The Time Traveler's Almanac Read Free Page B

black inhabitable on their brief and open another planet for colonization from overcrowded Earth.
    Mason was jotting down items about general topography when the glitter caught his eye.
    “I saw something,” he said.
    He flicked the viewer to reverse lensing position.
    “Saw what?” Ross asked from the control board.
    “Didn’t you see a flash?”
    Ross looked into his own screen.
    “We went over a lake, you know,” he said.
    “No, it wasn’t that,” Mason said. “This was in that clearing beside the lake.”
    “I’ll look,” said Ross, “but it probably was the lake.”
    His fingers typed out a command on the board and the big ship wheeled around in a smooth arc and headed back.
    “Keep your eyes open now,” Ross said. “Make sure. We haven’t got any time to waste.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Mason kept his unblinking gaze on the viewer, watching the earth below move past like a slowly rolled tapestry of woods and fields and rivers. He was thinking, in spite of himself, that maybe the moment had arrived at last. The moment in which Earthmen would come upon life beyond Earth, a race evolved from other cells and other muds. It was an exciting thought. 1997 might be the year. And he and Ross and Carter might now be riding a new Santa Maria of discovery, a silvery, bulleted galleon of space.
    “There!” he said. “There it is!”
    He looked over at Ross. The captain was gazing into his viewer plate. His face bore the expression Mason knew well. A look of smug analysis, of impending decision.
    “What do you think it is?” Mason asked, playing the strings of vanity in his captain.
    “Might be a ship, might not be,” pronounced Ross.
    Well, for God’s sake, let’s go down and see, Mason wanted to say, but knew he couldn’t. It would have to be Ross’s decision. Otherwise they might not even stop.
    “I guess it’s nothing,” he prodded.
    He watched Ross impatiently, watched the stubby fingers flick buttons for the viewer. “We might stop,” Ross said. “We have to take samples anyway. Only thing I’m afraid of is…”
    He shook his head. Land, man! The words bubbled up in Mason’s throat. For God’s sake, let’s go down!
    Ross evaluated. His thickish lips pressed together appraisingly. Mason held his breath.
    Then Ross’s head bobbed once in that curt movement which indicated consummated decision. Mason breathed again. He watched the captain spin, push and twist dials. Felt the ship begin its tilt to upright position. Felt the cabin shuddering slightly as the gyroscope kept it on an even keel. The sky did a ninety-degree turn, clouds appeared through the thick ports. Then the ship was pointed at the planet’s sun and Ross switched off the cruising engines. The ship hesitated, suspended a split second, then began dropping toward the earth.
    “Hey, we settin’ down already?”
    Mickey Carter looked at them questioningly from the port door that led to the storage lockers. He was rubbing greasy hands over his green jumper legs.
    “We saw something down there,” Mason said.
    “No kiddin’,” Mickey said, coming over to Mason’s viewer. “Let’s see.”
    Mason flicked on the rear lens. The two of them watched the planet billowing up at them.
    “I don’t know whether you can … oh, yes, there it is,” Mason said. He looked over at Ross.
    “Two degrees east,” he said.
    Ross twisted a dial and the ship then changed its downward movement slightly.
    “What do you think it is?” Mickey asked. “Hey!”
    Mickey looked into the viewer with even greater interest. His wide eyes examined the shiny speck enlarging on the screen. “Could be a ship,” he said. “Could be.”
    Then he stood there silently, behind Mason, watching the earth rushing up.
    “Reactors,” said Mason.
    Ross jabbed efficiently at the button and the ship’s engines spouted out their flaming gases. Speed decreased. The rocket eased down on its roaring fire jets. Ross guided.
    “What do you think it is?” Mickey