The next month was one of unaccustomed excitement for the tranquilly routine existence of human society. First the death of the one survivor of the earliest generation of Learned Masters and then the announcement about the renewed thrust to the stars that was to be enacted by the three men who had made it possible. There was talk for a time of constructing a larger ship that could carry a full crew complement but Lowen's arguments had quickly overcome such objections. For one thing, design and execution of the project would take many years. For another, it would require vast expenditures even in the preliminary stages. "Of course, the effort is worth any amount eventually," Lowen had been the first to emphasize, "but why not wait until we see what the results are from the smaller design first?"
"Very reasonable," President Collins had agreed. "You three have sacrificed your own interests far beyond the call of duty."
This devotion reinforced his decision to have the three men named Learned Masters before their theory was put to the ultimate test, a move that had been hopefully anticipated in their calculations. Here, though, some public opposition did develop. "No one has ever been named a Learned Master under the age of one hundred and fifty," a few people pointed out. "Now, suddenly, we are told three men, none of them more than eighty-five, should be so honored! Even the great Huddleston never had that."
But President Collins expressed the feelings of the overwhelming majority of citizens when he said, "The successful accomplishment of the task these men have set themselves will be an even greater achievement than that of their first teacher." His viewpoint prevailed and, after much grumbling, the Solar Institute of Learning unanimously confirmed their nomination for supreme honors.
The ceremony took place four months after construction on the New Cosmos had begun and was celebrated in the great hall of the Institute. The world's most important figure in each major field of thought, usually a doddering oldster, gave a confirming speech; and the accompanying three-D explanations enthralled billions who suddenly discovered how bored they had been for the past century. The only flaw in an otherwise glorious day of festivities was the refusal of Eunice Huddleston to participate. She issued no public statement but they knew well enough that she still insisted they had somehow upset her uncle and that, if his death could not have been avoided, his final moments could have at least been happier ones without their intrusion.
Her abstention almost upset Fitzhugh. "Still," he managed to console himself, "she'll see the matter in a different light once we get back."
Lowen, though, remained altogether undisturbed by the development. "I feel like a distinguished oldster and like a vigorous youngster both at the same time. Learned Master—oh, my colleagues, how we've managed to speed things up!"
"Which just goes to prove," Crane laughed, "that you really can have your cake and eat it."
Planning the flight was much simpler than it seemed to the non-specialist public. Very little of a new nature had to be added to the ship's design beyond what had been known for a long time. And there was no doubt that hyperdrive speeds far beyond those of light were possible if the proper carrier components were selected from those that averaged out to the normal 186,000-mile limit. That had been mastered a long time ago. The only doubt had been about the ability to return. Now that was dispelled and they could safely plan to reach a point close to the galactic center and return within seven weeks. No calculations had been left to chance; the survey of all known factors showed that it was no more dangerous than a journey within the solar system—and that certainly was routine by now.
If anything, popular enthusiasm increased the longer the project lasted. Thousands of men threw themselves into the round-the-clock effort and nine months after construction had commenced the great sleek ship was ready.