Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction June 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
A Mixture of Genius
BY ARNOLD CASTLE
Illustrated by Paul Orban
Who, but the imaginative young, shall inherit the stars?
he sleek transcontinental airliner settled onto one of the maze ofrunways that was Stevenson Airport. With its turbojets fading into adense roar, it taxied across the field toward the central building.Inside the plane a red light went off.
Senator Vance Duran unhooked the seat belt, reached for his briefcase,and stepped into the crowded aisle. The other passengers were allstrangers, which had meant that for nearly an hour he had been able togive his full attention to the several hundred pages of proposedlegislation and reports presented to the Committee on ExtraterrestrialDevelopment, of which he was chairman. But now there would bereporters, local political pleaders, the dinner at the Governor's, andthe inevitable unexpected interruptions which were a part of everytrip home.
As he strode through the door and onto the mobile escalator, he donnedhis smile of tempered confidence in the economic future of the nation.A television camera went into action at once and news-men formed asmall circle at the bottom of the ramp.
"That was a great little debate you put on with Ben Wickolm lastweek," one of the reporters said. "You really tied him up."
"You can thank Senator Wickolm for arousing me," Duran answered,observing to himself that perhaps all of his efforts on the Hill didnot go unnoticed in his home state, if most of them seemed to.
"What do you think, Senator, of the FCC's modified ruling on theintegrated lunar relay station plan?" another asked.
"I haven't had time to get fully acquainted with it," the senatorevaded, stepping onto the ground and out of the way of the ramp.
"Say, Senator, what about the Mars colony project?" a third put in."How come it's bogged down?"
"No comment at present," the senator said. But he gave them anambiguous little grimace which was meant to suggest a minor but stickysnarl behind the scenes. He hoped it would satisfy them for themoment.
Making his escape as quickly as possible, he climbed onto the shuttlecar already loaded down with the other passengers. Finding an emptyseat, he folded himself into it, and was immediately joined by someoneelse.
"Well, Senator, how does it feel to be home?" his companion asked withsympathetic irony.
Duran turned, grinned, and reached for the man's hand.
"Great, Wayne," he answered, recognizing an old friend who had been ofno small aid during his earlier years in politics. "Say, I'd ask youover for dinner if we weren't going to the Governor's tonight. Mollywould love to see you. Unfortunately I'm leaving for Washington againin the morning."
"Why doesn't Molly move to D.C. with you, Vance?" the journalistasked.
Duran hesitated. "Maybe in a year or so. After the bo