E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Graeme Mackreth,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
()
Transcriber's note:
This etext was produced from Amazing StoriesJune, 1960. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that theU.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T ...
By JOHN BRUDY
ILLUSTRATOR VARGA
To Amos Jordan, Secretary for Cislunar Navigation, no situation wasunsolvable. There were rules for everything, weren't there.... Exceptmaybe this thing ...
"What's the matter, anyway?" Amos Jordan snapped at his assistant. "Iseveryone in the Senate losing their mind?"
"No more than usual," said Clements, the undersecretary. "It's just amatter of sentiment."
"Sentiment?" Jordan poured himself a glass of lemonade. "What'ssentiment got to do with it? It's just a standard procedural problem."
"Well, not exactly," began Clements soothingly. "After all, now, '58Beta was the first long-lived satellite ever launched, and the firstsuccessful shot of the old Vanguard series. People are proud if it. It'sa sort of monument to our early efforts in astronautics."
Jordan sipped experimentally, adding a little sugar.
"But, Clem, the sky's full of the things," he complained. "There must bea hundred fifty of them in orbit right now. They're a menace tonavigation. If this one's due to fall out, I say good riddance."
Clements spread his hands helplessly.
"I agree, chief. But, believe me, a lot of people have made up theirminds about this thing. Some want to let it burn up. Some want toretrieve it and stash it in a museum. Either way it's a decision we'renot going to reach in this office."
Jordan tossed down the rest of his lemonade.
"I'd like to know why not," he snapped, almost bristling.
"Well, frankly this thing is moving pretty fast." Clements fished afacsimile sheet out of his jacket pocket. "Everybody's getting into theact." He handed the sheet across the desk. "Read this; it'll bring youup to date."
Jordan stared at the sheet.
"Senate Committee Probes Beta," ran the lead, followed by,
"The Senate Advisory Committee for Astronautics began hearingtestimony this morning in an effort to determine the fate ofsatellite '58 Beta. Mr. Claude Wamboldt, leader of the CCSB(Citizens' Committee to Save Beta), testified that the cost ofretrieving Beta from orbit would be trivial compared to its value asan object of precious historical significance. He suggested theSmithsonian Institution as an appropriate site for the exhibit. Atthe same time the incumbent Senator from Mr. Wamboldt's districtfiled a bill in the Senate which would add a complete wing to theSmithsonian to house this satellite and other similar historicobjects. In later testimony Mr. Orville Larkin, leader of the unnamedcommittee representing those in opposition to the CCSB stated thathis group felt that to snatch Beta from orbit at this moment of itsgreatest glory would be contrary to natural law and that he and hissupporters would never concede to any plan to save it."
Jordan raised his head and stared over the fax sheet at Clements. "Am Igoing out of my mind, or did this really happen?"
"It sure did ... and is," said Clements. "Later on, I am told, Wamboldtthrew a chair at Larkin, and the committee recessed after declaring bothm