Moonrise

Her work was so routine that she had set up a computer program to run the telescope and catalogue the results, and began to spend her time calculating how to build a giant telescope using liquid mercury for its mirror. And — when she was sure no one else could see her — practicing ballet in the low lunar gravity.

But suddenly, with Douglas Stavenger walking beside her, she got another idea.

“You know,” she said, “I could use your help.”

“Mine?”

“I’d like to come along on Bre

Doug stopped walking and looked at her. “Why?” he asked. “Why should Bre

Bianca answered with one word. “Farside.”

Before she could start to explain, he said, “You want to set up an astronomical observatory on the farside, and the expedition to the south pole can be a sort of training mission. Is that it?”

“Exactly!” She was impressed with how quickly he grasped the idea.

With a slow grin, Doug went on, “That’s a pretty flimsy excuse, don’t you think?”

Damn! she thought. He sees right through me. But she found herself gri

By the time they reached her door Doug had promised he would speak to Bre

Doug did not seem to have any romantic intentions. So they merely shook hands, and then he headed down the tu

Almost everyone in Moonbase wore utilitarian coveralls with nametags pi

Doug Stavenger did not consciously think of Bre

“Do you really think Yamagata’s pla

“No doubt in my mind about that,” said Bre

It was the morning after the football game, and Doug’s meeting Bianca Rhee. He and Bre

“After all,” Bre

Doug nodded as he straightened up. Bre

Bre

Doug looked down again. “It’s hard to make out details of that area. It’s too heavily shadowed. “It’s an ice field,” Bre

Doug stepped over to the end of the table and worked the keyboard. False-color infrared imagery of the region appeared over the satellite picture.

“Not ice,” he murmured. “The spectrographic data shows anorthosite rock. Typical highlands profile.”

Bre

“That area might be too rough for a landing,” Doug suggested. “But over here—”

“We want to be as close to the mountain as possible,” Bre

Doug looked up at the older man. There was iron in his tone. Bre

Then he smiled down at Doug. “I know you’re concerned about safety, son. So am I. Be a fool not to. Like the man said, there are old astronauts and bold astronauts, but there are no old, bold astronauts.”

“Uh-huh,” Doug mumbled, for lack of anything better to say.

“I’m an old astronaut, son. If the landing area looks too spooky as we approach it, I’ll simply goose the Jobber a bit and land in the clear field, a little further from our goal.”

Returning his smile, Doug said, “I see. Okay. I should have thought of that.”

“Nothing to worry about,” said Bre

A little later, Doug asked Bre

“An astrophysicist?” Bre

“We have room for her,” Doug said. “I’ve checked the logistics program and we could handle six more people, if we needed them.”

“Yes,” Bre

“She could be useful,” Doug said.

“Doing what?”

“She’s a good technician. I’ve looked up her perso

“I already have all the technicians I need.”

“But think of the longer-range situation,” Doug said.

Bre

“Somebody’s going to build an astronomical center on the farside, sooner or later. She could help you get the experience you need to lead that mission, when the time comes.”

Bre

“Farside,” Doug repeated, knowing he had won Bianca a spot on the team.

They celebrated that night with as festive a di

Although there was talk around the table of a mysterious still that produced ’rocket juice,” the high spirits of the gang did not come from alcohol. When at last the crowd broke up, Doug escorted Bianca to her quarters. She gave him a peck on the cheek and then swiftly went inside and slid the accordion-fold door shut.

He’s too young, she told herself. Probably a virgin. No, she contradicted herself immediately. Not with those looks. But why should he be interested in you? He’s the son of the corporation’s chairwoman. He’s young and good-looking and rich and kind and…

She stared at her image in the full-length aluminum mirror on the rock wall of her room. You used him and he was kind enough to let you do it. He’s not interested in you sexually. Who would be?

Bianca did not cry. But she wanted to.

Doug was too keyed up to go back to his quarters and go to sleep. Instead, he jogged up the tu