
A lone prospector named Evans finds himself on the Moon’s barren surface, far from the bustling colonies of Williamson Town. His massive tractor and high‑cost equipment have turned a routine haul into an isolated outpost, when a tiny meteor pierces the steam turbine that powers his life‑support generator. The sudden loss of power leaves the habitat dead‑silent, the lights out, and the crucial cooling system shattered.
With only a handful of rationed meals, a limited water stash, and a precarious four‑day oxygen reserve, Evans must decide whether to wait for rescue or improvise a solution. He discovers a frozen block of water in the condenser—a paradox caused by the meteor’s impact—and realizes that reviving the generator may hinge on melting that ice and coaxing the boiler back to life.
The story follows Evans’s methodical, tense battle against dwindling supplies, the unforgiving lunar night, and his own doubts, turning a simple mechanical failure into a gritty test of human ingenuity and perseverance.
Language
en
Duration
~32 minutes (31K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2008-01-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Best remembered for two lively science-fiction stories from 1959, this elusive writer left behind a small but memorable footprint in the golden-age magazine era. His work mixes humor, troublemaking, and a fondness for ordinary people getting in over their heads.
View all books
by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Pauline E. (Pauline Elizabeth) Hopkins

by Laure Conan

by George Sand