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289
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
·
Various
64
The
plane
flew
in
a
narrow
ascending
spiral
upward,
at
an
angle
that
would
have
been
impossible
to
any
ship
save
an
X-type.
Norman's
eyes
roved
steadily
over
the
instrument
as
they
rose,
his
ears
unconsciously
alert
for
each
explosion
of
the
motor.
Earth
receded
swiftly
into
a
great
gray
concave
surface
as
they
climbed
higher
and
higher.
By
the
time
the
five-mile
height
was
reached
Earth's
surface
had
changed
definitely
from
concave
to
convex.
The
plane
was
ascending
by
then
in
a
somewhat
wider
spiral,
but
its
climb
was
as
steady
and
sure
as
ever.
Frost
begin
to
form
quickly
on
the
cabin's
windows,
creeping
out
from
the
edges.
Norman
spoke
a
word
over
the
motor's
muffled
thunder,
and
Hackett
snicked
on
the
electrical
radiators.
The
frost
crept
back
as
their
warm,
clean
heat
flooded
the
cabin.
Ten
miles--fifteen--they
had
reached
already
altitudes
impossible
but
a
few
years
before,
though
it
was
nothing
to
the
X-types.
As
they
passed
the
ten-mile
mark,
Hackett
set
the
compact
oxygen-generator
going.
A
clean,
tangy
odor
filled
the
cabin
as
it
began
functioning.
Twenty
miles--twenty-two--
After
a
time
Norman
pointed
mutely
to
the
clock
on
the
instrument
board,
and
Hackett
nodded.
They
were
well
within
their
time
schedule,
having
calculated
to
reach
the
forty-mile
height
at
ten,
the
hour
when,
by
its
computed
orbit,
the
second
satellite
should
be
passing
overhead.
"--26--27--28--"
Hackett
muttered
the
altimeter
figures
to
himself
as
the
needle
crept
over
them.
Glancing
obliquely
down
through
the
window
he
saw
that
Earth
was
now
a
huge
gray
ball
beneath
them,
white
cloud-oceans
obscuring
the
drab
details
of
its
surface
here
and
there.
"--31--32--"
The
plane
was
climbing
more
slowly,
and
at
a
lesser
angle.
Even
the
X-type
had
to
struggle
to
rise
in
the
attenuated
air
now
about
them.
Only
the
super-light,
super-powered
plane
could
ever
have
reached
the
terrific
height.
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