Courage will be a big qualification for
the pilot who flies the first moon rocket. But
who decides if a man is brave—or a coward?...
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
April 1954
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The base diner was hot and stuffy that night as Scotty Johnson satwith Mitch and Jack and the other boys, sipping his last cup ofcoffee before Zero Hour rolled around. Mitch and Jack had succeededin sneaking him out of town before the reporters had guessed what washappening. Now they sat in silence, sipping their coffee, glancing athim from time to time as though to make sure he were still there. Itannoyed Scotty. This was the time to laugh, and joke, and bull away asif nothing was going to happen at all.
The waitress trotted over with a coffee pot, and Scotty gave her hiswidest leer. "You know, I can't think of anything I'd rather have rightnow than a cup of coffee from you," he said. "How about a date in aboutten days?"
The girl looked startled, and glanced away nervously. Mitch gave atight little laugh. "Better watch out. Scotty. She's liable to bewaiting on the landing field when you get back—"
They all laughed at that, and then silence fell again. They werenervous. Scotty could sense it, even though they tried to cover it up.All through these weeks of preparation in the hot New Mexico sun, thetension had been growing. But he should be the one to be nervous, notthese lads. After all, who was the star of this show? Scotty nuzzledhis coffee, and twisted his wiry five-foot-two inch frame around sothat he could see the door. "Better drink up," he said. "The jeepshould be here any minute."
Mitch nodded and emptied his cup as the jeep's tires screeched on thepavement outside. The door of the coffeeshop burst open, and a headwith an MP's crash helmet popped in. "All set, Scotty? Let's go!"
Scotty nodded. His blue eyes were bright as he buttoned up his jacketand winked at the waitress. Then he led the group to the door. "Lovethat gal," he said.
The driver raced the motor as they piled in and the jeep took off downthe concrete strip with a roar. The driver turned an admiring glancetoward Scotty. "All set for the big trip, man?"
Scotty grinned. "Been sleeping in a coffin all week, just for practice."
"Man, you may need that practice. You'll be good and stiff before youget out—" He broke off, horrified at the pun.
Scotty roared with glee. "You think you're kidding! That's allright—the way I see it, I'm getting ten days vacation on theGovernment, and plenty of pay besides. And once I get up there, Iwon't need much muscle to make my way around, they tell me." He lit acigarette, peering down the strip ahead of them. Far ahead he could seethe batteries of searchlights, picking out the tall, shiny spire of theship. It stood tall in its scaffolding, pointing like a needle towardthe black star-lit sky. Already the ground below it was swarming withtiny figures, moving about on the final check-down. My ship, thoughtScotty. I helped to build it. And here's one job where they need acocky, loud-mouthed little shrimp more than anything else in the world—
Another jeep swerved in beside them on the strip. Scotty caught aglimpse of the General and a couple of official-looking civilians.
"Everybody's going to see you off," said Mitch from the back seat.
"Yeah—the whole damned crowd. My big day."
"You sure you got everything down cold?"
Scotty gave him a scornful glance. "You kidding? How could I