Then I saw the bullet that found this unknown hero's breast; saw him
cough and loose his grasp, slip earthward as the flag above him tumbled
to the dirt. There was a look of hurt surprise in his eyes. Then I saw
no more, because my eyes were wet. And Dr. Mallory said, "There is
nothing more to see--"
And turned off the televise.
* * * * *
Yes, that was the 29th day of July, 1963. I remember it well. For it
was after that I asked Mallory, "Do we go now? There is no reason to
delay."
And he said, "We will leave in five days. By that time all will be in
readiness. And the third of August will be a day of good omen. It was
on that day, centuries ago, that a humble Portuguese sailorman with a
great dream sailed westward to the Indies and found a new world.
"Like Chistofero Colon, we will select that date to set our course for
New America--"
Maureen's hand tightened on mine. Krassner, who had been watching the
televise silently, gaped at us.
"New course? Go? Go where?"
"Skip it--!" I began. But Dr. Mallory stopped me. "No, I think it is
well the men should be told now, O'Shea. My helpers know. Your men, who
must be the fighters of our party, should be told where they are going."
And he told them. It came as a stunning blow. Some of them looked
frightened; some, to be quite truthful, simply did not understand.
Others were openly incredulous. Among these was Krassner. He
epostulated, "But--but, O'Shea, this old fool must be insane! Flight to
the Moon! Absurd!"
His eyes narrowed.
"There's more to it than that. This is a trick of some kind I'll bet
it's tied up with that mysterious invention you've got hidden in your
closet--"
I grasped him by the shoulder, whirled him about.
"Then you _did_ hear us that day?"
"Sure. I heard you. Is there anything wrong in that? I couldn't help
hearing you say you had a weapon that would end the war. If that's what
you've got, trot it out! That's a lot better than dying like rats on a
fool's expedition to the _Moon_!
"Luna! Pah! I, for one, won't have anything to do with it--"
I said hotly, "You damned fool, we can't open that closet. Don't you
realize--?"
"Brian!" snapped Dr. Mallory.
I shut up suddenly. Krassner looked at me, then at the old man
suspiciously. He snarled, "You reminded me once that I had no authority
over your command, O'Shea. Well, now I remind you that you have no
authority over me. I'm pulling out of here. I've had enough of this
insane secrecy and--"
He started for the door. I said only one word.
"Lars!"
Lars Frynge, the towering Swede, had his revolver at Krassner's
midsection. He said amiably, "Ay tank maybe you batter lissen to
Captain, hey?"
Krassner's face purpled. He bellowed, "This is the last straw, O'Shea.
Insulting an officer and an equal! By the gods, I'll--"
He was right. He was an officer and an equal. But I was determined of
one thing. Go with us he would, whether he liked it or not. But in the
meanwhile--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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