Chapter 28 28. Cosmic Express

"You'd better not say that it will never fly." Kingsley said in a pleading tone. Morgan smiled slightly, carefully watching the life-size model and said: "It's so much like an ordinary railroad car." "That was the original plan. You can buy your ticket at the station, hand over your luggage, and sit in an easy chair to enjoy the scenery. Or, before you arrive at the 'central' space station, hang out in the bar for a few hours. The designers intend to furnish the interior according to the pattern. Do you think this idea is good?" "Not particularly. Five floors are never used in sleeping cars. In a very old sci-fi film, I saw a space vehicle with a circular observation deck. It seems that Antiques are more applicable."

"Do you still remember the name of that movie?" Kingsley asked hastily. "Looks like it's called 2,000 Years of Space War (Morgan mixed up two movies, it's Star Wars and 2,000 Years of Space War.") "Okay, let them look for it. Now please go inside." Morgan's heart was filled with childlike delight as they walked into the model.Diagrams and blueprints—that's another thing, but here everything is real and palpable.Moreover, on a beautiful day in the future, the twin brother of this model will break through the clouds and fly straight into the sky...

While walking while thinking, Morgan stumbled on the green carpet, and his thoughts returned from the sky to the ground. "It's another idea from the designers," Kingsley said. "Green reminds people of the earth. The ceiling will be blue—the higher the pod, the darker the tone, and the outside of the windows will be blue." It's full of stars." Morgan shook his head: "It's a pretty idea, but if the light is bright enough to read, the stars won't be seen. There must be a completely darkened compartment in the car." "It's been arranged in that part of the bar—you can order some drinks and hide behind the light-tight curtain," Kingsley said calmly.

Now, they are standing on the ground floor of the cosmic airtight cabin - a round room three meters high and eight meters in diameter.The compartments were filled with all sorts of boxes, containers, and consoles that were not yet in final arrangement. "It looks like a spaceship." Morgan said, "By the way, how many reserves are going to be carried on it?" "At full capacity—that is to say, fifty passengers—sufficient for at least a week. In the unlikely event of an emergency, it would take no more than three hours for rescuers to arrive. Of course, the Space Orbit Tower itself Must be undamaged. If that happens, there's no guarantee anyone will need any help..."

The second floor was empty for now; there wasn't even a temporary facility here.On the recessed boards, someone had chalked a large rectangular box, inside which was written in block letters: AIR BRAKE. "This will be used as a luggage room in the future, but it doesn't necessarily need such a large space. In case of necessity, some passengers can be accommodated here. The third floor is much more beautiful than this..." Kingsley introduced as he walked. After climbing up the spiral escalator, Morgan saw ten flying chairs of various styles; two chairs had mannequins sitting on them—a man and a woman.They were obviously too lonely.

"Our work has generally reached this level," Kingsley said, pointing to the luxuriously decorated swivel folding chair with a small table: "However, we still need to do some experiments." Morgan poked the pillow of the seat with his fist and asked: "Has anyone tried sitting here for five hours?" "There was a volunteer who weighed 100 kilograms. In fact, it was nothing special. A long time ago, it would have taken five hours to fly across the Pacific Ocean." The upper layer is exactly the same, but without the easy chair.Morgan and Kingsley didn't stop here, they went directly to a higher level.The bar looks like the real thing; in fact, only one automatic coffee machine is used.Above it, in an elaborate gilt frame, hung an ancient engraving, which seemed so appropriate here that Morgan could not help gazing at it.A train, dragging four small carriages of shells, is running at full power towards a huge full moon in the upper left corner of the picture.Through the window of the private room with the words "First Class", people wearing top hats are watching the panorama in front of them.The title below reads:

Take the train to the moon Prints, from the book: direct express train Ninety-seven hours and twenty minutes and can around the moon Jules Verne Novels "Haven't read the book," Morgan said. "It's a pity. It's interesting that he cleverly figured out a way to use the track..." "It has nothing to do with Jules Verne. The painting is just a joke made by the painter," Kingsley explained. "Well, please convey my congratulations to the designers. The design thinking is very coordinated." Putting aside the fantasies of the past, Morgan and Kingsley face the realities of the future.Looking out the wide viewing portholes, the eye was greeted with a breathtaking view of Earth, which, as Morgan pointed out with satisfaction, was not a casual sight, but a real spectacle.Since Taborobani is just below, it is of course out of sight, but it gives a view of the entire peninsula of India.From here, the view stretches all the way to the snowpacked Himalayas.

"In my opinion," said Morgan, "people will come to travel in the lift just for the sight of the action. 'Central' station will be one of the greatest attractions." He glanced at the blue sky. Ding Bo asked casually: "Is there anything interesting on it?" "Nothing special. The airlock has been finalized, but we haven't decided where to place the electronics that will ensure the center of the cosmic capsule," Kingsley replied. "Difficulties?" "No. When the speed reaches eight thousand kilometers per hour, the safety gap is guaranteed by various new magnets."

Morgan breathed a sigh of relief.In this field, he can only rely entirely on the judgment of others.The problem was clear from the outset that only magnetically acting propulsion devices could be used.Even the slightest physical contact - at speeds of over a kilometer per second! — would also immediately lead to an accident.The total distance between the four pairs of guide grooves on the facet of the space orbital tower and the magnetic thruster is only a few centimeters; however, as long as there is the slightest deviation in the position of the cosmic airtight cabin, there will be an immediate movement to push the cosmic airtight cabin back. Great force on the centerline.

"I'm getting old." Morgan couldn't help thinking as he followed Kingsley down the spiral staircase: "Of course, it wouldn't be too difficult to get up to the 'top room', but we didn't." After all, it would be great to go there... I am fifty-nine years old, and it will take at least five years before the first passenger car can be driven to the 'Central' station. After that, it will take three years of experimentation and adjustment Time. That is to say, it will take ten years before it will be officially opened to navigation, and it will not be earlier than this..."

Although it was warm inside the prototype, he shivered involuntarily.For the first time in his life, Morgan realized that the glorious victory he so desired might come too late.

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