Lester del Rey: Marooned on Mars

“Where are you staying. Lew?” Chuck asked finally.

Lew shrugged, “I don’t know—I suppose they’ve assigned me rooms, but I came here first, as soon as I’d registered. Why?”

“That means you’ll be quartered with one of the crew. Why not stay here, instead? After supper, I can heat up the rig and we’ll try a few calls to Earth. Hey, Mom!”

Mrs. Svensen agreed readily enough, as Chuck had known she would. If she was surprised, she didn’t show it. That night Chuck slept in the same room with the man he’d been almost hating the night before. He lay awake for some time, thinking about it. It would have been so simple, if Lew had proved to be unlikable; now he couldn’t even hope for the Council to decide in his favor without worrying about the blow it would be to the other.

Yet, strangely, he felt better in a way. Having someone almost his own age to talk to had taken some of the pressure off him. He began planning the next day, until sleep finally clouded his mind.

As it turned out, though, they didn’t get to the ship. The next day the decision came from the Council.

Living on the Moon, Chuck had forgotten other things. Hehad learned to accept all men and all nationalities as equal, but there were still traces of racial jealousy on the mother planet. Seven nations had joined with the United States and Governor Braithwaite in asking for Chuck’s exemption from the charter rule, but China remained adamant.

The delegate from the Chinese Republic was honest about it Chuck, he admitted, was better fitted in some ways, and it was a very nice idea to have someone from the Moon on the ship. But other promising candidates had been turned down because of their age—some only a few days from that required. One of them had been of Chinese stock, though a citizen of the United States, like Lewis Wong.

Caucasians had reached the Moon first. Now it was only fair that a descendant of China be among the first to reach another planet. The delegate regretted the hardship to Chuck, of course. But he could only refuse, both in justice and in loyalty to those of his race, to have anything to do with changing the rules.

China cast her vote, and under the rules only a unanimous decision could change the charter. Chuck Svensen would not be allowed to make the trip to Mars.

“Jingoism,” Lew Wong said hotly. “I’m no more Chinese than Dick Steele is African. I’m just plain American, Chuck, like you. When the United States voted against me, why couldn’t they let it stand?”

Chuck’s father shook his head slowly. “No, Lew. No more jingoism than the idea the Moon should be represented. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your race—and that’s all the Chinese delegate was doing. You can’t blame him. If Chuck can’t go, then he can’t—and I’m glad you’re the one to take his place.”

Chuck was glad his father had said it. The shock of hearing the verdict had left him speechless for a moment, even though he had been fairly sure of what it would be.

He grabbed Lew’s hand and shook it, without knowing quite what he was saying. He didn’t even hear his new friend’s lame excuse for leaving, and was only half-aware when Lew left. .

William Svensen stood up slowly, tamping out the ashes from his pipe. It had been almost as much of a blow to him as to Chuck.

But his voice was calm enough as he began putting new tobacco into the pipe. “Tough luck, kid. By the way, Vance and Rothman are testing the Eros tomorrow. Vance told me today he was going to see you get the first chance at her, no matter what happened. So you’d better get to bed. You’ll need a clear head for the test.”

“Lew should make it,” Chuck protested weakly. “He’ll need the experience. I guess—”

The phone cut him off, and his father picked it up. “Sure, Doc… What?… Look, he was feeling fine a few minutes ago…. Oh… we’ll be there!”

He swung around to Chuck quickly. “Lew just reported in to Medical. Doc Barnes says it looks like appendicitis. Says the boy claims he’s been bothered ever since he got up here.”

“It’s a fake. Dad.”

“Of course it is. Fool kid. Come on!”

Doctor Barnes met them inside the infirmary and led them into his office. There was a little smile on his sharp-featured face. “Looks like you’ll have to go. Chuck,” he began.

Svensen cut him short. “Doc, you know Lew Wong has no more appendicitis than I have. If you’re just playing along with it so my boy can go in his place, you’re making a mistake. I’m not going to permit it! Chuck won’t go; the Council says he can’t, and that settles it. They’d only send someone else, anyhow.”

“But—” The doctor’s face purpled for a second. Finally, he nodded. “I. guess you’re right, Will. It seemed like a good idea, but it wouldn’t work. Um-m-m. Still, Wong just might have a touch of chronic appendicitis that shows up under a gravity change; in that case, I’d be risking his life if I didn’t forbid his going without a full examination and consultation. If he insists he feels sick, my hands are tied.”

“How about symptoms?”

“He’s either read up on it—any good encyclopedia would do—or he has something. There’s no fever, though, and his pulse is normal.”

Svensen lifted an inquiring eyebrow toward Chuck, then nodded. “Okay, son, get in there and change his mind. And if you can’t, I’ll do it with a hairbrush!”

Lew was sitting on the cot in the little receiving room, smiling faintly. As Chuck came in, he dropped back and began groaning.

Chuck stared at him. “I’m not going. Lew. Even if I wanted to replace you, Dad wouldn’t let me. If you want to hold up the ship while they find someone else, you can…But you can count me out. I’m not even going on the test flight. That’s your job. Thanks for the try, but it’s no dice!”

He swung about sharply and went out, closing the door

before Lew could argue with him. It was only a minute later that Lew followed him, looking sheepish.

“I guess you think I’m a complete fool,” he admitted. “Okay, it was just an idea that didn’t work. But you’re going on the test flight. Chuck.”

The doctor reached for the admittance card and began tearing it up. The other three started back toward the Svensen home, with Lew still trying to convince Chuck that he should make the test hop.

But Chuck had decided. He’d had enough of half-hopes and plans that didn’t amount to anything. There was nosense in teasing himself with something that could only make him envy Lew the more.

“I’ll be watching you,” he finished. “From the surface here. But if I can’t go to Mars, I’m too old to play games. It’s your job. Lew. And that’s that.”

“And what about you?”

Svensen dropped his arms over the shoulders of the two-boys. “Chuck will want to learn piloting under Jeff Foldingchair—Jeff asked about it when I talked to him last night. Eighteen’s the right age for that too. And when the next rocket goes to Mars—well, I’m betting the other pilots won’t have a chance against a Moon boy who can pilot and run a radar set to boot. Right, son?”

“Right!” It had been Chuck’s wish once, though he’d never hoped to get his mother’s permission to attempt his own piloting, But she’d never go against his father’s promise. He grinned at Lew. “There’ll be other trips, chum.”

Behind them, someone had been calling excitedly, but they had been too busy to pay attention. Now in the momentary silence, Chuck heard his name. He turned, to see the Governor’s male secretary racing toward them. “Governor Braithwaite wants to see you at once!”

‘The council changed their minds?” Lew exclaimed.