Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOON IS HRAVEN 51 Back at the dome, Clavier and Reina have rigged the set- up for electrolysis. ‘‘ Tip it in the tank,’’ Clavier instructs. “We will start up straight away.” , The others cluster round to watch the establishment of the process that is going to give them breath—and hydrogen for the return. “‘ What’ll the capacity be?’’ Atah asks. - “Tf it works as it should,’’ Clavier replies. ‘‘ One. tonne of oxygen and one-eighth tonne of hydrogen per hour. Maybe a little lesg.”’ Atah does a bit of mental calculation. ‘‘ That means it’lt take us 4,800 hours at the least to get 600 tonnes of hydrogen. That’s thirty weeks, We’d better find that reservoir !”’ Reina chips in with a bit of domesticity. ‘‘ We've food enough for that length of time, but in case anything goes wrong I suggest we start a rationing scheme. Use it wisely, in other words.”’ “ Everything’s got to be used wisely,’’ Atah returns. ‘“‘ But I’m sure you can do that, Reina. Work it out your- self.”’ Clavier gives out an exclamation. “‘ Start the compressor, Reina. At once!’’ He turns to the rest of you. “‘ See! It works, See the mercury falling in the manometer. The dome is filling!’’ Leeson appears to be struck by a sudden thought. ‘* What about the carbon dioxide formed by our breathing? What happens to that?’”’ Clavier lays a gloved hand gently on the pilot’s shoulder. ‘Taken care of, my friend. Both the carbon dioxide and the water from our breaths will be sucked out by my separa- tor. The water will be run back for electrolysis and the carbon dioxide will be liquefied and stored. Later, for others maybe, it will be useful for making organic compounds.”’ The pilot raises his eyebrows in admiration. Atah smiles slowly. Schnabel grunts. The technologist has been standing by impatiently, obviously niffed at losing the limelight to > comicbooks.com