The sun, an intense orange ball, began to rise over the Atlantic. A gentle breeze brushed at the blue water.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXTJYSMouH
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is Robert Sarnoff, Enterprise Control. The time is 3 minutes after 6, Eastern Standard Time. We are coming up on T-minus 3 hours, 31 minutes, 25 seconds..."
Something loomed in the distance. A little white needle on the morning horizon.
"At this time all systems are go, and all lights are green. At T-minus 8 hours, 5 minutes, Launch Complex 40 was cleared and we began to load the liquid propellent into the launch vehicle. The loading was completed at T-minus 3 hours, 38 minutes...."
The voice echoed slightly in the dim motel room. On the edge of the wide rumpled bed the nearly naked redheaded girl sat, leaning slightly forward, watching the TV.
The white needle grew bigger and bigger on the color screen. It grew until it was recognizable as a towering Saturn MB V rocket. Rising as high as a 35-story building, weighing over six million pounds, gleaming white in the new day.
"The crew was awakened at T-minus 4 hours, 30 minutes, without any major complaints. At T-minus 4 hours, 5 minutes they were taken to the medical complex. They were examined by Dr. Justman, who declared them fit. The examination lasted until T-minus 3 hours and 45 minutes."
The girl uncrossed and recrossed her long tan legs.
The lean, tangle-haired man who was still asleep between the twisted sheets rolled over on his back. He began making a nasal moaning sound.
"Shut up," said the girl, looking at the TV screen. "This is an historical moment. I don't want to miss anything."
There were four men in the prefabricated room. Three of them, each clad in thermal long john, were seated around a folding table, eating breakfast with varying degrees of interest and enthusiasm. The fourth man, wearing a wrinkled blue suit, was leaning against the metal wall and rubbing his thumb across is plump chin.
"Weather's good," said the pudgy Justman. "Scattered clouds until noon, that's about it."
"You already told us," said Air Force Colonel James T. Kirk. "Twice."
"Sorry 'bout that," said NASA medic.
Navy Commander Chris Pike tapped black fingers on a half-eaten slice of toast. "This toast tastes like that stuff you stick memos on," he said. "Corkboard."
"It's leftover from a previous mission," suggested Lieutenant Colonel Leonard McCoy. "NASA's recycling it to save money."
"Just wait," said Justman. "In a few days you'll miss food like this."
"Down-home Earth cooking," said McCoy, deciding to take a couple more bites of the toast. "Corkboard."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN9HSCrO4w
"Tasted fine to me when I breakfasted," Dr. Justman stuffed his pudgy hands into the wrinkled pockets of his trousers.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs2WZb6RGC
"I hope nobody ever finds out about this," said Kirk, a tall, slightly thickset man in his early forties. "Here it is the morning of man's first venture to the red planet, and all we can talk about is toast."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNUsygXkMj
"I hope they don't find that out on the morning of man's first venture to another planet," put in McCoy, "they gave us such crappy food."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVf6TT9leu
"The toast really tasted fine to me," reiterated Justman. "And I don't usually like whole wheat bread."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukENdvzL1q
Pike, thinner and several years younger than the others, pushed back from the table and slapped both knees. "What would you like to talk about on such a momentous occasion, Jim?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxupdzwwbB6
Kirk shrugged. "Don't know."
"How about the weather?" suggested McCoy. "I hear it's good, with scattered clouds until noon."
"No kidding? Really?" Pike caused his eyebrows to climb. "Where'd you hear that, Leonard?"
"No place, but I got this trick knee, and with it I can accurately foretell the...."
"You've got fifteen minutes," said Sarnoff.
"There is something I'd like to talk over," said Pike. "I want to know if we can fraternize with Martian girls or---if---I---I---" The lieutenant commander suddenly went rigid, then began swaying in his chair. He managed to clutch his chest before toppling off his chair to the metal floor.
"Jesus, what's wrong?" Dr. Justman yanked his hands out of his pockets, dashed across to kneel beside the fallen astronaut. He bent close to Pike. "I can't imagine what could have happened.
"I think," said Pike, sitting up, "it must have been the toast."
McCoy began laughing. Kirk joined in.
With a straight face, Pike got up.
The doctor shook himself like a wet dog, scowling. "You guys, he said, lips close together, "are a bunch of schmucks."
"I'd like a second opinion," said Pike.
Metal bleachers had been set up a safe distance from the launch area. As the morning progressed, people began to fill the limited number of seats. They were both relatively important and very important people. Wire fencing enclosed the grandstand and military police guards patrolled the area. Several sober-faced and crew-cut Secret Service agents were also in evidence.
Representative Irving Johnston, the thickset chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, paused behind the usher who was leading him and his wife to their seats. A pleased grin touched Johnston's broad, jowly face as he stared at the gleaming white Enterprise IX rocket.
"We've reserved three of the best seats for you and Mrs. Johnston and General Elder," said the young NASA usher.
"Well, that's very thoughtful of you, son."
"In fact," the usher added, "you'll be right next to the Vice President."
"Is he here yet?"
"Not yet sir, but he's due any minute."
"Asshole probably thinks they'll delay the launch for him," said Johnston, settling into his seat. "Somebody ought to tell him this isn't a bridge opening."
The congressman's slim wife took the seat next to him, and the grim, gray General Elder flanked her.
The young usher, with a practiced smile, handed a small leather case to Johnston and one to the general. "The agency would like you to have these commemorative binoculars," he said, "to help you to watch the launch and as a souvenir."
"Well, thank you, son Johnston turned the case around in his large hands. "Look here, Emma. Got the date on them and the Enterprise seal, too."
"Yes, very handsome."
"I'm glad you like them." The boy started to turn away.
Johnston caught his arm. "We'll need one more pair, son. For my wife."
"Sir?"
"Irving, there's no need to fuss," the congressman's wife told him.
"We'll need another pair of these handsome binoculars, son," repeated Johnston in an even voice. "For my wife here."
"Here, Emma," offered the general, "you can take mine. Really didn't need them."
"You see, congressman," explained the usher, his face slightly flushed, "there are only so many pairs of...."
"I don't believe I clearly heard you, son," Johnston said, as he smiled up at the boy. "Would you repeat that, please."
"There's no problem, sir. I'll fetch another pair right away."
Johnston nodded. "How very thoughtful of you."
The giant red, hazy globe filled the screen.
"Good morning, everyone, this is Roy Neil, NBC News Space Headquarters, Cape Kennedy. At this time Colonel James Kirk, Lt. Colonel Christopher Pike, and Commander Leonard McCoy are riding up the gantry elevator at Launch Complex 40."
The Mars slide left the TV screen, replaced by a live shot of the three astronauts doing exactly what Roy Neil said they were doing.
"They will soon be entering the giant Saturn MB V rocket," the news commentator continued. "The crew has been up for almost two hours. They had breakfast, were examined and declared fit. They are now preparing to embark on a four-month journey that will take them where no man has gone before. The planet Mars. And they carry with them the future of the manned-space program. This flight, as you know, comes at a time of intense pressure from a Congress that does not want to appropriate any more money to a project the public may no longer care about. It is generally agreed that if this flight is not totally successful, there will be no more support for the space program. We are a little more than two hours from lift-off. Mission Control reports everything is proceeding smoothly. NBC live color coverage will continue in one moment, after these message."
With a surprised groan, Robert, "Robbie"Cox sat upright in the rumpled bed. Rubbing his eyes he stared around the room. "Say something," he told the redheaded girl.
"Huh?"
"Say something, speak a few sentences."
"About what?"
"Anything you like."
"Let's see.....this is a historic day for mankind," the girl began, tentatively, her eyes swinging between the bright TV screen and the almost awake young man in the bed. "After many long centuries of watching and waiting, man is about to embark on a flight to Mars. Soon Earthlings will set foot...."
"New Jersey," decided Cox. "I'm in New Jersey." He rolled out of bed. "I can tell from your accent."
"Well, I am from Jersey," the girl admitted. "Originally, that is. But where we are is Houston, Texas."
Cox gave his brow a mock slap. "Texas? What the hell am I doing in Texas?"
"Aren't you a famous reporter? That's what you told me last night in the Rambling Pour Brewpub."
Cox pulled up his shorts. "Right! I am a famous reporter. Thanks for reminding me." He scanned the room again. "And this is Houston, Texas, and I'm here to cover this end of this major event." He ran his tongue over his teeth. "The problem is, all Howard Johnsons are identical. You awaken in one in Houston and it's exactly like the one in Newark or Cairo."
"Have you been to Egypt?"
"Many times." He rubbed his eyes again, yawned, ran a few fingers through his dark tangled hair. "What exactly was I drinking last night?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwlckwcP1G
"Sprite and vodka."
"Dang!" Cox grimaced. "That's no drink for a sane man."
"I tried to persuade you not to last evening," the redhead said. "But you insisted that if it was good enough for the Greeks, it was good enough for you."
"Greeks?"
"The Greek truck drivers you were Indian wrestling with."
"Hum." Cox's head bobbed up and down several times. He strolled toward the bathroom. "They're always in exactly the same place, bathrooms. A comforting touch in an alien and hostile land."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ipB1vM4z
"Huh?"
"I'm going to take a shower," he announced, "and then...."
She looked away from the TV and at Cox. "And then?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to go to work," he said.
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