diff options
Diffstat (limited to '29931.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 29931.txt | 1250 |
1 files changed, 1250 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/29931.txt b/29931.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c83537b --- /dev/null +++ b/29931.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1250 @@ +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: 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |