August 26, 2025 • 10 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Zero hour by Alexander Blade. By accident, Bobby discovered the
rocket was about to be shot to the moon. Naturally,
he wanted to go along, but could he smuggle himself aboard.
Dad had already gone when Bobby got up. This disappointed
Bobby a little, but then he remembered this was the
big day. Naturally, Dad would get over to the project early,
(00:23):
and by four o'clock. Bobby shivered deliciously at the thought
of it. He ate his breakfast in silence with Mom
across the table, drinking a cup of coffee and looking
at a fashion catalog. He was glad she was occupied
because he didn't want to talk.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Not today, might spill something secret, might even let out
the big secret.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That would be terrible. Of course, all things were secret
at Buffalo Flats, so secret top scientists like Dad didn't
even discuss them with their wives like Mom, and wives
like Mom never asked. So it was really something to
sit there eating breakfast, noing that today Dad was going
to rock it to the moon, and with Mom not
(01:04):
even knowing the lunar project was in the works, so naturally,
not dreaming that he was going with Dad, the thrill
was overpowering. Maybe they would have radio communications after they
got there, and he would call back and say, hell, Mom,
guess where I am on the moon with Dad? And
Mom would say why, Bobby scaring me to death like this?
(01:24):
I was looking all over for you, sounding very angry,
but not being really angry after all, because maybe Dad
would cut in and.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Say, yeah, he's right here with me, dear, what do
you think of this boy of ours? Bobby gulped the
last of his cereals so he'd go outside and wriggle
for joy. As he got up from his chair, Mom said,
and what's.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Your plan for today? Young man? Davy Crocket or Buck Rogers.
Bobby had a quick thought, a sudden temptation. Why not
give Mom a hint? Why? He could even tell her
and she still wouldn't know. Then later, after he was gone,
she would remember back and say that boy, when he
tells you something, he really means it. Bobby smiled and said,
(02:07):
I think I'll go to the moon today. Mom smiled
too and went back to her fashions. Well, see to
it your fuel mixture is correct. I'll check it, and Mom,
I might not be home for lunch. Where will you be?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I don't know. Well, mind your manners and say thank
you when you leave. Missus Kendall, still smiling, watched Bobby
dash out into the yard. Living on a restricted governin
aarya had one compensation. At least you didn't have to
worry about your children. Four dozen families, all with offspring
trapped behind ten foot patrolled fence. Here, nobody worried about
(02:43):
their children. They came and went, and at noon a
mother fed whatever number happened to be in the house
at the time. Missus Kendall usually drew six or seven.
It would be a relief to dodge that chore for
one saturday. Out in the backyard, Bobby fussed around his
space rocket a little tiding a screw here, hammering a
nail there, just until he could slip away without Mom
(03:04):
noticing his direction. It wasn't a bad rocket at that,
six feet long, with two seats and a keen instrument panel,
but kid stuff. Of course, after he found the way
in through the sewer, he hadn't paid any attention to
his own ship. He could see Mom through the window
back in her book, so he went casually out through
(03:25):
the back gate, turned left, kicking at pebbles as he
sauntered along and trying to look as though he had
no place to go. Had to be careful, didn't want
to bump into any of the other kids today either.
The way in through the sewer was at a place
behind laboratory b There was a kind of alley that
nobody ever walked through, and then this round lid you
(03:45):
could lift up and look under, and the ladder you
could climb down. Bobby hadn't dared go down at first,
but after thinking about it overnight, his curiosity went out,
and he went back and ducked down into the lower level.
He called it a sewer because sewers being underground, but
this place was clean and had bunches of wires strung
in every direction with faint little lights you could see by.
(04:08):
Bobby went further and further every trip he took, never
telling anybody because you weren't supposed to talk about things
a buffalo flats, not even to the other kids. Then
he found the big drone where they were building the rocket.
It was so sleek and beautiful and shiny that he
just stared at it up through the grating and the
floor that was there for air circulation or something. He
(04:30):
didn't know it was the Moon rocket at first, not
until he'd gone back several times to peek up at it.
And then one day two scientists came walking along right
in front of his nose. One of them was Dad.
Bobby almost called out, but he caught himself and just
listened to them talking. This was the first time his
conscience bothered him about going underneath the drone. He thought
(04:50):
about it a lot, whether it was the right thing
to do, and while he was never able to still
his conscience completely, he quieted down by saying he really
wasn't doing any har because he never told anybody what
he saw. He learned the rocket was going to the
Moon by listening to Dad and the other scientists talk
when they thought they were alone. And it was funny
(05:10):
because even there they spoke in low voices and didn't
give too much away. He'd known now for three days
that at four o'clock the roof would open and the
drone would be turned into a blast pit, and the
rocket would shoot out through space to the Moon. That
was all he did know for sure. None of the
men had said who was going on the first trip
to the Moon. Nothing had been said on that subject
(05:31):
at all. But Bobby knew Dad would go. He would
have to. After all, Dad was the second biggest scientist
at Buffalo Flats, second only to Schlimer himself, and Professor
Schlmer was very old and certainly wouldn't make the trip.
That left Dad. Dad would just have to go in
order to run the rocket. There probably wasn't anyone else
(05:51):
smart enough in the whole place. The idea of going
himself had been born the previous day, when he found
a larger grating in the floor near the rocket and
realized if he was very careful, he could climb out
of the sewer and duck into the rocket when nobody
was looking. Once inside, he was pretty sure he'd find
a place to hide until blast offs. All the men
(06:13):
would probably be strapped into bunks, but if he found
a place he could wedge himself in, he didn't think
he'd get hurt. Then halfway to the moon he would
come out and find Dad, and would he be surprised.
At first thinking about it, he was scared, but after
he realized how proud Dad and Mom would be, he
made up his mind. Now crouched beside the grating near
(06:35):
the ship, he waited while two men technicians in white
overalls walked by. One of them said, well, whatever happens,
she'll make a big splash. You said it, hope the
brains know what they're doing. That made Bobby mad, who
said Dad didn't know what he was doing. Dad was
just about the smartest scientist in the world. After the
(06:55):
two men left, he waited a long time. He heard voices,
but no one came in sight. Taking a deep breath,
he opened the grating and got out. Was only four
steps to the open port of the rocket. There was
a little ramp they'd used to roll things in, and
Bobby's feet touched it but lightly. As he jumped into
the ship, he found himself in some kind of a
store room. It would be a good place to hide,
(07:16):
all right. It was full of aluminum barrels, all the
same size. He found a space between two rows and
sat down and got his breath back. It was very
quiet around him, scary quiet, but he set his lips firmly.
He was going to the moon with Dad. John Kendall
(07:38):
was a little late that night. He kissed his wife
and said, well, did you see the big sky rocket?
How could I miss it? Darling? Your supper is in
the oven. I could use a martini first, coming right up.
While Myra fixed the drink, John lay back in his
easy chair and closed his eyes. We'd hoped to stage
(07:59):
a little ceremony at the launching, but Washington said, no,
the Russians, the Eastern Coalition. It was a raised. That
was why it had to be so secret. Washington said,
why the fuse and fire? The thing?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Still hush hush? No, not between us. At least we
fired an explosion rocket at the moon. It will hit
in about an hour, and telescopes will sew a big
purple spot where our explosives go off and throw dial
over the place. Meyra handed him a dry martini. I
see lots of fun, no doubt, But what's the purpose
(08:33):
fourth of July on the moon? Oh no. If the
experiment is a success, the next rocket will carry men
instead of a bomb. Meyra went to the kitchen to
see about supper. John called, where's Bobby in bed? I
suppose Meyra didn't hear, and John set his drink down
and moved toward the bedroom. Maybe he was still awake.
Bobby rolled over. His eyes popped open. Dad, I thought
(08:56):
you went to John Kendall sat down on the edge
of the bed hustled his son's hair. No, son, it's
the old Terra firma for me. Did you see the
rocket blast? Uh huh? It was really something. It went
to the moon, didn't it. That's right. Kendall smiled and thought,
try to keep a secret from kids. It just can't
(09:17):
be done. How's your moon rocket coming along? Sun? Pretty good? Gee, Dad,
as long as you didn't go. I'm glad I didn't
go either. You were planning to make the trip also,
Uh huh. I got into the rocket and was all set.
But I got to thinking about mom. How one of
us should stay and take care of her in case
anything happened. Smart thinking, son, Now you good to sleep.
(09:39):
I'll have a little time tomorrow we'll play ball. That'll
be keen. John Kendall smiled as he left the bedroom.
Kids were wonderful. Give him a few old boards and
a steering wheel, and they could build a ship to
fly to the moon. What a wonderful dream they lived in.
Too bad they had to grow out of it. End
of Zero Hour ou Alexander Blade
Zero hour by Alexander Blade. By accident, Bobby discovered the
rocket was about to be shot to the moon. Naturally,
he wanted to go along, but could he smuggle himself aboard.
Dad had already gone when Bobby got up. This disappointed
Bobby a little, but then he remembered this was the
big day. Naturally, Dad would get over to the project early,
(00:23):
and by four o'clock. Bobby shivered deliciously at the thought
of it. He ate his breakfast in silence with Mom
across the table, drinking a cup of coffee and looking
at a fashion catalog. He was glad she was occupied
because he didn't want to talk.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Not today, might spill something secret, might even let out
the big secret.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That would be terrible. Of course, all things were secret
at Buffalo Flats, so secret top scientists like Dad didn't
even discuss them with their wives like Mom, and wives
like Mom never asked. So it was really something to
sit there eating breakfast, noing that today Dad was going
to rock it to the moon, and with Mom not
(01:04):
even knowing the lunar project was in the works, so naturally,
not dreaming that he was going with Dad, the thrill
was overpowering. Maybe they would have radio communications after they
got there, and he would call back and say, hell, Mom,
guess where I am on the moon with Dad? And
Mom would say why, Bobby scaring me to death like this?
(01:24):
I was looking all over for you, sounding very angry,
but not being really angry after all, because maybe Dad
would cut in and.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Say, yeah, he's right here with me, dear, what do
you think of this boy of ours? Bobby gulped the
last of his cereals so he'd go outside and wriggle
for joy. As he got up from his chair, Mom said,
and what's.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Your plan for today? Young man? Davy Crocket or Buck Rogers.
Bobby had a quick thought, a sudden temptation. Why not
give Mom a hint? Why? He could even tell her
and she still wouldn't know. Then later, after he was gone,
she would remember back and say that boy, when he
tells you something, he really means it. Bobby smiled and said,
(02:07):
I think I'll go to the moon today. Mom smiled
too and went back to her fashions. Well, see to
it your fuel mixture is correct. I'll check it, and Mom,
I might not be home for lunch. Where will you be?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I don't know. Well, mind your manners and say thank
you when you leave. Missus Kendall, still smiling, watched Bobby
dash out into the yard. Living on a restricted governin
aarya had one compensation. At least you didn't have to
worry about your children. Four dozen families, all with offspring
trapped behind ten foot patrolled fence. Here, nobody worried about
(02:43):
their children. They came and went, and at noon a
mother fed whatever number happened to be in the house
at the time. Missus Kendall usually drew six or seven.
It would be a relief to dodge that chore for
one saturday. Out in the backyard, Bobby fussed around his
space rocket a little tiding a screw here, hammering a
nail there, just until he could slip away without Mom
(03:04):
noticing his direction. It wasn't a bad rocket at that,
six feet long, with two seats and a keen instrument panel,
but kid stuff. Of course, after he found the way
in through the sewer, he hadn't paid any attention to
his own ship. He could see Mom through the window
back in her book, so he went casually out through
(03:25):
the back gate, turned left, kicking at pebbles as he
sauntered along and trying to look as though he had
no place to go. Had to be careful, didn't want
to bump into any of the other kids today either.
The way in through the sewer was at a place
behind laboratory b There was a kind of alley that
nobody ever walked through, and then this round lid you
(03:45):
could lift up and look under, and the ladder you
could climb down. Bobby hadn't dared go down at first,
but after thinking about it overnight, his curiosity went out,
and he went back and ducked down into the lower level.
He called it a sewer because sewers being underground, but
this place was clean and had bunches of wires strung
in every direction with faint little lights you could see by.
(04:08):
Bobby went further and further every trip he took, never
telling anybody because you weren't supposed to talk about things
a buffalo flats, not even to the other kids. Then
he found the big drone where they were building the rocket.
It was so sleek and beautiful and shiny that he
just stared at it up through the grating and the
floor that was there for air circulation or something. He
(04:30):
didn't know it was the Moon rocket at first, not
until he'd gone back several times to peek up at it.
And then one day two scientists came walking along right
in front of his nose. One of them was Dad.
Bobby almost called out, but he caught himself and just
listened to them talking. This was the first time his
conscience bothered him about going underneath the drone. He thought
(04:50):
about it a lot, whether it was the right thing
to do, and while he was never able to still
his conscience completely, he quieted down by saying he really
wasn't doing any har because he never told anybody what
he saw. He learned the rocket was going to the
Moon by listening to Dad and the other scientists talk
when they thought they were alone. And it was funny
(05:10):
because even there they spoke in low voices and didn't
give too much away. He'd known now for three days
that at four o'clock the roof would open and the
drone would be turned into a blast pit, and the
rocket would shoot out through space to the Moon. That
was all he did know for sure. None of the
men had said who was going on the first trip
to the Moon. Nothing had been said on that subject
(05:31):
at all. But Bobby knew Dad would go. He would
have to. After all, Dad was the second biggest scientist
at Buffalo Flats, second only to Schlimer himself, and Professor
Schlmer was very old and certainly wouldn't make the trip.
That left Dad. Dad would just have to go in
order to run the rocket. There probably wasn't anyone else
(05:51):
smart enough in the whole place. The idea of going
himself had been born the previous day, when he found
a larger grating in the floor near the rocket and
realized if he was very careful, he could climb out
of the sewer and duck into the rocket when nobody
was looking. Once inside, he was pretty sure he'd find
a place to hide until blast offs. All the men
(06:13):
would probably be strapped into bunks, but if he found
a place he could wedge himself in, he didn't think
he'd get hurt. Then halfway to the moon he would
come out and find Dad, and would he be surprised.
At first thinking about it, he was scared, but after
he realized how proud Dad and Mom would be, he
made up his mind. Now crouched beside the grating near
(06:35):
the ship, he waited while two men technicians in white
overalls walked by. One of them said, well, whatever happens,
she'll make a big splash. You said it, hope the
brains know what they're doing. That made Bobby mad, who
said Dad didn't know what he was doing. Dad was
just about the smartest scientist in the world. After the
(06:55):
two men left, he waited a long time. He heard voices,
but no one came in sight. Taking a deep breath,
he opened the grating and got out. Was only four
steps to the open port of the rocket. There was
a little ramp they'd used to roll things in, and
Bobby's feet touched it but lightly. As he jumped into
the ship, he found himself in some kind of a
store room. It would be a good place to hide,
(07:16):
all right. It was full of aluminum barrels, all the
same size. He found a space between two rows and
sat down and got his breath back. It was very
quiet around him, scary quiet, but he set his lips firmly.
He was going to the moon with Dad. John Kendall
(07:38):
was a little late that night. He kissed his wife
and said, well, did you see the big sky rocket?
How could I miss it? Darling? Your supper is in
the oven. I could use a martini first, coming right up.
While Myra fixed the drink, John lay back in his
easy chair and closed his eyes. We'd hoped to stage
(07:59):
a little ceremony at the launching, but Washington said, no,
the Russians, the Eastern Coalition. It was a raised. That
was why it had to be so secret. Washington said,
why the fuse and fire? The thing?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Is it?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Still hush hush? No, not between us. At least we
fired an explosion rocket at the moon. It will hit
in about an hour, and telescopes will sew a big
purple spot where our explosives go off and throw dial
over the place. Meyra handed him a dry martini. I
see lots of fun, no doubt, But what's the purpose
(08:33):
fourth of July on the moon? Oh no. If the
experiment is a success, the next rocket will carry men
instead of a bomb. Meyra went to the kitchen to
see about supper. John called, where's Bobby in bed? I
suppose Meyra didn't hear, and John set his drink down
and moved toward the bedroom. Maybe he was still awake.
Bobby rolled over. His eyes popped open. Dad, I thought
(08:56):
you went to John Kendall sat down on the edge
of the bed hustled his son's hair. No, son, it's
the old Terra firma for me. Did you see the
rocket blast? Uh huh? It was really something. It went
to the moon, didn't it. That's right. Kendall smiled and thought,
try to keep a secret from kids. It just can't
(09:17):
be done. How's your moon rocket coming along? Sun? Pretty good? Gee, Dad,
as long as you didn't go. I'm glad I didn't
go either. You were planning to make the trip also,
Uh huh. I got into the rocket and was all set.
But I got to thinking about mom. How one of
us should stay and take care of her in case
anything happened. Smart thinking, son, Now you good to sleep.
(09:39):
I'll have a little time tomorrow we'll play ball. That'll
be keen. John Kendall smiled as he left the bedroom.
Kids were wonderful. Give him a few old boards and
a steering wheel, and they could build a ship to
fly to the moon. What a wonderful dream they lived in.
Too bad they had to grow out of it. End
of Zero Hour ou Alexander Blade
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