diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 16:47:22 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-06 16:47:22 -0800 |
| commit | bc1835ee177ad6f5ed45ec95d6b6df63f1df0989 (patch) | |
| tree | d2430b9b43d72e9909a52d622816105c92fec26e /53456-h | |
| parent | a08b6428126d6f84cb39138df9286c2555b2f8a2 (diff) | |
As captured February 7, 2025
Diffstat (limited to '53456-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 53456-h/53456-h.htm | 8437 |
1 files changed, 4009 insertions, 4428 deletions
diff --git a/53456-h/53456-h.htm b/53456-h/53456-h.htm index 3171bdd..2c57f5f 100644 --- a/53456-h/53456-h.htm +++ b/53456-h/53456-h.htm @@ -1,4428 +1,4009 @@ -<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<!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=utf-8" />
-<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
-<title>Young Readers Science Fiction Stories, by Richard M. Elam: a Project Gutenberg eBook</title>
-<meta name="author" content="Richard M. Elam" />
-<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" />
-<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://dublincore.org/documents/1998/09/dces/" />
-<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Richard M. Elam (****)" />
-<meta name="DC.Contributor" content="Victor Prezio (Ill.)" />
-<meta name="DC.Title" content="Young Readers Science Fiction Stories" />
-<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" />
-<meta name="DC.Format" content="text/html" />
-<meta name="pss.pubdate" content="1957" />
-<meta name="DC.Created" content="1957" />
-<style type="text/css">
-xbody, table.twocol tr td { margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em; } /* BODY */
-
-h1, h2, h3, h5, h6, .titlepg p { text-align:center; clear:right; } /* HEADINGS */
-h1 { margin-top:3em; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; max-width:15em; }
-.box h1, .box h2 { margin-top:.5em; }
-h2, h3 { margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:2em; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width: 17em; }
-h6 { font-size:100%; font-style:italic; }
-h6.var { font-size:80%; font-style:normal; }
-.titlepg { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border-style:double; clear:both; }
-
-/* == BOXES == */
-.dbox { border-style:double; }
-div.box, .dbox { margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:25em;}
-.nbox { margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:18em;}
-div.box, div.subbox, div.nbox { border-style:solid; border-width:1px; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; }
-div.subbox { margin:.2em; }
-div.box dl dd, div.subbox dl dd, div.nbox dl dd {margin-left:2em; font-size:90%; }
-div.box dl dt, div.subbox dl dt, div.nbox dl dt {margin-left:1em; }
-div.box p {margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em; }
-h4 { font-size:80%; text-align:center; clear:right; }
-span.chaptertitle { font-style:normal; display:block; text-align:center; font-size:150%; }
-
-p, blockquote, li { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } /* PARAGRAPHS */
-p.bq, blockquote { margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; }
-div.verse { font-size:100%; }
-p.indent {text-indent:2em; text-align:left; }
-p.tb, p.tbcenter { margin-top:2em; }
-
-span.pb, div.pb, dt.pb, p.pb /* PAGE BREAKS */
-{ text-align:right; float:right; margin-right:0em; clear:right; }
-div.pb { display:inline; }
-.pb, dt.pb, dl.toc dt.pb, dl.tocl dt.pb, .index dt.pb { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left: 1.5em;
- margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; display:inline; text-indent:0;
- font-size:80%; font-style:normal; font-weight:bold;
- color:gray; border:1px solid gray;padding:1px 3px; }
-div.index .pb { display:block; }
-.bq div.pb, .bq span.pb { font-size:90%; margin-right:2em; }
-
-div.img, body a img, .imgcenter {text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-top:2em; clear:both; }
-
-sup, a.fn { font-size:75%; vertical-align:100%; line-height:50%; font-weight:normal; }
-.center, .tbcenter, .caption { text-align:center; clear:both; } /* TEXTUAL MARKUP */
-.caption { margin-top:0; }
-table.center { clear:both; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
-.small { font-size:80%; }
-.smaller { font-size:66%; }
-.smallest { font-size:50%; }
-.larger, .xlarge { font-size:150%; }
-.large { font-size:125%; }
-.gs { letter-spacing:1em; }
-.gs3 { letter-spacing:1.5em; }
-.gslarge { letter-spacing:.3em; font-size:110%; }
-.sc { font-variant:small-caps; font-style: normal; }
-.sc i { font-variant:normal; }
-.rubric { color: red; }
-hr { width:40%; margin-left:30%; }
-.shorthr { width:20%; }
-.jl { text-align:left; }
-span.jl { float:left; }
-.jr, .jr1 { text-align:right; }
-span.jr, span.jr1, span.center, span.jl { display:block; }
-.jr1 { margin-right:2em; }
-.ind1 { text-align:left; margin-left:2em; }
-.u { text-decoration:underline; }
-
-table.center { border-style: groove; }
-table.center, table.hymntab { clear:both; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
-
-dd.t { text-align:left; margin-left: 5.5em; }
-
-span.date, span.author { text-align:right; font-variant:small-caps; display:block; margin-right:1em; }
-span.center { text-align:center; display:block; }
-span.hst { margin-left:1.5em; }
-.biblio dt { margin-top:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; }
-.biblio dd { font-size:90%; }
-
-/* INDEX (.INDEX) */
-
-/* FOOTNOTE BLOCKS */
-div.notes p { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; text-align:justify; max-width:25em; }
-.fnblock { margin-top:2em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:25em; }
-.fndef { text-align:justify; margin-top:1.5em; margin-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; }
-.fndef p.fncont, .fndef dl { margin-left:0em; text-indent:0em; }
-.fndef p.fnbq, .fndef dl { margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em; }
-
-.lnum { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left:.5em; /* POETRY LINE NUMBER */
-display:inline; }
-
-.hymn { text-align:left; } /* HYMN AND VERSE: HTML */
-.verse { text-align:left; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:0em; }
-p.t0, p.l, .t0, .l, div.l, l { margin-left:4em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.tw, div.tw, .tw { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t, div.t, .t { margin-left:5em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t2, div.t2, .t2 { margin-left:6em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t3, div.t3, .t3 { margin-left:7em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t4, div.t4, .t4 { margin-left:8em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t5, div.t5, .t5 { margin-left:9em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t6, div.t6, .t6 { margin-left:10em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t7, div.t7, .t7 { margin-left:11em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t8, div.t8, .t8 { margin-left:12em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t9, div.t9, .t9 { margin-left:13em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t10,div.t10,.t10 { margin-left:14em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t11,div.t11,.t11 { margin-left:15em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t12,div.t12,.t12 { margin-left:16em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t13,div.t13,.t13 { margin-left:17em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t14,div.t14,.t14 { margin-left:18em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-p.t15,div.t15,.t15 { margin-left:19em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; }
-
- /* CONTENTS (.TOC) */
- .toc dt.center { text-align:center; clear:both; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; }
- .toc dt { text-align:right; clear:left;
- margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; }
- .toc dt.jr { text-align:right; }
- .toc dt.smaller { max-width:35em; }
- .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; }
- .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; }
- .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; }
- .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; }
- .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; }
- .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; }
- .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; }
- .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; }
- .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; }
- .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; }
- .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn, dt span.cn { width:3.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; }
- dt .large {font-weight:bold; }
- div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; }
- div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; }
-
-.clear { clear:both; }
-.htab { margin-left:8em; }
- /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */
- p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
- p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
- p.smaller { max-width:37em; }
- blockquote { max-width:23em; }
-
-
- div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
- div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; }
-/* book advertisements */
- p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; }
- p.bkpr {font-size:90%; }
- p.bkrv { }
- dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; }
- dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; }
-</style>
-</head>
-<body>
-
-
-<pre>
-
-The Project Gutenberg EBook of Young Readers Science Fiction Stories, by
-Richard Mace Elam
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-Title: Young Readers Science Fiction Stories
-
-Author: Richard Mace Elam
-
-Illustrator: Victor Prezio
-
-Release Date: November 5, 2016 [EBook #53456]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG READERS SCIENCE FICTION ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, MFR and the Online
-Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-
-
-
-
-
-</pre>
-
-<div id="cover" class="img">
-<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Young Readers Science Fiction Stories" width="500" height="752" />
-</div>
-<div class="box">
-<h1><span class="smaller">YOUNG READERS</span>
-<br />Science Fiction Stories</h1>
-<p class="center">By RICHARD M. ELAM</p>
-<p class="center"><span class="smaller">ILLUSTRATED BY</span>
-<br />VICTOR PREZIO</p>
-<div class="img" id="i00">
-<img src="images/i00.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="300" height="250" />
-</div>
-<p class="center"><i>Publishers</i> <span class="small">GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.</span> <i>New York</i></p>
-</div>
-<p class="center smaller">© 1957 by
-<br />LANTERN PRESS, INC.
-<br />By arrangement with Lantern Press, Inc.</p>
-<p class="center smaller">PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN CANADA BY
-<br />GEORGE J. MC LEOD, LIMITED, TORONTO, ONTARIO
-<br />MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p>
-<p class="tbcenter">TO
-<br />THE YOUNG TRAVELERS
-<br />OF TOMORROW</p>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2><i>CONTENTS</i></h2>
-<dl class="toc">
-<dt><a href="#c1"><i>Beth and the Twilight Star</i></a> 13</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c2"><i>Gib Takes a Space Test</i></a> 28</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c3"><i>The Space Mail Run</i></a> 39</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c4"><i>All Aboard for Space</i></a> 55</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c5"><i>Wheel in the Sky</i></a> 69</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c6"><i>Danger on the Ice Canal</i></a> 83</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c7"><i>Cargo for Callisto</i></a> 95</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c8"><i>The Big Show on Titan</i></a> 107</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c9"><i>Adventure on the Sun’s Doorstep</i></a> 119</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c10"><i>The Flying Mountain</i></a> 132</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c11"><i>Castaways in Space</i></a> 144</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c12"><i>The Big Space Ball Game</i></a> 158</dt>
-<dt><a href="#c13"><i>Paper Treasure for Mars</i></a> 171</dt>
-</dl>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2><i>ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h2>
-<dl class="toc">
-<dt><a href="#pic1">She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes</a> 22</dt>
-<dt><a href="#pic2">Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord</a> 62</dt>
-<dt><a href="#pic3">The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward</a> 81</dt>
-<dt><a href="#pic4">He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer</a> 128</dt>
-<dt><a href="#pic5">Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook</a> 187</dt>
-</dl>
-<h1 title=""><span class="smaller">YOUNG READERS</span>
-<br />Science Fiction Stories</h1>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c1"><br /><i>BETH AND THE TWILIGHT STAR</i></h2>
-<p>Beth Harrison and her father
-had driven into the desert to look for dead
-branches of “jumping cactus,” which were used
-in making lamps for Mr. Harrison’s tourist
-shop in Tucson. He and Beth had just gotten
-out of the station wagon and were gazing up a
-slope of bristly cacti.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div>
-<p>“This looks like a good place, Daddy,” Beth
-said.</p>
-<p>Mr. Harrison nodded. “We’ll have to hurry,
-though. It’s getting late.”</p>
-<p>They started up the sandy slope carrying
-straw market bags that would hold their gleanings.</p>
-<p>“Maybe we’ll see some Flying Saucers,”
-Beth said half-jokingly. “Someone thought he
-saw one out here the other day.”</p>
-<p>Her father grinned. “Flying Saucers indeed!
-You and that lively imagination of yours,
-Beth!”</p>
-<p>They set to work searching for dead
-branches. They found a few good specimens.
-But they were not enough to suit Beth and
-she decided to broaden the search. She went
-over the slope and up and down another, and
-before long her roaming carried her out of
-sight of her father.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div>
-<p>Amidst the stunning colors of the sunset,
-Beth could make out a lone star—Sirius—the
-brightest true star in all the sky. It reminded
-her of a pearl glowing in the heavens.</p>
-<p>Presently Beth had a bag full of cactus wood
-for the lamp shop. She was about to return to
-her father when suddenly she saw something
-ahead that she had not noticed before. Almost
-hidden within a dense thicket of smoky green
-<i>paloverde</i> was a shiny surface that reflected
-the dying sun’s rays. Her imagination stirred,
-Beth decided to investigate.</p>
-<p>She put down her bag and made her way
-into the thicket. As she moved carefully
-through the thorns, she found some of the
-branches pushed aside as if someone had used
-this path before. She was almost through when
-she tripped and fell head-first. Her forehead
-bumped against an unyielding branch, causing
-her to see more than one star this time.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div>
-<p>She didn’t know how long she lay on the
-ground half-stunned before she got to her
-feet. There was a painful bruise on her forehead,
-but her curiosity was still strong and she
-went on. The shiny surface turned out to be
-a wall as smooth and glossy as steel.</p>
-<p>“Jeepers!” Beth thought. “What can it be?”</p>
-<p>She reached out to touch the wall. Before
-she could do so, a door opened in the wall.</p>
-<p>The first thing she noticed beyond was a
-soft yellow light filling a handsome room. Feeling
-like Alice on the threshold of Wonderland,
-she stepped inside, more thrilled than afraid.</p>
-<p>She heard a sighing behind her and saw the
-door closing shut. Only then did she become
-frightened. She beat against the wall, wishing
-that she had not been so rash as to venture
-into such a strange place.</p>
-<p>She heard a voice say, “That will not help.”</p>
-<p>Beth turned and saw a girl of about her own
-age standing on a richly-carpeted platform
-across the room. The odd unearthliness of the
-girl struck Beth immediately. She was pretty
-and her skin was milky white. Her costume
-seemed to be of a blue phosphorescent material,
-as did her shoes. Her short hair was almost as
-red as glowing coals.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div>
-<p>“Wh—who are you?” Beth stammered.</p>
-<p>“I am Linnia,” the girl replied in a voice
-that sounded almost as if she were singing.
-“You are Beth.”</p>
-<p>“Yes,” Beth replied in amazement, “but
-how did you—?”</p>
-<p>“I can read your mind.”</p>
-<p>Beth gulped. “You can?”</p>
-<p>“Come over and sit down,” Linnia said.
-“We shall talk.”</p>
-<p>She sat in a nearby chair that seemed to be
-made of steel matchsticks, it looked so frail.
-Beth sat in the chair opposite and found that
-it was very sturdy.</p>
-<p>“You are thinking that I look very strange
-to you,” Linnia said. “You seem strange to me
-too, but that is because we are of different
-worlds.”</p>
-<p>Beth gulped again. “D—different worlds?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div>
-<p>Suddenly the yellow light in the room
-changed to a pulsing orange. Linnia straightened
-up quickly. “That is the signal,” she
-spoke. “I did not expect it so soon. We must
-hurry and prepare ourselves!”</p>
-<p>Beth started asking questions, but Linnia
-said not now. Beth found herself following the
-girl across the room to a row of couches. Beth
-lay down on one and somehow knew exactly
-what she was to do. She guessed that Linnia
-was putting the thoughts into her head. She
-lifted the straps that hung at the sides and
-buckled them across her body.</p>
-<p>The couch was soft as a cloud and Beth
-was thinking how much she would like to
-have a bed like this when all at once she felt
-herself sinking deeply into the cushion as if
-a great hand were thrusting her down. For
-several moments she was as giddy as if she
-were riding the roller-coaster at the carnival.
-Then finally her breath came back and she
-felt herself rise to the top of the cushion again.</p>
-<p>“We can get up,” she heard Linnia say.
-“We’re coasting now.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div>
-<p>They unbuckled their straps and rose to
-their feet. Linnia walked over to the wall,
-pressed a button, and a blind rolled back,
-revealing a long window.</p>
-<p>“Look,” Linnia said.</p>
-<p>Beth joined her and looked out the window.
-Her heart fairly rose into her throat. She was
-up in the sky, far up in the sky! Through a
-veil of clouds beneath she could see the curve
-of the earth itself!</p>
-<p>Beth seized Linnia by the arm. “Jeepers,
-what’s going on! Where are you taking me?”</p>
-<p>Linnia pointed to the white beacon of Sirius
-in the blue-black sky.</p>
-<p>“You’re from Sirius?” Beth asked in amazement.</p>
-<p>“Yes, from Tata Moori, one of its planets.
-Our work on earth is through for right now
-and my father and I are returning home to
-make a report.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div>
-<p>Linnia went on to say that her father’s space
-ship was only one of many which were studying
-the earth to see how the people here lived.
-Her father’s assignment had been to make an
-analysis of the soil. The visitors intended no
-harm and in time they planned to meet the
-people of earth face to face.</p>
-<p>“Well, I have already met you,” Beth said
-boldly, “and I’m ready to go back!”</p>
-<p>Linnia shook her flame-topped head. “We
-tried to keep our ship hidden, but you found
-it, Beth, and so there is nothing to do but take
-you back with us for awhile. When you came
-close, the electric eye opened the door and let
-you inside before it was time for any earth
-person to see one of our ships.”</p>
-<p>“But my father and mother,” Beth said
-desperately, “and my friends! They’ll be worried
-to death! You must not take me, Linnia!
-Please, isn’t there something you can do?”</p>
-<p>Linnia studied Beth’s pleading face. Then
-she replied, “I’ll talk to my father. He’s busy
-running the ship, but I’ll do what I can for
-you. While I’m gone, you can see what it’s like
-on our world by pushing the button on that
-cabinet against the wall. Father and I look at
-the film sometimes to keep from getting homesick.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div>
-<p>Beth was in no mood for looking at pictures.
-She was feeling worse by the minute as
-she considered what it would be like to be
-parted from her family and friends. As she sat
-in the chair, dreading and wondering, suddenly
-it became too much for her and she
-began to cry.</p>
-<p>“Jeepers, why did I ever wander off from
-Daddy?” she moaned.</p>
-<p>The tears made her feel better and presently
-she was calm enough to go over to the cabinet
-and turn it on. A large screen brightened and
-she saw a strange land unfolding before her
-eyes.</p>
-<p>There were winding highways raised into
-the sky and skyscrapers like tall crystal columns.
-She saw motorcars of tear-drop design
-and helicopters filling the air. The people
-looked much like Linnia, with phosphorescent
-clothing, and all had hair as flaming red as
-Linnia’s own.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div>
-<div class="img" id="pic1">
-<img src="images/i02.jpg" alt="She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes" width="500" height="673" />
-<p class="caption"><i>She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div>
-<p>Yes, Tata Moori looked like an exciting
-place to visit, but it was not a visit Beth would
-want to make without another person from her
-own planet. As she thought about her predicament,
-she began to be scared again and the
-tears filled her eyes once more. Why, Sirius
-was <i>trillions</i> of miles from Earth!</p>
-<p>She went to the window. The dwindling
-earth was becoming a green ball against the
-black deeps of space. The stars were dazzling
-and seemed as countless as the sands of the
-seashore. The view made Beth terribly homesick.</p>
-<p>Finally Linnia returned.</p>
-<p>Beth looked at her anxiously, trying to read
-her fate in the foreign girl’s eyes.</p>
-<p>“What did your father say?” Beth asked,
-with fluttering heart. “Did he say he’d take me
-back? Please tell me he did!”</p>
-<p>Linnia smiled. “Yes, Beth. He said that we
-are not supposed to take younger persons to
-Tata Moori. He was angry with me for not
-telling him you were aboard, but I told him
-you came in just before we blasted off.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div>
-<p>“Gee, I’m so relieved!” Beth said happily.
-“I don’t mean I wouldn’t like your company,
-Linnia, but you know how it is.”</p>
-<p>“Yes, I know,” Linnia replied wistfully. “I
-have missed my mother and friends too. I had
-to take my brother’s place on this trip when
-he became sick. You see, everyone on Tata
-Moori learns science when they are very
-young.”</p>
-<p>“I’ve been wondering how it is that you
-speak English, Linnia.”</p>
-<p>“We keep tuned in on your radio and television,”
-Linnia answered. “That’s how we
-learned your language and so many other
-things about you.”</p>
-<p>“You people seem to be ahead of us in
-progress,” Beth said. “I believe there is much
-we can learn from you.”</p>
-<p>“We can learn much from you too,” Linnia
-spoke. “I hope the people of our planets are
-permitted to meet very soon.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div>
-<p>The girls had to belt down on their couches
-again because of the mounting speed at which
-they were returning to earth. Beth felt herself
-sinking deeply into her cushion once more
-and she grew breathless again. Minutes later,
-the ship stopped moving.</p>
-<p>Beth hurriedly unbuckled and ran over to
-the window. Through a break in the <i>paloverde</i>
-thicket she could see her father’s station wagon
-parked at the roadside. She was back at the
-same place she had started from.</p>
-<p>“Thank goodness!” she breathed.</p>
-<p>Linnia walked with her to the outer door.</p>
-<p>“My father said he’d like to have met you,”
-Linnia said, “but he is too busy preparing for
-our blast off again. We must hurry because we
-are behind schedule. Before you leave, Beth,
-Father has said that you must promise never
-to speak a word about all this to anyone. I
-have searched your mind and I know you to
-be honest.”</p>
-<p>Beth was disappointed that she could not
-make known her fabulous journey, but she
-promised that she would never tell.</p>
-<p>Linnia waved her hand at the door and the
-electric eye opened it.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div>
-<p>“Goodbye, Beth,” Linnia said.</p>
-<p>“Goodbye, Linnia.”</p>
-<p>Beth heard the sighing of the door as it
-closed behind her.</p>
-<p>Suddenly her head began aching and she remembered
-the fall she had taken earlier. As
-she made her way out of the thicket, she began
-to have a queer feeling about her adventure.
-It made her wonder if perhaps she might not
-have been unconscious and imagined the
-whole thing.</p>
-<p>When she reached the car, her father said
-with some concern, “You were gone so long I
-started to come for you, Beth. What happened
-to your forehead?”</p>
-<p>She told him about her fall but did not
-mention the space ship.</p>
-<p>“Did you see something land a few minutes
-ago, Daddy?” Beth asked.</p>
-<p>Mr. Harrison grinned. “You mean, maybe,
-a Flying Saucer? No, I’m afraid I didn’t. Are
-you sure your imagination isn’t working overtime
-again, Beth?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div>
-<p>As they were about to get into the car, Beth
-saw a dark object in the distance rise from the
-ground and move off into the deepening twilight.
-She was certain she did not imagine this.</p>
-<p>“You saw that, didn’t you, Daddy?” Beth
-asked.</p>
-<p>Mr. Harrison nodded. “Probably a hawk.
-Hmm, it looks like it’s heading right for the
-Evening Star, doesn’t it?”</p>
-<p>Beth gazed at the brilliant light of Sirius,
-gorgeously bright now with darkness closing
-in.</p>
-<p>“I wish I knew if it really was,” Beth murmured.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c2"><br /><i>GIB TAKES A SPACE TEST</i></h2>
-<p>Gib Bromfield was nine, and
-the thing he wanted to do most was to make a
-flight into space. A colony on the Moon had
-already been started for scientific research, and
-a huge man-made space platform circled the
-Earth once every twenty-four hours.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div>
-<p>“I want to go back to the Moon with you,
-Father,” Gib would plead every time Mr.
-Bromfield came home on a furlough.</p>
-<p>“I’m afraid you’re still a little young, Gib,”
-his father would reply. “Some day you will be
-able to go out into space with me, but not yet.”</p>
-<p>Mr. Bromfield was a construction engineer,
-and he was helping to build a big spaceport on
-the Moon. He came home to see his family
-every six months. Each time he returned, Gib
-couldn’t wait to meet him at the front door of
-their prefabricated home.</p>
-<p>Gib would shake hands with him like a man
-and take his bags from him. Then he would
-step back and admire the tall, handsome man
-in the glossy black boots and gray uniform of
-the Space Service. By this time, Mother usually
-came running up, followed by Sandra, Gib’s
-little sister.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div>
-<p>On Mr. Bromfield’s latest visit, Gib waited
-until the usual family talk had subsided before
-he started asking his father about his recent
-adventures. After Father had brought him
-up to date, Gib asked the same question he always
-asked:</p>
-<p>“Father, my I go back with you this time for
-a short visit—just a short one?”</p>
-<p>Mr. Bromfield smiled and rumpled Gib’s
-blond hair. “It’s not the time element, Gib,”
-he said patiently. “It’s the rigors of space itself,
-which are much rougher than Captain
-Rocket on TV would have us believe.”</p>
-<p>Gib’s face fell. He had hoped that this time
-his father would give in and let him go back.
-Mr. Bromfield could see that his son was disappointed.
-He stared at Gib thoughtfully for
-a moment, then spoke again.</p>
-<p>“All right, Gib, I’ll put you through S.Q.T.
-If you pass it and still want to go spaceward,
-I’ll take you.”</p>
-<p>“Gee, do you mean that?” Gib burst out.</p>
-<p>He was so excited he didn’t know what to
-do. Gib had never had any doubt that he would
-pass the S.Q.T.—the Space Qualification Test—that
-all those who go spaceward must take.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div>
-<p>Mr. Bromfield went immediately to the
-video-phone and put through a call to S.Q.T.,
-having them place Gib’s name on the space
-test list.</p>
-<p>“Thanks, Father!” Gib said excitedly. “At
-last I’ll be going spaceward!”</p>
-<p>“We’ll see,” Mr. Bromfield replied soberly.</p>
-<p>Gib spent the next afternoon on the first
-part of the test, which was a complete physical
-examination.</p>
-<p>“It didn’t hurt the tiniest bit,” Gib joked
-with his father that night. “If all the parts of
-the test are as easy as this first one, I won’t
-have any trouble.”</p>
-<p>Mr. Bromfield did not say anything, but he
-smiled to himself as though he knew something
-that Gib did not know.</p>
-<p>Gib and his father took the elevated expressway
-to the S.Q.T. center early the next morning
-in their atom-powered Johnson Superjet.
-The final portions of Gib’s test would be covered
-today.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div>
-<p>The first part was familiarity with the space
-suit. In company with about fifty other candidates,
-Gib was given a supply of clothing.
-Then everyone was shown how to zip up
-their thickly insulated suits in front. Next, an
-attendant snapped metal cylinders to their
-shoulders and screwed the flexible tubing into
-valves on their suits. Last to be put on were
-helmets of light metal that had a darkened
-glass in front so that the wearer could look
-out.</p>
-<p>“Now, all of you turn the little black knob
-on your chests,” the tester said. His voice
-sounded muffled to Gib because of the helmet
-he wore.</p>
-<p>Gib turned his knob and felt his suit blowing
-up like a balloon as air flowed in from the
-oxygen tanks.</p>
-<p>“This is how you would be dressed for a
-walk on the Moon,” the tester told them.
-“Now I want all of you to walk into the next
-room.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div>
-<p>As Gib went into the room with the others,
-he was thinking how easy the test had been up
-until now. And what fun it was taking the very
-tests that Captain Rocket himself must have
-taken at one time! He thought his father was
-surely mistaken for having doubted his ability
-to pass the S.Q.T.</p>
-<p>The tester left the room and shut the door.
-In a few moments Gib began to have a strange
-sensation. He was feeling lighter and lighter,
-and the others with him were beginning to
-float right off the floor!</p>
-<p>Gib struggled frantically as he felt himself
-go off balance. Each movement he made, however,
-shot him off at swift, crazy angles. He
-felt himself sweating with fear, and for the
-first time he was believing that maybe the
-S.Q.T. wasn’t going to be so easy after all.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div>
-<p>It seemed as if he had the strength of a
-Samson, but it was a strength he could not
-control. A simple kick sent him hurtling across
-the room toward the wall! He tried to brake
-himself, but nothing he did would stop him.
-He crashed headlong into the wall. It shook
-him up a little, but he was not hurt. He saw
-that the wall was thickly padded.</p>
-<p>After about fifteen minutes of helplessness,
-Gib felt himself getting heavier again and saw
-his companions drop to the floor in normal
-position. The tester came in with some doctors.
-The doctors looked over each candidate
-and asked many questions. Gib was still dazed
-and wasn’t sure of the answers he gave.</p>
-<p>When the doctors were through, the tester
-explained what had happened: “This room
-was de-gravitized, which means the Earth’s
-gravity in here was cut off by mechanical
-means. It’s the same condition you will find
-in a space ship when the gravity plates are
-turned off. From the looks of some of you, this
-experience was something of a shock. But the
-final test will be even rougher. Anybody who
-wants to drop out now may do so.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div>
-<p>Gib saw that about a third of the candidates
-had had enough. Gib was still giddy himself
-and started to join them. He was disappointed
-in the harshness of “zero-gravity.” It had always
-looked so simple to him the way that Captain
-Rocket “swam” about in his rocket flyer.</p>
-<p>Gib did not want his father to think him a
-quitter, though, and decided to stick out the
-test to the end. When his turn came, he was
-led into a huge room by himself and up to a
-queer-looking machine. It resembled one of
-the thrill rides at a carnival, the one that whirls
-you round and round like a ball on the end of
-a string. Gib entered a tiny cabin at the end
-of the large swinging arm and sat down in a
-thick foam-rubber reclining chair.</p>
-<p>As he was strapped down, the tester said to
-him, “This is called the ‘Centrifuge,’ son, and
-it simulates the blast-off from Earth in a rocket
-ship. You appear to be a little young to be
-taking it, so if you’ve had enough just yank
-that lever in front of you and we’ll stop the
-machine.”</p>
-<p>“I—I will,” Gib replied, getting scared already.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div>
-<p>He got more scared as all sorts of instruments
-were strapped to him. The tester explained
-that these were to record his reactions.
-As the door was closed on him. Gib had a
-trapped feeling. Then he composed himself
-and waited for the worst, telling himself that a
-spaceman must be brave.</p>
-<p>Presently he felt the cabin begin to move,
-slowly at first. This much was fun, Gib
-thought, just like the carnival ride. As the
-cabin picked up speed, it was even more thrilling.
-But then as the speed increased still more,
-Gib began to lose his enjoyment.</p>
-<p>Faster and faster he went, and Gib was
-crushed deeply into the chair cushion. He felt
-his cheeks draw back from his teeth, the corners
-of his eyes making him squint. There was
-heavy pressure on his chest, as if an elephant
-were standing on him. His breath hung in his
-throat and he saw strange colors and darting
-forms before his eyes.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div>
-<p>He stood the agonizing effect as long as he
-could, and then his frightfully heavy hand
-crept unsteadily toward the lever in front of
-him and jerked it.</p>
-<p>The cabin began losing speed and finally
-stopped. Gib saw a blurred image open the
-door and offer his hand. As he stumbled out,
-his head feeling big as a watermelon, Gib
-vaguely remembered hearing the tester say:</p>
-<p>“You needn’t feel badly about this, son. You
-almost lasted it out. Come back in another
-year or two and then I think you’ll be able to
-pass.”</p>
-<p>Gib still wasn’t quite himself as he met his
-father in the waiting room. He was quivering
-all over, and his dad wouldn’t quite come into
-focus.</p>
-<p>“I flunked the test, Father,” Gib told him.</p>
-<p>“It sounds to me as if you’re glad you did,”
-Mr. Bromfield replied, with a chuckle. “I was
-afraid it might be too rough for you, son, but
-I knew there was no other way to show you
-that space travel isn’t as easy as the comic
-books make out.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div>
-<p>“I’ll try again next year,” Gib said, “or the
-year after that, anyway. That’s what the tester
-told me.”</p>
-<p>“I’m sure you’ll be ready then,” Mr. Bromfield
-replied. “Now, what do you say we go
-home? Captain Rocket is almost due on TV.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c3"><br /><i>THE SPACE MAIL RUN</i></h2>
-<p>The way he felt now, Jerry
-Welsh was almost sorry he had left Earth. The
-Moonship landing seemed to be crushing the
-very life out of him, although he lay flat on a
-couch to ease the strain.</p>
-<p>Jerry turned his head toward his father, who
-was strapped down like himself, and suffering
-too. The craft was under its own control, for
-no human could withstand the rocket’s present
-speed and still be able to steer in for a landing.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div>
-<p>Capt. Welsh was on his bi-weekly mail run
-to Luna, the Moon, and for the first time in
-ten years of service he had a passenger—his
-own twelve-year-old son.</p>
-<p>At last Jerry felt a hard jolt under him. He
-knew the rocket’s tail fins had finally touched
-ground. Jerry unstrapped himself with rubbery
-fingers and sat up. Then he tried to stand,
-but flopped down again.</p>
-<p>“Wow, I feel giddy!” he groaned.</p>
-<p>His father laughed. “You’ll get your bearings
-presently, Son.”</p>
-<p>How long Jerry had waited to make this
-space mail run with his father! Then finally
-last year, Capt. Welsh had said that Jerry
-could go with him when he became twelve,
-as he was especially husky and strong for his
-age.</p>
-<p>But now that the great moment had come at
-last, Jerry wasn’t sure he was enjoying it as he
-had expected, for he had found space so vast,
-so dark, and so frightening.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div>
-<p>“Do you still want to be a spaceman, Jerry?”
-his dad asked suddenly, as though Jerry had
-spoken his thoughts aloud.</p>
-<p>“I—I think so, Dad,” he replied hesitantly.</p>
-<p>“I see you’re doubtful, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh
-said. “I won’t put you on the spot so early.”</p>
-<p>They climbed into space gear—electrically-heated
-suits and clear plastic helmets fitted
-with radios. Lastly they donned oxygen tanks
-and flooded their suits with the life-sustaining
-gas.</p>
-<p>They gathered up the mail sacks and
-climbed down the ladder to the ground, heading
-for the largest of a group of buildings
-which made up Moonhaven, center of Earthmen’s
-activity on the airless planet.</p>
-<p>The stars burned fantastically bright overhead.
-Traces of frost topped the distant Lunar
-Alps. It was incredibly cold out here, for the
-Moon was in its two-week period of night.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div>
-<p>Capt. Welsh got a receipt for the largest
-mail bag, and then he and Jerry went out a
-rear door of the building carrying the rest. An
-atom-powered mail car awaited them. It had
-an open top and huge wheels that looked like
-saw-toothed gears.</p>
-<p>“Climb aboard the Moon jeep, Jerry,” his
-father said. “We’ve got ten mail deliveries to
-make.”</p>
-<p>Inside, Capt. Welsh pulled down a section
-of the dash panel revealing a map. “Here’s a
-map of our route. There aren’t many mail
-stops on the Moon yet, but they are all important.”</p>
-<p>“And the mail must go through!” Jerry
-added.</p>
-<p>Capt. Welsh nodded soberly. “That’s the
-first law, Jerry.”</p>
-<p>As they moved off Jerry saw the big friendly
-globe of Earth hanging like a green jewel halfway
-up the jet black sky. He wondered what
-his mother and baby sister were doing this moment
-a quarter of a million miles away.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div>
-<p>Capt. Welsh showed Jerry how to run the
-jeep. Jerry found this easy for he had already
-had a course in mechanics in preparation for
-his future career as a space man. But sometime
-later their peaceful ride was interrupted
-when Capt. Welsh suddenly leaned over and
-grabbed the wheel.</p>
-<p>Jerry was thrown to the side as the car
-swerved. The vehicle straightened out and
-slammed to a halt as his father controlled the
-wheel and applied the brakes.</p>
-<p>“What happened?” Jerry breathed, his
-heart pounding.</p>
-<p>His father pointed behind them. “Look.”</p>
-<p>Jerry turned and saw the edge of a treacherous
-ditch running right across the roadway
-where they would have passed over. The gorge
-was several feet wide.</p>
-<p>“I didn’t even see it,” Jerry murmured, sick
-with fear at what might have happened.</p>
-<p>This wasn’t the first time he’d been shaken
-on this journey. It made him wonder as he
-had once before if he had what it took to be
-a space man, or if this adventure would make
-him decide never to leave the atmosphere of
-Earth again.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div>
-<p>“Scared?” his father asked. Jerry nodded.</p>
-<p>“Don’t worry. I was too for a moment.”</p>
-<p>“You were?” Jerry asked with surprise.</p>
-<p>“Fear was given to man, so he could save
-himself from danger, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh
-said. “Don’t be ashamed of it. Fear is nothing
-to be ashamed of unless you let it get the best
-of you. Never forget that.”</p>
-<p>They arrived at their first delivery point, an
-engineering project on a plateau surrounded
-by mountains. There were the foundations of
-great buildings to come, constructed of hard
-Lunar granite.</p>
-<p>The space-suited figures came running
-when they recognized Capt. Welsh and his
-mail car. Jerry marveled how the formerly
-stern expressions of the workmen brightened
-when the foreman handed mail out to them.</p>
-<p>“It must be fun bringing mail to men who
-are so far from their homes and families,”
-Jerry said when they were on their way again.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div>
-<p>“I guess that’s why I’ve put up with the
-lonely hours of seeing nothing but stardust
-for the past ten years,” Capt. Welsh answered.
-“But I love it, Son, and I wouldn’t trade jobs
-with any man.”</p>
-<p>Their next delivery site was a cavern where
-men were prospecting for uranium. They too
-were overjoyed at receiving messages from
-home. The jeep rolled on from there to a huge
-plain which was being prepared for a future
-spaceport. Capt. Welsh and his helper dropped
-off another mail sack and then were on their
-way again. Some hours later, all but two deliveries
-had been made.</p>
-<p>“Next stop is the astronomy observatory,”
-Capt. Welsh told Jerry.</p>
-<p>They crawled over sandy hills that taxed
-the gripping power of their spiked wheels,
-wound in and out of towering buttresses of
-black basalt, and bored through natural tunnels
-like a pair of human moles. Then the observatory
-came into view.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div>
-<p>A smiling little scientist with thick glasses
-signed for the mail at the door. He invited
-Jerry to come back and visit the place before
-he returned to Earth.</p>
-<p>“You haven’t seen anything until you look
-through their great telescope,” Capt. Welsh
-told Jerry as they drove off.</p>
-<p>“What’s our last stop?” Jerry wanted to
-know.</p>
-<p>“A geology camp where some scientists are
-digging into ancient rocks,” his father said.
-“It’s only about seven miles away, but the going
-will be a little rough before we get there.
-It’s a good thing it’s our last stop because we
-don’t have any too much oxygen left in our
-shoulder tanks. I usually don’t take this long
-on a mail run.”</p>
-<p>The roadway carried them through a narrow
-pass with a high hill of loose rock on one
-side and a sloping embankment on the other.
-Jerry’s first warning of trouble came when he
-was flung suddenly forward. He heard the sickening
-drag of the wheels as his father’s boot
-hit the brakes. Just ahead of them he saw a
-cascade of rocks sliding down the hill.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div>
-<p>The next moment Jerry felt an even harder
-blow as the jeep was grazed by one of the large
-boulders. The small car was swept out of the
-roadway like a toy and rammed against a pillar
-at the cliff edge.</p>
-<p>Jerry screamed in fear as he felt himself being
-thrown out of the car. He struck the
-ground hard and began rolling head over heels
-down the precipice.</p>
-<p>When the numbing shock of his fall had
-worn off, Jerry climbed dazedly to his feet and
-looked up the slope down which he had been
-thrown.</p>
-<p>“Dad!” he cried. He slipped and scrambled
-up the incline in reckless haste. He found
-Capt. Welsh sprawled unconscious just below
-the upper brink of the precipice. Jerry knelt
-and looked into his face through the clear
-plastic helmet. His father’s eyes were closed
-and there was an ugly bruise on his forehead
-where it must have struck the helmet in his fall.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div>
-<p>“What am I going to do?” Jerry groaned
-aloud.</p>
-<p>He himself would have to make the decisions
-and carry them through if the two of
-them were to survive. It was a shocking
-thought. Then it came to him what his father
-had said about fear: a person need never be
-ashamed of fear so long as it was not permitted
-to get the upper hand.</p>
-<p>Jerry pulled his father up onto the roadway
-and tried to bring him around, but without
-result. Jerry examined the jeep. One side was
-badly smashed, but the engine still appeared
-sound. The car was tipped over against the
-rock column. Jerry was thankful that the jeep
-was only one-sixth of its Earth-weight on the
-moon. It was a tremendous effort but he finally
-righted the car and got it back on the road.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div>
-<p>He jumped into the front seat and started
-the engine. It sputtered, then hummed into
-activity! Jerry studied the map on the panel.
-He located their present position by the giant
-crater, Plato, at his distant right. Then he
-traced the winding route leading to the geology
-camp. He was closer to the camp than the
-observatory, but ahead lay a rugged route, one
-with which Jerry was totally unfamiliar. He
-got out and went back to where Capt. Welsh
-lay.</p>
-<p>“Which way should I go, Dad, ahead or
-back?” he asked helplessly, just as though his
-father were able to answer him.</p>
-<p>Something told him that Capt. Welsh would
-want him to go ahead—to finish the mail run
-that had never missed a round in ten years.
-Jerry got his father into the back seat, then
-gunned the jeep and struck off into the unknown
-ahead.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div>
-<p>He was thankful for the old worn trail that
-led the way for him. It presently carried him
-through a gloomy valley. Jerry switched on
-his headlights, but the twin spears of brightness
-gave him little comfort in the spooky
-place. Grotesque rock columns rose like menacing
-ghosts on both sides of him.</p>
-<p>At last he was out in the open again. The
-road led him around the steep ledge of a yawning
-crater, evidently caused by a huge crashing
-fireball from outer space.</p>
-<p>Jerry carefully guided the jeep along the
-dangerous cliff. If one of his wheels should
-slip over the side, it would be a fall to frightful
-death a hundred feet straight down. At
-last even this peril was past, and Jerry drove
-up a gradual incline over bare rock to a bluff
-that overlooked the distant land for many
-miles.</p>
-<p>“The camp!” he said joyfully. “That’s it below—only
-a few miles away!”</p>
-<p>He followed a curve that swept onto the
-plain below. When he was on a level again, it
-seemed that all his troubles were over. He felt
-better by the moment as he drove closer and
-closer to his destination.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div>
-<p>Then, without warning, his wheels began
-to bog down in a pumice mire. His heart did a
-flip-flop and he checked the map. He saw a
-warning to drivers to avoid this spot. In his
-overconfidence, he had blundered right into
-it!</p>
-<p>He gave the little jeep full power. It jerked
-crazily through the clinging stuff. Over to the
-right the pumice seemed to thin out, and farther
-over he could see the roadway he should
-have taken. He swung his wheels to the right
-and the jeep lurched through the gray sand,
-using up a lot of power, but making little
-progress. For minutes on end Jerry gave the
-jeep all it had, and he could hear its engine
-laboring tiredly.</p>
-<p>Suddenly the motor died. Jerry tried to start
-it again but could not. He checked his temperature
-gauge. The engine was extremely hot
-from the continual use of top power. From his
-mechanical school course, Jerry realized the
-rotors had “frozen” and that it wouldn’t run
-again until they had cooled off.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div>
-<p>As he waited impatiently for the engine to
-cool, a warning voice in his mind was saying:
-“Your oxygen is getting lower by the second.
-If the jeep doesn’t get out of here within the
-next fifteen minutes, you and your dad will
-never make it.”</p>
-<p>Jerry shook off the terrible thoughts. He
-stamped his feet to warm them. The electric
-circuit in his suit seemed to be breaking down.
-If it collapsed completely, he would be frozen
-instantly by the Lunar cold.</p>
-<p>Jerry massaged his dad’s hands and legs
-in case his suit, too, was getting colder. He
-worked steadily until his hands ached. Then
-he checked the gauge again. It was falling
-slowly, but heavy insulation was still keeping
-the engine hot.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div>
-<p>At last Jerry decided he should not wait
-any longer. With a prayer on his lips, he
-pressed the starter button. The engine rumbled
-sluggishly, coughed, then quickened to
-full strength. He jammed the fuel pedal hard
-and tried to guide the jeep’s swirling, spinning
-motion through the Lunar sand. Slowly the
-little car pulled itself like a weary swimmer
-toward the firm bank. Finally the wheels
-found good traction and the jeep lurched onto
-the roadway.</p>
-<p>Jerry heaved a tremendous sigh and sped
-down the path toward the geology camp.</p>
-<p>Less than an hour later Jerry was being permitted
-into the room of one of the huts where
-his father had been carried for examination
-by the camp physician. Jerry had been told
-that his father had suffered a slight concussion,
-but that he would be all right.</p>
-<p>Capt. Welsh smiled from his cot as Jerry
-walked in.</p>
-<p>“Hi, space man,” his father greeted. “The
-doctor says the men here were mighty happy
-to get their mail on time.”</p>
-<p>“I’m glad I came on here, then, instead of
-going back to the observatory,” Jerry murmured.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div>
-<p>“You did the job in the best tradition of the
-Space Mail Service, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh said,
-smiling proudly. “If I had any doubts that
-you’d be able to follow me some day, Son,
-they’re gone now.”</p>
-<p>Jerry nodded happily. A few doubts had
-been removed from his own mind in the past
-hour.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c4"><br /><i>ALL ABOARD FOR SPACE</i></h2>
-<p>It had already been a wonderful
-birthday for the twins, Sue and Steve Shannon,
-when their father asked, “How about it, kids—are
-you ready for that space ride I promised?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div>
-<p>Sue’s big hazel eyes looked like walnuts as
-she stared in surprise. Steve’s blue eyes were
-more like plums. Could they really believe
-what they were hearing?</p>
-<p>“I said I’d take you on the ride when you
-two reached 12, didn’t I?” Mr. Shannon went
-on.</p>
-<p>They hadn’t forgotten and were suddenly
-as excited as two young ducks who have just
-discovered water. Mr. Shannon looked at his
-watch. “We’d better get ready. The next flight
-is at four o’clock.”</p>
-<p>Less than a half hour later, Mrs. Shannon
-was bidding goodbye to the three as they
-climbed into the family helicopter on the roof
-of their home. In this year of 2004 nearly
-everybody owned a ’copter. Mrs. Shannon had
-been invited to go along but she said no coaxing
-in the world could get her up in one of
-those “rocket things.”</p>
-<p>The overhead doors of the garage swung
-open as Mrs. Shannon pushed the button on
-the wall. As soon as the three riders were comfortably
-seated, Mr. Shannon started up the
-engine and the overhead blade began churning.
-Gently the ’copter lifted into the blue
-sky and headed out over the city.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div>
-<p>“I can’t really believe we’re going to take
-a trip into space!” Sue said happily.</p>
-<p>“Some day I’m going to be a spaceman and
-travel to <i>all</i> the planets!” Steve declared.</p>
-<p>The plane passed over beautiful triple-decked
-highways, over green farms loaded
-with scientific equipment and solar mirrors,
-over plastic-domed skyscrapers. Presently a
-large oval appeared just ahead. “There’s the
-space port!” Sue exclaimed.</p>
-<p>When Mr. Shannon got the signal to land,
-he brought the helicopter down into the parking
-lot at the edge of the port. Then the three
-jumped out onto the ground. As they walked
-toward the main building, the twins excitedly
-noticed the busy activity of the field. What impressed
-them most were the massive torpedo-shaped
-rockets which were half-buried in their
-concrete launching pits.</p>
-<p>“Where is that biggest rocket going, Dad?”
-Steve asked.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div>
-<p>When his father said it was going to the
-moon, a tingle raced up the boy’s spine and
-all at once he wished he could be on the ship
-himself.</p>
-<p>“There’s our rocket over there,” Mr. Shannon
-said, pointing to a smaller craft of light-weight
-beryllium metal just across the way.
-Near the pit was a sign that read:</p>
-<p class="center">SPACE RIDES DAILY.
-<br />ENJOY THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME A THOUSAND MILES ABOVE EARTH.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon got their tickets. Then after
-a heart check-up they waited in line with the
-other eager sight-seers. Finally the space port
-officer took down the chain that held back the
-crowd and permitted them to approach the
-rocket. They had to cross a bridge to get from
-the pit edge into the ship. As they crossed,
-Steve looked down into the hot pit and saw
-clouds of flame and smoke pouring from the
-great jet tubes.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div>
-<p>In the ship, the Shannons were given couch
-numbers in a large room with the rest of their
-companions. Then a steward came around
-with a special candy which he told the passengers
-to eat to prevent their getting sick. Next
-everyone was issued queer-looking shoes with
-metal soles.</p>
-<p>“What’re these for, Dad?” Sue wanted to
-know.</p>
-<p>She saw her father and brother exchange
-winks. “She’ll find out, won’t she?” Mr. Shannon
-teased.</p>
-<p>As Steve and Sue lay on their soft couches
-and fastened plastic belts across their bodies,
-their father explained the purpose of this.
-“We’ll blast-off at a pretty fast speed and if we
-weren’t buckled down we’d be thrown about
-and hurt.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div>
-<p>When the moment of blast-off came, Steve
-and Sue went through the most exciting experience
-of their lives. A loud roar filled their
-ears and it felt suddenly as if the bottom of
-their stomachs had dropped out. They were
-pressed deeply into their couches and they had
-the feeling of being flattened out as though
-under the foot of an elephant. Then slowly
-Steve and Sue felt the awful weight lifting
-from them and finally it was gone altogether.</p>
-<p>“Ugh!” Sue groaned dizzily, unstrapping
-herself as the others were doing. “What happened?”</p>
-<p>When she tried to walk, she understood the
-purpose of the metal-soled shoes. “We scarcely
-weigh anything now,” their father explained.
-“The magnetism of our soles is the only thing
-that keeps us from floating about like a
-feather.”</p>
-<p>The guide, who said his name was Mr.
-Quinlan, led the sight-seers to a huge window.
-The young Shannons gasped in wonder at
-what they saw. The sky was nearly pitch black
-and filled with more burning lights than they
-even guessed could exist.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div>
-<p>“We’re about a thousand miles above the
-earth,” Mr. Quinlan said. “We’re out of the
-earth’s atmosphere and that’s why the sky is
-dark and the stars so brilliant. Our rear jets
-are thrusting just barely enough to keep us
-from being pulled back down to earth.”</p>
-<p>The guide next said that they would go outside
-the ship in space suits. Sue and Steve
-whooped in joy for they had not expected this.
-Mr. Quinlan distributed space gear from a
-cabinet. Then he explained how they were
-put on. After the flexible suits and plastic helmets
-were donned, everyone turned on his
-oxygen, which came from shoulder tanks. The
-others looked to Steve like balloon toys inflated
-with air and he had to laugh as they
-waddled about.</p>
-<p>The tourists were led out of a side door onto
-a balcony which resembled a large fire escape.
-Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail
-by a short length of cord in front of him.</p>
-<p>“If one of us were to lose contact with the
-ship,” Mr. Shannon warned his son and daughter,
-“he’d go drifting off into space.” Sue and
-Steve shuddered at the thought of this.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div>
-<div class="img" id="pic2">
-<img src="images/i03.jpg" alt="Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord" width="500" height="680" />
-<p class="caption"><i>Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div>
-<p>Mr. Quinlan pointed out whirls of misty
-clouds that were called nebulas. He also
-showed them star clusters and the brighter
-planets. The sight-seers had a closeup view of
-the earth that looked like a shimmering green
-ball. The guide did his speaking through a
-small radio attached to his suit. Each tourist
-had a receiver in his helmet through which he
-could listen.</p>
-<p>For almost a full hour Sue and Steve, together
-with the other spell-bound passengers,
-took in the splendor of this strange silent place,
-the vastness of which staggered the imagination.</p>
-<p>“Isn’t this a wonderful tribute to the greatness
-of God’s creation?” Mr. Shannon said to
-his children. Steve and Sue had to agree with
-him wholeheartedly.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div>
-<p>When Mr. Quinlan was ready to go back
-into the ship, he tried the outside door switch,
-but the door failed to open. Over his two-way
-radio circuit, the passengers could hear a worried
-discussion between him and the pilot
-inside. They learned that a tube of compressed
-air which operated the outer door was
-jammed. There was nothing that could be
-done about it from the inside. Some of the
-women began sobbing, believing they would
-never return to earth again.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon looked at his son and daughter
-anxiously. “Keep your chins up, kids,” he
-said. “Nothing was ever gained by people losing
-their heads. I’m sure they’ll figure out
-some way to save us.”</p>
-<p>“I—I’m not afraid, Dad,” Steve said bravely.</p>
-<p>There were tears of fright in Sue’s brown
-eyes but her small chin was courageously set
-and she would not permit herself to give in to
-the terror she really felt.</p>
-<p>“You’re brave ones,” their father said, putting
-his big arms around their shoulders.</p>
-<p>Mr. Quinlan approached the Shannons.
-“Mr. Shannon,” he said, “I’ve got something
-important to talk over with you and your son.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div>
-<p>The two listened closely as the guide outlined
-a daring plan. He pointed to a small,
-circular opening some ten feet above the platform.
-He said that if a person could climb
-into the opening he could turn an emergency
-valve that would double the air pressure and
-clear the jammed tube. Since Steve was the
-only boy on the platform, and therefore the
-smallest, Mr. Quinlan wanted to know if Steve
-would try it. Steve felt his heart fluttering
-crazily. He was both afraid and excited.</p>
-<p>“There’s only one danger, son,” the guide
-pointed out. “You’ll have to unfasten your
-safety line. If you think you can keep calm,
-though, there should be no real risk.”</p>
-<p>“What will happen if the job isn’t done?”
-Mr. Shannon asked grimly.</p>
-<p>Mr. Quinlan shrugged. “There’s not much
-that can be done. These suits will run out of
-oxygen in twenty minutes and only your boy
-is slim enough to get inside the opening.
-Then, too, they can’t land the ship without the
-risk of tossing us all out.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div>
-<p>Mr. Shannon said quietly to Steve, “It’s up
-to you, son. If you believe you can go through
-with it without losing your head and getting
-thrown from the ship....”</p>
-<p>Steve swallowed hard, thinking of the lives
-of the others around him that depended upon
-him. “I’ll try it,” he managed to say.</p>
-<p>He felt his knees go weak when the safety
-rope was unfastened from his waist and he
-realized there was nothing now but his magnetic
-shoes to hold him to the ship. Carefully
-Mr. Quinlan boosted him up toward the opening
-above. <i>Tick-tick-tick</i> went his metal soles
-against the shiny skin of the craft as he made
-his way upward by means of special climbing
-handles on the rocket hull.</p>
-<p>“Keep calm,” he told himself. “A spaceman
-doesn’t lose his head.”</p>
-<p>He was thankful for the firm grip of his
-gloves as his fingers closed about the sides of
-the chamber and he pulled himself up inside.
-It was a close fit even for him. Mr. Quinlan
-had told him that usually the emergency valve
-was easily reached from the deck above but
-that during this trip the deck was closed off
-for repairs and couldn’t be entered.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div>
-<p>Steve found the valve handle and turned it
-as he was instructed. Almost immediately he
-heard the deafening blast of many voices in his
-receiver. Among the words he heard were,
-“The door’s opening!” Steve sighed deeply
-and carefully started down again.</p>
-<p>But the danger was not over yet. He still
-had to be very cautious. This was brought to
-him sickeningly when he drew his foot back
-with greater force than usual and found himself
-weaving backward into space. With a chill
-of terror he grabbed a climbing handle and
-pulled himself snug against the ship’s hull
-again. Finally he felt the strong arms of his
-father on the lower part of his legs. He relaxed
-and was helped down onto the platform amid
-the cheers of everyone around.</p>
-<p>The sight-seers, sobered by their close call,
-trooped silently back into the ship. A moment
-later the craft began dropping earthward, its
-jets acting as brakes to check the rapid descent.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div>
-<p>After landing, the Shannons were called
-into the office of the Chief of Operations at
-the space port.</p>
-<p>“Young man,” the chief said to Steve, “let
-me congratulate you for the brave thing you
-did.” He offered his hand and Steve felt a
-flush of pride as he took the big palm in his
-own.</p>
-<p>“Such an unselfish deed can never be fully
-repaid,” the chief went on. “Tell me, Steve,
-do you like space-going?”</p>
-<p>Steve’s eyes glowed with stars. “Very much,
-sir,” he said. “Some day I’m going to become
-a spaceman myself.”</p>
-<p>“Then this little reward we have for you
-and your sister may help you reach your goal.”
-He held out a plastic-sealed card. Steve took it
-as his heart raced. It was a lifetime rocket pass!</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c5"><br /><i>WHEEL IN THE SKY</i></h2>
-<p>Sue and Steve Shannon were
-riding with their father in a “space ferry” several
-thousand miles above the Earth. They
-could look out of the plastic windows of the
-little ship and see the winding curve of Central
-America far below.</p>
-<p>“Look, Steve!” Sue exclaimed. “I see the
-Panama Canal!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div>
-<p>“There’s a storm over the Gulf of Mexico,”
-Steve said, studying a big gray patch over the
-water. “It makes you feel like a king being so
-high above everything!”</p>
-<p>The Atlantic and Pacific were throbbing
-blue carpets, topped by breakers of molten
-silver where the sunlight hit them. It was a
-marvelous sight, more like a scene from a fairy-land.</p>
-<p>“There’s the big space ship we got off,”
-Sue pointed out. “It’s beginning to drop back
-to Earth.”</p>
-<p>“And there’s the ‘Wheel in the Sky,’” Steve
-said, looking ahead. “We’ll soon be there! Isn’t
-it great?”</p>
-<p>Compared to the tiny ship they were in,
-which was shaped like a medicine capsule, the
-Wheel in the Sky was a gigantic thing. It
-looked like an automobile wheel and by its
-moving spokes the children saw that it was
-turning just like one.</p>
-<p>“Why does the Wheel spin, Dad?” Steve
-asked.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div>
-<p>“That’s in order to give the people inside
-of it a feeling of weight,” Mr. Shannon explained.
-“As I told you before, things in space
-have no weight because there is no gravity out
-here to speak of. What happens when you ride
-on the merry-go-round on the school playground?”</p>
-<p>“You have to hold on tight or it’ll throw you
-off,” Steve answered.</p>
-<p>“The Wheel in the Sky does the same thing.
-It tries to throw you off, but since you are
-safely inside of it, all it can do is throw your
-weight against the floor of the Wheel. Understand?”</p>
-<p>The children nodded and smiled, pleased
-at knowing one more fact about the strange
-ways of space.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div>
-<p>As the ferry neared the big space station,
-Steve watched the black heavens all around
-them. The stars were thicker than salt crystals
-and glittered like precious gems. Close to the
-Wheel, the ferry had to use its rockets in order
-to keep up with the spinning of the Wheel.
-Presently a door in the rim of the Wheel
-opened. Two men in space suits appeared in
-the doorway and threw out a line which stuck
-to the ferry by magnetism. Then the men
-pulled the little ship inside and closed the
-doors.</p>
-<p>“Here we are!” the ferry pilot called to his
-passengers. “Everybody out!”</p>
-<p>Since there was fresh air in the hangar, the
-riders did not have to use space suits. Just as
-his father had said, Steve found that he could
-walk around as easily as he did back in Arkansas.</p>
-<p>“Ready for a tour of the Wheel, kids?” Mr.
-Shannon asked.</p>
-<p>“Sure!” the twins replied together.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon worked for the American
-Space Supply Company which carried supplies
-to the planets of the Solar System. This was
-the year 2004 and by now nearly all the planets
-or their moons had budding Earth colonies.
-Sue and Steve had earned free lifetime space
-passes because of a heroic act Steve had done
-a month before on the twins’ very first trip
-into space.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div>
-<p>As Mr. Shannon took the two around the
-“man-made moon,” they were almost overcome
-by all the wonderful things they saw.
-They learned that the Wheel in the Sky was
-both a scientific laboratory and a military lookout.
-With their big telescopes, the Space
-Guard could see every mile of Earth, for the
-Wheel circled the globe several times a day.</p>
-<p>While the Shannons were in the Military
-Lookout Room peering at the world through
-a telescope, Sue said, “I wish Mom could be
-here with us.”</p>
-<p>“I do, too, Sis,” Steve replied. “But it would
-take all the soldiers in the Humpty-Dumpty
-story to get Mom into a rocket, wouldn’t it,
-Dad?”</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon chuckled. “I believe it would,
-Son.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div>
-<p>Their father leaned over and whispered
-something to the officer at the telescope, who
-nodded. The man slipped a high power lens
-on the telescope and turned it on a certain
-part of the United States, toward which the
-Wheel was slowly moving.</p>
-<p>“Take another look, Sue,” her father said.</p>
-<p>Sue eagerly went to the eyepiece. The telescope
-brought a city into very close range. It
-seemed as if she had only to reach out a finger
-to touch the tall spire of a building. Suddenly
-she gasped. She knew that building! It was the
-home office of her father’s place of work. The
-city was Little Rock, Arkansas, their own
-home!</p>
-<p>“Steve, look!” she said excitedly to her
-brother and let him see for himself.</p>
-<p>Steve was as thrilled as Sue. Together they
-moved the telescope lens over all the familiar
-spots of the great space city, which in this day
-had a million population. They were able to
-locate the wee speck that was their own home
-in the suburbs.</p>
-<p>“I can almost see Mom hanging out the
-wash in the yard!” Steve said with a grin.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div>
-<p>Before the children were through looking,
-they noticed several black hazy spots in different
-parts of the state.</p>
-<p>“What are these, Dad?” Steve asked, showing
-them to his father.</p>
-<p>“They’re tornadoes, Son,” Mr. Shannon replied.
-“There seems to be an unusually large
-crop of them this season. There are even some
-close to Little Rock. The Weather Control
-Bureau here has a way of dealing with them,
-though. They do many skillful things in
-Weather Control. They can make it rain in
-dry parts of the world and even melt snow
-drifts in blizzard areas.”</p>
-<p>“What can they do about a tornado?” Steve
-asked.</p>
-<p>“When one threatens a city they fire a
-guided missile—a bomb—that breaks up the
-twister before it can do any harm. We’ll visit
-the Weather Control Bureau as soon as we’ve
-been to the hub of the Wheel.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div>
-<p>Mr. Shannon led them out of the Military
-Lookout Room. Steve and Sue then found a
-job of climbing facing them. In order to reach
-the hub, they had to go through one of the
-spokes leading into the center of the Wheel.
-The children saw before them a nylon ladder
-stretching as far as they could see down a long
-corridor.</p>
-<p>“Let’s start climbing,” their father said.</p>
-<p>“Why can’t we just walk along the hall,”
-Sue asked, “instead of doing it the hard way?”</p>
-<p>“You’re forgetting that the Wheel is always
-throwing you outward as it spins,” Mr. Shannon
-said. “If you tried to walk down the spoke
-it would be like trying to walk against a hurricane.
-For this reason, you two must be careful
-not to lose your grip on the ladder or you’ll
-be flung down the corridor against the rim.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div>
-<p>The three began climbing hand over hand
-along the ladder. They got along very well until
-Sue suddenly became dizzy and lost her
-hold. She screamed as she began flying down
-the corridor. Steve’s heart nearly stopped beating
-for a moment. He heard his father calling
-out loudly in a frantic voice: “Grab the ladder,
-Sue! Grab the ladder!”</p>
-<p>At first Sue did not seem to hear and kept
-hollering in fright. Then she understood and
-reached out wildly with her hands for the nylon
-ladder as she swept along. One hand seized
-a piece of it and she held on for dear life, her
-body still hanging in mid-air as the force of
-the turning Wheel kept trying to throw her
-outward.</p>
-<p>“Hold on, Sue!” her father called. “We’re
-coming!”</p>
-<p>He and Steve swiftly crawled along the
-ladder to the spot where Sue was clinging with
-one hand.</p>
-<p>“Hurry!” she cried. “I can’t hang on much
-longer!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div>
-<p>Just as she was about to let go, Steve reached
-her and held on to her with his free hand.
-Then his father lent his help and Sue was safe.
-She sobbed for a moment from the fright she
-had had and Mr. Shannon suggested that they
-go back to the rim where they would be safe
-again. Both children agreed, for they had suddenly
-lost all interest in the hub.</p>
-<p>By the time they got to the Weather Control
-Bureau they found more worry awaiting
-them. Men were hustling about the huge room
-with serious looks on their faces. One of them
-was looking into the eyepiece of a large machine
-that was pointed out the window down
-onto Earth.</p>
-<p>“What’s wrong?” Mr. Shannon asked one
-of the men.</p>
-<p>“A tornado is headed for Little Rock, Arkansas!”
-was the shocking reply. “I hope our
-missile scores a hit, but it isn’t going to be easy
-because the Wheel has already moved past the
-United States!”</p>
-<p>“The missile’s <i>got</i> to hit!” Steve burst out.
-“Our home and Mom are there!”</p>
-<p>“Yes, it’s simply <i>got</i> to!” Sue added tearfully.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div>
-<p>The Shannons had to stand helplessly on
-the side as the tornado fighters went to work.
-The missile gun was in another part of the
-Wheel, but the orders for firing it would leave
-this room by radio.</p>
-<p>“Oh, why couldn’t Mom have come with
-us?” Sue asked. “She would have been safe
-here!”</p>
-<p>Steve felt his whole body tensing like a
-wound spring. The perspiration was beading
-his forehead and his knees were weak. On his
-father’s face there was a dark look and Steve
-saw that his big hands were opening and closing.</p>
-<p>“Twenty seconds to go before firing,” the
-man at the machine said slowly over the radio
-mike on his chest. “Steady. Eighteen—seventeen—”</p>
-<p>“Why don’t they hurry?” Sue cried.
-“They’re so slow!”</p>
-<p>“They have to do it a certain way,” Mr.
-Shannon answered. “They know what they’re
-doing, Honey. Don’t be afraid.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div>
-<p>But she <i>was</i> afraid. And so was Steve. And
-her father, too. Everyone in the room was
-afraid because no one could say whether the
-tornado could be destroyed before it hit the
-city or not.</p>
-<p>“Eight—seven—six—” droned the unhurried
-voice of the operator.</p>
-<p>The Shannons hardly dared breathe for
-fear of disturbing the man at the machine.
-Steve felt Sue’s body quivering next to him. It
-seemed as if the seconds were dragging on endlessly.</p>
-<p>“Three—two—one—FIRE!”</p>
-<p>Steve felt nothing but he knew the tornado
-bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of
-miles a second Earthward.</p>
-<p>For long, awfully long, moments after the
-operator had said, “Fire!” the Shannons waited
-for him to speak again. He kept looking
-calmly through the eyepiece of the machine as
-though just studying the stars. Then at last
-they saw a smile spread over his face and he
-said to everyone in the room, “It’s a hit! Little
-Rock is safe!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div>
-<div class="img" id="pic3">
-<img src="images/i04.jpg" alt="The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward" width="500" height="403" />
-<p class="caption"><i>The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div>
-<p>Sue and Steve whooped as if it were Christmas
-morning. Where a minute before they
-had been greatly worried, now they were
-happy as they never believed they could be.</p>
-<p>“Whew!” Mr. Shannon sighed. “I’m afraid
-I’ve had enough excitement to last me a lifetime!”</p>
-<p>“Not me, Dad,” Steve said, as the fire of
-adventure began to glow again in his eyes. “I
-won’t be satisfied until I’ve seen what lies
-beyond the Wheel in the Sky!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c6"><br /><i>DANGER ON THE ICE CANAL</i></h2>
-<p>Steve and Sue Shannon were at
-Mars Port No. 13. This was one of the many
-colonies on the planet Mars where Earth
-scientists were carrying on work. It was a town
-of plastic tops, called domes, that were clear
-as glass. The town was at the center of three
-canals that led outward into the red desert.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div>
-<p>The Shannon twins were now touring the
-largest dome with Biff Warren, who worked
-for their father’s space cargo company. Suddenly
-their tour brought them to a large cafeteria
-where many of the workers were eating.</p>
-<p>“Umm!” Sue exclaimed. “Smell that turkey!”</p>
-<p>“Yeah!” Steve said. “It sure makes your
-mouth water, doesn’t it?”</p>
-<p>“Which reminds me,” Biff said, looking at
-his watch. “We’ll have to finish up our sightseeing
-pretty soon. The quicker we get back to
-your father’s ship, the quicker we can have
-our own turkey feast!”</p>
-<p>“I can hardly wait for that!” Sue sighed, as
-the wonderful smell of the holiday meal kept
-tickling her nose.</p>
-<p>When Thanksgiving dinner was finished
-aboard the big space freighter that had brought
-the children to Mars, the ship would take off
-into space. But before that, Biff, Sue and Steve
-would have to go twenty miles back down the
-ice canal to reach the ship.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div>
-<p>Biff had become a close friend of the young
-Shannons, having made trips with them to
-other ports in space. Sue liked Biff because of
-his quick smile and gentle patience. Steve
-liked him because he was all that Steve would
-like to be some day himself—a fearless, bold
-spaceman.</p>
-<p>They finished up their tour of the dome.
-They saw the room where giant machines
-made oxygen out of chemicals and blew it
-through the building so that there was fresh
-air to breathe all the time. And they saw the
-astronomy hall far up on top of the dome
-where scientists could see the heavens through
-the thin atmosphere much clearer than they
-could from Earth.</p>
-<p>“Isn’t it about time for the fuel rocket to
-be shot off, Biff?” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>Biff nodded. “I think it’s just about time,”
-he said. “We’ll suit up and go outside to see.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div>
-<p>In the dressing room they put on their space
-suits. As though they were his own children,
-Biff carefully checked the young Shannons’ air
-tanks, built-in heaters, and their helmet radios
-for talking to one another. Finally Biff rubbed
-gelatin on their helmets so that they would
-not frost over in the cold that was a hundred
-degrees below zero.</p>
-<p>Outside they found space-suited figures
-gathered around the fuel rocket cannon. The
-cannon was pointed toward a shiny ball high
-up in the purple-black sky.</p>
-<p>“Look, Sis, there’s the space ship toward
-which they’re going to shoot the fuel rocket,”
-Steve said.</p>
-<p>“I see it!” Sue cried, her eyes dancing excitedly.</p>
-<p>“They have to line up the cannon with the
-ship just right or the rocket won’t reach it,”
-Biff said.</p>
-<p>“Won’t the rocket hit the ship?” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“No, it’ll lose all its speed by the time it
-reaches the ship,” Biff told him. “Then they’ll
-take on fuel from the rocket by means of a
-long hose.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div>
-<p>Suddenly the three of them heard a loud
-roar and saw a burst of flame. Like a bullet,
-the rocket left the muzzle of the giant gun and
-rose into the sky.</p>
-<p>“They’ll be shooting off more rockets before
-they have enough fuel for the space ship,” Biff
-said. “There’ll be a little wait in between each
-firing.”</p>
-<p>“Look, Biff, isn’t the space ship right over
-the canal where we’ll be heading back?” Steve
-asked.</p>
-<p>“That’s right, Steve,” Biff answered. “You’ll
-remember, our ship is at the end of the canal.
-We’ll be able to see the rockets go off as we
-head back—which we’d better do right now, if
-we’re going to have any turkey and pumpkin
-pie!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div>
-<p>The canals of Mars had been carved out of
-a great desert by water and fierce winds. Because
-of the ice that filled them, they made
-good highways. The three went to the canal
-bank to see if their sled was ready to go, and
-it was. The sled looked like a big bombing
-plane with the wings off. Instead of wheels,
-there were long runners beneath it. In this
-sled Biff and his young helpers had brought
-supplies to the colony several hours before.</p>
-<p>Steve, Sue and Biff climbed into the front
-seat. Then Biff shut the door. He pushed buttons
-in front of them. Steve and Sue felt the
-sled’s engines throbbing. The next moment
-the sled shot off over the smooth sheet of ice,
-Biff holding tightly to the steering wheel.</p>
-<p>“Wheeeeee!” Sue screamed in delight.
-“Offffffffff weeeeeeee goooooooooo!”</p>
-<p>“Like a rooooller cooooster!” Steve shouted.</p>
-<p>They sped along at a hundred miles an hour.
-This was as much fun as they had had on their
-last space journey.</p>
-<p>Each of their trips into space seemed to be
-more exciting than the last. They had won a
-lifetime free pass into space and by now they
-were sure they would need a lifetime in which
-to see all of its many wonders. A brave act by
-Steve on their first space trip had earned them
-their pass. Right now, Steve thought that their
-mother and home, back in Arkansas, seemed
-as far away as Deneb, the North Star of Mars.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div>
-<p>“We’ll be there in about ten minutes,” Biff
-said. “The ship leaves in thirty, which gives
-us some spare time.”</p>
-<p>“Look,” Sue said, “there comes the first fuel
-rocket back down in a parachute.”</p>
-<p>“That’s right, Sue,” Biff replied.</p>
-<p>Steve studied the bank of the canal. Along it
-he saw scrubby cactus, which was forever fighting
-for life in the cold, dry atmosphere. Beyond
-the bank stretched acres of red wasteland,
-and sand drifts piled up by strong winds that
-never stopped blowing.</p>
-<p>A few minutes later, Sue noticed a bright
-streak against the purple sky. It was nearly as
-bright as the tiny sun, which was so far away
-that it could not keep Mars warm.</p>
-<p>“There goes another fuel rocket!” Sue
-called out, pointing through the windshield.</p>
-<p>As Biff caught sight of it, he jerked up
-sharply in his seat, bumping the shoulders of
-Sue and Steve on both sides of him.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div>
-<p>“That rocket’s too low!” he exclaimed. “It’s
-not lifting! Something’s gone wrong!”</p>
-<p>Steve felt chills run up his spine. He was
-seeing the danger too, now. The rocket was
-dropping ahead of them, a screaming bomb
-filled with explosive fuel. It was still quite a
-distance away, but even Steve knew that it
-would make a terrible blast when it struck the
-ice.</p>
-<p>Biff’s feet hit the brakes of the sled and the
-runners chewed into the hard ice pack, shrieking,
-and bringing the sled to a skidding stop.
-The riders were slammed forward. Sue and
-Steve were dazed, but not hurt. When Steve’s
-mind cleared, he saw that Biff had thrown himself
-over in front of Sue and him to protect
-them. But in doing this, his helmet had
-thumped against the windshield. He was now
-slumped over and not moving.</p>
-<p>“Sue!” Steve cried. “Biff is hurt!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div>
-<p>Just then they felt the shock of the explosion.
-It tilted the sled at an angle and dropped
-it down again with a hard jolt. The air was
-filled with flying chunks of ice. It looked like
-a hailstorm outside. The ice clattered against
-the windshield like stones. Sue and Steve were
-relieved when it finally stopped. But the explosion
-had left the ice sheet in front of them
-broken and choked with lumps of ice.</p>
-<p>“Steve,” Sue moaned, “what are we going
-to do?”</p>
-<p>Steve looked at Biff who was still not moving.
-He could see a big lump on Biff’s forehead
-where his head had struck the helmet,
-knocking him out. The children tried to revive
-their friend, but could not.</p>
-<p>“We’ve got to get the sled to the ship ourselves,
-Sue!” her brother said. “Biff may need
-a doctor! Besides, I bet we’ve all missed our
-Thanksgiving dinner!”</p>
-<p>“I won’t want any dinner if Biff is hurt
-badly!” Sue said tearfully.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div>
-<p>At first it seemed like an impossible thing
-for a pair of twelve-year-olds to run the big
-sled. But Steve remembered how Biff had
-worked the controls and he believed he, too,
-could do it. He changed seats with the unconscious
-spaceman and tried the levers and
-buttons.</p>
-<p>Presently the sled’s rockets began to pour
-fire out of the rear. But Steve couldn’t get the
-sled to move. He was afraid it had been damaged.
-Then Sue showed him a lever to push
-which she had remembered seeing Biff shove.
-As Steve worked it gently, the sled started off
-slowly.</p>
-<p>“We’ll go slow,” Steve said, “and take it
-very easy.”</p>
-<p>The explosion had hit at the far edge of the
-canal so that there was a narrow place on the
-other side where the ice was still smooth. Steve
-carefully guided the sled across the canal and
-through the unbroken part. When there was
-smooth ice before them, Steve picked up speed
-a little. As he drove, Sue tried to awaken Biff.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div>
-<p>Steve would have found their adventure a
-lot of fun if things weren’t so serious at the moment.
-It wasn’t every day that a boy had the
-chance to drive a giant rocket sled on a distant
-planet!</p>
-<p>At last Steve saw the round top of the space
-ship just over the horizon. It was at that moment
-that Sue called out the good news:</p>
-<p>“Biff’s awakening, Steve!”</p>
-<p>The boy saw their friend slowly rise up,
-then shake his head to clear it. When he
-smiled at them in his pleasant way, they were
-sure that he was going to be all right. By the
-time they had told him what had happened,
-he was his old self again. He took the controls
-and looked at his watch.</p>
-<p>“Time’s running out,” he said. “We’ve got
-to hit top speed again. Hold onto your helmets!
-Here we go!”</p>
-<p>And off they went at lightning speed once
-more. It seemed to Steve as if they covered
-the distance between them and the space ship
-in seconds.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div>
-<p>As the sled came to a gentle stop beneath
-the giant freighter, Biff said, “It looks like we’ll
-make our Thanksgiving dinner on time after
-all, doesn’t it, kids?”</p>
-<p>“Yeah,” Steve answered, “and this is certainly
-one Thanksgiving that I’m really thankful!”</p>
-<p>“I know what you mean, Steve,” Sue said
-thoughtfully. “We’re thankful that we’re
-alive!”</p>
-<p>Biff and Steve both nodded. It was a holiday
-none of them would ever forget.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c7"><br /><i>CARGO FOR CALLISTO</i></h2>
-<p>The big rocket freighter was
-speeding through the star dust of outer space.
-It was carrying supplies to Callisto (one of the
-twelve moons of Jupiter) and the Shannons,
-on another space adventure.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div>
-<p>Steve and Sue looked out a window of the
-freighter at the airless world growing in size.
-Callisto was a gigantic roughened rock, but it
-was a globe larger than the planet Mercury.
-It reminded Steve of a giant cockle-burr hanging
-in the sky.</p>
-<p>Suddenly the children heard a tiny voice
-behind them say, “Rocket away!”</p>
-<p>They turned and Sue exclaimed, “It’s Bud!”</p>
-<p>The blue parakeet, a budgy, blinked lazily
-at them. The twins had met Mr. Whittle’s
-pet a week ago. He had taken a liking to them
-from the very start. They didn’t know that a
-few hours from now their very lives would depend
-on this little fellow.</p>
-<p>“We’d better take him back to Mr. Whittle,”
-Steve said.</p>
-<p>The budgy kept studying them with his flat
-face and blinking his tiny button eyes. Then
-he squawked again, “Rocket away!”</p>
-<p>“It’ll be ‘rocket away’ for you, young fellow!”
-Steve said sternly. “Up on my finger,
-Bud!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div>
-<p>The bird did as he was ordered. They took
-him down the hall to Mr. Whittle’s room.
-Bud’s owner, off duty now, was a tall, spidery
-crewman with a big Adam’s apple. He always
-gave his pet full run of the ship.</p>
-<p>Mr. Whittle whistled to the parakeet, but
-the bird stayed on Steve’s finger.</p>
-<p>Mr. Whittle chuckled. “Hey, I believe he
-likes you two better than his master!”</p>
-<p>“We like him, too,” Sue told the crewman.</p>
-<p>“You can keep him for a few days if you
-want to,” Mr. Whittle said. “I’m going to be
-pretty busy after we land.”</p>
-<p>“Gee, we’d like to look after him!” Steve
-answered.</p>
-<p>“If you take him outside on Callisto, you’ll
-have to put him in that air-tight cage over
-there I had made. It’s sort of like a space suit
-for him.”</p>
-<p>Sue and Steve played with Bud in the room
-they used for games until it was time to “strap
-down” for landing. Then they went to the
-couch hall and lay down on cots like the other
-space travelers were doing. They buckled
-straps across their bodies to keep them in
-place.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div>
-<p>For a long time, Steve and Sue lay there as
-the big freighter began cutting its rushing
-speed. It felt to Steve as if a giant anvil were
-crushing downward on his chest. Take-off and
-landing were always the roughest moments in
-space travel, as the twins had already found
-out on other space trips.</p>
-<p>At last the ship set down on Callisto. The
-young Shannons went back to the game room.
-Then with the bird on Steve’s shoulder, the
-twins looked out the window at the strange
-new world.</p>
-<p>They saw a land bathed in ghostly twilight.
-Very little light was coming from the sun. It
-was so far away that it was only a small circle.
-Most of the light came from a huge shape that
-looked like somebody’s lost beach ball resting
-on the ground. Its bottom edge just touched
-the horizon.</p>
-<p>Sue and Steve were joined by their father,
-who worked for the space freight company.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div>
-<p>“That’s His Majesty, Jupiter—the king of
-planets,” Mr. Shannon told them. “He’s over
-a million miles away and yet he looks close
-enough to touch, doesn’t he?”</p>
-<p>“Let’s go outdoors, Dad!” Steve begged.</p>
-<p>“No reason why we can’t,” Mr. Shannon
-replied.</p>
-<p>After they had put on their space clothes,
-Steve popped Bud into his warm, air-tight
-cage.</p>
-<p>As they all went outside, they saw the crewmen
-unloading the cargo.</p>
-<p>“There’s the colony over there,” Mr. Shannon
-said, pointing to a high framework that
-looked something like an oil derrick.</p>
-<p>“They mine here for a mineral called
-magna. It’s very valuable, because without it
-we couldn’t have atomic engines. Magna is
-what keeps our rocket tubes from melting under
-the terrific heat that goes through them.”</p>
-<p>“May we go down into the mines, Dad?”
-Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“We’ll see if we can,” said his father.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div>
-<p>As they walked toward the mining place,
-Mr. Shannon said, “Underneath us are pockets
-of poisonous gas like that found in Jupiter’s
-atmosphere. Sometimes it leaks into the mining
-tunnels causing danger from suffocation.”</p>
-<p>“I sure hope the gas stays where it belongs
-while we’re down there!” Steve said and swallowed
-the lump of fear in his throat.</p>
-<p>They turned their attention to Jupiter. It
-looked even more like a beach ball now with
-its stripes of beautiful colors. Mr. Shannon
-said the bands were floating ice bergs of the
-poisonous gases he was talking about.</p>
-<p>“No ship can land on Jupiter,” he said. “Its
-gravity would crush a spaceman flat. Gravity
-pull is much stronger on the larger planets,
-you know. Jupiter’s atmosphere is many thousands
-of miles deep. Raging storms are going
-on beneath it all the time.”</p>
-<p>“Ooo!” Sue gasped. “I guess we’re close
-enough to it then!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div>
-<p>Other wonders of the sky were the round
-beacons of Jupiter’s other moons, three of
-which were about the same size as Callisto.
-They hung like bright searchlights in the
-starry heavens.</p>
-<p>The men at the mining place greeted the
-Shannons warmly. They had not seen anyone
-from Earth for so long that they had grown
-very lonely.</p>
-<p>The chief mining engineer said he would
-be glad to take the visitors on an underground
-tour. His name was Dr. Harding. He was
-plump and short and wore black-rimmed
-glasses inside his space helmet.</p>
-<p>He led them into an elevator and it sank
-into the darkness. Steve remembered about
-the poisonous gases that crept about underground
-and it made him shiver to think about
-it.</p>
-<p>Dr. Harding watched Bud hopping around
-uncomfortably inside his small space cage.
-“Do you remember, Mr. Shannon,” he asked
-over his suit radio, “when they used to use
-canary birds in mines to warn about leaking
-gas? The birds would notice it first and give
-the miners time to get out.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div>
-<p>“I’ve read about that, Dr. Harding,” said
-Mr. Shannon.</p>
-<p>“Now we have automatic warning machines
-in the tunnels to do that,” the chief engineer
-told Sue and Steve.</p>
-<p>Deeper and deeper below the soil of Callisto
-the elevator sank. At last the cage reached the
-bottom, and the riders found themselves in
-a large cavern. There were machines and men
-all about, working busily. Tracks led off into
-tunnels and ore cars were running on them.
-Some were going empty into the tunnels while
-others were coming out full of rock and gravel.</p>
-<p>“The magna is separated from the rock in
-that big machine over there,” Dr. Harding explained.
-“Want to ride an ore car into one of
-the tunnels?”</p>
-<p>“Sure!” Steve spoke up.</p>
-<p>“The mine is air-conditioned,” the chief
-engineer said, “so we can take off our helmets.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div>
-<p>This done, Steve let Bud out of his cage.
-The little bird hopped up on his gloved finger,
-saying, “Rocket away!” several times. His
-two-word language seemed to do for everything.</p>
-<p>One worker controlled all the cars at a main
-switch in the middle of the cavern. The Shannons
-and their guide climbed into an empty
-ore car and it rolled into a tunnel.</p>
-<p>Glistening dark rock crowded in on Sue and
-Steve from all sides. Steve hoped the walls
-were strong enough so they would not come
-crashing down on their heads! There were
-lights along the way to help brighten the
-gloom.</p>
-<p>After clicking along like a trolley for awhile,
-the car came to the end of the line. It was a
-large room with more machines and workmen.
-The men were digging magna ore out of the
-wall with drills.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div>
-<p>As Dr. Harding explained about the work,
-Bud began flitting about as though sight-seeing
-on his own. He was shy of the workers at
-first, but then made friends with them. He
-spoke to them with his favorite two words and
-the men laughed in great fun to hear him.</p>
-<p>Then a few minutes later, Bud began acting
-queerly. He flew back to Steve’s finger and
-started wobbling as though dizzy.</p>
-<p>“What’s the matter with him?” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“He’s sick or something!” Sue cried out.
-She took the budgy from Steve and cuddled
-him in her own gloves. But the little blue bird
-seemed to be no better.</p>
-<p>Dr. Harding walked over to look at the bird.
-Then he ordered, “Everybody into the ore
-car! We have to get out of here fast! Sue, hold
-the bird up close to your suit!”</p>
-<p>The workers dropped their tools as if they
-were red hot and climbed into the car. Mr.
-Shannon helped Sue and Steve on, then
-jumped on himself.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div>
-<p>Dr. Harding pressed the electric button that
-was the signal to the operator in the main cavern
-to move the car. The car began to roll
-down the track. It picked up speed as Dr.
-Harding kept pressing the button.</p>
-<p>“Leaking gas, Dr. Harding?” Mr. Shannon
-asked worriedly.</p>
-<p>The chief engineer nodded. He sniffed the
-air like a hunting dog after a scent. “Take a
-deep breath, everyone, then hold it!”</p>
-<p>Steve thought his lungs would burst, but
-finally Dr. Harding let them take another deep
-breath. By the time they had taken one more,
-the car had reached the main cavern. As it
-rolled to a stop, Dr. Harding jumped down
-and ran over to the car operator.</p>
-<p>Steve saw a door slide down and close off the
-tunnel where they had come out. Then the
-little man gave a deep sigh and took off his
-black-rimmed glasses to wipe them.</p>
-<p>Sue and Steve watched Bud hopefully. He
-was standing more steadily on Sue’s finger
-now.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div>
-<p>“I think he’ll be all right,” the chief engineer
-said. “We sure owe Bud a lot for warning
-us the way he did. Something must have
-happened to the warning machine. It was
-supposed to set off a siren.”</p>
-<p>“If it weren’t for Bud we might have been
-overcome before we could have gotten out of
-there!” Mr. Shannon added.</p>
-<p>“You’re so right!” Dr. Harding said. “The
-men will go back in there in gas masks to find
-the leak and see what’s wrong with the warning
-machine.”</p>
-<p>“We’re plenty lucky!” Steve sighed, his
-spine still prickly from their narrow escape.</p>
-<p>Sue kissed the budgy. “You’re a hero, Bud,”
-she told him, “and we love you!”</p>
-<p>Bud blinked lazily. Then as if to show that
-he was all right again, he squawked, “Rocket
-away!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c8"><br /><i>THE BIG SHOW ON TITAN</i></h2>
-<p>The space freighter had landed
-on Titan, the largest moon in all the Solar System.
-The Shannon twins had been anxious to
-reach this moon of Saturn because their father
-had told them that something very exciting
-might happen here before they left.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div>
-<p>There was still another reason why the children
-had looked forward to the landing. They
-would meet a boy of their own age who was
-the son of a worker. He had been living on
-Titan for the past two years and would be able
-to show them around.</p>
-<p>Steve and Sue came down the outside “gangway”
-of the cargo ship and stepped onto the
-frozen ground of the distant world. The twins
-wore space suits, of course, for the air outside
-was extremely cold and it was poisonous as
-well with raw methane and ammonia.</p>
-<p>Steve saw beautiful Saturn, with its colored
-rings, filling much of the blue sky. Titan was
-a world of close mountains, worn smooth by
-lots of windy weather. A film of glistening ice
-covered the peaks like caps of glass.</p>
-<p>“Look up there, Sue!” Steve said. “Over
-our heads! That’s the famous skyport of Titan!”</p>
-<p>“I wish we could go up there!” Sue said.</p>
-<p>“Maybe we’ll get the chance,” answered
-Steve.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div>
-<p>Ahead of them stood a rounded plastic
-dome. Men were carrying into it cartons of
-supplies which the space freighter had
-brought. The twins’ father, who was an official
-of the American Space Supply Company, was
-still aboard to take care of the unloading.</p>
-<p>A boy came out of the domed building.
-“Are you the Shannons?” he asked over his
-space radio.</p>
-<p>“Yes, we are,” Steve replied.</p>
-<p>“I’m Bobby King.”</p>
-<p>Sue and Steve said they were glad to meet
-him. He asked if they would like to go up and
-see the skyport.</p>
-<p>Both the young Shannons answered a quick,
-“Sure!” together.</p>
-<p>They followed their new friend into the
-plastic dome. Bobby King pointed to an overhead
-cable. Hanging from the heavy cord was
-a cable car.</p>
-<p>“All aboard!” Bobby called, like a train
-conductor.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div>
-<p>Sue and Steve giggled with pleasure as they
-entered the car, followed by Bobby. Bobby
-pushed a switch and the cable car began to
-move.</p>
-<p>“We’re going up like a corkscrew,” Bobby
-said.</p>
-<p>Round and round, right out of the top of
-the building, moved the cable car. Up and up
-it went. It took about ten minutes to reach the
-top. As soon as they got out, two men passed
-them who were talking about a storm that was
-on the way.</p>
-<p>“Boy, if there’s a storm coming, you two are
-sure in luck!” Bobby told Sue and Steve.</p>
-<p>Steve and Sue looked at one another, puzzled.
-Why should their young friend be pleased
-over a coming storm?</p>
-<p>They saw before them a space that looked
-as flat as a highway and larger than a football
-field. There was a row of hangars along the far
-side.</p>
-<p>“Wow, we sure must be high!” Steve burst
-out. They seemed to be almost on a level with
-the mountains.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div>
-<p>“We’re a whole mile off the ground,”
-Bobby told him. “The skyport rests on the
-corners of two mountain ridges.”</p>
-<p>They went over to one of the clear plastic
-walls that edged the skyport.</p>
-<p>“Gee, the freighter sure is little down
-there!” Sue said.</p>
-<p>It almost took Steve’s breath away. The big
-space ship indeed looked no larger than a toy
-down below.</p>
-<p>“Why did they go to such trouble to build
-this?” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“Because there wasn’t any place flat enough
-on the ground,” Bobby answered. “My father
-says they need a main skyport on Titan because
-there are so many companies here digging
-for uranium. The colonists fly here to get
-their supplies and mail.”</p>
-<p>“I see some dark clouds over the mountains,”
-Sue said. “Does that mean a storm is
-coming?”</p>
-<p>Bobby’s helmet nodded. “It sure does! You
-two are the luckiest ones! You got here right
-at the start of the storm season.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div>
-<p>Steve and Sue were still puzzled as to why
-Bobby wanted it to storm.</p>
-<p>Bobby showed his guests a faint star burning
-through the blue atmosphere. “That’s
-Earth,” he told them, “750 million miles
-away. My father thinks we can go back for a
-visit in a few weeks. I’ll be glad.”</p>
-<p>“Where do you live here, Bobby?” Sue
-asked.</p>
-<p>“My father and I stay in an apartment a
-little way from here,” Bobby answered.</p>
-<p>“How about school?” Steve wanted to know.
-“Do they have one on Titan?”</p>
-<p>Bobby shook his head. “My father teaches
-me. He’s out with some prospectors today.”</p>
-<p>Bobby showed them Titan’s other nine
-sister moons, which looked like glowing fireballs.
-Steve saw that most of the daylight came
-from Saturn because the sun was so far away.
-It wasn’t nearly as bright here as it was on
-Earth.</p>
-<p>“I wish we could run over to Saturn for a
-visit,” Sue said, jokingly.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div>
-<p>“You don’t really, Sue,” Bobby told her.
-“You couldn’t stand up in its heavy gravity.
-Saturn’s almost as big as Jupiter, you know.”</p>
-<p>“What are Saturn’s rings made of?” Steve
-asked.</p>
-<p>“Oodles and oodles of rocks,” Bobby replied.
-“They are traveling so fast that they
-make the rings look like one solid piece.”</p>
-<p>Wind was beginning to howl around them
-and this seemed to make Bobby very excited.</p>
-<p>The coming storm must be something special,
-Steve thought. His curiosity had been
-aroused strongly.</p>
-<p>The clouds gathered darker and more
-thickly behind the mountains. The wind was
-driving harder.</p>
-<p>“Hadn’t we better go inside?” Sue asked,
-worriedly.</p>
-<p>“Shucks, no!” Bobby said. “It won’t be any
-fun unless we’re right out in it! There won’t
-be any rain. It’s too cold on Titan for rain.”</p>
-<p>Suddenly the three heard a loud siren wail.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div>
-<p>“That means a jet plane is coming in,”
-Bobby said. “All planes have to land when
-word of a storm gets around.”</p>
-<p>The plane’s wheels touched down and the
-ship rolled along until a hook on it caught a
-line that stretched across the runway. The line
-brought the plane to a sharp halt.</p>
-<p>The jet’s wings were folded down and the
-ship was pushed off to a hangar. Two more
-ships landed afterward. Then a blinding flash
-lighted up the sky. It made Steve and Sue
-blink and jump in fright.</p>
-<p>“Look!” Bobby exclaimed. “The storm has
-begun!”</p>
-<p>Other men had come out to see what was
-going to happen and they lined up along the
-edges of the skyport with the children.</p>
-<p>Bobby pointed to a sparkling balloon of
-light that burst into a blossom of sparks over
-the mountains. A moment later a red dagger
-flash skipped across the peaks. During all this
-there were loud crashes and rumblings. Steve
-was scared and thrilled at the same time.</p>
-<p>“It’s just like fireworks!” Sue called out.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div>
-<p>Now Steve could understand why Bobby
-had looked forward to the storm. He guessed,
-too, that this was the exciting surprise their
-father had said might happen while they were
-here.</p>
-<p>An orange pinwheel, like a Fourth of July
-sparkler, rose from a mountain top and looped
-upward. It grew bigger and bigger and fainter
-and fainter at the same time. It was really a
-beauty.</p>
-<p>“What causes the fireworks?” Steve asked
-above the noise.</p>
-<p>“Partly strong wind,” Bobby said loudly,
-“and partly Titan’s gases exploding against the
-mountain tops!”</p>
-<p>They watched spellbound for fifteen minutes,
-then a half hour. The Shannons were
-sure they had never seen anything quite so
-breathtaking as this.</p>
-<p>At one time a row of peaks seemed to glow
-with a sheet of red flame. The flame danced
-and flickered like a forest fire for a long time
-before it faded out.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div>
-<p>The children had been enjoying themselves
-so thoroughly that they knew nothing of the
-peril that was heading their way.</p>
-<p>The first warning came when one of the
-skyport men standing nearby shouted over
-his space suit radio. Steve whirled in alarm.
-His heart seemed to stop beating completely
-for a terrible moment.</p>
-<p>A tardy plane had come in for a landing on
-the sky platform. But the howling wind had
-kept everyone from hearing the warning siren.</p>
-<p>Because of the fierce blowing, the plane had
-not hooked firmly to the braking line. It
-scooted off to the side and was heading for the
-very spot where Bobby, Steve and Sue stood.</p>
-<p>“Bobby!” Steve cried. “Get out of the way!”
-As Bobby ducked for safety, Steve also moved
-quickly. Sue screamed as Bobby grabbed her
-hastily by her space glove. He had to jerk her
-sharply in order to get her out of the path of
-the runaway plane.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div>
-<p>The plane crashed into the plastic wall of
-the skyport, tearing out a section of wall as
-though it were thin cardboard. The ship was
-left dangling on the very edge as if ready to
-fall a mile to the ground.</p>
-<p>“The poor pilot!” Sue cried. “Oh, I can’t
-look!”</p>
-<p>But the skyport men had come running
-quickly over and together they pulled the jet
-plane back to safety. They helped the scared
-pilot out. He walked shakily off into one of
-the hangars.</p>
-<p>“Whew! That was close!” Steve breathed.
-“For him and us, too!”</p>
-<p>“My heart is still thumping like a drum!”
-Bobby said.</p>
-<p>As for Sue, she was too upset to say anything
-at all.</p>
-<p>They turned to look at the fireworks to take
-their minds off the accident. The wonderful
-ending of the show almost made them forget
-it completely.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div>
-<p>They saw a dazzling white light burst like
-an empty volcano. The banner of fire rose as
-high into the sky as huge Saturn. Then it
-spilled over like a great fountain. It changed
-into purple, then blue, green and red.</p>
-<p>Before dying out, it gave the big planet a
-lovely ruddy glow, showing up its rings like a
-gleaming necklace of rubies. That was the end
-of Nature’s grand performance.</p>
-<p>“Wow, wasn’t that terrific?” Steve asked.
-“A show like that in a grandstand on Earth
-would cost you three-and-a-half.”</p>
-<p>“Maybe four!” Sue chimed in.</p>
-<p>“You can’t see this show anywhere on Earth,
-Steve,” Bobby said. “Titan is the only place.
-And the good thing about it is that it’s all for
-free!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c9"><br /><i>ADVENTURE ON THE SUN’S DOORSTEP</i></h2>
-<p>Sue and Steve Shannon watched
-the magic world of stardust through a port of
-the rocket freighter. The ship was moving under
-power of its atomic engines, headed toward
-the sun.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div>
-<p>They had one more cargo stop to make before
-returning to their beloved soil on the
-Earth.</p>
-<p>The twins heard the clack of magnetic
-soles behind them. Without such shoes holding
-them to the floor, space travelers would
-float about helplessly like wingless birds.</p>
-<p>“Hi, kids,” greeted their father. “Growing
-tired of the view?”</p>
-<p>“I guess I am, Dad,” Steve admitted. His
-blue eyes were tired.</p>
-<p>“How far away is Apollo’s Chariot now?”
-Sue asked.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon grinned. “That’s the umpteenth
-time you two have asked that. But I
-suppose I’m as restless as you are to get back
-to Mom in Arkansas.”</p>
-<p>Hearing this made Steve suddenly homesick.
-There was really no place like home, just
-like the poet had said. Steve knew Sue felt the
-same way. He had seen a wistful look in her
-hazel eyes every time they had talked of Little
-Rock.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div>
-<p>The seemingly endless days finally did end.
-The three Shannons went up into the lookout
-dome with the crewmen. The dome was covered
-by a darkened plastic screen to cut down
-the blinding glare of the sun, which was very
-close.</p>
-<p>It was a heart-stopping sight for Sue and
-Steve. The planet Mercury covered the face of
-the sun like a black plate. Streaming out from
-the edges were mountainous tongues of living
-fire. Mr. Shannon called this flaming halo the
-sun’s <i>chromosphere</i>.</p>
-<p>“Gee, what a thing to see!” Steve gasped.</p>
-<p>“It’s—it’s unbelievable!” Sue added, breathless.</p>
-<p>“Indeed, it is,” Mr. Shannon agreed. “See
-that thing like a lighted wheel just ahead of
-us? That’s Apollo’s Chariot. It was named after
-the famous Greek sun god, you know.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div>
-<p>Sue and Steve knew that Apollo’s Chariot
-was really a space laboratory that was a home
-for scientists who were studying the sun. They
-had been the ones who had given their tiny
-world its colorful nickname. It was protected
-with asbestos and other special material to
-shield it from the heat as it circled the great
-star, month after month, year after year.</p>
-<p>“We had to contact Apollo’s Chariot while
-Mercury was shading our ship from the sun’s
-rays,” Mr. Shannon said. “We aren’t protected
-like Apollo’s Chariot is.”</p>
-<p>“Mercury seems as big as the sun, the way
-it covers it completely,” Steve remarked.</p>
-<p>“That’s because we’re so close to Mercury,”
-his father explained. “Actually, the sun is so
-much bigger it’s like comparing a pinpoint to
-a grapefruit!”</p>
-<p>In the midnight darkness between the ships,
-giant searchlights had to be turned on. Then
-the scientists on the other ship came out onto
-their loading platform to receive their cargo.
-Conversation was carried on by means of space
-suit radios with those aboard the freighter,
-who stood on their own outside platform.</p>
-<p>“Why can’t we get closer to Apollo’s Chariot?”
-Steve asked Biff Warren, who was the
-twins’ favorite among the crewmen. Biff was
-piling boxes and crates at the edge of the platform.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div>
-<p>“Space regulations,” answered Biff. “If a
-meteor should hit one of us, the other ship
-would explode too if we were close. Also,
-rocket tubes are so tricky that you never know
-when one is going to misfire and send your
-ship scooting off suddenly in the wrong direction.”</p>
-<p>One end of a double cable was fastened to
-rings on the freighter’s platform. Then the
-other end was tossed across the space between
-the two ships and attached by the scientists
-to their own side.</p>
-<p>Steve saw the crewmen around him pick up
-cords from out of the cable equipment box.
-They fastened one end to buckles on their
-suits and the other to the cable. Steve guessed
-that the lines were a safety measure to keep
-the men from drifting off into space as they
-carried the cargo across.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div>
-<p>The first crewman picked up a crate as
-lightly as if it were a pile of feathers. Then
-with his foot he shoved off from the platform.</p>
-<p>He guided the crate through the emptiness
-with his gloved hands and the men on the opposite
-platform helped him aboard. Another
-crewman stepped off the freighter with another
-crate. Then another crewman with another
-piece of cargo. The carriers returned by
-the other cable line.</p>
-<p>Steve went over to his dad who, as an official
-of the American Space Supply Company, was
-supervising the work as always. “Dad, may
-Sue and I carry a box across? We’ll be careful.”</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon thought a moment. “I suppose
-it will be all right. There’s no way you can
-go adrift if you fasten on to the cable. But you
-have to be careful you’re snapped on securely.”</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon made a place for them in line.
-Sue in front. There was a wait before Sue’s
-turn so that more crates could be placed on
-the platform’s edge. The children looked beyond
-Apollo’s Chariot at the huge black circle
-of Mercury as it masked the mighty sun.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div>
-<p>“Biff,” Steve asked his friend as he was
-stacking the crates, “why couldn’t the Apollo
-scientists study the sun from Mercury?”</p>
-<p>Biff chuckled and it made a funny crackling
-sound over the young Shannons’ radios. “Men
-will land on Mercury when they grow hides
-of asbestos, Steve. It’s so hot on the sunward
-side that there are supposed to be lakes and
-pools of lead there! The other side never sees
-the sun, so you can imagine how cold it is!
-Think you two would like to go there?”</p>
-<p>“I should say not!” Sue answered for both
-of them.</p>
-<p>When the next piece of cargo was ready to
-go over, Biff checked the children’s safety
-cords. Then he let Sue push off from the platform
-with a box in front of her. A few moments
-later, Steve followed. The boy heard
-his sister giggle excitedly as they floated across.
-Searchlight beams were in their eyes but they
-didn’t mind. Steve, too, thought this great fun
-after being cramped for so long on the
-freighter. He looked down at the empty space
-below, but he knew he could not fall and so
-was not afraid. Reaching the other platform,
-he and his sister were helped aboard.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div>
-<p>“They sure are using young crewmen these
-days!” joked one of the scientists, a tall man
-who seemed to be working harder than the
-others. “Nice work, young folks!”</p>
-<p>The scientist was in the act of changing the
-children’s cords over to the returning cable
-when a slight mishap occurred. One of the
-crates coming over bumped into him. He
-laughed as he again got to his feet but his
-laughter quickly changed to alarm when Sue
-suddenly pushed off from the platform. She
-had thought her cable line was secure and that
-she was ready to make the exciting trip back
-across the gulf.</p>
-<p>“Wait, miss!” the scientist called. “I didn’t
-finish fastening your cable cord!” He reached
-for Sue but her suit slipped out of the fingers
-of his bulky space gloves.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div>
-<p>Steve froze for an instant in terror at what
-he had seen. Then without thought of anything
-else except his sister’s danger, he dove
-right off the platform after Sue, not realizing
-or caring that his own cable cord was not
-fastened.</p>
-<p>If the scientist had not grabbed for Sue
-she might have floated safely across to the
-freighter. But by touching her he had sent
-her off in a direction beneath it.</p>
-<p>Over his radio, Steve heard her screaming
-for help and saw her flinging her arms and
-legs about like a drowning swimmer. Steve
-was moving faster than she and presently
-caught up with her.</p>
-<p>“What are we going to do, Steve?” she cried,
-holding tightly to him. “We can’t stop! And
-it’s so dark out here!”</p>
-<p>Steve knew that unless someone came to
-their aid they would drift on and on since
-there was no air to slow them down. But he
-didn’t tell Sue this.</p>
-<p>He remembered, as he had at times before,
-that a spaceman must keep his head in an
-emergency. He spoke comforting words to Sue,
-telling her to try to be calm, that help would
-be coming.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div>
-<div class="img" id="pic4">
-<img src="images/i05.jpg" alt="He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer" width="500" height="653" />
-<p class="caption"><i>He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div>
-<p>Even as he told her this a spear of light hit
-them and a voice broke in on their radio:
-“Steve! Sue! Stop struggling! I’m on my way
-to you!”</p>
-<p>“Biff!” Steve exclaimed, and the dread in
-his heart suddenly lifted. He looked over his
-shoulder and saw their big friend approaching,
-guided by the light that had been flashed
-on them from the freighter.</p>
-<p>There was a little plume of flame trailing
-behind him. In a few minutes he had caught
-up with them. Sue was so glad to see him she
-grabbed the big spaceman and her helmet
-bumped against his in an attempted kiss.</p>
-<p>“Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Biff!” she
-sobbed. “I was so <i>awfully</i> scared!”</p>
-<p>“You’re all right now,” Biff said gently.
-“Both of you hold on to me and we’ll go back.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div>
-<p>Steve took Biff’s left arm and Sue firmly
-grasped one of Steve’s. Biff carried a type of
-hand rocket, called a “pusher,” that he had
-used to shoot himself along toward them. By
-pointing the rocket in the opposite direction
-from which he wanted to go, the “pusher”
-pushed him in the manner of the rocket tubes
-on the freighter.</p>
-<p>Biff pointed the pusher away from the
-freighter. Steve saw a burst of fire beside them
-and the three of them sped off toward the big
-ship. As Sue reached the platform, her father
-was there to help her aboard. She could see
-in his eyes the fear he had felt for them.</p>
-<p>Steve was surprised to have the crew greet
-him warmly with pats on the back. The boy
-turned to his father. “Why are they calling me
-a hero?” he asked. “It was Biff who saved us!”</p>
-<p>“Not taking credit away from Biff, any good
-spaceman would have done what he did,” said
-Mr. Shannon. “But few would have attempted
-your trick of jumping into space after your
-sister with no way of getting back. Right,
-Biff?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div>
-<p>Biff nodded his plastic helmet. “It wasn’t
-the smartest thing you could have done, Steve,
-but it showed your bravery. Courage counts
-just as much as ability in a spaceman. Don’t
-ever forget that, son.”</p>
-<p>Steve, who wanted to be a spaceman some
-day, would not forget it.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c10"><br /><i>THE FLYING MOUNTAIN</i></h2>
-<p>Steve and Sue were playing a
-game as the freighter headed through space
-toward Earth. It was fun trying to see who
-could build the higher tower of sticks. The
-young Shannons were in extra good spirits.
-Before long they would be seeing Mom and
-their home in Arkansas, after being in space
-for so many months.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div>
-<p>Steve carefully placed the last stick on his
-tower which was almost as high as he could
-reach.</p>
-<p>“<i>I</i> won, Sis!” he exclaimed. But as he drew
-his hand away, it brushed against the tower,
-causing the sticks to drift off in all directions.</p>
-<p>“<i>I</i> won!” Sue cried gleefully, “Yours broke
-up!”</p>
-<p>Steve made a face and began picking the
-sticks out of the air before they floated too
-far. It was lack of weight in space that made it
-possible to play such a game. The twins
-would have hung in the air like the sticks if
-their shoe soles were not held to the floor by
-magnetism.</p>
-<p>“I’ll beat you next time,” Steve boasted.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div>
-<p>Before they could start again, their father
-came into the room. “It looks as though we
-may not be getting home as quickly as we had
-expected, kids. Captain Furman has received
-an S. O. S. from a passenger rocket that’s
-down on the asteroid, Sierra.” The twins
-knew an asteroid to be one of the thousands
-of tiny planets in the Solar System.</p>
-<p>“Are we going to her aid?” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“It depends on whether we have enough
-fuel or not,” his father replied. “Even atomic
-fuel runs out sometime, you know. Captain
-Furman is talking with his officers now. It’ll
-be a shame if we can’t help the <i>Pole Star</i>—as
-much as I want to see Mom.”</p>
-<p>It was just like his unselfish dad to say that,
-Steve thought. He felt the same way about it.
-And he didn’t doubt that tender-hearted Sue
-was of the same mind.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon started out of the room again.
-“I’m going to see what they are going to do.”</p>
-<p>Steve and Sue went back to their game. But
-somehow it wasn’t as much fun now. People
-were in trouble and trouble in space was
-often a frightening thing.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div>
-<p>It seemed like a long time before their
-father came back. He walked in so fast that
-his magnetic shoes sounded like tiny hammers.
-“Kids,” he said, “the captain wants to
-see you.”</p>
-<p>“<i>Us?</i>” Steve asked.</p>
-<p>“That’s right. Come quickly.”</p>
-<p>They went out, leaving some sticks in mid-air
-and others drifting off. The young Shannons
-walked shyly into the captain’s room
-where all the officers stood. Steve felt out of
-place among the neatly uniformed spacemen.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon was in charge of cargo which
-the freighter dropped off at different ports in
-space, for he was an official of the American
-Space Supply Company. But he had nothing
-to do with the running of the ship.</p>
-<p>“Young folks,” said the tall captain, who
-had a blond mustache, “we want you to help
-us solve a problem.”</p>
-<p>“Sir?” Steve asked, puzzled.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div>
-<p>“Here it is,” went on the chief, in his
-booming voice. “If we go on past Earth to
-Sierra to help the <i>Pole Star</i>, it’ll leave us with
-only a fifty-fifty chance of having enough fuel
-to reach Earth. But the <i>Pole Star</i> is running
-short of supplies and their radio just went
-dead a while ago. It’s too late to get help from
-Earth. The crew is divided on what we
-should do, so I decided to call you two in to
-see what you think.”</p>
-<p>A husky crewman spoke out boldly, “What
-do these kids know about space, Captain?
-They’re not even old enough to be out here!
-I say stick to our course and get this crew and
-ship back safely to Earth!”</p>
-<p>The remark angered Steve, but the spaceman
-looked too big to talk back to. Sue wasn’t
-so timid.</p>
-<p>“You ought to be ashamed of yourself!”
-she exclaimed. “Thinking of yourself when
-other people are in trouble!”</p>
-<p>Steve and his father were surprised at Sue’s
-outburst. Captain Furman and the other
-crewmen smiled.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div>
-<p>“I think that solves our problem,” the captain
-spoke firmly. “If the young lady has
-courage enough to overlook the risk, the rest
-of us should have it, too. Thank you, Sue.
-We move at full rocket thrust to aid the <i>Pole
-Star</i>.”</p>
-<p>As the Shannons went out into the corridor,
-Steve asked his sister, “Wow, Sue, what
-made you talk back to that big fellow like
-that?”</p>
-<p>“He was so selfish!” Sue answered. “Besides,
-it made me mad to hear him say we
-didn’t know anything about space! Why,
-we’ve been over almost all of the Solar System,
-haven’t we, Dad?”</p>
-<p>Her father pressed her shoulder. “Of
-course, honey. I’m proud of you, because I
-felt the same way.”</p>
-<p>It took a few days for the freighter to reach
-the asteroid. The space ship, in going past
-the Earth, had come close enough for the
-Earth to be seen as a misty, green light. It
-made the twins long for home as they saw it.</p>
-<p>“Sierra is like a big meteor, isn’t it, Dad?”
-Steve asked, as the three of them looked
-downward on the flat, egg-shaped rock.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div>
-<p>His father nodded. “It’s often called, ‘The
-Flying Mountain,’ because of the low peaks
-on it. Sierra is only a mile long and less than
-that wide.”</p>
-<p>“I remember from school that it wasn’t discovered
-until 1965,” Sue said.</p>
-<p>“That’s because it’s so small and isn’t very
-bright in the sky,” her father spoke. “Most
-of the asteroids are much farther out, between
-Mars and Jupiter, but a few come in
-close to Earth like Sierra, Hermes, Eros and
-some others.”</p>
-<p>The freighter landed safely in a flat area
-about two hundred feet from the <i>Pole Star</i>.
-The Shannons could see the damaged space
-ship jammed against a cliff. Brilliant sunshine
-reflected upward from bare dark rock,
-dazzling their eyes. It was over a hundred
-degrees on Sierra, for there was no atmosphere
-to check the sun’s heat.</p>
-<p>“Boy, what a place for a sunburn!” Steve
-said.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div>
-<p>“It’s certainly summertime on Sierra!” Sue
-added.</p>
-<p>They watched crewmen in space suits come
-out of the freighter and begin uncoiling a
-spool of rope that would stretch between the
-two ships. Safety lines led from all the men
-back to the cargo ship.</p>
-<p>“There’s almost no gravity at all here,”
-Mr. Shannon told his son and daughter, “because
-the asteroid is so small. If the people
-from the <i>Pole Star</i>—providing there are any
-alive—didn’t have the rope to hang on to, they
-might float right off Sierra.”</p>
-<p>The children asked to go outside. The
-three suited up and went out, using safety
-lines, just in case.</p>
-<p>The glare was so strong that they had to
-lower their darkening glasses over the face
-part of their helmets. The heat was such that
-they had to switch on the cooling outfits in
-their suits. It was strange to see the edge of
-the asteroid so close, just beyond a fringe of
-dagger-like peaks. It was like being on a big
-space raft.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div>
-<p>The twins tried walking. They were less
-than feather-light and it was quite a job for
-them even to keep upright. Sue decided this
-wouldn’t be a very good place to spend a summer
-vacation.</p>
-<p>Sue’s cooling outfit made her sneeze. She
-was lifted right off the ground and her father
-had to pull her down quickly. She and Steve
-laughed but they had been scared.</p>
-<p>“See, it doesn’t take much to send you sky
-high!” Mr. Shannon joked, speaking over the
-radio set which all three of them carried in
-their space suits.</p>
-<p>At last the crewmen, who had been moving
-so carefully over the ground toward the
-<i>Pole Star</i>, reached the ship and fastened the
-rope to it. The outer door of the <i>Pole Star</i>
-was then opened by someone inside.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div>
-<p>“Thank goodness somebody’s alive in
-there!” Mr. Shannon said thankfully. “I guess
-the ship just coasted into the rock wall without
-too much force.”</p>
-<p>The freighter crew began helping people
-out of the passenger rocket. If things weren’t
-so serious, it would have been funny for Sue
-and Steve to see them in their balloon-like
-space suits, bouncing one careful step at a
-time and holding on for dear life to the rope.</p>
-<p>As the party neared the freighter, the twins
-suddenly saw their father dash toward the
-ship. In his haste, Mr. Shannon seemed to
-have forgotten where he was and went scooting
-upward like a high-jumper.</p>
-<p>“Dad!” Sue and Steve cried out together.</p>
-<p>Mr. Shannon had to put out his hands and
-feet at the last minute to keep from crashing
-into the wall of the freighter. Then he pulled
-himself down to the ground with his safety
-line. When they saw that their father was unhurt,
-Sue and Steve began walking toward the
-ship with careful steps.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div>
-<p>They heard their dad exclaim, “Mr. Ballinger!”
-as he walked over to one of the men
-from the <i>Pole Star</i>.</p>
-<p>“John Shannon!” the man said.</p>
-<p>It turned out that Mr. Ballinger was the
-president of the American Space Supply
-Company and was Mr. Shannon’s boss. Mr.
-Ballinger explained that the <i>Pole Star</i> was
-heading for Mars when there was an explosion
-in the rocket tubes. By landing on Sierra
-the captain thought there was a better chance
-of their being found than if they had just
-kept drifting in space, because all ships knew
-the path of “The Flying Mountain.” No one
-had been hurt in the landing and the <i>Pole
-Star</i> had enough fuel to get the freighter back
-to Earth.</p>
-<p>“I don’t know whether I should fire you
-people or not for risking my good freighter
-just to save an old codger like me!” the
-friendly Mr. Ballinger joked.</p>
-<p>“We almost didn’t,” Steve’s dad reminded
-him and explained how Sue’s outburst had
-decided the problem.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div>
-<p>“You’ve certainly got some smart ones
-there, John,” Mr. Ballinger said, smiling at
-Sue and Steve. “Your son has already proved
-himself a hero before and now it’s Sue. Yes,
-sir, I sure wish I had a pair like them!”</p>
-<p>But the twins scarcely heard him. They
-were thinking that, in spite of the great fun
-they had had on all their space adventures,
-how wonderful it was going to be to see Mom
-again and set foot on the grandest planet in
-all the Solar System—Earth!</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c11"><br /><i>CASTAWAYS IN SPACE</i></h2>
-<p>The two of them had just
-shoved the supply case against the chute door
-when the space ship gave an unexpected burst
-of rocket power, knocking Skip Miller against
-the release lever. The escape door shot up and
-a big square of black space opened before the
-boys’ eyes.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div>
-<p>Glen Hartzell was stunned to see his friend
-go spinning down the incline and follow the
-supply case toward the open door. Automatically,
-Glen stretched his lean body full length
-trying to grasp Skip’s space suit before he escaped.
-But his momentum sent him skidding
-down the slope and the next thing he knew
-he was out in space, too.</p>
-<p>A week ago Glen wouldn’t have cared
-whether he faced death or not. He and Skip
-had just made the scorned fraternity of
-“Wockies,” washed-out cadets. His failure had
-cut like a knife. He had wanted to pilot ships
-through the depths of space more than anything
-else in the world. Instead, he and Skip
-had been assigned to ground crews on Mars.
-That, at least, had been their destination until
-Skip’s elbow unexpectedly made them castaways
-in space.</p>
-<p>Glen’s first thought was directed to Skip,
-who looked like a toy balloon as he drifted
-through the vacuum. “Skip!” he called over
-his space suit radio. “Do you hear me, Skip?”</p>
-<p>“Yeah, Glen,” Skip’s reply was scarcely
-more than a squeak.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div>
-<p>Glen looked down and ahead where a massive
-rock some ten miles in diameter hung
-in the starry emptiness. “If we can make
-Phobos, we may be all right.”</p>
-<p>“We’re done for,” Skip groaned.</p>
-<p>“We’re not!” Glen’s wits were sharpened
-by the danger. “We’re lined up pretty well
-with Phobos. She doesn’t have any gravity to
-speak of and we may be able to land on her.”</p>
-<p>“We won’t make Phobos,” Skip argued.
-“We’ll either run into Mars’ gravity field and
-crash on its surface or float through space until
-our air runs out.”</p>
-<p>“Shut up, Skip!” Glen’s tone was sharp.
-“Listen to me. See if you can pick up a little
-speed by kicking out behind with your feet
-and hands. If you can catch up with the supply
-case, hang on.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div>
-<p>Skip didn’t reply but Glen saw his arms and
-legs begin to move. Glen worked his own. It
-was a grueling effort, but Glen found that he
-was able to increase his speed much in the
-manner of a space ship’s thrust. By the time
-Glen touched Skip’s suit, both of them were
-sucking freely of their precious oxygen.</p>
-<p>“What’s the idea?” Skip asked as his gloved
-hand clutched the strap of the supply case and
-Glen held onto him.</p>
-<p>“We’ll use the case as a buffer to break our
-fall,” Glen explained. “Remember, it’s covered
-with foam rubber so that it won’t shatter
-when it hits.”</p>
-<p>The two had been preparing to drop the
-emergency supply case on Mars at the time of
-the accident. Glen was glad now that they’d
-donned space suits.</p>
-<p>Glen saw that the space ship was now only
-a tiny needle against the red disk of Mars. He
-and Skip had probably not even been missed
-by the crew. When they did find out, they
-wouldn’t know where to look for the boys.</p>
-<p>Phobos was a jagged, frightening giant below,
-but Glen held nothing but love for it.
-Their speed had increased slightly, but it did
-not look as if they would hit the ground dangerously
-fast.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div>
-<p>Glen felt Skip’s muscles tense for the landing.</p>
-<p>“Steady, fellow!” Glen breathed.</p>
-<p>He felt a rough jar in the pit of his stomach.
-Glen bounced off Skip’s back as though he
-were rubber. He spread out his arms to ease
-his fall, then was surprised to find his body
-settling down to rest as lightly as a leaf.</p>
-<p>Glen felt a prickly chill in his cheeks.
-“We’ve got practically no weight at all!” he
-breathed. Skip had almost drifted off into
-space again, but Glen grabbed his leg and
-pulled him back.</p>
-<p>“It’s a crazy world, isn’t it?” Skip searched
-the rocky landscape that sloped down from
-them on both sides. It was weird to be on a
-globe so tiny you were conscious of its roundness.</p>
-<p>Glenn nodded. “We’ve <i>really</i> got to keep
-both feet on the ground!”</p>
-<p>“What if they don’t find us, Glen?” Skip
-asked. “What then?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div>
-<p>“I don’t know, Skip,” Glen sighed. “Let’s
-see what’s in the supply case.”</p>
-<p>Glen was able to crawl better than he could
-walk over to the supply case. Skip followed.
-Glen pressed a button on the case and the top
-sprang up.</p>
-<p>“Whew! There’s not much that isn’t included!”
-Skip said. “Spare oxygen tanks, a
-bubble tent outfit, food capsules, water maker,
-first-aid, flares, books, electronic stove-heater.”</p>
-<p>“Let’s put up the bubble tent,” Glen said.
-“It’ll help save our heat.”</p>
-<p>As he had learned in cadet training, he removed
-a cylinder from the outfit and pulled a
-lever. It popped open and a plastic bubble began
-growing out of it. The bubble, which was
-slightly oblong and transparent, enlarged to
-about seven feet, then detached itself from the
-cartridge airtight. After it had hardened for
-several minutes, Glen took an electric saw
-from the kit and cut a small door in the side.
-They made hinges from self-sealing plastic
-strips.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div>
-<p>They used the foam rubber from around
-the case for flooring, then put the supplies inside
-the bubble. They turned on the heater
-and then turned off the heat units in their
-suits.</p>
-<p>“How long do you figure our supplies can
-last, Glen?” Skip asked.</p>
-<p>“They’re supposed to last two people ten
-days,” Glen replied. “Don’t you remember
-that question on our exam?”</p>
-<p>“Don’t remind me!” Skip said. “I’m tired
-of hearing about the cadet corps.”</p>
-<p>“I know,” Glen said bitterly.</p>
-<p>“How could they flunk us on one question?”
-Skip asked. “It wasn’t fair.”</p>
-<p>“I agree with you,” Glen answered, “but
-the fact remains that we’ve got to take it.”</p>
-<p>Skip chuckled grimly. “You talk as if we
-have a lifetime ahead of us. We don’t know
-whether we’ve got <i>tomorrow</i>.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div>
-<p>“Which reminds me, we’d better send off
-some flares to let somebody know where we
-are.” Glen picked up some of the rocket flares
-and “drifted” out of the bubble tent. He set
-up a flare on its tripod legs, pointed it at Mars’
-ruddy face and pulled on the release catch.
-But it wouldn’t move.</p>
-<p>“It’s jammed!” Glen tried another rocket
-and got the same result. Then another, and another.
-They were all useless, all the catches
-warped, possibly from having been kept too
-near a heat source in the ship.</p>
-<p>“How are we going to signal Mars now?”
-Skip asked.</p>
-<p>“Anything we toss out will be drawn to the
-planet by its gravitation,” Glen was thinking
-out loud.</p>
-<p>“How about throwing out some of the extra
-supplies we have?” Skip proposed. “We can
-attach a note.”</p>
-<p>“It’s a million-to-one shot they’d be found.
-Don’t you realize that only a fraction of Mars
-has colonists? No, I’m afraid we’d wait here
-until doomsday if we had to count on that.”</p>
-<p>“But what else is there to do?” Skip’s eyes
-were round with dread.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div>
-<p>Glen fought down his own sudden despair.
-“It looks as though we’ll have to get to Mars
-on our own, Skip.”</p>
-<p>“Now you’re crazy! We’d be smashed to
-pieces!”</p>
-<p>“Not the way I’m thinking.” A plan was
-forming in Glen’s mind, as he scrambled into
-the bubble tent and came out with one of their
-engineering books. Skip watched in amazement
-as Glen began working math problems
-in the dirt with a piece of stone.</p>
-<p>After a while, Glen said, “I think it’ll work,
-Skip. Want to take a chance?”</p>
-<p>“I’d like to know what it is first.”</p>
-<p>“We can use the chute from the supply
-case and attach it to the bubble,” Glen explained.
-“Then we can ride in the bubble to
-Mars.”</p>
-<p>“It sounds fantastic!”</p>
-<p>“I’ve figured it every way I know,” Glen
-said. “At least, it’s better than sitting here and
-hoping we’ll accidentally be found. Shall we
-try it?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div>
-<p>Skip shrugged. “If it’s our only chance. But
-I hope you’ve figured all the angles!”</p>
-<p>“We’d better get started right away,” Glen
-advised. “We may need all our air tanks if we
-have to do some walking when we land.”</p>
-<p>They set to work fastening the lines of the
-chute around and under the plastic bubble.
-They used more of the plastic strips to secure
-the lines tightly. The chute was still folded,
-since the vacuum on Phobos had failed to trip
-the automatic release. The boys decided to
-carry only a minimum of supplies to make
-their weight as light as possible. When they
-were ready to go, they climbed into the bubble
-and Glen shoved them off with one foot outside
-the door. Then he closed the door.</p>
-<p>“How long will it take us to get there?” Skip
-asked.</p>
-<p>“I’ve figured on about a hundred hours,”
-Glen answered. “That should put us close to
-Mars City, figuring on Mars’ rotation. But if
-it doesn’t, we should be able to reach some research
-settlement.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div>
-<p>They moved slowly at first. Glen hoped for
-only enough speed to carry them into Mars’
-gravity pull. As they approached the red planet,
-their speed would increase and that worried
-Glen. If they whacked into Mars’ air blanket
-too fast, the chute might be ripped from the
-bubble.</p>
-<p>To while away the many hours, the boys
-dozed and took turns reading the one novel
-they had brought along. Their legs soon became
-cramped and sore, and they would have
-given a good deal to have been able to stretch
-or walk about.</p>
-<p>On the third day, the boys could see the
-canals criss-crossing in a tangled network on
-the ruddy globe of Mars. On the fourth day,
-just as Glen had figured, the glassite domes of
-Mars City began to show through the violet
-haze of atmosphere. Glen wondered how fast
-they were going. There was no way to tell because
-their insulation kept them from feeling
-the rush of air.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div>
-<p>“Cross your fingers, Skip,” Glen warned.
-“Our chute should open in the next few minutes.”</p>
-<p>The seconds appeared to last hours as they
-waited, and Glen suffered a torture of suspense.
-What if the chute did not open? In that
-case, they would end up in fragments on Mars’
-red earth. Or what if the force of the air should
-jerk the chute off the bubble?</p>
-<p>Even as Glen worried, he felt a sharp drag
-and was tumbled over on Skip.</p>
-<p>“Look! The chute’s open!” Skip pointed
-overhead.</p>
-<p>Some minutes later, the red ground rushed
-up at them like an enfolding blanket. Their
-final problem faced them now. If they landed
-safely, they would have conquered space in a
-way no spaceman had ever done before.</p>
-<p>Glen’s muscles drew tight and his heart
-thumped rapidly as the last few hundred feet
-melted away. He wanted to close his eyes during
-these final seconds but he forced himself
-to watch the rising ground so that he could
-brace himself at the moment of contact. He
-was glad they had the foam rubber cushion beneath
-them.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div>
-<p>Glen counted off the last few feet. “A hundred—fifty—twenty—!”</p>
-<p>As they struck, Glen was thrown against the
-ceiling of the bubble. Plastic clattered against
-plastic as the bubble rolled over on the ground
-many times before stopping. Glen straightened
-himself out. He was shaken up but he was unhurt.
-He looked across at Skip.</p>
-<p>“We made it,” Glen said, but his voice
-shook, as if he wasn’t yet able to believe it. He
-tore off the door seals, shoved out the door.
-Then they got out and stretched their legs.
-Looking at the domes of Mars City in the distance,
-Glen asked, “Ready to start walking?”</p>
-<p>“After being cooped up like a chicken, I’m
-willing to walk all over Mars. Let’s go.” Skip’s
-natural good humor had returned.</p>
-<p>Less than an hour later, an astonished captain
-at the Mars City spaceport heard the boys’
-strange story.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div>
-<p>“Your courage and ingenuity have been incredible!”
-the captain said when they had
-finished. “I can’t believe that you two are
-Wockies. If you weren’t flunked for reasons of
-scholarship, I’m sure you’ll be reinstated.”</p>
-<p>“We weren’t flunked for that reason, sir,”
-Skip said.</p>
-<p>“For what reason then?” the captain asked.</p>
-<p>Glen smiled wryly as he replied, “We were
-flunked, sir, because we failed the test to determine
-whether we could bear up in an emergency
-or not!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c12"><br /><i>THE BIG SPACE BALL GAME</i></h2>
-<p>It was an unusual setting for
-baseball. Instead of a blue sky, there was the
-darkness of space and the brilliance of stars
-overhead. The light of Earth flooded the scene,
-and surrounding the oversized diamond were
-the walls of Copernicus crater, over fifty miles
-across.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div>
-<p>On the mound, Bill Cherry was pitching
-practice balls to his catcher, Ollie Taylor.
-Only underhand throwing was allowed in
-baseball on the Moon, for the ball was exceedingly
-fast in the light gravity and airlessness.
-Bill, in snug-fitting space gear, was standing
-farther than the regulation ninety feet from
-the plate. This was because of the pitcher’s
-advantage over the batter in Lunar ball.</p>
-<p>Bill wound up and threw. The ball shot like
-a bullet into Ollie’s double-padded mitt.</p>
-<p>“Thatta boy, Bill!” Ollie’s voice came over
-Bill’s space suit radio. “If you’re this sharp
-when we meet the Comets this afternoon,
-we’re bound to win our first championship!”</p>
-<p>“That’s enough practice, fellows!” Coach
-Lippert called, coming out of the dugout. “No
-use giving our best before the game!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div>
-<p>It was the <i>big</i> game for the team from Plato,
-which was tied with the league leaders in this
-last game of the season. Plato was the farthest
-colony on the Moon and was named for the
-big crater in which it was located. Copernicus
-colony, the baseball leader, had won the championship
-every year since the school league had
-been formed. As a prize, the champions were
-always given a free rocket trip to Earth.</p>
-<p>The Plato Rocketeers were homesick for
-their mother planet. One of them, little Pete
-Irby, had never set foot there. He had been
-born on the Moon.</p>
-<p>“It must be wonderful to go around without
-even a space suit on like they do on Earth!”
-Pete said wistfully to Bill.</p>
-<p>“Don’t worry, Pete,” Bill said confidently.
-“I have a feeling that this is our year and that
-we’re all going to Earth.”</p>
-<p>“I sure hope you’re right,” Pete replied,
-with great feeling. “I can’t wait to see the great
-national parks and rivers and all the other
-wonderful things there!”</p>
-<hr /><p class="tb">At game time the grandstand was filled and
-some people were standing. It was the largest
-crowd ever to see a ball game on the Moon.
-Much of the crowd was made up of hopeful
-parents from the Plato colony who had come
-seven hundred miles by rocket plane to see
-their boys play.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div>
-<p>The champion Copernicus Comets ran out
-onto the field in big bouncing strides. For on
-the Moon a person was capable of jumping
-and running in great leaps because of the low
-gravity, only one-sixth of Earth’s.</p>
-<p>The Plato Rocketeers were the visiting
-team would bat first. When the outfielders
-had taken their positions, they were tiny forms
-far out in the distance with nothing but gray
-wilderness behind them for a backstop. There
-were eleven men in Moon baseball because
-of this greater outfield range. Two extra fielders
-played behind the shortstop and second
-baseman and were called “short fielders.”</p>
-<p>Bill noticed a wheel chair below the railing
-of the grandstand. His mother and dad had
-brought his crippled younger brother Skippy
-to see the game! Bill had known his parents
-were going to rocket over from Plato in time
-for the game, but they had not said Skippy
-would come along. Bill gave Skippy a wave
-and his little brother waved back.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div>
-<p>The lead-off batter for the Rocketeers
-walked to the plate swinging a bat, padded to
-keep it from hitting the ball too hard and
-far. The Comets’ ace pitcher, Carl Cadman,
-hurled three fast strikes over almost before the
-batter had gotten a good foothold. Carl struck
-out the next batter as well and then forced
-little Pete Irby to loft a high infield fly for the
-third out.</p>
-<p>“Let’s get ’em, Bill!” Ollie said excitedly as
-the Rocketeers took the field.</p>
-<p>“We’ll sure try,” Bill promised his catcher.</p>
-<p>Bill took the mound. With his space gloves
-he massaged rosin into the baseball. After getting
-the signal from Ollie, Bill swung his arm
-down and around. The batter swung sharply,
-driving the ball toward third. The baseman
-made a dive for the ball, but he missed it. His
-body seemed to glide in slow motion in the
-light gravity.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div>
-<p>Bill walked the next batter, making two on
-and none out. Jack Brenna, the Comets’ heaviest
-hitter, was up. Bill got two strikes on him
-and then Jack took a better toehold. As Bill
-saw bat and ball connect solidly on the next
-pitch, his heart fell.</p>
-<p>The ball arched like a comet across the dark
-sky. The left fielder took a dozen giant steps
-after the ball but then gave up. The ball
-seemed to be going for miles. It was a home
-run.</p>
-<p>The Comets did not score anymore that inning,
-but the damage seemed to be already
-done. The champions were leading 3-0.</p>
-<p>Bill was first up for the Rocketeers. As he
-went to the plate swinging a bat, his eye caught
-Skippy’s wheel chair, and he saw his game
-little brother waving encouragement. It made
-him want to try even harder to put his team
-out in front. Bill knew he would have to do it
-with his hitting, since he had failed as a
-pitcher.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div>
-<p>But Bill got no closer to a hit than a long
-foul into the stands. Then he struck out. The
-two teammates following him also failed to get
-on base.</p>
-<p>The game moved along with no more scoring
-for the next five innings. It was still 3-0.</p>
-<p>In the last of the seventh inning the Plato
-Rocketeers had more trouble. The first Comet
-batter topped the ball slowly to Pete at shortstop,
-who tried too hard to make the play.
-The ball rolled between his legs and the runner
-went all the way to second.</p>
-<p>Pete was so busy grumbling about his last
-error that he muffed the next play too. He
-jumped ten feet into the air trying to reach
-the high, bounding ball, but he misjudged it
-and it went on past. The runner on second
-loped down to third in long strides. Bill called
-time in order to give Pete a chance to settle
-down.</p>
-<p>“We’ll never win this game!” Pete groaned.
-“Why don’t you fellows say I’m not any good—like
-you’re thinking!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div>
-<p>“Stop talking like that!” Bill told him over
-his suit radio. “You’re thinking too much
-about going to Earth, Pete. You’re trying <i>too</i>
-hard!”</p>
-<p>“I’ll try to do better,” Pete promised.</p>
-<p>The next batter drove a high fly to center,
-sending the runner in from third and making
-the score 4-0. Bill walked the player following,
-but then he was lucky enough to strike out the
-hard-hitting Jack Brenna.</p>
-<p>The next Comet drove a hard liner to Pete.
-Pete scrambled for the ball, but once again
-he muffed it and it went on into the outfield.
-The shortfielder recovered it quickly but
-threw wide to third, sending the runner into
-the plate with the Comets’ fifth run.</p>
-<p>When Bill looked at Pete, the little fellow
-had thrown his big fielder’s glove into the air
-and was beginning to walk broken-heartedly
-off the diamond.</p>
-<p>“Pete!” Bill heard Coach Lippert call
-sharply over his suit radio as he ran onto the
-field. “Get back to your position, son! I don’t
-like a quitter on my team.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div>
-<p>Players and coach huddled in the infield.
-They looked like a gathering of teddy bears
-in the space suits. Bill could see tears of bitterness
-inside Pete’s plastic helmet.</p>
-<p>“Fellows,” the coach said, “what did we
-come seven hundred miles across the Moon to
-do?”</p>
-<p>“To play ball,” someone answered, “—and
-win.”</p>
-<p>“All right, then. What do you say we start
-doing it? Pete, I’m going to send you to left
-field where you used to play. Dan, in left field,
-will take your place at shortstop.”</p>
-<p>The Rocketeers retired the side without
-further scoring. Then as though to prove that
-the pep talk had helped, the team came up
-with three big runs of their own!</p>
-<p>Pitching with all his skill, Bill was able to
-set down the Comets in order. It was now the
-top half of the ninth inning, the last chance
-for Plato to win the game. They were still behind
-5-3, and the two-run lead seemed as big
-as the Milky Way to Bill.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div>
-<p>Dan started it off by walloping a double
-down the right field line. Pete followed with a
-single that bounced high over the right shortfielder’s
-head. The fielder behind him took the
-ball and threw quickly to his catcher to keep
-Dan from scoring off third. But then the
-Rocketeers’ luck seemed to have run out as the
-next two players struck out.</p>
-<p>“It’s all up to you, Bill,” the coach told his
-pitcher as Bill selected his favorite bat.</p>
-<p>“I’ll be swinging, coach,” Bill said determinedly.</p>
-<p>He looked toward the stands as he walked to
-the plate. Skippy was waving encouragement
-again.</p>
-<p>“This one is for you, Skippy,” Bill murmured,
-stepping up to the plate.</p>
-<p>Carl tried to make him swing on two bad
-pitches.</p>
-<p>“Careful,” Bill warned himself. “There are
-two outs—only one more left to us in the whole
-game!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div>
-<p>The next ball was just the one Bill wanted.
-He swung with all his might. He saw the ball
-rise and lose itself in the white dust of starlight
-overhead. And then he was off!</p>
-<p>Loping past second, he saw the left fielder
-still bounding like a rabbit after the ball. The
-coach slowed him up on third base.</p>
-<p>“Take it easy, Bill,” he said with a happy
-grin. “That ball is on the dark side of the
-Moon by now!”</p>
-<p>Bill could see the Plato rooters waving their
-arms wildly in glee, and his radio picked up
-their loud cheers. As he crossed the plate with
-the leading run, he waved to Skippy who was
-almost out of his wheel chair in his excitement
-over his big brother’s tingling homer.</p>
-<p>The score: Plato 6, Copernicus 5. The game
-was far from over, though. The Comets still
-had their last turn at bat.</p>
-<p>Bill got the first player to raise a high infield
-pop-up. In the Moon’s light gravity it
-seemed as if the ball would never come down.
-But it finally did, and Dan took it for the first
-out.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div>
-<p>Bill walked the next Comet, to put one on
-and with one out. The following batter forced
-the runner at second, making it two out and
-giving Bill a much more confident feeling.</p>
-<p>But then up to the plate walked Jack
-Brenna!</p>
-<p>Bill swallowed hard and began to sweat inside
-his space suit. He failed to get the ball
-over the plate on the first two pitches. Jack
-swung on the next pitch and sent a hard foul
-ball behind third base.</p>
-<p>“Must be careful,” Bill thought. “A homer
-with the man on base will win the game for
-the Comets.”</p>
-<p>Bill came though with a fast ball. Jack met
-it squarely and as the ball towered high over
-the infield, Jack felt all quivery and weak. He
-turned his head regretfully and saw the ball
-rising high and far against the midnight black
-of space. He saw little Pete Irby galloping
-away from the diamond as fast as he could go.</p>
-<p>“Get it, Pete!” Bill pleaded under his
-breath. “Please get it!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div>
-<p>Everybody in the stands was on his feet.
-This was the play that would decide the game—and
-the championship.</p>
-<p>Pete finally made a last second leap that
-brought him twenty feet off the ground. Bill
-could hardly see ball and glove meet. But they
-did meet and Pete had done the impossible!</p>
-<p>They had won!</p>
-<p>The Rocketeers whirled the coach and Bill
-easily up on their shoulders, because of the
-light Lunar weight. Then they began parading
-happily around the diamond to celebrate
-their very first championship. When Pete had
-made the long trip in from the outfield, he too
-was carried around on his teammates’ shoulders.</p>
-<p>“That was a swell catch, Pete!” Bill called
-out to the little fellow. “You sure saved the
-day for us!”</p>
-<p>“You know what, Bill?” Pete said, grinning.
-“If I’d missed that ball I would have kept on
-running—yep, right into space! I was determined
-to make that trip to Earth one way or
-another!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div>
-<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c13"><br /><i>PAPER TREASURE FOR MARS</i></h2>
-<p>Hugh Davone and Link Malloy
-sat at the wall desk of the space ship compartment
-poring over their albums of interplanetary
-postage stamps. The atom-powered
-<i>Princess of Mars</i>, cargo and passenger liner,
-was only a few hours out on its Earth-to-Mars
-run.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div>
-<p>“It makes me nervous thinking of the thousands
-of dollars’ worth of stamps we’re carrying
-in the wall safe,” Link said. “I don’t think
-I’m going to enjoy this trip.”</p>
-<p>“Take it easy, Link,” Hugh replied, with
-a lighthearted grin. “There are Space Guardsmen
-aboard ship to protect us.”</p>
-<p>The fellows were on their annual vacation
-from the Space Cadet Corps. Since cadets in
-training could ride any space ship free, the
-two were escorting a valuable shipment of Mr.
-Davone’s interplanetary stamps to another
-dealer opening up shop in Mars City.</p>
-<p>“I’m worrying about that white-haired old
-character your dad said asked suspicious questions
-at his shop the other day,” Link said.
-“Seems funny that he is making the trip to
-Mars the same time we are.”</p>
-<p>“Probably only a coincidence,” Hugh answered.
-“There’s only one flight a month to
-Mars, you know.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div>
-<p>“There are unscrupulous dealers who would
-give anything to lay their hands on our shipment,”
-Link went on. “This deal means an
-awful lot to your dad’s stamp business, Hugh.
-If we should bungle the job, he certainly
-would lose a lot.”</p>
-<p>“Sure he would,” Hugh agreed, then he
-added, “but we aren’t going to bungle it.”</p>
-<p>This seemed to satisfy Link and a smile of
-confidence deepened the corners of his broad,
-friendly mouth.</p>
-<p>Hugh picked up a stamp with his tongs. “I
-came across this duplicate from the Venus
-pictorial issue. It’s the six-dollar blue of the
-Valley of Mists. Have you got it?”</p>
-<p>Link leaned over. “No! What have you
-been doing, Hugh, holding out on me? How
-about some of my 2027 Lunar commems in
-trade?”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div>
-<p>They worked out an exchange. The Lunar
-stamps were curious specimens, imperforate
-and circular. They depicted the Lunar hemisphere
-which faces Earth. The single-stamp
-issue had been distributed on the fiftieth anniversary
-of man’s first landing on the moon
-and was much in demand.</p>
-<p>Suddenly there was a knock on the outer
-door of the compartment.</p>
-<p>Hugh got up and went to the door. As he
-walked, his magnetic-sole shoes rasped against
-the metallic floor like a knife being honed. He
-opened the door.</p>
-<p>A man with the face and build of a leprechaun
-looked at Hugh. His pale but alert blue
-eyes peered steadily into Hugh’s. Hugh also
-began to wonder why this customer at Davone’s
-Philatelic Shop should be making the
-voyage to Mars with them.</p>
-<p>“Yes, sir?” Hugh asked.</p>
-<p>“May I come in?” the man asked. “My name
-is Oscar Benasco.”</p>
-<p>Hugh hesitated, thinking about the valuable
-cargo, then he replied reluctantly,
-“Yes.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div>
-<p>“Your father certainly has a fine shop, Hugh
-Davone,” the elderly man said brightly as he
-entered. “However, I was disappointed to find
-out that he had packed up some of his choicest
-space items and was selling them to Mr. Elfs,
-a dealer on Mars.”</p>
-<p>“You know quite a lot, Mr. Benasco,” Link
-remarked coolly.</p>
-<p>“Yes, I pride myself on my shrewdness,”
-Mr. Benasco replied in a modest manner. His
-roving eyes came to rest on the boys’ albums.
-“I see you two have collections of your own.”</p>
-<p>“Nothing very valuable,” Hugh replied.
-“But we enjoy our stamps just the same.”</p>
-<p>“Ah, yes,” Benasco said. His eyes brightened
-with eagerness and he placed the tips of
-his outspread fingers together. “Speaking of
-valuable items—those you are taking to Mars—no
-doubt you keep them in your compartment
-safe. I wonder if you might show them
-to me?”</p>
-<p>“I’m sorry, Mr. Benasco,” Hugh said, “but
-I promised my dad I wouldn’t take the stamps
-out to show anyone until they were safely in
-the hands of Mr. Elfs on Mars.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div>
-<p>Benasco looked completely crestfallen. His
-rounded shoulders slumped and the most
-pained expression covered his face. “Surely
-just a look—” he pleaded.</p>
-<p>“If you are going to Mars, as you must be,”
-Hugh went on, “you’ll be able to see them all
-in Mr. Elfs’s shop, and you can talk to him
-about any stamps you might want to buy.”</p>
-<p>“Then that’s your final answer?” Mr. Benasco
-asked, his disappointment giving way
-to annoyance.</p>
-<p>“I’m afraid it must be,” Hugh told him.
-“I’m sorry.”</p>
-<p>“You’ve disappointed me sorely, young
-man,” Mr. Benasco retorted. “Good day to
-you.”</p>
-<p>He turned briskly and clattered out the
-door. As he left, Hugh caught sight of the
-handle of an old type miniature rocket pistol
-protruding from his coat pocket.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div>
-<p>“Did you see that pistol?” Link asked, in
-surprise. “It’s a wonder he didn’t hold us up
-for the stamps right here and now! But I
-guess he was afraid to risk it.”</p>
-<p>“For a moment I almost felt sorry for him
-and was about to give in,” Hugh admitted.
-“Now I’m glad I didn’t.”</p>
-<p>In the days that followed, Hugh and Link
-saw little of Mr. Benasco except in the dining
-room.</p>
-<p>One morning, near the end of the flight,
-Hugh and Link were standing in front of
-their compartment port looking out. The
-orange-red globe of Mars was so dominant
-that it seemed to press back the surrounding
-stars and nebulae to near obscurity.</p>
-<p>“Only a few more days and our shipment
-will be safely in the hands of Mr. Elfs in Mars
-City,” Hugh said. “Then Mr. Benasco will be
-Mr. Elfs’s worry.”</p>
-<p>“That will be just dandy as far as I’m concerned,”
-Link replied earnestly.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div>
-<p>By this year of 2031, space mail service had
-increased to such proportions that it had
-opened up a brand new field of stamp specialization
-for the philatelist. It was for this reason
-that Mr. Elfs was attempting a stamp hobby
-business in Mars City. Mr. Davone’s portfolios
-of both low and high values was to provide
-him with the bulk of his opening merchandise.</p>
-<p>Even the most remote colonies of the Solar
-System, including the farthest on Triton, Neptune,
-had their own postage by now. The lone
-Triton bi-color, picturing Valhalla Peak, tallest
-mountain yet discovered in the System, was
-one of the most wanted by collectors.</p>
-<p>Suddenly the chimes for lunch were heard
-over the compartment intercom.</p>
-<p>Entering the dining room, Hugh and Link
-saw Benasco in his usual place at the end of
-the table near the door. They took their seats
-and Link smiled at his plate. “Cubed beef,
-Hugh.”</p>
-<p>Hugh grinned. “You can’t say they don’t
-aim to please on the <i>Princess of Mars</i>.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div>
-<p>But the fellows did not get to finish their
-cubed roast, nor did anyone else at the table.</p>
-<p>A shock hit the ship like an unheralded
-thunderbolt. Hugh had the crazy feeling of
-being in a nightmare. After the deafening report,
-he felt his lap belt snap, and then he was
-hoisted out of his chair as though in the vortex
-of a whirlwind. The table tore loose from the
-floor fittings. Hugh bounced into a coffee urn
-and it nearly stunned him. Groans of distress
-from those around him filled his ears.</p>
-<p>“What has happened?” Hugh thought
-dazedly.</p>
-<p>The ship’s disaster siren pealed along the
-corridors of the <i>Princess of Mars</i>. Medical men
-with stretchers came running and officers
-snapped out brisk orders. Hugh groped anxiously
-through the melee for Link. He struggled
-over twisted chair tubing and found his
-friend helping those who were hurt.</p>
-<p>“We’ve got work to do,” Link told him.</p>
-<p>Hugh rolled up his sleeves. He was still
-giddy. “I’m ready,” he said.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div>
-<p>It was reported later that there were no
-fatalities, but there were enough injured persons
-to keep the infirmary staff busy for awhile.</p>
-<p>Hugh and Link, working side by side with
-the medical men, had not seen anything of
-Benasco since the accident. The ship’s engineers
-revealed that a meteorite had caused
-the disaster. It had struck fairly close to the
-compartment occupied by Hugh and Link.
-Hugh shuddered to think what it would have
-been like to have been tossed about in their
-room like a pea in a whistle. Such would have
-been his and Link’s fate had the strike occurred
-half an hour earlier.</p>
-<p>The cadets had not yet had the opportunity
-to check their quarters for damage. When the
-physician in charge finally freed them with
-thanks for their help, Hugh thought about
-the stamps for the first time since the unnerving
-incident.</p>
-<p>“Link,” he said urgently, “we’ve got to get
-back and check on those stamps! This has been
-a perfect set up for Benasco and his scheme!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div>
-<p>“Right behind you,” Link said as they hurried
-from the infirmary.</p>
-<p>Along the way, the two found warped walls
-and doors that had been flung open. Luckily
-all the occupants in the worst-hit area had
-been in the dining room at the terrible moment,
-or there surely would have been fatalities.</p>
-<p>Reaching their compartment, Hugh and
-Link found that the door had been forced
-open by the explosion.</p>
-<p>Hugh hurried over to the wall safe. He felt
-a chill of dread race through him. The vault
-door also was open and the chamber was
-empty.</p>
-<p>“They’re gone!” Hugh said hoarsely. “All
-of Dad’s stamps are gone!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div>
-<p>Hugh slumped remorsefully on his cot, taut
-fingers combing through his hair. “Dad
-wanted to have the stamps insured,” he said
-bitterly, “but I was trying to save him money.
-The insurance fee was enormous, and on top
-of that he would have had to pay the fare both
-to and from Mars for the agents who would
-carry the shipment. How I wish they had done
-it now!”</p>
-<p>“If Benasco has the stamps, we may still be
-able to recover them,” Link said. “Let’s go
-see him.”</p>
-<p>Hugh got up, his face set, his palm shaped
-into a fist. “If Benasco <i>is</i> the one, I’ll personally—oh,
-never mind! Come on!”</p>
-<p>They moved down corridor “E,” which was
-away from the center of the damage. This was
-the hall where they knew Benasco’s room was
-located. Scarcely anybody was in the section
-at present. Those who resided in the nearby
-rooms were either helping out in the emergency,
-or they were idly watching the beginning
-of repairs. The outside meteor bumper
-and the inner buffer bulkheads had kept the
-destruction to a minimum. By automatically
-sealing themselves off from the rest of the ship
-at the moment of impact, the protective bulkheads
-had kept the ship from being decompressed.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div>
-<p>Hugh and Link found their suspect’s door
-closed. Hugh walked up to it and tried the
-knob.</p>
-<p>The door opened under Hugh’s push, but
-the compartment was vacant.</p>
-<p>“He’s gone,” Link said.</p>
-<p>“He must be somewhere close by,” Hugh
-returned impatiently. “We haven’t passed him
-on the way, so he must be farther down the
-corridor.”</p>
-<p>“Maybe he’s looking for a place to hide the
-portfolios until we land,” Link suggested. “He
-knows we’ll suspect him of taking them.”</p>
-<p>Hugh nodded. “Let’s go.”</p>
-<p>As the two moved ahead down the quiet
-passageway, Link spoke in a tense voice, “Do
-you think we’re right trying to tackle that little
-guy alone? We’re each bigger than he is, but
-he’s got a pistol and we haven’t.”</p>
-<p>“We’ll be careful,” Hugh promised.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div>
-<p>There were a number of storerooms lining
-the corridor. The cadets checked one after another.
-The rooms were shrouded in tomblike
-silence and full of dark hiding places. But the
-search revealed no sign of Benasco or the missing
-portfolios.</p>
-<p>“He seems to have disappeared right into
-the air,” Link said discouragingly. “Hugh, I
-hate to say it, but something tells me we aren’t
-going to see either Benasco or those stamps
-again.”</p>
-<p>They were approaching the door of an
-outer-ship repair room. Hugh knew that a
-ladder in this room led directly up to the outside
-hull of the ship.</p>
-<p>“You’re probably thinking along the same
-lines that I am, Link,” Hugh replied gravely.
-“It may be farfetched, but a person as shrewd
-as Mr. Benasco makes out to be might have
-cooked up a pretty clever plan. He may have
-had a portable transmitter hidden somewhere
-so that he could contact another party outside
-the ship.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div>
-<p>“I get it!” Link said. “He might have radioed
-this crony in a space taxi to meet him on
-the outer skin. Then they could both take off
-with the loot and either land on Mars or on
-one of the moons!”</p>
-<p>As Link spoke, Hugh was staring through
-the plastic window of the room. A wall hid
-much of the interior from view. Suddenly he
-saw the very man they were seeking cross the
-room and disappear beyond the corner of the
-concealing wall.</p>
-<p>Link caught a glimpse of him too. “Hey!”
-he burst out. “Wasn’t that <i>him</i>?”</p>
-<p>“It sure was,” Hugh replied, feeling better
-now. “He probably just entered the room
-from another door along the next side corridor.”</p>
-<p>Hugh gently turned the knob and the door
-swung open soundlessly. “We’ll slip in softly,”
-he whispered. “Then we can try to take him
-by surprise around the corner up ahead. We’ll
-have to watch our step because he’s probably
-desperate and will have his pistol ready for use.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div>
-<p>“He deserves to get twenty years for a theft
-like this,” Link whispered fiercely. “How did
-he ever expect to get away with it?”</p>
-<p>“He <i>won’t</i> get away with it,” Hugh whispered
-confidently. “Right now he’s probably
-getting into a space suit so he can pop through
-the outer hatch and join his confederate outside.”</p>
-<p>They had reached the corner on tiptoe.
-Hugh, in the lead, peered carefully around
-the corner. He gaped in surprise at what he
-saw:</p>
-<p>Benasco was seated on the floor like a child
-with a new scrapbook, and he was chattering
-away ecstatically to himself!</p>
-<p>“My, oh, my, what a splendid group!” he
-was saying. “There’s a <i>tete beche</i> pair of old
-1989 Space Stations I’ve always wanted! And
-look at this one—a full sheet of Europa triangles!
-Oscar Benasco will have the most
-splendid collection of space stamps in all the
-Solar System!”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div>
-<div class="img" id="pic5">
-<img src="images/i06.jpg" alt="Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook" width="500" height="601" />
-<p class="caption"><i>Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook</i></p>
-</div>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div>
-<p>Hugh came out of hiding, followed by Link.
-“The jig’s up, Mr. Benasco,” Hugh said.
-“How about returning our property?”</p>
-<p>The old man was so preoccupied that he
-did not notice Hugh and Link immediately.
-“Dear, dear,” he purred, “what a beautiful
-set of Einstein memorial surcharges! I wonder
-if young Davone will break up the set? I
-have some of them.”</p>
-<p>“He’s just a queer old guy,” Link remarked
-as the two of them strode up to him.</p>
-<p>“Oh, hello, boys,” Mr. Benasco greeted
-them casually. “I was hoping I’d found a place
-where I wouldn’t be disturbed for awhile. I
-knew you’d come by my room. I hope you
-don’t mind the liberty I’ve taken with your
-stamps. But I did <i>ask</i> to see them and you
-refused, you know?”</p>
-<p>Hugh took from him the portfolio he was
-holding. “How many stamps have you removed
-from here?” he demanded.</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_189">189</div>
-<p>The man’s snowy brows went up in surprised
-indignation. “Removed?” he shrilled,
-his face coloring. “I’ve never been accused of
-stealing in my life, sir! I merely borrowed your
-collection to see if it has the items I need.
-When the explosion blew open your safe, it
-was simply a temptation I could not resist.”</p>
-<p>“Those rare items you need cost money,”
-Hugh reminded him. “Lots of it.”</p>
-<p>“Young man,” Mr. Benasco grunted, “you
-do not need to tell me of the value of postage
-stamps. I’m well acquainted with Scott’s catalogue.
-I have every intention of paying for
-my merchandise.” He pulled out such a wad
-of bills that Link gasped. “You see, I <i>can</i> pay.”</p>
-<p>“What about that rocket pistol you’re carrying
-in your pocket, Mr. Benasco?” Link
-asked suspiciously. “Do you always go around
-armed?”</p>
-<p>“Oh, this?” the old man asked, taking out
-the rusted miniature model. “This is nothing
-but an old relic of mine when I was a space
-hand myself on a freighter. I carry it with me
-sometimes, because it gives me a feeling of confidence.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_190">190</div>
-<p>Hugh chuckled as a vast feeling of relief
-came over him. “You certainly had us fooled,
-Mr. Benasco. We thought surely you were a
-stamp thief out to steal our valuable stamps.”</p>
-<p>“Perhaps my methods have puzzled you
-somewhat,” Mr. Benasco declared. “But I
-had to see those rarities before you got rid of
-them. Somebody might have bought them before
-I could. Perhaps Mr. Elfs would have
-held them out for his own collection. You
-must sell them to me, young man! I believe I
-should die if I could not get them! Stamps
-represent the only pleasure that is left to me.”</p>
-<p>“All right, Mr. Benasco, since it means so
-much to you,” Hugh agreed, smiling. “Being
-a hobbyist myself, I know what a hold stamps
-can have on a person. We’ll take the portfolios
-back to our compartment and discuss the
-stamps you want. But if my father or Mr. Elfs
-complains about this, you’ll have to share the
-blame.”</p>
-<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div>
-<p>“Gladly, gladly,” was the willing reply.
-“Do you mind telling us why you’re going
-to Mars, Mr. Benasco?” Link asked.</p>
-<p>“I’ve got a son there working on a canal
-project. He invited me and my stamp collection
-to come and stay as long as I liked, since
-I had lived with my other son so long in the
-States. I thought it was nice of him.”</p>
-<p>As Hugh and Link were leading the way
-out of the room, the portfolios safely tucked
-under their arms, Hugh remarked in a whisper
-to his pal, “Link, I’ll never prejudge another
-person as long as I live.”</p>
-<p>Link stole a look back at Mr. Benasco who
-was clicking along behind and smiling rapturously.
-“That calls for a mutual pledge, Hugh,”
-Link replied soberly, with a shake of his head.
-“Let’s shake on it.”</p>
-<p>And they did.</p>
-<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul>
-<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li>
-<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li>
-<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li>
-</ul>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-<pre>
-
-
-
-
-
-End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Young Readers Science Fiction Stories, by
-Richard Mace Elam
-
-*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG READERS SCIENCE FICTION ***
-
-***** This file should be named 53456-h.htm or 53456-h.zip *****
-This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
- http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/4/5/53456/
-
-Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, MFR and the Online
-Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
-be renamed.
-
-Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
-law 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 in the United States with eBooks
-not protected by U.S. copyright law. 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
-www.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 unprotected by copyright law 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 in the United States and
- most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the
- United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you
- are located before using this ebook.
-
-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (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 The
-Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, 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
-works not protected by U.S. copyright law 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 1.F.3. 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 MERCHANTABILITY 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 information page at
-www.gutenberg.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. 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 in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the
-mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, 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 contact links and up to
-date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and
-official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
-
-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 www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-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 checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.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 forty 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 not protected by copyright 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: 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.
-
-
-
-</pre>
-
-</body>
-</html>
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!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=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>Young Readers Science Fiction Stories, by Richard M. Elam: a Project Gutenberg eBook</title> +<meta name="author" content="Richard M. Elam" /> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://dublincore.org/documents/1998/09/dces/" /> +<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Richard M. Elam (****)" /> +<meta name="DC.Contributor" content="Victor Prezio (Ill.)" /> +<meta name="DC.Title" content="Young Readers Science Fiction Stories" /> +<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> +<meta name="DC.Format" content="text/html" /> +<meta name="pss.pubdate" content="1957" /> +<meta name="DC.Created" content="1957" /> +<style type="text/css"> +xbody, table.twocol tr td { margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em; } /* BODY */ + +h1, h2, h3, h5, h6, .titlepg p { text-align:center; clear:right; } /* HEADINGS */ +h1 { margin-top:3em; margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; max-width:15em; } +.box h1, .box h2 { margin-top:.5em; } +h2, h3 { margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:2em; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width: 17em; } +h6 { font-size:100%; font-style:italic; } +h6.var { font-size:80%; font-style:normal; } +.titlepg { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border-style:double; clear:both; } + +/* == BOXES == */ +.dbox { border-style:double; } +div.box, .dbox { margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:25em;} +.nbox { margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:18em;} +div.box, div.subbox, div.nbox { border-style:solid; border-width:1px; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; } +div.subbox { margin:.2em; } +div.box dl dd, div.subbox dl dd, div.nbox dl dd {margin-left:2em; font-size:90%; } +div.box dl dt, div.subbox dl dt, div.nbox dl dt {margin-left:1em; } +div.box p {margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em; } +h4 { font-size:80%; text-align:center; clear:right; } +span.chaptertitle { font-style:normal; display:block; text-align:center; font-size:150%; } + +p, blockquote, li { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } /* PARAGRAPHS */ +p.bq, blockquote { margin-left:2em; margin-right:2em; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; } +div.verse { font-size:100%; } +p.indent {text-indent:2em; text-align:left; } +p.tb, p.tbcenter { margin-top:2em; } + +span.pb, div.pb, dt.pb, p.pb /* PAGE BREAKS */ +{ text-align:right; float:right; margin-right:0em; clear:right; } +div.pb { display:inline; } +.pb, dt.pb, dl.toc dt.pb, dl.tocl dt.pb, .index dt.pb { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left: 1.5em; + margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; display:inline; text-indent:0; + font-size:80%; font-style:normal; font-weight:bold; + color:gray; border:1px solid gray;padding:1px 3px; } +div.index .pb { display:block; } +.bq div.pb, .bq span.pb { font-size:90%; margin-right:2em; } + +div.img, body a img, .imgcenter {text-align:center; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; margin-top:2em; clear:both; } + +sup, a.fn { font-size:75%; vertical-align:100%; line-height:50%; font-weight:normal; } +.center, .tbcenter, .caption { text-align:center; clear:both; } /* TEXTUAL MARKUP */ +.caption { margin-top:0; } +table.center { clear:both; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } +.small { font-size:80%; } +.smaller { font-size:66%; } +.smallest { font-size:50%; } +.larger, .xlarge { font-size:150%; } +.large { font-size:125%; } +.gs { letter-spacing:1em; } +.gs3 { letter-spacing:1.5em; } +.gslarge { letter-spacing:.3em; font-size:110%; } +.sc { font-variant:small-caps; font-style: normal; } +.sc i { font-variant:normal; } +.rubric { color: red; } +hr { width:40%; margin-left:30%; } +.shorthr { width:20%; } +.jl { text-align:left; } +span.jl { float:left; } +.jr, .jr1 { text-align:right; } +span.jr, span.jr1, span.center, span.jl { display:block; } +.jr1 { margin-right:2em; } +.ind1 { text-align:left; margin-left:2em; } +.u { text-decoration:underline; } + +table.center { border-style: groove; } +table.center, table.hymntab { clear:both; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + +dd.t { text-align:left; margin-left: 5.5em; } + +span.date, span.author { text-align:right; font-variant:small-caps; display:block; margin-right:1em; } +span.center { text-align:center; display:block; } +span.hst { margin-left:1.5em; } +.biblio dt { margin-top:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } +.biblio dd { font-size:90%; } + +/* INDEX (.INDEX) */ + +/* FOOTNOTE BLOCKS */ +div.notes p { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; text-align:justify; max-width:25em; } +.fnblock { margin-top:2em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; max-width:25em; } +.fndef { text-align:justify; margin-top:1.5em; margin-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } +.fndef p.fncont, .fndef dl { margin-left:0em; text-indent:0em; } +.fndef p.fnbq, .fndef dl { margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em; } + +.lnum { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left:.5em; /* POETRY LINE NUMBER */ +display:inline; } + +.hymn { text-align:left; } /* HYMN AND VERSE: HTML */ +.verse { text-align:left; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:0em; } +p.t0, p.l, .t0, .l, div.l, l { margin-left:4em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.tw, div.tw, .tw { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t, div.t, .t { margin-left:5em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t2, div.t2, .t2 { margin-left:6em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t3, div.t3, .t3 { margin-left:7em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t4, div.t4, .t4 { margin-left:8em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t5, div.t5, .t5 { margin-left:9em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t6, div.t6, .t6 { margin-left:10em; text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t7, div.t7, .t7 { margin-left:11em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t8, div.t8, .t8 { margin-left:12em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t9, div.t9, .t9 { margin-left:13em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t10,div.t10,.t10 { margin-left:14em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t11,div.t11,.t11 { margin-left:15em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t12,div.t12,.t12 { margin-left:16em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t13,div.t13,.t13 { margin-left:17em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t14,div.t14,.t14 { margin-left:18em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } +p.t15,div.t15,.t15 { margin-left:19em;text-indent:-3em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:left; } + + /* CONTENTS (.TOC) */ + .toc dt.center { text-align:center; clear:both; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; } + .toc dt { text-align:right; clear:left; + margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } + .toc dt.jr { text-align:right; } + .toc dt.smaller { max-width:35em; } + .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; } + .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; } + .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; } + .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; } + .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; } + .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } + .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; } + .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn, dt span.cn { width:3.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; } + dt .large {font-weight:bold; } + div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } + div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } + +.clear { clear:both; } +.htab { margin-left:8em; } + /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */ + p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p.smaller { max-width:37em; } + blockquote { max-width:23em; } + + + div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } +/* book advertisements */ + p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } + p.bkrv { } + dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } + dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 53456 ***</div> + +<div id="cover" class="img"> +<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Young Readers Science Fiction Stories" width="500" height="752" /> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<h1><span class="smaller">YOUNG READERS</span> +<br />Science Fiction Stories</h1> +<p class="center">By RICHARD M. ELAM</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">ILLUSTRATED BY</span> +<br />VICTOR PREZIO</p> +<div class="img" id="i00"> +<img src="images/i00.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="300" height="250" /> +</div> +<p class="center"><i>Publishers</i> <span class="small">GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.</span> <i>New York</i></p> +</div> +<p class="center smaller">© 1957 by +<br />LANTERN PRESS, INC. +<br />By arrangement with Lantern Press, Inc.</p> +<p class="center smaller">PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN CANADA BY +<br />GEORGE J. MC LEOD, LIMITED, TORONTO, ONTARIO +<br />MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> +<p class="tbcenter">TO +<br />THE YOUNG TRAVELERS +<br />OF TOMORROW</p> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> +<dl class="toc"> +<dt><a href="#c1"><i>Beth and the Twilight Star</i></a> 13</dt> +<dt><a href="#c2"><i>Gib Takes a Space Test</i></a> 28</dt> +<dt><a href="#c3"><i>The Space Mail Run</i></a> 39</dt> +<dt><a href="#c4"><i>All Aboard for Space</i></a> 55</dt> +<dt><a href="#c5"><i>Wheel in the Sky</i></a> 69</dt> +<dt><a href="#c6"><i>Danger on the Ice Canal</i></a> 83</dt> +<dt><a href="#c7"><i>Cargo for Callisto</i></a> 95</dt> +<dt><a href="#c8"><i>The Big Show on Titan</i></a> 107</dt> +<dt><a href="#c9"><i>Adventure on the Sun’s Doorstep</i></a> 119</dt> +<dt><a href="#c10"><i>The Flying Mountain</i></a> 132</dt> +<dt><a href="#c11"><i>Castaways in Space</i></a> 144</dt> +<dt><a href="#c12"><i>The Big Space Ball Game</i></a> 158</dt> +<dt><a href="#c13"><i>Paper Treasure for Mars</i></a> 171</dt> +</dl> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2><i>ILLUSTRATIONS</i></h2> +<dl class="toc"> +<dt><a href="#pic1">She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes</a> 22</dt> +<dt><a href="#pic2">Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord</a> 62</dt> +<dt><a href="#pic3">The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward</a> 81</dt> +<dt><a href="#pic4">He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer</a> 128</dt> +<dt><a href="#pic5">Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook</a> 187</dt> +</dl> +<h1 title=""><span class="smaller">YOUNG READERS</span> +<br />Science Fiction Stories</h1> +<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c1"><br /><i>BETH AND THE TWILIGHT STAR</i></h2> +<p>Beth Harrison and her father +had driven into the desert to look for dead +branches of “jumping cactus,” which were used +in making lamps for Mr. Harrison’s tourist +shop in Tucson. He and Beth had just gotten +out of the station wagon and were gazing up a +slope of bristly cacti.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> +<p>“This looks like a good place, Daddy,” Beth +said.</p> +<p>Mr. Harrison nodded. “We’ll have to hurry, +though. It’s getting late.”</p> +<p>They started up the sandy slope carrying +straw market bags that would hold their gleanings.</p> +<p>“Maybe we’ll see some Flying Saucers,” +Beth said half-jokingly. “Someone thought he +saw one out here the other day.”</p> +<p>Her father grinned. “Flying Saucers indeed! +You and that lively imagination of yours, +Beth!”</p> +<p>They set to work searching for dead +branches. They found a few good specimens. +But they were not enough to suit Beth and +she decided to broaden the search. She went +over the slope and up and down another, and +before long her roaming carried her out of +sight of her father.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> +<p>Amidst the stunning colors of the sunset, +Beth could make out a lone star—Sirius—the +brightest true star in all the sky. It reminded +her of a pearl glowing in the heavens.</p> +<p>Presently Beth had a bag full of cactus wood +for the lamp shop. She was about to return to +her father when suddenly she saw something +ahead that she had not noticed before. Almost +hidden within a dense thicket of smoky green +<i>paloverde</i> was a shiny surface that reflected +the dying sun’s rays. Her imagination stirred, +Beth decided to investigate.</p> +<p>She put down her bag and made her way +into the thicket. As she moved carefully +through the thorns, she found some of the +branches pushed aside as if someone had used +this path before. She was almost through when +she tripped and fell head-first. Her forehead +bumped against an unyielding branch, causing +her to see more than one star this time.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> +<p>She didn’t know how long she lay on the +ground half-stunned before she got to her +feet. There was a painful bruise on her forehead, +but her curiosity was still strong and she +went on. The shiny surface turned out to be +a wall as smooth and glossy as steel.</p> +<p>“Jeepers!” Beth thought. “What can it be?”</p> +<p>She reached out to touch the wall. Before +she could do so, a door opened in the wall.</p> +<p>The first thing she noticed beyond was a +soft yellow light filling a handsome room. Feeling +like Alice on the threshold of Wonderland, +she stepped inside, more thrilled than afraid.</p> +<p>She heard a sighing behind her and saw the +door closing shut. Only then did she become +frightened. She beat against the wall, wishing +that she had not been so rash as to venture +into such a strange place.</p> +<p>She heard a voice say, “That will not help.”</p> +<p>Beth turned and saw a girl of about her own +age standing on a richly-carpeted platform +across the room. The odd unearthliness of the +girl struck Beth immediately. She was pretty +and her skin was milky white. Her costume +seemed to be of a blue phosphorescent material, +as did her shoes. Her short hair was almost as +red as glowing coals.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> +<p>“Wh—who are you?” Beth stammered.</p> +<p>“I am Linnia,” the girl replied in a voice +that sounded almost as if she were singing. +“You are Beth.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” Beth replied in amazement, “but +how did you—?”</p> +<p>“I can read your mind.”</p> +<p>Beth gulped. “You can?”</p> +<p>“Come over and sit down,” Linnia said. +“We shall talk.”</p> +<p>She sat in a nearby chair that seemed to be +made of steel matchsticks, it looked so frail. +Beth sat in the chair opposite and found that +it was very sturdy.</p> +<p>“You are thinking that I look very strange +to you,” Linnia said. “You seem strange to me +too, but that is because we are of different +worlds.”</p> +<p>Beth gulped again. “D—different worlds?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> +<p>Suddenly the yellow light in the room +changed to a pulsing orange. Linnia straightened +up quickly. “That is the signal,” she +spoke. “I did not expect it so soon. We must +hurry and prepare ourselves!”</p> +<p>Beth started asking questions, but Linnia +said not now. Beth found herself following the +girl across the room to a row of couches. Beth +lay down on one and somehow knew exactly +what she was to do. She guessed that Linnia +was putting the thoughts into her head. She +lifted the straps that hung at the sides and +buckled them across her body.</p> +<p>The couch was soft as a cloud and Beth +was thinking how much she would like to +have a bed like this when all at once she felt +herself sinking deeply into the cushion as if +a great hand were thrusting her down. For +several moments she was as giddy as if she +were riding the roller-coaster at the carnival. +Then finally her breath came back and she +felt herself rise to the top of the cushion again.</p> +<p>“We can get up,” she heard Linnia say. +“We’re coasting now.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> +<p>They unbuckled their straps and rose to +their feet. Linnia walked over to the wall, +pressed a button, and a blind rolled back, +revealing a long window.</p> +<p>“Look,” Linnia said.</p> +<p>Beth joined her and looked out the window. +Her heart fairly rose into her throat. She was +up in the sky, far up in the sky! Through a +veil of clouds beneath she could see the curve +of the earth itself!</p> +<p>Beth seized Linnia by the arm. “Jeepers, +what’s going on! Where are you taking me?”</p> +<p>Linnia pointed to the white beacon of Sirius +in the blue-black sky.</p> +<p>“You’re from Sirius?” Beth asked in amazement.</p> +<p>“Yes, from Tata Moori, one of its planets. +Our work on earth is through for right now +and my father and I are returning home to +make a report.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> +<p>Linnia went on to say that her father’s space +ship was only one of many which were studying +the earth to see how the people here lived. +Her father’s assignment had been to make an +analysis of the soil. The visitors intended no +harm and in time they planned to meet the +people of earth face to face.</p> +<p>“Well, I have already met you,” Beth said +boldly, “and I’m ready to go back!”</p> +<p>Linnia shook her flame-topped head. “We +tried to keep our ship hidden, but you found +it, Beth, and so there is nothing to do but take +you back with us for awhile. When you came +close, the electric eye opened the door and let +you inside before it was time for any earth +person to see one of our ships.”</p> +<p>“But my father and mother,” Beth said +desperately, “and my friends! They’ll be worried +to death! You must not take me, Linnia! +Please, isn’t there something you can do?”</p> +<p>Linnia studied Beth’s pleading face. Then +she replied, “I’ll talk to my father. He’s busy +running the ship, but I’ll do what I can for +you. While I’m gone, you can see what it’s like +on our world by pushing the button on that +cabinet against the wall. Father and I look at +the film sometimes to keep from getting homesick.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> +<p>Beth was in no mood for looking at pictures. +She was feeling worse by the minute as +she considered what it would be like to be +parted from her family and friends. As she sat +in the chair, dreading and wondering, suddenly +it became too much for her and she +began to cry.</p> +<p>“Jeepers, why did I ever wander off from +Daddy?” she moaned.</p> +<p>The tears made her feel better and presently +she was calm enough to go over to the cabinet +and turn it on. A large screen brightened and +she saw a strange land unfolding before her +eyes.</p> +<p>There were winding highways raised into +the sky and skyscrapers like tall crystal columns. +She saw motorcars of tear-drop design +and helicopters filling the air. The people +looked much like Linnia, with phosphorescent +clothing, and all had hair as flaming red as +Linnia’s own.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> +<div class="img" id="pic1"> +<img src="images/i02.jpg" alt="She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes" width="500" height="673" /> +<p class="caption"><i>She saw a strange land unfolding before her eyes</i></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> +<p>Yes, Tata Moori looked like an exciting +place to visit, but it was not a visit Beth would +want to make without another person from her +own planet. As she thought about her predicament, +she began to be scared again and the +tears filled her eyes once more. Why, Sirius +was <i>trillions</i> of miles from Earth!</p> +<p>She went to the window. The dwindling +earth was becoming a green ball against the +black deeps of space. The stars were dazzling +and seemed as countless as the sands of the +seashore. The view made Beth terribly homesick.</p> +<p>Finally Linnia returned.</p> +<p>Beth looked at her anxiously, trying to read +her fate in the foreign girl’s eyes.</p> +<p>“What did your father say?” Beth asked, +with fluttering heart. “Did he say he’d take me +back? Please tell me he did!”</p> +<p>Linnia smiled. “Yes, Beth. He said that we +are not supposed to take younger persons to +Tata Moori. He was angry with me for not +telling him you were aboard, but I told him +you came in just before we blasted off.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> +<p>“Gee, I’m so relieved!” Beth said happily. +“I don’t mean I wouldn’t like your company, +Linnia, but you know how it is.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I know,” Linnia replied wistfully. “I +have missed my mother and friends too. I had +to take my brother’s place on this trip when +he became sick. You see, everyone on Tata +Moori learns science when they are very +young.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been wondering how it is that you +speak English, Linnia.”</p> +<p>“We keep tuned in on your radio and television,” +Linnia answered. “That’s how we +learned your language and so many other +things about you.”</p> +<p>“You people seem to be ahead of us in +progress,” Beth said. “I believe there is much +we can learn from you.”</p> +<p>“We can learn much from you too,” Linnia +spoke. “I hope the people of our planets are +permitted to meet very soon.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> +<p>The girls had to belt down on their couches +again because of the mounting speed at which +they were returning to earth. Beth felt herself +sinking deeply into her cushion once more +and she grew breathless again. Minutes later, +the ship stopped moving.</p> +<p>Beth hurriedly unbuckled and ran over to +the window. Through a break in the <i>paloverde</i> +thicket she could see her father’s station wagon +parked at the roadside. She was back at the +same place she had started from.</p> +<p>“Thank goodness!” she breathed.</p> +<p>Linnia walked with her to the outer door.</p> +<p>“My father said he’d like to have met you,” +Linnia said, “but he is too busy preparing for +our blast off again. We must hurry because we +are behind schedule. Before you leave, Beth, +Father has said that you must promise never +to speak a word about all this to anyone. I +have searched your mind and I know you to +be honest.”</p> +<p>Beth was disappointed that she could not +make known her fabulous journey, but she +promised that she would never tell.</p> +<p>Linnia waved her hand at the door and the +electric eye opened it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> +<p>“Goodbye, Beth,” Linnia said.</p> +<p>“Goodbye, Linnia.”</p> +<p>Beth heard the sighing of the door as it +closed behind her.</p> +<p>Suddenly her head began aching and she remembered +the fall she had taken earlier. As +she made her way out of the thicket, she began +to have a queer feeling about her adventure. +It made her wonder if perhaps she might not +have been unconscious and imagined the +whole thing.</p> +<p>When she reached the car, her father said +with some concern, “You were gone so long I +started to come for you, Beth. What happened +to your forehead?”</p> +<p>She told him about her fall but did not +mention the space ship.</p> +<p>“Did you see something land a few minutes +ago, Daddy?” Beth asked.</p> +<p>Mr. Harrison grinned. “You mean, maybe, +a Flying Saucer? No, I’m afraid I didn’t. Are +you sure your imagination isn’t working overtime +again, Beth?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> +<p>As they were about to get into the car, Beth +saw a dark object in the distance rise from the +ground and move off into the deepening twilight. +She was certain she did not imagine this.</p> +<p>“You saw that, didn’t you, Daddy?” Beth +asked.</p> +<p>Mr. Harrison nodded. “Probably a hawk. +Hmm, it looks like it’s heading right for the +Evening Star, doesn’t it?”</p> +<p>Beth gazed at the brilliant light of Sirius, +gorgeously bright now with darkness closing +in.</p> +<p>“I wish I knew if it really was,” Beth murmured.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c2"><br /><i>GIB TAKES A SPACE TEST</i></h2> +<p>Gib Bromfield was nine, and +the thing he wanted to do most was to make a +flight into space. A colony on the Moon had +already been started for scientific research, and +a huge man-made space platform circled the +Earth once every twenty-four hours.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> +<p>“I want to go back to the Moon with you, +Father,” Gib would plead every time Mr. +Bromfield came home on a furlough.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you’re still a little young, Gib,” +his father would reply. “Some day you will be +able to go out into space with me, but not yet.”</p> +<p>Mr. Bromfield was a construction engineer, +and he was helping to build a big spaceport on +the Moon. He came home to see his family +every six months. Each time he returned, Gib +couldn’t wait to meet him at the front door of +their prefabricated home.</p> +<p>Gib would shake hands with him like a man +and take his bags from him. Then he would +step back and admire the tall, handsome man +in the glossy black boots and gray uniform of +the Space Service. By this time, Mother usually +came running up, followed by Sandra, Gib’s +little sister.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> +<p>On Mr. Bromfield’s latest visit, Gib waited +until the usual family talk had subsided before +he started asking his father about his recent +adventures. After Father had brought him +up to date, Gib asked the same question he always +asked:</p> +<p>“Father, my I go back with you this time for +a short visit—just a short one?”</p> +<p>Mr. Bromfield smiled and rumpled Gib’s +blond hair. “It’s not the time element, Gib,” +he said patiently. “It’s the rigors of space itself, +which are much rougher than Captain +Rocket on TV would have us believe.”</p> +<p>Gib’s face fell. He had hoped that this time +his father would give in and let him go back. +Mr. Bromfield could see that his son was disappointed. +He stared at Gib thoughtfully for +a moment, then spoke again.</p> +<p>“All right, Gib, I’ll put you through S.Q.T. +If you pass it and still want to go spaceward, +I’ll take you.”</p> +<p>“Gee, do you mean that?” Gib burst out.</p> +<p>He was so excited he didn’t know what to +do. Gib had never had any doubt that he would +pass the S.Q.T.—the Space Qualification Test—that +all those who go spaceward must take.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> +<p>Mr. Bromfield went immediately to the +video-phone and put through a call to S.Q.T., +having them place Gib’s name on the space +test list.</p> +<p>“Thanks, Father!” Gib said excitedly. “At +last I’ll be going spaceward!”</p> +<p>“We’ll see,” Mr. Bromfield replied soberly.</p> +<p>Gib spent the next afternoon on the first +part of the test, which was a complete physical +examination.</p> +<p>“It didn’t hurt the tiniest bit,” Gib joked +with his father that night. “If all the parts of +the test are as easy as this first one, I won’t +have any trouble.”</p> +<p>Mr. Bromfield did not say anything, but he +smiled to himself as though he knew something +that Gib did not know.</p> +<p>Gib and his father took the elevated expressway +to the S.Q.T. center early the next morning +in their atom-powered Johnson Superjet. +The final portions of Gib’s test would be covered +today.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> +<p>The first part was familiarity with the space +suit. In company with about fifty other candidates, +Gib was given a supply of clothing. +Then everyone was shown how to zip up +their thickly insulated suits in front. Next, an +attendant snapped metal cylinders to their +shoulders and screwed the flexible tubing into +valves on their suits. Last to be put on were +helmets of light metal that had a darkened +glass in front so that the wearer could look +out.</p> +<p>“Now, all of you turn the little black knob +on your chests,” the tester said. His voice +sounded muffled to Gib because of the helmet +he wore.</p> +<p>Gib turned his knob and felt his suit blowing +up like a balloon as air flowed in from the +oxygen tanks.</p> +<p>“This is how you would be dressed for a +walk on the Moon,” the tester told them. +“Now I want all of you to walk into the next +room.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> +<p>As Gib went into the room with the others, +he was thinking how easy the test had been up +until now. And what fun it was taking the very +tests that Captain Rocket himself must have +taken at one time! He thought his father was +surely mistaken for having doubted his ability +to pass the S.Q.T.</p> +<p>The tester left the room and shut the door. +In a few moments Gib began to have a strange +sensation. He was feeling lighter and lighter, +and the others with him were beginning to +float right off the floor!</p> +<p>Gib struggled frantically as he felt himself +go off balance. Each movement he made, however, +shot him off at swift, crazy angles. He +felt himself sweating with fear, and for the +first time he was believing that maybe the +S.Q.T. wasn’t going to be so easy after all.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> +<p>It seemed as if he had the strength of a +Samson, but it was a strength he could not +control. A simple kick sent him hurtling across +the room toward the wall! He tried to brake +himself, but nothing he did would stop him. +He crashed headlong into the wall. It shook +him up a little, but he was not hurt. He saw +that the wall was thickly padded.</p> +<p>After about fifteen minutes of helplessness, +Gib felt himself getting heavier again and saw +his companions drop to the floor in normal +position. The tester came in with some doctors. +The doctors looked over each candidate +and asked many questions. Gib was still dazed +and wasn’t sure of the answers he gave.</p> +<p>When the doctors were through, the tester +explained what had happened: “This room +was de-gravitized, which means the Earth’s +gravity in here was cut off by mechanical +means. It’s the same condition you will find +in a space ship when the gravity plates are +turned off. From the looks of some of you, this +experience was something of a shock. But the +final test will be even rougher. Anybody who +wants to drop out now may do so.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> +<p>Gib saw that about a third of the candidates +had had enough. Gib was still giddy himself +and started to join them. He was disappointed +in the harshness of “zero-gravity.” It had always +looked so simple to him the way that Captain +Rocket “swam” about in his rocket flyer.</p> +<p>Gib did not want his father to think him a +quitter, though, and decided to stick out the +test to the end. When his turn came, he was +led into a huge room by himself and up to a +queer-looking machine. It resembled one of +the thrill rides at a carnival, the one that whirls +you round and round like a ball on the end of +a string. Gib entered a tiny cabin at the end +of the large swinging arm and sat down in a +thick foam-rubber reclining chair.</p> +<p>As he was strapped down, the tester said to +him, “This is called the ‘Centrifuge,’ son, and +it simulates the blast-off from Earth in a rocket +ship. You appear to be a little young to be +taking it, so if you’ve had enough just yank +that lever in front of you and we’ll stop the +machine.”</p> +<p>“I—I will,” Gib replied, getting scared already.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> +<p>He got more scared as all sorts of instruments +were strapped to him. The tester explained +that these were to record his reactions. +As the door was closed on him. Gib had a +trapped feeling. Then he composed himself +and waited for the worst, telling himself that a +spaceman must be brave.</p> +<p>Presently he felt the cabin begin to move, +slowly at first. This much was fun, Gib +thought, just like the carnival ride. As the +cabin picked up speed, it was even more thrilling. +But then as the speed increased still more, +Gib began to lose his enjoyment.</p> +<p>Faster and faster he went, and Gib was +crushed deeply into the chair cushion. He felt +his cheeks draw back from his teeth, the corners +of his eyes making him squint. There was +heavy pressure on his chest, as if an elephant +were standing on him. His breath hung in his +throat and he saw strange colors and darting +forms before his eyes.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> +<p>He stood the agonizing effect as long as he +could, and then his frightfully heavy hand +crept unsteadily toward the lever in front of +him and jerked it.</p> +<p>The cabin began losing speed and finally +stopped. Gib saw a blurred image open the +door and offer his hand. As he stumbled out, +his head feeling big as a watermelon, Gib +vaguely remembered hearing the tester say:</p> +<p>“You needn’t feel badly about this, son. You +almost lasted it out. Come back in another +year or two and then I think you’ll be able to +pass.”</p> +<p>Gib still wasn’t quite himself as he met his +father in the waiting room. He was quivering +all over, and his dad wouldn’t quite come into +focus.</p> +<p>“I flunked the test, Father,” Gib told him.</p> +<p>“It sounds to me as if you’re glad you did,” +Mr. Bromfield replied, with a chuckle. “I was +afraid it might be too rough for you, son, but +I knew there was no other way to show you +that space travel isn’t as easy as the comic +books make out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> +<p>“I’ll try again next year,” Gib said, “or the +year after that, anyway. That’s what the tester +told me.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure you’ll be ready then,” Mr. Bromfield +replied. “Now, what do you say we go +home? Captain Rocket is almost due on TV.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c3"><br /><i>THE SPACE MAIL RUN</i></h2> +<p>The way he felt now, Jerry +Welsh was almost sorry he had left Earth. The +Moonship landing seemed to be crushing the +very life out of him, although he lay flat on a +couch to ease the strain.</p> +<p>Jerry turned his head toward his father, who +was strapped down like himself, and suffering +too. The craft was under its own control, for +no human could withstand the rocket’s present +speed and still be able to steer in for a landing.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> +<p>Capt. Welsh was on his bi-weekly mail run +to Luna, the Moon, and for the first time in +ten years of service he had a passenger—his +own twelve-year-old son.</p> +<p>At last Jerry felt a hard jolt under him. He +knew the rocket’s tail fins had finally touched +ground. Jerry unstrapped himself with rubbery +fingers and sat up. Then he tried to stand, +but flopped down again.</p> +<p>“Wow, I feel giddy!” he groaned.</p> +<p>His father laughed. “You’ll get your bearings +presently, Son.”</p> +<p>How long Jerry had waited to make this +space mail run with his father! Then finally +last year, Capt. Welsh had said that Jerry +could go with him when he became twelve, +as he was especially husky and strong for his +age.</p> +<p>But now that the great moment had come at +last, Jerry wasn’t sure he was enjoying it as he +had expected, for he had found space so vast, +so dark, and so frightening.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> +<p>“Do you still want to be a spaceman, Jerry?” +his dad asked suddenly, as though Jerry had +spoken his thoughts aloud.</p> +<p>“I—I think so, Dad,” he replied hesitantly.</p> +<p>“I see you’re doubtful, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh +said. “I won’t put you on the spot so early.”</p> +<p>They climbed into space gear—electrically-heated +suits and clear plastic helmets fitted +with radios. Lastly they donned oxygen tanks +and flooded their suits with the life-sustaining +gas.</p> +<p>They gathered up the mail sacks and +climbed down the ladder to the ground, heading +for the largest of a group of buildings +which made up Moonhaven, center of Earthmen’s +activity on the airless planet.</p> +<p>The stars burned fantastically bright overhead. +Traces of frost topped the distant Lunar +Alps. It was incredibly cold out here, for the +Moon was in its two-week period of night.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> +<p>Capt. Welsh got a receipt for the largest +mail bag, and then he and Jerry went out a +rear door of the building carrying the rest. An +atom-powered mail car awaited them. It had +an open top and huge wheels that looked like +saw-toothed gears.</p> +<p>“Climb aboard the Moon jeep, Jerry,” his +father said. “We’ve got ten mail deliveries to +make.”</p> +<p>Inside, Capt. Welsh pulled down a section +of the dash panel revealing a map. “Here’s a +map of our route. There aren’t many mail +stops on the Moon yet, but they are all important.”</p> +<p>“And the mail must go through!” Jerry +added.</p> +<p>Capt. Welsh nodded soberly. “That’s the +first law, Jerry.”</p> +<p>As they moved off Jerry saw the big friendly +globe of Earth hanging like a green jewel halfway +up the jet black sky. He wondered what +his mother and baby sister were doing this moment +a quarter of a million miles away.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> +<p>Capt. Welsh showed Jerry how to run the +jeep. Jerry found this easy for he had already +had a course in mechanics in preparation for +his future career as a space man. But sometime +later their peaceful ride was interrupted +when Capt. Welsh suddenly leaned over and +grabbed the wheel.</p> +<p>Jerry was thrown to the side as the car +swerved. The vehicle straightened out and +slammed to a halt as his father controlled the +wheel and applied the brakes.</p> +<p>“What happened?” Jerry breathed, his +heart pounding.</p> +<p>His father pointed behind them. “Look.”</p> +<p>Jerry turned and saw the edge of a treacherous +ditch running right across the roadway +where they would have passed over. The gorge +was several feet wide.</p> +<p>“I didn’t even see it,” Jerry murmured, sick +with fear at what might have happened.</p> +<p>This wasn’t the first time he’d been shaken +on this journey. It made him wonder as he +had once before if he had what it took to be +a space man, or if this adventure would make +him decide never to leave the atmosphere of +Earth again.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> +<p>“Scared?” his father asked. Jerry nodded.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry. I was too for a moment.”</p> +<p>“You were?” Jerry asked with surprise.</p> +<p>“Fear was given to man, so he could save +himself from danger, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh +said. “Don’t be ashamed of it. Fear is nothing +to be ashamed of unless you let it get the best +of you. Never forget that.”</p> +<p>They arrived at their first delivery point, an +engineering project on a plateau surrounded +by mountains. There were the foundations of +great buildings to come, constructed of hard +Lunar granite.</p> +<p>The space-suited figures came running +when they recognized Capt. Welsh and his +mail car. Jerry marveled how the formerly +stern expressions of the workmen brightened +when the foreman handed mail out to them.</p> +<p>“It must be fun bringing mail to men who +are so far from their homes and families,” +Jerry said when they were on their way again.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> +<p>“I guess that’s why I’ve put up with the +lonely hours of seeing nothing but stardust +for the past ten years,” Capt. Welsh answered. +“But I love it, Son, and I wouldn’t trade jobs +with any man.”</p> +<p>Their next delivery site was a cavern where +men were prospecting for uranium. They too +were overjoyed at receiving messages from +home. The jeep rolled on from there to a huge +plain which was being prepared for a future +spaceport. Capt. Welsh and his helper dropped +off another mail sack and then were on their +way again. Some hours later, all but two deliveries +had been made.</p> +<p>“Next stop is the astronomy observatory,” +Capt. Welsh told Jerry.</p> +<p>They crawled over sandy hills that taxed +the gripping power of their spiked wheels, +wound in and out of towering buttresses of +black basalt, and bored through natural tunnels +like a pair of human moles. Then the observatory +came into view.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> +<p>A smiling little scientist with thick glasses +signed for the mail at the door. He invited +Jerry to come back and visit the place before +he returned to Earth.</p> +<p>“You haven’t seen anything until you look +through their great telescope,” Capt. Welsh +told Jerry as they drove off.</p> +<p>“What’s our last stop?” Jerry wanted to +know.</p> +<p>“A geology camp where some scientists are +digging into ancient rocks,” his father said. +“It’s only about seven miles away, but the going +will be a little rough before we get there. +It’s a good thing it’s our last stop because we +don’t have any too much oxygen left in our +shoulder tanks. I usually don’t take this long +on a mail run.”</p> +<p>The roadway carried them through a narrow +pass with a high hill of loose rock on one +side and a sloping embankment on the other. +Jerry’s first warning of trouble came when he +was flung suddenly forward. He heard the sickening +drag of the wheels as his father’s boot +hit the brakes. Just ahead of them he saw a +cascade of rocks sliding down the hill.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> +<p>The next moment Jerry felt an even harder +blow as the jeep was grazed by one of the large +boulders. The small car was swept out of the +roadway like a toy and rammed against a pillar +at the cliff edge.</p> +<p>Jerry screamed in fear as he felt himself being +thrown out of the car. He struck the +ground hard and began rolling head over heels +down the precipice.</p> +<p>When the numbing shock of his fall had +worn off, Jerry climbed dazedly to his feet and +looked up the slope down which he had been +thrown.</p> +<p>“Dad!” he cried. He slipped and scrambled +up the incline in reckless haste. He found +Capt. Welsh sprawled unconscious just below +the upper brink of the precipice. Jerry knelt +and looked into his face through the clear +plastic helmet. His father’s eyes were closed +and there was an ugly bruise on his forehead +where it must have struck the helmet in his fall.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> +<p>“What am I going to do?” Jerry groaned +aloud.</p> +<p>He himself would have to make the decisions +and carry them through if the two of +them were to survive. It was a shocking +thought. Then it came to him what his father +had said about fear: a person need never be +ashamed of fear so long as it was not permitted +to get the upper hand.</p> +<p>Jerry pulled his father up onto the roadway +and tried to bring him around, but without +result. Jerry examined the jeep. One side was +badly smashed, but the engine still appeared +sound. The car was tipped over against the +rock column. Jerry was thankful that the jeep +was only one-sixth of its Earth-weight on the +moon. It was a tremendous effort but he finally +righted the car and got it back on the road.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> +<p>He jumped into the front seat and started +the engine. It sputtered, then hummed into +activity! Jerry studied the map on the panel. +He located their present position by the giant +crater, Plato, at his distant right. Then he +traced the winding route leading to the geology +camp. He was closer to the camp than the +observatory, but ahead lay a rugged route, one +with which Jerry was totally unfamiliar. He +got out and went back to where Capt. Welsh +lay.</p> +<p>“Which way should I go, Dad, ahead or +back?” he asked helplessly, just as though his +father were able to answer him.</p> +<p>Something told him that Capt. Welsh would +want him to go ahead—to finish the mail run +that had never missed a round in ten years. +Jerry got his father into the back seat, then +gunned the jeep and struck off into the unknown +ahead.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> +<p>He was thankful for the old worn trail that +led the way for him. It presently carried him +through a gloomy valley. Jerry switched on +his headlights, but the twin spears of brightness +gave him little comfort in the spooky +place. Grotesque rock columns rose like menacing +ghosts on both sides of him.</p> +<p>At last he was out in the open again. The +road led him around the steep ledge of a yawning +crater, evidently caused by a huge crashing +fireball from outer space.</p> +<p>Jerry carefully guided the jeep along the +dangerous cliff. If one of his wheels should +slip over the side, it would be a fall to frightful +death a hundred feet straight down. At +last even this peril was past, and Jerry drove +up a gradual incline over bare rock to a bluff +that overlooked the distant land for many +miles.</p> +<p>“The camp!” he said joyfully. “That’s it below—only +a few miles away!”</p> +<p>He followed a curve that swept onto the +plain below. When he was on a level again, it +seemed that all his troubles were over. He felt +better by the moment as he drove closer and +closer to his destination.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> +<p>Then, without warning, his wheels began +to bog down in a pumice mire. His heart did a +flip-flop and he checked the map. He saw a +warning to drivers to avoid this spot. In his +overconfidence, he had blundered right into +it!</p> +<p>He gave the little jeep full power. It jerked +crazily through the clinging stuff. Over to the +right the pumice seemed to thin out, and farther +over he could see the roadway he should +have taken. He swung his wheels to the right +and the jeep lurched through the gray sand, +using up a lot of power, but making little +progress. For minutes on end Jerry gave the +jeep all it had, and he could hear its engine +laboring tiredly.</p> +<p>Suddenly the motor died. Jerry tried to start +it again but could not. He checked his temperature +gauge. The engine was extremely hot +from the continual use of top power. From his +mechanical school course, Jerry realized the +rotors had “frozen” and that it wouldn’t run +again until they had cooled off.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> +<p>As he waited impatiently for the engine to +cool, a warning voice in his mind was saying: +“Your oxygen is getting lower by the second. +If the jeep doesn’t get out of here within the +next fifteen minutes, you and your dad will +never make it.”</p> +<p>Jerry shook off the terrible thoughts. He +stamped his feet to warm them. The electric +circuit in his suit seemed to be breaking down. +If it collapsed completely, he would be frozen +instantly by the Lunar cold.</p> +<p>Jerry massaged his dad’s hands and legs +in case his suit, too, was getting colder. He +worked steadily until his hands ached. Then +he checked the gauge again. It was falling +slowly, but heavy insulation was still keeping +the engine hot.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> +<p>At last Jerry decided he should not wait +any longer. With a prayer on his lips, he +pressed the starter button. The engine rumbled +sluggishly, coughed, then quickened to +full strength. He jammed the fuel pedal hard +and tried to guide the jeep’s swirling, spinning +motion through the Lunar sand. Slowly the +little car pulled itself like a weary swimmer +toward the firm bank. Finally the wheels +found good traction and the jeep lurched onto +the roadway.</p> +<p>Jerry heaved a tremendous sigh and sped +down the path toward the geology camp.</p> +<p>Less than an hour later Jerry was being permitted +into the room of one of the huts where +his father had been carried for examination +by the camp physician. Jerry had been told +that his father had suffered a slight concussion, +but that he would be all right.</p> +<p>Capt. Welsh smiled from his cot as Jerry +walked in.</p> +<p>“Hi, space man,” his father greeted. “The +doctor says the men here were mighty happy +to get their mail on time.”</p> +<p>“I’m glad I came on here, then, instead of +going back to the observatory,” Jerry murmured.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> +<p>“You did the job in the best tradition of the +Space Mail Service, Jerry,” Capt. Welsh said, +smiling proudly. “If I had any doubts that +you’d be able to follow me some day, Son, +they’re gone now.”</p> +<p>Jerry nodded happily. A few doubts had +been removed from his own mind in the past +hour.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c4"><br /><i>ALL ABOARD FOR SPACE</i></h2> +<p>It had already been a wonderful +birthday for the twins, Sue and Steve Shannon, +when their father asked, “How about it, kids—are +you ready for that space ride I promised?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> +<p>Sue’s big hazel eyes looked like walnuts as +she stared in surprise. Steve’s blue eyes were +more like plums. Could they really believe +what they were hearing?</p> +<p>“I said I’d take you on the ride when you +two reached 12, didn’t I?” Mr. Shannon went +on.</p> +<p>They hadn’t forgotten and were suddenly +as excited as two young ducks who have just +discovered water. Mr. Shannon looked at his +watch. “We’d better get ready. The next flight +is at four o’clock.”</p> +<p>Less than a half hour later, Mrs. Shannon +was bidding goodbye to the three as they +climbed into the family helicopter on the roof +of their home. In this year of 2004 nearly +everybody owned a ’copter. Mrs. Shannon had +been invited to go along but she said no coaxing +in the world could get her up in one of +those “rocket things.”</p> +<p>The overhead doors of the garage swung +open as Mrs. Shannon pushed the button on +the wall. As soon as the three riders were comfortably +seated, Mr. Shannon started up the +engine and the overhead blade began churning. +Gently the ’copter lifted into the blue +sky and headed out over the city.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> +<p>“I can’t really believe we’re going to take +a trip into space!” Sue said happily.</p> +<p>“Some day I’m going to be a spaceman and +travel to <i>all</i> the planets!” Steve declared.</p> +<p>The plane passed over beautiful triple-decked +highways, over green farms loaded +with scientific equipment and solar mirrors, +over plastic-domed skyscrapers. Presently a +large oval appeared just ahead. “There’s the +space port!” Sue exclaimed.</p> +<p>When Mr. Shannon got the signal to land, +he brought the helicopter down into the parking +lot at the edge of the port. Then the three +jumped out onto the ground. As they walked +toward the main building, the twins excitedly +noticed the busy activity of the field. What impressed +them most were the massive torpedo-shaped +rockets which were half-buried in their +concrete launching pits.</p> +<p>“Where is that biggest rocket going, Dad?” +Steve asked.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> +<p>When his father said it was going to the +moon, a tingle raced up the boy’s spine and +all at once he wished he could be on the ship +himself.</p> +<p>“There’s our rocket over there,” Mr. Shannon +said, pointing to a smaller craft of light-weight +beryllium metal just across the way. +Near the pit was a sign that read:</p> +<p class="center">SPACE RIDES DAILY. +<br />ENJOY THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME A THOUSAND MILES ABOVE EARTH.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon got their tickets. Then after +a heart check-up they waited in line with the +other eager sight-seers. Finally the space port +officer took down the chain that held back the +crowd and permitted them to approach the +rocket. They had to cross a bridge to get from +the pit edge into the ship. As they crossed, +Steve looked down into the hot pit and saw +clouds of flame and smoke pouring from the +great jet tubes.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> +<p>In the ship, the Shannons were given couch +numbers in a large room with the rest of their +companions. Then a steward came around +with a special candy which he told the passengers +to eat to prevent their getting sick. Next +everyone was issued queer-looking shoes with +metal soles.</p> +<p>“What’re these for, Dad?” Sue wanted to +know.</p> +<p>She saw her father and brother exchange +winks. “She’ll find out, won’t she?” Mr. Shannon +teased.</p> +<p>As Steve and Sue lay on their soft couches +and fastened plastic belts across their bodies, +their father explained the purpose of this. +“We’ll blast-off at a pretty fast speed and if we +weren’t buckled down we’d be thrown about +and hurt.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> +<p>When the moment of blast-off came, Steve +and Sue went through the most exciting experience +of their lives. A loud roar filled their +ears and it felt suddenly as if the bottom of +their stomachs had dropped out. They were +pressed deeply into their couches and they had +the feeling of being flattened out as though +under the foot of an elephant. Then slowly +Steve and Sue felt the awful weight lifting +from them and finally it was gone altogether.</p> +<p>“Ugh!” Sue groaned dizzily, unstrapping +herself as the others were doing. “What happened?”</p> +<p>When she tried to walk, she understood the +purpose of the metal-soled shoes. “We scarcely +weigh anything now,” their father explained. +“The magnetism of our soles is the only thing +that keeps us from floating about like a +feather.”</p> +<p>The guide, who said his name was Mr. +Quinlan, led the sight-seers to a huge window. +The young Shannons gasped in wonder at +what they saw. The sky was nearly pitch black +and filled with more burning lights than they +even guessed could exist.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> +<p>“We’re about a thousand miles above the +earth,” Mr. Quinlan said. “We’re out of the +earth’s atmosphere and that’s why the sky is +dark and the stars so brilliant. Our rear jets +are thrusting just barely enough to keep us +from being pulled back down to earth.”</p> +<p>The guide next said that they would go outside +the ship in space suits. Sue and Steve +whooped in joy for they had not expected this. +Mr. Quinlan distributed space gear from a +cabinet. Then he explained how they were +put on. After the flexible suits and plastic helmets +were donned, everyone turned on his +oxygen, which came from shoulder tanks. The +others looked to Steve like balloon toys inflated +with air and he had to laugh as they +waddled about.</p> +<p>The tourists were led out of a side door onto +a balcony which resembled a large fire escape. +Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail +by a short length of cord in front of him.</p> +<p>“If one of us were to lose contact with the +ship,” Mr. Shannon warned his son and daughter, +“he’d go drifting off into space.” Sue and +Steve shuddered at the thought of this.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> +<div class="img" id="pic2"> +<img src="images/i03.jpg" alt="Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord" width="500" height="680" /> +<p class="caption"><i>Everyone was told to buckle himself to the rail by a short length of cord</i></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> +<p>Mr. Quinlan pointed out whirls of misty +clouds that were called nebulas. He also +showed them star clusters and the brighter +planets. The sight-seers had a closeup view of +the earth that looked like a shimmering green +ball. The guide did his speaking through a +small radio attached to his suit. Each tourist +had a receiver in his helmet through which he +could listen.</p> +<p>For almost a full hour Sue and Steve, together +with the other spell-bound passengers, +took in the splendor of this strange silent place, +the vastness of which staggered the imagination.</p> +<p>“Isn’t this a wonderful tribute to the greatness +of God’s creation?” Mr. Shannon said to +his children. Steve and Sue had to agree with +him wholeheartedly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> +<p>When Mr. Quinlan was ready to go back +into the ship, he tried the outside door switch, +but the door failed to open. Over his two-way +radio circuit, the passengers could hear a worried +discussion between him and the pilot +inside. They learned that a tube of compressed +air which operated the outer door was +jammed. There was nothing that could be +done about it from the inside. Some of the +women began sobbing, believing they would +never return to earth again.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon looked at his son and daughter +anxiously. “Keep your chins up, kids,” he +said. “Nothing was ever gained by people losing +their heads. I’m sure they’ll figure out +some way to save us.”</p> +<p>“I—I’m not afraid, Dad,” Steve said bravely.</p> +<p>There were tears of fright in Sue’s brown +eyes but her small chin was courageously set +and she would not permit herself to give in to +the terror she really felt.</p> +<p>“You’re brave ones,” their father said, putting +his big arms around their shoulders.</p> +<p>Mr. Quinlan approached the Shannons. +“Mr. Shannon,” he said, “I’ve got something +important to talk over with you and your son.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> +<p>The two listened closely as the guide outlined +a daring plan. He pointed to a small, +circular opening some ten feet above the platform. +He said that if a person could climb +into the opening he could turn an emergency +valve that would double the air pressure and +clear the jammed tube. Since Steve was the +only boy on the platform, and therefore the +smallest, Mr. Quinlan wanted to know if Steve +would try it. Steve felt his heart fluttering +crazily. He was both afraid and excited.</p> +<p>“There’s only one danger, son,” the guide +pointed out. “You’ll have to unfasten your +safety line. If you think you can keep calm, +though, there should be no real risk.”</p> +<p>“What will happen if the job isn’t done?” +Mr. Shannon asked grimly.</p> +<p>Mr. Quinlan shrugged. “There’s not much +that can be done. These suits will run out of +oxygen in twenty minutes and only your boy +is slim enough to get inside the opening. +Then, too, they can’t land the ship without the +risk of tossing us all out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> +<p>Mr. Shannon said quietly to Steve, “It’s up +to you, son. If you believe you can go through +with it without losing your head and getting +thrown from the ship....”</p> +<p>Steve swallowed hard, thinking of the lives +of the others around him that depended upon +him. “I’ll try it,” he managed to say.</p> +<p>He felt his knees go weak when the safety +rope was unfastened from his waist and he +realized there was nothing now but his magnetic +shoes to hold him to the ship. Carefully +Mr. Quinlan boosted him up toward the opening +above. <i>Tick-tick-tick</i> went his metal soles +against the shiny skin of the craft as he made +his way upward by means of special climbing +handles on the rocket hull.</p> +<p>“Keep calm,” he told himself. “A spaceman +doesn’t lose his head.”</p> +<p>He was thankful for the firm grip of his +gloves as his fingers closed about the sides of +the chamber and he pulled himself up inside. +It was a close fit even for him. Mr. Quinlan +had told him that usually the emergency valve +was easily reached from the deck above but +that during this trip the deck was closed off +for repairs and couldn’t be entered.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> +<p>Steve found the valve handle and turned it +as he was instructed. Almost immediately he +heard the deafening blast of many voices in his +receiver. Among the words he heard were, +“The door’s opening!” Steve sighed deeply +and carefully started down again.</p> +<p>But the danger was not over yet. He still +had to be very cautious. This was brought to +him sickeningly when he drew his foot back +with greater force than usual and found himself +weaving backward into space. With a chill +of terror he grabbed a climbing handle and +pulled himself snug against the ship’s hull +again. Finally he felt the strong arms of his +father on the lower part of his legs. He relaxed +and was helped down onto the platform amid +the cheers of everyone around.</p> +<p>The sight-seers, sobered by their close call, +trooped silently back into the ship. A moment +later the craft began dropping earthward, its +jets acting as brakes to check the rapid descent.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> +<p>After landing, the Shannons were called +into the office of the Chief of Operations at +the space port.</p> +<p>“Young man,” the chief said to Steve, “let +me congratulate you for the brave thing you +did.” He offered his hand and Steve felt a +flush of pride as he took the big palm in his +own.</p> +<p>“Such an unselfish deed can never be fully +repaid,” the chief went on. “Tell me, Steve, +do you like space-going?”</p> +<p>Steve’s eyes glowed with stars. “Very much, +sir,” he said. “Some day I’m going to become +a spaceman myself.”</p> +<p>“Then this little reward we have for you +and your sister may help you reach your goal.” +He held out a plastic-sealed card. Steve took it +as his heart raced. It was a lifetime rocket pass!</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c5"><br /><i>WHEEL IN THE SKY</i></h2> +<p>Sue and Steve Shannon were +riding with their father in a “space ferry” several +thousand miles above the Earth. They +could look out of the plastic windows of the +little ship and see the winding curve of Central +America far below.</p> +<p>“Look, Steve!” Sue exclaimed. “I see the +Panama Canal!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> +<p>“There’s a storm over the Gulf of Mexico,” +Steve said, studying a big gray patch over the +water. “It makes you feel like a king being so +high above everything!”</p> +<p>The Atlantic and Pacific were throbbing +blue carpets, topped by breakers of molten +silver where the sunlight hit them. It was a +marvelous sight, more like a scene from a fairy-land.</p> +<p>“There’s the big space ship we got off,” +Sue pointed out. “It’s beginning to drop back +to Earth.”</p> +<p>“And there’s the ‘Wheel in the Sky,’” Steve +said, looking ahead. “We’ll soon be there! Isn’t +it great?”</p> +<p>Compared to the tiny ship they were in, +which was shaped like a medicine capsule, the +Wheel in the Sky was a gigantic thing. It +looked like an automobile wheel and by its +moving spokes the children saw that it was +turning just like one.</p> +<p>“Why does the Wheel spin, Dad?” Steve +asked.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> +<p>“That’s in order to give the people inside +of it a feeling of weight,” Mr. Shannon explained. +“As I told you before, things in space +have no weight because there is no gravity out +here to speak of. What happens when you ride +on the merry-go-round on the school playground?”</p> +<p>“You have to hold on tight or it’ll throw you +off,” Steve answered.</p> +<p>“The Wheel in the Sky does the same thing. +It tries to throw you off, but since you are +safely inside of it, all it can do is throw your +weight against the floor of the Wheel. Understand?”</p> +<p>The children nodded and smiled, pleased +at knowing one more fact about the strange +ways of space.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> +<p>As the ferry neared the big space station, +Steve watched the black heavens all around +them. The stars were thicker than salt crystals +and glittered like precious gems. Close to the +Wheel, the ferry had to use its rockets in order +to keep up with the spinning of the Wheel. +Presently a door in the rim of the Wheel +opened. Two men in space suits appeared in +the doorway and threw out a line which stuck +to the ferry by magnetism. Then the men +pulled the little ship inside and closed the +doors.</p> +<p>“Here we are!” the ferry pilot called to his +passengers. “Everybody out!”</p> +<p>Since there was fresh air in the hangar, the +riders did not have to use space suits. Just as +his father had said, Steve found that he could +walk around as easily as he did back in Arkansas.</p> +<p>“Ready for a tour of the Wheel, kids?” Mr. +Shannon asked.</p> +<p>“Sure!” the twins replied together.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon worked for the American +Space Supply Company which carried supplies +to the planets of the Solar System. This was +the year 2004 and by now nearly all the planets +or their moons had budding Earth colonies. +Sue and Steve had earned free lifetime space +passes because of a heroic act Steve had done +a month before on the twins’ very first trip +into space.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> +<p>As Mr. Shannon took the two around the +“man-made moon,” they were almost overcome +by all the wonderful things they saw. +They learned that the Wheel in the Sky was +both a scientific laboratory and a military lookout. +With their big telescopes, the Space +Guard could see every mile of Earth, for the +Wheel circled the globe several times a day.</p> +<p>While the Shannons were in the Military +Lookout Room peering at the world through +a telescope, Sue said, “I wish Mom could be +here with us.”</p> +<p>“I do, too, Sis,” Steve replied. “But it would +take all the soldiers in the Humpty-Dumpty +story to get Mom into a rocket, wouldn’t it, +Dad?”</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon chuckled. “I believe it would, +Son.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> +<p>Their father leaned over and whispered +something to the officer at the telescope, who +nodded. The man slipped a high power lens +on the telescope and turned it on a certain +part of the United States, toward which the +Wheel was slowly moving.</p> +<p>“Take another look, Sue,” her father said.</p> +<p>Sue eagerly went to the eyepiece. The telescope +brought a city into very close range. It +seemed as if she had only to reach out a finger +to touch the tall spire of a building. Suddenly +she gasped. She knew that building! It was the +home office of her father’s place of work. The +city was Little Rock, Arkansas, their own +home!</p> +<p>“Steve, look!” she said excitedly to her +brother and let him see for himself.</p> +<p>Steve was as thrilled as Sue. Together they +moved the telescope lens over all the familiar +spots of the great space city, which in this day +had a million population. They were able to +locate the wee speck that was their own home +in the suburbs.</p> +<p>“I can almost see Mom hanging out the +wash in the yard!” Steve said with a grin.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> +<p>Before the children were through looking, +they noticed several black hazy spots in different +parts of the state.</p> +<p>“What are these, Dad?” Steve asked, showing +them to his father.</p> +<p>“They’re tornadoes, Son,” Mr. Shannon replied. +“There seems to be an unusually large +crop of them this season. There are even some +close to Little Rock. The Weather Control +Bureau here has a way of dealing with them, +though. They do many skillful things in +Weather Control. They can make it rain in +dry parts of the world and even melt snow +drifts in blizzard areas.”</p> +<p>“What can they do about a tornado?” Steve +asked.</p> +<p>“When one threatens a city they fire a +guided missile—a bomb—that breaks up the +twister before it can do any harm. We’ll visit +the Weather Control Bureau as soon as we’ve +been to the hub of the Wheel.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> +<p>Mr. Shannon led them out of the Military +Lookout Room. Steve and Sue then found a +job of climbing facing them. In order to reach +the hub, they had to go through one of the +spokes leading into the center of the Wheel. +The children saw before them a nylon ladder +stretching as far as they could see down a long +corridor.</p> +<p>“Let’s start climbing,” their father said.</p> +<p>“Why can’t we just walk along the hall,” +Sue asked, “instead of doing it the hard way?”</p> +<p>“You’re forgetting that the Wheel is always +throwing you outward as it spins,” Mr. Shannon +said. “If you tried to walk down the spoke +it would be like trying to walk against a hurricane. +For this reason, you two must be careful +not to lose your grip on the ladder or you’ll +be flung down the corridor against the rim.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> +<p>The three began climbing hand over hand +along the ladder. They got along very well until +Sue suddenly became dizzy and lost her +hold. She screamed as she began flying down +the corridor. Steve’s heart nearly stopped beating +for a moment. He heard his father calling +out loudly in a frantic voice: “Grab the ladder, +Sue! Grab the ladder!”</p> +<p>At first Sue did not seem to hear and kept +hollering in fright. Then she understood and +reached out wildly with her hands for the nylon +ladder as she swept along. One hand seized +a piece of it and she held on for dear life, her +body still hanging in mid-air as the force of +the turning Wheel kept trying to throw her +outward.</p> +<p>“Hold on, Sue!” her father called. “We’re +coming!”</p> +<p>He and Steve swiftly crawled along the +ladder to the spot where Sue was clinging with +one hand.</p> +<p>“Hurry!” she cried. “I can’t hang on much +longer!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> +<p>Just as she was about to let go, Steve reached +her and held on to her with his free hand. +Then his father lent his help and Sue was safe. +She sobbed for a moment from the fright she +had had and Mr. Shannon suggested that they +go back to the rim where they would be safe +again. Both children agreed, for they had suddenly +lost all interest in the hub.</p> +<p>By the time they got to the Weather Control +Bureau they found more worry awaiting +them. Men were hustling about the huge room +with serious looks on their faces. One of them +was looking into the eyepiece of a large machine +that was pointed out the window down +onto Earth.</p> +<p>“What’s wrong?” Mr. Shannon asked one +of the men.</p> +<p>“A tornado is headed for Little Rock, Arkansas!” +was the shocking reply. “I hope our +missile scores a hit, but it isn’t going to be easy +because the Wheel has already moved past the +United States!”</p> +<p>“The missile’s <i>got</i> to hit!” Steve burst out. +“Our home and Mom are there!”</p> +<p>“Yes, it’s simply <i>got</i> to!” Sue added tearfully.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> +<p>The Shannons had to stand helplessly on +the side as the tornado fighters went to work. +The missile gun was in another part of the +Wheel, but the orders for firing it would leave +this room by radio.</p> +<p>“Oh, why couldn’t Mom have come with +us?” Sue asked. “She would have been safe +here!”</p> +<p>Steve felt his whole body tensing like a +wound spring. The perspiration was beading +his forehead and his knees were weak. On his +father’s face there was a dark look and Steve +saw that his big hands were opening and closing.</p> +<p>“Twenty seconds to go before firing,” the +man at the machine said slowly over the radio +mike on his chest. “Steady. Eighteen—seventeen—”</p> +<p>“Why don’t they hurry?” Sue cried. +“They’re so slow!”</p> +<p>“They have to do it a certain way,” Mr. +Shannon answered. “They know what they’re +doing, Honey. Don’t be afraid.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> +<p>But she <i>was</i> afraid. And so was Steve. And +her father, too. Everyone in the room was +afraid because no one could say whether the +tornado could be destroyed before it hit the +city or not.</p> +<p>“Eight—seven—six—” droned the unhurried +voice of the operator.</p> +<p>The Shannons hardly dared breathe for +fear of disturbing the man at the machine. +Steve felt Sue’s body quivering next to him. It +seemed as if the seconds were dragging on endlessly.</p> +<p>“Three—two—one—FIRE!”</p> +<p>Steve felt nothing but he knew the tornado +bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of +miles a second Earthward.</p> +<p>For long, awfully long, moments after the +operator had said, “Fire!” the Shannons waited +for him to speak again. He kept looking +calmly through the eyepiece of the machine as +though just studying the stars. Then at last +they saw a smile spread over his face and he +said to everyone in the room, “It’s a hit! Little +Rock is safe!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> +<div class="img" id="pic3"> +<img src="images/i04.jpg" alt="The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward" width="500" height="403" /> +<p class="caption"><i>The tornado bomb was on its way, speeding hundreds of miles a second Earthward</i></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> +<p>Sue and Steve whooped as if it were Christmas +morning. Where a minute before they +had been greatly worried, now they were +happy as they never believed they could be.</p> +<p>“Whew!” Mr. Shannon sighed. “I’m afraid +I’ve had enough excitement to last me a lifetime!”</p> +<p>“Not me, Dad,” Steve said, as the fire of +adventure began to glow again in his eyes. “I +won’t be satisfied until I’ve seen what lies +beyond the Wheel in the Sky!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c6"><br /><i>DANGER ON THE ICE CANAL</i></h2> +<p>Steve and Sue Shannon were at +Mars Port No. 13. This was one of the many +colonies on the planet Mars where Earth +scientists were carrying on work. It was a town +of plastic tops, called domes, that were clear +as glass. The town was at the center of three +canals that led outward into the red desert.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> +<p>The Shannon twins were now touring the +largest dome with Biff Warren, who worked +for their father’s space cargo company. Suddenly +their tour brought them to a large cafeteria +where many of the workers were eating.</p> +<p>“Umm!” Sue exclaimed. “Smell that turkey!”</p> +<p>“Yeah!” Steve said. “It sure makes your +mouth water, doesn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Which reminds me,” Biff said, looking at +his watch. “We’ll have to finish up our sightseeing +pretty soon. The quicker we get back to +your father’s ship, the quicker we can have +our own turkey feast!”</p> +<p>“I can hardly wait for that!” Sue sighed, as +the wonderful smell of the holiday meal kept +tickling her nose.</p> +<p>When Thanksgiving dinner was finished +aboard the big space freighter that had brought +the children to Mars, the ship would take off +into space. But before that, Biff, Sue and Steve +would have to go twenty miles back down the +ice canal to reach the ship.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> +<p>Biff had become a close friend of the young +Shannons, having made trips with them to +other ports in space. Sue liked Biff because of +his quick smile and gentle patience. Steve +liked him because he was all that Steve would +like to be some day himself—a fearless, bold +spaceman.</p> +<p>They finished up their tour of the dome. +They saw the room where giant machines +made oxygen out of chemicals and blew it +through the building so that there was fresh +air to breathe all the time. And they saw the +astronomy hall far up on top of the dome +where scientists could see the heavens through +the thin atmosphere much clearer than they +could from Earth.</p> +<p>“Isn’t it about time for the fuel rocket to +be shot off, Biff?” Steve asked.</p> +<p>Biff nodded. “I think it’s just about time,” +he said. “We’ll suit up and go outside to see.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> +<p>In the dressing room they put on their space +suits. As though they were his own children, +Biff carefully checked the young Shannons’ air +tanks, built-in heaters, and their helmet radios +for talking to one another. Finally Biff rubbed +gelatin on their helmets so that they would +not frost over in the cold that was a hundred +degrees below zero.</p> +<p>Outside they found space-suited figures +gathered around the fuel rocket cannon. The +cannon was pointed toward a shiny ball high +up in the purple-black sky.</p> +<p>“Look, Sis, there’s the space ship toward +which they’re going to shoot the fuel rocket,” +Steve said.</p> +<p>“I see it!” Sue cried, her eyes dancing excitedly.</p> +<p>“They have to line up the cannon with the +ship just right or the rocket won’t reach it,” +Biff said.</p> +<p>“Won’t the rocket hit the ship?” Steve asked.</p> +<p>“No, it’ll lose all its speed by the time it +reaches the ship,” Biff told him. “Then they’ll +take on fuel from the rocket by means of a +long hose.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> +<p>Suddenly the three of them heard a loud +roar and saw a burst of flame. Like a bullet, +the rocket left the muzzle of the giant gun and +rose into the sky.</p> +<p>“They’ll be shooting off more rockets before +they have enough fuel for the space ship,” Biff +said. “There’ll be a little wait in between each +firing.”</p> +<p>“Look, Biff, isn’t the space ship right over +the canal where we’ll be heading back?” Steve +asked.</p> +<p>“That’s right, Steve,” Biff answered. “You’ll +remember, our ship is at the end of the canal. +We’ll be able to see the rockets go off as we +head back—which we’d better do right now, if +we’re going to have any turkey and pumpkin +pie!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> +<p>The canals of Mars had been carved out of +a great desert by water and fierce winds. Because +of the ice that filled them, they made +good highways. The three went to the canal +bank to see if their sled was ready to go, and +it was. The sled looked like a big bombing +plane with the wings off. Instead of wheels, +there were long runners beneath it. In this +sled Biff and his young helpers had brought +supplies to the colony several hours before.</p> +<p>Steve, Sue and Biff climbed into the front +seat. Then Biff shut the door. He pushed buttons +in front of them. Steve and Sue felt the +sled’s engines throbbing. The next moment +the sled shot off over the smooth sheet of ice, +Biff holding tightly to the steering wheel.</p> +<p>“Wheeeeee!” Sue screamed in delight. +“Offffffffff weeeeeeee goooooooooo!”</p> +<p>“Like a rooooller cooooster!” Steve shouted.</p> +<p>They sped along at a hundred miles an hour. +This was as much fun as they had had on their +last space journey.</p> +<p>Each of their trips into space seemed to be +more exciting than the last. They had won a +lifetime free pass into space and by now they +were sure they would need a lifetime in which +to see all of its many wonders. A brave act by +Steve on their first space trip had earned them +their pass. Right now, Steve thought that their +mother and home, back in Arkansas, seemed +as far away as Deneb, the North Star of Mars.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> +<p>“We’ll be there in about ten minutes,” Biff +said. “The ship leaves in thirty, which gives +us some spare time.”</p> +<p>“Look,” Sue said, “there comes the first fuel +rocket back down in a parachute.”</p> +<p>“That’s right, Sue,” Biff replied.</p> +<p>Steve studied the bank of the canal. Along it +he saw scrubby cactus, which was forever fighting +for life in the cold, dry atmosphere. Beyond +the bank stretched acres of red wasteland, +and sand drifts piled up by strong winds that +never stopped blowing.</p> +<p>A few minutes later, Sue noticed a bright +streak against the purple sky. It was nearly as +bright as the tiny sun, which was so far away +that it could not keep Mars warm.</p> +<p>“There goes another fuel rocket!” Sue +called out, pointing through the windshield.</p> +<p>As Biff caught sight of it, he jerked up +sharply in his seat, bumping the shoulders of +Sue and Steve on both sides of him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> +<p>“That rocket’s too low!” he exclaimed. “It’s +not lifting! Something’s gone wrong!”</p> +<p>Steve felt chills run up his spine. He was +seeing the danger too, now. The rocket was +dropping ahead of them, a screaming bomb +filled with explosive fuel. It was still quite a +distance away, but even Steve knew that it +would make a terrible blast when it struck the +ice.</p> +<p>Biff’s feet hit the brakes of the sled and the +runners chewed into the hard ice pack, shrieking, +and bringing the sled to a skidding stop. +The riders were slammed forward. Sue and +Steve were dazed, but not hurt. When Steve’s +mind cleared, he saw that Biff had thrown himself +over in front of Sue and him to protect +them. But in doing this, his helmet had +thumped against the windshield. He was now +slumped over and not moving.</p> +<p>“Sue!” Steve cried. “Biff is hurt!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> +<p>Just then they felt the shock of the explosion. +It tilted the sled at an angle and dropped +it down again with a hard jolt. The air was +filled with flying chunks of ice. It looked like +a hailstorm outside. The ice clattered against +the windshield like stones. Sue and Steve were +relieved when it finally stopped. But the explosion +had left the ice sheet in front of them +broken and choked with lumps of ice.</p> +<p>“Steve,” Sue moaned, “what are we going +to do?”</p> +<p>Steve looked at Biff who was still not moving. +He could see a big lump on Biff’s forehead +where his head had struck the helmet, +knocking him out. The children tried to revive +their friend, but could not.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to get the sled to the ship ourselves, +Sue!” her brother said. “Biff may need +a doctor! Besides, I bet we’ve all missed our +Thanksgiving dinner!”</p> +<p>“I won’t want any dinner if Biff is hurt +badly!” Sue said tearfully.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> +<p>At first it seemed like an impossible thing +for a pair of twelve-year-olds to run the big +sled. But Steve remembered how Biff had +worked the controls and he believed he, too, +could do it. He changed seats with the unconscious +spaceman and tried the levers and +buttons.</p> +<p>Presently the sled’s rockets began to pour +fire out of the rear. But Steve couldn’t get the +sled to move. He was afraid it had been damaged. +Then Sue showed him a lever to push +which she had remembered seeing Biff shove. +As Steve worked it gently, the sled started off +slowly.</p> +<p>“We’ll go slow,” Steve said, “and take it +very easy.”</p> +<p>The explosion had hit at the far edge of the +canal so that there was a narrow place on the +other side where the ice was still smooth. Steve +carefully guided the sled across the canal and +through the unbroken part. When there was +smooth ice before them, Steve picked up speed +a little. As he drove, Sue tried to awaken Biff.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> +<p>Steve would have found their adventure a +lot of fun if things weren’t so serious at the moment. +It wasn’t every day that a boy had the +chance to drive a giant rocket sled on a distant +planet!</p> +<p>At last Steve saw the round top of the space +ship just over the horizon. It was at that moment +that Sue called out the good news:</p> +<p>“Biff’s awakening, Steve!”</p> +<p>The boy saw their friend slowly rise up, +then shake his head to clear it. When he +smiled at them in his pleasant way, they were +sure that he was going to be all right. By the +time they had told him what had happened, +he was his old self again. He took the controls +and looked at his watch.</p> +<p>“Time’s running out,” he said. “We’ve got +to hit top speed again. Hold onto your helmets! +Here we go!”</p> +<p>And off they went at lightning speed once +more. It seemed to Steve as if they covered +the distance between them and the space ship +in seconds.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> +<p>As the sled came to a gentle stop beneath +the giant freighter, Biff said, “It looks like we’ll +make our Thanksgiving dinner on time after +all, doesn’t it, kids?”</p> +<p>“Yeah,” Steve answered, “and this is certainly +one Thanksgiving that I’m really thankful!”</p> +<p>“I know what you mean, Steve,” Sue said +thoughtfully. “We’re thankful that we’re +alive!”</p> +<p>Biff and Steve both nodded. It was a holiday +none of them would ever forget.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c7"><br /><i>CARGO FOR CALLISTO</i></h2> +<p>The big rocket freighter was +speeding through the star dust of outer space. +It was carrying supplies to Callisto (one of the +twelve moons of Jupiter) and the Shannons, +on another space adventure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> +<p>Steve and Sue looked out a window of the +freighter at the airless world growing in size. +Callisto was a gigantic roughened rock, but it +was a globe larger than the planet Mercury. +It reminded Steve of a giant cockle-burr hanging +in the sky.</p> +<p>Suddenly the children heard a tiny voice +behind them say, “Rocket away!”</p> +<p>They turned and Sue exclaimed, “It’s Bud!”</p> +<p>The blue parakeet, a budgy, blinked lazily +at them. The twins had met Mr. Whittle’s +pet a week ago. He had taken a liking to them +from the very start. They didn’t know that a +few hours from now their very lives would depend +on this little fellow.</p> +<p>“We’d better take him back to Mr. Whittle,” +Steve said.</p> +<p>The budgy kept studying them with his flat +face and blinking his tiny button eyes. Then +he squawked again, “Rocket away!”</p> +<p>“It’ll be ‘rocket away’ for you, young fellow!” +Steve said sternly. “Up on my finger, +Bud!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> +<p>The bird did as he was ordered. They took +him down the hall to Mr. Whittle’s room. +Bud’s owner, off duty now, was a tall, spidery +crewman with a big Adam’s apple. He always +gave his pet full run of the ship.</p> +<p>Mr. Whittle whistled to the parakeet, but +the bird stayed on Steve’s finger.</p> +<p>Mr. Whittle chuckled. “Hey, I believe he +likes you two better than his master!”</p> +<p>“We like him, too,” Sue told the crewman.</p> +<p>“You can keep him for a few days if you +want to,” Mr. Whittle said. “I’m going to be +pretty busy after we land.”</p> +<p>“Gee, we’d like to look after him!” Steve +answered.</p> +<p>“If you take him outside on Callisto, you’ll +have to put him in that air-tight cage over +there I had made. It’s sort of like a space suit +for him.”</p> +<p>Sue and Steve played with Bud in the room +they used for games until it was time to “strap +down” for landing. Then they went to the +couch hall and lay down on cots like the other +space travelers were doing. They buckled +straps across their bodies to keep them in +place.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> +<p>For a long time, Steve and Sue lay there as +the big freighter began cutting its rushing +speed. It felt to Steve as if a giant anvil were +crushing downward on his chest. Take-off and +landing were always the roughest moments in +space travel, as the twins had already found +out on other space trips.</p> +<p>At last the ship set down on Callisto. The +young Shannons went back to the game room. +Then with the bird on Steve’s shoulder, the +twins looked out the window at the strange +new world.</p> +<p>They saw a land bathed in ghostly twilight. +Very little light was coming from the sun. It +was so far away that it was only a small circle. +Most of the light came from a huge shape that +looked like somebody’s lost beach ball resting +on the ground. Its bottom edge just touched +the horizon.</p> +<p>Sue and Steve were joined by their father, +who worked for the space freight company.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> +<p>“That’s His Majesty, Jupiter—the king of +planets,” Mr. Shannon told them. “He’s over +a million miles away and yet he looks close +enough to touch, doesn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Let’s go outdoors, Dad!” Steve begged.</p> +<p>“No reason why we can’t,” Mr. Shannon +replied.</p> +<p>After they had put on their space clothes, +Steve popped Bud into his warm, air-tight +cage.</p> +<p>As they all went outside, they saw the crewmen +unloading the cargo.</p> +<p>“There’s the colony over there,” Mr. Shannon +said, pointing to a high framework that +looked something like an oil derrick.</p> +<p>“They mine here for a mineral called +magna. It’s very valuable, because without it +we couldn’t have atomic engines. Magna is +what keeps our rocket tubes from melting under +the terrific heat that goes through them.”</p> +<p>“May we go down into the mines, Dad?” +Steve asked.</p> +<p>“We’ll see if we can,” said his father.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> +<p>As they walked toward the mining place, +Mr. Shannon said, “Underneath us are pockets +of poisonous gas like that found in Jupiter’s +atmosphere. Sometimes it leaks into the mining +tunnels causing danger from suffocation.”</p> +<p>“I sure hope the gas stays where it belongs +while we’re down there!” Steve said and swallowed +the lump of fear in his throat.</p> +<p>They turned their attention to Jupiter. It +looked even more like a beach ball now with +its stripes of beautiful colors. Mr. Shannon +said the bands were floating ice bergs of the +poisonous gases he was talking about.</p> +<p>“No ship can land on Jupiter,” he said. “Its +gravity would crush a spaceman flat. Gravity +pull is much stronger on the larger planets, +you know. Jupiter’s atmosphere is many thousands +of miles deep. Raging storms are going +on beneath it all the time.”</p> +<p>“Ooo!” Sue gasped. “I guess we’re close +enough to it then!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> +<p>Other wonders of the sky were the round +beacons of Jupiter’s other moons, three of +which were about the same size as Callisto. +They hung like bright searchlights in the +starry heavens.</p> +<p>The men at the mining place greeted the +Shannons warmly. They had not seen anyone +from Earth for so long that they had grown +very lonely.</p> +<p>The chief mining engineer said he would +be glad to take the visitors on an underground +tour. His name was Dr. Harding. He was +plump and short and wore black-rimmed +glasses inside his space helmet.</p> +<p>He led them into an elevator and it sank +into the darkness. Steve remembered about +the poisonous gases that crept about underground +and it made him shiver to think about +it.</p> +<p>Dr. Harding watched Bud hopping around +uncomfortably inside his small space cage. +“Do you remember, Mr. Shannon,” he asked +over his suit radio, “when they used to use +canary birds in mines to warn about leaking +gas? The birds would notice it first and give +the miners time to get out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> +<p>“I’ve read about that, Dr. Harding,” said +Mr. Shannon.</p> +<p>“Now we have automatic warning machines +in the tunnels to do that,” the chief engineer +told Sue and Steve.</p> +<p>Deeper and deeper below the soil of Callisto +the elevator sank. At last the cage reached the +bottom, and the riders found themselves in +a large cavern. There were machines and men +all about, working busily. Tracks led off into +tunnels and ore cars were running on them. +Some were going empty into the tunnels while +others were coming out full of rock and gravel.</p> +<p>“The magna is separated from the rock in +that big machine over there,” Dr. Harding explained. +“Want to ride an ore car into one of +the tunnels?”</p> +<p>“Sure!” Steve spoke up.</p> +<p>“The mine is air-conditioned,” the chief +engineer said, “so we can take off our helmets.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> +<p>This done, Steve let Bud out of his cage. +The little bird hopped up on his gloved finger, +saying, “Rocket away!” several times. His +two-word language seemed to do for everything.</p> +<p>One worker controlled all the cars at a main +switch in the middle of the cavern. The Shannons +and their guide climbed into an empty +ore car and it rolled into a tunnel.</p> +<p>Glistening dark rock crowded in on Sue and +Steve from all sides. Steve hoped the walls +were strong enough so they would not come +crashing down on their heads! There were +lights along the way to help brighten the +gloom.</p> +<p>After clicking along like a trolley for awhile, +the car came to the end of the line. It was a +large room with more machines and workmen. +The men were digging magna ore out of the +wall with drills.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> +<p>As Dr. Harding explained about the work, +Bud began flitting about as though sight-seeing +on his own. He was shy of the workers at +first, but then made friends with them. He +spoke to them with his favorite two words and +the men laughed in great fun to hear him.</p> +<p>Then a few minutes later, Bud began acting +queerly. He flew back to Steve’s finger and +started wobbling as though dizzy.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with him?” Steve asked.</p> +<p>“He’s sick or something!” Sue cried out. +She took the budgy from Steve and cuddled +him in her own gloves. But the little blue bird +seemed to be no better.</p> +<p>Dr. Harding walked over to look at the bird. +Then he ordered, “Everybody into the ore +car! We have to get out of here fast! Sue, hold +the bird up close to your suit!”</p> +<p>The workers dropped their tools as if they +were red hot and climbed into the car. Mr. +Shannon helped Sue and Steve on, then +jumped on himself.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> +<p>Dr. Harding pressed the electric button that +was the signal to the operator in the main cavern +to move the car. The car began to roll +down the track. It picked up speed as Dr. +Harding kept pressing the button.</p> +<p>“Leaking gas, Dr. Harding?” Mr. Shannon +asked worriedly.</p> +<p>The chief engineer nodded. He sniffed the +air like a hunting dog after a scent. “Take a +deep breath, everyone, then hold it!”</p> +<p>Steve thought his lungs would burst, but +finally Dr. Harding let them take another deep +breath. By the time they had taken one more, +the car had reached the main cavern. As it +rolled to a stop, Dr. Harding jumped down +and ran over to the car operator.</p> +<p>Steve saw a door slide down and close off the +tunnel where they had come out. Then the +little man gave a deep sigh and took off his +black-rimmed glasses to wipe them.</p> +<p>Sue and Steve watched Bud hopefully. He +was standing more steadily on Sue’s finger +now.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> +<p>“I think he’ll be all right,” the chief engineer +said. “We sure owe Bud a lot for warning +us the way he did. Something must have +happened to the warning machine. It was +supposed to set off a siren.”</p> +<p>“If it weren’t for Bud we might have been +overcome before we could have gotten out of +there!” Mr. Shannon added.</p> +<p>“You’re so right!” Dr. Harding said. “The +men will go back in there in gas masks to find +the leak and see what’s wrong with the warning +machine.”</p> +<p>“We’re plenty lucky!” Steve sighed, his +spine still prickly from their narrow escape.</p> +<p>Sue kissed the budgy. “You’re a hero, Bud,” +she told him, “and we love you!”</p> +<p>Bud blinked lazily. Then as if to show that +he was all right again, he squawked, “Rocket +away!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c8"><br /><i>THE BIG SHOW ON TITAN</i></h2> +<p>The space freighter had landed +on Titan, the largest moon in all the Solar System. +The Shannon twins had been anxious to +reach this moon of Saturn because their father +had told them that something very exciting +might happen here before they left.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> +<p>There was still another reason why the children +had looked forward to the landing. They +would meet a boy of their own age who was +the son of a worker. He had been living on +Titan for the past two years and would be able +to show them around.</p> +<p>Steve and Sue came down the outside “gangway” +of the cargo ship and stepped onto the +frozen ground of the distant world. The twins +wore space suits, of course, for the air outside +was extremely cold and it was poisonous as +well with raw methane and ammonia.</p> +<p>Steve saw beautiful Saturn, with its colored +rings, filling much of the blue sky. Titan was +a world of close mountains, worn smooth by +lots of windy weather. A film of glistening ice +covered the peaks like caps of glass.</p> +<p>“Look up there, Sue!” Steve said. “Over +our heads! That’s the famous skyport of Titan!”</p> +<p>“I wish we could go up there!” Sue said.</p> +<p>“Maybe we’ll get the chance,” answered +Steve.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> +<p>Ahead of them stood a rounded plastic +dome. Men were carrying into it cartons of +supplies which the space freighter had +brought. The twins’ father, who was an official +of the American Space Supply Company, was +still aboard to take care of the unloading.</p> +<p>A boy came out of the domed building. +“Are you the Shannons?” he asked over his +space radio.</p> +<p>“Yes, we are,” Steve replied.</p> +<p>“I’m Bobby King.”</p> +<p>Sue and Steve said they were glad to meet +him. He asked if they would like to go up and +see the skyport.</p> +<p>Both the young Shannons answered a quick, +“Sure!” together.</p> +<p>They followed their new friend into the +plastic dome. Bobby King pointed to an overhead +cable. Hanging from the heavy cord was +a cable car.</p> +<p>“All aboard!” Bobby called, like a train +conductor.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> +<p>Sue and Steve giggled with pleasure as they +entered the car, followed by Bobby. Bobby +pushed a switch and the cable car began to +move.</p> +<p>“We’re going up like a corkscrew,” Bobby +said.</p> +<p>Round and round, right out of the top of +the building, moved the cable car. Up and up +it went. It took about ten minutes to reach the +top. As soon as they got out, two men passed +them who were talking about a storm that was +on the way.</p> +<p>“Boy, if there’s a storm coming, you two are +sure in luck!” Bobby told Sue and Steve.</p> +<p>Steve and Sue looked at one another, puzzled. +Why should their young friend be pleased +over a coming storm?</p> +<p>They saw before them a space that looked +as flat as a highway and larger than a football +field. There was a row of hangars along the far +side.</p> +<p>“Wow, we sure must be high!” Steve burst +out. They seemed to be almost on a level with +the mountains.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> +<p>“We’re a whole mile off the ground,” +Bobby told him. “The skyport rests on the +corners of two mountain ridges.”</p> +<p>They went over to one of the clear plastic +walls that edged the skyport.</p> +<p>“Gee, the freighter sure is little down +there!” Sue said.</p> +<p>It almost took Steve’s breath away. The big +space ship indeed looked no larger than a toy +down below.</p> +<p>“Why did they go to such trouble to build +this?” Steve asked.</p> +<p>“Because there wasn’t any place flat enough +on the ground,” Bobby answered. “My father +says they need a main skyport on Titan because +there are so many companies here digging +for uranium. The colonists fly here to get +their supplies and mail.”</p> +<p>“I see some dark clouds over the mountains,” +Sue said. “Does that mean a storm is +coming?”</p> +<p>Bobby’s helmet nodded. “It sure does! You +two are the luckiest ones! You got here right +at the start of the storm season.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> +<p>Steve and Sue were still puzzled as to why +Bobby wanted it to storm.</p> +<p>Bobby showed his guests a faint star burning +through the blue atmosphere. “That’s +Earth,” he told them, “750 million miles +away. My father thinks we can go back for a +visit in a few weeks. I’ll be glad.”</p> +<p>“Where do you live here, Bobby?” Sue +asked.</p> +<p>“My father and I stay in an apartment a +little way from here,” Bobby answered.</p> +<p>“How about school?” Steve wanted to know. +“Do they have one on Titan?”</p> +<p>Bobby shook his head. “My father teaches +me. He’s out with some prospectors today.”</p> +<p>Bobby showed them Titan’s other nine +sister moons, which looked like glowing fireballs. +Steve saw that most of the daylight came +from Saturn because the sun was so far away. +It wasn’t nearly as bright here as it was on +Earth.</p> +<p>“I wish we could run over to Saturn for a +visit,” Sue said, jokingly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> +<p>“You don’t really, Sue,” Bobby told her. +“You couldn’t stand up in its heavy gravity. +Saturn’s almost as big as Jupiter, you know.”</p> +<p>“What are Saturn’s rings made of?” Steve +asked.</p> +<p>“Oodles and oodles of rocks,” Bobby replied. +“They are traveling so fast that they +make the rings look like one solid piece.”</p> +<p>Wind was beginning to howl around them +and this seemed to make Bobby very excited.</p> +<p>The coming storm must be something special, +Steve thought. His curiosity had been +aroused strongly.</p> +<p>The clouds gathered darker and more +thickly behind the mountains. The wind was +driving harder.</p> +<p>“Hadn’t we better go inside?” Sue asked, +worriedly.</p> +<p>“Shucks, no!” Bobby said. “It won’t be any +fun unless we’re right out in it! There won’t +be any rain. It’s too cold on Titan for rain.”</p> +<p>Suddenly the three heard a loud siren wail.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> +<p>“That means a jet plane is coming in,” +Bobby said. “All planes have to land when +word of a storm gets around.”</p> +<p>The plane’s wheels touched down and the +ship rolled along until a hook on it caught a +line that stretched across the runway. The line +brought the plane to a sharp halt.</p> +<p>The jet’s wings were folded down and the +ship was pushed off to a hangar. Two more +ships landed afterward. Then a blinding flash +lighted up the sky. It made Steve and Sue +blink and jump in fright.</p> +<p>“Look!” Bobby exclaimed. “The storm has +begun!”</p> +<p>Other men had come out to see what was +going to happen and they lined up along the +edges of the skyport with the children.</p> +<p>Bobby pointed to a sparkling balloon of +light that burst into a blossom of sparks over +the mountains. A moment later a red dagger +flash skipped across the peaks. During all this +there were loud crashes and rumblings. Steve +was scared and thrilled at the same time.</p> +<p>“It’s just like fireworks!” Sue called out.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> +<p>Now Steve could understand why Bobby +had looked forward to the storm. He guessed, +too, that this was the exciting surprise their +father had said might happen while they were +here.</p> +<p>An orange pinwheel, like a Fourth of July +sparkler, rose from a mountain top and looped +upward. It grew bigger and bigger and fainter +and fainter at the same time. It was really a +beauty.</p> +<p>“What causes the fireworks?” Steve asked +above the noise.</p> +<p>“Partly strong wind,” Bobby said loudly, +“and partly Titan’s gases exploding against the +mountain tops!”</p> +<p>They watched spellbound for fifteen minutes, +then a half hour. The Shannons were +sure they had never seen anything quite so +breathtaking as this.</p> +<p>At one time a row of peaks seemed to glow +with a sheet of red flame. The flame danced +and flickered like a forest fire for a long time +before it faded out.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> +<p>The children had been enjoying themselves +so thoroughly that they knew nothing of the +peril that was heading their way.</p> +<p>The first warning came when one of the +skyport men standing nearby shouted over +his space suit radio. Steve whirled in alarm. +His heart seemed to stop beating completely +for a terrible moment.</p> +<p>A tardy plane had come in for a landing on +the sky platform. But the howling wind had +kept everyone from hearing the warning siren.</p> +<p>Because of the fierce blowing, the plane had +not hooked firmly to the braking line. It +scooted off to the side and was heading for the +very spot where Bobby, Steve and Sue stood.</p> +<p>“Bobby!” Steve cried. “Get out of the way!” +As Bobby ducked for safety, Steve also moved +quickly. Sue screamed as Bobby grabbed her +hastily by her space glove. He had to jerk her +sharply in order to get her out of the path of +the runaway plane.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> +<p>The plane crashed into the plastic wall of +the skyport, tearing out a section of wall as +though it were thin cardboard. The ship was +left dangling on the very edge as if ready to +fall a mile to the ground.</p> +<p>“The poor pilot!” Sue cried. “Oh, I can’t +look!”</p> +<p>But the skyport men had come running +quickly over and together they pulled the jet +plane back to safety. They helped the scared +pilot out. He walked shakily off into one of +the hangars.</p> +<p>“Whew! That was close!” Steve breathed. +“For him and us, too!”</p> +<p>“My heart is still thumping like a drum!” +Bobby said.</p> +<p>As for Sue, she was too upset to say anything +at all.</p> +<p>They turned to look at the fireworks to take +their minds off the accident. The wonderful +ending of the show almost made them forget +it completely.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> +<p>They saw a dazzling white light burst like +an empty volcano. The banner of fire rose as +high into the sky as huge Saturn. Then it +spilled over like a great fountain. It changed +into purple, then blue, green and red.</p> +<p>Before dying out, it gave the big planet a +lovely ruddy glow, showing up its rings like a +gleaming necklace of rubies. That was the end +of Nature’s grand performance.</p> +<p>“Wow, wasn’t that terrific?” Steve asked. +“A show like that in a grandstand on Earth +would cost you three-and-a-half.”</p> +<p>“Maybe four!” Sue chimed in.</p> +<p>“You can’t see this show anywhere on Earth, +Steve,” Bobby said. “Titan is the only place. +And the good thing about it is that it’s all for +free!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c9"><br /><i>ADVENTURE ON THE SUN’S DOORSTEP</i></h2> +<p>Sue and Steve Shannon watched +the magic world of stardust through a port of +the rocket freighter. The ship was moving under +power of its atomic engines, headed toward +the sun.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> +<p>They had one more cargo stop to make before +returning to their beloved soil on the +Earth.</p> +<p>The twins heard the clack of magnetic +soles behind them. Without such shoes holding +them to the floor, space travelers would +float about helplessly like wingless birds.</p> +<p>“Hi, kids,” greeted their father. “Growing +tired of the view?”</p> +<p>“I guess I am, Dad,” Steve admitted. His +blue eyes were tired.</p> +<p>“How far away is Apollo’s Chariot now?” +Sue asked.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon grinned. “That’s the umpteenth +time you two have asked that. But I +suppose I’m as restless as you are to get back +to Mom in Arkansas.”</p> +<p>Hearing this made Steve suddenly homesick. +There was really no place like home, just +like the poet had said. Steve knew Sue felt the +same way. He had seen a wistful look in her +hazel eyes every time they had talked of Little +Rock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> +<p>The seemingly endless days finally did end. +The three Shannons went up into the lookout +dome with the crewmen. The dome was covered +by a darkened plastic screen to cut down +the blinding glare of the sun, which was very +close.</p> +<p>It was a heart-stopping sight for Sue and +Steve. The planet Mercury covered the face of +the sun like a black plate. Streaming out from +the edges were mountainous tongues of living +fire. Mr. Shannon called this flaming halo the +sun’s <i>chromosphere</i>.</p> +<p>“Gee, what a thing to see!” Steve gasped.</p> +<p>“It’s—it’s unbelievable!” Sue added, breathless.</p> +<p>“Indeed, it is,” Mr. Shannon agreed. “See +that thing like a lighted wheel just ahead of +us? That’s Apollo’s Chariot. It was named after +the famous Greek sun god, you know.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> +<p>Sue and Steve knew that Apollo’s Chariot +was really a space laboratory that was a home +for scientists who were studying the sun. They +had been the ones who had given their tiny +world its colorful nickname. It was protected +with asbestos and other special material to +shield it from the heat as it circled the great +star, month after month, year after year.</p> +<p>“We had to contact Apollo’s Chariot while +Mercury was shading our ship from the sun’s +rays,” Mr. Shannon said. “We aren’t protected +like Apollo’s Chariot is.”</p> +<p>“Mercury seems as big as the sun, the way +it covers it completely,” Steve remarked.</p> +<p>“That’s because we’re so close to Mercury,” +his father explained. “Actually, the sun is so +much bigger it’s like comparing a pinpoint to +a grapefruit!”</p> +<p>In the midnight darkness between the ships, +giant searchlights had to be turned on. Then +the scientists on the other ship came out onto +their loading platform to receive their cargo. +Conversation was carried on by means of space +suit radios with those aboard the freighter, +who stood on their own outside platform.</p> +<p>“Why can’t we get closer to Apollo’s Chariot?” +Steve asked Biff Warren, who was the +twins’ favorite among the crewmen. Biff was +piling boxes and crates at the edge of the platform.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> +<p>“Space regulations,” answered Biff. “If a +meteor should hit one of us, the other ship +would explode too if we were close. Also, +rocket tubes are so tricky that you never know +when one is going to misfire and send your +ship scooting off suddenly in the wrong direction.”</p> +<p>One end of a double cable was fastened to +rings on the freighter’s platform. Then the +other end was tossed across the space between +the two ships and attached by the scientists +to their own side.</p> +<p>Steve saw the crewmen around him pick up +cords from out of the cable equipment box. +They fastened one end to buckles on their +suits and the other to the cable. Steve guessed +that the lines were a safety measure to keep +the men from drifting off into space as they +carried the cargo across.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> +<p>The first crewman picked up a crate as +lightly as if it were a pile of feathers. Then +with his foot he shoved off from the platform.</p> +<p>He guided the crate through the emptiness +with his gloved hands and the men on the opposite +platform helped him aboard. Another +crewman stepped off the freighter with another +crate. Then another crewman with another +piece of cargo. The carriers returned by +the other cable line.</p> +<p>Steve went over to his dad who, as an official +of the American Space Supply Company, was +supervising the work as always. “Dad, may +Sue and I carry a box across? We’ll be careful.”</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon thought a moment. “I suppose +it will be all right. There’s no way you can +go adrift if you fasten on to the cable. But you +have to be careful you’re snapped on securely.”</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon made a place for them in line. +Sue in front. There was a wait before Sue’s +turn so that more crates could be placed on +the platform’s edge. The children looked beyond +Apollo’s Chariot at the huge black circle +of Mercury as it masked the mighty sun.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> +<p>“Biff,” Steve asked his friend as he was +stacking the crates, “why couldn’t the Apollo +scientists study the sun from Mercury?”</p> +<p>Biff chuckled and it made a funny crackling +sound over the young Shannons’ radios. “Men +will land on Mercury when they grow hides +of asbestos, Steve. It’s so hot on the sunward +side that there are supposed to be lakes and +pools of lead there! The other side never sees +the sun, so you can imagine how cold it is! +Think you two would like to go there?”</p> +<p>“I should say not!” Sue answered for both +of them.</p> +<p>When the next piece of cargo was ready to +go over, Biff checked the children’s safety +cords. Then he let Sue push off from the platform +with a box in front of her. A few moments +later, Steve followed. The boy heard +his sister giggle excitedly as they floated across. +Searchlight beams were in their eyes but they +didn’t mind. Steve, too, thought this great fun +after being cramped for so long on the +freighter. He looked down at the empty space +below, but he knew he could not fall and so +was not afraid. Reaching the other platform, +he and his sister were helped aboard.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> +<p>“They sure are using young crewmen these +days!” joked one of the scientists, a tall man +who seemed to be working harder than the +others. “Nice work, young folks!”</p> +<p>The scientist was in the act of changing the +children’s cords over to the returning cable +when a slight mishap occurred. One of the +crates coming over bumped into him. He +laughed as he again got to his feet but his +laughter quickly changed to alarm when Sue +suddenly pushed off from the platform. She +had thought her cable line was secure and that +she was ready to make the exciting trip back +across the gulf.</p> +<p>“Wait, miss!” the scientist called. “I didn’t +finish fastening your cable cord!” He reached +for Sue but her suit slipped out of the fingers +of his bulky space gloves.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> +<p>Steve froze for an instant in terror at what +he had seen. Then without thought of anything +else except his sister’s danger, he dove +right off the platform after Sue, not realizing +or caring that his own cable cord was not +fastened.</p> +<p>If the scientist had not grabbed for Sue +she might have floated safely across to the +freighter. But by touching her he had sent +her off in a direction beneath it.</p> +<p>Over his radio, Steve heard her screaming +for help and saw her flinging her arms and +legs about like a drowning swimmer. Steve +was moving faster than she and presently +caught up with her.</p> +<p>“What are we going to do, Steve?” she cried, +holding tightly to him. “We can’t stop! And +it’s so dark out here!”</p> +<p>Steve knew that unless someone came to +their aid they would drift on and on since +there was no air to slow them down. But he +didn’t tell Sue this.</p> +<p>He remembered, as he had at times before, +that a spaceman must keep his head in an +emergency. He spoke comforting words to Sue, +telling her to try to be calm, that help would +be coming.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> +<div class="img" id="pic4"> +<img src="images/i05.jpg" alt="He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer" width="500" height="653" /> +<p class="caption"><i>He saw her flinging her arms and legs about like a drowning swimmer</i></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> +<p>Even as he told her this a spear of light hit +them and a voice broke in on their radio: +“Steve! Sue! Stop struggling! I’m on my way +to you!”</p> +<p>“Biff!” Steve exclaimed, and the dread in +his heart suddenly lifted. He looked over his +shoulder and saw their big friend approaching, +guided by the light that had been flashed +on them from the freighter.</p> +<p>There was a little plume of flame trailing +behind him. In a few minutes he had caught +up with them. Sue was so glad to see him she +grabbed the big spaceman and her helmet +bumped against his in an attempted kiss.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Biff!” she +sobbed. “I was so <i>awfully</i> scared!”</p> +<p>“You’re all right now,” Biff said gently. +“Both of you hold on to me and we’ll go back.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> +<p>Steve took Biff’s left arm and Sue firmly +grasped one of Steve’s. Biff carried a type of +hand rocket, called a “pusher,” that he had +used to shoot himself along toward them. By +pointing the rocket in the opposite direction +from which he wanted to go, the “pusher” +pushed him in the manner of the rocket tubes +on the freighter.</p> +<p>Biff pointed the pusher away from the +freighter. Steve saw a burst of fire beside them +and the three of them sped off toward the big +ship. As Sue reached the platform, her father +was there to help her aboard. She could see +in his eyes the fear he had felt for them.</p> +<p>Steve was surprised to have the crew greet +him warmly with pats on the back. The boy +turned to his father. “Why are they calling me +a hero?” he asked. “It was Biff who saved us!”</p> +<p>“Not taking credit away from Biff, any good +spaceman would have done what he did,” said +Mr. Shannon. “But few would have attempted +your trick of jumping into space after your +sister with no way of getting back. Right, +Biff?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> +<p>Biff nodded his plastic helmet. “It wasn’t +the smartest thing you could have done, Steve, +but it showed your bravery. Courage counts +just as much as ability in a spaceman. Don’t +ever forget that, son.”</p> +<p>Steve, who wanted to be a spaceman some +day, would not forget it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c10"><br /><i>THE FLYING MOUNTAIN</i></h2> +<p>Steve and Sue were playing a +game as the freighter headed through space +toward Earth. It was fun trying to see who +could build the higher tower of sticks. The +young Shannons were in extra good spirits. +Before long they would be seeing Mom and +their home in Arkansas, after being in space +for so many months.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> +<p>Steve carefully placed the last stick on his +tower which was almost as high as he could +reach.</p> +<p>“<i>I</i> won, Sis!” he exclaimed. But as he drew +his hand away, it brushed against the tower, +causing the sticks to drift off in all directions.</p> +<p>“<i>I</i> won!” Sue cried gleefully, “Yours broke +up!”</p> +<p>Steve made a face and began picking the +sticks out of the air before they floated too +far. It was lack of weight in space that made it +possible to play such a game. The twins +would have hung in the air like the sticks if +their shoe soles were not held to the floor by +magnetism.</p> +<p>“I’ll beat you next time,” Steve boasted.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> +<p>Before they could start again, their father +came into the room. “It looks as though we +may not be getting home as quickly as we had +expected, kids. Captain Furman has received +an S. O. S. from a passenger rocket that’s +down on the asteroid, Sierra.” The twins +knew an asteroid to be one of the thousands +of tiny planets in the Solar System.</p> +<p>“Are we going to her aid?” Steve asked.</p> +<p>“It depends on whether we have enough +fuel or not,” his father replied. “Even atomic +fuel runs out sometime, you know. Captain +Furman is talking with his officers now. It’ll +be a shame if we can’t help the <i>Pole Star</i>—as +much as I want to see Mom.”</p> +<p>It was just like his unselfish dad to say that, +Steve thought. He felt the same way about it. +And he didn’t doubt that tender-hearted Sue +was of the same mind.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon started out of the room again. +“I’m going to see what they are going to do.”</p> +<p>Steve and Sue went back to their game. But +somehow it wasn’t as much fun now. People +were in trouble and trouble in space was +often a frightening thing.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> +<p>It seemed like a long time before their +father came back. He walked in so fast that +his magnetic shoes sounded like tiny hammers. +“Kids,” he said, “the captain wants to +see you.”</p> +<p>“<i>Us?</i>” Steve asked.</p> +<p>“That’s right. Come quickly.”</p> +<p>They went out, leaving some sticks in mid-air +and others drifting off. The young Shannons +walked shyly into the captain’s room +where all the officers stood. Steve felt out of +place among the neatly uniformed spacemen.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon was in charge of cargo which +the freighter dropped off at different ports in +space, for he was an official of the American +Space Supply Company. But he had nothing +to do with the running of the ship.</p> +<p>“Young folks,” said the tall captain, who +had a blond mustache, “we want you to help +us solve a problem.”</p> +<p>“Sir?” Steve asked, puzzled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> +<p>“Here it is,” went on the chief, in his +booming voice. “If we go on past Earth to +Sierra to help the <i>Pole Star</i>, it’ll leave us with +only a fifty-fifty chance of having enough fuel +to reach Earth. But the <i>Pole Star</i> is running +short of supplies and their radio just went +dead a while ago. It’s too late to get help from +Earth. The crew is divided on what we +should do, so I decided to call you two in to +see what you think.”</p> +<p>A husky crewman spoke out boldly, “What +do these kids know about space, Captain? +They’re not even old enough to be out here! +I say stick to our course and get this crew and +ship back safely to Earth!”</p> +<p>The remark angered Steve, but the spaceman +looked too big to talk back to. Sue wasn’t +so timid.</p> +<p>“You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” +she exclaimed. “Thinking of yourself when +other people are in trouble!”</p> +<p>Steve and his father were surprised at Sue’s +outburst. Captain Furman and the other +crewmen smiled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> +<p>“I think that solves our problem,” the captain +spoke firmly. “If the young lady has +courage enough to overlook the risk, the rest +of us should have it, too. Thank you, Sue. +We move at full rocket thrust to aid the <i>Pole +Star</i>.”</p> +<p>As the Shannons went out into the corridor, +Steve asked his sister, “Wow, Sue, what +made you talk back to that big fellow like +that?”</p> +<p>“He was so selfish!” Sue answered. “Besides, +it made me mad to hear him say we +didn’t know anything about space! Why, +we’ve been over almost all of the Solar System, +haven’t we, Dad?”</p> +<p>Her father pressed her shoulder. “Of +course, honey. I’m proud of you, because I +felt the same way.”</p> +<p>It took a few days for the freighter to reach +the asteroid. The space ship, in going past +the Earth, had come close enough for the +Earth to be seen as a misty, green light. It +made the twins long for home as they saw it.</p> +<p>“Sierra is like a big meteor, isn’t it, Dad?” +Steve asked, as the three of them looked +downward on the flat, egg-shaped rock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> +<p>His father nodded. “It’s often called, ‘The +Flying Mountain,’ because of the low peaks +on it. Sierra is only a mile long and less than +that wide.”</p> +<p>“I remember from school that it wasn’t discovered +until 1965,” Sue said.</p> +<p>“That’s because it’s so small and isn’t very +bright in the sky,” her father spoke. “Most +of the asteroids are much farther out, between +Mars and Jupiter, but a few come in +close to Earth like Sierra, Hermes, Eros and +some others.”</p> +<p>The freighter landed safely in a flat area +about two hundred feet from the <i>Pole Star</i>. +The Shannons could see the damaged space +ship jammed against a cliff. Brilliant sunshine +reflected upward from bare dark rock, +dazzling their eyes. It was over a hundred +degrees on Sierra, for there was no atmosphere +to check the sun’s heat.</p> +<p>“Boy, what a place for a sunburn!” Steve +said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> +<p>“It’s certainly summertime on Sierra!” Sue +added.</p> +<p>They watched crewmen in space suits come +out of the freighter and begin uncoiling a +spool of rope that would stretch between the +two ships. Safety lines led from all the men +back to the cargo ship.</p> +<p>“There’s almost no gravity at all here,” +Mr. Shannon told his son and daughter, “because +the asteroid is so small. If the people +from the <i>Pole Star</i>—providing there are any +alive—didn’t have the rope to hang on to, they +might float right off Sierra.”</p> +<p>The children asked to go outside. The +three suited up and went out, using safety +lines, just in case.</p> +<p>The glare was so strong that they had to +lower their darkening glasses over the face +part of their helmets. The heat was such that +they had to switch on the cooling outfits in +their suits. It was strange to see the edge of +the asteroid so close, just beyond a fringe of +dagger-like peaks. It was like being on a big +space raft.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> +<p>The twins tried walking. They were less +than feather-light and it was quite a job for +them even to keep upright. Sue decided this +wouldn’t be a very good place to spend a summer +vacation.</p> +<p>Sue’s cooling outfit made her sneeze. She +was lifted right off the ground and her father +had to pull her down quickly. She and Steve +laughed but they had been scared.</p> +<p>“See, it doesn’t take much to send you sky +high!” Mr. Shannon joked, speaking over the +radio set which all three of them carried in +their space suits.</p> +<p>At last the crewmen, who had been moving +so carefully over the ground toward the +<i>Pole Star</i>, reached the ship and fastened the +rope to it. The outer door of the <i>Pole Star</i> +was then opened by someone inside.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> +<p>“Thank goodness somebody’s alive in +there!” Mr. Shannon said thankfully. “I guess +the ship just coasted into the rock wall without +too much force.”</p> +<p>The freighter crew began helping people +out of the passenger rocket. If things weren’t +so serious, it would have been funny for Sue +and Steve to see them in their balloon-like +space suits, bouncing one careful step at a +time and holding on for dear life to the rope.</p> +<p>As the party neared the freighter, the twins +suddenly saw their father dash toward the +ship. In his haste, Mr. Shannon seemed to +have forgotten where he was and went scooting +upward like a high-jumper.</p> +<p>“Dad!” Sue and Steve cried out together.</p> +<p>Mr. Shannon had to put out his hands and +feet at the last minute to keep from crashing +into the wall of the freighter. Then he pulled +himself down to the ground with his safety +line. When they saw that their father was unhurt, +Sue and Steve began walking toward the +ship with careful steps.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> +<p>They heard their dad exclaim, “Mr. Ballinger!” +as he walked over to one of the men +from the <i>Pole Star</i>.</p> +<p>“John Shannon!” the man said.</p> +<p>It turned out that Mr. Ballinger was the +president of the American Space Supply +Company and was Mr. Shannon’s boss. Mr. +Ballinger explained that the <i>Pole Star</i> was +heading for Mars when there was an explosion +in the rocket tubes. By landing on Sierra +the captain thought there was a better chance +of their being found than if they had just +kept drifting in space, because all ships knew +the path of “The Flying Mountain.” No one +had been hurt in the landing and the <i>Pole +Star</i> had enough fuel to get the freighter back +to Earth.</p> +<p>“I don’t know whether I should fire you +people or not for risking my good freighter +just to save an old codger like me!” the +friendly Mr. Ballinger joked.</p> +<p>“We almost didn’t,” Steve’s dad reminded +him and explained how Sue’s outburst had +decided the problem.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> +<p>“You’ve certainly got some smart ones +there, John,” Mr. Ballinger said, smiling at +Sue and Steve. “Your son has already proved +himself a hero before and now it’s Sue. Yes, +sir, I sure wish I had a pair like them!”</p> +<p>But the twins scarcely heard him. They +were thinking that, in spite of the great fun +they had had on all their space adventures, +how wonderful it was going to be to see Mom +again and set foot on the grandest planet in +all the Solar System—Earth!</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c11"><br /><i>CASTAWAYS IN SPACE</i></h2> +<p>The two of them had just +shoved the supply case against the chute door +when the space ship gave an unexpected burst +of rocket power, knocking Skip Miller against +the release lever. The escape door shot up and +a big square of black space opened before the +boys’ eyes.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> +<p>Glen Hartzell was stunned to see his friend +go spinning down the incline and follow the +supply case toward the open door. Automatically, +Glen stretched his lean body full length +trying to grasp Skip’s space suit before he escaped. +But his momentum sent him skidding +down the slope and the next thing he knew +he was out in space, too.</p> +<p>A week ago Glen wouldn’t have cared +whether he faced death or not. He and Skip +had just made the scorned fraternity of +“Wockies,” washed-out cadets. His failure had +cut like a knife. He had wanted to pilot ships +through the depths of space more than anything +else in the world. Instead, he and Skip +had been assigned to ground crews on Mars. +That, at least, had been their destination until +Skip’s elbow unexpectedly made them castaways +in space.</p> +<p>Glen’s first thought was directed to Skip, +who looked like a toy balloon as he drifted +through the vacuum. “Skip!” he called over +his space suit radio. “Do you hear me, Skip?”</p> +<p>“Yeah, Glen,” Skip’s reply was scarcely +more than a squeak.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> +<p>Glen looked down and ahead where a massive +rock some ten miles in diameter hung +in the starry emptiness. “If we can make +Phobos, we may be all right.”</p> +<p>“We’re done for,” Skip groaned.</p> +<p>“We’re not!” Glen’s wits were sharpened +by the danger. “We’re lined up pretty well +with Phobos. She doesn’t have any gravity to +speak of and we may be able to land on her.”</p> +<p>“We won’t make Phobos,” Skip argued. +“We’ll either run into Mars’ gravity field and +crash on its surface or float through space until +our air runs out.”</p> +<p>“Shut up, Skip!” Glen’s tone was sharp. +“Listen to me. See if you can pick up a little +speed by kicking out behind with your feet +and hands. If you can catch up with the supply +case, hang on.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> +<p>Skip didn’t reply but Glen saw his arms and +legs begin to move. Glen worked his own. It +was a grueling effort, but Glen found that he +was able to increase his speed much in the +manner of a space ship’s thrust. By the time +Glen touched Skip’s suit, both of them were +sucking freely of their precious oxygen.</p> +<p>“What’s the idea?” Skip asked as his gloved +hand clutched the strap of the supply case and +Glen held onto him.</p> +<p>“We’ll use the case as a buffer to break our +fall,” Glen explained. “Remember, it’s covered +with foam rubber so that it won’t shatter +when it hits.”</p> +<p>The two had been preparing to drop the +emergency supply case on Mars at the time of +the accident. Glen was glad now that they’d +donned space suits.</p> +<p>Glen saw that the space ship was now only +a tiny needle against the red disk of Mars. He +and Skip had probably not even been missed +by the crew. When they did find out, they +wouldn’t know where to look for the boys.</p> +<p>Phobos was a jagged, frightening giant below, +but Glen held nothing but love for it. +Their speed had increased slightly, but it did +not look as if they would hit the ground dangerously +fast.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> +<p>Glen felt Skip’s muscles tense for the landing.</p> +<p>“Steady, fellow!” Glen breathed.</p> +<p>He felt a rough jar in the pit of his stomach. +Glen bounced off Skip’s back as though he +were rubber. He spread out his arms to ease +his fall, then was surprised to find his body +settling down to rest as lightly as a leaf.</p> +<p>Glen felt a prickly chill in his cheeks. +“We’ve got practically no weight at all!” he +breathed. Skip had almost drifted off into +space again, but Glen grabbed his leg and +pulled him back.</p> +<p>“It’s a crazy world, isn’t it?” Skip searched +the rocky landscape that sloped down from +them on both sides. It was weird to be on a +globe so tiny you were conscious of its roundness.</p> +<p>Glenn nodded. “We’ve <i>really</i> got to keep +both feet on the ground!”</p> +<p>“What if they don’t find us, Glen?” Skip +asked. “What then?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> +<p>“I don’t know, Skip,” Glen sighed. “Let’s +see what’s in the supply case.”</p> +<p>Glen was able to crawl better than he could +walk over to the supply case. Skip followed. +Glen pressed a button on the case and the top +sprang up.</p> +<p>“Whew! There’s not much that isn’t included!” +Skip said. “Spare oxygen tanks, a +bubble tent outfit, food capsules, water maker, +first-aid, flares, books, electronic stove-heater.”</p> +<p>“Let’s put up the bubble tent,” Glen said. +“It’ll help save our heat.”</p> +<p>As he had learned in cadet training, he removed +a cylinder from the outfit and pulled a +lever. It popped open and a plastic bubble began +growing out of it. The bubble, which was +slightly oblong and transparent, enlarged to +about seven feet, then detached itself from the +cartridge airtight. After it had hardened for +several minutes, Glen took an electric saw +from the kit and cut a small door in the side. +They made hinges from self-sealing plastic +strips.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> +<p>They used the foam rubber from around +the case for flooring, then put the supplies inside +the bubble. They turned on the heater +and then turned off the heat units in their +suits.</p> +<p>“How long do you figure our supplies can +last, Glen?” Skip asked.</p> +<p>“They’re supposed to last two people ten +days,” Glen replied. “Don’t you remember +that question on our exam?”</p> +<p>“Don’t remind me!” Skip said. “I’m tired +of hearing about the cadet corps.”</p> +<p>“I know,” Glen said bitterly.</p> +<p>“How could they flunk us on one question?” +Skip asked. “It wasn’t fair.”</p> +<p>“I agree with you,” Glen answered, “but +the fact remains that we’ve got to take it.”</p> +<p>Skip chuckled grimly. “You talk as if we +have a lifetime ahead of us. We don’t know +whether we’ve got <i>tomorrow</i>.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> +<p>“Which reminds me, we’d better send off +some flares to let somebody know where we +are.” Glen picked up some of the rocket flares +and “drifted” out of the bubble tent. He set +up a flare on its tripod legs, pointed it at Mars’ +ruddy face and pulled on the release catch. +But it wouldn’t move.</p> +<p>“It’s jammed!” Glen tried another rocket +and got the same result. Then another, and another. +They were all useless, all the catches +warped, possibly from having been kept too +near a heat source in the ship.</p> +<p>“How are we going to signal Mars now?” +Skip asked.</p> +<p>“Anything we toss out will be drawn to the +planet by its gravitation,” Glen was thinking +out loud.</p> +<p>“How about throwing out some of the extra +supplies we have?” Skip proposed. “We can +attach a note.”</p> +<p>“It’s a million-to-one shot they’d be found. +Don’t you realize that only a fraction of Mars +has colonists? No, I’m afraid we’d wait here +until doomsday if we had to count on that.”</p> +<p>“But what else is there to do?” Skip’s eyes +were round with dread.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> +<p>Glen fought down his own sudden despair. +“It looks as though we’ll have to get to Mars +on our own, Skip.”</p> +<p>“Now you’re crazy! We’d be smashed to +pieces!”</p> +<p>“Not the way I’m thinking.” A plan was +forming in Glen’s mind, as he scrambled into +the bubble tent and came out with one of their +engineering books. Skip watched in amazement +as Glen began working math problems +in the dirt with a piece of stone.</p> +<p>After a while, Glen said, “I think it’ll work, +Skip. Want to take a chance?”</p> +<p>“I’d like to know what it is first.”</p> +<p>“We can use the chute from the supply +case and attach it to the bubble,” Glen explained. +“Then we can ride in the bubble to +Mars.”</p> +<p>“It sounds fantastic!”</p> +<p>“I’ve figured it every way I know,” Glen +said. “At least, it’s better than sitting here and +hoping we’ll accidentally be found. Shall we +try it?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> +<p>Skip shrugged. “If it’s our only chance. But +I hope you’ve figured all the angles!”</p> +<p>“We’d better get started right away,” Glen +advised. “We may need all our air tanks if we +have to do some walking when we land.”</p> +<p>They set to work fastening the lines of the +chute around and under the plastic bubble. +They used more of the plastic strips to secure +the lines tightly. The chute was still folded, +since the vacuum on Phobos had failed to trip +the automatic release. The boys decided to +carry only a minimum of supplies to make +their weight as light as possible. When they +were ready to go, they climbed into the bubble +and Glen shoved them off with one foot outside +the door. Then he closed the door.</p> +<p>“How long will it take us to get there?” Skip +asked.</p> +<p>“I’ve figured on about a hundred hours,” +Glen answered. “That should put us close to +Mars City, figuring on Mars’ rotation. But if +it doesn’t, we should be able to reach some research +settlement.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> +<p>They moved slowly at first. Glen hoped for +only enough speed to carry them into Mars’ +gravity pull. As they approached the red planet, +their speed would increase and that worried +Glen. If they whacked into Mars’ air blanket +too fast, the chute might be ripped from the +bubble.</p> +<p>To while away the many hours, the boys +dozed and took turns reading the one novel +they had brought along. Their legs soon became +cramped and sore, and they would have +given a good deal to have been able to stretch +or walk about.</p> +<p>On the third day, the boys could see the +canals criss-crossing in a tangled network on +the ruddy globe of Mars. On the fourth day, +just as Glen had figured, the glassite domes of +Mars City began to show through the violet +haze of atmosphere. Glen wondered how fast +they were going. There was no way to tell because +their insulation kept them from feeling +the rush of air.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> +<p>“Cross your fingers, Skip,” Glen warned. +“Our chute should open in the next few minutes.”</p> +<p>The seconds appeared to last hours as they +waited, and Glen suffered a torture of suspense. +What if the chute did not open? In that +case, they would end up in fragments on Mars’ +red earth. Or what if the force of the air should +jerk the chute off the bubble?</p> +<p>Even as Glen worried, he felt a sharp drag +and was tumbled over on Skip.</p> +<p>“Look! The chute’s open!” Skip pointed +overhead.</p> +<p>Some minutes later, the red ground rushed +up at them like an enfolding blanket. Their +final problem faced them now. If they landed +safely, they would have conquered space in a +way no spaceman had ever done before.</p> +<p>Glen’s muscles drew tight and his heart +thumped rapidly as the last few hundred feet +melted away. He wanted to close his eyes during +these final seconds but he forced himself +to watch the rising ground so that he could +brace himself at the moment of contact. He +was glad they had the foam rubber cushion beneath +them.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> +<p>Glen counted off the last few feet. “A hundred—fifty—twenty—!”</p> +<p>As they struck, Glen was thrown against the +ceiling of the bubble. Plastic clattered against +plastic as the bubble rolled over on the ground +many times before stopping. Glen straightened +himself out. He was shaken up but he was unhurt. +He looked across at Skip.</p> +<p>“We made it,” Glen said, but his voice +shook, as if he wasn’t yet able to believe it. He +tore off the door seals, shoved out the door. +Then they got out and stretched their legs. +Looking at the domes of Mars City in the distance, +Glen asked, “Ready to start walking?”</p> +<p>“After being cooped up like a chicken, I’m +willing to walk all over Mars. Let’s go.” Skip’s +natural good humor had returned.</p> +<p>Less than an hour later, an astonished captain +at the Mars City spaceport heard the boys’ +strange story.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> +<p>“Your courage and ingenuity have been incredible!” +the captain said when they had +finished. “I can’t believe that you two are +Wockies. If you weren’t flunked for reasons of +scholarship, I’m sure you’ll be reinstated.”</p> +<p>“We weren’t flunked for that reason, sir,” +Skip said.</p> +<p>“For what reason then?” the captain asked.</p> +<p>Glen smiled wryly as he replied, “We were +flunked, sir, because we failed the test to determine +whether we could bear up in an emergency +or not!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c12"><br /><i>THE BIG SPACE BALL GAME</i></h2> +<p>It was an unusual setting for +baseball. Instead of a blue sky, there was the +darkness of space and the brilliance of stars +overhead. The light of Earth flooded the scene, +and surrounding the oversized diamond were +the walls of Copernicus crater, over fifty miles +across.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> +<p>On the mound, Bill Cherry was pitching +practice balls to his catcher, Ollie Taylor. +Only underhand throwing was allowed in +baseball on the Moon, for the ball was exceedingly +fast in the light gravity and airlessness. +Bill, in snug-fitting space gear, was standing +farther than the regulation ninety feet from +the plate. This was because of the pitcher’s +advantage over the batter in Lunar ball.</p> +<p>Bill wound up and threw. The ball shot like +a bullet into Ollie’s double-padded mitt.</p> +<p>“Thatta boy, Bill!” Ollie’s voice came over +Bill’s space suit radio. “If you’re this sharp +when we meet the Comets this afternoon, +we’re bound to win our first championship!”</p> +<p>“That’s enough practice, fellows!” Coach +Lippert called, coming out of the dugout. “No +use giving our best before the game!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> +<p>It was the <i>big</i> game for the team from Plato, +which was tied with the league leaders in this +last game of the season. Plato was the farthest +colony on the Moon and was named for the +big crater in which it was located. Copernicus +colony, the baseball leader, had won the championship +every year since the school league had +been formed. As a prize, the champions were +always given a free rocket trip to Earth.</p> +<p>The Plato Rocketeers were homesick for +their mother planet. One of them, little Pete +Irby, had never set foot there. He had been +born on the Moon.</p> +<p>“It must be wonderful to go around without +even a space suit on like they do on Earth!” +Pete said wistfully to Bill.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, Pete,” Bill said confidently. +“I have a feeling that this is our year and that +we’re all going to Earth.”</p> +<p>“I sure hope you’re right,” Pete replied, +with great feeling. “I can’t wait to see the great +national parks and rivers and all the other +wonderful things there!”</p> +<hr /><p class="tb">At game time the grandstand was filled and +some people were standing. It was the largest +crowd ever to see a ball game on the Moon. +Much of the crowd was made up of hopeful +parents from the Plato colony who had come +seven hundred miles by rocket plane to see +their boys play.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> +<p>The champion Copernicus Comets ran out +onto the field in big bouncing strides. For on +the Moon a person was capable of jumping +and running in great leaps because of the low +gravity, only one-sixth of Earth’s.</p> +<p>The Plato Rocketeers were the visiting +team would bat first. When the outfielders +had taken their positions, they were tiny forms +far out in the distance with nothing but gray +wilderness behind them for a backstop. There +were eleven men in Moon baseball because +of this greater outfield range. Two extra fielders +played behind the shortstop and second +baseman and were called “short fielders.”</p> +<p>Bill noticed a wheel chair below the railing +of the grandstand. His mother and dad had +brought his crippled younger brother Skippy +to see the game! Bill had known his parents +were going to rocket over from Plato in time +for the game, but they had not said Skippy +would come along. Bill gave Skippy a wave +and his little brother waved back.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> +<p>The lead-off batter for the Rocketeers +walked to the plate swinging a bat, padded to +keep it from hitting the ball too hard and +far. The Comets’ ace pitcher, Carl Cadman, +hurled three fast strikes over almost before the +batter had gotten a good foothold. Carl struck +out the next batter as well and then forced +little Pete Irby to loft a high infield fly for the +third out.</p> +<p>“Let’s get ’em, Bill!” Ollie said excitedly as +the Rocketeers took the field.</p> +<p>“We’ll sure try,” Bill promised his catcher.</p> +<p>Bill took the mound. With his space gloves +he massaged rosin into the baseball. After getting +the signal from Ollie, Bill swung his arm +down and around. The batter swung sharply, +driving the ball toward third. The baseman +made a dive for the ball, but he missed it. His +body seemed to glide in slow motion in the +light gravity.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> +<p>Bill walked the next batter, making two on +and none out. Jack Brenna, the Comets’ heaviest +hitter, was up. Bill got two strikes on him +and then Jack took a better toehold. As Bill +saw bat and ball connect solidly on the next +pitch, his heart fell.</p> +<p>The ball arched like a comet across the dark +sky. The left fielder took a dozen giant steps +after the ball but then gave up. The ball +seemed to be going for miles. It was a home +run.</p> +<p>The Comets did not score anymore that inning, +but the damage seemed to be already +done. The champions were leading 3-0.</p> +<p>Bill was first up for the Rocketeers. As he +went to the plate swinging a bat, his eye caught +Skippy’s wheel chair, and he saw his game +little brother waving encouragement. It made +him want to try even harder to put his team +out in front. Bill knew he would have to do it +with his hitting, since he had failed as a +pitcher.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> +<p>But Bill got no closer to a hit than a long +foul into the stands. Then he struck out. The +two teammates following him also failed to get +on base.</p> +<p>The game moved along with no more scoring +for the next five innings. It was still 3-0.</p> +<p>In the last of the seventh inning the Plato +Rocketeers had more trouble. The first Comet +batter topped the ball slowly to Pete at shortstop, +who tried too hard to make the play. +The ball rolled between his legs and the runner +went all the way to second.</p> +<p>Pete was so busy grumbling about his last +error that he muffed the next play too. He +jumped ten feet into the air trying to reach +the high, bounding ball, but he misjudged it +and it went on past. The runner on second +loped down to third in long strides. Bill called +time in order to give Pete a chance to settle +down.</p> +<p>“We’ll never win this game!” Pete groaned. +“Why don’t you fellows say I’m not any good—like +you’re thinking!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> +<p>“Stop talking like that!” Bill told him over +his suit radio. “You’re thinking too much +about going to Earth, Pete. You’re trying <i>too</i> +hard!”</p> +<p>“I’ll try to do better,” Pete promised.</p> +<p>The next batter drove a high fly to center, +sending the runner in from third and making +the score 4-0. Bill walked the player following, +but then he was lucky enough to strike out the +hard-hitting Jack Brenna.</p> +<p>The next Comet drove a hard liner to Pete. +Pete scrambled for the ball, but once again +he muffed it and it went on into the outfield. +The shortfielder recovered it quickly but +threw wide to third, sending the runner into +the plate with the Comets’ fifth run.</p> +<p>When Bill looked at Pete, the little fellow +had thrown his big fielder’s glove into the air +and was beginning to walk broken-heartedly +off the diamond.</p> +<p>“Pete!” Bill heard Coach Lippert call +sharply over his suit radio as he ran onto the +field. “Get back to your position, son! I don’t +like a quitter on my team.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> +<p>Players and coach huddled in the infield. +They looked like a gathering of teddy bears +in the space suits. Bill could see tears of bitterness +inside Pete’s plastic helmet.</p> +<p>“Fellows,” the coach said, “what did we +come seven hundred miles across the Moon to +do?”</p> +<p>“To play ball,” someone answered, “—and +win.”</p> +<p>“All right, then. What do you say we start +doing it? Pete, I’m going to send you to left +field where you used to play. Dan, in left field, +will take your place at shortstop.”</p> +<p>The Rocketeers retired the side without +further scoring. Then as though to prove that +the pep talk had helped, the team came up +with three big runs of their own!</p> +<p>Pitching with all his skill, Bill was able to +set down the Comets in order. It was now the +top half of the ninth inning, the last chance +for Plato to win the game. They were still behind +5-3, and the two-run lead seemed as big +as the Milky Way to Bill.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> +<p>Dan started it off by walloping a double +down the right field line. Pete followed with a +single that bounced high over the right shortfielder’s +head. The fielder behind him took the +ball and threw quickly to his catcher to keep +Dan from scoring off third. But then the +Rocketeers’ luck seemed to have run out as the +next two players struck out.</p> +<p>“It’s all up to you, Bill,” the coach told his +pitcher as Bill selected his favorite bat.</p> +<p>“I’ll be swinging, coach,” Bill said determinedly.</p> +<p>He looked toward the stands as he walked to +the plate. Skippy was waving encouragement +again.</p> +<p>“This one is for you, Skippy,” Bill murmured, +stepping up to the plate.</p> +<p>Carl tried to make him swing on two bad +pitches.</p> +<p>“Careful,” Bill warned himself. “There are +two outs—only one more left to us in the whole +game!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> +<p>The next ball was just the one Bill wanted. +He swung with all his might. He saw the ball +rise and lose itself in the white dust of starlight +overhead. And then he was off!</p> +<p>Loping past second, he saw the left fielder +still bounding like a rabbit after the ball. The +coach slowed him up on third base.</p> +<p>“Take it easy, Bill,” he said with a happy +grin. “That ball is on the dark side of the +Moon by now!”</p> +<p>Bill could see the Plato rooters waving their +arms wildly in glee, and his radio picked up +their loud cheers. As he crossed the plate with +the leading run, he waved to Skippy who was +almost out of his wheel chair in his excitement +over his big brother’s tingling homer.</p> +<p>The score: Plato 6, Copernicus 5. The game +was far from over, though. The Comets still +had their last turn at bat.</p> +<p>Bill got the first player to raise a high infield +pop-up. In the Moon’s light gravity it +seemed as if the ball would never come down. +But it finally did, and Dan took it for the first +out.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> +<p>Bill walked the next Comet, to put one on +and with one out. The following batter forced +the runner at second, making it two out and +giving Bill a much more confident feeling.</p> +<p>But then up to the plate walked Jack +Brenna!</p> +<p>Bill swallowed hard and began to sweat inside +his space suit. He failed to get the ball +over the plate on the first two pitches. Jack +swung on the next pitch and sent a hard foul +ball behind third base.</p> +<p>“Must be careful,” Bill thought. “A homer +with the man on base will win the game for +the Comets.”</p> +<p>Bill came though with a fast ball. Jack met +it squarely and as the ball towered high over +the infield, Jack felt all quivery and weak. He +turned his head regretfully and saw the ball +rising high and far against the midnight black +of space. He saw little Pete Irby galloping +away from the diamond as fast as he could go.</p> +<p>“Get it, Pete!” Bill pleaded under his +breath. “Please get it!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> +<p>Everybody in the stands was on his feet. +This was the play that would decide the game—and +the championship.</p> +<p>Pete finally made a last second leap that +brought him twenty feet off the ground. Bill +could hardly see ball and glove meet. But they +did meet and Pete had done the impossible!</p> +<p>They had won!</p> +<p>The Rocketeers whirled the coach and Bill +easily up on their shoulders, because of the +light Lunar weight. Then they began parading +happily around the diamond to celebrate +their very first championship. When Pete had +made the long trip in from the outfield, he too +was carried around on his teammates’ shoulders.</p> +<p>“That was a swell catch, Pete!” Bill called +out to the little fellow. “You sure saved the +day for us!”</p> +<p>“You know what, Bill?” Pete said, grinning. +“If I’d missed that ball I would have kept on +running—yep, right into space! I was determined +to make that trip to Earth one way or +another!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> +<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="27" /></div><h2 id="c13"><br /><i>PAPER TREASURE FOR MARS</i></h2> +<p>Hugh Davone and Link Malloy +sat at the wall desk of the space ship compartment +poring over their albums of interplanetary +postage stamps. The atom-powered +<i>Princess of Mars</i>, cargo and passenger liner, +was only a few hours out on its Earth-to-Mars +run.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> +<p>“It makes me nervous thinking of the thousands +of dollars’ worth of stamps we’re carrying +in the wall safe,” Link said. “I don’t think +I’m going to enjoy this trip.”</p> +<p>“Take it easy, Link,” Hugh replied, with +a lighthearted grin. “There are Space Guardsmen +aboard ship to protect us.”</p> +<p>The fellows were on their annual vacation +from the Space Cadet Corps. Since cadets in +training could ride any space ship free, the +two were escorting a valuable shipment of Mr. +Davone’s interplanetary stamps to another +dealer opening up shop in Mars City.</p> +<p>“I’m worrying about that white-haired old +character your dad said asked suspicious questions +at his shop the other day,” Link said. +“Seems funny that he is making the trip to +Mars the same time we are.”</p> +<p>“Probably only a coincidence,” Hugh answered. +“There’s only one flight a month to +Mars, you know.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> +<p>“There are unscrupulous dealers who would +give anything to lay their hands on our shipment,” +Link went on. “This deal means an +awful lot to your dad’s stamp business, Hugh. +If we should bungle the job, he certainly +would lose a lot.”</p> +<p>“Sure he would,” Hugh agreed, then he +added, “but we aren’t going to bungle it.”</p> +<p>This seemed to satisfy Link and a smile of +confidence deepened the corners of his broad, +friendly mouth.</p> +<p>Hugh picked up a stamp with his tongs. “I +came across this duplicate from the Venus +pictorial issue. It’s the six-dollar blue of the +Valley of Mists. Have you got it?”</p> +<p>Link leaned over. “No! What have you +been doing, Hugh, holding out on me? How +about some of my 2027 Lunar commems in +trade?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> +<p>They worked out an exchange. The Lunar +stamps were curious specimens, imperforate +and circular. They depicted the Lunar hemisphere +which faces Earth. The single-stamp +issue had been distributed on the fiftieth anniversary +of man’s first landing on the moon +and was much in demand.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a knock on the outer +door of the compartment.</p> +<p>Hugh got up and went to the door. As he +walked, his magnetic-sole shoes rasped against +the metallic floor like a knife being honed. He +opened the door.</p> +<p>A man with the face and build of a leprechaun +looked at Hugh. His pale but alert blue +eyes peered steadily into Hugh’s. Hugh also +began to wonder why this customer at Davone’s +Philatelic Shop should be making the +voyage to Mars with them.</p> +<p>“Yes, sir?” Hugh asked.</p> +<p>“May I come in?” the man asked. “My name +is Oscar Benasco.”</p> +<p>Hugh hesitated, thinking about the valuable +cargo, then he replied reluctantly, +“Yes.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> +<p>“Your father certainly has a fine shop, Hugh +Davone,” the elderly man said brightly as he +entered. “However, I was disappointed to find +out that he had packed up some of his choicest +space items and was selling them to Mr. Elfs, +a dealer on Mars.”</p> +<p>“You know quite a lot, Mr. Benasco,” Link +remarked coolly.</p> +<p>“Yes, I pride myself on my shrewdness,” +Mr. Benasco replied in a modest manner. His +roving eyes came to rest on the boys’ albums. +“I see you two have collections of your own.”</p> +<p>“Nothing very valuable,” Hugh replied. +“But we enjoy our stamps just the same.”</p> +<p>“Ah, yes,” Benasco said. His eyes brightened +with eagerness and he placed the tips of +his outspread fingers together. “Speaking of +valuable items—those you are taking to Mars—no +doubt you keep them in your compartment +safe. I wonder if you might show them +to me?”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry, Mr. Benasco,” Hugh said, “but +I promised my dad I wouldn’t take the stamps +out to show anyone until they were safely in +the hands of Mr. Elfs on Mars.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> +<p>Benasco looked completely crestfallen. His +rounded shoulders slumped and the most +pained expression covered his face. “Surely +just a look—” he pleaded.</p> +<p>“If you are going to Mars, as you must be,” +Hugh went on, “you’ll be able to see them all +in Mr. Elfs’s shop, and you can talk to him +about any stamps you might want to buy.”</p> +<p>“Then that’s your final answer?” Mr. Benasco +asked, his disappointment giving way +to annoyance.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid it must be,” Hugh told him. +“I’m sorry.”</p> +<p>“You’ve disappointed me sorely, young +man,” Mr. Benasco retorted. “Good day to +you.”</p> +<p>He turned briskly and clattered out the +door. As he left, Hugh caught sight of the +handle of an old type miniature rocket pistol +protruding from his coat pocket.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> +<p>“Did you see that pistol?” Link asked, in +surprise. “It’s a wonder he didn’t hold us up +for the stamps right here and now! But I +guess he was afraid to risk it.”</p> +<p>“For a moment I almost felt sorry for him +and was about to give in,” Hugh admitted. +“Now I’m glad I didn’t.”</p> +<p>In the days that followed, Hugh and Link +saw little of Mr. Benasco except in the dining +room.</p> +<p>One morning, near the end of the flight, +Hugh and Link were standing in front of +their compartment port looking out. The +orange-red globe of Mars was so dominant +that it seemed to press back the surrounding +stars and nebulae to near obscurity.</p> +<p>“Only a few more days and our shipment +will be safely in the hands of Mr. Elfs in Mars +City,” Hugh said. “Then Mr. Benasco will be +Mr. Elfs’s worry.”</p> +<p>“That will be just dandy as far as I’m concerned,” +Link replied earnestly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> +<p>By this year of 2031, space mail service had +increased to such proportions that it had +opened up a brand new field of stamp specialization +for the philatelist. It was for this reason +that Mr. Elfs was attempting a stamp hobby +business in Mars City. Mr. Davone’s portfolios +of both low and high values was to provide +him with the bulk of his opening merchandise.</p> +<p>Even the most remote colonies of the Solar +System, including the farthest on Triton, Neptune, +had their own postage by now. The lone +Triton bi-color, picturing Valhalla Peak, tallest +mountain yet discovered in the System, was +one of the most wanted by collectors.</p> +<p>Suddenly the chimes for lunch were heard +over the compartment intercom.</p> +<p>Entering the dining room, Hugh and Link +saw Benasco in his usual place at the end of +the table near the door. They took their seats +and Link smiled at his plate. “Cubed beef, +Hugh.”</p> +<p>Hugh grinned. “You can’t say they don’t +aim to please on the <i>Princess of Mars</i>.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> +<p>But the fellows did not get to finish their +cubed roast, nor did anyone else at the table.</p> +<p>A shock hit the ship like an unheralded +thunderbolt. Hugh had the crazy feeling of +being in a nightmare. After the deafening report, +he felt his lap belt snap, and then he was +hoisted out of his chair as though in the vortex +of a whirlwind. The table tore loose from the +floor fittings. Hugh bounced into a coffee urn +and it nearly stunned him. Groans of distress +from those around him filled his ears.</p> +<p>“What has happened?” Hugh thought +dazedly.</p> +<p>The ship’s disaster siren pealed along the +corridors of the <i>Princess of Mars</i>. Medical men +with stretchers came running and officers +snapped out brisk orders. Hugh groped anxiously +through the melee for Link. He struggled +over twisted chair tubing and found his +friend helping those who were hurt.</p> +<p>“We’ve got work to do,” Link told him.</p> +<p>Hugh rolled up his sleeves. He was still +giddy. “I’m ready,” he said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_180">180</div> +<p>It was reported later that there were no +fatalities, but there were enough injured persons +to keep the infirmary staff busy for awhile.</p> +<p>Hugh and Link, working side by side with +the medical men, had not seen anything of +Benasco since the accident. The ship’s engineers +revealed that a meteorite had caused +the disaster. It had struck fairly close to the +compartment occupied by Hugh and Link. +Hugh shuddered to think what it would have +been like to have been tossed about in their +room like a pea in a whistle. Such would have +been his and Link’s fate had the strike occurred +half an hour earlier.</p> +<p>The cadets had not yet had the opportunity +to check their quarters for damage. When the +physician in charge finally freed them with +thanks for their help, Hugh thought about +the stamps for the first time since the unnerving +incident.</p> +<p>“Link,” he said urgently, “we’ve got to get +back and check on those stamps! This has been +a perfect set up for Benasco and his scheme!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> +<p>“Right behind you,” Link said as they hurried +from the infirmary.</p> +<p>Along the way, the two found warped walls +and doors that had been flung open. Luckily +all the occupants in the worst-hit area had +been in the dining room at the terrible moment, +or there surely would have been fatalities.</p> +<p>Reaching their compartment, Hugh and +Link found that the door had been forced +open by the explosion.</p> +<p>Hugh hurried over to the wall safe. He felt +a chill of dread race through him. The vault +door also was open and the chamber was +empty.</p> +<p>“They’re gone!” Hugh said hoarsely. “All +of Dad’s stamps are gone!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> +<p>Hugh slumped remorsefully on his cot, taut +fingers combing through his hair. “Dad +wanted to have the stamps insured,” he said +bitterly, “but I was trying to save him money. +The insurance fee was enormous, and on top +of that he would have had to pay the fare both +to and from Mars for the agents who would +carry the shipment. How I wish they had done +it now!”</p> +<p>“If Benasco has the stamps, we may still be +able to recover them,” Link said. “Let’s go +see him.”</p> +<p>Hugh got up, his face set, his palm shaped +into a fist. “If Benasco <i>is</i> the one, I’ll personally—oh, +never mind! Come on!”</p> +<p>They moved down corridor “E,” which was +away from the center of the damage. This was +the hall where they knew Benasco’s room was +located. Scarcely anybody was in the section +at present. Those who resided in the nearby +rooms were either helping out in the emergency, +or they were idly watching the beginning +of repairs. The outside meteor bumper +and the inner buffer bulkheads had kept the +destruction to a minimum. By automatically +sealing themselves off from the rest of the ship +at the moment of impact, the protective bulkheads +had kept the ship from being decompressed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> +<p>Hugh and Link found their suspect’s door +closed. Hugh walked up to it and tried the +knob.</p> +<p>The door opened under Hugh’s push, but +the compartment was vacant.</p> +<p>“He’s gone,” Link said.</p> +<p>“He must be somewhere close by,” Hugh +returned impatiently. “We haven’t passed him +on the way, so he must be farther down the +corridor.”</p> +<p>“Maybe he’s looking for a place to hide the +portfolios until we land,” Link suggested. “He +knows we’ll suspect him of taking them.”</p> +<p>Hugh nodded. “Let’s go.”</p> +<p>As the two moved ahead down the quiet +passageway, Link spoke in a tense voice, “Do +you think we’re right trying to tackle that little +guy alone? We’re each bigger than he is, but +he’s got a pistol and we haven’t.”</p> +<p>“We’ll be careful,” Hugh promised.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div> +<p>There were a number of storerooms lining +the corridor. The cadets checked one after another. +The rooms were shrouded in tomblike +silence and full of dark hiding places. But the +search revealed no sign of Benasco or the missing +portfolios.</p> +<p>“He seems to have disappeared right into +the air,” Link said discouragingly. “Hugh, I +hate to say it, but something tells me we aren’t +going to see either Benasco or those stamps +again.”</p> +<p>They were approaching the door of an +outer-ship repair room. Hugh knew that a +ladder in this room led directly up to the outside +hull of the ship.</p> +<p>“You’re probably thinking along the same +lines that I am, Link,” Hugh replied gravely. +“It may be farfetched, but a person as shrewd +as Mr. Benasco makes out to be might have +cooked up a pretty clever plan. He may have +had a portable transmitter hidden somewhere +so that he could contact another party outside +the ship.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> +<p>“I get it!” Link said. “He might have radioed +this crony in a space taxi to meet him on +the outer skin. Then they could both take off +with the loot and either land on Mars or on +one of the moons!”</p> +<p>As Link spoke, Hugh was staring through +the plastic window of the room. A wall hid +much of the interior from view. Suddenly he +saw the very man they were seeking cross the +room and disappear beyond the corner of the +concealing wall.</p> +<p>Link caught a glimpse of him too. “Hey!” +he burst out. “Wasn’t that <i>him</i>?”</p> +<p>“It sure was,” Hugh replied, feeling better +now. “He probably just entered the room +from another door along the next side corridor.”</p> +<p>Hugh gently turned the knob and the door +swung open soundlessly. “We’ll slip in softly,” +he whispered. “Then we can try to take him +by surprise around the corner up ahead. We’ll +have to watch our step because he’s probably +desperate and will have his pistol ready for use.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div> +<p>“He deserves to get twenty years for a theft +like this,” Link whispered fiercely. “How did +he ever expect to get away with it?”</p> +<p>“He <i>won’t</i> get away with it,” Hugh whispered +confidently. “Right now he’s probably +getting into a space suit so he can pop through +the outer hatch and join his confederate outside.”</p> +<p>They had reached the corner on tiptoe. +Hugh, in the lead, peered carefully around +the corner. He gaped in surprise at what he +saw:</p> +<p>Benasco was seated on the floor like a child +with a new scrapbook, and he was chattering +away ecstatically to himself!</p> +<p>“My, oh, my, what a splendid group!” he +was saying. “There’s a <i>tete beche</i> pair of old +1989 Space Stations I’ve always wanted! And +look at this one—a full sheet of Europa triangles! +Oscar Benasco will have the most +splendid collection of space stamps in all the +Solar System!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div> +<div class="img" id="pic5"> +<img src="images/i06.jpg" alt="Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook" width="500" height="601" /> +<p class="caption"><i>Benasco was seated on the floor like a child with a new scrapbook</i></p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> +<p>Hugh came out of hiding, followed by Link. +“The jig’s up, Mr. Benasco,” Hugh said. +“How about returning our property?”</p> +<p>The old man was so preoccupied that he +did not notice Hugh and Link immediately. +“Dear, dear,” he purred, “what a beautiful +set of Einstein memorial surcharges! I wonder +if young Davone will break up the set? I +have some of them.”</p> +<p>“He’s just a queer old guy,” Link remarked +as the two of them strode up to him.</p> +<p>“Oh, hello, boys,” Mr. Benasco greeted +them casually. “I was hoping I’d found a place +where I wouldn’t be disturbed for awhile. I +knew you’d come by my room. I hope you +don’t mind the liberty I’ve taken with your +stamps. But I did <i>ask</i> to see them and you +refused, you know?”</p> +<p>Hugh took from him the portfolio he was +holding. “How many stamps have you removed +from here?” he demanded.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_189">189</div> +<p>The man’s snowy brows went up in surprised +indignation. “Removed?” he shrilled, +his face coloring. “I’ve never been accused of +stealing in my life, sir! I merely borrowed your +collection to see if it has the items I need. +When the explosion blew open your safe, it +was simply a temptation I could not resist.”</p> +<p>“Those rare items you need cost money,” +Hugh reminded him. “Lots of it.”</p> +<p>“Young man,” Mr. Benasco grunted, “you +do not need to tell me of the value of postage +stamps. I’m well acquainted with Scott’s catalogue. +I have every intention of paying for +my merchandise.” He pulled out such a wad +of bills that Link gasped. “You see, I <i>can</i> pay.”</p> +<p>“What about that rocket pistol you’re carrying +in your pocket, Mr. Benasco?” Link +asked suspiciously. “Do you always go around +armed?”</p> +<p>“Oh, this?” the old man asked, taking out +the rusted miniature model. “This is nothing +but an old relic of mine when I was a space +hand myself on a freighter. I carry it with me +sometimes, because it gives me a feeling of confidence.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_190">190</div> +<p>Hugh chuckled as a vast feeling of relief +came over him. “You certainly had us fooled, +Mr. Benasco. We thought surely you were a +stamp thief out to steal our valuable stamps.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps my methods have puzzled you +somewhat,” Mr. Benasco declared. “But I +had to see those rarities before you got rid of +them. Somebody might have bought them before +I could. Perhaps Mr. Elfs would have +held them out for his own collection. You +must sell them to me, young man! I believe I +should die if I could not get them! Stamps +represent the only pleasure that is left to me.”</p> +<p>“All right, Mr. Benasco, since it means so +much to you,” Hugh agreed, smiling. “Being +a hobbyist myself, I know what a hold stamps +can have on a person. We’ll take the portfolios +back to our compartment and discuss the +stamps you want. But if my father or Mr. Elfs +complains about this, you’ll have to share the +blame.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div> +<p>“Gladly, gladly,” was the willing reply. +“Do you mind telling us why you’re going +to Mars, Mr. Benasco?” Link asked.</p> +<p>“I’ve got a son there working on a canal +project. He invited me and my stamp collection +to come and stay as long as I liked, since +I had lived with my other son so long in the +States. I thought it was nice of him.”</p> +<p>As Hugh and Link were leading the way +out of the room, the portfolios safely tucked +under their arms, Hugh remarked in a whisper +to his pal, “Link, I’ll never prejudge another +person as long as I live.”</p> +<p>Link stole a look back at Mr. Benasco who +was clicking along behind and smiling rapturously. +“That calls for a mutual pledge, Hugh,” +Link replied soberly, with a shake of his head. +“Let’s shake on it.”</p> +<p>And they did.</p> +<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul> +<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> +<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> +<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li> +</ul> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 53456 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |