The Secretary looked at Wade. His face was tight and drawn. "What do you think, Wade. Are we getting through?" "It's hard to say. He's moving pretty fast. He could outrun the signal. We've never had a practical voice test."
Lowe's face had a worried expression covering it. "Didn't you have communications with the test rocket?"
"That was unmanned ... remember?"
"This silence doesn't worry you?" the Secretary asked with amazement.
"Ackerson was trained for this. He knows there is nothing we can do for him. He's on his own. Communications would be to our advantage, to be sure. But Ackerson knows that ship like you know the back of your hand. Besides ... perhaps he is too busy to answer right now. He has to be sure there is no wobble."
"Wobble!"
"Sure. The ship could begin to oscillate. If it does that he is done. He has to keep his eye on the gyro."
The Secretary's eyes penetrated. "I can't help but feel that you would be more concerned if Tomer were in the Starfrost instead of Ackerson. Wade ... don't let the fact that you hate Ackerson cloud the issue. He is doing us a great service."
"Stop it, Harry!"
"After all. The first man to circle the Moon is entitled to a place in the history books. I can share his feelings, in a way. It's a great thing he's doing."
"Others have done more," Wade said sharply.
"Of course they have. But remember one thing. If Ackerson succeeds we will get the appropriations we need to build up there on that cold chunk of rock. We need that ... need it badly."
"I tell you we have nothing to worry about yet," Wade said quickly.
"Have it your way, Wade. But remember, we can't land on the Moon until we have appropriations for installations. It all takes money; landing sites, protection against the elements, and most important, take-off facilities. It's a big order. Ackerson can give us all of that if he is successful. The public will back us to the limit if we prove we have mastered space travel." The Secretary watched Wade carefully. "Ackerson is important!"
"I never said he wasn't."
"I know, Wade." The Secretary toyed with his tie. "But did you let your feelings toward Tomer interfere with your attitude toward Ackerson? He came to me you know, about halfway through the course. He said you were babying Tomer to the point where it was interfering with his instruction."
"He lied," Wade cut in. He threw down the cigarette he was holding and ground his heel into it. "You know me better than that!"
"Of course. But perhaps Ackerson did have something. Perhaps you spent more time with Tomer than you intended. Unconsciously you may have favored him to the point where Ackerson did suffer."
Wade let his eyes wander over to the small television screen. It was still operating. Flat, empty sand and a burned out area was all that remained of the Starfrost. He wondered: Did I do that? Did I forget to teach Ackerson something while I was working with Tomer?
The loud-speaker crackled.
"Mother. This is Starfrost. Over."
The operations room came alive. Wade and Lowe hurried over to stand beneath the speaker, as if that would put them closer to the Starfrost.
"Go ahead, Starfrost. This is Mother." The communications man held the mike in a hand that wasn't quite as steady as it should be.
"This is Starfrost. Everything in the green. Repeat, everything in the green. Over."
Wade took the mike. "How is the gyro, Starfrost!"
The loud-speaker laughed. "Tsk, tsk, Colonel. Where is your radio procedure? You forgot to say over." There was a pause and Boeman knew why. "Don't tell me you're worrying about ole Ack. I've got this thing sewed up. Why don't you take a walk around the park and see if you can find that little guy? What was his name? You know the one I mean. The one who got cold feet and dropped out before you finished feeding him. Over."
Wade handed the mike back to the commo man without a word. He looked at the Secretary. Lowe's eyes cautioned............