The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Stowaway, by Alvin Heiner

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Title: The Stowaway

Author: Alvin Heiner

Release Date: October 30, 2009 [EBook #30361]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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The Stowaway

By Alvin Heiner

_He stole a ride to the Moon in search of
glory, but found a far different destiny._

His eyes were a little feverish--as they had been of late--and his voice
held a continuous intensity--as though he were imparting a secret. "I've
got to get on that ship! I've got to, I tell you! And I'm going to make
it!"

Different members of the group regarded him variously, some with
amusement, some with contempt, others with frank curiosity.

"You're plain nuts, Joe. What do you want to go to the Moon for?"

"Sure, why you wanna go? What they got on the Moon we ain't got right
here?"

There was general laughter from the dozen or so who sat eating their
lunch in the shade of Building B. They all thought that was a pretty
good one. Good enough to repeat. "Sure, what they got on the Moon we
ain't got here?"

But Joe Spain wasn't in the mood for jokes. He burned with even greater
conviction and stood up as though to harangue the workers. "You wanta
know why I got to go to the Moon? Why I've got to get on that ship? Then
I'll tell you. It's 'cause I'm a little guy--that's why! Joe
Spain--working stiff--one of the great inarticulate masses."

More laughter. "Where'd you get those big words, Joey? Out of a book?
Come on--talk English!"

Joe Spain pointed to the huge, tubelike Building A, off across the
desert; the building you had to have two different passes and a written
permit to enter. The mystery building where even newspaper reporters
were barred. "It's only the big shots they let in there ain't it? Only
them that's got a drag or went to college or something. Us little guys
they tell go to blow--ain't that right?"

"Who the hell cares? Maybe it's a damn good place to stay away from.
Maybe it'll explode or something. Who wants to die an