The other ship taxied to the airlock and was quickly inside. The inner
door swung home. The wait seemed interminable.
Then the inner door swung back. Bonwitt juggled the magnetic remote
control. They were inside. Through. And, in a moment, on the airless
surface of Luna. Above, high over Tycho's vast wall, was the gleaming,
torpedo-shaped hull of the super's ship. Bill went hot after it, more
than ever puzzled as to what was going on.
The other side, Peterson had said. That would mean the opposite side of
Luna--never seen from Earth.
* * * * *
Directly toward Luna's south pole and flying high, went Peterson's
ship. Bonwitt drove after him. At this speed they'd soon pass the
terminator and be in sunlight.
"No sense to any of it," Crane was saying. "Nothing much different on
the other side than this side. What can they do around here?"
"So says me," agreed Bonwitt. "Anyway--a hope--we'll learn."
"There's the terminator ahead," chirped Crane. "Sun glasses!"
Dark lenses were quickly donned. Tall peaks ahead burst into blazing
pinpoints, their blinding splendor deepening the shadows beyond the
on-rushing terminator to Stygian inkiness. Dazzling white crawled down
the nearing spires and suddenly the sun's corona smote them like a blow
with its glory. Abruptly they were in vivid sunlight.
Peterson's ship still sped on before them. One hour; two; three.