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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30476 ***
+
+                    ZERO HOUR
+
+                       _by
+                 Alexander Blade_
+
+
+       By accident Bobby discovered the rocket was
+ about to be shot to the Moon. Naturally he wanted
+ to go along. But could he smuggle himself aboard?
+
+
+            Illustrated by Lloyd Rognan
+
+
+Dad had already gone when Bobby got up. This disappointed Bobby a little
+but then he remembered--_this was the big day_. Naturally Dad would get
+over to the project early. And at four o'clock-- Bobby shivered
+deliciously at the thought of it.
+
+He ate his breakfast in silence with Mom across the table drinking a cup
+of coffee and looking at a fashion catalogue. He was glad she was
+occupied because he didn't want to talk; not today he didn't. Might
+spill something secret. Might even let out the _big secret_. That would
+be terrible.
+
+Of course, all things were secret at Buffalo Flats. So secret top
+scientists like Dad didn't even discuss them with wives like Mom. And
+wives like Mom never asked.
+
+So it was really something to sit there eating breakfast knowing that,
+today, Dad was going to rocket to the Moon. And with Mom not even
+knowing the Lunar project was in the works, so naturally not dreaming
+that he was going _with_ Dad! The thrill was overpowering.
+
+Maybe they would have radio communication after they got there and he
+would call back and say, _Hello, Mom! Guess where I am? On the moon with
+Dad!_ And Mom would say, _Why, Bobby! Scaring me to death like this! I
+was looking all over for you._ Sounding very angry but not being really
+angry after all. Because maybe Dad would cut in and say, _Yeah, he's
+right here with me, dear. What do you think of this boy of ours?_
+
+Bobby gulped the last of his cereal so he could go outside and wriggle
+for joy. As he got up from his chair, Mom said, "And what's your plan
+for today, young man? Davy Crockett or Buck Rogers?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Bobby had a quick thought--a sudden temptation. Why not give Mom a hint?
+Why he could even _tell_ her and she still wouldn't know. Then later,
+after he was gone, she would remember back and say, _That boy! When he
+tells you something he really means it._
+
+Bobby smiled and said, "I think I'll go to the moon today."
+
+Mom smiled too and went back to her fashions. "Well, see to it your fuel
+mixture is correct."
+
+"I'll check it. And Mom--I might not be home for lunch."
+
+"Where will you be?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know."
+
+"Well, mind your manners and say thank you when you leave."
+
+Mrs. Kendall, still smiling, watched Bobby dash out into the yard.
+Living on a restricted government area had one compensation at least.
+You didn't have to worry about your children. Four dozen families, all
+with offspring, trapped behind ten-foot patrolled fence. Here, nobody
+worried about their children. They came and went and at noon a mother
+fed whatever number happened to be in the house at the time. Mrs.
+Kendall usually drew six or seven. It would be a relief to dodge the
+chore for one Saturday....
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Out in the backyard, Bobby fussed around his space rocket a little:
+tightening a screw here--hammering in a nail there. Just until he could
+slip away without Mom noticing his direction.
+
+It wasn't a bad rocket at that, he thought. Six feet long with two seats
+and a keen instrument panel. But kid stuff of course. After he found the
+way in through the sewer he hadn't paid any more attention to his own
+ship.
+
+He could see Mom through the window, back in her book, so he went
+casually out through the back gate and turned left, kicking at pebbles
+as he sauntered along and trying to look as though he had no place to
+go. Had to be careful. Didn't want to bump into any of the other kids
+today, either.
+
+The way in through the sewer was at a place behind Laboratory B. There
+was a kind of an alley there that nobody ever walked through and then
+this round lid you could lift up and look under. And a ladder you could
+climb down.
+
+Bobby hadn't dared go down at first. But, after thinking about it
+overnight, his curiosity won out and he went back and ducked down
+into the lower level. He called it a sewer because of sewers being
+underground, but this place was clean and had bunches of wires strung
+in every direction and faint little lights you could see by.
+
+Bobby went further and further every trip he took, never telling anybody
+because you weren't supposed to talk about things at Buffalo Flats--not
+even to the other kids.
+
+Then he found the big drome where they were building the rocket. It was
+so sleek and beautiful and shiny that he just stared at it--up through
+the grating in the floor that was for air circulation or something.
+
+He didn't know it was the moon rocket at first. Not until he'd gone back
+several times to peek up at it and then one day two scientists came
+walking along right in front of his nose.
+
+One of them was Dad.
+
+Bobby almost called out but he caught himself and just listened to them
+talking. This was the first time his conscience bothered him about going
+underneath the drome. He thought about it a lot--whether it was the
+right thing to do. And while he was never able to still his conscience
+completely, he quieted down by saying he really wasn't doing any harm
+because he'd never told anybody what he saw.
+
+He learned the rocket was going to the moon by listening to Dad and the
+other scientists talk when they thought they were alone. And it was
+funny. Because even there, they spoke in low voices and didn't give too
+much away.
+
+He had known now for three days that at four o'clock the roof would open
+and the drome would be turned into a blast-pit and the rocket would
+shoot out through space to the moon.
+
+That was all he _did_ know for sure. None of the men had said who was
+going on the first trip to the moon. Nothing had been said on that
+subject at all, but Bobby knew Dad would go. He would have to. After
+all, Dad was the second biggest scientist at Buffalo Flats. Second only
+to Schleimmer himself and Professor Schleimmer was very old and
+certainly wouldn't make the trip. That left Dad. Dad would just have to
+go in order to run the rocket. There probably wasn't anybody else smart
+enough in the whole place.
+
+The idea of going himself had been born the previous day--when he found
+a larger grating in the floor near the rocket and realized if he was
+very careful he could climb out of the sewer and duck into the rocket
+when nobody was looking. Once inside he was pretty sure he'd find a
+place to hide until blast-off.
+
+All the men would probably be strapped in bunks but if he found a place
+he could wedge himself in he didn't think he'd get hurt. Then, halfway
+to the moon he would come out and find Dad and would he be surprised!
+
+At first, thinking about it, he'd been scared but after he realized how
+proud Dad and Mom would be, he made up his mind.
+
+Now, crouched beside the grating near the ship, he waited while two
+men--technicians in white overalls--walked by.
+
+One of them said, "Well, whatever happens, she'll make a big splash."
+
+"You said it. Hope the brains know what they're doing."
+
+That made Bobby mad. Who said Dad didn't know what he was doing? Dad was
+just about the smartest scientist in the world.
+
+After the two men left he waited a long time. He heard voices but no one
+came in sight. Taking a deep breath, he opened the grating and got out.
+It was only four steps to the open port of the rocket. There was a
+little ramp they'd used to roll things in and Bobby's feet touched it
+but lightly as he jumped into the ship. He found himself in some kind of
+a storeroom. It would be a good place to hide all right. It was full of
+aluminum barrels all the same size. He found a space between two rows
+and sat down and got his breath back. It was very quiet around him.
+Scary quiet. But he set his lips firmly.
+
+He was going to the moon with Dad.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+John Kendall was a little late that night. He kissed his wife and said,
+"Well, did you see the big sky rocket?"
+
+"How could I miss it, darling? Your supper is in the oven."
+
+"I could use a Martini first."
+
+"Coming right up."
+
+While Myra fixed the drink John lay back in his easy chair and closed
+his eyes. "We'd hoped to stage a little ceremony at the launching but
+Washington said no."
+
+"The Russians?"
+
+"The Eastern Coalition. It was a race. That was why it had to be so
+secret. Washington said, light the fuse and fire the thing."
+
+"Is it still hush-hush?"
+
+"No. Not between us at least. We fired an explosion rocket at the moon.
+It will hit in about an hour and telescopes will show a big purple spot
+when our explosives go off and throw dye all over the place."
+
+Myra handed him a dry Martini. "I see. Lots of fun no doubt but what's
+the purpose? Fourth of July on the moon?"
+
+"Oh, no. If the experiment is a success the next rocket will carry men
+instead of a bomb."
+
+Myra went to the kitchen to see about supper. John called, "Where's
+Bobby? In bed I suppose."
+
+Myra didn't hear and John set his drink down and moved toward the
+bedroom. Maybe he was still awake.
+
+Bobby rolled over. His eyes popped open. "Dad! I thought you went to--"
+
+John Kendall sat down on the edge of the bed and tousled his son's hair.
+"No, son. It's the old _terra firma_ for me. Did you see the rocket
+blast?"
+
+"Uh-huh. It was really something. It went to the moon, didn't it?"
+
+"That's right." Kendall smiled and thought. Try to keep a secret from
+the kids. It just can't be done. "How's _your_ moon rocket coming along,
+son?"
+
+"Pretty good. Gee, Dad! As long as you didn't go, I'm glad I didn't go
+either."
+
+"You were planning to make the trip also?"
+
+"Uh-huh. I got into the rocket and was all set but I got to thinking
+about Mom--how one of us should stay and take care of her in case
+anything happened."
+
+"Smart thinking, son. Now you get to sleep. I'll have a little time
+tomorrow. We'll play some ball."
+
+"That will be keen!"
+
+John Kendall smiled as he left the bedroom. Kids were wonderful! Give
+them a few old boards and a steering wheel and they could build a ship
+to fly to the moon. What a wonderful dream world they lived in!
+
+Too bad they had to grow out of it.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+    This etext was produced from _Imagination_ April 1956. Extensive
+    research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on
+    this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical
+    errors have been corrected without note.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zero Hour, by Alexander Blade
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30476 ***