Author: Clyde Brown
Year: 2010
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Science fiction, Short Stories, Free books
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He obstinately wanted no part in achieving the goal of generations--but the goal with equal obstinacy wanted all of him!
Excerpt
To keep the record straight: Orville Close was first man on the Moon. Harold Ferguson was second. They never talk about it.
It started on that October morning when the piece came out in the Parkville News. Harold grumbled that they'd gotten the story all wrong, calling his ship a rocket ship, and treating him like a flagpole sitter or a man going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. His wife took their sad, thin little girl and went to live with her brother. The city police blocked off Elm Street, letting no one through except the residents. The neighbors were getting up a petition. But Orville refused to become excited.
What was going to happen?
Why, nothing.
Harold would probably crack up completely, but this evening that thing would still be standing there, solid as the Washington Monument.
Nevertheless, Orville's wife Polly was going to her sister's, across town. She wasn't going to stay there and be blown up! While she was getting ready, Orville picked up a package by the sink and carried it outside to the alley and dropped it in the garbage can. He wore his double-breasted fall suit. He strolled to the boundary fence and leaned against a post.
A reporter was taking angle shots of the spaceship. Flashbulbs were scattered over Harold's garden.
It really does catch the eye, Orville thought. Smarten the ship up a little, put some stripes running down from the nose, a few pieces of chrome around over the body....
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