Transcriber's note:
This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction April 1956.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyrighton this publication was renewed.
ATOM DRIVE
BY CHARLES FONTENAY
It was a race between the tortoise and the hare. But this hare wasusing some dirty tricks to make sure the ending would bedifferent....
Illustrated by Ed EmshThe two spaceship crews were friendly enemies, sitting across the tablefrom each other for their last meal before blastoff. Outside the ports,the sky was nothing but light-streaked blackness, punctured periodicallyby Earth glare, for Space Station 2 whirled swiftly on its axis,creating an artificial gravity.
"Jonner, I figured you the last man ever to desert the rockets for ahot-rod tow-job," chided Russo Baat, captain of the Mars Corporation'sgleaming new freighter, Marsward XVIII. Baat was fat and red-faced,and one of the shrewdest space captains in the business.
Jonner Jons, at the other end of the table, inclined his grizzled headand smiled.
"Times change, Russo," he answered quietly. "Even the Mars Corporationcan't stop that."
"Is it true that you're pulling five thousand tons of cargo, Captain?"asked one of the crewmen of the Marsward XVIII.
"Something like that," agreed Jonner, and his smile broadened. "And Ihave only about twice the fuel supply you carry for a 100-ton payload."[Pg 58]
The communicator above them squawked and blared:
"Captain Jons and Captain Baat of Martian competition run, please reportto control for final briefing."
"I knew it!" grumbled Baat, getting heavily and reluctantly to his feet."I haven't gotten to finish a meal on this blasted merry-go-round yet."
In the space station's control section, Commander Ortega of the SpaceControl Commission, an ascetic officer in plain blues, looked them upand down severely.
"As you know, gentlemen," he said, "blastoff time is 0600. Tonnage ofcargo, fuel and empty vessels cannot be a factor, under the law. TheMars Corporation will retain its exclusive franchise to the Earth-Marsrun, unless the ship sponsored by the Atom-Star Company returns to Earthwith full cargo at least twenty hours ahead of the ship sponsored by theMars Corporation. Cargo must be unloaded at Mars and new cargo taken on.I do not consider the twenty-hour bias in favor of the Mars Corporationa fair one," said Ortega severely, turning his gaze to Baat, "but theSpace Control Commission does not make the laws. It enforces them.Docking and loading facilities will be available to both of you on anequal basis at Phobos and Marsport. Good luck."
He shook hands with both of them.
"Saturn, I'm glad to get out of there!" exclaimed Baat, mopping his browas they left the control section. "Every time I take a step, I feel likeI