Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from _Amazing ScienceFiction Stories_ April 1959. Extensive research did not uncover anyevidence that the U. S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
It's amazing how much you can learnabout absolute strangers if you juststop to think about the kind of ananimal they'll put in a ...
TEST ROCKET!
By JACK DOUGLAS
Captain Baird stood atthe window of the laboratorywhere the thousand partsof the strange rocket lay strewnin careful order. Small groupsworked slowly over the dismantledparts. The captain wantedto ask but something stoppedhim. Behind him Doctor Johannsensat at his desk, hisgnarled old hand tight about awhiskey bottle, the bottle thedoctor always had in his deskbut never brought out exceptwhen he was alone, and waitedfor Captain Baird to ask hisquestion. Captain Baird turnedat last.
"They are our markings?"Captain Baird asked. It was notthe question. Captain Bairdknew the markings of the RocketTesting Station as well as thedoctor did.
"Yes," the doctor said, "theyare our markings. Identical. Butnot our paint."
Captain Baird turned back tothe window. Six months ago ithad happened. Ten minutes afterlaunching, the giant testrocket had been only a speck onthe observation screen. CaptainBaird had turned away in disgust.
"A mouse!" the captain hadsaid, "unfortunate a mousecan't observe, build, report. Mymen are getting restless, Johannsen."
"When we are ready, Captain,"the doctor had said.
It was twelve hours beforethe urgent call from CentralControl brought the captainrunning back to the laboratory.The doctor was there beforehim. Professor Schultz wastedno time, he pointed to the instrumentpanel. "A suddenshift, see for yourself. We'llmiss Mars by a million and aquarter at least."
Two hours later the shift incourse of the test rocket wasapparent to all of them and sowas their disappointment.
"According to the instrumentsthe steering shifted aquarter of an inch. No reasonshows up," Professor Schultzsaid.
"Flaw in the metal?" DoctorJohannsen said.
"How far can it go?" CaptainBaird asked.
Professor Schultz shrugged."Until the fuel runs out, whichis probably as good as never, oruntil the landing mechanism isactivated by a planet-sizedbody."
"Course? Did you plot it?"The doctor asked.
"Of course I did," ProfessorSchultz said, "as close as I cancalculate it is headed for AlphaCentauri."
Captain Baird turned away.The doctor watched him.
"Perhaps you will not be quiteso hasty with your men's livesin the future, Captain?" the doctorsaid.
Professor Schultz was spinningdials. "No contact," theprofessor said, "No contact atall."
That had been six monthsago. Three more test rockets hadbeen fired successfully beforethe urgent report came throughfrom Alaskan Observation PostNo. 4. A rocket was comingacross the Pole.
The strange rocket was trackedand escorted by atomic armedfighters all the way to theRocket Testing Station where itcut its own motors and gentlylanded. In the center of a divisionof atomic-armed infantrythe captain, the doctor, andeveryone else, waited impatiently.There was an air of uneasiness.
"You're sure it's not ours?"Captain Baird asked.
The doctor laughed. "Identical,yes, but three times the sizeof ours."
"Perhaps on