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.