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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36867-h.zip b/36867-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4df6ed2 --- /dev/null +++ b/36867-h.zip diff --git a/36867-h/36867-h.htm b/36867-h/36867-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8cd0ec --- /dev/null +++ b/36867-h/36867-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1725 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Progress Report, by Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; line-height: 2; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-top: 2em; + clear: both; + } + + hr.l15 {width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .extraspacetop {padding-top: 2em; } + .extraspacebot {padding-bottom: 2em; } + + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + + .blockquote {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Progress Report, by Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Progress Report + +Author: Mark Clifton + Alex Apostolides + +Release Date: July 27, 2011 [EBook #36867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROGRESS REPORT *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="357" height="532" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="blockquote center"><i>Progress is relative; Senator O'Noonan's idea of it was not +particularly scientific. Which would be too bad, if he had the last word!</i></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<h1>Progress Report<br /> +<small>By Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides</small><br /> +<small>Illustrated by PAUL ORBAN</small></h1> + +<div class="cap extraspacetop"> IT SEEMED to Colonel Jennings +that the air conditioning unit +merely washed the hot air around +him without lowering the temperature +from that outside. He knew it +was partly psychosomatic, compounded +of the view of the silvery +spire of the test ship through the +heatwaves of the Nevada landscape +and the knowledge that this was +the day, the hour, and the minutes.</div> + +<p>The final test was at hand. The +instrument ship was to be sent out +into space, controlled from this +sunken concrete bunker, to find out +if the flimsy bodies of men could +endure there.</p> + +<p>Jennings visualized other bunkers +scattered through the area, observation +posts, and farther away +the field headquarters with open +telephone lines to the Pentagon, and +beyond that a world waiting for +news of the test—and not everyone +wishing it well.</p> + +<p>The monotonous buzz of the field +phone pulled him away from his +fascinated gaze at the periscope +slit. He glanced at his two assistants, +Professor Stein and Major Eddy. +They were seated in front of their +control boards, staring at the blank +eyes of their radar screens, patiently +enduring the beads of sweat on +their faces and necks and hands, +the odor of it arising from their +bodies. They too were feeling the +moment. He picked up the phone.</p> + +<p>"Jennings," he said crisply.</p> + +<p>"Zero minus one half hour, +Colonel. We start alert count in +fifteen minutes."</p> + +<p>"Right," Colonel Jennings spoke +softly, showing none of the excitement +he felt. He replaced the field +phone on its hook and spoke to the +two men in front of him.</p> + +<p>"This is it. Apparently this time +we'll go through with it."</p> + +<p>Major Eddy's shoulders hunched +a trifle, as if he were getting set to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>have a load placed upon them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="446" height="691" alt="Professor Stein stoops over his instruments" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +Professor Stein gave no indication +that he had heard. His thin body +was stooped over his instrument +bank, intense, alert, as if he were a +runner crouched at the starting +mark, as if he were young again.</p> + +<p>Colonel Jennings walked over to +the periscope slit again and peered +through the shimmer of heat to +where the silvery ship lay arrowed +in her cradle. The last few moments +of waiting, with a brassy +taste in his mouth, with the vision +of the test ship before him; these +were the worst.</p> + +<p>Everything had been done, +checked and rechecked hours and +days ago. He found himself wishing +there were some little thing, +some desperate little error which +must be corrected hurriedly, just +something to break the tension of +waiting.</p> + +<p>"You're all right, Sam, Prof?" he +asked the major and professor unnecessarily.</p> + +<p>"A little nervous," Major Eddy +answered without moving.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Professor Stein +said. There was a too heavy stress +on the sibilant sound, as if the last +traces of accent had not yet been +removed.</p> + +<p>"I expect everyone is nervous, +not just the hundreds involved in +this, but everywhere," Jennings +commented. And then ruefully, +"Except Professor Stein there. I +thought surely I'd see some nerves +at this point, Prof." He was attempting +to make light conversation, +something to break the strain +of mounting buck fever.</p> + +<p>"If I let even one nerve tendril +slack, Colonel, I would go to pieces +entirely," Stein said precisely, in the +way a man speaks who has learned +the language from text books. "So +I do not think of our ship at all. I +think of mankind. I wonder if mankind +is as ready as our ship. I wonder +if man will do any better on +the planets than he has done here."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course," Colonel Jennings +answered with sympathy in +his voice, "under Hitler and all the +things you went through, I don't +blame you for being a little bitter. +But not all mankind is like that, you +know. As long as you've been in +our country, Professor, you've never +looked around you. You've been +working on this, never lifting your +head...."</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">HE JERKED in annoyance as a +red light blinked over the emergency +circuit, and a buzzing, sharp +and repeated, broke into this moment +when he felt he was actually +reaching, touching Stein, as no one +had before.</div> + +<p>He dragged the phone toward +him and began speaking angrily +into its mouthpiece before he had +brought it to his lips.</p> + +<p>"What the hell's the matter now? +They're not going to call it off +again! Three times now, and...."</p> + +<p>He broke off and frowned as the +crackling voice came through the +receiver, the vein on his temple +pulsing in his stress.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, General," he +said, much more quietly.</p> + +<p>The two men turned from their +radar scopes and watched him +questioningly. He shrugged his +shoulders, an indication to them of +his helplessness.</p> + +<p>"You're not going to like this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Jim," the general was saying. "But +it's orders from Pentagon. Are you +familiar with Senator O'Noonan?"</p> + +<p>"Vaguely," Jennings answered.</p> + +<p>"You'll be more familiar with +him, Jim. He's been newly appointed +chairman of the appropriations +committee covering our work. +And he's fought it bitterly from the +beginning. He's tried every way he +could to scrap the entire project. +When we've finished this test, Jim, +we'll have used up our appropriations +to date. Whether we get any +more depends on him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?" Jennings spoke questioningly. +Political maneuvering was +not his problem, that was between +Pentagon and Congress.</p> + +<p>"We must have his support, Jim," +the general explained. "Pentagon +hasn't been able to win him over. +He's stubborn and violent in his reactions. +The fact it keeps him in +the headlines—well, of course that +wouldn't have any bearing. So +Pentagon invited him to come to +the field here to watch the test, hoping +that would win him over." The +general hesitated, then continued.</p> + +<p>"I've gone a step farther. I felt +if he was actually at the center of +control, your operation, he might +be won over. If he could actually +participate, press the activating key +or something, if the headlines could +show he was working with us, actually +sent the test ship on its +flight...."</p> + +<p>"General, you can't," Jennings +moaned. He forgot rank, everything.</p> + +<p>"I've already done it, Jim," the +general chose to ignore the outburst. +"He's due there now. I'll look +to you to handle it. He's got to be +won over, Colonel. It's your project." +Considering the years that he +and the general had worked together, +the warm accord and informality +between them, the use of +Jennings' title made it an order.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>"Over," said the general formally.</p> + +<p>"Out," whispered Jennings.</p> + +<p>The two men looked at him questioningly.</p> + +<p>"It seems," he answered their +look, "we are to have an observer. +Senator O'Noonan."</p> + +<p>"Even in Germany," Professor +Stein said quietly, "they knew +enough to leave us alone at a critical +moment."</p> + +<p>"He can't do it, Jim," Major +Eddy looked at Jennings with +pleading eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but he can," Jennings answered +bitterly. "Orders. And you +know what orders are, don't you, +Major?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Major Eddy said +stiffly.</p> + +<p>Professor Stein smiled ruefully.</p> + +<p>Both of them turned back to their +instrument boards, their radar +screens, to the protective obscurity +of subordinates carrying out an assignment. +They were no longer +three men coming close together, +almost understanding one another +in this moment of waiting, when the +world and all in it had been shut +away, and nothing real existed except +the silvery spire out there on +the desert and the life of it in the +controls at their fingertips.</p> + +<p>"Beep, minus fifteen minutes!" +the first time signal sounded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">"COLONEL JENNINGS, sir!"</div> + +<p>The senator appeared in the +low doorway and extended a fleshy +hand. His voice was hearty, but +there was no warmth behind his +tones. He paused on the threshold, +bulky, impressive, as if he were +about to deliver an address. But +Jennings, while shaking hands, drew +him into the bunker, pointedly, +causing the senator to raise bushy +eyebrows and stare at him speculatively.</p> + +<p>"At this point everything runs on +a split second basis, Senator," he +said crisply. "Ceremony comes after +the test." His implication was that +when the work was done, the senator +could have his turn in the limelight, +take all the credit, turn it +into political fodder to be thrown +to the people. But because the man +was chairman of the appropriations +committee, he softened his abruptness. +"If the timing is off even a +small fraction, Senator, we would +have to scrap the flight and start all +over."</p> + +<p>"At additional expense, no +doubt." The senator could also be +crisp. "Surprises me that the military +should think of that, however."</p> + +<p>The closing of the heavy doors +behind him punctuated his remark +and caused him to step to the center +of the bunker. Where there had +seemed adequate room before, now +the feeling was one of oppressive +overcrowding.</p> + +<p>Unconsciously, Major Eddy +squared his elbows as if to clear +the space around him for the manipulation +of his controls. Professor +Stein sat at his radar screen, quiet, +immobile, a part of the mechanisms. +He was accustomed to overbearing +authority whatever political +tag it might wear at the moment.</p> + +<p>"Beep. Eleven minutes," the signal +sounded.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll be good enough +to brief me on just what you're doing +here?" the senator asked, and +implied by the tone of his voice +that it couldn't be very much. "In +layman's language, Colonel. Don't +try to make it impressive with technical +obscurities. I want my progress +report on this project to be +understandable to everyone."</p> + +<p>Jennings looked at him in dismay. +Was the man kidding him? +Explain the zenith of science, the +culmination of the dreams of man +in twenty simple words or less! And +about ten minutes to win over a +man which the Pentagon had failed +to win.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'd like to sit here, +Senator," he said courteously. +"When we learned you were coming, +we felt yours should be the +honor. At zero time, you press this +key—here. It will be your hand +which sends the test ship out into +space."</p> + +<p>Apparently they were safe. The +senator knew so little, he did not +realize the automatic switch would +close with the zero time signal, that +no hand could be trusted to press +the key at precisely the right time, +that the senator's key was a dummy.</p> + +<p>"Beep, ten," the signal came +through.</p> + +<p>Jennings went back over to the +periscope and peered through the +slit. He felt strangely surprised to +see the silver column of the ship +still there. The calm, the scientific +detachment, the warm thrill of co-ordinated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +effort, all were gone. He +felt as if the test flight itself was +secondary to what the senator +thought about it, what he would +say in his progress report.</p> + +<p>He wondered if the senator's progress +report would compare in any +particular with the one on the ship. +That was a chart, representing as +far as they could tell, the minimum +and maximum tolerances of human +life. If the multiple needles, tracing +their continuous lines, went over the +black boundaries of tolerances, human +beings would die at that point. +Such a progress report, showing the +life-sustaining conditions at each +point throughout the ship's flight, +would have some meaning. He wondered +what meaning the senator's +progress report would have.</p> + +<p>He felt himself being pushed +aside from the periscope. There was +no ungentleness in the push, simply +the determined pressure of an arrogant +man who was accustomed to +being in the center of things, and +thinking nothing of shoving to get +there. The senator gave him the +briefest of explanatory looks, and +placed his own eye at the periscope +slit.</p> + +<p>"Beep, nine," the signal sounded.</p> + +<p>"So that's what represents two +billion dollars," the senator said +contemptuously. "That little sliver +of metal."</p> + +<p>"The two billion dollar atomic +bomb was even smaller," Jennings +said quietly.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">THE SENATOR took his eye +away from the periscope briefly +and looked at Jennings speculatively.</div> + +<p>"The story of where all that +money went still hasn't been told," +he said pointedly. "But the story of +who got away with this two billion +will be different."</p> + +<p>Colonel Jennings said nothing. +The white hot rage mounting within +him made it impossible for him +to speak.</p> + +<p>The senator straightened up and +walked back over to his chair. He +waved a hand in the direction of +Major Eddy.</p> + +<p>"What does that man do?" he +asked, as if the major were not present, +or was unable to comprehend.</p> + +<p>"Major Eddy," Jennings found +control of his voice, "operates remote +control." He was trying to reduce +the vast complexity of the operation +to the simplest possible language.</p> + +<p>"Beep, eight," the signal interrupted +him.</p> + +<p>"He will guide the ship throughout +its entire flight, just as if he +were sitting in it."</p> + +<p>"Why isn't he sitting in it?" the +senator asked.</p> + +<p>"That's what the test is for, Senator." +Jennings felt his voice becoming +icy. "We don't know if space +will permit human life. We don't +know what's out there."</p> + +<p>"Best way to find out is for a man +to go out there and see," the senator +commented shortly. "I want to find +out something, I go look at it myself. +I don't depend on charts and +graphs, and folderol."</p> + +<p>The major did not even hunch +his broad shoulders, a characteristic +gesture, to show that he had +heard, to show that he wished the +senator was out there in untested +space.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What about him? He's not even +in uniform!"</p> + +<p>"Professor Stein maintains sight +contact on the scope and transmits +the IFF pulse."</p> + +<p>The senator's eyes flashed again +beneath heavy brows. His lips indicated +what he thought of professors +and projects who used them.</p> + +<p>"What's IFF?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The colonel looked at him incredulously. +It was on the tip of +his tongue to ask where the man +had been during the war. He decided +he'd better not ask it. He +might learn.</p> + +<p>"It stands for Identification—Friend +or Foe, Senator. It's army +jargon."</p> + +<p>"Beep, seven."</p> + +<p><i>Seven minutes</i>, Jennings thought, +<i>and here I am trying to explain the +culmination of the entire science of +all mankind to a lardbrain in simple +kindergarten words</i>. Well, he'd +wished there was something to +break the tension of the last half +hour, keep him occupied. He had +it.</p> + +<p>"You mean the army wouldn't +know, after the ship got up, whether +it was ours or the enemy's?" the +senator asked incredulously.</p> + +<p>"There are meteors in space, +Senator," Jennings said carefully. +"Radar contact is all we'll have out +there. The IFF mechanism reconverts +our beam to a predetermined +pulse, and it bounces back to us in +a different pattern. That's the only +way we'd know if we were still on +the ship, or have by chance fastened +on to a meteor."</p> + +<p>"What has that got to do with +the enemy?" O'Noonan asked uncomprehendingly.</p> + +<p>Jennings sighed, almost audibly.</p> + +<p>"The mechanism was developed +during the war, when we didn't +know which planes were ours and +which the enemy's. We've simply +adapted it to this use—to save +money, Senator."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" the senator expressed +his disbelief. "Too complicated. +The world has grown too complicated."</p> + +<p>"Beep, six."</p> + +<p>The senator glanced irritably at +the time speaker. It had interrupted +his speech. But he chose to ignore +the interruption, that was the +way to handle heckling.</p> + +<p>"I am a simple man. I come +from simple parentage. I represent +the simple people, the common +people, the people with their feet +on the ground. And the whole +world needs to get back to the simple +truths and honesties...."</p> + +<p>Jennings headed off the campaign +speech which might appeal +to the mountaineers of the senator's +home state, where a man's accomplishments +were judged by +how far he could spit tobacco +juice; it had little application in +this bunker where the final test before +the flight of man to the stars +was being tried.</p> + +<p>"To us, Senator," he said gently, +"this ship represents simple truths +and honesties. We are, at this moment, +testing the truths of all that +mankind has ever thought of, theorized +about, believed of the space +which surrounds the Earth. A farmer +may hear about new methods of +growing crops, but the only way he +knows whether they're practical or +not is to try them on his own land."</p> + +<p>The senator looked at him impassively.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +Jennings didn't know +whether he was going over or not. +But he was trying.</p> + +<p>"All that ship, and all the instruments +it contains; those represent +the utmost honesties of the men +who worked on them. Nobody tried +to bluff, to get by with shoddy +workmanship, cover up ignorance. +A farmer does not try to bluff his +land, for the crops he gets tells the +final story. Scientists, too, have simple +honesty. They have to have, +Senator, for the results will show +them up if they don't."</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">THe SENATOR looked at him +speculatively, and with a growing +respect. Not a bad speech, that. +Not a bad speech at all. If this tomfoolery +actually worked, and it +might, that could be the approach +in selling it to his constituents. By +implication, he could take full +credit, put over the impression that +it was he who had stood over the +scientists making sure they were as +honest and simple as the mountain +farmers. Many a man has gone into +the White House with less.</div> + +<p>"Beep, five."</p> + +<p>Five more minutes. The sudden +thought occurred to O'Noonan: +what if he refused to press the +dummy key? Refused to take part +in this project he called tomfoolery? +Perhaps they thought they +were being clever in having him +take part in the ship's launching, +and were by that act committing +him to something....</p> + +<p>"This is the final test, Senator. +After this one, if it is right, man +leaps to the stars!" It was Jennings' +plea, his final attempt to +catch the senator up in the fire and +the dream.</p> + +<p>"And then more yapping colonists +wanting statehood," the senator +said dryly. "Upsetting the balance +of power. Changing things."</p> + +<p>Jennings was silent.</p> + +<p>"Beep, four."</p> + +<p>"More imports trying to get into +our country duty-free," O'Noonan +went on. "Upsetting our economy."</p> + +<p>His vision was of lobbyists threatening +to cut off contributions if +their own industries were not kept +in a favorable position. Of grim-jawed +industrialists who could easily +put a more tractable candidate up +in his place to be elected by the +free and thinking people of his +state. All the best catch phrases, the +semantically-loaded promises, the +advertising appropriations being +used by his opponent.</p> + +<p>It was a dilemma. Should he +jump on the bandwagon of advancement +to the stars, hoping to +catch the imagination of the voters +by it? Were the voters really in +favor of progress? What could this +space flight put in the dinner pails +of the Smiths, the Browns, the +Johnsons? It was all very well to +talk about the progress of mankind, +but that was the only measure to +be considered. Any politician knew +that. And apparently no scientist +knew it. Man advances only when +he sees how it will help him stuff +his gut.</p> + +<p>"Beep, three." For a full minute, +the senator had sat lost in speculation.</p> + +<p>And what could he personally +gain? A plan, full-formed, sprang +into his mind. This whole deal +could be taken out of the hands of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +the military on charges of waste +and corruption. It could be brought +back into the control of private industry, +where it belonged. He +thought of vast tracts of land in his +own state, tracts he could buy +cheap, through dummy companies, +places which could be made very +suitable for the giant factories +necessary to manufacture spaceships.</p> + +<p>As chairman of the appropriations +committee, it wouldn't be +difficult to sway the choice of site. +And all that extra employment for +the people of his own state. The +voters couldn't forget plain, simple, +honest O'Noonan after that!</p> + +<p>"Beep, two."</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">JENNINGS FELT the sweat +beads increase on his forehead. +His collar was already soaking wet. +He had been watching the senator +through two long minutes, terrible +eon-consuming minutes, the impassive +face showing only what the +senator wanted it to show. He saw +the face now soften into something +approaching benignity, nobility. +The head came up, the silvery hair +tossed back.</div> + +<p>"Son," he said with a ringing +thrill in his voice. "Mankind must +reach the stars! We must allow +nothing to stop that! No personal +consideration, no personal belief, +nothing must stand in the way of +mankind's greatest dream!"</p> + +<p>His eyes were shrewdly watching +the effect upon Jennings' face, +measuring through him the effect +such a speech would have upon the +voters. He saw the relief spread +over Jennings' face, the glow. Yes, +it might work.</p> + +<p>"Now, son," he said with kindly +tolerance, "tell me what you want +me to do about pressing this key +when the time comes."</p> + +<p>"Beep, one."</p> + +<p>And then the continuous drone +while the seconds were being counted +off aloud.</p> + +<p>"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven—"</p> + +<p>The droning went on while Jennings +showed the senator just how +to press the dummy key down, explaining +it in careful detail, and +just when.</p> + +<p>"Thirty-seven, thirty-six, thirty-five—"</p> + +<p>"Major!" Jennings called questioningly.</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"Professor!"</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"Three, two, one, ZERO!"</p> + +<p>"Press it, Senator!" Jennings +called frantically.</p> + +<p>Already the automatic firing +stud had taken over. The bellowing, +roaring flames reached down +with giant strength, nudging the +ship upward, seeming to hang suspended, +waiting.</p> + +<p>"<i>Press it!</i>"</p> + +<p>The senator's hand pressed the +dummy key. He was committed.</p> + +<p>As if the ship had really been +waiting, it lifted, faster and faster.</p> + +<p>"Major?"</p> + +<p>"I have it, sir." The major's +hands were flying over his bank of +controls, correcting the slight unbalance +of thrusts, holding the ship +as steady as if he were in it.</p> + +<p>Already the ship was beyond +visual sight, picking up speed. But +the pip on the radar screens was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +strong and clear. The drone of the +IFF returning signal was equally +strong.</p> + +<p>The senator sat and waited. He +had done his job. He felt it perhaps +would have been better to +have had the photographers on the +spot, but realized the carefully directed +and rehearsed pictures to be +taken later would make better vote +fodder.</p> + +<p>"It's already out in space now, +Senator," Jennings found a second +of time to call it to the senator.</p> + +<p>The pips and the signals were +bright and clear, coming through +the ionosphere, the Heaviside layer +as they had been designed to do. +Jennings wondered if the senator +could ever be made to understand +the simple honesty of scientists who +had worked that out so well and +true. Bright and strong and clear.</p> + +<p>And then there was nothing! The +screens were blank. The sounds +were gone.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">JENNINGS STOOD in stupefied +silence.</div> + +<p>"It shut! It shut off!" Major +Eddy's voice was shrill in amazement.</p> + +<p>"It cut right out, Colonel. No +fade, no dying signal, just out!" It +was the first time Jennings had ever +heard a note of excitement in Professor +Stein's voice.</p> + +<p>The phone began to ring, loud +and shrill. That would be from the +General's observation post, where +he, too, must have lost the signal.</p> + +<p>The excitement penetrated the +senator's rosy dream of vast acreages +being sold at a huge profit, +giant walls of factories going up +under his remote-control ownership. +"What's wrong?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Jennings did not answer him. +"What was the altitude?" he asked. +The phone continued to ring, but +he was not yet ready to answer it.</p> + +<p>"Hundred fifty miles, maybe a +little more," Major Eddy answered +in a dull voice. "And then, nothing," +he repeated incredulously. +"Nothing."</p> + +<p>The phone was one long ring +now, taken off of automatic signal +and rung with a hand key pressed +down and held there. In a daze, +Jennings picked up the phone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, General," he answered as +though he were no more than a +robot. He hardly listened to the +general's questions, did not need +the report that every radarscope +throughout the area had lost contact +at the same instant. Somehow +he had known that would be true, +that it wasn't just his own mechanisms +failing. One question did +penetrate his stunned mind.</p> + +<p>"How is the senator taking it?" +the general asked finally.</p> + +<p>"Uncomprehending, as yet," Jennings +answered cryptically. "But +even there it will penetrate sooner +or later. We'll have to face it then."</p> + +<p>"Yes," the general sighed. "What +about safety? What if it fell on a +big city, for example?"</p> + +<p>"It had escape velocity," Jennings +answered. "It would simply +follow its trajectory indefinitely—which +was away from Earth."</p> + +<p>"What's happening now?" the +senator asked arrogantly. He had +been out of the limelight long +enough, longer than was usual or +necessary. He didn't like it when +people went about their business as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +if he were not present.</p> + +<p>"Quiet during the test, Senator," +Jennings took his mouth from the +phone long enough to reprove the +man gently. Apparently he got +away with it, for the senator put +his finger to his lips knowingly and +sat back again.</p> + +<p>"The senator's starting to ask +questions?" the general asked into +the phone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. It won't be long now."</p> + +<p>"I hate to contemplate it, Jim," +the general said in apprehension. +"There's only one way he'll translate +it. Two billion dollars shot up +into the air and lost." Then sharply. +"There must be something you've +done, Colonel. Some mistake you've +made."</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">THE IMPLIED accusation struck +at Jennings' stomach, a heavy +blow.</div> + +<p>"That's the way it's going to be?" +he stated the question, knowing its +answer.</p> + +<p>"For the good of the service," the +general answered with a stock +phrase. "If it is the fault of one +officer and his men, we may be +given another chance. If it is the +failure of science itself, we won't."</p> + +<p>"I see," the colonel answered.</p> + +<p>"You won't be the first soldier, +Colonel, to be unjustly punished to +maintain public faith in the service."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Jennings answered as +formally as if he were already facing +court martial.</p> + +<p>"It's back!" Major Eddy shouted +in his excitement. "It's back, +Colonel!"</p> + +<p>The pip, truly, showed startlingly +clear and sharp on the radarscope, +the correct signals were coming in +sure and strong. As suddenly as the +ship had cut out, it was back.</p> + +<p>"It's back, General," Colonel +Jennings shouted into the phone, +his eyes fixed upon his own radarscope. +He dropped the phone without +waiting for the general's answer.</p> + +<p>"Good," exclaimed the senator. +"I was getting a little bored with +nothing happening."</p> + +<p>"Have you got control?" Jennings +called to the major.</p> + +<p>"Can't tell yet. It's coming in too +fast. I'm trying to slow it. We'll +know in a minute."</p> + +<p>"You have it now," Professor +Stein spoke up quietly. "It's slowing. +It will be in the atmosphere +soon. Slow it as much as you can."</p> + +<p>As surely as if he were sitting in +its control room, Eddy slowed the +ship, easing it down into the atmosphere. +The instruments recorded +the results of his playing upon the +bank of controls, as sound pouring +from a musical instrument.</p> + +<p>"At the take-off point?" Jennings +asked. "Can you land it +there?"</p> + +<p>"Close to it," Major Eddy answered. +"As close as I can."</p> + +<p>Now the ship was in visual sight +again, and they watched its nose +turn in the air, turn from a bullet +hurtling earthward to a ship settling +to the ground on its belly. +Major Eddy was playing his instrument +bank as if he were the soloist +in a vast orchestra at the height of +a crescendo forte.</p> + +<p>Jennings grabbed up the phone +again.</p> + +<p>"Transportation!" he shouted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Already dispatched, sir," the +operator at the other end responded.</p> + +<p>Through the periscope slit, Jennings +watched the ship settle lightly +downward to the ground, as +though it were a breezeborne +feather instead of its tons of metal. +It seemed to settle itself, still, and +become inanimate again. Major +Eddy dropped his hands away from +his instrument bank, an exhausted +virtuoso.</p> + +<p>"My congratulations!" the senator +included all three men in his +sweeping glance. "It was remarkable +how you all had control at every +instance. My progress report +will certainly bear that notation."</p> + +<p>The three men looked at him, +and realized there was no irony in +his words, no sarcasm, no realization +at all of what had truly happened.</p> + +<p>"I can see a va-a-ast fleet of +no-o-ble ships...." the senator began +to orate.</p> + +<p>But the roar of the arriving jeep +outside took his audience away +from him. They made a dash for +the bunker door, no longer interested +in the senator and his progress +report. It was the progress report +as revealed by the instruments on +the ship which interested them +more.</p> + +<p>The senator was close behind +them as they piled out of the bunker +door, and into the jeep, with +Jennings unceremoniously pulling +the driver from the wheel and taking +his place.</p> + +<p>Over the rough dirt road toward +the launching site where the ship +had come to rest, their minds were +bemused and feverish, as they projected +ahead, trying to read in advance +what the instruments would +reveal of that blank period.</p> + +<p>The senator's mind projected +even farther ahead to the fleet of +space ships he would own and control. +And he had been worried +about some ignorant stupid voters! +Stupid animals! How he despised +them! What would he care about +voters when he could be master of +the spaceways to the stars?</p> + +<p>Jennings swerved the jeep off +the dirt road and took out across +the hummocks of sagebrush to the +ship a few rods away. He hardly +slacked speed, and in a swirl of +dust pulled up to the side of the +ship. Before it had even stopped, +the men were piling out of the jeep, +running toward the side of the ship.</p> + +<p>And stopped short.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="cap">UNABLE TO BELIEVE their +eyes, to absorb the incredible, +they stared at the swinging open +door in the side of the ship. Slowly +they realized the iridescent purple +glow around the doorframe, the +rotted metal, disintegrating and +falling to the dirt below. The implications +of the tampering with +the door held them unmoving. +Only the senator had not caught it +yet. Slower than they, now he was +chugging up to where they had +stopped, an elephantine amble.</div> + +<p>"Well, well, what's holding us +up?" he panted irritably.</p> + +<p>Cautiously then, Jennings moved +toward the open door. And as cautiously, +Major Eddy and Professor +Stein followed him. O'Noonan hung +behind, sensing the caution, but not +knowing the reason behind it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>They entered the ship, wary of +what might be lurking inside, what +had burned open the door out +there in space, what had been able +to capture the ship, cut it off from +its contact with controls, stop it in +its headlong flight out into space, +turn it, return it to their controls at +precisely the same point and altitude. +Wary, but they entered.</p> + +<p>At first glance, nothing seemed +disturbed. The bulkhead leading to +the power plant was still whole. +But farther down the passage, the +door leading to the control room +where the instruments were housed +also swung open. It, too, showed +the iridescent purple disintegration +of its metal frame.</p> + +<p>They hardly recognized the control +room. They had known it intimately, +had helped to build and +fit it. They knew each weld, each +nut and bolt.</p> + +<p>"The instruments are gone," the +professor gasped in awe.</p> + +<p>It was true. As they crowded +there in the doorway, they saw the +gaping holes along the walls where +the instruments had been inserted, +one by one, each to tell its own +story of conditions in space.</p> + +<p>The senator pushed himself into +the room and looked about him. +Even he could tell the room had +been dismantled.</p> + +<p>"What kind of sabotage is this?" +he exclaimed, and turned in anger +toward Jennings. No one answered +him. Jennings did not even bother +to meet the accusing eyes.</p> + +<p>They walked down the narrow +passage between the twisted frames +where the instruments should have +been. They came to the spot where +the master integrator should have +stood, the one which should have +co-ordinated all the results of life-sustenance +measurements, the one +which was to give them their progress +report.</p> + +<p>There, too, was a gaping hole—but +not without its message. Etched +in the metal frame, in the same +iridescent purple glow, were two +words. Two enigmatic words to reverberate +throughout the world, +burned in by some watcher—some +keeper—some warden.</p> + +<p>"<i>Not yet.</i>"</p> + + +<div class="extraspacetop extraspacebot center">THE END</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/end_piece.jpg" width="350" height="496" alt="End piece" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="center extraspacebot"> +<b>Transcriber Notes:</b></div> +<div class="center blockquote">This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction July 1953. Extensive research did not +uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</div> + +<div class="center blockquote extraspacetop"> +Typo was corrected on page 110<br /> +<b>Original text</b>: "Son," he said with a ringing +thrill in his voice. "Mankind <i>much</i> +reach the stars! We must allow ... <br /> +<b>Changed text</b>: "Son," he said with a ringing +thrill in his voice. "Mankind <i>must</i> +reach the stars! We must allow ... +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Progress Report, by +Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROGRESS REPORT *** + +***** This file should be named 36867-h.htm or 36867-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/6/36867/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Progress Report + +Author: Mark Clifton + Alex Apostolides + +Release Date: July 27, 2011 [EBook #36867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROGRESS REPORT *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +_Progress is relative; Senator O'Noonan's idea of it was not +particularly scientific. Which would be too bad, if he had the last +word!_ + + + + + Progress Report + + By Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides + + Illustrated by PAUL ORBAN + + +It seemed to Colonel Jennings that the air conditioning unit merely +washed the hot air around him without lowering the temperature from that +outside. He knew it was partly psychosomatic, compounded of the view of +the silvery spire of the test ship through the heatwaves of the Nevada +landscape and the knowledge that this was the day, the hour, and the +minutes. + +The final test was at hand. The instrument ship was to be sent out into +space, controlled from this sunken concrete bunker, to find out if the +flimsy bodies of men could endure there. + +Jennings visualized other bunkers scattered through the area, +observation posts, and farther away the field headquarters with open +telephone lines to the Pentagon, and beyond that a world waiting for +news of the test--and not everyone wishing it well. + +The monotonous buzz of the field phone pulled him away from his +fascinated gaze at the periscope slit. He glanced at his two assistants, +Professor Stein and Major Eddy. They were seated in front of their +control boards, staring at the blank eyes of their radar screens, +patiently enduring the beads of sweat on their faces and necks and +hands, the odor of it arising from their bodies. They too were feeling +the moment. He picked up the phone. + +"Jennings," he said crisply. + +"Zero minus one half hour, Colonel. We start alert count in fifteen +minutes." + +"Right," Colonel Jennings spoke softly, showing none of the excitement +he felt. He replaced the field phone on its hook and spoke to the two +men in front of him. + +"This is it. Apparently this time we'll go through with it." + +Major Eddy's shoulders hunched a trifle, as if he were getting set to +have a load placed upon them. + +[Illustration] + +Professor Stein gave no indication that he had heard. His thin body was +stooped over his instrument bank, intense, alert, as if he were a runner +crouched at the starting mark, as if he were young again. + +Colonel Jennings walked over to the periscope slit again and peered +through the shimmer of heat to where the silvery ship lay arrowed in her +cradle. The last few moments of waiting, with a brassy taste in his +mouth, with the vision of the test ship before him; these were the +worst. + +Everything had been done, checked and rechecked hours and days ago. He +found himself wishing there were some little thing, some desperate +little error which must be corrected hurriedly, just something to break +the tension of waiting. + +"You're all right, Sam, Prof?" he asked the major and professor +unnecessarily. + +"A little nervous," Major Eddy answered without moving. + +"Of course," Professor Stein said. There was a too heavy stress on the +sibilant sound, as if the last traces of accent had not yet been +removed. + +"I expect everyone is nervous, not just the hundreds involved in this, +but everywhere," Jennings commented. And then ruefully, "Except +Professor Stein there. I thought surely I'd see some nerves at this +point, Prof." He was attempting to make light conversation, something to +break the strain of mounting buck fever. + +"If I let even one nerve tendril slack, Colonel, I would go to pieces +entirely," Stein said precisely, in the way a man speaks who has learned +the language from text books. "So I do not think of our ship at all. I +think of mankind. I wonder if mankind is as ready as our ship. I wonder +if man will do any better on the planets than he has done here." + +"Well, of course," Colonel Jennings answered with sympathy in his voice, +"under Hitler and all the things you went through, I don't blame you for +being a little bitter. But not all mankind is like that, you know. As +long as you've been in our country, Professor, you've never looked +around you. You've been working on this, never lifting your head...." + + * * * * * + +He jerked in annoyance as a red light blinked over the emergency +circuit, and a buzzing, sharp and repeated, broke into this moment when +he felt he was actually reaching, touching Stein, as no one had before. + +He dragged the phone toward him and began speaking angrily into its +mouthpiece before he had brought it to his lips. + +"What the hell's the matter now? They're not going to call it off again! +Three times now, and...." + +He broke off and frowned as the crackling voice came through the +receiver, the vein on his temple pulsing in his stress. + +"I beg your pardon, General," he said, much more quietly. + +The two men turned from their radar scopes and watched him +questioningly. He shrugged his shoulders, an indication to them of his +helplessness. + +"You're not going to like this, Jim," the general was saying. "But it's +orders from Pentagon. Are you familiar with Senator O'Noonan?" + +"Vaguely," Jennings answered. + +"You'll be more familiar with him, Jim. He's been newly appointed +chairman of the appropriations committee covering our work. And he's +fought it bitterly from the beginning. He's tried every way he could to +scrap the entire project. When we've finished this test, Jim, we'll have +used up our appropriations to date. Whether we get any more depends on +him." + +"Yes, sir?" Jennings spoke questioningly. Political maneuvering was not +his problem, that was between Pentagon and Congress. + +"We must have his support, Jim," the general explained. "Pentagon hasn't +been able to win him over. He's stubborn and violent in his reactions. +The fact it keeps him in the headlines--well, of course that wouldn't +have any bearing. So Pentagon invited him to come to the field here to +watch the test, hoping that would win him over." The general hesitated, +then continued. + +"I've gone a step farther. I felt if he was actually at the center of +control, your operation, he might be won over. If he could actually +participate, press the activating key or something, if the headlines +could show he was working with us, actually sent the test ship on its +flight...." + +"General, you can't," Jennings moaned. He forgot rank, everything. + +"I've already done it, Jim," the general chose to ignore the outburst. +"He's due there now. I'll look to you to handle it. He's got to be won +over, Colonel. It's your project." Considering the years that he and the +general had worked together, the warm accord and informality between +them, the use of Jennings' title made it an order. + +"Yes, sir," he said. + +"Over," said the general formally. + +"Out," whispered Jennings. + +The two men looked at him questioningly. + +"It seems," he answered their look, "we are to have an observer. Senator +O'Noonan." + +"Even in Germany," Professor Stein said quietly, "they knew enough to +leave us alone at a critical moment." + +"He can't do it, Jim," Major Eddy looked at Jennings with pleading eyes. + +"Oh, but he can," Jennings answered bitterly. "Orders. And you know what +orders are, don't you, Major?" + +"Yes, sir," Major Eddy said stiffly. + +Professor Stein smiled ruefully. + +Both of them turned back to their instrument boards, their radar +screens, to the protective obscurity of subordinates carrying out an +assignment. They were no longer three men coming close together, almost +understanding one another in this moment of waiting, when the world and +all in it had been shut away, and nothing real existed except the +silvery spire out there on the desert and the life of it in the controls +at their fingertips. + +"Beep, minus fifteen minutes!" the first time signal sounded. + + * * * * * + +"Colonel Jennings, sir!" + +The senator appeared in the low doorway and extended a fleshy hand. His +voice was hearty, but there was no warmth behind his tones. He paused on +the threshold, bulky, impressive, as if he were about to deliver an +address. But Jennings, while shaking hands, drew him into the bunker, +pointedly, causing the senator to raise bushy eyebrows and stare at him +speculatively. + +"At this point everything runs on a split second basis, Senator," he +said crisply. "Ceremony comes after the test." His implication was that +when the work was done, the senator could have his turn in the +limelight, take all the credit, turn it into political fodder to be +thrown to the people. But because the man was chairman of the +appropriations committee, he softened his abruptness. "If the timing is +off even a small fraction, Senator, we would have to scrap the flight +and start all over." + +"At additional expense, no doubt." The senator could also be crisp. +"Surprises me that the military should think of that, however." + +The closing of the heavy doors behind him punctuated his remark and +caused him to step to the center of the bunker. Where there had seemed +adequate room before, now the feeling was one of oppressive +overcrowding. + +Unconsciously, Major Eddy squared his elbows as if to clear the space +around him for the manipulation of his controls. Professor Stein sat at +his radar screen, quiet, immobile, a part of the mechanisms. He was +accustomed to overbearing authority whatever political tag it might wear +at the moment. + +"Beep. Eleven minutes," the signal sounded. + +"Perhaps you'll be good enough to brief me on just what you're doing +here?" the senator asked, and implied by the tone of his voice that it +couldn't be very much. "In layman's language, Colonel. Don't try to make +it impressive with technical obscurities. I want my progress report on +this project to be understandable to everyone." + +Jennings looked at him in dismay. Was the man kidding him? Explain the +zenith of science, the culmination of the dreams of man in twenty simple +words or less! And about ten minutes to win over a man which the +Pentagon had failed to win. + +"Perhaps you'd like to sit here, Senator," he said courteously. "When we +learned you were coming, we felt yours should be the honor. At zero +time, you press this key--here. It will be your hand which sends the +test ship out into space." + +Apparently they were safe. The senator knew so little, he did not +realize the automatic switch would close with the zero time signal, that +no hand could be trusted to press the key at precisely the right time, +that the senator's key was a dummy. + +"Beep, ten," the signal came through. + +Jennings went back over to the periscope and peered through the slit. He +felt strangely surprised to see the silver column of the ship still +there. The calm, the scientific detachment, the warm thrill of +co-ordinated effort, all were gone. He felt as if the test flight +itself was secondary to what the senator thought about it, what he would +say in his progress report. + +He wondered if the senator's progress report would compare in any +particular with the one on the ship. That was a chart, representing as +far as they could tell, the minimum and maximum tolerances of human +life. If the multiple needles, tracing their continuous lines, went over +the black boundaries of tolerances, human beings would die at that +point. Such a progress report, showing the life-sustaining conditions at +each point throughout the ship's flight, would have some meaning. He +wondered what meaning the senator's progress report would have. + +He felt himself being pushed aside from the periscope. There was no +ungentleness in the push, simply the determined pressure of an arrogant +man who was accustomed to being in the center of things, and thinking +nothing of shoving to get there. The senator gave him the briefest of +explanatory looks, and placed his own eye at the periscope slit. + +"Beep, nine," the signal sounded. + +"So that's what represents two billion dollars," the senator said +contemptuously. "That little sliver of metal." + +"The two billion dollar atomic bomb was even smaller," Jennings said +quietly. + + * * * * * + +The senator took his eye away from the periscope briefly and looked at +Jennings speculatively. + +"The story of where all that money went still hasn't been told," he said +pointedly. "But the story of who got away with this two billion will be +different." + +Colonel Jennings said nothing. The white hot rage mounting within him +made it impossible for him to speak. + +The senator straightened up and walked back over to his chair. He waved +a hand in the direction of Major Eddy. + +"What does that man do?" he asked, as if the major were not present, or +was unable to comprehend. + +"Major Eddy," Jennings found control of his voice, "operates remote +control." He was trying to reduce the vast complexity of the operation +to the simplest possible language. + +"Beep, eight," the signal interrupted him. + +"He will guide the ship throughout its entire flight, just as if he were +sitting in it." + +"Why isn't he sitting in it?" the senator asked. + +"That's what the test is for, Senator." Jennings felt his voice becoming +icy. "We don't know if space will permit human life. We don't know +what's out there." + +"Best way to find out is for a man to go out there and see," the senator +commented shortly. "I want to find out something, I go look at it +myself. I don't depend on charts and graphs, and folderol." + +The major did not even hunch his broad shoulders, a characteristic +gesture, to show that he had heard, to show that he wished the senator +was out there in untested space. + +"What about him? He's not even in uniform!" + +"Professor Stein maintains sight contact on the scope and transmits the +IFF pulse." + +The senator's eyes flashed again beneath heavy brows. His lips indicated +what he thought of professors and projects who used them. + +"What's IFF?" he asked. + +The colonel looked at him incredulously. It was on the tip of his tongue +to ask where the man had been during the war. He decided he'd better not +ask it. He might learn. + +"It stands for Identification--Friend or Foe, Senator. It's army +jargon." + +"Beep, seven." + +_Seven minutes_, Jennings thought, _and here I am trying to explain the +culmination of the entire science of all mankind to a lardbrain in +simple kindergarten words_. Well, he'd wished there was something to +break the tension of the last half hour, keep him occupied. He had it. + +"You mean the army wouldn't know, after the ship got up, whether it was +ours or the enemy's?" the senator asked incredulously. + +"There are meteors in space, Senator," Jennings said carefully. "Radar +contact is all we'll have out there. The IFF mechanism reconverts our +beam to a predetermined pulse, and it bounces back to us in a different +pattern. That's the only way we'd know if we were still on the ship, or +have by chance fastened on to a meteor." + +"What has that got to do with the enemy?" O'Noonan asked +uncomprehendingly. + +Jennings sighed, almost audibly. + +"The mechanism was developed during the war, when we didn't know which +planes were ours and which the enemy's. We've simply adapted it to this +use--to save money, Senator." + +"Humph!" the senator expressed his disbelief. "Too complicated. The +world has grown too complicated." + +"Beep, six." + +The senator glanced irritably at the time speaker. It had interrupted +his speech. But he chose to ignore the interruption, that was the way to +handle heckling. + +"I am a simple man. I come from simple parentage. I represent the simple +people, the common people, the people with their feet on the ground. And +the whole world needs to get back to the simple truths and +honesties...." + +Jennings headed off the campaign speech which might appeal to the +mountaineers of the senator's home state, where a man's accomplishments +were judged by how far he could spit tobacco juice; it had little +application in this bunker where the final test before the flight of man +to the stars was being tried. + +"To us, Senator," he said gently, "this ship represents simple truths +and honesties. We are, at this moment, testing the truths of all that +mankind has ever thought of, theorized about, believed of the space +which surrounds the Earth. A farmer may hear about new methods of +growing crops, but the only way he knows whether they're practical or +not is to try them on his own land." + +The senator looked at him impassively. Jennings didn't know whether he +was going over or not. But he was trying. + +"All that ship, and all the instruments it contains; those represent the +utmost honesties of the men who worked on them. Nobody tried to bluff, +to get by with shoddy workmanship, cover up ignorance. A farmer does not +try to bluff his land, for the crops he gets tells the final story. +Scientists, too, have simple honesty. They have to have, Senator, for +the results will show them up if they don't." + + * * * * * + +The senator looked at him speculatively, and with a growing respect. Not +a bad speech, that. Not a bad speech at all. If this tomfoolery actually +worked, and it might, that could be the approach in selling it to his +constituents. By implication, he could take full credit, put over the +impression that it was he who had stood over the scientists making sure +they were as honest and simple as the mountain farmers. Many a man has +gone into the White House with less. + +"Beep, five." + +Five more minutes. The sudden thought occurred to O'Noonan: what if he +refused to press the dummy key? Refused to take part in this project he +called tomfoolery? Perhaps they thought they were being clever in having +him take part in the ship's launching, and were by that act committing +him to something.... + +"This is the final test, Senator. After this one, if it is right, man +leaps to the stars!" It was Jennings' plea, his final attempt to catch +the senator up in the fire and the dream. + +"And then more yapping colonists wanting statehood," the senator said +dryly. "Upsetting the balance of power. Changing things." + +Jennings was silent. + +"Beep, four." + +"More imports trying to get into our country duty-free," O'Noonan went +on. "Upsetting our economy." + +His vision was of lobbyists threatening to cut off contributions if +their own industries were not kept in a favorable position. Of +grim-jawed industrialists who could easily put a more tractable +candidate up in his place to be elected by the free and thinking people +of his state. All the best catch phrases, the semantically-loaded +promises, the advertising appropriations being used by his opponent. + +It was a dilemma. Should he jump on the bandwagon of advancement to the +stars, hoping to catch the imagination of the voters by it? Were the +voters really in favor of progress? What could this space flight put in +the dinner pails of the Smiths, the Browns, the Johnsons? It was all +very well to talk about the progress of mankind, but that was the only +measure to be considered. Any politician knew that. And apparently no +scientist knew it. Man advances only when he sees how it will help him +stuff his gut. + +"Beep, three." For a full minute, the senator had sat lost in +speculation. + +And what could he personally gain? A plan, full-formed, sprang into his +mind. This whole deal could be taken out of the hands of the military +on charges of waste and corruption. It could be brought back into the +control of private industry, where it belonged. He thought of vast +tracts of land in his own state, tracts he could buy cheap, through +dummy companies, places which could be made very suitable for the giant +factories necessary to manufacture spaceships. + +As chairman of the appropriations committee, it wouldn't be difficult to +sway the choice of site. And all that extra employment for the people of +his own state. The voters couldn't forget plain, simple, honest O'Noonan +after that! + +"Beep, two." + + * * * * * + +Jennings felt the sweat beads increase on his forehead. His collar was +already soaking wet. He had been watching the senator through two long +minutes, terrible eon-consuming minutes, the impassive face showing only +what the senator wanted it to show. He saw the face now soften into +something approaching benignity, nobility. The head came up, the silvery +hair tossed back. + +"Son," he said with a ringing thrill in his voice. "Mankind must reach +the stars! We must allow nothing to stop that! No personal +consideration, no personal belief, nothing must stand in the way of +mankind's greatest dream!" + +His eyes were shrewdly watching the effect upon Jennings' face, +measuring through him the effect such a speech would have upon the +voters. He saw the relief spread over Jennings' face, the glow. Yes, it +might work. + +"Now, son," he said with kindly tolerance, "tell me what you want me to +do about pressing this key when the time comes." + +"Beep, one." + +And then the continuous drone while the seconds were being counted off +aloud. + +"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven--" + +The droning went on while Jennings showed the senator just how to press +the dummy key down, explaining it in careful detail, and just when. + +"Thirty-seven, thirty-six, thirty-five--" + +"Major!" Jennings called questioningly. + +"Ready, sir." + +"Professor!" + +"Ready, sir." + +"Three, two, one, ZERO!" + +"Press it, Senator!" Jennings called frantically. + +Already the automatic firing stud had taken over. The bellowing, roaring +flames reached down with giant strength, nudging the ship upward, +seeming to hang suspended, waiting. + +"_Press it!_" + +The senator's hand pressed the dummy key. He was committed. + +As if the ship had really been waiting, it lifted, faster and faster. + +"Major?" + +"I have it, sir." The major's hands were flying over his bank of +controls, correcting the slight unbalance of thrusts, holding the ship +as steady as if he were in it. + +Already the ship was beyond visual sight, picking up speed. But the pip +on the radar screens was strong and clear. The drone of the IFF +returning signal was equally strong. + +The senator sat and waited. He had done his job. He felt it perhaps +would have been better to have had the photographers on the spot, but +realized the carefully directed and rehearsed pictures to be taken later +would make better vote fodder. + +"It's already out in space now, Senator," Jennings found a second of +time to call it to the senator. + +The pips and the signals were bright and clear, coming through the +ionosphere, the Heaviside layer as they had been designed to do. +Jennings wondered if the senator could ever be made to understand the +simple honesty of scientists who had worked that out so well and true. +Bright and strong and clear. + +And then there was nothing! The screens were blank. The sounds were +gone. + + * * * * * + +Jennings stood in stupefied silence. + +"It shut! It shut off!" Major Eddy's voice was shrill in amazement. + +"It cut right out, Colonel. No fade, no dying signal, just out!" It was +the first time Jennings had ever heard a note of excitement in Professor +Stein's voice. + +The phone began to ring, loud and shrill. That would be from the +General's observation post, where he, too, must have lost the signal. + +The excitement penetrated the senator's rosy dream of vast acreages +being sold at a huge profit, giant walls of factories going up under his +remote-control ownership. "What's wrong?" he asked. + +Jennings did not answer him. "What was the altitude?" he asked. The +phone continued to ring, but he was not yet ready to answer it. + +"Hundred fifty miles, maybe a little more," Major Eddy answered in a +dull voice. "And then, nothing," he repeated incredulously. "Nothing." + +The phone was one long ring now, taken off of automatic signal and rung +with a hand key pressed down and held there. In a daze, Jennings picked +up the phone. + +"Yes, General," he answered as though he were no more than a robot. He +hardly listened to the general's questions, did not need the report that +every radarscope throughout the area had lost contact at the same +instant. Somehow he had known that would be true, that it wasn't just +his own mechanisms failing. One question did penetrate his stunned mind. + +"How is the senator taking it?" the general asked finally. + +"Uncomprehending, as yet," Jennings answered cryptically. "But even +there it will penetrate sooner or later. We'll have to face it then." + +"Yes," the general sighed. "What about safety? What if it fell on a big +city, for example?" + +"It had escape velocity," Jennings answered. "It would simply follow its +trajectory indefinitely--which was away from Earth." + +"What's happening now?" the senator asked arrogantly. He had been out of +the limelight long enough, longer than was usual or necessary. He didn't +like it when people went about their business as if he were not +present. + +"Quiet during the test, Senator," Jennings took his mouth from the phone +long enough to reprove the man gently. Apparently he got away with it, +for the senator put his finger to his lips knowingly and sat back again. + +"The senator's starting to ask questions?" the general asked into the +phone. + +"Yes, sir. It won't be long now." + +"I hate to contemplate it, Jim," the general said in apprehension. +"There's only one way he'll translate it. Two billion dollars shot up +into the air and lost." Then sharply. "There must be something you've +done, Colonel. Some mistake you've made." + + * * * * * + +The implied accusation struck at Jennings' stomach, a heavy blow. + +"That's the way it's going to be?" he stated the question, knowing its +answer. + +"For the good of the service," the general answered with a stock phrase. +"If it is the fault of one officer and his men, we may be given another +chance. If it is the failure of science itself, we won't." + +"I see," the colonel answered. + +"You won't be the first soldier, Colonel, to be unjustly punished to +maintain public faith in the service." + +"Yes, sir," Jennings answered as formally as if he were already facing +court martial. + +"It's back!" Major Eddy shouted in his excitement. "It's back, Colonel!" + +The pip, truly, showed startlingly clear and sharp on the radarscope, +the correct signals were coming in sure and strong. As suddenly as the +ship had cut out, it was back. + +"It's back, General," Colonel Jennings shouted into the phone, his eyes +fixed upon his own radarscope. He dropped the phone without waiting for +the general's answer. + +"Good," exclaimed the senator. "I was getting a little bored with +nothing happening." + +"Have you got control?" Jennings called to the major. + +"Can't tell yet. It's coming in too fast. I'm trying to slow it. We'll +know in a minute." + +"You have it now," Professor Stein spoke up quietly. "It's slowing. It +will be in the atmosphere soon. Slow it as much as you can." + +As surely as if he were sitting in its control room, Eddy slowed the +ship, easing it down into the atmosphere. The instruments recorded the +results of his playing upon the bank of controls, as sound pouring from +a musical instrument. + +"At the take-off point?" Jennings asked. "Can you land it there?" + +"Close to it," Major Eddy answered. "As close as I can." + +Now the ship was in visual sight again, and they watched its nose turn +in the air, turn from a bullet hurtling earthward to a ship settling to +the ground on its belly. Major Eddy was playing his instrument bank as +if he were the soloist in a vast orchestra at the height of a crescendo +forte. + +Jennings grabbed up the phone again. + +"Transportation!" he shouted. + +"Already dispatched, sir," the operator at the other end responded. + +Through the periscope slit, Jennings watched the ship settle lightly +downward to the ground, as though it were a breezeborne feather instead +of its tons of metal. It seemed to settle itself, still, and become +inanimate again. Major Eddy dropped his hands away from his instrument +bank, an exhausted virtuoso. + +"My congratulations!" the senator included all three men in his sweeping +glance. "It was remarkable how you all had control at every instance. My +progress report will certainly bear that notation." + +The three men looked at him, and realized there was no irony in his +words, no sarcasm, no realization at all of what had truly happened. + +"I can see a va-a-ast fleet of no-o-ble ships...." the senator began to +orate. + +But the roar of the arriving jeep outside took his audience away from +him. They made a dash for the bunker door, no longer interested in the +senator and his progress report. It was the progress report as revealed +by the instruments on the ship which interested them more. + +The senator was close behind them as they piled out of the bunker door, +and into the jeep, with Jennings unceremoniously pulling the driver from +the wheel and taking his place. + +Over the rough dirt road toward the launching site where the ship had +come to rest, their minds were bemused and feverish, as they projected +ahead, trying to read in advance what the instruments would reveal of +that blank period. + +The senator's mind projected even farther ahead to the fleet of space +ships he would own and control. And he had been worried about some +ignorant stupid voters! Stupid animals! How he despised them! What would +he care about voters when he could be master of the spaceways to the +stars? + +Jennings swerved the jeep off the dirt road and took out across the +hummocks of sagebrush to the ship a few rods away. He hardly slacked +speed, and in a swirl of dust pulled up to the side of the ship. Before +it had even stopped, the men were piling out of the jeep, running toward +the side of the ship. + +And stopped short. + + * * * * * + +Unable to believe their eyes, to absorb the incredible, they stared at +the swinging open door in the side of the ship. Slowly they realized the +iridescent purple glow around the doorframe, the rotted metal, +disintegrating and falling to the dirt below. The implications of the +tampering with the door held them unmoving. Only the senator had not +caught it yet. Slower than they, now he was chugging up to where they +had stopped, an elephantine amble. + +"Well, well, what's holding us up?" he panted irritably. + +Cautiously then, Jennings moved toward the open door. And as cautiously, +Major Eddy and Professor Stein followed him. O'Noonan hung behind, +sensing the caution, but not knowing the reason behind it. + +They entered the ship, wary of what might be lurking inside, what had +burned open the door out there in space, what had been able to capture +the ship, cut it off from its contact with controls, stop it in its +headlong flight out into space, turn it, return it to their controls at +precisely the same point and altitude. Wary, but they entered. + +At first glance, nothing seemed disturbed. The bulkhead leading to the +power plant was still whole. But farther down the passage, the door +leading to the control room where the instruments were housed also swung +open. It, too, showed the iridescent purple disintegration of its metal +frame. + +They hardly recognized the control room. They had known it intimately, +had helped to build and fit it. They knew each weld, each nut and bolt. + +"The instruments are gone," the professor gasped in awe. + +It was true. As they crowded there in the doorway, they saw the gaping +holes along the walls where the instruments had been inserted, one by +one, each to tell its own story of conditions in space. + +The senator pushed himself into the room and looked about him. Even he +could tell the room had been dismantled. + +"What kind of sabotage is this?" he exclaimed, and turned in anger +toward Jennings. No one answered him. Jennings did not even bother to +meet the accusing eyes. + +They walked down the narrow passage between the twisted frames where the +instruments should have been. They came to the spot where the master +integrator should have stood, the one which should have co-ordinated all +the results of life-sustenance measurements, the one which was to give +them their progress report. + +There, too, was a gaping hole--but not without its message. Etched in +the metal frame, in the same iridescent purple glow, were two words. Two +enigmatic words to reverberate throughout the world, burned in by some +watcher--some keeper--some warden. + +"_Not yet._" + + +THE END + + + * * * * * + + + Transcriber Notes + + This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction July 1953. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright + on this publication was renewed. + + Typo was corrected on page 110: + + Original text: "Son," he said with a ringing thrill in his voice. + "Mankind much reach the stars! We must allow ... + + Changed text: "Son," he said with a ringing thrill in his voice. + "Mankind must reach the stars! We must allow ... + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Progress Report, by +Mark Clifton and Alex Apostolides + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROGRESS REPORT *** + +***** This file should be named 36867.txt or 36867.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/6/36867/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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