"Smith, E E 'Doc' - Spacehounds Of Ipc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

Faster and faster the great cruiser shot upward as more and more of the starting
power was released, and heavier and heavier the passengers felt themselves become.
Soon the full calculated power was on and the acceleration became constant. Weight
no longer increased, but remained constant at a value of plus twenty three and six-
tenths percent. For a few moments there had been uneasy stomachs among the
passengersЧperhaps a few of the first-trippers had been made illЧbut it was not much
worse than riding in a highspeed elevator, particularly since there was no change from
positive to negative acceleration such as is experienced in express elevators.
The computer, his calculations complete, watched the pilot with interest, for,
accustomed as he was to traversing the depths of space, there was a never-failing thrill
to his scientific mind in the delicacy and precision of the work which Breckenridge was
doingЧwork which could be done only by a man having had long training in the
profession and possessed of almost instantaneous nervous reactions and of the highest
degree of manual dexterity and control. Under his right and left hands were the double-
series potentiometers actuating the variable-speed drives of -the flight-angle directors in
the hour and declination ranges; before his eyes was the finely-marked micrometer
screen upon which the goniometer threw its needle-point of light; powerful optical
systems of prisms and lenses revealed to his sight the director-angles, down to
fractional seconds of arc. It was the task of the chief pilot to hold the screened image of
the cross hairs of the two directors in such position relative to the ever-moving point of
light as to hold the mighty vessel , precisely upon its course, in spite of the complex
system of forces acting upon it.
For almost an hour Breckenridge sat motionless, his eyes flashing from,
micrometer screen to signal panel, his sensitive fingers moving the potentiometers
through minute arcs because of what he saw upon the screen and in response to the
flashing, multicolored lights and tinkling signals of his board. Finally, far from Earth, the
moon's attraction and other perturbing forces comparatively slight, the signals no longer
sounded and the point of light ceased its irregular motion, becoming almost stationary.
The chief pilot brought both cross-hairs directly upon the brilliant point which for some
time they had been approaching more and more nearly, adjusted the photo-cells and
amplifiers which would hold them immovably upon it, and at the calculated second of
time cut out the starting power by means of another set of automatically-timed relays.
When only the regular driving power was left, and the acceleration had been checked
and found to be exactly the designated value of 981.286 centimeters, he stood up,
stretched, and heaved a profound sigh of relief.
"Well, Steve, that's over withЧwe're on our way. I'm always glad when this part
of it is done."
"It's a ticklish job, no foolingЧeven for an expert," the mathematician agreed. "No
wonder the astronomers think you birds are the ones who are gumming up their dope.
Well, it's about time to plug in on E2. Here's where the fireworks start!" He closed the
connections which transferred the central portion of the upper lookout screen to a small
micrometer screen at Breckenridge's desk and plugged it into the first check-station.
Instantly a point of red light, surrounded by a vivid orange circle, appeared upon the
screen, low down and to the left of center, and the timing galvanometer showed a wide
negative deflection.
"Hashed again!" growled Breckenridge. "I must be losing my grip, I guess. I put
everything I had on that sight, and missed it ten divisions. I think I'll turn in my
badgeЧI've cocked our perfect curve already, before we got to the first check-station!"
His hands moved toward the controls, to correct their course and acceleration.
"As you wereЧhold everything! Lay off those controls!" snapped the computer.