‘The council changed their minds?” Lew exclaimed.
“No, no.” The secretary frowned. “Of course not. But they have made another decision. In fact, the delegate from China sponsored it. The news just came in.”
They followed Jam, trying to get more information out of him, but he was enjoying the mystery and refused to tell any more. After the cat and mouse game of the last few days, Chuck had stopped reacting. He wasn’t going to get all he wanted, but he’d still do all right. Just being part of Moon City was something worth being happy about. That, plus a chance to become a rocket pilot, was enough. He couldn’t really kick. Going to Mars was something like going to heaven—and most people had to die to do that.
Probably the Council had decided to make some official apology to him, or to grant him full adult status on the Moon, with the right to hold an official job. It would be nice enough, but it wouldn’t be important.
Governor Braithwaite was beaming happily as they entered. He shook Chuck’s hand warmly, muttering something about how sorry he was that his appeals had failed. But there was something else on his mind, obviously, and he wasted little time in getting down to it.
“Chuck, you’ve no idea how much those ratings of yours impressed the Council. They were up for hours of consideration before the vote, you know. I tell you, it isn’t every day a young man can take up that much time in the United Nations! They’ve decided you’re being wasted here. Look!”
He handed Chuck a long transcript of a radargram, and stood beaming while the boy read it. Chuck skipped the formal part, until he came to the point of it:
At the request of the Delegate from the Republic of China, it is therefore resolved that Charles Svensen, now a resident of Moon City, shall be granted a Council Scholarship, as provided in the Act establishing the Committee for Educational Allocation. This Scholarship shall be for the period of six years at any university of his choice duly approved, to lead to a degree of Ph.D. in physics with any branch of electronics as a major study. During this time, Charles Svensen shall be considered a candidate for Council Advisor, and shall spend three months of each year at the behest of the Council in attendance at the Council meetings in the capacity of a Junior Advisor, for which he shall receive a recompense of $7,000 per annum, minus costs of tuition.
There was more official stuff, but Chuck had seen enough. He handed it back to the Governor. “That means they want me to take a course in electronics for six years and then go into United Nations work—research, I suppose?”
“Precisely.” Governor Braithwaite beamed harder than ever. “You know, that’s a remarkable resolution. Chuck. The Council absolutely shouted when the Chinese Delegate proposed it. They’ve only granted the full honor like this eight times in history, you know.”
“What about it, Dad?” Chuck asked.
His father shrugged. “It sounds like a fine opportunity—better than I could ever offer you. If you want it, take it. You’ll make more than you will piloting rockets.”
“And have to give up the Moon as well as Mars,” Chuck said. He shook his head. “No thanks. Governor Braithwaite, you can fix it up in fancy language. Just tell them I don’t feel I can accept, and that I prefer to stay right here on the Moon!”
Braithwaite’s face fell. He rubbed his hands together, and stared at the rug under his feet. He shuffled his papers about nervously. “I’m afraid I can’t. Chuck.” Again he shuffled the papers. “You see—dash it, you can’t stay on the Moon. The Council never dreamed you’d refuse. They’ve already sent orders for me to pick up your Lunar permit within two weeks—and you know you can’t stay here without one.”
Chuck knew that; getting onto the Moon was something like being cleared for entrance into one of the most secret laboratories on Earth, only harder. Even Tippy had required a special permit, after Jeff had brought him out.
“And—” Governor Braithwaite cleared his throat, as the shocked look deepened on his face. “And it takes two years after a permit is picked up before you can apply for anything but a visitor’s one-week stay, you know. That’s part of the original Moon charter. Of course, you could appeal—though why you’d want to, I’m sure I don’t know. But the delegates are human, after all, and they might feel insulted.”
He forced his face into .its usual cheerful expression. “Besides, think of the opportunities. Chuck. Why, you’re one of the luckiest boys in the world. There’s no telling how far you can go. Think it over tonight, and you’ll see. You’ll see.”
Chuck had already seen enough. Sure, it was an honor, and he was grateful for their intentions. But the Council had never been off Earth, and they couldn’t know what they were doing.
They’d promised him Mars and they were taking even the Moon away from him.
CHAPTER 4
Stowaway to Mars
The area around the Eros was bathed in floodlights the next morning, and half of Moon City had turned out to watch the test flight. The Moon had swung about on its orbit until all of Albategnius crater was in darkness. Now one of the big searchlights swung around to follow a little tractor that came toward the ship, bearing five figures in clean, new space suits.
Captain Miles Vance, pilot Nat Rothman, and Lew Wong; of the crew, would make the test Jeff Foldingchair, dressed in a slightly oversized suit designed for the crew doctor, was going at the request of the Space Commission, since his experience might be needed in an emergency. The fifth suit was worn by Chuck. It had come out from Earth before the Council’s decision, and was too good to waste. There was even a tiny radio in the helmet which would enable him to talk with the others wearing similar suits.
Now Captain Vance’s voice sounded in the headphones. “Still time to change your mind. Chuck.”
“No.” Out of habit, he shook his bead inside the helmet, f “I’m not going as supercargo. Anyhow, Mom didn’t like the idea of my being on the test, so I promised her I wouldn’t. She still thinks the ship may crack up, unless the test proves it to her.”
He snapped the little switch in his glove, cutting off any further conversation, and jumped off the tractor to join the crowd. People were already moving back out of the danger area.
Chuck hadn’t even wanted to watch the test, but now some of the crowd feeling seemed to reach him. The tractor went on to the ladder leading up to the ship’s air lock, and his eyes followed the four figures up and into the ship.
Another helmet touched his, and he turned to see the Governor. “Bonan matenon. Chuck. Feel better now?”
Chuck tried to grin. He still felt the same, but there was no use blaming the Governor or making him fed worse.
“I guess so,” he said. “But I’d still rather stay on the Moon.”
“U-m-m-m. Well, you know, I even sent out feelers to Earth—but they’re going ahead with plans for you. Cheer up, boy, you’ll enjoy the university life. It’s just taking a little time to get used to the idea.”
Chuck nodded again, and drew back info the crowd. The Governor had grown up when airplanes were the glamorous machines, and couldn’t know what it was like to be born with a yearning for space and other worlds.
Now the crowd was drawing back faster. Chuck found a position where a convenient rock gave him a seat, and dropped onto it. The Eros sent a tentative spurt of shooting flame from its tubes, leaping two feet off the surface. It settled back, while meters were being read and compared with expected figures. Then the floodlights bunked twice, and the crowd tensed.