Read Online Children of Tomorrow by A. E. van Vogt - Free Book Online

firmly held body, the slightly graying hair on 8 distinguished-looking head. His eyes grew thoughtful, and he nodded gen tl y to himself; and then abruptly, his gaze still on the receding figure, he made a gesture that was half-salute, halfwave of respect.
    Whereupon, he brought his hand down upon the knob, spun it, and entered a large room that, at his first quick glance, looked very much like the control desk of a large spaceship. Slowly, Lane pushed the door shut behind him. Then, with wondering face, he walked toward the left wall, which was nothing more nor less than a huge viewplate. The shiny screen was at the moment showing a view of space: Blackness with a dusting of stars in the background. The man’s eyes grew misty, as he gazed at that scene so familiar to him from so many years out there. He continued his investigatory tour, walking past the glass window and door leading to what looked like a conference room, and past the viewplate to the machine that covered almost the entire rear wall. The purpose of this second machanism was equally obvious to his experienced eyes. It was an advanced type computer. The lights that played over its transparent windows, and the coding that built up in those windows, made meaningful patterns to Lane. He nodded half to himself, and there was pride in his face now.
    Still nodding, he said softly to himself, ‘I guess it won’t be such a bad job after all. I won’t be as out of touch as I feared, I will, in effect, be out there, and yet live at home with my
    f amil y ’
    As he spoke the word ‘family, ’ his eyes narrowed slightly. He had been walking slowly in the direction of the other side wall, which was lined with a series of small gadgetry. Now, he stopped, spun on his heel and walked to the large metal desk that stood in front of the huge computer. There was an intercom on the desk. Lane pressed a button on it; and when a man’s voice presently answered, he said. This is Commander Lane, Who am I talking to?’
    ‘Scott, sir. Andrew Scott, A sort of liaison secretary, sir, is my job.’
    ‘Good,’ said Lane. ‘Mr Scott, I noticed that there were several junior officers aboard this building. Get me a list of the active flight men in port.’
    ‘Very well, sir.’
    ‘How long will it take to get such a list?’
    Well, sir,’ was the reply. ‘I’m in the room on the other side of the computer that is also in your private office. And - right now
    I - am - programming - the - computer - and here is the list, sir. May I bring it in?’
    Lane had to smile. ‘You certainly may,’ he said. He stepped back from the intercom, and looked around. He had noticed no doors, on entering, except the one to the corridor, and of course the beautiful glass entrance to the conference room. As he waited, there was a small sound at the far left of the rear wall, where the computer did seem to narrow down a bit. One of the metal panels swung open and a man of about his own age came in. He was a dark-haired, brown-eyed, thick-jowled, slightly plumpish individual, dressed in civilian clothes — as was Lane. The latter accepted the computer printout sheet that was handed to him, and said, ‘Wait.’
    It was not a long list. The active flight officer aboard consisted of aproximately thirty-four names by quick glance estimate. There were only four captains on the list. Lane indicated them, said, ‘How old are they? Let me have pictures of the two youngest?’
    Scott did not even leave the room. Moments later, he came back with the printout that the computer had unrolled for him in the small alcove directly behind Lane’s desk. There were the four photos, and the ages of each man. One was twenty-seven, and one all of twenty-six and one half, and the other two were both twenty-eight. Three of the men were adequately good-looking, but on the photo the fourth man was sensationally handsome. He was unfortunately one of the two twenty-eight-year-olds. But Lane quickly decided that would have