Rocket to Luna

Chapter 15 Breakdown

They rested for a moment or two and then went to work. They were anxious to get started immediately, knowing they had lost time already — and knowing that the rising sun would not wait for them. They had to get back to the ship before it was bathed in sunlight, or they might not get back at all.

They worked quickly, Forbes directing Ted, since he knew exactly which rockets bore which materials. The rockets were painted in various colors. The yellow rocket bore all the food they would need. They paid no attention to this one. The green rocket contained batteries, tools, metal, all the equipment necessary for the start of a Lunar base. They ignored this one too.

The blue rocket contained the oxygen cylinders, and Ted marveled at his luck in going to this rocket first, ignorant as he had been about its contents. It also contained vehicles for easier transportation on the Moon. They selected a tractor and quickly dragged it onto the ground, Forbes sitting on the flat surface and using his arms to guide the wire as the tractor came over the lip of the hatch.

“I may not be able to use my leg,” he said, “but there’s nothing wrong with my arms and shoulders.”

The tractor was powered by a turbine using rocket fuel, an air-breathing engine being worthless on the atmosphere-less Moon. They loaded enough oxygen onto the vehicle for the return trip, giving themselves more than enough in case of delay, and then they moved over to the large red rocket bearing the fuel they would need for the ship back in Mare Crisium.

Forbes felt better behind the wheel of the tractor. He managed to drive it expertly, using one foot which he shifted constantly on the floorboards.

They set to work loading their fuel. The fuel was packaged in large tanks. Whoever had designed the tanks had apparently been farsighted, though; a fact for which Ted raised a silent prayer. The tanks were not bulky. They could be carried fairly easily, the object being to make transportation simple on the Moon. They were designed to be emptied into the larger tanks of the rocket ship, each separate tank being equipped with its own fueling hose.

Forbes backed the tractor against the loading port of the red supply rocket, and they started the unloading process at once.

“There will be no smoking in the fueling area,” Forbes cracked.

“Repeat,” Ted said, as he swung one of the tanks onto the tractor, using the rocket’s boom and loading net. “There will be no smoking in the fueling area.”

“And no fooling while fueling,” Forbes said.

“Roger.”

It took them longer than they figured. Forbes estimated the number of gallons they’d need, down to the last pint. He was thoroughly familiar with the Moon ship’s potential, and he knew just how much fuel she’d need to blast free of the Moon’s surface, swing into an orbit, and then come down by braking.

For a while they thought the tractor would not be large enough to carry all they’d need. The tanks seemed to take up so much room. Ted sighed in relief when Forbes announced one more tank would do the trick. They lowered the tank into place and then began lashing everything down.

When they had finished, they surveyed the supply dump with careful eyes, wondering if they’d forgotten anything.

Oxygen. Fuel. Food? No, they’d be back soon, if everything went as planned. Water, ditto.

“I guess we’ve got everything,” Ted said.

“Yep. Let’s get started.”

Ted hopped into the tractor, and Forbes started it, backing away from the rockets. They had gone several hundred feet from the dump when Ted shouted, “Our batteries!”

“Holy jumping...”

Forbes swung the tractor around without hesitation. He drove up to the bright yellow rocket, the one bearing the food.

“There should be an air lock on this one,” Forbes said.

“How do you figure?”

“Simple. A man sometimes has to taste food to see if it’s gone bad. You can’t taste food when you’re wearing a helmet. Therefore, an air lock. Listen, we engineers think of everything.”

Forbes turned out to be right, though Ted doubted if his reasoning were exactly accurate. Nonetheless, there was an air lock, and when Ted had taken two batteries from the green rocket, he carried Forbes piggy-back into the lock, and they waited for the blinking light to flash.

The first thing they did when the pressure had equalized was remove their helmets.

“Brother, that feels good,” Forbes said. Ted put him down and helped him out of his suit. Then he took his own off.

He quickly put the batteries in place inside the suits, and they began dressing once more. Before they left the rocket, they stuffed their mouths with grapes which they found in one of the refrigerator lockers. Then they clamped on their helmets and went down to the tractor.

If they hurried, they would make it. This time it would be a race against the Sun.

It was slow going.

The tractor was loaded, and the fuel tanks were heavy. Forbes drove carefully, anxious to avoid any accidents. They talked very little.

It was funny, Ted thought, but the Moon seemed to discourage conversation. Everything was so quiet that it made you want to keep quiet too. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And when on Lunar...

Ted left the thought unfinished. There were no Lunans, or Lunarians, or whatever you wanted to call them. Except the plant Forbes had found. Wouldn’t Dr. Gehardt be excited? Life on the Moon! Not intelligent life, certainly, but life at any rate. The scientists had pretty much agreed that the Moon was a dead world. What would they say when the first expedition brought back evidence of life?

Ted realized abruptly that his thinking had changed somewhat. His mind had automatically accepted the new premise that they would get back to Earth. A few days ago — even a few hours ago — he wasn’t quite sure of that. There was no question in his mind now. They would get back to Earth, and there would be future Lunar rockets. And then the planets. Mars first, perhaps. And Venus. His blood quickened in anticipation. He was happy, very happy.

They kept traveling as fast as they could. The tractor was built for the Moon and it navigated the deep ruts and holes with easy skill. But even their top speed was low because of the weight the tractor was carrying. Ted resigned himself to a long trip, sure they would reach the ship before the Sun did, but wishing nonetheless that it were all over.

He was surprised when Forbes spoke after many silent miles.

“I can’t figure you, Baker.”

“Huh?” Ted turned his head.

“I said I can’t figure you.”

“Oh? Why not. What’s there to figure?”

Forbes shrugged. He kept his hands on the steering wheel and his eyes on the surface ahead. “You’re something of a paradox.”

“Not really,” Ted said.

“Yes, yes, I think so,” Forbes replied.

Ted didn’t answer. He had begun to have hopes for a friendship with the lieutenant. At least, Forbes’s attitude seemed to have changed. But now — even though Forbes’s voice was friendly, he felt he knew where the conversation was leading, and a sense of foreboding filled him.

“Why’d you do it?” Forbes asked suddenly.

“Why’d I do what?” Ted knew what Forbes meant, but for some reason he wanted to put off the discussion as long as he could.

“You know what I mean,” Forbes said.

Ted shrugged. “Why talk about it?”

“Because I’m curious, and because I won’t rest well until I find out what makes you tick. At first, I thought you were just a glory-happy kid without any sense. That was before we started this little jaunt. Now I’m not sure any more.”

Ted hesitated, taking a deep breath. “Suppose I told you you’ve got me all wrong?”

“I’m listening,” Forbes said simply.

“Suppose I used the classic, ‘I’m innocent’!”

“I’m still listening.”

“All right, I’m innocent.”

“You haven’t told me anything yet,” Forbes said.

Ted sighed again. “It’s a long story.”

“We’ve got plenty of time, my friend.”

“Okay.” Ted paused, then said, “This is what happened.”

He told Forbes the whole story while the tractor made its slow way toward the waiting rocket ship. Forbes nodded from time to time, listening intently. Ted told him all about Jack’s injured collarbone, about the fight in the air lock, about how he wanted to stop blastoff. He told him everything, and when he was finished, Forbes sat silently for a long time.

“And this is the truth?” he asked at last.

“Yes,” Ted said.

“Why didn’t you tell it before?”

“You wouldn’t let me. When I first boarded the ship, everyone was all excited about blastoff. Then you voted on me before I had a chance to clear myself. It all happened so fast, I...”

“You should have given me a swift kick in the pants,” Forbes interrupted.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Ted said.

“It certainly was,” Forbes insisted. “That day in the mess hall! Why, you weren’t planning on stowing away at all. You were just asking my advice on what you should do about Jack. How could I have been so stupid?”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Ted repeated.

“I say it was!”

“But it wasn’t. Can’t you see...?”

“It was my...”

Forbes suddenly cut himself short and began laughing. Ted realized he was laughing over the near-argument they’d had in apologizing to each other. He began chuckling, too, and before long they were both howling their glee to the indifferent Moon, two figures with their heads tilted back, their voices raised in laughter.

They talked a great deal after that.

Forbes told Ted all about his home town and the way he’d wanted to be a space engineer ever since he’d been a kid. His only regret had been that he hadn’t gone through the Academy. He had enlisted in the Air Force as a mechanic instead, pulling himself up to the lieutenant’s rank by his bootstraps.

As Forbes talked about the Academy, Ted’s mind flew to the Space Station. He thought of General Pepper, and of what the general had said, and he grew suddenly silent.

“What’s the matter, Ted?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Come on, what is it?”

“Really, Dan, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about the... about the Moon, that’s what. Yes, I was thinking how the cold the...”

“You’re a lousy liar, Ted.”

“No, really, I was just...”

“You’re thinking of what the Old Man said, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“I can tell, Ted. You’re worried about it.”

“All right, I am. General Pepper said I’d be in hot water. I’ll probably get tossed out of the Academy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If anyone gets tossed out, it’ll be Jack Talbot.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want that to happen, either. Jack is specializing now. In a year he’ll have his commission.”

Forbes shook his head. “Boy, it’s funny how wrong I had you figured, Ted. I hope you’ll accept my apologies.”

Ted grinned. “Let’s not get into that again.”

“Well, look, don’t worry about the Old Man. I’ll explain everything that happened. When he hears the true story...”

Forbes stopped speaking and pulled the wheel all the way over to his right.

“What’s the matter?” Ted asked, his brows pulling together.

“I don’t know,” Forbes said slowly. “She seems to be pulling to the left.”

“Maybe we hit a bump.”

“No, she’s still doing it.”

They drove on in silence, Forbes trying to keep the tractor on a steady course as the wheel kept pulling to the left. He threw all his weight to the right, moving his gloved hands over the wheel, trying to maintain control.

There was a sudden jolt, and the wheel went lax in his hands. He turned it, and the tractor kept bearing straight ahead, not responding at all to the controls. Quickly, Forbes reached out and cut the engine.

“Something snapped — that’s for sure,” he said.

Ted hopped out of the open cab and dropped to the ground. “What do you suppose it is?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Can you help me down?”

“Sure.” Ted reached up for Forbes, gathering him into his arms and swinging him out of the cab of the tractor. He put him down, and Forbes stood on one foot, his injured foot raised, holding to Ted’s shoulder for support.

“I’ll have to go underneath it,” Forbes said.

He hopped closer to the tractor, caught at the metal door for support. He dropped to his knees then and stuck his head under the body of the vehicle. He sprawled out flat on his back, his legs sticking out like an open pair of scissors.

“Don’t foul your oxygen lines,” Ted warned.

“I won’t.”

Forbes was silent for a moment as he studied the underside of the machine. “Sure complicated,” he said.

“Do you see what’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’m trying to figure this mess out. I’ve never seen so many wires in my life.”

“We’d better hurry,” Ted said. “The Sun...”

“It’s beginning to make a little sense now,” Forbes said. “Just give me a few minutes.”

Ted waited impatiently, thinking of the Sun and thinking of what would happen if they were caught outside when the Sun rose.

“Well, for crying out loud,” Forbes said.

“What is it?”

“A nut the size of a quarter. Must have got loose with all this jostling. This’ll be a snap to fix.”

Ted breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

“There should be some tools up in the cab. Want to bring me some wrenches?”

“Sure.” Ted climbed up into the cab and rummaged around until he found a bundle of wrenches wrapped in a canvas packet. He leaped to the ground and stooped down near Forbes’s legs.

“Here they are,” he said.

“You’d better bring them to me,” Forbes replied. “I don’t want to lose sight of this nut. So darned many of them under here.”

Ted crawled under the tractor, crouching low to make sure his oxygen tank cleared the wires and jutting bolts. He lay down beside Forbes and handed the lieutenant the packet of wrenches.

“Thanks.” Forbes pulled the ties on the canvas and unrolled the packet. Ted stared up at the complicated arrangement of wires, rods, nuts, bolts, pipes.

Finally, Forbes held up a wrench. “This one should do it.” He reached up and applied the wrench to the nut. “Nope, too small.”

He began rummaging around among the wrenches again.

“Are you sure you can fix it?” Ted asked.

“Why, sure. Just have to tighten that nut, that’s all. Here, this one looks like the right size.”

He reached out with the wrench, capturing the nut in its open jaws. “Yep, that does it.”

Ted watched as Forbes pulled back on the wrench, his arms working toward his body.

Forbes grunted and said, “Seems to be stuck.”

“Are you sure that’s the right wrench?”

“Yes, it’s just the nut. Seems to be on the threads lopsided. It’ll need a little pressure, that’s all.”

“We’d better hurry,” Ted said again.

Forbes wiggled around on the ground, getting himself in position. “There. Now one good pull and we should loosen it. After that, it’ll be smooth sailing.”

Forbes reached out for the nut again, gripping it with the head of the wrench. He made sure the nut was gripped firmly, and then he yanked his arms back.

Like a fragile matchstick in the hands of a weight lifter, the wrench suddenly snapped in two!