Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 246: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

time of their lives. Probably that’s the only reason they’ve tolerated us here—because we have such amusing thougNts. “When Man first came here they were just pretty colored balls rolling around on the surface, and someone called them Roman Candles because that’s what they looked like. But since that day they’ve been everything Man has ever thought of.” Page heaved himself out of the chair. “| shall report your attitude to Washington, Captain Craig.” “Report and be damned,” growled Craig. “Maybe you've forgotten where you are. You aren’t back on Earth, where bribes and boot-licking and bulldozing will get a man almost anything he wants. You’re at the power center on the Sunward side of Mercury. This is the main source of power for all the planets. Let this power plant fail, let the transmission beams be cut off and the Solar System goes to hell!” He pounded the desk for emphasis. “I’m in charge here, and when | say a thing.it stands, for you as well as anyone. My job is to keep this plant going, keep the power pouring out to the planets. And I’m not letting some half-baked fool come out here and make me trouble. While I’m here, no one is going to stir up the Candles. We’ve got plenty of trouble without that.” Page edged toward the door, but Craig stopped him. “Just a little word of warning,” he said, speaking softly. “If | were you, | wouldn’t try to sneak out any of the puddle Jumpers, including your own. After each trip the oxygen tank is taken out and put into the charger, so it'll be at first Capacity for the next trip. The charger is locked and there’s just one key. And | have that.” He locked eyes with the man at the door and went on. “There’s a little oxygen left in the jumper, of course. Half an hours supply, maybe. Possibly less. After that there isn’t any CORniclooo SS CO