The Eclipse Express

by John Russell Fearn, Vargo Statten

Genres: Science Fiction; Sci-fi Action & Adventure; Space Opera

Synopsis

Herbert Broadbent - 'Bart' to his colleagues of the Astronomical Photographic Division - frowned at the cryptic official radio message which had just been sent to him. It said briefly: Prepare for departure to Ceylon on February 26 to photograph total solar eclipse. Dr Murchinson expedition. Solar Photographs Division. 'There are times,' he commented, 'when I get heartily tired of tearing about the world just on the spec of photographing something which never lasts more than five minutes at most!'

Release date: September 30, 2015

Publisher: Gateway

Print pages: 76

Sample

Herbert Broadbent—“Bart” to his colleagues of the Astronomical Photographic Division—frowned at the cryptic official radio message which had just been sent in to him. It said briefly:

Prepare for departure to Ceylon on February 26 to photograph total solar eclipse. Dr. Murchinson expedition. Solar Photographs Division.

“There are times,” he commented, “when I get heartily tired of tearing about the world just on the spec. of photographing something which never lasts more than five minutes at the most!”

“Did you say something?”

Bart glanced up. For the moment he had forgotten that he was not alone in the big astronomical photographic laboratory. At the opposite end of the brightly lighted space Ray Mason, the film processing expert, was at work classifying the latest reels he had developed from the world’s observatories. Purely routine work, and specialised, as indeed was every trade and profession in this year of 1998.

“We depart for Ceylon a month hence,” Bart said, as Ray came over to him. “That total solar eclipse comes off then, with the best place for viewing totality being Ceylon.”

“Well, what’s wrong with that?” Ray asked in surprise. “Some folks are never satisfied! I’d be mighty glad of the chance to escape to Ceylon, with all expenses paid, just to photograph an eclipse. All I do is stick here and process the darned film as it comes in.”

Bart did not answer for a moment or two. He was a tall, lean man of thirty-five and quite one of the best in his profession.

“I’m not grumbling at the job,” he said finally. “That is one of the simplest things to accomplish. What infuriates me, in this scientific age, is that we are content with a few miserable minutes—achieved after considerable expense and travelling—in which to view and photograph one of the most spectacular scenes Nature can put across—a total eclipse. It’s benighted, positively benighted!”

Ray grinned a little, ambling back to his job of classifying. “Trouble with you, Bart, is that you’re all too active,” he said. “The idea of travelling and so forth bores you to tears, but since there’s no other way I’m afraid it will have to be done. If I were anything of a photographer—which I’m not—I’d gladly take your place.”

“I’m not so sure there isn’t another way,” Bart answered, musing. “I’ve had a notion how to deal properly with a total solar eclipse for some time, and maybe this is the occasion to bring it into the light of day.”

“Notion? What notion?”

“Let me show you something,” Bart responded, and going across to his own private locker he brought forth what appeared to be a blueprint and flattened it out on the long photographic table. Puzzled but interested Ray surveyed the design under the bright light.

“Offhand I’d say an airplane,” he decided at length. “But even that I’m not sure of. There’s a look of a spaceship about the thing. Small wings and yet an obviously airtight body. Just what the hell is it?” he demanded finally.

“If it ever comes to anything,” Bart responded, “it will be the Eclipse Express. Just a matter of getting the right people to take notice.”

“I don’t get it,” Ray answered frankly.

“I hardly expect you to. You know that I’m extremely interested in astrophysics, interplanetary travel, and aircraft generally? Well, I’ve worked out this design in between times and I’m hoping some of the leading scientific engineers will think it’s worth bothering with.”

“For your sake, Bart, I hope they do—but that still doesn’t explain what it is.”

“It’s a cross between a spaceship and a stratoplane and intended to follow an eclipse from the moment it starts to the moment it finishes. Think what that would mean! Not just a few precious moments—and even those sometimes at the mercy of the weather—but a constant view of a total eclipse for several hours if need be!”

Ray’s blue eyes opened a little wider. “That really does sound like something to me! You mean travel in the shadow of the eclipse?”

“Correct.”

“But how do you guarantee to remain in that shadow? It will take a remarkably skilled pilot to prevent a possible variation from side to side of the shadow.”

“That’s been taken care of,” Bart smiled. “I’ve spent most of my life studying eclipses and solar phenomenon, and there are a few tricks which I can pull out of the bag which should make the scientists open their eyes mighty wide.” He broke off and glanced towards the calendar. “It might even be possible to get some action in time for this eclipse. I’d forgotten it was so close upon us otherwise I’d have tried sooner. I wonder if Dr. Murchinson would take kindly to the idea? He’s one of the biggest eclipse experts in the business.”

Bart did not waste any more time debating the matter. His mind obviously made up, he rolled the blueprint into a neat cylinder and with it in his hand departed for other regions in the big astronomical headquarters, wherein everything relating to celestial science was handled.

In the north wing of the edifice was Dr. Murchinson’s office. Bart hesitated outside the door, then making up his mind he knocked gently and waited.

“Come in,” bade a genial voice. Bart entered, closing the door quietly behind him.

Dr. Murchinson, grey-haired, middle-aged, a scientist and astronomer of worldwide fame, was seated at his desk, and there was a touch of surprise in his expression as he beheld Bart advancing towards him, blueprint in hand.

“Hello, Mr. Broadbent!” Murchinson was pleasant enough in his greeting. “Have a seat. Come to discuss the details of the Ceylon job, I take it?”

“As a matter fact, sir, I haven’t.” Bart sat down, his lean face serious. “Or rather I have, in a roundabout sort of way.”

“Oh? I’m afraid you’re not making sense, Mr. Broadbent.”

“No, I suppose I’m not.” With a somewhat apologetic smile Bart made a space on the desk and unrolled his plan. Murchinson made no attempt to stop him. He sat watching interestedly, his grey eyebrows raised.

“What you are going to say to this, sir, I don’t know,” Bart said, “but knowing you to be interested in anything which advances astronomical science I thought you were the best person to see it first.”

“But I am not an astrophysical engineer,” Murchinson pointed out dryly, “and I’m afraid I would have to be to understand this.”

“Not necessarily, sir. I can do all the explaining which is required. This machine is a cross between an airplane and a spaceship, and is capable of flying just outside the atmospheric limit. That, you will admit, would be a tremendous advantage in studying an eclipse. No air tremors, no smoke haze—just the clear void.”

“An advantage, yes, Mr. Broadbent—but will it work? I hope you have not forgotten that space travel has more or less been proven impracticable—notably by that great scientist Dr. Gordon James, who flew out into space a couple of years ago and never returned.”

“Yes, sir, I remember the James tragedy,” Bart admitted, “just as I remember the lectures and writings of his daughter Rita who swears he is still alive and living in one of the buried cities of the Moon.”

Murchinson smiled gravely. “I am afraid Miss James is trading on her father’s famous name and putting forth the most ridiculous stories in consequence. As for buried cities within the Moon—well, I fancy science has already given its answer to that! But we are straying from the point, Mr. Broadbent. You say this invention of yours will fly in space?”

“It should do, I think, as safely as a submarine moves under water. It is not primarily designed for space travel, but to fly safely in the airless heights just beyond the atmospheric limit. Basically, as you will have observed, it is a rocket-ship, fitted with all the requirements of an eclipse expedition, with one exception: it has a television transmitter on board. By that means a televised ‘session’ of the total solar eclipse could be transmitted back to Earth for scientists like yourself to view it in comfort. There is no need to travel to a distant spot to view the eclipse itself. It could all be done from this very building, and if you wish to view it for twelve hours instead of the customary few minutes there is nothing to stop you doing so.”

“Proceed,” Murchinson prompted, as Bart hesitated. “This is most intriguing.”

So Bart continued: “An eclipse shadow moves . . .