The End of the Aliens
The Captain led Frank and Joe to the main observation lounge. Frank and Joe stepped up to the telescope, one after the other. They examined the scene on the lunar surface, then turned away, white-faced.
“Is there any chance of humans going there now and helping the aliens?” Frank asked the Captain.
“No, I’m afraid not,” the Captain replied. “The aliens are no doubt dead by now, and even if they weren’t, the radiation from the fission explosion would be so intense that no one could approach the area for years.”
“But what about their ship?” Joe asked. “Can’t we at least try to contact it and warn them?”
“The ship is undoubtedly damaged, and even if it isn’t, the aliens are probably so primitive that they wouldn’t be able to understand our warning.”
“I’m sorry it had to end this way, but there’s nothing more we can do.”
The boys said goodnight and went to their quarters. Frank and Joe climbed into their bunk beds and lay there, wide awake, staring up at the ceiling.
“I can’t believe it,” Frank said after a long silence. “We were so close.”
“But at least we tried,” Joe said.
The boys were silent for a while longer, then they both drifted off to sleep.
