Tunnel in the Sky by Heinlein Robert A
Author:Heinlein, Robert A. [Heinlein, Robert A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Classics
ISBN: 9781416505518
Amazon: 1416505512
Goodreads: 16683
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1955-01-01T08:00:00+00:00
9
âA Joyful Omenâ
MAYOR COWPER GOT OFF TO A GOOD START. He approved, took over, and embellished a suggestion that Carmen and Bob should have their own quarters. He suspended work on the wall and set the whole village to constructing a honeymoon cottage. Not until his deputy, Roy Kilroy, reminded him did he send out hunting parties.
He worked hard himself, having set the wedding for that evening and having decreed that the building must be finished by sundown. Finished it was by vandalizing part of the wall to supply building stone when the supply ran short Construction was necessarily simple since they had no tools, no mortar but clay mud, no way to cut timbers. It was a stone box as tall as a man and a couple of meters square, with a hole for a door. The roof was laid up from the heaviest poles that could be cut from a growth upstream of giant grass much like bambooâthe colonists simply called it âbamboo.â This was thatched and plastered with mud; it sagged badly.
But it was a house and even had a door which could be closedâa woven grass mat stiffened with bamboo. It neither hinged nor locked but it filled the hole and could be held in place with a stone and a pole. The floor was clean sand covered with fresh broad leaves.
As a doghouse for a St. Bernard it would have been about right; as a dwelling for humans it was not much. But it was better than that which most human beings had enjoyed through the history and prehistory of the race. Bob and Carmen did not look at it critically.
When work was knocked off for lunch Rod self-consciously sat down near a group around Cowper. He had wrestled with his conscience for a long time in the night and had decided that the only thing to do was to eat sour grapes and pretend to like them. He could start by not avoiding Cowper.
Margery Chung was cook for the day; she cut Rod a chunk of scorched meat. He thanked her and started to gnaw it. Cowper was talking. Rod was not trying to overhear but there seemed to be no reason not to listen.
ââwhich is the only way we will get the necessary discipline into the group. Iâm sure you agree.â Cowper glanced up, caught Rodâs eye, looked annoyed, then grinned. âHello, Rod.â
âHi, Grant.â
âLook, old man, weâre having an executive committee meeting. Would you mind finding somewhere else to eat lunch?â
Rod stood up blushing. âOh! Sure.â
Cowper seemed to consider it. âNothing private, of courseâjust getting things done. On second thought maybe you should sit in and give us your advice.â
âHuh? Oh, no! I didnât know anything was going on.â Rod started to move away.
Cowper did not insist. âGot to keep working, lots to do. See you later, then. Any time.â He grinned and turned away.
Rod wandered off, feeling conspicuous. He heard himself hailed and turned gratefully, joined Jimmy Throxton. âCome outside the wall,â Jimmy said quietly.
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