run out. He was +even in debt for Coving's labor; +overdrawn on it without enough +money to pay.</p> + +<p>The moment of weakness—of +deep-down weariness—passed. +Joshua Lake stiffened as he had +stiffened so many times before. +As he had stiffened when Zornoff's +alloys had flunked out and +the first trip to the bank had been +made necessary. The first trip to +the bank. Joshua smiled wryly. +The bank people had been cordial +then. Even servile. Later it had +been different. Now—</p> + +<p>"You were saying, Mr. +Lake—?"</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Morton lately? +What's the latest on the radar +relay equipment?"</p> + +<p>"No major bugs, I think. It's +coming along famously."</p> + +<p>"Good!" For two hundred odd +thousand it certainly should, +Joshua felt. "Let me know how +you make out, Coving."</p> + +<p>"I will, Chief. I'll get the order +in for the new chemicals immediately."</p> + +<p>"Eh—oh, yes. Do that. Do +that by all means."</p> + +<p>Coving left. Joshua Lake put +his head against the back rest of +the chair and closed his eyes. He +dozed, drifting into a haze from +weariness. <i>It's been so long—so +very long. Seven years—eight—ten. +Ten years. Good heavens! Was +it possible? It didn't seem that long. +Ten years to make a dream succeed.</i></p> + +<p><i>Or fail.</i></p> + +<p>Joshua slept and again—as in +the past—his rest was plagued +with visions. The torment of his +days took many forms in an alert +subconscious too taut to relax. He +had seen before him mountains +too steep to cross—chasms too +deep and wide to bridge. Often, +when a great problem was solved, +he would look back, nights later, +to see the mountain or the chasm +from the other side.</p> + +<p>Now his vision was different. +No mountain before him, but a +face—the stern craggy face of an +obstacle in his path.</p> + +<p>Lee Gorman.</p> + +<p>The face was of clay—yet it +lived. The eyes were cold, disdainful. +And a weird, green creation of +Joshua's own mind was sketching +Gorman in the numbers, signs, +and symbols of a rocket that +would never reach the Moon.</p> + +<p>Joshua awoke with a start and +found Lucy bending over him. +"You didn't answer the buzzer, +Mr. Lake. I was worried."</p> + +<p>"I must have dozed off, Lucy. +Sorry."</p> + +<p>"I'm going home now—if +there's nothing else."</p> + +<p>"Nothing else. I'm going home +myself. Good night."</p> + +<p>Joshua paused beside his car +in the parking lot to stare at the +lighted windows of the big hangar. +The second shift had come on. +They would work all night; then, +tomorrow, they would line up with +the others at the pay window. +But there wouldn't be any money. +The next night the hangar windows +would be dark.</p> + +<p>He got into the car and drove +home.</p> + +<p>Myra was waiting for him. She +took his hat. After he kissed her, +she said, "Your eyes are red, +dear. You've been working much +too hard. Shall we have dinner in +the patio?"</p> + +<p>"That would be nice."</p> + +<p>Joshua had little to say during +the meal, and Myra was quiet +also—adjusting herself, as she +had always done, to his mood. +Finally, she said, "That will be +all, Bertha. Leave the coffee pot."</p> + +<p>The maid left. A slight chill +was coming in off the desert. +Joshua shivered and said, "We're +through, Myra."</p> + +<p>"Through? I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"The Moon trip. I can't swing +it. The money's run out. There's +no place I can raise another +dime."</p> + +<p>"But you've worked so hard—and +so long! And you are so close +to success."</p> + +<p>"We've made a lot of progress, +but the rocket isn't ready yet. +Now it's too late."</p> + +<p>They were silent for a time. +Then Myra said, "In a way, I'm +glad. You should have stopped +long ago. You aren't strong +enough to stand this pace forever. +Now we can go away—get a +small place somewhere. That +Moon rocket was killing you, +Joshua."</p> + +<p>Joshua pondered the point. +"Killing me? No, I don't think so. +I think it has been keeping me +alive."</p> + +<p>"Don't say that, dear! You +make it sound so—so brutal! +Year in and year out. Fighting disappointment—failure. +Aging before +my eyes while I sit here night +after night!"</p> + +<p><i>Fighting disappointment—failure.</i> +Yes. That was the kind of +fight it had been. How many failures? +The first big one had come +six years before....</p> + +<p>"Acceleration, Monsieur, must +be achieved in the first two thousand +miles of flight. After that, the +speed of the ship remains constant. +You follow me?" Tardeau, +the half-mad French genius had +explained it so logically. And +Joshua had believed in him. +That's where you made your big +gamble in a project of this kind. +You selected your men and then +believed in them. Others dissented, +of course. There are always +dissenters. And always points +that could not be proven or disproven +on the drawing boards or +in the test pits....</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"I follow you, Henri. The +booster units will be in three +sections."</p> + +<p>"Exactly, Msieu. The primary—ah, +booster, as you say, breaks +free at twelve miles. That one, +and the secondary, we control +with radar. We touch a button +and Voila! they are free!"</p> + +<p>"In case of the men in the ship +blacking out, I think you said."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. But the third will be +disengaged from within the ship +and she will be free as a bird to +fly to your most illusive Moon!"</p> + +<p>"And the return?"</p> + +<p>"There we have a much lighter +ship, Monsieur. The smaller boosters +will lift her easily. The return +trip will be slower—much slower, +but she will return!"</p> + +<p>Michael Bernard was the dissenter. +"The Frenchman's crazy! +Mad as a hatter, Chief."</p> + +<p>"You think it won't work, +then?"</p> + +<p>"Too damn complicated. A +dozen units of time and mechanism +have to mesh perfectly. The +odds are against that happening. +After all, you've got to remember, +what we're attempting has never +been done before."</p> + +<p>"But if it did work—?"</p> + +<p>"It would be a beauty."</p> + +<p>"Better than your idea of a +single booster?"</p> + +<p>"If it worked—yes. The +weight problem would be solved. +Five men could ride the rocket. +But—"</p> + +<p>"Let's try it, Mike. Let's believe +in our destiny."</p> + +<p>"Okay—you're the boss. But +destiny's a hard thing to lay out +and analyze on a drawing board."</p> + +<p>A man and his dream....</p> + +<p>The radar equipment had failed. +Burdened with the weight of exhausted +booster sections, the rocket +curved back into the clutches of +gravity.</p> + +<p>It crashed on the fringe of the +Amazon jungles.</p> + +<p>Five Moon pioneers dead. Three +uninsured, dependent families. +Joshua provided for them, but +the critical newspapers overlooked +that point. One editorial +observed that Joshua Lake would +get a rocket to the Moon and back +if it took every able-bodied man in +the country. The project would +have died right there if Joshua +had needed money. No bank in +the nation would have loaned him +a dime. Fortunately he was not +yet broke. He started over.</p> + +<p><i>Fortunately?</i></p> + +<hr /> + +<p>At times he had wondered. But +always, his faith had returned to +buoy him up....</p> + +<p>Joshua reached out and took +Myra's hand. He looked up into +the sky. "You may be wrong, my +dear. Possibly it's the other way. +A man's ambition—" he smiled. +"Lee called it an obsession once. +A man's dream can keep him +alive."</p> + +<p>"But why does it have to be so +hard? Why can't one of the big +corporations help you? They'll +profit from your success!"</p> + +<p>"At least I had no competition +in the fulfillment of my dream."</p> + +<p>They were silent for a time; +then Myra said, "But now you +can rest. We'll go away. We don't +need much money. We'll have a +garden. You can lie in the sun."</p> + +<p>He laughed softly; not with +humor; rather from a quiet, new-welling +courage. "We're talking as +though it were all over—finished, +done with. That isn't right."</p> + +<p>She glanced at him quickly. +"But you just said—"</p> + +<p>"I know. But I didn't really +mean it that way. We aren't +through yet."</p> + +<p>"You know where you can +raise—more money?"</p> + +<p>"I know where it is. I'm going +to see Lee Gorman tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Lee Gorman! You aren't serious."</p> + +<p>"There's no place else to go."</p> + +<p>"You'll be wasting your time, +Joshua. He'll—he'll humiliate +you."</p> + +<p>"He probably will. And I may +not get the money. But there's no +place else to go."</p> + +<p>Tears came into Myra's eyes. +"Don't do it, Joshua. Please don't +do it."</p> + +<p>"It won't be as bad as you +think, dear. I guess Lee is entitled +to crow a little."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Lee Gorman looked at the intercom +on his desk as though it +had snapped at him. "Who?" he +barked. But there had been no +mistake. Gorman sat in puzzled +silence for a few moments. Then +he said, "All right, show him in."</p> + +<p>Joshua Lake entered the office +with his hat in one hand and a +briefcase in the other. He paused +halfway to Gorman's desk. "You +haven't changed much, Lee."</p> + +<p>"You have," Gorman answered. +"You look like the devil."</p> + +<p>"I've been working hard." +Joshua Lake covered the intervening +distance and stood before +the desk. Gorman surveyed him +coldly—up and down. Joshua +looked around the office as Gorman +sat silent, not inviting him to +sit down.</p> + +<p>"You've done very well, Lee. +This is the first time I've seen +your plant."</p> + +<p>"I've expanded a little since +my basement days. You remember +my basement days, don't you +Joshua?"</p> + +<p>Joshua winced. "Yes, I remember."</p> + +<p>"And now you might tell me +the purpose of this visit."</p> + +<p>"I came to you because I need +money."</p> + +<p>Gorman's eyes snapped open—wide. +He opened his mouth to +speak. He failed, tightened his +throat and tried again. "You +came here after <i>what</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Money. I'm broke, Lee. I +haven't enough to meet my payroll."</p> + +<p>"You expect me to bail you +out—clean up your debts—put +you clear?"</p> + +<p>"I came after more than that. +Merely bailing me out wouldn't +help a bit. I need three hundred +thousand to put my rocket in the +air."</p> + +<p>Gorman collapsed gently back +into his chair like a balloon mercifully +relieved of some of its content. +When he spoke, it was with +a slow, controlled viciousness. +"I've heard of guts, Joshua. I've +heard of gall—plain unmitigated +nerve. But this tops anything—why, +man, you threw me out! You +robbed me! You left me standing +in the street with a bookful of +names and addresses under my +arm—nothing more. Now you +come here and ask for money!"</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you've done well, +Lee. There was nothing personal +in what I did. I'm glad you've +gone on to even bigger things +than we would have achieved +together."</p> + +<p>"You're glad I've done well! +Why, you pious hypocrite! I ought +to have you thrown through the +window instead of merely ordering +you out!"</p> + +<p>"There is no reason why I +should expect any better treatment, +Lee. But I had to come +here. You were my last hope. I +had to ask."</p> + +<p>Joshua turned slowly from the +desk. He had taken but three +steps when Lee Gorman said, +"Wait a minute. I'm curious. Are +you <i>really</i> still at it—beating +your brains out against that stone +wall?"</p> + +<p>"It's my dream, Lee. I've got +to be the first man to put a rocket +on the moon."</p> + +<p>"But now you're broke—washed +up. What's with the dream +now?"</p> + +<p>"I guess it's finished." Joshua +turned and took another step; but +Gorman was loath to let him go.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," Gorman said. "What +have you got in that briefcase?"</p> + +<p>"Progress reports. Plans. I +wanted to show them to you."</p> + +<p>Gorman grinned. "All right. +I've got a few minutes. Come and +do it."</p> + +<p>Joshua Lake retraced his steps. +He sat down in a chair next to +Gorman's desk. He laid his hat on +the desk and snapped open the +case.</p> + +<p>"No," Gorman said. "Stand +here by my elbow. The chair is for +people I meet on even terms."</p> + +<p>Joshua got obediently to his +feet and placed himself as directed.</p> + +<p>"And your hat," Gorman +added. "You'd better hold that. +You might forget it when you +leave."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Lee."</p> + +<p>It was a ludicrous, pitiful sight +but, withal, a grim note ran +through the scene. Joshua supporting +the case against his thigh, +got out a sheaf of papers. "These +are the progress reports to date. +These, the projected plans."</p> + +<p>"And when these plans are +carried out you expect success?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Great foresight has been +used. They will carry us through."</p> + +<p>"And you expect me to loan +you money on the strength of this—this +day-dreaming on paper?"</p> + +<p>"It's far more than that, Lee. +You'll find the plans sound."</p> + +<p>Lee Gorman didn't give a tinker's +hoot for the plans. He was +only enjoying an interview—a +vengeance—he was loath to terminate. +"You haven't even begun +to show me what I'd need before I +even considered loaning you a +dime."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring you anything you +want."</p> + +<p>"Even if I promise to turn you +down after I've gone over it."</p> + +<p>"You're calling the dance, Lee."</p> + +<p>"All right—I'll call it. Bring +me your payroll records; your cost +sheets; the background reports on +the key men in your organization."</p> + +<p>"As soon as I can get them. I +need some money immediately to +meet my payroll."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you waiting +for?"</p> + +<p>"I'll be back this afternoon." +Joshua was halfway out the door +when Lee Gorman called. "And +bring the deeds to your plant—the +bills of sale to your machinery +and equipment."</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>Joshua left and Lee Gorman sat +motionless staring at the surface +of his desk. There was a Mona +Lisa smile on his rugged face.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"It's not worth it, Joshua," +Myra said, hotly. "You won't +be able to take his brow-beating +and badgering day after day. And +that's his intention. That's what +he's giving you the money for—for +the pleasure of humiliating +you day after day."</p> + +<p>"Of course, my dear. I'm fortunate +that Lee is that kind of a +man. He wants his revenge and +he's willing to pay for it. I was +hoping it would be that way—praying +for it. It was my last +weapon. The last weapon I had +with which to beat the Moon."</p> + +<p>A man and his dream....</p> + +<p>"I want you to sign these papers, +Joshua." Lee Gorman held +out a pen and pushed the papers +across the desk.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Lee."</p> + +<p>"Four copies."</p> + +<p>Joshua pushed the papers back, +looked at them and smiled.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you signed?"</p> + +<p>"A power of attorney, I believe. +And I've signed the plant +over to you. There is a large +mortgage against it, however."</p> + +<p>Lee Gorman sat back, narrowed +his eyes as he looked at the wizened +little man with the giant obsession. +"Joshua, I think you've +worked beyond your time. You've +slipped your gears completely. Do +you realize that with these papers +I can put you in the street? That +all I have to do is raise my hand +and you're done?"</p> + +<p>"I realize that, Lee."</p> + +<p>"Then why on earth did you +sign them?"</p> + +<p>"I had no alternative."</p> + +<p>"But what kind of an alternative +is this? Giving away everything +you've got?"</p> + +<p>Joshua sighed. "You haven't +raised your hand yet, Lee. I can +surmount my difficulties only as I +come to them. I'll think about +that one when it gets here."</p> + +<p>"Well—I've got news for you. +The time to think about it is—" +Gorman stopped in mid-sentence. +He studied Joshua Lake for a long +minute. Then he took a checkbook +from his desk and wrote +rapidly. "There's money to meet +your payroll. The exact amount. +Take it to the bank. Then, I want +you in this office every day at +four-thirty with a complete report +of what's gone on. Don't overlook +a thing. And bring any bills with +you that want paying, together +with material orders and projected +costs. Is that clear?"</p> + +<p>"I understand, Lee." At the +door, Joshua Lake turned for a +moment. "And—thank you—thank +you very much."</p> + +<p>After Joshua had left, Lee Gorman +pondered one of those last +words. If they contained any bitterness, +it was well hidden. "A +strange man," Gorman muttered. +"A very strange man."</p> + +<p>If that constituted a weak moment +on the part of Lee Gorman, +his dikes were repaired well in time +to present a hostile front....</p> + +<p>"This twelve thousand to American +Chemical—what are you doing—running +an experimental +laboratory on the side. I won't +pay it."</p> + +<p>"I've never questioned Coving's +judgment in these matters, +Lee. He's done brilliant work for +us. The man has to have materials +to work with."</p> + +<p>"Well, you certainly should +have questioned him. He's been +satisfying every whim of curiosity +that pops into his mind. Send +the stuff back."</p> + +<p>"But that would be fatal to the +project. The fuel <i>must</i> be power-charged +to safely handle the +weight and time quotients. Coving +can't work with salt and +baking soda."</p> + +<p>"I don't care what he works +with. Cut three thousand off that +bill."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Lee."</p> + +<p>A man and his dream....</p> + +<p>"This payroll's out of all reason. +Cut fifteen men off immediately."</p> + +<p>"I'll see what I can do."</p> + +<p>"Cut fifteen men off immediately."</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"Here's a check for the interest +on the last note. Take it over +to the bank."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Lee."</p> + +<p>Joshua Lake came and went as +directed. He stood with his hat in +his hand, took orders, carried +them out. His shoulders drooped +a little more; his face became more +pinched; he retreated deeper and +deeper into himself.</p> + +<p>But as the days went on, his +eyes brightened and there was a +breathlessness in his expression +when he turned his face to the sky.</p> + +<p>Some three months after the +day Joshua walked into Lee's +office, the latter said, "The four +men who are going with the +rocket. You've selected them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They're waiting for the +day. It was a long slow process, +selecting the best equipped men."</p> + +<p>"Bring them here tomorrow +afternoon."</p> + +<p>"I'll check with them. If they +all can't make it, would a later +date—?"</p> + +<p>"I said tomorrow. See to it they +<i>can</i> make it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Lee."</p> + +<p>Joshua brought the four young +men to Lee Gorman's office the +following day. Lee had a buffet +table set up. He was the smiling, +genial, expansive host. "Sit down +gentlemen. I'm glad of this opportunity +to meet you."</p> + +<p>There were five chairs in the +room. Gorman had already seated +himself. The young men hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, sit down."</p> + +<p>They dropped into the chairs, +glancing uneasily at Joshua Lake. +Joshua turned and started toward +the door.</p> + +<p>"Don't go, Lake. I'm sure the +boys would like a drink. You'll find +the fixings on the buffet. Why don't +you take their orders?"</p> + +<p>The crowning insult, Joshua +wondered. The last, crude insult? +Lee Gorman's wounds must have +been deep indeed. Joshua served +drinks, brought sandwiches. Lee +Gorman's geniality kept the awkwardness +of the situation from +bringing it to a complete standstill. +"Well, Thursday is the day, +I understand. How do you feel +about it? Rocketing off into space. +Becoming a part of the big tomorrow." +Gorman's eyes caught +those of Joshua Lake as he spoke +the last sentence. There was laughter +behind them.</p> + +<p>The crew of the Moon rocket left +shortly afterward. Joshua was the +last to walk from the room. Just +as he was going through the door, +Lee Gorman whispered into his +ear. "You can't be sure there'll +be a rocket flight. I might stop it +the last minute. I haven't made +up my mind yet."</p> + +<p>Joshua turned and looked at his +tormentor in silence. The others +had gone on down the hall. Gorman +laughed and said, "I suppose +that's a problem you'll face when +you come to it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—when I come to it."</p> + +<p>Alone in his office, Lee Gorman +strode angrily to the buffet. With +a sweep of his arm, he knocked a +liquor bottle across the room. The +motivation of the act was hard to +determine, however, from Gorman's +outward appearance. It +could have been bitter disappointment +or a fierce joy.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Joshua Lake walked into Lee +Gorman's office, removed his hat +and said, "With your permission, +this is the day."</p> + +<p>"What time?"</p> + +<p>"It translates into 4:07 and 30 +seconds, Greenwich time."</p> + +<p>Gorman scowled. "I suppose +you've arranged quite a party."</p> + +<p>"Nothing too spectacular. +We'll leave for the blasting pits at +3:00 o'clock. I'd be honored if +you'd ride with me."</p> + +<p>"Do you still own a car?"</p> + +<p>"A small one. Its value is negligible."</p> + +<p>"We'll go in one of mine. Be +here at five minutes to three."</p> + +<p>"Certainly." Joshua put his +hat on and walked out....</p> + +<p>They rode across the Nevada +desert in a black Cadillac with the +chauffeur sitting at attention and +staring straight ahead. Joshua +stared straight ahead also. He +asked, "Are you going to stop +the flight?"</p> + +<p>Beside him, leaning forward, +clutching with both hands the +silver knob on a black mahogany +cane, Gorman replied, "I haven't +made up my mind yet."</p> + +<p>A dot on the desert expanded +into a pit, a tower, and some small +buildings. The car followed the +ruts of the tractors that had +hauled the rocket to the launching +site, and came to a halt. +"That small, glass-encased platform," +Joshua said. "We'll view +the proceedings from there."</p> + +<p>Gorman snorted. "I'll view +them from where I please."</p> + +<p>They were standing beside the +car, Joshua slightly behind his +benefactor. "From the platform."</p> + +<p>Gorman scowled and half +turned. "What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"I'm holding a gun against your +back. It is a very small gun. No +one can see it and it probably +wouldn't kill you. Then again, it +might. We will walk to the platform +and stand together to watch +the blast-off."</p> + +<p>"You'd actually—<i>kill</i>, to get +that ship into the air?"</p> + +<p>"If I committed murder, I +would certainly regret it the rest +of my life, but the rocket must be +launched."</p> + +<p>They stood in the glass enclosure +on the platform and no +one came near them. Several people +veered close and waved. +Joshua waved back with his free +hand and the people went on their +way.</p> + +<p>An hour passed. There was vast +activity on the field. Gorman said, +"I'm tired. I want to sit down."</p> + +<p>"It was thoughtless of me. I +should have provided chairs. It +won't be long now."</p> + +<p>It wasn't long. Five minutes +later there was a roar, an explosion +of color, and a silver rocket +flash up into the sky almost faster +than the eye could follow.</p> + +<p>Gorman slammed the heel of his +hand against the side of his head +in order to restore hearing. "You +can put that gun away."</p> + +<p>"Of course. And you'll want to +call the police."</p> + +<p>Gorman growled like an annoyed +bull. He jerked open the +door and strode away.</p> + +<p>Three hours later, Joshua and +Myra Lake were seated in the +small patio beside their home. +They were seated very close together, +and Myra was stroking +Joshua's hand. "It's been a long +time, dear; a very long time."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Are you happy?"</p> + +<p>"I'm—well, satisfied—at least +partially. We've passed a big +milestone. But it isn't over yet."</p> + +<p>"You're sure this time, though?"</p> + +<p>"Very sure."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven we won't have +much longer to wait."</p> + +<p>The wait was slightly less than +ten minutes. Then Lee Gorman +strode into the patio. Joshua +sprang to his feet. "Any news?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then they should have phoned +me. I left word to be called."</p> + +<p>"No one could get up the courage. +The rocket crashed in Canada."</p> + +<p>Joshua swayed. When he looked +at Lee, his eyes were filled with a +mute plea. "That <i>is</i> the truth?"</p> + +<p>"It's the truth. The first flash +said it appears the tail broke off +in high space."</p> + +<p>Joshua sank into his chair. +"The crew—died?"</p> + +<p>"Four more men sacrificed to +your—" Gorman stopped and did +not use the word <i>obsession</i>. There +was too much agony in Joshua's +face. "I'm taking the plant—I'm +taking everything. I've got to. +I've paid for them."</p> + +<p>Lee Gorman walked from the +patio. His steps echoed and died.</p> + +<p>Joshua and Myra sat for a long +time in silence. Myra was holding +his hand. Finally she spoke. "Well, +at least it's over. Now you can +rest. Successful or not—you've +earned it."</p> + +<p>Joshua turned and looked into +her face—looked at her as though +she had just entered. "Oh no, +my dear. You certainly don't expect +me to—"</p> + +<p>"Joshua!"</p> + +<p>"Why, I'm only sixty-three. I +never felt better in my life. I have +a lot of good productive years +ahead."</p> + +<p>"<i>Joshua! What are you going +to do?</i>"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to be the first man +to send a rocket to the Moon."</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="144" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> Oct.-Nov. 1953. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Big Tomorrow, by Paul Lohrman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG TOMORROW *** + +***** This file should be named 29931-h.htm or 29931-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/9/3/29931/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Big Tomorrow + +Author: Paul Lohrman + +Illustrator: Sanford Kossin + +Release Date: September 8, 2009 [EBook #29931] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG TOMORROW *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Illustrator: Sanford Kossin] + + + THE + BIG TOMORROW + +BY PAUL LOHRMAN + + + _There are certain rare individuals in this world who seem bereft of + all common sense. These are the people who set their eyes upon an + objective and immediately all intelligence, logic, good advice, + unsolvable problems, and insurmountable obstacles go completely by + the boards. The characters we refer to are obviously just plain + stupid. What they want to do, just can't be done. The objectives + they have in mind are unachievable and anyone with an ounce of + brains can tell them so and give them good reasons. They are usually + pretty sad cases and often land in the funny house. But then again, + some of them go out and discover new worlds._ + + +He hadn't gotten any work done that morning. He'd spent most of the time +pacing the floor of his small back office, and the rest of it at the +window--hands clasped behind his somewhat bowed back--staring up into +the cloudless sky. + +At ten-forty, the intercom buzzed. He snapped the switch. + +"Yes?" + +"I've got those figures, Mr. Lake. We have nine--" + +"Maybe you'd better come in and tell me personally, Lucy." + +"All right, Mr. Lake." + +The intercom snapped off and a few moments later a girl entered the +office--if the prim little wisp that was Lucy Crane could be so +generously classified. + +Joshua Lake stared at the elongated bun of black hair on the top of her +head as she came toward his desk. There was an odd streak of rich +imagination in Joshua Lake and he always felt Lucy Crane's bun was a +symbol of disapproval. "Sit down, Lucy. You use up too much energy." + +"I try to do my job, Mr. Lake." + +"You do that--and more. What are the figures, Lucy?" + +"We're in desperate shape. We have nine thousand, four hundred and +twenty dollars in the payroll account. That leaves it over five thousand +short. There is only about two thousand in General Disbursements, but +that isn't enough to cover invoices due tomorrow. I'm afraid--" + +"Don't be afraid, Lucy. That's negative. If we waste our time sitting +around shivering, we won't make any progress at all." + +"I didn't mean it that way, Mr. Lake. I'm not shivering. I was merely +stating that we haven't got enough money." + +"Then I'll go to the bank and get some more." + +"Of course, Mr. Lake. Is that all?" + +"Yes, that's all, Lucy. You run on to lunch." + +"You aren't going out?" + +"No. I'm not hungry today." + +Her bun bobbed in disapproval as she left the office. Joshua Lake stared +at the closed door and sighed. Lucy knew exactly how things were. She +wasn't one to be fooled. But Joshua hoped the rest of the personnel were +not so perceptive. The engineers and the draftsmen particularly. They +could all walk out at noon and be working somewhere else by one o'clock, +what with the huge current industrial demand. + +He walked again to the window; an old man; bone-weary, with the weight +of his sixty-odd years bending his shoulders like a brick-carrier's hod. + +"_Then I'll go to the bank and get some more._" He hadn't even fooled +himself this time. His chances at the bank were nil. Less than nil. His +very presence there could tip the balance of their decision. Loans could +be called; the doors locked before nightfall. + +At the window, he lowered his eyes from the sky and looked to the gate +that led into the horseshoe sweep of low buildings and back to the +great, bulking hangar where precious work was being done. + +A man and his dream, Lake mused. + +He could see only the back of the sign hanging over the gate, but he was +quite familiar with the other side. _Lake Interstellar Enterprises_ in +bold, brave letters; and in the lower right-hand corner--barely +discernible--_Joshua Lake--President_. + + * * * * * + +A visitor looking closely at the sign could see that it had been done +over--that a discarded legend lay beneath a coat of white paint. The old +name of the firm was still faintly visible: _Lake and Gorman--Castings +and Extrusions_. + +It wasn't difficult for Joshua to conjure up Lee Gorman's craggy, +hostile face. Nor his words. Lee had a voice like gravel being ground +to powder. A voice to remember.... + +"Of course I won't go along with this damn-fool idea of yours! Turn a +perfectly sound, entrenched business into a blue-sky factory? You've +gone crazy, Joshua." + +"But it's feasible, Lee! Entirely feasible. All we need is a little +imagination. I've investigated. I've hired the best brains in the world. +I have all the necessary preliminary data. A rocket _can_ be built that +will take three men to the Moon and bring them back!" + +"That's idiocy, Joshua!" + +"Don't you believe it can be done?" + +"I don't care whether it can be done or not!" + +"But open your eyes, man! This is an age of development. An era of +movement. We're on the threshold of the big tomorrow, and we can't let +it pass us by! We can't let the honor and the glory go to others while +we sit on our hands and hoot from the gallery! Come alive, Lee! The +world is passing us!" + +"I don't want honor and glory. All I want is a sound going business. +Suppose we could put a rocket on the Moon and bring it back? Where would +that leave us? Broke and famous. And laughed at probably in the +bargain." + +"Nothing of the kind. We could write our own ticket. We'd control the +gateway to the greatest mineral deposits within reach of Man! Think of +it, Lee. Use your imagination." + +"I won't go along with you, Joshua. That's all there is to it." + +More of the same; days of it, and finally: "You can have the customers +then, Lee. I'll keep the plant--the physical properties." + +"But that's not fair." + +"Perhaps not, but it's legal." + +"How can I service them--from my basement?" + +"I offered you an alternative only a fool would have turned down--" + +"That only a fool would accept!" + +"--so now I'm going ahead and nothing can stop me. I've got a dream, +man--a dream of a big tomorrow. I'm going to make that dream come true." + +"Name it right, Joshua. You've got an obsession." + +The end of _Lake and Gorman_.... + +Joshua turned from the window, then paused and looked again into the +sky. The Moon was up, a round, white will-o'-the-wisp in the clear blue +afternoon sky. He stared at it and the old feeling of affinity swept +over him, stronger than ever. The Moon was, for him, both a goal and a +tonic. Sight of its illusive form could always sweep away his doubts; +straighten his shoulders. + +The intercom buzzed. Joshua went over and snapped it. "Yes?" + +"Mr. Coving to see you, sir." + +"Send him in." + +Rayburn Coving was probably the best rocket-fuel man in the world. He +had a little of his sandy hair left, not much, and his forehead was +permanently creased from frowning. "I'm afraid that new benzoic +derivative is a failure, Chief. It piles up corrosion in the tubes too +fast. They'd be clogged halfway through the trip." + +One hundred and twenty thousand dollars up the spout. Joshua sighed. +"Well, I suppose the chance of success was worth it. The added power in +relatively smaller space would have solved so many other problems." + +"I'm sorry it failed." + +Joshua smiled. "To paraphrase a certain American inventor--we're finding +any number of ways you can't go to the Moon. What now, Coving?" + +"Back to the old method--and the other problems. None of them are +insurmountable, though. A little more time--" + +"Yes--a little more time." Joshua grimaced inwardly. He was talking to +Coving as though they had years--not as though their time had run out. +He was even in debt for Coving's labor; overdrawn on it without enough +money to pay. + +The moment of weakness--of deep-down weariness--passed. Joshua Lake +stiffened as he had stiffened so many times before. As he had stiffened +when Zornoff's alloys had flunked out and the first trip to the bank had +been made necessary. The first trip to the bank. Joshua smiled wryly. +The bank people had been cordial then. Even servile. Later it had been +different. Now-- + +"You were saying, Mr. Lake--?" + +"Have you seen Morton lately? What's the latest on the radar relay +equipment?" + +"No major bugs, I think. It's coming along famously." + +"Good!" For two hundred odd thousand it certainly should, Joshua felt. +"Let me know how you make out, Coving." + +"I will, Chief. I'll get the order in for the new chemicals +immediately." + +"Eh--oh, yes. Do that. Do that by all means." + +Coving left. Joshua Lake put his head against the back rest of the chair +and closed his eyes. He dozed, drifting into a haze from weariness. +_It's been so long--so very long. Seven years--eight--ten. Ten years. +Good heavens! Was it possible? It didn't seem that long. Ten years to +make a dream succeed._ + +_Or fail._ + +Joshua slept and again--as in the past--his rest was plagued with +visions. The torment of his days took many forms in an alert +subconscious too taut to relax. He had seen before him mountains too +steep to cross--chasms too deep and wide to bridge. Often, when a great +problem was solved, he would look back, nights later, to see the +mountain or the chasm from the other side. + +Now his vision was different. No mountain before him, but a face--the +stern craggy face of an obstacle in his path. + +Lee Gorman. + +The face was of clay--yet it lived. The eyes were cold, disdainful. And +a weird, green creation of Joshua's own mind was sketching Gorman in the +numbers, signs, and symbols of a rocket that would never reach the Moon. + +Joshua awoke with a start and found Lucy bending over him. "You didn't +answer the buzzer, Mr. Lake. I was worried." + +"I must have dozed off, Lucy. Sorry." + +"I'm going home now--if there's nothing else." + +"Nothing else. I'm going home myself. Good night." + +Joshua paused beside his car in the parking lot to stare at the lighted +windows of the big hangar. The second shift had come on. They would work +all night; then, tomorrow, they would line up with the others at the pay +window. But there wouldn't be any money. The next night the hangar +windows would be dark. + +He got into the car and drove home. + +Myra was waiting for him. She took his hat. After he kissed her, she +said, "Your eyes are red, dear. You've been working much too hard. Shall +we have dinner in the patio?" + +"That would be nice." + +Joshua had little to say during the meal, and Myra was quiet +also--adjusting herself, as she had always done, to his mood. Finally, +she said, "That will be all, Bertha. Leave the coffee pot." + +The maid left. A slight chill was coming in off the desert. Joshua +shivered and said, "We're through, Myra." + +"Through? I don't understand." + +"The Moon trip. I can't swing it. The money's run out. There's no place +I can raise another dime." + +"But you've worked so hard--and so long! And you are so close to +success." + +"We've made a lot of progress, but the rocket isn't ready yet. Now it's +too late." + +They were silent for a time. Then Myra said, "In a way, I'm glad. You +should have stopped long ago. You aren't strong enough to stand this +pace forever. Now we can go away--get a small place somewhere. That Moon +rocket was killing you, Joshua." + +Joshua pondered the point. "Killing me? No, I don't think so. I think it +has been keeping me alive." + +"Don't say that, dear! You make it sound so--so brutal! Year in and +year out. Fighting disappointment--failure. Aging before my eyes while I +sit here night after night!" + +_Fighting disappointment--failure._ Yes. That was the kind of fight it +had been. How many failures? The first big one had come six years +before.... + +"Acceleration, Monsieur, must be achieved in the first two thousand +miles of flight. After that, the speed of the ship remains constant. You +follow me?" Tardeau, the half-mad French genius had explained it so +logically. And Joshua had believed in him. That's where you made your +big gamble in a project of this kind. You selected your men and then +believed in them. Others dissented, of course. There are always +dissenters. And always points that could not be proven or disproven on +the drawing boards or in the test pits.... + + * * * * * + +"I follow you, Henri. The booster units will be in three sections." + +"Exactly, Msieu. The primary--ah, booster, as you say, breaks free at +twelve miles. That one, and the secondary, we control with radar. We +touch a button and Voila! they are free!" + +"In case of the men in the ship blacking out, I think you said." + +"Exactly. But the third will be disengaged from within the ship and she +will be free as a bird to fly to your most illusive Moon!" + +"And the return?" + +"There we have a much lighter ship, Monsieur. The smaller boosters will +lift her easily. The return trip will be slower--much slower, but she +will return!" + +Michael Bernard was the dissenter. "The Frenchman's crazy! Mad as a +hatter, Chief." + +"You think it won't work, then?" + +"Too damn complicated. A dozen units of time and mechanism have to mesh +perfectly. The odds are against that happening. After all, you've got to +remember, what we're attempting has never been done before." + +"But if it did work--?" + +"It would be a beauty." + +"Better than your idea of a single booster?" + +"If it worked--yes. The weight problem would be solved. Five men could +ride the rocket. But--" + +"Let's try it, Mike. Let's believe in our destiny." + +"Okay--you're the boss. But destiny's a hard thing to lay out and +analyze on a drawing board." + +A man and his dream.... + +The radar equipment had failed. Burdened with the weight of exhausted +booster sections, the rocket curved back into the clutches of gravity. + +It crashed on the fringe of the Amazon jungles. + +Five Moon pioneers dead. Three uninsured, dependent families. Joshua +provided for them, but the critical newspapers overlooked that point. +One editorial observed that Joshua Lake would get a rocket to the Moon +and back if it took every able-bodied man in the country. The project +would have died right there if Joshua had needed money. No bank in the +nation would have loaned him a dime. Fortunately he was not yet broke. +He started over. + +_Fortunately?_ + + * * * * * + +At times he had wondered. But always, his faith had returned to buoy him +up.... + +Joshua reached out and took Myra's hand. He looked up into the sky. "You +may be wrong, my dear. Possibly it's the other way. A man's ambition--" +he smiled. "Lee called it an obsession once. A man's dream can keep him +alive." + +"But why does it have to be so hard? Why can't one of the big +corporations help you? They'll profit from your success!" + +"At least I had no competition in the fulfillment of my dream." + +They were silent for a time; then Myra said, "But now you can rest. +We'll go away. We don't need much money. We'll have a garden. You can +lie in the sun." + +He laughed softly; not with humor; rather from a quiet, new-welling +courage. "We're talking as though it were all over--finished, done with. +That isn't right." + +She glanced at him quickly. "But you just said--" + +"I know. But I didn't really mean it that way. We aren't through yet." + +"You know where you can raise--more money?" + +"I know where it is. I'm going to see Lee Gorman tomorrow." + +"Lee Gorman! You aren't serious." + +"There's no place else to go." + +"You'll be wasting your time, Joshua. He'll--he'll humiliate you." + +"He probably will. And I may not get the money. But there's no place +else to go." + +Tears came into Myra's eyes. "Don't do it, Joshua. Please don't do it." + +"It won't be as bad as you think, dear. I guess Lee is entitled to crow +a little." + + * * * * * + +Lee Gorman looked at the intercom on his desk as though it had snapped +at him. "Who?" he barked. But there had been no mistake. Gorman sat in +puzzled silence for a few moments. Then he said, "All right, show him +in." + +Joshua Lake entered the office with his hat in one hand and a briefcase +in the other. He paused halfway to Gorman's desk. "You haven't changed +much, Lee." + +"You have," Gorman answered. "You look like the devil." + +"I've been working hard." Joshua Lake covered the intervening distance +and stood before the desk. Gorman surveyed him coldly--up and down. +Joshua looked around the office as Gorman sat silent, not inviting him +to sit down. + +"You've done very well, Lee. This is the first time I've seen your +plant." + +"I've expanded a little since my basement days. You remember my basement +days, don't you Joshua?" + +Joshua winced. "Yes, I remember." + +"And now you might tell me the purpose of this visit." + +"I came to you because I need money." + +Gorman's eyes snapped open--wide. He opened his mouth to speak. He +failed, tightened his throat and tried again. "You came here after +_what_?" + +"Money. I'm broke, Lee. I haven't enough to meet my payroll." + +"You expect me to bail you out--clean up your debts--put you clear?" + +"I came after more than that. Merely bailing me out wouldn't help a bit. +I need three hundred thousand to put my rocket in the air." + +Gorman collapsed gently back into his chair like a balloon mercifully +relieved of some of its content. When he spoke, it was with a slow, +controlled viciousness. "I've heard of guts, Joshua. I've heard of +gall--plain unmitigated nerve. But this tops anything--why, man, you +threw me out! You robbed me! You left me standing in the street with a +bookful of names and addresses under my arm--nothing more. Now you come +here and ask for money!" + +"I'm glad you've done well, Lee. There was nothing personal in what I +did. I'm glad you've gone on to even bigger things than we would have +achieved together." + +"You're glad I've done well! Why, you pious hypocrite! I ought to have +you thrown through the window instead of merely ordering you out!" + +"There is no reason why I should expect any better treatment, Lee. But I +had to come here. You were my last hope. I had to ask." + +Joshua turned slowly from the desk. He had taken but three steps when +Lee Gorman said, "Wait a minute. I'm curious. Are you _really_ still at +it--beating your brains out against that stone wall?" + +"It's my dream, Lee. I've got to be the first man to put a rocket on the +moon." + +"But now you're broke--washed up. What's with the dream now?" + +"I guess it's finished." Joshua turned and took another step; but Gorman +was loath to let him go. + +"Tell me," Gorman said. "What have you got in that briefcase?" + +"Progress reports. Plans. I wanted to show them to you." + +Gorman grinned. "All right. I've got a few minutes. Come and do it." + +Joshua Lake retraced his steps. He sat down in a chair next to Gorman's +desk. He laid his hat on the desk and snapped open the case. + +"No," Gorman said. "Stand here by my elbow. The chair is for people I +meet on even terms." + +Joshua got obediently to his feet and placed himself as directed. + +"And your hat," Gorman added. "You'd better hold that. You might forget +it when you leave." + +"Of course, Lee." + +It was a ludicrous, pitiful sight but, withal, a grim note ran through +the scene. Joshua supporting the case against his thigh, got out a sheaf +of papers. "These are the progress reports to date. These, the projected +plans." + +"And when these plans are carried out you expect success?" + +"Yes. Great foresight has been used. They will carry us through." + +"And you expect me to loan you money on the strength of this--this +day-dreaming on paper?" + +"It's far more than that, Lee. You'll find the plans sound." + +Lee Gorman didn't give a tinker's hoot for the plans. He was only +enjoying an interview--a vengeance--he was loath to terminate. "You +haven't even begun to show me what I'd need before I even considered +loaning you a dime." + +"I'll bring you anything you want." + +"Even if I promise to turn you down after I've gone over it." + +"You're calling the dance, Lee." + +"All right--I'll call it. Bring me your payroll records; your cost +sheets; the background reports on the key men in your organization." + +"As soon as I can get them. I need some money immediately to meet my +payroll." + +"Then what are you waiting for?" + +"I'll be back this afternoon." Joshua was halfway out the door when Lee +Gorman called. "And bring the deeds to your plant--the bills of sale to +your machinery and equipment." + +"Certainly." + +Joshua left and Lee Gorman sat motionless staring at the surface of his +desk. There was a Mona Lisa smile on his rugged face. + + * * * * * + +"It's not worth it, Joshua," Myra said, hotly. "You won't be able to +take his brow-beating and badgering day after day. And that's his +intention. That's what he's giving you the money for--for the pleasure +of humiliating you day after day." + +"Of course, my dear. I'm fortunate that Lee is that kind of a man. He +wants his revenge and he's willing to pay for it. I was hoping it would +be that way--praying for it. It was my last weapon. The last weapon I +had with which to beat the Moon." + +A man and his dream.... + +"I want you to sign these papers, Joshua." Lee Gorman held out a pen and +pushed the papers across the desk. + +"Certainly, Lee." + +"Four copies." + +Joshua pushed the papers back, looked at them and smiled. + +"Do you know what you signed?" + +"A power of attorney, I believe. And I've signed the plant over to you. +There is a large mortgage against it, however." + +Lee Gorman sat back, narrowed his eyes as he looked at the wizened +little man with the giant obsession. "Joshua, I think you've worked +beyond your time. You've slipped your gears completely. Do you realize +that with these papers I can put you in the street? That all I have to +do is raise my hand and you're done?" + +"I realize that, Lee." + +"Then why on earth did you sign them?" + +"I had no alternative." + +"But what kind of an alternative is this? Giving away everything you've +got?" + +Joshua sighed. "You haven't raised your hand yet, Lee. I can surmount my +difficulties only as I come to them. I'll think about that one when it +gets here." + +"Well--I've got news for you. The time to think about it is--" Gorman +stopped in mid-sentence. He studied Joshua Lake for a long minute. Then +he took a checkbook from his desk and wrote rapidly. "There's money to +meet your payroll. The exact amount. Take it to the bank. Then, I want +you in this office every day at four-thirty with a complete report of +what's gone on. Don't overlook a thing. And bring any bills with you +that want paying, together with material orders and projected costs. Is +that clear?" + +"I understand, Lee." At the door, Joshua Lake turned for a moment. +"And--thank you--thank you very much." + +After Joshua had left, Lee Gorman pondered one of those last words. If +they contained any bitterness, it was well hidden. "A strange man," +Gorman muttered. "A very strange man." + +If that constituted a weak moment on the part of Lee Gorman, his dikes +were repaired well in time to present a hostile front.... + +"This twelve thousand to American Chemical--what are you doing--running +an experimental laboratory on the side. I won't pay it." + +"I've never questioned Coving's judgment in these matters, Lee. He's +done brilliant work for us. The man has to have materials to work +with." + +"Well, you certainly should have questioned him. He's been satisfying +every whim of curiosity that pops into his mind. Send the stuff back." + +"But that would be fatal to the project. The fuel _must_ be +power-charged to safely handle the weight and time quotients. Coving +can't work with salt and baking soda." + +"I don't care what he works with. Cut three thousand off that bill." + +"Very well, Lee." + +A man and his dream.... + +"This payroll's out of all reason. Cut fifteen men off immediately." + +"I'll see what I can do." + +"Cut fifteen men off immediately." + +"Of course." + +"Here's a check for the interest on the last note. Take it over to the +bank." + +"Yes, Lee." + +Joshua Lake came and went as directed. He stood with his hat in his +hand, took orders, carried them out. His shoulders drooped a little +more; his face became more pinched; he retreated deeper and deeper into +himself. + +But as the days went on, his eyes brightened and there was a +breathlessness in his expression when he turned his face to the sky. + +Some three months after the day Joshua walked into Lee's office, the +latter said, "The four men who are going with the rocket. You've +selected them?" + +"Yes. They're waiting for the day. It was a long slow process, selecting +the best equipped men." + +"Bring them here tomorrow afternoon." + +"I'll check with them. If they all can't make it, would a later date--?" + +"I said tomorrow. See to it they _can_ make it." + +"Yes, Lee." + +Joshua brought the four young men to Lee Gorman's office the following +day. Lee had a buffet table set up. He was the smiling, genial, +expansive host. "Sit down gentlemen. I'm glad of this opportunity to +meet you." + +There were five chairs in the room. Gorman had already seated himself. +The young men hesitated. + +"Sit down, sit down." + +They dropped into the chairs, glancing uneasily at Joshua Lake. Joshua +turned and started toward the door. + +"Don't go, Lake. I'm sure the boys would like a drink. You'll find the +fixings on the buffet. Why don't you take their orders?" + +The crowning insult, Joshua wondered. The last, crude insult? Lee +Gorman's wounds must have been deep indeed. Joshua served drinks, +brought sandwiches. Lee Gorman's geniality kept the awkwardness of the +situation from bringing it to a complete standstill. "Well, Thursday is +the day, I understand. How do you feel about it? Rocketing off into +space. Becoming a part of the big tomorrow." Gorman's eyes caught those +of Joshua Lake as he spoke the last sentence. There was laughter behind +them. + +The crew of the Moon rocket left shortly afterward. Joshua was the last +to walk from the room. Just as he was going through the door, Lee Gorman +whispered into his ear. "You can't be sure there'll be a rocket flight. +I might stop it the last minute. I haven't made up my mind yet." + +Joshua turned and looked at his tormentor in silence. The others had +gone on down the hall. Gorman laughed and said, "I suppose that's a +problem you'll face when you come to it?" + +"Yes--when I come to it." + +Alone in his office, Lee Gorman strode angrily to the buffet. With a +sweep of his arm, he knocked a liquor bottle across the room. The +motivation of the act was hard to determine, however, from Gorman's +outward appearance. It could have been bitter disappointment or a +fierce joy. + + * * * * * + +Joshua Lake walked into Lee Gorman's office, removed his hat and said, +"With your permission, this is the day." + +"What time?" + +"It translates into 4:07 and 30 seconds, Greenwich time." + +Gorman scowled. "I suppose you've arranged quite a party." + +"Nothing too spectacular. We'll leave for the blasting pits at 3:00 +o'clock. I'd be honored if you'd ride with me." + +"Do you still own a car?" + +"A small one. Its value is negligible." + +"We'll go in one of mine. Be here at five minutes to three." + +"Certainly." Joshua put his hat on and walked out.... + +They rode across the Nevada desert in a black Cadillac with the +chauffeur sitting at attention and staring straight ahead. Joshua stared +straight ahead also. He asked, "Are you going to stop the flight?" + +Beside him, leaning forward, clutching with both hands the silver knob +on a black mahogany cane, Gorman replied, "I haven't made up my mind +yet." + +A dot on the desert expanded into a pit, a tower, and some small +buildings. The car followed the ruts of the tractors that had hauled the +rocket to the launching site, and came to a halt. "That small, +glass-encased platform," Joshua said. "We'll view the proceedings from +there." + +Gorman snorted. "I'll view them from where I please." + +They were standing beside the car, Joshua slightly behind his +benefactor. "From the platform." + +Gorman scowled and half turned. "What are you doing?" + +"I'm holding a gun against your back. It is a very small gun. No one can +see it and it probably wouldn't kill you. Then again, it might. We will +walk to the platform and stand together to watch the blast-off." + +"You'd actually--_kill_, to get that ship into the air?" + +"If I committed murder, I would certainly regret it the rest of my life, +but the rocket must be launched." + +They stood in the glass enclosure on the platform and no one came near +them. Several people veered close and waved. Joshua waved back with his +free hand and the people went on their way. + +An hour passed. There was vast activity on the field. Gorman said, "I'm +tired. I want to sit down." + +"It was thoughtless of me. I should have provided chairs. It won't be +long now." + +It wasn't long. Five minutes later there was a roar, an explosion of +color, and a silver rocket flash up into the sky almost faster than the +eye could follow. + +Gorman slammed the heel of his hand against the side of his head in +order to restore hearing. "You can put that gun away." + +"Of course. And you'll want to call the police." + +Gorman growled like an annoyed bull. He jerked open the door and strode +away. + +Three hours later, Joshua and Myra Lake were seated in the small patio +beside their home. They were seated very close together, and Myra was +stroking Joshua's hand. "It's been a long time, dear; a very long time." + +"Yes." + +"Are you happy?" + +"I'm--well, satisfied--at least partially. We've passed a big milestone. +But it isn't over yet." + +"You're sure this time, though?" + +"Very sure." + +"Thank heaven we won't have much longer to wait." + +The wait was slightly less than ten minutes. Then Lee Gorman strode into +the patio. Joshua sprang to his feet. "Any news?" + +"Yes." + +"Then they should have phoned me. I left word to be called." + +"No one could get up the courage. The rocket crashed in Canada." + +Joshua swayed. When he looked at Lee, his eyes were filled with a mute +plea. "That _is_ the truth?" + +"It's the truth. The first flash said it appears the tail broke off in +high space." + +Joshua sank into his chair. "The crew--died?" + +"Four more men sacrificed to your--" Gorman stopped and did not use the +word _obsession_. There was too much agony in Joshua's face. "I'm taking +the plant--I'm taking everything. I've got to. I've paid for them." + +Lee Gorman walked from the patio. His steps echoed and died. + +Joshua and Myra sat for a long time in silence. Myra was holding his +hand. Finally she spoke. "Well, at least it's over. Now you can rest. +Successful or not--you've earned it." + +Joshua turned and looked into her face--looked at her as though she had +just entered. "Oh no, my dear. You certainly don't expect me to--" + +"Joshua!" + +"Why, I'm only sixty-three. I never felt better in my life. I have a lot +of good productive years ahead." + +"_Joshua! What are you going to do?_" + +"I'm going to be the first man to send a rocket to the Moon." + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ Oct.-Nov. 1953. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and + typographical errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Big Tomorrow, by Paul Lohrman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIG TOMORROW *** + +***** This file should be named 29931.txt or 29931.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/9/3/29931/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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