The Planet MappersEvans, E. Everett (Edward Everett)
Science
The Planet Mappers
Evans, E. Everett (Edward Everett)
Families -- Juvenile fiction; Science fiction; Space flight -- Juvenile fiction; Space pirates -- Juvenile fiction
"What's the use of going to all that trouble when you only have that
small amount of fuel you found?" their mother asked curiously.
"Ouch! You would have to think of that," Jon grumbled, but Mr. Carver
smiled up at his wife.
"There's plenty on Planet Five, remember? And probably in other places
about the universe. You can bet that prospectors will be hunting--and
finding it--once we announce our discovery ... IF we and the scientists
can figure out what it was before it started losing its half life, and
IF we can learn how to use it," he said firmly. "Once metallurgists
have had the chance to analyze it, they won't take long to figure out
exactly what it is, and where it can probably be found--the type of sun
and planet that would have it, I mean," he added.
"And under the Prime Discoverer's code, we'll get a percentage of the
process, won't we, Pop?"
"I think so. That'll be up to the Board, but they're usually pretty
square about such things."
When it was time, Jak again gave the family the dosages of nutrients,
and then the shots. Jon had filled four thermos bottles with
strength-regaining soup his mother had made, and these were placed at
each pressure-pack, ready for their awakening. Again the four lapsed
into the complete unconsciousness of suspended animation--knowing
neither discomfort nor the long passage of time--while their little
ship bored through the immensities of space at a constant negative
acceleration of five gravities.
As before, when they awakened they felt as though they had just gone
to sleep. As soon as they had taken their initial feedings of the
thermos-hot broth, Jon and his father set to work taking observations
and making long and intricate calculations of their present speed and
placement. Where were they? How much of their utterly incomprehensible
top speed did they have left?
"Practically perfect!" Jon exclaimed happily after nearly an hour of
careful computations, as he read the last tapes from the calculator.
"It works out at one point eight four G's to atmosphere."
"O positively K," Mr. Carver agreed. "A master computer couldn't have
done any better. And Jak has certainly proved himself to be a grand
doctor."
"It's not my credit. Dr. Svendholm's the one who...."
"But it was you who made up the fluid and induced us to take it." His
mother came over and ran her hand gently through his hair. "I'm proud
of you all."
Jon had been tuning his receptors carefully, but was unable to get any
trace of Bogin's ship, and all were happy at his report.
Warm baths and changes of clothing, and the fine meals prepared by
Mrs. Carver, plus the fact they were rapidly nearing Sol, which could
be seen on their telescopic plates, made them all very gay and full of
chatter.
"I've decided I want to go back to the hospital-school and really
prepare myself to be a doctor," Jak said in no uncertain terms. "Later
I want to go into medical research."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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