Zero Hour Read online

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  ZERO HOUR

  _by Alexander Blade_

  By accident Bobby discovered the rocket was about to be shot to the Moon. Naturally he wanted to go along. But could he smuggle himself aboard?

  Illustrated by Lloyd Rognan

  Dad had already gone when Bobby got up. This disappointed Bobby a littlebut then he remembered--_this was the big day_. Naturally Dad would getover to the project early. And at four o'clock-- Bobby shivereddeliciously at the thought of it.

  He ate his breakfast in silence with Mom across the table drinking a cupof coffee and looking at a fashion catalogue. He was glad she wasoccupied because he didn't want to talk; not today he didn't. Mightspill something secret. Might even let out the _big secret_. That wouldbe terrible.

  Of course, all things were secret at Buffalo Flats. So secret topscientists like Dad didn't even discuss them with wives like Mom. Andwives like Mom never asked.

  So it was really something to sit there eating breakfast knowing that,today, Dad was going to rocket to the Moon. And with Mom not evenknowing the Lunar project was in the works, so naturally not dreamingthat he was going _with_ Dad! The thrill was overpowering.

  Maybe they would have radio communication after they got there and hewould call back and say, _Hello, Mom! Guess where I am? On the moon withDad!_ And Mom would say, _Why, Bobby! Scaring me to death like this! Iwas looking all over for you._ Sounding very angry but not being reallyangry after all. Because maybe Dad would cut in and say, _Yeah, he'sright here with me, dear. What do you think of this boy of ours?_

  Bobby gulped the last of his cereal so he could go outside and wrigglefor joy. As he got up from his chair, Mom said, "And what's your planfor today, young man? Davy Crockett or Buck Rogers?"

  Bobby had a quick thought--a sudden temptation. Why not give Mom a hint?Why he could even _tell_ her and she still wouldn't know. Then later,after he was gone, she would remember back and say, _That boy! When hetells you something he really means it._

  Bobby smiled and said, "I think I'll go to the moon today."

  Mom smiled too and went back to her fashions. "Well, see to it your fuelmixture is correct."

  "I'll check it. And Mom--I might not be home for lunch."

  "Where will you be?"

  "Oh, I don't know."

  "Well, mind your manners and say thank you when you leave."

  Mrs. Kendall, still smiling, watched Bobby dash out into the yard.Living on a restricted government area had one compensation at least.You didn't have to worry about your children. Four dozen families, allwith offspring, trapped behind ten-foot patrolled fence. Here, nobodyworried about their children. They came and went and at noon a motherfed whatever number happened to be in the house at the time. Mrs.Kendall usually drew six or seven. It would be a relief to dodge thechore for one Saturday....

  * * * * *

  Out in the backyard, Bobby fussed around his space rocket a little:tightening a screw here--hammering in a nail there. Just until he couldslip away without Mom noticing his direction.

  It wasn't a bad rocket at that, he thought. Six feet long with two seatsand a keen instrument panel. But kid stuff of course. After he found theway in through the sewer he hadn't paid any more attention to his ownship.

  He could see Mom through the window, back in her book, so he wentcasually out through the back gate and turned left, kicking at pebblesas he sauntered along and trying to look as though he had no place togo. Had to be careful. Didn't want to bump into any of the other kidstoday, either.

  The way in through the sewer was at a place behind Laboratory B. Therewas a kind of an alley there that nobody ever walked through and thenthis round lid you could lift up and look under. And a ladder you couldclimb down.

  Bobby hadn't dared go down at first. But, after thinking about itovernight, his curiosity won out and he went back and ducked downinto the lower level. He called it a sewer because of sewers beingunderground, but this place was clean and had bunches of wires strungin every direction and faint little lights you could see by.

  Bobby went further and further every trip he took, never telling anybodybecause you weren't supposed to talk about things at Buffalo Flats--noteven to the other kids.

  Then he found the big drome where they were building the rocket. It wasso sleek and beautiful and shiny that he just stared at it--up throughthe grating in the floor that was for air circulation or something.

  He didn't know it was the moon rocket at first. Not until he'd gone backseveral times to peek up at it and then one day two scientists camewalking along right in front of his nose.

  One of them was Dad.

  Bobby almost called out but he caught himself and just listened to themtalking. This was the first time his conscience bothered him about goingunderneath the drome. He thought about it a lot--whether it was theright thing to do. And while he was never able to still his consciencecompletely, he quieted down by saying he really wasn't doing any harmbecause he'd never told anybody what he saw.

  He learned the rocket was going to the moon by listening to Dad and theother scientists talk when they thought they were alone. And it wasfunny. Because even there, they spoke in low voices and didn't give toomuch away.

  He had known now for three days that at four o'clock the roof would openand the drome would be turned into a blast-pit and the rocket wouldshoot out through space to the moon.

  That was all he _did_ know for sure. None of the men had said who wasgoing on the first trip to the moon. Nothing had been said on thatsubject at all, but Bobby knew Dad would go. He would have to. Afterall, Dad was the second biggest scientist at Buffalo Flats. Second onlyto Schleimmer himself and Professor Schleimmer was very old andcertainly wouldn't make the trip. That left Dad. Dad would just have togo in order to run the rocket. There probably wasn't anybody else smartenough in the whole place.

  The idea of going himself had been born the previous day--when he founda larger grating in the floor near the rocket and realized if he wasvery careful he could climb out of the sewer and duck into the rocketwhen nobody was looking. Once inside he was pretty sure he'd find aplace to hide until blast-off.

  All the men would probably be strapped in bunks but if he found a placehe could wedge himself in he didn't think he'd get hurt. Then, halfwayto the moon he would come out and find Dad and would he be surprised!

  At first, thinking about it, he'd been scared but after he realized howproud Dad and Mom would be, he made up his mind.

  Now, crouched beside the grating near the ship, he waited while twomen--technicians in white overalls--walked by.

  One of them said, "Well, whatever happens, she'll make a big splash."

  "You said it. Hope the brains know what they're doing."

  That made Bobby mad. Who said Dad didn't know what he was doing? Dad wasjust about the smartest scientist in the world.

  After the two men left he waited a long time. He heard voices but no onecame in sight. Taking a deep breath, he opened the grating and got out.It was only four steps to the open port of the rocket. There was alittle ramp they'd used to roll things in and Bobby's feet touched itbut lightly as he jumped into the ship. He found himself in some kind ofa storeroom. It would be a good place to hide all right. It was full ofaluminum barrels all the same size. He found a space between two rowsand sat down and got his breath back. It was very quiet around him.Scary quiet. But he set his lips firmly.

  He was going to the moon with Dad.

  * * * * *

  John Kendall was a little late that night. He kissed his wife and said,"Well, did you s
ee the big sky rocket?"

  "How could I miss it, darling? Your supper is in the oven."

  "I could use a Martini first."

  "Coming right up."

  While Myra fixed the drink John lay back in his easy chair and closedhis eyes. "We'd hoped to stage a little ceremony at the launching butWashington said no."

  "The Russians?"

  "The Eastern Coalition. It was a race. That was why it had to be sosecret. Washington said, light the fuse and fire the thing."

  "Is it still hush-hush?"

  "No. Not between us at least. We fired an explosion rocket at the moon.It will hit in about an hour and telescopes will show a big purple spotwhen our explosives go off and throw dye all over the place."

  Myra handed him a dry Martini. "I see. Lots of fun no doubt but what'sthe purpose? Fourth of July on the moon?"

  "Oh, no. If the experiment is a success the next rocket will carry meninstead of a bomb."

  Myra went to the kitchen to see about supper. John called, "Where'sBobby? In bed I suppose."

  Myra didn't hear and John set his drink down and moved toward thebedroom. Maybe he was still awake.

  Bobby rolled over. His eyes popped open. "Dad! I thought you went to--"

  John Kendall sat down on the edge of the bed and tousled his son's hair."No, son. It's the old _terra firma_ for me. Did you see the rocketblast?"

  "Uh-huh. It was really something. It went to the moon, didn't it?"

  "That's right." Kendall smiled and thought. Try to keep a secret fromthe kids. It just can't be done. "How's _your_ moon rocket coming along,son?"

  "Pretty good. Gee, Dad! As long as you didn't go, I'm glad I didn't goeither."

  "You were planning to make the trip also?"

  "Uh-huh. I got into the rocket and was all set but I got to thinkingabout Mom--how one of us should stay and take care of her in caseanything happened."

  "Smart thinking, son. Now you get to sleep. I'll have a little timetomorrow. We'll play some ball."

  "That will be keen!"

  John Kendall smiled as he left the bedroom. Kids were wonderful! Givethem a few old boards and a steering wheel and they could build a shipto fly to the moon. What a wonderful dream world they lived in!

  Too bad they had to grow out of it.

  Transcriber's Note:

  This etext was produced from _Imagination_ April 1956. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.