"Heinlein, Robert A - Nothing Ever Happens On The Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

FOREWORD

This story was written twenty-one years before Dr. Neil Armstrong took Уone short step for a man, a giant leap for mankindФЧhut in all important essentials it has not (yet) become dated. True, we do not know that formations such as Уmorning gloriesФ exist on Luna and we do not know that there are areas where footgear midway between skis and snowshoes would be useful. But the Lunar surface is about equal in area to Africa; a dozen men have explored an area smaller than Capetown for a total of a few days. We will still be exploring Luna and finding new wonders there when the first interstellar explorers return from Proxima Centauri or Tau Ceti.
This story is compatible with the so-called УFuture HistoryФ stories. It is also part of my continuing postWar-lI attempt to leave the SF-pulp field and spread out. I never left the genre puips entirely, as it turned out to be easy to write a book-length job, then break it into three or four cliff-hangers and sell it as a pulp serial immediately before book publication. I did this with a dozen novels in the С40s and СSOs. But I recall only one story (GULF) specifically written for pulp, GULF being for AstoundingТs unique УprophesiedФ issue.
Deus volent, I may someday collect my Boy Scout stories as one volume just as I would like to do with the PuddinТ stories.
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON
THE MOON


УI never knew a boy from Earth who wasnТt cocky.Ф
Mr. Andrews frowned at his Senior Patrol Leader.
УThatТs childish, Sam. And no answer. I arrive expecting to find the troop ready to hike. Instead I find you and our visitor about to fight. And both of you Eagle Scouts! What started it?Ф
Sam reluctantly produced a clipping. УThis, I guess.
It was from the Colorado Scouting News and read:
УTroop 48, DenverЧLOCAL SCOUT SEEKS SKYHIGH HONOR. Bruce Hollifield, Eagle Scout, is moving with his family to South Pole, Venus. Those who know BruceЧand who doesnТtЧexpect him to qualify as Eagle (Venus) in jig time. Bruce will spend three weeks at Luna City, waiting for the Moon-Venus transport. Bruce has been boning up lately on lunar Scouting, and he has already qualified in space suit operation in the vacuum chamber at the PikeТs Peak space port. Cornered, Bruce admitted that he hopes to pass the tests for Eagle Scout (Luna) while on the Moon.
УIf he doesЧand weТre betting on Bruce!ЧheТs a dead cinch to become the first Triple Eagle in history.
УGo to it, Bruce! Denver is proud of you. Show those Moon Scouts what real Scouting is like.Ф
Mr. Andrews looked up. УWhere did this come from?Ф
УUh, somebody sent it to Peewee.Ф
УYes?Ф
УWell, we all read it and when Bruce came in, the fellows ribbed him. He got sore.Ф
УWhy didnТt you stop it?Ф
УUh .. . well, I was doing it myself.Ф
УHumph! Sam, this item is no sillier than the stuff our own Scribe turns in for publication. Bruce didnТt write it, and you yahoos had no business making his life miserable. Send him in. Meantime call the roll.Ф
УYes, sir. Uh, Mr. AndrewsЧФ
УYes?Ф
УWhatТs your opinion? Can this kid possibly qualify for lunar Eagle in three weeks?Ф
УNoЧand IТve told him so. But heТs durn well going to have his chance. Which reminds me: youТre his instructor.Ф
УMe?Ф Sam looked stricken.
УYou. YouТve let me down, Sam; this is your chance to correct it. Understand me?Ф
Sam swallowed. УI guess I do.Ф
УSend Hollifield in.Ф
Sam found the boy from Earth standing alone, pretending to study the bulletin board. Sam touched his arm. УThe Skipper wants you.Ф
Bruce whirled around, then stalked away. Sam shrugged and shouted, УRocket PatrolЧfall in!Ф
Speedy Owens echoed, УCrescent PatrolЧfall in!Ф As muster ended Mr. Andrews came out of his office, followed by Bruce. The Earth Scout seemed considerably chastened.
УMr. Andrews says IТm to report to you.Ф
УThatТs right.Ф They eyed each other cautiously. Sam said, УLook, BruceЧletТs start from scratch.Ф
УSuits me.Ф
УFine. Just tag along with me.Ф At a sign from the Scoutmaster Sam shouted, УBy twos! Follow me.Ф
Troop One jostled out the door, mounted a crosstown slidewalk and rode to East Air Lock.
Chubby Schneider, troop quartermaster, waited there with two assistants, near a rack of space suits. Duffel was spread around in enormous pilesЧpackaged grub, tanks of water, huge air bottles, frames of heavy wire, a great steel drum, everything needed for pioneers on the airless crust of the Moon.
Sam introduced Bruce to the Quartermaster. УWeТve got to outfit him, Chubby.Ф
УThat new G.E. job might fit him.Ф
Sam got the suit and spread it out. The suit was impregnated glass fabric, aluminum-sprayed to silvery whiteness. It closed from crotch to collar with a zippered gasket. It looked expensive; Bruce noticed a plate on the collar: DONATED BY THE LUNA CITY KIWANIS KLUB.
The helmet was a plastic bowl, silvered except where swept by the eyes of the wearer. There it was transparent, though heavily filtered.
BruceТs uniform was stowed in a locker; Chubby handed him a loose-knit coverall. Sam and Chubby stuffed him into the suit and Chubby produced the instrument belt.
Both edges of the belt zipped to the suit; there were several rows of grippers for the top edge; thus a pleat could be taken. They fastened it with maximum pleat. УHowТs that?Ф asked Sam.
УThe collar cuts my shoulders.Ф
УIt wonТt under pressure. If we leave slack, your head will pull out of the helmet like a cork.Ф Sam strapped the air, water, radio, and duffel-rack backpack to BruceТs shoulders. УPressure check, Chubby.Ф
УWeТll dress first.Ф While Chubby and Sam dressed, Bruce located his intake and exhaust valves, the spill valve inside his collar, and the water nipple beside it. He took a drink and inspected his belt.