The Hundred Gram Mission Read Online Free Page B

lake. They wouldn’t need it for that long. 
    He crouched down and scooped some snow into a sampler. He felt it shake as the tiny centrifuge inside started.
    "You done yet?"
    "Just packing up my tools and taking some samples," he replied. "It’s really pretty out here."
    "Sun’s about to come up. That snow field is going to turn into a boiling cauldron."
    "That will be hours from now. I should be done here in about ten minutes."
    "You staying to watch sunrise?"
    "Damn right. It’s our own world , Damien. You should be out here, too. We might not get another chance to see something like this."
    "If Seven misfires, and we don’t have plan B ready, you’re right. We certainly won’t. I woke Spektorov up, he’s making calls to the FAA right now."
    "Won’t need it," Elijah closed his drill kit.
    "Let’s hope not."
    The sun doesn’t rise on a body without atmosphere. It struck – in just moments, the world was lit from horizon to horizon. He flinched at the brightness, even as his helmet polarized. The ground was as bright– the snow caught the sun and threw it back in his face.
    He peered about. He was on a jagged, rocky plain, dotted with elephant-sized craters. The snow stretched as far as he could see.
    Condensation began to form on his helmet, on the outside . He wiped it off: it turned to slush and ice in his glove.
    What the hell? That was fast, even for ethanol.
    The sampler display started flashing. He looked at it.
    85 percent ammonia .
    "How is sunrise looking?"
    All around him, the snow field was turning into mist.
    "Elijah?"
    "Sorry, it’s fine. Real pretty."
    "Well, send me some video."
    "Hang on. You’re the best chemist on this world, quick question for you," he made his way back to the safety cable. He felt the squelch of the slush through his boots. "What’s the specific heat capacity of ammonia?"
    "It changes depending on the state and temperature, but it’s quite high. Even higher than water. Why?"
    "Just wondering. I’d be pretty unlucky if this was an ammonia deposit, instead of alcohol."
    "Yes. It would just retain more and more heat from each rotation, and become violent, faster. But you’ll be fine. Like you said, it would have boiled off millions of years ago."
    "You finished the calculations yet?"
    "Nearly. Another hour and I’ll be done. Why?"
    "Just keep working on them."
    "Are you alright?"
    "I’m fine."
    Be ready to jump from the tower .
    "The fuck you are. What’s wrong?"
    "Nothing is wrong, Damien! Look I wouldn’t screw around over something this important."  He felt a vibration. It was the ground.
    "I’m just having second thoughts about Seven. Keep at it, I’ll be over shortly."
    "Are you sure?"
    "Don’t worry about me. Stay focused. Just do your part, and I’ll do mine."
    Streams of liquid began jetting out Mass Driver Seven’s shaft. They spread into fountains of snow, hundreds of meters above.
    The ground began to shake. He tested the safety cable, and leapt.
     
    Six Weeks Later, Boston
    "Hey Charlie!" Damien banged on the glass door. Across at the reception sat a secretary and fat security guard.  Neither smiled at him. Above their heads was a sign saying Sun Star Prospecting . "Hey Charlie, what gives?" Damien gestured to the lock. "It won’t swipe my key card."
    The security guard walked over to the door, and looked at him through the glass.
    "I’m sorry Mr. Flores. I’m not to let you into the building."
    " What ? What the fuck? Is there a fire or something? What are you guys doing in there?"
    "Mr. Spektorov’s orders, Sir."
    "Spektorov – " he stopped, speechless. "Charlie, open the door now ."
    "I’m sorry I can’t do that Mr. Flores."
    "This is your boss , giving you an order Charlie. Opening the fucking door to my fucking building, now !"
    "You’re not my boss anymore, Mr. Flores. You need to call Legal."
    Damien shouldered the door, rattling it.
    "Step away from the building, Sir! This is private property and I will call the police."
    "Fuck you,