Yet another story fragment...

The professor's rocket taxi descended on a plume of light and settled delicately on its three landing fins. As the atomic engine faded slowly into silence, its impressive bulk towered over the waiting press corps who rushed from the nearby bunker to the foot of the now-extended gangway. At last, with a chuff of air, a crack of light appeared around the curved door in the rocket's side, and it swung open majestically to reveal the professor himself.

"Gentlemen," he declared grandly. "Today is the dawn of a new day in science. Today I, Professor Falkensteinbrautsengen, will take mankind to the moon!"



"I tell you it can't be done," Carter exclaimed, slamming his open palm against the side of the travel pod. "And not only can't it be done, it not also can't be not done!"

Inside the lab, away from the thronging mobs outside, Carter looked from face to face, looking for support, but found none. All of Professor Falkensteinbrautsengen's assitants were loyal and, moreover, knew which side their bread was buttered. At present, it was buttered on the top side, with a nice layer of strawberry jam.

"Unghkna ngh dmph?" the youngest assistant observed.

"For god's sake, Smythe, don't speak with your mouth full of bread," Carter chided.

The youth swallowed and started again. "How can you say that? Professor Falkensbrau... Falkensteiber... Professor F is the most brilliant scientist on earth!"

Carter nodded. "Is he? Is he really the most brilliant scientist on earth? Or do we simply believe that because he has the press eating out of the palm of his hand?" Carter gestured at the silent travel pod. "Look at this thing. It barely runs longer than five minutes without blowing several tubes. And the atomic pile leaks!"

"Sure it leaks," Danforth interjected, "but since we painted it with lead-based paint, the mutation rate has dropped dramatically." He waved his tentacles pointedly at Carter.

...