The deep space scrolls

By ROBERT F. YOUNG
Illustrated by SCHELLING
Robert F. Young, who has so felicitously mined the fields of mythology for sf themes, poses a question about one of our most basic racial memories—and about the nature of our concept of God.
Following is a transcript of the closed hearing conducted June 18, 1969 by the Special Senate Committee to Survey Space Progress. Committee chairman: Senator Larch. Committee members in attendance: Senators Kuell, Nicholson, and Hewlett. Witness: Lieutenant Colonel Willard S. Greaves, companion-pilot of the Camaraderie 17.
TRANSCRIPTS:
SEN. LARCH: Before getting down to the business on hand, Colonel Greaves, I would like to congratulate you on behalf of my colleagues and myself on your participation in last week's successful orbital flight of the Camaraderie 17 . Yours and Commander Perkins' achievement stands out as a glowing landmark on the perilous path which this country is blazing into space. Also, I would like to point out to you that the governing principle behind this committee since its inception one year and three months ago has not been to bury astronauts but to praise them, and that the present investigation is not intended to cast umbrage upon your integrity but to clarify certain aspects of your experience that both we and the public-at-large have found confusing. Now, to proceed: You and Commander Perkins lifted out of New Canaveral in the supercapsule Camaraderie 17 at 0659 hours on the tenth of June, 1969, and began a three-orbit flight the apogee of which was approximately 1,400 miles, the perigee of which was approximately 1,290 miles, and the purpose of which was to test your reactions to deep space—that is, space beyond the perimeter of the orbital flights thus far undertaken—preparatory to the launching of the first manned moon-vehicle. Is that correct, Colonel Greaves?
LT. COL. GREAVES: That is correct.
SEN. LARCH: Exactly when and where during this three-orbit flight did you and Commander Perkins first sight the ghost ship, colonel?