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diff --git a/18520-h/18520-h.htm b/18520-h/18520-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d826af6 --- /dev/null +++ b/18520-h/18520-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8121 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sabotage in Space, by Carey Rockwell + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + ul { list-style-type: none; } + + ins.correction { text-decoration:none; + border-bottom: thin dotted gray; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .ralign {position: absolute; top: auto; right: 15%;} + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 1px; padding: 0 2em 1em 2em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .lowercase {text-transform: lowercase;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sabotage in Space, by Carey Rockwell + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Sabotage in Space + +Author: Carey Rockwell + +Illustrator: Louis Glanzman + +Release Date: June 6, 2006 [EBook #18520] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SABOTAGE IN SPACE *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>SABOTAGE IN SPACE</h1> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE TOM CORBETT SPACE CADET STORIES</h2> + +<h2>By Carey Rockwell</h2> + +<p class="center">STAND BY FOR MARS!</p> + +<p class="center">DANGER IN DEEP SPACE</p> + +<p class="center">ON THE TRAIL OF THE SPACE PIRATES</p> + +<p class="center">THE SPACE PIONEERS</p> + +<p class="center">THE REVOLT ON VENUS</p> + +<p class="center">TREACHERY IN OUTER SPACE</p> + +<p class="center">SABOTAGE IN SPACE</p> + +<p class="center">THE ROBOT ROCKET</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<a name="FRONTISPIECE" id="FRONTISPIECE"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-004.png" width="500" height="582" alt="Frontispiece" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>A TOM CORBETT Space Cadet Adventure</h2> + + +<h1>SABOTAGE +IN SPACE</h1> + +<h3>By CAREY ROCKWELL</h3> + +<h3>WILLY LEY <i>Technical Adviser</i></h3> + + +<h3>GROSSET & DUNLAP <i>Publishers</i> New York</h3> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap lowercase">COPYRIGHT, 1955, BY<br /> +ROCKHILL RADIO<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +©ROCKHILL RADIO 1955<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /> +ILLUSTRATIONS BY</span> LOUIS GLANZMAN<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap lowercase">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="bbox"><h3>Transcriber's Note</h3> + +<p class="center">Extensive search has failed to uncover any evidence of +renewal of copyright of this work.</p></div> + + +<h3>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h3> + +<ul><li><a href="#CHAPTER_1"><b>CHAPTER 1</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_2"><b>CHAPTER 2</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_3"><b>CHAPTER 3</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_4"><b>CHAPTER 4</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_5"><b>CHAPTER 5</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_6"><b>CHAPTER 6</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_7"><b>CHAPTER 7</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_8"><b>CHAPTER 8</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_9"><b>CHAPTER 9</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_10"><b>CHAPTER 10</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_11"><b>CHAPTER 11</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_12"><b>CHAPTER 12</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_13"><b>CHAPTER 13</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_14"><b>CHAPTER 14</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_15"><b>CHAPTER 15</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_16"><b>CHAPTER 16</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_17"><b>CHAPTER 17</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_18"><b>CHAPTER 18</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_19"><b>CHAPTER 19</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_20"><b>CHAPTER 20</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></span></li></ul> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<ul><li><i><a href="#FRONTISPIECE">Frontispiece</a></i></li> +<li>Tom shot a hard right to his opponent's stomach<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></span></li> +<li>Tom swerved the jet car in front of the runaway truck<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></span></li> +<li>The men inside were tough-looking and steely-eyed<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_90">89</a></span></li> +<li>Tom saw that the Space Marines were watching the passengers very closely<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_138">137</a></span></li> +<li>"He's hanging on to the cleat over the main tube!"<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></span></li> +<li>"The projectiles blew Devers' ship into rocket dust!"<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_210">209</a></span></li></ul> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SABOTAGE IN SPACE</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_1" id="CHAPTER_1"></a>CHAPTER 1</h2> + + +<p>"<i>Bong-g-g! Bong-g-g! Bong-g-g!—</i>"</p> + +<p>With a hollow booming sound reminiscent of old +eighteenth-and nineteenth-century clock towers, the +electronic time tone rang out from the Tower of Galileo, +chiming the hour of nine. As the notes reverberated +over the vast expanse of Space Academy, U.S.A., the +lights in the windows of the cadet dormitories began to +wink out and the slidewalks that crisscrossed the campus, +connecting the various buildings, rumbled to a +halt. When the last mournful note had rolled away to +die in the distant hills, the school was dark and still. +The only movement to be seen was the slow pacing of +the cadet watch officers, patrolling their beats; the only +sound, the measured clicking of their boots on the +metal strips of the slidewalks.</p> + +<p>On the north side of the quadrangle near the Tower, +a young watch officer paused in front of one of the dormitories +and scanned the darkened windows of the +durasteel and crystal building. Satisfied that all was in +order, he continued on his lonely way. A moment later<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +a shadowy figure rose out of the bushes opposite the +dormitory entrance and stepped forward quickly and +cautiously. Pausing on the slidewalk to stare after the +disappearing watch officer, the figure was illuminated +by the dim light from the entrance hall. He was a +young man wearing the royal-blue uniform of a Space +Cadet. Tall and wiry, with square features topped by a +shock of close-cropped blond hair, he stood poised on +the balls of his feet, ready to move quickly should another +watch officer appear.</p> + +<p>After a quick glance at his wrist chronometer, the +young cadet darted across the slidewalk toward the +transparent crystal portal of the dormitory. Hesitating +only long enough to make certain that the inner hallway +was clear, he slid the portal open, ducked inside, +and sprinted down the hall toward a large black panel +on the wall near the foot of the slidestairs. On the panel, +in five long columns, were the name plates of every cadet +quartered in the dormitory and beside each plate +were two words, IN and OUT, with a small tab that +fitted over one of the words.</p> + +<p>Out of the one hundred and fifty cadets in the dormitory, +one hundred and forty-nine were marked IN. The +slender, blond-haired cadet quickly made it unanimous, +reaching up to the tab next to the name of Roger +Manning and sliding it over to cover the word OUT. With a +last final look around, he raced up the slidestairs, +smiling in secret triumph.</p> + +<p>In Room 512 on the fifth floor of the dormitory, Tom +Corbett and Astro, the two other cadets who, with +Roger Manning, made up the famed <i>Polaris</i> unit of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +Space Cadet Corps, were deep in their studies. Though +the lights-out order had been given over the dormitory +loud-speaker system, the desk lamp burned brightly +and there was a blanket thrown over the window. The +boys of the <i>Polaris</i> unit weren't alone in their disobedience. +All over the dormitory, lights were on and cadets +were studying secretly. But they all felt fairly safe, for +the cadet watch officers on each floor were anxious to +study themselves and turned a blind eye. Even the Solar +Guard officer of the day, in charge of the entire +dormitory, was sympathetic to their efforts and made a +great deal of unnecessary noise while on his evening +rounds.</p> + +<p>His brown curly hair falling over his forehead, Tom +Corbett frowned in concentration as he kept the +earphones of his study machine clamped tightly to his ears +and listened to a recorded lecture on astrophysics as it +unreeled from the spinning study spool. As command +cadet of the <i>Polaris</i> unit, Tom was required to know +more than merely his <ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original reads 'particularly'.">particular</ins> duty as pilot of a +rocket ship. He had to be familiar with every phase of +space travel, with a working knowledge of the duties of +all his unit mates.</p> + +<p>Astro, the power-deck officer of the unit, paced back +and forth between the bunks like a huge, hulking bear, +muttering to himself as he tried to memorize the table +of reaction times for rocket motors. Though the huge +Venusian cadet was a genius at all mechanical tasks, +and able to work with tools the way a surgeon worked +with instruments, he had great difficulty in learning the +theories and scientific reasons for all the things he did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +instinctively. Suddenly Astro stopped, looked at his +chronometer, then turned to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Tom!" he called. "Where's that jerk, Manning?"</p> + +<p>"Huh?" replied Tom, lifting one of the earphones +from his ears. "What did you say, Astro?"</p> + +<p>"Where's Manning?" reiterated Astro. "It's ten minutes +after lights out."</p> + +<p>"He was going to get those study spools for us, wasn't +he?" mused Tom.</p> + +<p>"He should've been back by now," grunted the Venusian. +"The library closed an hour ago. Besides, he +couldn't have gotten those spools. Every other cadet in +the Academy is after them."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's a pretty resourceful joker," sighed Tom, +turning back to the study machine. "When he goes after +something, he gets it by hook or crook."</p> + +<p>"It's the crook part that bothers me," grumbled Astro. +"Besides, if the O.D. catches him out of quarters, he'll +be doing his studying while he's polishing up the mess +hall."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the door to the room burst open and +slammed closed. Tom and Astro whirled to see their +missing unit mate lounging against the doorframe, grinning +broadly.</p> + +<p>"Roger!"</p> + +<p>"Where've you been, blast you?"</p> + +<p>Tom and Astro both jumped forward and spoke at +the same time. The blond-haired cadet merely looked +at them lazily and then sauntered forward, pulling six +small study spools from his pockets.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You wanted these study spools, didn't you?" he +drawled, giving his unit mates three apiece. "Be my +guest and study like mad."</p> + +<p>Tom and Astro quickly read the titles of the spools +and then looked at Roger in amazement. They were the +ones the unit needed for their end-term exams, the ones +all the cadets needed.</p> + +<p>"Roger," Tom demanded, "how did you get these +spools? The library was out of them this afternoon. Did +you take them from another unit's quarters?"</p> + +<p>"I did not!" said Roger stoutly. "And I don't like your +insinuations that I would." He grinned. "Relax! We +have them and we can breeze through them in the +morning and have them back where they belong by +noon tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Where they belong!" Tom exclaimed. "Then you +have no right to them."</p> + +<p>"Listen, hot-shot!" growled Astro. "I want to know +where you got these spools and how."</p> + +<p>"Well, if that isn't gratitude for you!" muttered +Roger. "I go out and risk my neck for my dear beloved +unit mates and they stand around arguing instead of +buckling down to study."</p> + +<p>"This is no joke, Roger," said Tom seriously. "Now for +the last time, will you tell us how you got them?"</p> + +<p>Roger thought a moment and then shrugged his +shoulders. "All right," he said finally. "When I went +down to the library to see if it was our turn for them +yet, I found that we were still twenty-seventh in line."</p> + +<p>"Twenty-seventh?" gasped Astro.</p> + +<p>"That's right, spaceboy!" snorted Roger. "So I tried to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +con that little space doll of a librarian into moving our +names up on the list, but just then an Earthworm cadet +came in with an order from Tony Richards of the <i>Capella</i> +unit, an order for the very spools we needed."</p> + +<p>"You mean, you took them from an Earthworm?" +queried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't take them exactly," replied Roger. "I +waited for him out on the quadrangle and I told him he +was wanted in the cadet dispatcher's office right away +and that I would take the spools on up to Tony."</p> + +<p>"And you brought them here!" howled Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yup." Roger grinned. "Do you think that squirt will +know who I am? Not in a million years. And by the +time Tony and the others do find out who has them, +we'll be finished. Get it?"</p> + +<p>"I get it, all right, you crummy little chiseler," +growled Astro. "Tom, we gotta give these back to Tony."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded. "You're right," he said.</p> + +<p>"Now wait a minute!" said Roger angrily. "I went to +a lot of trouble to get these things for you—"</p> + +<p>"Look, Roger," Tom interrupted, "I would rather +have one night with those spools than a two-week leave +in Atom City right now. But the <i>Capella</i> unit is having +a tough time making the Spring passing lists. They need +those spools more than we do."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Astro. "We could probably take the tests +now and pass, but they really have to study. I'm for getting +them back to the <i>Capella</i> unit right now. How +about you, Tom?"</p> + +<p>The young cadet nodded and turned to Roger who +stood there, frowning. "Roger," said Tom, "both Astro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +and I really appreciate it. But you wouldn't want the +<i>Capella</i> unit to flunk out of the Academy, would you?"</p> + +<p>Roger gnawed at his thumbnail and then looked at +his two unit mates sheepishly. "You're right, fellas," he +said. "It was kind of a dirty trick. Give me the spools. +I'll take them back to Tony right now."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Astro. "It's after hours. +We're not supposed to be out of the dorm."</p> + +<p>For a second the three boys looked at each other hesitantly. +Then, as though they had telepathically conveyed +their individual decisions to each other, they +turned toward the door. Tom opened it and stepped out +into the hall cautiously, then turned back and nodded. +Roger and Astro followed him quickly.</p> + +<p>As Roger closed the door behind him, he murmured, +"There's no reason for all of us to go. I was the one who +took the spools, so I should bring them back. Why +should you two guys risk getting caught?"</p> + +<p>Astro punched him in the shoulder fondly. "We always +work together, don't we?" he declared. "If one's +gonna get into trouble, we all should."</p> + +<p>"Let's go," urged Tom in a sharp whisper, and they +all raced silently toward the slidestairs.</p> + +<p>Seconds later, the three cadets of the <i>Polaris</i> unit +were down in the main hallway of the dormitory building, +tiptoeing toward the front portal. Pausing only to +look into the O.D.'s office to make sure the officer +wouldn't spot them, they reached the portal and ducked +out. Pausing again to scan the immediate area for any +watch officers, they darted across the slidewalk and into +the shadows of the shrubbery.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>Quickly and soundlessly, they raced across the green +lawn of the quadrangle toward the dormitory where +the <i>Capella</i> unit was quartered. Once they sprawled +headlong on the turf and lay still as a watch officer suddenly +appeared out of the darkness at the base of the +Tower of Galileo. But he walked past without seeing +them and they continued on across the quadrangle.</p> + +<p>Reaching another clump of shrubbery right opposite +the <i>Capella</i> unit's dormitory, the boys stopped and discussed +their final move.</p> + +<p>"This is getting ridiculous," whispered Roger. "I +shouldn't have let you two come with me. But I'm going +the rest of the way myself."</p> + +<p>"We came this far, Roger," asserted Tom. "We'll go +the rest of the way and help you explain."</p> + +<p>"And you've got a space-blasting lot to explain."</p> + +<p>The three cadets whirled as a familiar voice snarled +out of the darkness behind them. They saw three figures, +all in cadet uniforms, wearing the insigne of the +<i>Capella</i> unit. In the forefront was Tony Richards scowling +angrily.</p> + +<p>"Tony!" gasped Tom. "What are you doing out here?"</p> + +<p>"We were on our way over to your dorm, Corbett," +growled Tony Richards. "We saw you three sneaking +across the quadrangle."</p> + +<p>"Coming to pay us a visit, fellas?" asked Roger +blandly.</p> + +<p>"You know blasted well why we were coming," +snapped McAvoy, the second member of the <i>Capella</i> +crew.</p> + +<p>Davison, the third member of the unit, stepped forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +"Give us back our study spools," he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy," said Tom in a calm voice. "We were +bringing them back to you."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet," snapped McAvoy.</p> + +<p>"Relax," growled Astro. "Tom said we were returning +them. We admit it was a dirty trick, but you haven't +lost much time. Half an hour maybe."</p> + +<p>"Don't try to cover for Manning, Astro," said Tony +heatedly. "It's a shame you two guys are stuck with a +bad rocket like Manning in your unit."</p> + +<p>"Bad rocket!" exclaimed Roger.</p> + +<p>"Now, wait a minute, Tony," Tom said, advancing toward +the broad-shouldered cadet. "We are returning +the spools, and we apologize for yanking them from the +Earthworm. But that doesn't mean we'll listen to that +kind of talk about Roger."</p> + +<p>"He stole them, didn't he?" retorted Davison.</p> + +<p>Roger stepped forward. "Davy, my boy," he said in a +low controlled tone, "I don't like that remark. I've got a +notion to make you eat that word."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you can, Manning," replied the angry +cadet.</p> + +<p>Tom stepped between them quickly. "Listen, fellows, +we don't want any trouble. Here are the spools." He +held them out.</p> + +<p>"That's what I mean, Corbett," said McAvoy sarcastically. +"Manning gets you in trouble and then you and +the big boy have to bail him out."</p> + +<p>"We've apologized," retorted Astro angrily. "You're +getting the spools back. So no more cracks about +Roger."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can take care of myself, Astro," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Here, take the spools and get back to your dorm," +growled Tom. He handed the pile of spools over, but as +Tony extended his hands, one of the spools dropped to +the grass. No one made a move to pick it up.</p> + +<p>"There are the spools," said Tom icily. "Now beat it."</p> + +<p>"Let's go," said Davison, leaning over to pick up the +spool. "The air is beginning to stink around here."</p> + +<p>Red-faced, Roger stepped forward and put his foot +on the spool just as Davison reached for it. "That's +enough, Davison," he snarled.</p> + +<p>"Why, you dirty space crawler—" Davison straightened +up and swung wildly. Roger ducked the blow easily, +then spun the heavy-set cadet around and pushed +him back into the bushes.</p> + +<p>Tony Richards stepped forward and Astro turned to +him threateningly, but Tom quickly shoved them aside +and faced Richards.</p> + +<p>"Listen, Tony," he said. "We're all out after hours, +and if a watch officer spots us, we've had it. We don't +want any trouble." He glanced at Davison, who was +being restrained by McAvoy. "We apologize. Now get +out of here before we're all logged."</p> + +<p>Richards nodded and started to turn to his unit mates +when suddenly Davison jerked free and lunged at +Roger. The blond-haired cadet was not caught +unawares. He stepped aside and threw a quick jolting +right straight to the <i>Capella</i> cadet's jaw. Davison +staggered back and fell to the ground. He shook his head, +jumped to his feet again, and charged back with a roar.</p> + +<p>Both Tom and Astro and Tony Richards and McAvoy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +grabbed at their respective unit mates and tried to restrain +them. In the struggle to keep Roger and Davison +apart, Astro accidentally pushed Richards to one +side.</p> + +<p>"What in blazes—!" yelled Richards. He suddenly released +Davison and gave Astro a shove that sent the +big cadet sprawling. And then, without warning, McAvoy +swung at Tom. The curly-haired cadet saw the +blow coming a fraction of a second too late and caught +it on the side of his head. He fell back into the bushes.</p> + +<p>Roger yelled in anger at the sudden attack, and grabbing +Davison by the front of his tunic, slammed a hard +right into the cadet's stomach. Richards grabbed Roger, +holding him around the head and neck, as McAvoy +swung at him viciously. Seeing their unit mate pommeled, +Tom and Astro charged back and the battle was +on. The two units forgot about the watch officers and +the strong possibility of being caught and slugged it out +in the darkness of the quadrangle. The fight seemed to +be the climax of a long-standing feud. The <i>Polaris</i> crew +had first come to grips with Richards and his unit mates +when they were assigned to the old rocket cruiser <i>Arcturus</i>. +When the ship was scrapped, the cadets were +transferred to the <i>Capella</i>, but the rivalry continued +stronger than before. Time and time again, the two +crack units had competed for hours on the athletic +fields, in space flight tests, and in the classroom. The +<i>Polaris</i> unit had constantly come out ahead, often by no +more than a fraction of points, but their superiority was +clear, and the <i>Capella</i> unit could not repress its resentment +and jealousy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tony Richards and Tom had squared off and were +boxing with lightninglike thrusts of their fists, each +waiting for an opening. In back of them, Roger and +Davison were simply hammering away at each other's +mid-sections, and Astro and McAvoy were rolling +around on the ground like bears, growling and tugging. +It was brute strength against brute strength.</p> + +<p>Tom danced away from Richards' rapierlike left, +weaved low, and shot a hard right to his opponent's +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original reads 'stomach. That'">stomach that</ins> left him gasping. Richards doubled over +and stepped in to bring up a solid right, then hesitated. +Richards was through. The blow to the mid-section had +taken all the fight out of him. Tom refused to pursue his +advantage while the other could not fight back. His anger +cooling rapidly, Tom realized that the whole fight +was nothing more than a misunderstanding. As Richards +sank to the grass helpless and gasping for breath, +Tom turned to break up the other two fights. But Roger +was just finishing his battle with Davison. Feinting to +the mid-section and pulling Davison's guard down, +Roger hooked his left cleanly to the jaw, following immediately +with a haymaker right. Davison dropped to +the turf, out cold.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Astro had rolled on top of the last cadet +of the <i>Capella</i> unit, and with his great strength, +clamped McAvoy's arms to his side. Face to face, the +two cadets glared at each other. The muscles tightened +in Astro's arms, and beads of sweat popped out on his +face.</p> + +<p>"Give up!" demanded the Venusian, tightening his +grip.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-023.png" width="500" height="594" alt="Tom shot a hard right to his opponent's stomach" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Tom shot a hard right to his opponent's stomach</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>Slowly McAvoy sagged under the pressure Astro was +applying and his face began to redden.</p> + +<p>"He'll break his back," whispered Roger to Tom.</p> + +<p>Tom nodded and stepped forward. "Let him go, Astro. +He's finished."</p> + +<p>Astro did not let go. His face was white with anger. +McAvoy bent further back. "Give up," demanded Astro.</p> + +<p>"Grab him," said Tom to Roger. "Get him off Mac before +he breaks his back."</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger jumped to Astro's side and each +grabbed one of the powerful arms encircling McAvoy. +It took all their strength to break the viselike hold the +giant Venusian had on the other cadet, but slowly they +pulled the muscular arms back and McAvoy slumped +to the grass.</p> + +<p>The three victorious cadets paused and looked down +at the beaten <i>Capella</i> crew, then looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"Well," sighed Roger, "I suppose that the least we +can do now is get them back to their dorm."</p> + +<p>Tom and Astro nodded. As the three boys started forward +they were stopped by a voice behind them—a +voice that roared like an atomic blast.</p> + +<p>"<i>Stand to!</i>"</p> + +<p>Whirling around in surprise for the second time +within a space of ten minutes, Tom, Astro, and Roger +saw a menacing sight standing behind them, his balled +fists jammed on his hips, his booted legs widespread, +and his massive head thrust forward. It was Major Lou +Connel, more familiarly known as "Blast-off" Connel, a +Senior Line Officer of the Solar Guard and the sternest +disciplinarian in the whole Academy. Behind him stood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +a short, thin man, whom none of the boys recognized.</p> + +<p>Connel stepped forward slowly and menacingly, +glaring at the three boys.</p> + +<p>"Out a little late, aren't you, boys?" he asked with a +mildness that sent a chill down their spines.</p> + +<p>"Y-yes sir," replied Tom, a slight tremor in his voice.</p> + +<p>"On official business, I presume?" The major's voice +was still as smooth as silk.</p> + +<p>Tom gulped and then shook his head. "N-no, sir," he +quavered.</p> + +<p>Connel's eyes widened in mock horror. "Why, Corbett," +he exclaimed, "didn't anyone ever tell you the +rules of Space Academy? Or perhaps you didn't know +what time it was?"</p> + +<p>Tom bit his lip. He knew that he and his unit mates +were caught in a hopeless trap and that Connel was +simply baiting them. "I knew what time it was, sir," he +said. "We're out after hours."</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a movement in the brush behind +Tom as McAvoy stumbled to his feet. Richards also sat +up groggily.</p> + +<p>"Major!" It was the man behind Connel who spoke. +"Who are they?"</p> + +<p>As though in answer, Davison stood up too and the +three members of the <i>Capella</i> unit were suddenly and +horribly aware of the presence of Connel. They immediately +braced themselves, their faces white with sudden +fear.</p> + +<p>"So!" Now the major's voice began to roar again. +"Fighting, eh? Well, now we really have something +here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir," began Richards tremulously, "if you'll let us +explain—"</p> + +<p>"I'll let you explain all right," thundered Connel. +"Out after hours, fighting, you'll have a great time explaining +to an inquiry."</p> + +<p>"An inquiry!" Tom exclaimed involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"Did you expect anything less?" roared Connel. "You +are all under arrest and confined to quarters."</p> + +<p>The six cadets all trembled but said nothing, standing +at rigid attention, eyes straight ahead.</p> + +<p>"Return to your quarters immediately."</p> + +<p>As one, the cadets wheeled and marched off. Tom, +Astro, and Roger walked across the quadrangle back to +their dorm, and the <i>Capella</i> unit took the slidewalk that +led to their quarters. Connel watched them go, a ferocious +scowl on his craggy features.</p> + +<p>"Little rough on them, weren't you, Major?" asked +the man who stood beside the Solar Guard officer.</p> + +<p>"Rules are meant to be obeyed, Professor Hemmingwell," +retorted Connel stiffly.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you're right," mused the stranger. "But +what's this about an inquiry?"</p> + +<p>"A trial, Professor. A trial conducted by the cadets +themselves to see whether or not the accused should be +kicked out of the Academy."</p> + +<p>"Kicked out?" exclaimed the professor. "You certainly +do believe in discipline."</p> + +<p>"These boys are to be Solar Guardsmen," replied +Connel shortly. "If they can't obey orders now, they +never will."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's all very unimportant really, Major," Hemmingwell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +said with a shrug. "We have many more vital +things to think about now than mere cadets. Shall we +go? Commander Walters is waiting for us."</p> + +<p>As the little man in civilian clothes walked away, +Connel stifled a blistering retort. True, his mission here +at the Academy was of great importance. But cadets +were important too. And he was afraid. The <i>Polaris</i> unit +was in grave trouble, grave enough to cause expulsion +from the Academy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-027.png" width="500" height="156" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_2" id="CHAPTER_2"></a>CHAPTER 2</h2> + +<p>Space Academy, U.S.A.!</p> + +<p>This was the dream and goal of every boy in the +thrilling year 2354, when mankind had reached out beyond +the bounds of Earth and had conquered space, +colonizing planets and blazing trails to distant worlds +deep in the black void of the outer universe. To support +the ever-growing need for trained spacemen to man the +rocket ships that linked the planets and distant satellite +outposts, the Solar Alliance, the government of the +solar system, had erected Space Academy. It was there +that the most promising boys were trained to become +members of the Solar Guard to patrol the space lanes +and keep peace in the universe.</p> + +<p>Organized into tight, hard-hitting units of three, the +Academy cadets were trained to work together under +the most severe conditions. Their waking hours were +spent in one of two places; in powerful rocket cruisers, +blasting through space on endless training missions, or +at the Academy in classrooms and lecture halls, where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +they studied everything from the theory of space flight +to the application of space laws. A very important +course of study was the theory of government. For, +above all else, the Solar Alliance was a government of +the people. And to assure the survival and continuance +of that democratic system, the officers of the Solar +Guard functioned as the watchdogs of the space democracy, +entrusted with the vital mission of making +sure the government reflected the will of the people.</p> + +<p>As a practical approach to this course, the Academy +officials had established a Cadet Council for the settlement +of disputes and infractions of rules by the cadets. +It was to this cadet governing body that the fight between +the <i>Polaris</i> and the <i>Capella</i> units was referred by +Major Connel.</p> + +<p>The Academy had buzzed with talk since the fight, +and sides were drawn hard and fast. Both units were +extremely popular and the arguments raged through +the dormitories as to which unit was at fault.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Cadet Council decided to have a full +trial to give each unit a fair chance to defend itself +against the charges. A judge and jury were selected and +lawyers appointed for each side. Finally a date was set +for the trial.</p> + +<p>During this time, Tom, Roger, and Astro were confined +to their quarters. They did not talk much, each +conscious of the fact that should the Cadet Council decide +against them, they might be expelled from the +Academy. The same was true about the <i>Capella</i> unit, +of course, but the Council might decide the <i>Polaris</i> had +instigated the whole affair. Roger was particularly silent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +since his actions in obtaining the study spools had +started the whole chain of disastrous events.</p> + +<p>The boys did not know which cadet would be appointed +to defend them until late the following afternoon +when there was a knock on the door, and a small, +thin cadet, wearing a thick pair of eyeglasses that gave +him a decided owllike look, entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Alfie Higgins!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"The Brain!" yelled Astro.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, pal!" shouted Roger.</p> + +<p>The three cadets surrounded little Alfie and pommeled +him playfully in their joy at seeing another cadet. +Alfie merely looked at them gravely.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Tom, Roger, Astro," he said somberly.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" asked Tom. "We're not +allowed visitors."</p> + +<p>"I'm not a visitor, Tom," replied the little cadet. "I'm +your defense lawyer." He glanced at Roger and Astro. +"I hope that will be satisfactory to you."</p> + +<p>"Satisfactory!" exclaimed Tom. "Alfie, we couldn't ask +for anyone better."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Brain," said Roger. "You're the boy +for us."</p> + +<p>Astro grunted his approval. "Yeah."</p> + +<p>"Well, in that case," said Alfie, opening his brief case, +"I would suggest that we get right down to the facts. +The trial is tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"All right, Alfie, we're ready," said Tom. "I suppose +you want to hear the whole thing."</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind," said Alfie, adjusting his eyeglasses. +"You start, Roger."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sitting around the room, relaxed, yet concerned, the +four cadets discussed the details of the case. Alfie took +copious notes, occasionally interrupting Tom or Roger +or Astro to ask a pointed question.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-031.png" width="500" height="416" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>They talked for nearly four hours before Alfie was finally +satisfied that he knew all the facts. He left them +with the same somber attitude he had when he first arrived, +and when the boys were alone, they each felt a +chill of fear. The full meaning of a defense lawyer hit +them. They were in serious trouble. After a few moments +of silence, Tom rose and went into the bathroom +to take a shower. Astro flopped on his back in his bunk +and went to sleep. Roger began throwing darts idly at +his "solar system" over his bunk. It was a map of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +own design depicting the planets revolving around the +sun, only each planet was represented by a picture of a +girl, and his own grinning countenance was the sun. He +was known to have made dates by throwing a dart at +the map blindly and taking out the girl whose picture +he had hit.</p> + +<p>When Tom returned a few minutes later, he looked +at his unit mates and shook his head. Never, in all the +adventures they had shared or all the tough situations +they had been in, had either Roger or Astro given up as +they seemed to be doing now.</p> + +<p>"And," thought Tom miserably, "with good reason +too! I feel like tossing in the sponge myself."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The huge Space Academy gymnasium had been converted +into a temporary courtroom, and at ten <span class="smcap lowercase">A.M.</span> the +following day the cavernous chamber was packed with +all the cadets who could get off duty, in addition to a +liberal sprinkling of Solar Guard officers and instructors +who were keenly interested in their pupils' handling of +orderly democratic procedure.</p> + +<p>As the cadet judge opened the proceedings, Commander +Walters, Major Connel, Captain Strong, and +Lieutenant Wolchek, unit commander of the <i>Capella</i> +crew, watched intently from their seats in the back of +the gym. Up forward, at two small tables immediately +in front of the Council's platform, the <i>Polaris</i> and +<i>Capella</i> units sat rigidly, while their defense lawyers +arranged papers and data on the table for quick reference. +Little Alfie Higgins didn't say a word to Tom, +Roger, or Astro, merely studied his opponent, Cadet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +Benjy Edwards, who was acting as attorney for the <i>Capella</i> +unit. Edwards, a beefy boy with a florid face, +looked across the chamber and sneered at Tom. The +young cadet repressed a quick shudder of anger. There +was bad blood between the two. Once, Tom had found +Edwards bullying a helpless group of Earthworm cadets, +forcing them to march and exercise under a broiling +Martian sun for no reason at all, and Tom had put +a stop to it. Edwards had taken every opportunity to +get back at Tom, and now he had his best chance.</p> + +<p>From the beginning, the trial was argued bitterly. +Though the issues were clear-cut—illegal possession of +the study spools, out on the quadrangle after hours, and +fighting—Edwards tried to accuse the <i>Polaris</i> unit of irrelevant +infractions. But Alfie Higgins was his equal. +From the beginning, he admitted that the <i>Polaris</i> unit +was guilty of the first charge, but made a strong claim +that they had more than made up for the infraction by +risking censure to return the spools to their rightful +owners. In addition, he forced Tony Richards to admit +that he had accepted Roger's apology. The Council +agreed to drop that charge and to hold the second +charge in abeyance, since both units seemed to have had +good reason for being out after hours. Benjy Edwards +scowled but could find no reason to object to the Council's +decision. Alfie, on the other hand, broke into a +smile for the first time that morning. He turned to the +Council and announced that the only point of issue was +the fight and who struck the first blow.</p> + +<p>In the back of the room, Connel turned to Strong. "I, +personally, am going to sign the pass for a week's leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +for Alfie when this is over," he said. "I never saw such a +ding-blasted brain in operation in all my life."</p> + +<p>"He really slipped one over on Benjy Edwards all +right," muttered Strong, his voice tinged with pride.</p> + +<p>In front of the Council platform, Alfie turned to the +judge.</p> + +<p>"I would like to call to the stand, if the court please," +he said in a clear voice, "Cadet Tom Corbett."</p> + +<p>Tom walked to the chair, was sworn in, and sat down, +facing Alfie.</p> + +<p>"Cadet Corbett," Higgins paused, and then asked almost +casually, "did you strike the first blow?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"Dismissed," said Higgins suddenly. "Call Roger +Manning to the stand, please."</p> + +<p>Roger rose, and passing Tom on the way back, took +his place on the stand and repeated the oath.</p> + +<p>Alfie looked at Roger calmly and in a clear voice +asked, "Cadet Manning, did you strike the first blow?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Dismissed," said Alfie. "Please call Cadet Astro to +the stand."</p> + +<p>The cadet audience began to murmur and sit forward +tensely.</p> + +<p>"What the devil is he doing?" growled Connel.</p> + +<p>Strong grinned. "Blast me if I know, Lou," he said. +"But wait and see. I'll bet you ten credits it's a lulu."</p> + +<p>Astro was sworn in and Alfie waited for the room to +become quiet.</p> + +<p>"Cadet Astro," he said finally, "you have heard the +other members of the <i>Polaris</i> unit state, under solemn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +oath, that they did not strike the first blow. Now, I ask +you to consider carefully your answer. Did you, Cadet +Astro"—Alfie paused dramatically, and nearly shouted +the final part of the question—"strike the first blow?"</p> + +<p>"No!" bellowed Astro.</p> + +<p>"Dismissed," said Alfie quickly, turning to the Council. +"Gentlemen," he said, "he did not strike the first +blow, nor did Cadet Corbett, nor Cadet Manning. And +I will not insist that the three members of the <i>Capella</i> +unit be asked the same question, since I concede that +they are three impeccable gentlemen who could <i>not</i> +strike the first blow in a common fight."</p> + +<p>As the audience in the courtroom burst into a roar, +Benjy Edwards jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Your honor," he appealed, "I insist that the <i>Capella</i> +unit be allowed to take the stand and deny the +charge—"</p> + +<p>"Your honor," interrupted Alfie, "the <i>Polaris</i> unit +makes no charge. They freely admit that the <i>Capella</i> +unit could not, I repeat, sir, could not have struck the +first blow. And the <i>Polaris</i> unit—"</p> + +<p>"Your honor—!" cried Edwards. "I insist."</p> + +<p>The cadet judge rapped his gavel. "<i>Polaris</i> counsel +will speak."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, your honor. I just wanted to say that the +members of the <i>Polaris</i> unit defer to the <i>Capella</i> unit. +I submit, your honor, that it was nothing more than a +misunderstanding and that both sides should be punished +or freed."</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" asked the cadet judge.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Alfie.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Counsel for the <i>Capella</i> unit may speak now. Do you +insist on having your defendants brought to the stand +to swear they did not start the fight?"</p> + +<p>"Your honor—" began Benjy. But Alfie had already +planted the seed. There were shouts of "Give it to both +of them" from the gym.</p> + +<p>Red-faced, Edwards held up his hand and appealed +for quiet. "Your honor," he began at last, "after consultation +with the members of the <i>Capella</i> unit, they have +directed me to state that they are willing to abide by +the suggestion of the <i>Polaris</i> counsel."</p> + +<p>As the cadets in the courtroom roared their approval, +the cadet judge consulted quickly with the members of +the Council. A decision was reached quickly. A verdict +of conduct unbecoming cadets was brought against +both units, with orders for a strong reprimand to be +placed on their individual official records. In addition, +each unit was denied leaves and week-end passes from +the Academy until the end of the term, four weeks +away. All spare time was to be spent on guard duty.</p> + +<p>"You are to report to Chief Warrant Officer Timothy +Rush for further orders on all time not actually accountable +for in Academy schedules," concluded the cadet +judge. "Dismissed."</p> + +<p>The case was closed with a loud roar of approval +from the entire cadet audience, who had seen justice +done and democracy in action. Tom, Astro, and Roger +looked at each other and smiled. They were still Space +Cadets.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_3" id="CHAPTER_3"></a>CHAPTER 3</h2> + + +<p>"Where is Captain Strong?"</p> + +<p>Startled, Commander Walters glanced up to see Major +Connel enter his office, accompanied by Professor +Hemmingwell. The thin little man scowled with irritation +as he walked right up to the commander's desk.</p> + +<p>"I wanted Captain Strong here for this meeting," the +professor continued.</p> + +<p>"Of course," replied Walters. "Captain Strong <i>should</i> +be here." He turned to Connel. "Have you seen him, +Connel?"</p> + +<p>As Connel lowered his bulk into a soft chair, he +sighed. "Steve is with his unit, chewing them out over +that fight with the <i>Capella</i> unit."</p> + +<p>Walters grinned. "You heard about our trial, Professor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Hemmingwell stiffly. "Frankly, I cannot +see how Captain Strong can ignore this meeting to +hold hands with those infantile cadets."</p> + +<p>Connel's face turned red and he glanced quickly at +Walters, whose face was approaching the same color.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +Neither expected such a comment from a scientist.</p> + +<p>"Professor," said Connel heavily, leaning forward in +his chair, "I assure you Steve Strong is <i>not</i> holding their +hands. In fact, I would hate to be in those cadets' shoes +right now."</p> + +<p>Hemmingwell grunted and drew back from Connel's +burning glare. "Be that as it may," he said. "I cannot see +that the staff of this institution has done anything constructive +for the last three days. So far as I'm concerned, +this childish talk about a common fight has +been a complete waste of time."</p> + +<p>"Professor Hemmingwell," said Commander Walters, +rising from his chair, "if there had to be a choice between +your project, as valuable as it may be, and the +valuable lesson learned today by my cadets, I'll tell you +right now that the lesson would come first. This was a +very important issue. The cadets had their real taste of +democracy in action today, down on a level where they +could understand it. And, I dare say, there are quite a +few boys who heard that childish talk, as you put it, +and will remember it some time in the future when +they are called on to act as officers of the Solar Alliance."</p> + +<p>Connel cleared his throat noisily. "I think we'd better +get on with the meeting," he said. "Do you have the +plans and specifications, Hemmingwell?"</p> + +<p>But the wiry professor refused to be dissuaded. He +faced Commander Walters and wagged his finger under +the spaceman's nose.</p> + +<p>"You have a perfect right to your own ideas concerning +the education of your cadets!" he shouted. "But I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +have a right to my ideas regarding my space projectile +operations. I've devoted a good part of my life to this +plan, and I will not allow anything, or anyone, to stand +in my way."</p> + +<p>Before Walters could reply, Connel jumped up and +growled.</p> + +<p>"All right! Now that we've got the speeches out of the +way, let's get down to work."</p> + +<p>Walters and the professor suddenly stopped short +and grinned at the brusque line officer, who, for all his +bullying tactics, knew how to take the edge off a touchy +situation. Walters sat down again and Hemmingwell +spread out several large maps on Walters' desk. He +pointed to a location on the chart of the area surrounding +Space Academy.</p> + +<p>"This is the area here," he said, placing his finger on +the map. "I think it is best suited for our purpose. Dave +Barret and Carter Devers concur—"</p> + +<p>"Someone mention my name?"</p> + +<p>The sliding door to the commander's office opened +and a tall, distinguished man with iron-gray hair entered, +followed by a handsome, younger man.</p> + +<p>"Devers!" exclaimed Hemmingwell in obvious delight. +"I didn't expect you until this evening."</p> + +<p>"Got away earlier than I figured," replied the elder +man, who then turned to the two Solar Guard officers. +"Hello, Commander Walters, Major Connel. Meet Dave +Barret, my assistant." He gestured toward the young +man beside him and they shook hands in turn.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Devers, "have we missed anything?"</p> + +<p>"Just starting," replied Walters.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fine," said Devers. "Oh, by the way, I want it understood, +Commander, that while I am lending Dave to +you to work on the operation with the professor, I'm not +even going to let you pay him. He remains on my payroll, +so you can't take him away from me. The Jilolo +Spaceways would be lost without him."</p> + +<p>Walters smiled. "All right with me," he said.</p> + +<p>"I don't care <i>who</i> pays him, as long as he's with me +on this, Commander," said Hemmingwell, wiping his +glasses carefully. "That young man has a mind equipped +with a built-in calculator."</p> + +<p>Dave Barret grinned in obvious embarrassment. "If +Mr. Devers can devote his time to you for one credit a +year as salary, I have no objections to working on this +project," he said. "In fact, I told Mr. Devers that if he +didn't let me come down here, I'd quit and come, anyway."</p> + +<p>Hemmingwell beamed. "Well, now, if Captain Strong +were only here, we could get along with the business at +hand."</p> + +<p>Devers frowned. "Why is he so important?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Steve has been placed in charge of procurement for +the construction of the hangar and getting the spur line +in from the monorail station," replied Connel. "And +that reminds me, Professor," he continued. "Where is +your hangar going to be? And where is that spur coming +in from? Are we going to have a lot of building to +do to get that blasted thing snaked over those hills?" +Connel pointed to the protective ring of high rugged +peaks that surrounded the Academy.</p> + +<p>"That's why Dave Barret here is so important," replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +Hemmingwell. "He figured out a way of tunneling +through this section here"—he pointed to a particularly +rugged section of the hills—"at half the cost of bringing +it straight in on that plain there."</p> + +<p>Connel and Walters studied the map closely. "Very +good," said Walters.</p> + +<p>"You think you can do it, Dave?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I can, sir," replied the young man.</p> + +<p>"And save time?" growled Connel.</p> + +<p>"I'll have that line through, and in operation, bringing +in the first haul of hangar material in three weeks."</p> + +<p>Impressed by the young man's confidence, Connel +turned to Commander Walters and nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you can do that, Barret," said Walters, "Professor +Hemmingwell will have to begin his operations +now, won't you, Professor?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," said the wiry old man. "Right now, +this very minute."</p> + +<p>Devers suddenly spoke up. "I would like to have one +thing explained, Commander, unless, of course, it's a +breach of security, but—" He hesitated.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"I've been going along with you for some time now," +explained Devers. "But I still don't know the exact +nature of the projectile you propose to build. What's the +purpose of it?"</p> + +<p>"You certainly deserve an answer to that question," +said Commander Walters warmly. "You've contributed +your services to this operation absolutely blindly. Now +you should know everything." He paused and looked at +Hemmingwell and Connel, who nodded in return. "Carter,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +he resumed, "we are going to create a spaceship +that can launch a large projectile filled with cargo and +send it to any small area."</p> + +<p>Carter Devers' face lighted up. "You mean, you are +going to fire payloads from space freighters instead of +landing with them?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Walters. "These freighters will deliver +mail and supplies to out-of-the-way settlements that do +not have a spaceport large enough to handle the giant +freighters and have to depend on surface transport from +the larger cities."</p> + +<p>Carter Devers shook his head slowly. "This is the +most amazing thing I've ever heard of in my life."</p> + +<p>"I thought you'd be surprised, Carter," said Walters, +his face glowing with pleasure. "The big item, of +course, is to lick the problem of standardizing the +receivers for the projectiles. They must be lightweight, +easily assembled, and precision made, since it's going +to have an electronic gismo inside for the projectile to +'home' on."</p> + +<p>Professor Hemmingwell grunted. "That electronic +gismo, as you call it, is the real idea behind the whole +operation."</p> + +<p>"How is that, Professor?" asked Devers.</p> + +<p>"Well, it works on this principle," began Hemmingwell. +"The receiver will send out a distinctive radar +beam. In the spaceship, the projectile designated for +that receiver will be tuned in to the frequency of that +beam and fired from the ship. A homing device, built +into the projectile will take over, guiding it right down +the beam to its destination."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And how does that radar beam work?" asked Devers.</p> + +<p>"That," said Connel stiffly, "is a military secret."</p> + +<p>"Of course," nodded Devers, smiling. "I was just curious."</p> + +<p>"Well, now that we're agreed on a site for the operation," +said Professor Hemmingwell, "is there anything +else you want to discuss, Commander?"</p> + +<p>"Not for the moment, Professor," replied the commandant +of Space Academy. "You have any more +questions, Major Connel?"</p> + +<p>When Connel shook his head, Devers spoke up again.</p> + +<p>"There is something else I would like to know, if it +isn't a breach of military secrecy," he said with a smile +at Connel. "I don't remember seeing anything about +this project in the bills sent before the Solar Council. +When was it authorized?"</p> + +<p>"It wasn't," snapped Hemmingwell. "It was blocked +before it came to a vote. So I ran around the whole Solar +Alliance, begging and borrowing the money to finance +the project myself."</p> + +<p>"And the Solar Guard is just lending technical assistance +and facilities," supplied Walters. "Of course, +should the project succeed, we will go before the Solar +Council with an emergency request to incorporate the +idea into the defense of all Solar Guard outposts."</p> + +<p>"Private capital, eh?" said Devers, turning to look at +the professor admiringly. "You are a very brave man, +Professor Hemmingwell, to risk so much. And, I might +add, you must be an excellent salesman to sell Solar Alliance +bankers your ideas."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Common sense," snorted the professor. "Plain horse +sense."</p> + +<p>"Still," insisted Devers, "most of the bankers with +whom I've ever tried to talk common sense <i>were</i> +horses." As everyone laughed, he turned to Walters. +"Now, just what do you want me to do, Commander?"</p> + +<p>"Carter, you've done so much for this project already +that I'm going to give you a rest," said Walters.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"From now on," Major Connel broke in, "the project +will be in the hands of the professor. If he needs +anything, he'll tell Steve Strong. If Strong can't fulfill the +request, he'll pass it on to Commander Walters, and if +the commander feels it necessary to have your help, he +will contact you."</p> + +<p>"You understand, of course," said Walters, trying to +soften the major's flat statement.</p> + +<p>"Of course," replied Devers easily. "Still, if you need +my help on this thing at all, don't fail to call me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Carter," said Walters. "You've been a +great help already."</p> + +<p>Shaking hands all around and wishing them well, +Devers left the office. Dave Barret, Commander Walters, +and Professor Hemmingwell turned to their study +of the map, but Major Connel remained where he was, +rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He shook his head as if +to brush an impossible idea out of his mind and then +turned to the map.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Tom Corbett, Roger Manning, and Astro stood at +rigid attention in their dormitory room, backs ramrod<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +straight, eyes front, hands stiffly at their sides. Captain +Steve Strong, his face red and voice hoarse, strode up +and down in front of them.</p> + +<p>"And another thing!" he roared. "This court reprimand +goes on your official records, and you're going to +spend your time on guard duty like any common Earthworm +that doesn't know its rocket from its pocket!" For +nearly half an hour the cadets had listened to their unit +instructor bawl them out. "When I think," he continued, +"when I <i>think</i> of how close you three space brats +came to getting kicked out of the Academy—" Words +seemed to fail the young captain momentarily and he +slumped on one of the bunks and looked at the row of +cadets, shaking his head. "Why, in the name of Saturn, +I ever accepted the responsibility of making you three +bird brains into cadets is beyond me. And to think that +when you first came here, I thought you had that special +something to make you an outstanding unit. I even +went out on a limb for you. And now you pull a stunt +like this."</p> + +<p>Behind them, the door opened and a short man, no +more than five feet tall, but with the bulging muscles of +a tiny giant stretching his bright-red enlisted man's uniform, +stepped inside. He saluted Strong smartly.</p> + +<p>"Chief Petty Officer Rush here to assign the <i>Polaris</i> +unit to guard duty, sir," he announced.</p> + +<p>"All right, Firehouse," said Strong, using the man's +nickname. "Give it to them. Show them no mercy. By +the rings of Saturn, they've got to be made to realize +their responsibilities!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the thick little man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>Strong walked out of the room without another word, +nor even a backward glance at the cadets.</p> + +<p>As soon as the door closed, Timothy "Firehouse" +Rush faced the three cadets, his beaten and battered +face glowing with anticipation.</p> + +<p>"Get this!" he growled. "When you're assigned to +guard duty with the E.M.'s of the Solar Guard, you +leave your immunity as cadets here in the Academy. +From now on, you belong to me. And I'll tell you right +now, there isn't anything in space that I hate more, or +think less of, than Space Cadets. You get special privileges +you don't deserve because you wear that uniform. +You get a chance to learn to be a spaceman and most of +you muff it. I've got E.M.'s in my outfit that could blast +circles around either of you—guys that deserve the +chance you've got, and fouled out because they can't +spell or don't know how to hold a cup of tea with their +fingers the right way. When you come to me, it means +you've done something bad. You're on your way out. +And I'm going to try my best to see that you make it—<i>out</i>." +He took a step forward and glared at them. "Report +to me at 1800 hours and"—his voice dropped to a +gravelly roar—"you better not be late—and you better +not be early."</p> + +<p>He spun on his heels in a perfect about-face and left +the room.</p> + +<p>"There is only one consolation," sighed Tom. "The +<i>Capella</i> unit is getting the same thing we're getting."</p> + +<p>"Here we go!" breathed Roger slowly.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking about quitting the Academy, anyway," +growled Astro.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_4" id="CHAPTER_4"></a>CHAPTER 4</h2> + + +<p>"Halt!"</p> + +<p>Roger growled the order into the darkness and +unslung the paralo-ray rifle from his shoulder, bringing it +around to firing position. "Advance and be recognized," +he said flatly.</p> + +<p>Nothing moved. Even the air seemed still.</p> + +<p>"Advance and be recognized," Roger ordered again. +Still nothing moved. The cadet glanced around quickly +in the direction of the guardhouse where he knew there +was a communicator to the sergeant of the guard. +Should he call for help? He decided against it and +moved forward toward the noise he had heard, his +finger poised on the trigger of the paralo-ray gun.</p> + +<p>"Advance and be recognized," he called again. As he +walked slowly between the huge packing cases piled +outside the newly constructed hangar, he saw a shadowy +movement to his left. He raised the deadly ray gun, +and his finger tightened on the trigger.</p> + +<p>"Advance and be recognized," he said over the sights +of the gun.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>Mee-ooo-wwww!</i>"</p> + +<p>A tiny white kitten flashed out of a gap between two +boxes and ran to his feet, purring, rubbing up against +his space boots.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-048.png" width="500" height="415" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Well, blast my rockets!" Roger laughed. He slung +the gun over his shoulder and reached down to pick the +kitten up in his arms. He began stroking its fur and +making little soothing noises. He started back to the +other end of his patrol post.</p> + +<p>"You're a cute little fella," murmured Roger, nuzzling +the kitten against his chin. "But you almost got blasted."</p> + +<p>"Guard! Stand to!"</p> + +<p>Startled, Roger whirled around to see Firehouse Tim +behind him, his battered and beaten face clouded with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +rage. "Drop that animal at once," the petty officer +roared.</p> + +<p>Roger stooped over to let the kitten run free and it +dashed away into a crack between the boxes and +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Manning," began the enlisted spaceman, "the next +time I catch you not attending to your duty, I will bring +you up on charges of neglect! Carry on!" Rush spun on +his heel and vanished into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Blasted muscle-bound squirt!" sneered Roger under +his breath, shouldering his rifle and resuming his slow +patrol outside the hangar.</p> + +<p>For three weeks, Tom, Roger, and Astro, along with +the three members of the <i>Capella</i> unit, had been spending +close to eight hours a day on guard duty, eight to +ten hours a day in classroom work, and the rest of the +time studying. They only averaged some two to three +hours of sleep per day. They were dead tired but they +stuck to their task doggedly, without complaint.</p> + +<p>Around them, the work on Professor Hemmingwell's +project had proceeded with amazing speed. The tunnel +promised by Dave Barret had been finished in less than +five days, with the rail for the monorail spur installed +overhead as each yard of the shaft was completed. In +the second week, scores of cars loaded with building +materials began rolling into the deserted plain several +miles away from Space Academy. Then, one morning, +nearly a thousand construction workers arrived and +built a hangar in thirty-six hours. No sooner had the +huge building been completed than a tight guard had +been placed around it. Specially designed identification<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +tags were issued to the guards and workers on the project. +Gradually the huge store of cases and boxes outside +the hangar had been moved inside, with all but a +few of the smaller ones remaining outside. The secret +work inside the hangar was advancing rapidly, but this +did not enter into the thoughts of the three cadets of +the <i>Polaris</i> unit, nor of the <i>Capella</i> unit. The harsh discipline +instituted by Tim Rush and the extra study necessary +for the end-of-year exams had forced the cadets +into a round-the-clock struggle not only to keep awake +but to make the class promotion lists.</p> + +<p>Roger paced off the required distance, wheeled +smartly, and in so doing came face to face with Astro, +who was patrolling another side of the hangar.</p> + +<p>"I just saw Firehouse," said Astro quietly. "Did he +catch you goofing?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," growled Roger. "I found a kitten and he +walked up just as I was holding it."</p> + +<p>Astro grinned. "I wouldn't be surprised if that +pocket-sized giant didn't send that cat down there to +tempt you."</p> + +<p>"How's Tom?" asked Roger. Astro, in his patrol, +came in contact with both unit mates.</p> + +<p>"Sleepy. He's having a tough time with that chapter +on space law. He didn't sleep at all last night."</p> + +<p>"He better keep awake," said Roger. "That little fireman's +got his rockets hot tonight. He'll blast Tom sure +if—"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Astro suddenly, looking off into +the darkness. "What was that?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>Roger spun around, his rifle in his hands, ready to +fire. "What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Astro in a whisper. "I thought +I saw something move inside the hangar." He pointed +to a large window. "Sort of a shadow against the frosted +glass."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I'm sure."</p> + +<p>"I'll investigate. You get Tom and call Firehouse."</p> + +<p>"Right," replied Astro, and raced down the path, +alongside the hangar.</p> + +<p>Grasping his rifle firmly, Roger inched toward a +nearby door. He opened it a crack, then flattened +himself against the wall and watched Astro run toward the +other end of the hangar. He saw the big Venusian say a +few quick words to Tom and then rush off toward the +guardhouse and the communicator. Tom waved to +Roger, indicating that he would enter the opposite door +of the hangar.</p> + +<p>Roger dropped to his hands and knees and poked his +head through the open door, peering around from one +end of the huge dark chamber to the other. Then, taking +a deep breath, he rose and stepped quickly inside. +He closed the door behind him and stood still, listening +for some sound.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a flash of light from the opposite +wall. Roger brought the paralo-ray gun up to his shoulder +quickly and was about to fire when he realized that +the light he saw was Tom opening the door on the +opposite side. He breathed easier and waited until he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +could distinguish Tom's moving figure clearly, and then +walked stealthily forward on a parallel line.</p> + +<p>It was the first time Roger had been inside the +hangar since it had been constructed and he was not +sure of his way around, but gradually, the moonlight filtering +in through the frosted plates of Titan crystal illuminated +the huge forms of the machines around him.</p> + +<p>He stopped and gasped. Without even realizing it, he +emitted a long whistle of astonishment. Before him, +reaching up into the shadows of the cavernous hangar, +was the gleaming hull of a huge rocket ship. Two hundred +feet long, the space vessel stood on its stabilizer +fins, ladders and cables running into the open ports on +both sides.</p> + +<p>Roger waved to Tom, who had also stopped to stare +at the giant spaceship, and the two of them met beneath +the gleaming hull.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Astro said you saw +someone."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> didn't see a blasted thing," said Roger in an exasperated +whisper. "That big goof said <i>he</i> did."</p> + +<p>"Wow!" said Tom, looking up at the ship. "This is +some baby. I never saw one with lines like that before. +Look at the funny bulges on the lower side of the hull."</p> + +<p>"Sh!" hissed Roger. "I just heard something."</p> + +<p>The two cadets stood silently, ears cocked for the +slightest sound in the huge hangar. They heard a distinct +tapping sound from somewhere above them.</p> + +<p>"It's coming from inside the ship!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"You climb in the other port," said Roger. "I'll take +this one."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Right," said Tom. "And remember, if there's any +trouble, shoot first and ask questions later."</p> + +<p>"Check."</p> + +<p>Tom slipped away from Roger and moved to the opposite +side of the ship. Slinging the rifle over his shoulder, +he climbed up the ladder silently toward the open +port.</p> + +<p>Making his way noiselessly through the air lock, he +entered the huge main deck of the ship and was able to +see his way around by the faint glow of the emergency +reflectors in the bulkheads. Tiny, sparkling gemlike +pieces of specially coated Titan crystal, they glowed +with steady intensity for many hours after having been +exposed to any form of light. The deck was a mass of +cables, boxes, tools, and equipment. Tom noticed curious-looking +machines behind, what he judged to be, the +odd bulges on the outside of the hull. Ahead of him, a +hatch was partially open and he could see light streaking +through the opening. He gripped his rifle tightly, +finger on the trigger, and moved forward.</p> + +<p>At the hatch he paused and looked into the next compartment. +From the opposite side, he saw another hatch +partially open and the outline of Roger's head and +shoulders. Between them, a man was bending over a +makeshift desk, copying information from a calculator +and a set of blueprints. Tom nodded across to Roger +and they both stepped into the compartment at the +same time.</p> + +<p>"Put up your hands, mister, or I'll freeze you so hard +it'll take a summer on the Venus equator to warm you +up," Roger drawled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man jerked upright, stumbled back from the +desk, and moved toward Tom, keeping his eyes on +Roger. He backed into the barrel of Tom's ray gun and +stopped, terrified. He threw up his hands.</p> + +<p>"What—wh—" he stammered and then caught himself. +"How dare you do this to me?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" snapped Tom. "What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"None of your business," the man replied.</p> + +<p>"I'm making it my business," snapped Tom, pressing +the gun into the man's back. "Who are you and how did +you get in here?"</p> + +<p>The man turned and looked Tom in the eye. "I have +a right to be here," he stated coldly. "I'll show you my +identification—" He brought his hands down and +reached into his jacket, but Roger stepped over quickly +and brought the barrel of his gun down sharply on the +man's head. He slumped to the floor with a groan and +was still.</p> + +<p>"What did you do that for?" growled Tom.</p> + +<p>Roger didn't reply. He reached down into the unconscious +man's jacket and pulled out a small paralo-ray +gun stuck in the top of his waistband. "Some identification," +Roger drawled.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, pal," said Tom sheepishly. "Let's search +him. Maybe we can find out who he is."</p> + +<p>As Roger bent over the fallen man, there was a commotion +in the hangar outside the ship, followed by the +sound of footsteps clattering up the ladders to the ports. +Seconds later, Astro, followed by Tim Rush and a squad +of enlisted spacemen, surged into the compartment. +Rush stopped short when he saw the man on the floor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Great jumping Jupiter," gasped the petty officer, +then whirled on Tom and Roger. "You space-blasted +idiots!" he shouted. "You good-for-nothing harebrained, +moronic dumbbells! Do you know what you've done?"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger stared at each other in amazement. +Astro, standing to one side, looked confused.</p> + +<p>"Sure we know what we've done," declared Tom. +"We found this guy in here copying secrets from some +blueprints there on the desk and—"</p> + +<p>"Copying secrets!" screamed Rush. "Why, you ding-blasted +idiots, that's Dave Barret, the supervisor of this +whole project!"</p> + +<p>The man on the floor stirred and Firehouse ordered +the squad of enlisted men to help him up. Just then, +there was a bellow of rage from the hatch. Major Connel +stepped into the compartment, his face a mask of +disgust and anger.</p> + +<p>"By the rings of Saturn!" he roared. "I've been sitting +in the laboratory for the last hour and a half waiting for +Dave Barret to come back with vital information, so we +could get on with our experiments, and I find that you—you—" +Connel was so furious, he could hardly talk.</p> + +<p>He faced the three cadets. "There isn't anything in +the books that says you should be disciplined for this—this—outrage, +but believe me, Cadets"—his voice +sounded like thunder in the small compartment—"this +is the very last time I'll stand for this kind of stupidity."</p> + +<p>Tom gulped but stepped forward bravely. "Sir," he +said clearly, "I would like respectfully to submit the +facts for the major's honest consideration. Neither of us +has ever seen this man before and we found him copying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +information from these blueprints. When I challenged +him, he said he was going to show us his identification. +He put his hands in his jacket to get it, but +Roger saw a gun in his belt, and thinking he was going +to use it, Roger hit him on the head." Tom stopped, +clamped his mouth shut, and stared the major in the +eye. "That's all, sir."</p> + +<p>Connel returned the stare, his eyes meeting those of +the cadet for a full half minute. "All right," he said finally. +"I guess it's just a case of misjudgment. But," he +added scathingly, "in the face of the <i>Polaris</i> unit's record, +you can understand my initial opinion."</p> + +<p>As Dave Barret was assisted from the ship by the +guards, Connel turned to Rush. "Firehouse!" he barked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?"</p> + +<p>"See that these cadets don't cause any more mischief."</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>sir</i>."</p> + +<p>"Dismissed," snapped Connel.</p> + +<p>"All right, you space brats," bellowed Rush, "back to +your patrol!"</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, and Astro left the ship and returned to +their posts outside the hangar. Just before they separated +to resume their endless march around the hangar, +Tom winked at his unit mates. "At least we didn't get +demerits," he said.</p> + +<p>"Only because Connel couldn't find any reason to +give them to us," sneered Roger. "What a busted rocket +he's getting to be!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," agreed Astro quietly.</p> + +<p>The three cadets began their round again, their eyes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +heavy with lack of sleep, their arms and legs leaden, +and their desire to become successful Space Cadets +more determined than ever. But they didn't know they +had started a chain reaction that would affect their very +lives.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-057.png" width="500" height="151" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_5" id="CHAPTER_5"></a>CHAPTER 5</h2> + + +<p>"We passed!"</p> + +<p>Tom turned away from the lists posted on the dormitory +bulletin board and with his arms around Astro and +Roger pushed through the knot of cadets.</p> + +<p>"Yeow!" bellowed Astro.</p> + +<p>"We made it," murmured Roger with a note of disbelief +in his voice. "We made it!" And then, with the +realization that he was still a Space Cadet for at least +another term, he turned and began pounding Astro on +the back. "You big Venusian ape, we made it."</p> + +<p>Arm in arm, the three cadets strolled across the quadrangle +and shouted to friends they passed. Occasionally +they fell silent when they saw a boy carrying his gear to +the supply building. These had failed to pass the rigid +examinations.</p> + +<p>Near the Tower of Galileo, the cadets came face to +face with Tony Richards, McAvoy, and Davison. The +two units looked at each other silently, remembering +what had happened only four short weeks before. Then +they all smiled and pounded each other on the back,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +congratulating each other on passing. Neither of the +units had made top honors as a result of their fight and +the trial, and having to spend so much time on guard +duty, but they had passed and that was the most important +thing. The boys all adjourned to the credit exchange +and gorged themselves on Martian fruit pies +covered with ice cream. Finally the party broke up +when Tom remembered that he and his unit mates had +to go on guard duty in half an hour.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tony Richards, rising, "we relieve you +guys at midnight, so we might as well hit the sack right +now. I've been waiting for this night for a long time."</p> + +<p>"No study," sighed Davison. "What heaven! I feel as +if I've been pardoned from prison."</p> + +<p>The three boys of the <i>Capella</i> crew said good-by to +Tom, Roger, and Astro, and walked off. Tom settled +back in his chair and sighed. "Sure wish I was in their +boots," he said. "I don't see how I'm going to get +through tonight."</p> + +<p>"Don't think about it," said Roger. "Only seven more +days to go, and then we go on summer cruise with the +<i>Polaris</i>."</p> + +<p>"I can't wait to get back on that power deck," said +Astro. "It'll be like going home."</p> + +<p>Later, riding the new slidewalk to the area where the +huge hangar had been built, they saw Captain Strong +returning from the restricted area on the other slidewalk. +They hopped off their walk and waited for the +young officer.</p> + +<p>"I'm happy that you passed the exams, boys," he said. +"And I want you to know Commander Walters and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +Major Connel think a lot more of you, though they +wouldn't admit it, for the way you worked to make it."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Astro respectfully.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to excuse us, sir," said Tom. "We've got +to get out to the hangar and go on guard."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you'd better hurry," said Strong. "After that +mix-up with Dave Barret, Firehouse Tim has his eye on +you. Barret put up quite a fuss about it."</p> + +<p>"I still don't see how Mr. Barret got in there," said +Tom. "The fourth side of the hangar faces the hills, and +we three covered the other three sides."</p> + +<p>"However he got in," interrupted Strong, "he had a +right to be there. And he also had a right to carry sidearms."</p> + +<p>"Captain Strong," said Roger, "we've talked about it +a lot, the three of us. And we decided that regardless +of what Major Connel or Firehouse or Barret have said, +we'd do the same thing, in the same way again."</p> + +<p>"I think you're perfectly right, Manning. But don't +quote me," said Strong, his voice serious. "This is one of +the most important projects I've ever been connected +with and—" He stopped suddenly. "Well, I can't tell +you any more. That's how tight the security is on it."</p> + +<p>"But everyone knows that it's a projectile that will +home on a target, sir," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that was given to the stereos for general news +release, but there are other factors involved, factors so +important that they could revolutionize the whole concept +of space flight."</p> + +<p>"Wow!" said Tom. "No wonder they have this place +so well guarded."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Humph," snorted Roger. "I'd give up the opportunity +of guarding this revolutionary secret for one +night's good sleep."</p> + +<p>"You'll get that tomorrow when we go off duty," said +Tom. "And please, Roger, no blunders tonight, eh? Let's +not take any chances of losing the summer cruise in the +<i>Polaris</i>."</p> + +<p>"Listen! You want to talk to the Venusian hick about +that, not me," declared Roger. "He's the one that +spotted Barret."</p> + +<p>"But you hit him on the head," growled Astro. "You +and your catlike reflexes." The big cadet referred to a +recent letter he had seen in which one of the blond-haired +cadet's many space dolls referred to his sensitivity +as being that of a poet, and his dancing as smooth as +the reflexes of a cat.</p> + +<p>Roger spun on the big cadet. "You blasted throwback +to a Venusian ape!" he roared. "If I ever catch you reading +my mail again—"</p> + +<p>"You'll what?" growled Astro. "You'll do just exactly +what?" He grabbed Roger by the arm and held him +straight out, so that he looked as if he were hanging +from a tree.</p> + +<p>Strong laughed and shook his head. "I give you three +to the loving, tender care of Firehouse Tim," he said, +hopping over on the moving slidewalk, back to the +Academy.</p> + +<p>"Put me down, you overgrown idiot," Roger howled.</p> + +<p>"Not until you promise not to threaten me with violence +again," said Astro with a wink at Tom. The young +curly-haired cadet doubled up with laughter. Finally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +Roger was lowered to the ground, and, though he +rubbed his shoulder and grumbled, he was really +pleased that Astro felt like roughhousing with him. The +events of the last few weeks had so tired all of them +that there had been no energy left for play.</p> + +<p>Lightheartedly they stepped over to the slidewalk +and were back on their way to the secret project.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Two huge wire fences had been built around the +hangar area now, fences carrying a surge of paralyzing +power ready to greet anyone that dared touch it. More +than twenty feet high, the outer fence was buried six +feet into the ground and was some hundred yards away +from the hangar building itself, and fifty yards away +from the second fence. The entire area was also guarded +by radar. Should any unauthorized person or object be +found in that area, an automatic alarm sounded and in +fifteen seconds a hundred fully armed guards were +ready for action. The men who had been cleared by +security to work in and around the restricted area wore +specially designed belts of sensitized metal that offset +the effects of the radar. But the fence was still the untouchable +for everyone.</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, and Astro had now been moved inside +the hangar itself, to stand guard over the only three +doors in the cavernous structure. They were armed with +powerful heat blasters. These rifles were different from +the paralo-ray guns they had used previously. A beam +of light from the ray guns would only paralyze a human +being, while the blaster destroyed anything it touched, +burning it to a crisp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>As soon as the three cadets saw the change in armament, +they knew they were guarding something so secret +that human life, if it interfered with the project, +would be disintegrated. Only once before, on a hunting +trip to Venus, had they ever used the blasters, but they +knew the deadly power of the weapons.</p> + +<p>Nothing was said to them. Firehouse Tim had not +posted any special orders or given them any special instructions. +Each man who worked inside the hangar +had to pass a simple but telling test of identification. On +a table at each entrance to the hangar was a small box +with a hole in the top. Each worker, guard, and person +that entered the hangar had to insert a key into the +hole and it made contact with a highly sensitive electronic +device inside. The keys were issued only by Major +Connel or Captain Strong, and should anyone attempt +to enter the hangar without it, or should the key +not make the proper contact, lighting up a small bulb +on the top of the box, Tom, Roger, and Astro had simple +instructions: Shoot to kill.</p> + +<p>This form of identification had been employed for +some time now, even before the wire fence had been +installed, but the really spectacular change was in the +heat blasters each guard carried. This, more than anything +else, impressed on everyone connected with the +project, that to move the wrong way, to say the wrong +thing, or to act in any suspicious manner might result +in instant death.</p> + +<p>It was a mark of trust that Tom, Roger, and Astro had +been placed in such a highly sensitive position. They +could kill a man and simply explain, "The light didn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +go on!" and that would be the end of it. Neither of them +knew that Connel had specifically requested that they +be assigned to the day shift, when the hangar would be +crowded with workers, who, intent on their assigned +jobs, might be careless and leave themselves open to instant +action on the part of the guards. Connel reasoned +that Tom, Roger, and Astro, aside from their occasional +antics in the Academy, would be more responsible than +rough enlisted spacemen. The orders were specific: +shoot to kill, but there was almost always one poor human +being who would forget. In spite of the necessity +for tight security, Connel felt he had to allow for that +one percent of human failure. Secretly he was very +happy that he had a crack unit like the <i>Polaris</i> to place +in such a job. And the <i>Capella</i> unit had been entrusted +with the same responsibility.</p> + +<p>It was under such tight conditions that Astro, watching +the least busy of the three entrances and exits, saw +Dave Barret walk to a nearby public teleceiver booth, +and, with the door ajar, place a transspace call to +Venusport.</p> + +<p>The booth was used often by the workers and Astro +did not think much of it, until he accidentally overheard +Barret's conversation.</p> + +<p>"... Yeah, I know, but things are so tight, I can't +even begin to get at it." Barret had his mouth close to +the transmitter and his voice was low, but Astro could +still hear him. "Yeah, I know how important it is to you, +but I can be burned to a cinder if I make one false move. +You'll just have to wait until I find an opening somewhere. +Good-by!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barret switched off the teleceiver set and stepped out +of the booth to face the muzzle of Astro's blaster. "Stand +where you are!" growled the big cadet.</p> + +<p>"What, why you—" Barret clamped his mouth shut. +There was a difference between being frozen and being +blasted into a crisp.</p> + +<p>Astro reached over and touched the button that +would alert a squad of guards, Major Connel, and Tim +Rush. In a flash the alarm sounded throughout the +hangar and troopers stormed in brandishing their guns. +Firehouse Tim and Connel arrived seconds later. They +skidded to a stop when they saw Barret with his hands +in the air and Astro's finger on the trigger of the blaster.</p> + +<p>"By the blessed rings of Saturn!" roared Connel. "Not +again."</p> + +<p>"Put down that gun," demanded Rush, stepping forward +quickly. Astro lowered the gun and Barret +dropped his hands.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Connel, his +face reddening with rage.</p> + +<p>Astro turned and looked the major right in the eye. +"Major," he said calmly, "this man just made a teleceiver +call—a transspace call to Venusport."</p> + +<p>"Well, what about it?" cried Barret.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Astro, unruffled by Barret's screaming protest, +"this man spoke of getting at something, and that +he was unable to do so, because he might be burned to +a cinder. And the other party would have to wait until +he found an opening."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Connel, turning to look at Barret. +"What is the meaning of this, Barret?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, that knuckle-headed baboon!" yelled Barret. +"Sure, I made a transspace call to Venusport—to the +Venusian Atomic By-Products Corporation."</p> + +<p>"What was the call about?" demanded Connel.</p> + +<p>The guards had not moved and the workers in the +hangar were now gathering around the small knot of +men by the teleceiver booth.</p> + +<p>"Why—I—"</p> + +<p>"Come on, man!" shouted Connel. "Out with it."</p> + +<p>"I called about getting a new timer for the projectile +fuel-injection system," snapped Barret. "The timer is too +slow for our needs. I wanted to adjust it myself, but the +projectile is so compact, I can't get at it without taking +a chance of getting doused by the fuel."</p> + +<p>"What about that remark about finding an opening?" +growled Connel.</p> + +<p>"What's going on here?" called Professor Hemmingwell +as he bustled up to the group. "Why aren't these +men working? Dave, why aren't you up there—?"</p> + +<p>"Just a minute, Professor!" Connel barked, and +turned back to Barret. "Go ahead, Barret."</p> + +<p>"They can't make a new timer until I find a way of +installing it without taking apart the whole projectile," +said Barret, adding sarcastically, "in other words, Major—finding +an opening."</p> + +<p>"All right," barked Connel. "That's enough." He +turned to the assembled workers. "Get back to work, all +of you." The men moved away and Firehouse Tim led +the guards back to their quarters. Professor Hemmingwell, +Barret, and Astro remained where they were.</p> + +<p>Connel turned to Astro. "Good work, you dumb<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +Venusian," he snorted. "But so help me, if you had +burned this man, I, personally, would've buried you on +a prison rock." The major then turned to Barret. "As for +you—" he snarled.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" asked Barret coolly.</p> + +<p>"You make one more call like that over a public +teleceiver," Connel roared, "especially a transspace call +that's monitored by the idiots in the teleceiver company, +and I'll send <i>you</i> to a prison asteroid!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Major," said Hemmingwell testily, "I don't +think you should speak to Dave that way. After all, he's +a very valuable man in this project."</p> + +<p>"How valuable would he be if this cadet had gone +ahead and blasted him?" snarled Connel.</p> + +<p>"It's just another example of how these stupid boys +have obstructed my work here," replied Hemmingwell +angrily. "I can't see why they have to interfere this +way. And they always pick on poor Dave."</p> + +<p>"Yes," snarled Barret. "I'm getting pretty tired of +being a clay pigeon for a bunch of brats." He turned to +Astro. "You'll have a head full of socket wrench if you +mess with me again."</p> + +<p>"You'll get a receipt, Barret," growled Astro. "Paid in +full."</p> + +<p>"All right, break it up," growled Connel. "Back to +your post, Astro. And you get back to work, Barret, and +remember what I said about using that public +teleceiver."</p> + +<p>Barret and Hemmingwell walked off, with the little +professor talking rapidly to the younger scientist, trying +to calm his anger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Astro, Tom, and Roger were extraordinarily strict +about the exit of the workers that night and there was +angry muttering in the ranks of the men who wanted +to get home. But the three cadets refused to be hurried +and made each man perform the ritual of getting out +to the letter. Still later, after they had been relieved by +the <i>Capella</i> unit and had told them of the incident +between Astro and Barret, they headed back to the Academy +dormitory more tired than they had ever been before +in their lives. Thirty seconds after reaching their +room, they were asleep in their bunks, without undressing +or washing. Like whipped dogs, they sprawled on +their bunks, dead to the world.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-068.png" width="500" height="155" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_6" id="CHAPTER_6"></a>CHAPTER 6</h2> + + +<p>Sabotage!</p> + +<p>Major Connel, Commander Walters, Captain Strong, +Professor Hemmingwell, and Dave Barret stared +unbelievingly at the tangle of wires and smashed tubes on +the main deck of the sleek spaceship.</p> + +<p>"Get every man that has been in this hangar during +the last twenty-four hours and have him brought under +guard to the laboratory for psychographs." Commander +Walters' face was grim as he snapped out the order.</p> + +<p>Professor Hemmingwell and Barret got down on +their hands and knees and examined the wrecked firing +device carefully. After a long period of silence, while +Strong, Walters, and Connel watched them pawing +through the tangle of wires and broken connections, +Hemmingwell stood up.</p> + +<p>"It can be replaced in twelve hours," he announced. +"I believe that whoever did this either didn't know +what he was doing, or it was an accident."</p> + +<p>"Explain that, will you, Professor?" asked Strong. "I +don't understand."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is an important unit," Hemmingwell replied, +indicating the wreckage, "but not the most important +part of the whole unit. Anyone who really knew what +he was doing and wanted to delay the project could +have done so much more easily by simply destroying +this." Hemmingwell held out a small metallic-looking +cylinder.</p> + +<p>"What is that, Professor?" asked Barret.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"No, he doesn't," snapped Professor Hemmingwell. +"This is something I developed that only the +commander and myself know about."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-070.png" width="500" height="413" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"So, if you and Commander Walters are the only ones +that know about it," said Steve Strong slowly, "then a +saboteur would have thought it unimportant and +concentrated on the rest of the mechanism."</p> + +<p>"Looks that way," mused Connel. "But there is still +the possibility that it was an accident, as the professor +said."</p> + +<p>Strong looked at Connel questioningly and then back +to the wreckage. The unit had been hurled from the +upper deck of the spaceship, down to the main deck, +and it looked as if someone had trampled on its delicate +works.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-071.png" width="500" height="407" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"I'll have a crew put right to work on this," said Hemmingwell.</p> + +<p>"Commander," Connel suddenly announced, "I'm going +ahead with my trip to Mars to inspect the testing +receivers. I don't think this incident is serious enough +for me to delay leaving, and if Professor Hemmingwell +and his men can get this unit back in operation in +twelve hours, then there's very little time lost and we +can go ahead with the tests on schedule."</p> + +<p>"All right, Lou," said Walters. "Do whatever you +think best. I'll have a ship made ready for you at the +Academy spaceport any time you want to leave."</p> + +<p>Connel nodded his thanks. "I think I'll take the +<i>Polaris</i>, with Cadet Corbett along as second pilot," he +said. "I'm getting too old to make a solo hop in a scout +all the way to Mars. I need my rest." He grinned slyly +at Walters.</p> + +<p>"Rest," Walters snorted. "If I know you, Lou Connel, +you'll be up all night working out standard operational +procedures for the space projectiles." He turned to +Strong. "He's so sure this will work that he's already +writing a preliminary handbook for the enlisted +personnel."</p> + +<p>Strong turned and looked at the major, amazed. +Every day he learned more and more about the +space-hardened veteran.</p> + +<p>Connel turned to Strong. "Will you give Corbett the +order to be ready at 0600 hours tomorrow morning, +Steve?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Lou," replied Strong.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the major turned away, Walters called after him, +"Take it easy."</p> + +<p>Leaving Hemmingwell and Barret to take care of +clearing away the wreckage, Strong and Walters +climbed out of the ship, left the hangar, and headed for +the Academy.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it was sabotage, sir?" asked Strong, as +they rode on the slidewalk.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Steve," said the commander. "If that +special unit of Hemmingwell's had been damaged, I +would say it might have been an accident. But the +things that were damaged would have put the whole +works out of commission if we didn't have that unit."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Strong grimly. "So the man who did it +thought he was doing a complete job."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Walters. "Assuming that it was sabotage."</p> + +<p>"Anyone you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"Not a living soul," replied Walters. "Every man in +that hangar has been carefully screened by our Security +Section. Background, history, everything. No, I think +it really was an accident."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Strong, but not with the conviction +he would like to have felt.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Pat Troy had been Professor Hemmingwell's foreman +for nearly two years. It was his job to read the complicated +blueprints and keep the construction and installation +work proceeding on schedule. Troy lacked a formal +education, but nevertheless he could read and interpret<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +the complicated plans which the professor and his +assistants drew up, and transform their ideas into actual +mechanical devices. Professor Hemmingwell considered +himself fortunate to have a man of Troy's ability not +only as a co-worker, but as a close friend.</p> + +<p>But Dave Barret did not like Troy, and he made this +dislike obvious by giving Troy as much work as possible, +mainly tasks that were beneath his ability, claiming +he only trusted the trained scientists. Barret put the +professor in the position of having to defend one to the +other. He needed both men, both being excellent in +their respective fields, and found it more and more difficult +to maintain any kind of peaceful relationship between +them. Barret, as Hemmingwell's chief assistant +and supervisor of the project, was naturally superior in +rank to Troy, and made the most of it. A placid, easy-going +man, Troy took Barret's gibes and caustic comments +in silence, doing his work and getting it finished +on time. But occasionally he had difficulty in controlling +his resentment.</p> + +<p>The day after the accident, or sabotage attempt on +the firing unit, the hangar was quiet, most of the workers +still being psychographed. Troy, one of the first to +be graphed, had been detained by the technicians +longer than usual, but was now back at his bench, working +on the unit. This incident gave Barret the opportunity +he was looking for, and as he and Professor +Hemmingwell strode through the hangar, he commented +casually, "I hate to say this, sir, but I don't like the way +Troy has been acting lately."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Dave?" asked Hemmingwell.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I depend a great deal on instinct," replied Barret. +"And as good as Troy's work has been, I feel the man is +hiding something."</p> + +<p>"Come now, Dave," snorted the professor. "I've +known him a long time. I think you're being a little +harsh."</p> + +<p>As Barret shrugged and didn't reply, a troubled expression +crossed Hemmingwell's face. "But at the same +time," he said slowly, "if you have any reservations, I +don't suppose it would hurt to keep an eye on him."</p> + +<p>"Yes!" agreed Barret eagerly. "That's just what I was +thinking."</p> + +<p>They reached the workbench where Troy, a small +man with powerful arms and shoulders, was working on +a complicated array of wires and vacuum tubes. He +looked up, nodded casually at the two men, and +indicated the instrument.</p> + +<p>"Here it is, Professor," he said. "All ready to go. But +I had a little trouble fitting that coil where the +blueprints called for it."</p> + +<p>"Why?" Barret demanded. "I designed that coil myself. +Isn't it a little odd that a coil I designed, and the +professor O.K.'d, should not fit?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care who designed it," said Troy easily. "It +didn't fit where the blueprint indicated. I had to +redesign it."</p> + +<p>"Now, now," said Professor Hemmingwell, sensing +trouble. "Take it easy, boys."</p> + +<p>"Professor," Barret exploded, "I insist that you fire +this man!"</p> + +<p>"Fire me!" exclaimed Troy angrily. "Why, you space<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +crawler, you're the one who should be fired. I saw you +come back to the hangar the other night alone and...."</p> + +<p>"Of course I did!" snapped Barret. "I was sent down +here to get information about—" He stopped suddenly +and eyed Troy. "Wait a minute. How could you see me +down here? What were you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Why—I—" Troy hesitated. "I came down to check +over some equipment."</p> + +<p>"Why were you detained at the psychograph tests +this morning?" demanded Barret.</p> + +<p>"None of your business!" shouted Troy. "I was doing +my job. That's all."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet," snapped Barret. "Professor, here is your +sabotage agent. Who are you working for, Troy?"</p> + +<p>"None of your business," stammered Troy, seemingly +confused. "I mean, I'm not working for anyone."</p> + +<p>"There! You see, Professor!" shouted Barret.</p> + +<p>"I think you'd better explain yourself, Pat," said the +professor, looking troubled and suspicious. "Why were +you detained so long this morning?"</p> + +<p>"They were asking me questions."</p> + +<p>"What kind of questions?" demanded Barret.</p> + +<p>"I'm not allowed to tell you."</p> + +<p>"What were you doing here the other night?" pursued +Barret. "The night you saw me here."</p> + +<p>"I came down to check our supplies. I knew that we +were running short on certain equipment."</p> + +<p>"What kind of things?" demanded the professor.</p> + +<p>"Well, the timers on the oscillators," Troy replied. "I +knew we would need them for the new units you and +Commander Walters were planning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Guard!" shouted Barret suddenly. "Guard!" He +turned and called to Roger and Astro, who were standing +guard at the doors. They both came running up, +their blasters held at ready.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded Astro. "What's going on +here?"</p> + +<p>"Arrest that man!" shouted Barret. Astro and Roger +looked questioningly at Troy. They did not know him +personally but had seen him around the hangar and +knew that he worked closely with the professor and +Barret.</p> + +<p>Still vaguely distrustful of Barret's behavior, Astro +turned to Hemmingwell. "How about it, Professor?" he +asked. "Do we haul this guy in?"</p> + +<p>Hemmingwell looked at Troy steadily. "Pat, you +knew about that new unit I was building?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Troy forthrightly. "I accidentally +overheard you and Commander Walters discussing it. +From what you said about it, I knew you would need +new timers for the oscillators—"</p> + +<p>Roger and Astro had heard about the vital unit that +had not been destroyed, and realized that Troy was +admitting to knowledge he shouldn't have had. Roger +raised the blaster menacingly. "All right, buster!" he +growled. "Move this way and move slowly."</p> + +<p>"Professor," exclaimed Troy, "you're not going to let +them—!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Pat," said the professor, a dejected look in +his eyes. "I have nothing to do with it now. You should +have told me that you knew about the new unit. And +the fact that you were here the night it was destroyed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +well—" He shrugged meaningfully and turned away.</p> + +<p>"All right, buster," growled Astro, "do you move or +do I move you? It makes no difference to me."</p> + +<p>Troy took a look at the blasters leveled at him and +silently walked between them to the hangar door. +Barret and Professor Hemmingwell remained at the +workbench, following the trio with their eyes.</p> + +<p>Later, after Troy had been safely locked in the Academy +brig, Firehouse Tim Rush sat at his desk in the +small security shack taking down the two cadets' +reports.</p> + +<p>"... And upon the orders of Dave Barret and +Professor Hummingbird—" Roger was saying.</p> + +<p>"Hemmingwell," snapped Firehouse. "<i>Hemmingwell</i>."</p> + +<p>"—Hemmingwell"—nodded Roger with a wink at +Astro—"we brought the suspect to the officer of the +guard, Firehouse Tim Rush."</p> + +<p>"Can that Firehouse, ya squirt!" growled Rush. "Only +my friends can call me that. And you two are not in that +classification."</p> + +<p>"O.K., Fireman," said Roger. "I can call you +Fireman, can't I? After all, you are a pretty hot rocket, +and—"</p> + +<p>"Get back to your posts!" roared Firehouse Tim in his +loudest voice.</p> + +<p>Roger and Astro grinned and hurried out of the small +building. Before resuming their posts in the hangar, the +two cadets stopped at an automatic soda dispenser. As +they drank slowly, they looked around the hangar. The +project was back in full operation now. The workers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +that had been cleared had heard about the arrest of +their foreman, and there seemed to be more talk than +work.</p> + +<p>Dave Barret walked over to Roger and Astro. Nodding +in a surprisingly friendly fashion, he said, "I want +to commend you two boys on your good work a while +ago. I think that traitor would have tried anything if +you hadn't been there. He might even have tried to kill +me or the professor."</p> + +<p>Roger and Astro mumbled curt thanks for the compliment.</p> + +<p>Barret looked at them quizzically. "No need for us to +be angry with each other," he said smoothly. "I realize +that when we had our two little run-ins you were carrying +out your duties, and I apologize for behaving the +way I did. How about it? Can we shake and forget it?" +He held out his hand. Astro and Roger looked at each +other and shrugged, each in turn, taking the young +man's hand.</p> + +<p>"You know," said Barret, "I've heard a lot about you +three cadets of the <i>Polaris</i> unit. Especially you, Manning. +I understand that you know almost as much about +electronics as your instructor at the Academy."</p> + +<p>Roger grinned shyly. "I like my work."</p> + +<p>"Well, blast my jets!" roared Astro. "That's the first +time I have ever heard Manning accept a compliment +gracefully." The big Venusian turned to Barret. "He is +not only the finest astrogator in the whole high, wide, +and deep," he said sincerely, "but he could have had a +wonderful career in electronics if he didn't want to be +a rocket jockey with me and Corbett."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is that so?" murmured Barret politely. "Well, +Manning, you must have some ideas about the work that's +going on here."</p> + +<p>"I sure have," said Roger. "And I see a lot of things +here that could be done a lot easier."</p> + +<p>"Hum," mused Barret. "You know something. I think +I might be able to relieve you two of guard duty. After +all, if Corbett can get out of it, I don't see why I can't +put your talents to work for us here. How about it?"</p> + +<p>Both boys almost jumped straight up in the air.</p> + +<p>"That would be terrific, Mr. Barret!" exclaimed Astro.</p> + +<p>"Call me Dave, Astro. We're friends now, remember?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, Dave," stuttered Astro. "But listen, we'd do +anything to be taken off this detail and get Firehouse +off our necks."</p> + +<p>Barret smiled. "All right. I'll see what I can do." He +turned and walked off, giving them a friendly wave in +parting.</p> + +<p>Astro and Roger could hardly believe their luck. +They returned to their posts and took up guard duty +again with light hearts.</p> + +<p>In his small private office, Barret watched them +through the open door to the hangar and then turned +to his desk, to pick up the recently installed private +audioceiver. He asked for a private number in a small +city on Mars, and then admonished the operator, "This +is a security call, miss. Disconnect your circuit and do +not listen in. Failure to comply will result in your +immediate dismissal and possible criminal prosecution."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the operator respectfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a distinct click and Barret heard a gruff +voice.</p> + +<p>"Hello?"</p> + +<p>"This is Barret," the young designer whispered. "Everything's +going fine down here. I just had the foreman +arrested to throw them off the track, and I have a plan +to get rid of two of these nosy cadets." Barret listened +a minute and then continued. "Connel and the other +cadet, Corbett, have gone to Mars to inspect the receivers. +Don't worry about a thing. This ship will never +get off the ground. And if it does, it will never fire a +projectile."</p> + +<p>Barret hung up and returned to the open door. He +waved at Roger and Astro on the other side of the +hangar and the two cadets waved back.</p> + +<p>"Like lambs to the slaughter," he said to himself.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-081.png" width="500" height="155" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_7" id="CHAPTER_7"></a>CHAPTER 7</h2> + + +<p>"Sound off, Corbett!"</p> + +<p>Seated in the pilot's chair on the control deck of the +rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i>, Major Connel bellowed the order +into the intercom as he scanned the many dials on the +huge control board.</p> + +<p>"One minute to touchdown, sir," reported Tom over +the intercom from the radar bridge of the <i>Polaris</i>.</p> + +<p>"One minute to touchdown," repeated Connel. +"Right!"</p> + +<p>Connel reached for the switches and levers that +would bring the giant ship to rest on the red planet of +Mars. Even after his many years in the Solar Guard +and thousands of space flights, landing a rocket ship +was still a thrill to the veteran spaceman, and knowing +that he had a good man on the radar deck made it even +more exciting and demanding of his skill.</p> + +<p>"Decelerate!" yelled Tom over the intercom.</p> + +<p>Connel shut down the main drive rockets and at the +same time opened the nose braking rockets. "Braking +rockets on!" he yelled.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"One thousand feet to touchdown," said Tom.</p> + +<p>Connel watched the dials spinning before him.</p> + +<p>"Seven hundred and fifty feet to touchdown," +reported Tom.</p> + +<p>"Keep counting, Corbett!" yelled Connel enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Five hundred feet!"</p> + +<p>Connel quickly cut back the nose braking rockets and +again opened the main drive rockets as the ship +plummeted tailfirst toward the surface of Mars.</p> + +<p>"Two hundred feet!" came the warning call over the +intercom.</p> + +<p>Connel glanced up at the teleceiver screen over his +head that showed the spaceport below. The concrete +runways and platforms were rushing up to meet the +giant ship. He opened the main rockets full.</p> + +<p>"Seventy-five feet! Stand by!" yelled Tom.</p> + +<p>Connel's hands flashed over the control panel of the +ship, snapping switches, flipping levers, and turning +dials in an effort to bring the ship to a smooth landing. +There was a sudden roar of rockets and then a gentle +bump.</p> + +<p>"Touchdown!" roared Connel.</p> + +<p>He flipped off the main switches on the control board, +spun around in his chair, and noted the time on the +astral chronometer. "Touchdown Marsport, 2117!" he +announced.</p> + +<p>Tom clambered down the ladder from the radar +bridge and immediately noted the time of arrival in the +logbook. He turned around and saluted the major +sharply. "All secure, sir," he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Congratulations on a smooth trip, Corbett," Connel +said. "And thanks for letting me take her in. I know it's +unusual to have the senior officer take over the ship, +but once in a while I get the urge to put my hands on +those controls and—well—" Connel paused, fumbling +for words.</p> + +<p>Tom was so startled by the major's stumbling attempt +to explain his feelings, he felt himself blush. He had +always suspected the major of being a rocket jockey at +heart and now he was certain. But he would never tell +anyone, not even Roger and Astro about this incident. +It was something he knew that he himself would feel +if he ever got to be as old as Major Connel and had +reached his position. There passed between the officer +and the cadet a sudden feeling of mutual understanding.</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir," said Tom quietly.</p> + +<p>"Dismissed!" roared Connel, recovering his composure +again, and very conscious that he had exposed his +innermost feelings to the cadet. But he didn't mind too +much. Tom Corbett had proven beyond the shadow of +a doubt that he had the stuff true spacemen are made +of, and because of this, Connel could feel as close to +him as a man near his own age. There was never a breed +of men who were drawn so close together in their love +of work as the spacemen and there was no need for +further explanation.</p> + +<p>When they had climbed out of the <i>Polaris</i> and +stepped on the landing ramp at Marsport, Connel and +Tom saw that the ground crews were already checking +over the afterburners and exhaust tubes of the ship. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +young Solar Guard lieutenant, wearing a decidedly +greasy uniform, snapped to attention before Connel.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Slick at your service, sir," he announced.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant," bawled Connel, "your uniform is +filthy!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I know it is, sir," replied the young officer. +"But I was overhauling a firing unit this morning, sir, +and I guess I got a little dirty."</p> + +<p>"That is enlisted man's work, sir," stated Connel. "You +are an officer."</p> + +<p>"I know, sir, but—" Slick stammered. "Well, sir, once +in a while I like to do it myself."</p> + +<p>Tom turned away, hiding a smile. The young officer +was expressing the same feelings Connel himself had +uttered just a few minutes before. Connel cleared his +throat, and with a sidelong glance at Tom and a wink, +dismissed the young officer, ordering him to have a jet +car sent for them right away.</p> + +<p>"Take mine, sir," said the young officer, happy to +have escaped Connel's wrath so easily. It was not too +long ago that he had been a cadet at the Academy and +he remembered all too clearly what Connel could do +when he was mad.</p> + +<p>When the jet car was brought up, Tom slipped behind +the wheel, and with Connel seated beside him, he +sent the sleek little vehicle roaring across the spaceport +to the main administration building.</p> + +<p>Inside the gleaming crystal building, Connel and +Tom were escorted by a Space Marine guard to the +office of the spaceport commander, Captain Jim Arnold. +He and Connel knew each other well, and after quick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +greetings and the introduction of the young cadet, Connel +asked for the latest reports on the projectile receivers.</p> + +<p>"Lou, I've got good news for you," announced Arnold. +"We've completed the receiver ramps for the test. As +soon as your ship is ready to fire her cargo projectiles, +we can receive them."</p> + +<p>Connel's face showed the surprise he felt. "Why, Jim, +that's the most amazing news I've ever heard!" he exclaimed. +"How did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Through hard work," replied Arnold, "and the efforts +of a young officer named Slick. He handled the +whole thing."</p> + +<p>"Slick!" exclaimed Connel. "I just bawled him out for +wearing a dirty uniform."</p> + +<p>"He's responsible for our success," asserted Arnold. +"And what's more, those receivers can be taken apart +and reassembled again in less than ten minutes."</p> + +<p>"Incredible," gasped Connel. "I've got to see those +things right away. Come along, Corbett."</p> + +<p>Tom followed the major out of the office and back to +the jet car. They were about to drive off to the opposite +end of the field when they heard someone shout to +them. Tom stopped the speedy little car and Connel +turned around to see who had called them.</p> + +<p>Carter Devers rushed up and greeted the Solar +Guard officer enthusiastically. "Major, this is a surprise."</p> + +<p>"Hello, Carter. What are you doing here?" Connel +asked bluntly.</p> + +<p>"Had some business here on Mars," said Devers. "I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +finished and I'm on my way back to Earth. You +wouldn't, by any chance, be going back soon, would +you? I saw the Solar Guard cruiser come in and one of +the attendants told me that they were preparing it for +immediate blast-off—"</p> + +<p>"Of course, Carter," Connel said briskly. "Get in. +We're just going over to inspect the receivers and then +we'll be heading back."</p> + +<p>Devers jumped into the jet car and Tom headed +across the broad expanse of the spaceport.</p> + +<p>Connel turned to Devers and said enthusiastically, +"Can you imagine, Devers? Some young officer here at +Marsport has worked out a way to assemble and transport +the receivers in a fantastically small amount of +time."</p> + +<p>"That's amazing," said Devers. "I'd like very much to +see them." He looked at Tom and said, "Incidentally, +who is your young friend?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, sorry," replied Connel. "This is Cadet Corbett +of the <i>Polaris</i> unit. No doubt you've heard of them. He +and his unit mates manage to get into more trouble +than all the monkeys in the Venusian jungle."</p> + +<p>Carter laughed. "I've known Lou Connel long +enough to know that when he says something like that +about you, son, he thinks very highly of you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Tom, not knowing what else +to say.</p> + +<p>While Connel and Devers talked of the problems surrounding +the projectile operation, Tom concentrated on +his driving. He was following directions given him by +Jim Arnold to reach the testing grounds and this made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +it necessary for Tom to drive right through the center +of the spaceport, weaving in and out of the dozens of +spaceships parked on the concrete ramps.</p> + +<p>Tom swept past them, driving expertly, heading +toward a group of concrete blockhouses enclosed by a +fence which he knew would be the testing area. Beside +the fence, a short, stubby-nosed spaceship was loading +cargo, and beneath the vessel, two huge jet trucks were +backing into position. Tom steered the car up to the +gate and stopped at the signal of an armed guard. Connel, +Devers, and Tom stepped out of the car and waited +for a minute, and then young Lieutenant Slick +appeared, wearing a clean uniform.</p> + +<p>Slick checked their names off against a list he carried +and then drew Connel to one side. "I'm sorry, sir," he +said, just out of Tom and Dever's hearing, "I can't allow +the cadet inside this area."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Connel. "I'll vouch for him."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," said Slick. "Those are my orders. I +can let you and Mr. Devers in, but not Cadet Corbett." +He showed Connel a list of names: Connel, Strong, +Hemmingwell, Walters, Devers, and Barret. They were +the only names on it.</p> + +<p>Connel nodded. "I understand," he said and turned +to Tom. "You'll have to stay here, Corbett," he called. +"Wait for me in the car."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Tom and hopped back in the jet.</p> + +<p>He backed out through the gate, pulling up alongside +the fence near the stubby-nosed freighter. When Connel +and Devers, escorted by Slick, had disappeared +behind a blockhouse inside the restricted area, Tom casually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +walked over to watch the loading operation of the +spaceship. A few of the workers stopped when he +walked up, and recognizing his cadet uniform, greeted +him warmly.</p> + +<p>"Space Cadet, eh?" said one of the men. "Sure wish I +could get my boy in the Academy."</p> + +<p>"Me too," said another man. "All I hear from morning +until night is Space Academy—Space Academy."</p> + +<p>Tom smiled his appreciation of their admiration. +While he answered their questions about the training +school of the Solar Guard, they continued working. After +a while the conversation turned to the restricted +area behind the fence.</p> + +<p>"Some pretty important work going on in there," said +one of the men. "But how come they wouldn't let you +go in?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't been cleared by security," replied Tom. +"It's top secret."</p> + +<p>"Secret," said a man who had just joined the group. +Tom had noticed him before, climbing out of one of the +huge jet trucks parked near the gate. "Why, there ain't +nothing secret about what's going on in there," he continued.</p> + +<p>"Why do you say that?" asked Tom alertly.</p> + +<p>"Why, we all know about it, Cadet," said one of the +first men Tom had spoken to. "They're building receivers +for cargo projectiles."</p> + +<p>Tom gulped in surprise. "But how did you know?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's the only thing we've been talking about +down at the garage and at Sloppy Sam's, the jet-truckers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +hangout," replied the trucker. "If this thing works, +surface transportation will be finished."</p> + +<p>"That's right," asserted another worker. "The whole +industry will be wiped out overnight. Nobody will have +anything trucked any more. Cargo'll be loaded into a +projectile and shot off into space to a passing freighter. +Then the freighter carries it to its destination and +shoots it back down to a receiver."</p> + +<p>"But how could you know all this?" asked Tom. "It is +one of the Solar Guard's most closely guarded secrets."</p> + +<p>"It's all over Mars," declared the truck driver with a +derisive laugh. "Why, everybody knows it."</p> + +<p>Suddenly one of the men yelled and pointed toward +the fence. The jet truck parked near the gate was rolling +forward slowly. As Tom and the men watched in +horror, the giant vehicle crashed through the fence and +rolled into the restricted area, picking up speed.</p> + +<p>In a flash Tom was inside the jet car, driving right +through the hole in the fence and speeding after the +huge machine. Around him, guards were running after +the truck, shouting frantic warnings. Far ahead of him, +Tom saw Major Connel and Devers standing near several +receivers lined up outside a blockhouse. The truck +was rolling straight toward them. Hearing the shouts +of alarm, the two men turned and saw their danger. +Devers immediately jumped into the safety of the +blockhouse, but Connel stumbled and fell heavily. +Tom's blood ran cold. He saw that the major had struck +his head against one of the receivers and he lay on the +ground, dazed and unable to move.</p> + +<p>Tom jammed the accelerator of the tiny jet car to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +floor and shot ahead like a rocket. He was alongside the +truck now, but the distance between the huge machine +and Connel was narrowing rapidly. Tom clenched his +teeth and urged the little car on faster. He knew that +there was not enough time for him to jump into the +truck and pull the brake. There was only one thing he +could do.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>Regaining his senses, Connel tried to crawl to safety, +but there was no time. He braced himself for what he +knew would be instant death, and then to his amazement +he saw Tom's jet car swerve sharply in front of the +runaway truck.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/ill-091.png" width="400" height="475" alt="Tom swerved the jet car in front of the runaway truck" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Tom swerved the jet car in front of the runaway truck</span> +<br /><ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Moved picture to correspond to text.">Note</ins> +</div> + +<p>There was a wrenching crash of metal, a shrill scream +of skidding tires, climaxed by a thunderous roar. After +that, deathly silence.</p> + +<p>For a second Connel stood frozen in horror, staring +at the overturned truck and the tangle of twisted metal +that was the jet car. Then he lunged forward with a +frantic cry.</p> + +<p>"Corbett! Corbett!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-092.png" width="500" height="152" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_8" id="CHAPTER_8"></a>CHAPTER 8</h2> + + +<p>"Tom! Tom!"</p> + +<p>Connel knelt beside the limp form of the Space Cadet, +calling frantically, praying that the boy would be +miraculously unhurt, yet fearing the worst. A few moments +later Tom groaned and opened his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Did I—did I stop the truck?" he asked weakly.</p> + +<p>"You sure did, son!" said Connel, breathing a sigh of +relief. "And thank the lucky spaceman's stars that +you're all right. I don't see how you got out alive."</p> + +<p>Tom sat up. "I jumped from the jet car at the last +minute," he said. "I guess I must have bumped my +head." He looked down at his torn uniform. "Wow," he +said. "Look at me."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about it." Connel laughed. He turned +to Lieutenant Slick who had just rushed up.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant, I want a complete check on the men +who were standing outside the fence when that truck +ran away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." The young lieutenant patted Tom on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +shoulder. "Good work, Cadet," he said and started +away.</p> + +<p>Tom grinned his thanks at the young officer and +struggled to his feet. "Sir," he said to Connel, "I think I +should explain something about that truck."</p> + +<p>"The truck!" cried Connel. He turned and called, +"Lieutenant, come back here." The young officer turned +back. "Go ahead, Tom," said Connel.</p> + +<p>While Tom told his story of the truck having been +parked near the gate, and having started to roll by +itself, Connel and Slick listened intently. Quietly Devers +joined them. Finally, when Tom had finished, Connel +rubbed his chin thoughtfully and stared at the truck +which was being examined by a swarm of guards.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the sergeant in command +reported to Connel that they had found a worn clutch +plate that could have slipped and caused the truck to +roll of its own accord, especially if the motor was +turning over.</p> + +<p>Connel nodded and then ordered, "Get the driver +over here."</p> + +<p>The man that had spoken to Tom about the secret +project came forward under guard. He was thoroughly +frightened and Connel was aware of it. "Relax, friend," +he said. "I just want to ask you one question."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," gulped the truck driver.</p> + +<p>"Was there anything wrong with your truck?" demanded +Connel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the driver. "I had a slipping +clutch."</p> + +<p>Connel turned abruptly to Lieutenant Slick. "All<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +right, Slick, release this man and get that fence back up. +I'm satisfied that it was an accident."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Slick, and left the group with the +grateful driver.</p> + +<p>Connel relaxed for the first time and turned to Carter +Devers who had been standing by silently. "Well, +Carter," he said, "see what I meant about the <i>Polaris</i> unit +getting into trouble! Blast it, if they don't start it, they +sure can finish it." He turned to Tom. "Son, you deserve +some time off. Go back to the Spacelanes Hotel in Marsport +and get yourself a room. Just forget everything and +relax. And get a new uniform, too."</p> + +<p>"And send the bill to me," Devers suddenly spoke up. +"It's the least I can do."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," said Tom. "I could sure use a little +sleep."</p> + +<p>Hitching a ride on a jet sled, Tom rode over to the +administration building where he managed to clean up +enough to make himself presentable at the hotel. Later, +as he rode along the curving canal in a jet cab into the +main section of Marsport, he relaxed for the first time +and enjoyed the sights.</p> + +<p>The city of Marsport was built in a hurry—at least, +the old section of the city was. Like many other planets, +when first colonized by the early great conquerors of +space several hundred years before, the city grew out of +immediate need, with no formalized plan.</p> + +<p>Years later, when the Solar Alliance was formed and +there was uniform government all over the solar +system, the citizens of Mars began to regard their ugly +little capital with distaste. A major effort was made to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +clean up its squalid appearance and huge cargoes of Titan +crystal were shipped to Mars for modern construction. +Now, as Tom Corbett rode in comfort along a +speedway bordering one of the ancient canals, he approached +the city with a vague feeling of awe. Gleaming +towers, reflecting the last rays of the setting sun, +loomed just ahead of him, and the wavy lines of heat +rising out of the sandy deserts seemed to make the +buildings dance. It was a sunset ballet that never failed +to thrill even the oldest Martian citizen.</p> + +<p>At the magnificent Spacelanes Hotel, Tom was +greeted with the greatest respect. Already his feat of +stopping the runaway truck had been announced over +the stereo newscasts, and when he asked the location of +the nearest supply store to buy a uniform, one was immediately +brought to his room by the manager.</p> + +<p>"But how did you know?" asked Tom, astounded.</p> + +<p>The manager showed Tom a photograph of himself +in his ragged clothes, taken while he was talking to +Connel. In the background was the remains of the jet +car.</p> + +<p>"Major Connel called and said you would be staying +here," said the manager. "From the looks of you in this +picture, we knew you would need a new uniform."</p> + +<p>"And you've got my size!" exclaimed Tom, holding +up the gleaming new blouse.</p> + +<p>"We called the Academy." The manager smiled. "We +wanted to be sure. Incidentally, there is a message for +you." The manager handed Tom a typed space-o-gram +and left. The cadet ripped it open and smiled as he +read:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap lowercase">TRYING TO HOG ALL THE STEREO +SPACE YOU CAN WHILE YOU LEAVE +THE REAL COMPETITION AT HOME, +YOU RAT! CONGRATULATIONS!</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap lowercase" style="position: absolute; right: 20%;">ASTRO AND ROGER</span><br /></p> +</div> + +<p>Laughing to himself, Tom left the message on the +desk, stripped off his torn, dirty clothes, and stepped +into a hot, refreshing shower. Half an hour later he was +digging into a thick steak with French fried potatoes.</p> + +<p>After a third helping of dessert, the cadet stretched +out on the bed and closed his eyes. But sleep would not +come. The incidents at the spaceport that afternoon +kept flashing through his mind. He tossed restlessly, +something he couldn't quite remember was tugging at +the back of his mind.</p> + +<p>He retraced the events of the day, beginning with the +landing of the <i>Polaris</i> and ending with the crash of the +jet truck.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he sat up straight. Then quickly he jumped +out of bed, hurriedly threw on the new uniform, and +rammed his feet into the soft space boots.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, having used the service elevator to +avoid the lobby, he stood on the corner of Lowell Lane +and Builker Avenue. He hailed a passing jet cab, and +climbing in, asked the driver, "Do you know a restaurant +or a bar called Sloppy Sam's?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said the driver. "That where you want to go?"</p> + +<p>"As fast as this wagon will get me there," replied +Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the driver strangely. "You look like a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +nice kid. That joint's for—for—well, it ain't for a Space +Cadet," he concluded lamely.</p> + +<p>"The first thing they teach us at the Academy, +buddy," said Tom impatiently, "is how to take care of +ourselves, and the second thing is to mind our own +business."</p> + +<p>"Right," said the driver, tight-lipped. He slammed +the car into motion and the force hurled Tom back in +his seat.</p> + +<p>Tom grinned. He hadn't meant to sound so tough. He +leaned over and apologized. "I'm looking for an old +friend. Someone told me he drives a truck and he might +be there."</p> + +<p>"Forget it, kid," said the driver. "I wouldn't want you +in my cab if you couldn't take care of yourself. We pay +taxes to teach guys like you how to protect us. A lot of +good it would do if you were scared of a taxi driver."</p> + +<p>Tom laughed and settled back in his seat to watch +the city flash past.</p> + +<p>A half hour later the curly-haired cadet became +aware of the change from the magnificent crystal buildings +to the dirty and streaked buildings of the poorer +section of the city. And with the change, Tom noticed a +difference in the people who walked the streets. Here +were men who wore their coat collars high and their +caps pulled low, and who would duck into the shadows +at the approach of the cab and then watch it with dark, +silent eyes.</p> + +<p>"Here ya are, Cadet," the driver announced, stopping +in front of a small, dirty building. "Sloppy Sam's."</p> + +<p>Tom looked out. The door was open and he could see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +inside. Sawdust covered the floor, and the tables and +chairs were old and rickety. The men inside were the +same as those he had seen on the street, tough-looking, +hard, steely-eyed. Tom looked at the faded sign over +the door. "That says <i>Bad</i> Sam's," he protested.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/ill-099.png" width="310" height="500" alt="The men inside were tough-looking and steely-eyed" title="" /> +<span class="caption">The men inside were tough-looking and steely-eyed</span><br /> +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Picture originally on page 89; moved to correspond to text.">Note</ins></div> + +<p>"Used to be called Bad Sam's," replied the driver. "As +a matter of fact, I think it's still officially Bad Sam's. +You see, Sam used to be a real tough fella. Then one +day a fella came along that was tougher than he was +and beat the exhaust out of him. Sam went to pot after +that. He got fat and lazy, and his place here got dirtier +and dirtier. Finally everybody started calling him +Sloppy Sam and it stuck."</p> + +<p>"Quite a story." Tom laughed. "What happened to +the fellow that took Sam over the hurdles?"</p> + +<p>"He's got a joint on the other side of town called Bad +Richard's. But they're friends now. Get along fine."</p> + +<p>Tom paid the driver and stood on the sidewalk, +watching the silver cab shoot away into the darkness. +Then he took a deep breath and slowly moved toward +the open door of Sloppy Sam's.</p> + +<p>Inside, Tom saw that most of the customers were +lined up at the bar, drinking rocket juice, a dark foul-tasting +liquid that Tom had sipped once and vowed he +would never try again. But as he looked around, he +didn't think it was the type of place you could order +anything milder, so he walked up to the bar and +ordered loudly, "A bucket of juice."</p> + +<p>Some of the men at the bar turned away from the +stereo screen to look at the newcomer. They eyed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +crisp, clean uniform narrowly, and then turned silently +back to the play on the screen.</p> + +<p>The husky bartender placed the small glass of dark +liquid in front of Tom. "Twenty credits," he announced +in a hoarse voice.</p> + +<p>"Twenty!" exclaimed Tom. "Don't give me that +rocket wash! It's five credits a shot."</p> + +<p>"To a Space Cadet that wants to keep his reputation, +Corbett," replied the burly man, "it's twenty."</p> + +<p>Tom realized that the man had seen his picture on +the stereo news that afternoon and that it would be impossible +to get out of paying this blatant form of blackmail. +He handed over the money and picked up the +glass. He sipped it to keep up appearances but even the +few drops he allowed to trickle down his throat almost +made him gag. He gasped for breath. Whatever information +he might be able to get here, it wasn't worth another +swallow of that stuff.</p> + +<p>He stood at the bar for nearly half an hour, watching +the stereo and waiting. When the show was over, the +men turned back to the serious business of drinking. +Two of them drifted over close to Tom and looked him +up and down. After a whispered conversation, they +turned to him and pointed to his drink, the same one he +had bought and had not touched since.</p> + +<p>"Drink up, mate," said the nearest man, a tall, heavy-shouldered +man with a dark beard, "then join us in another +one."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks," said Tom. "One's my limit."</p> + +<p>The two men laughed. "Well, I'll say this for you, lad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +you're honest about it," said the tall one. "Most squirts +coming in here try to put on they can take the stuff and +then they wind up in the gutter."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Cag!" said the other man, laughing.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing in here, Cadet?" asked the man +called Cag.</p> + +<p>"Looking for a guy."</p> + +<p>"What's his name? Maybe we know him."</p> + +<p>"Yeah, we might," chimed in the other. "We know +just about everybody that comes in here."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he don't want to tell us, Monty," said Cag.</p> + +<p>"I don't know his name," said Tom. "I just met him +today and he mentioned this place. I wanted to talk to +him about something."</p> + +<p>"Where did you see him?"</p> + +<p>Tom paused. It was only a chance remark that the +driver of the jet truck had made and it was a slim +chance that these two men might know him. He +decided to risk it. "He's a jet trucker. I saw him out at the +spaceport today."</p> + +<p>The two men looked at each other. "Little guy, with +a sort of funny twitch in his eye?" asked Cag.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "That's him. Know him?"</p> + +<p>"He hangs out in a joint across the street," said +Monty. "Come on outside. I'll show you where it is. And +his name's Pistol, in case you want to know."</p> + +<p>"Pistol," said Tom. "That's an odd name."</p> + +<p>"Not when you consider he carries a pistol all the +time," snorted Cag.</p> + +<p>Tom and the two men walked to the door and out +into the street.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you want to see him about, anyway?" asked +Monty, as they walked to the corner.</p> + +<p>"Just wanted to talk to him about the jet-trucking +business."</p> + +<p>"What about it? We're truckers, me and Cag, we +could probably tell you a lot more than Pistol."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Tom. "But I want to talk to Pistol."</p> + +<p>They stopped at the corner and Monty stepped off +the curb into the street. "See that light down there," he +said, pointing down the block, "the one just above the +door?"</p> + +<p>Tom turned to look. "Where—?"</p> + +<p>He suddenly felt a sharp jolting pain in the back of +his head and then everything went black.</p> + +<p>"Nice work, Cag," commented Monty.</p> + +<p>"What'll we do with him?" asked Cag.</p> + +<p>"Throw him in the back of the truck and get outta +here," said Monty, pulling Tom's limp form into the +shadows of an alley. "I'll get in touch with the boss and +tell him what's happened. And you better send out +word to get Pistol. He must know something."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Cag. "Gee, Corbett's getting his nice +clean uniform messed up."</p> + +<p>Dirty gutter water flowed over Tom in the dark +Martian alley as the boy lay deathly still.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_9" id="CHAPTER_9"></a>CHAPTER 9</h2> + + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Major Connel. "Give me that again."</p> + +<p>The messenger from the Solar Guard headquarters +on Mars repeated the message. "Cadet Corbett has not +been in his hotel since last night, sir," he said. "He was +seen leaving the service entrance at about 2100 hours. +There is no report as to his whereabouts, sir."</p> + +<p>Standing at the foot of the ladder leading to the main +air lock of the <i>Polaris</i>, Major Connel turned to Carter +Devers angrily.</p> + +<p>"This is the end!" he shouted. "I've had as much of +this foolishness as I'm going to take. When that young +space brat comes back, I'm going to throw the book at +him."</p> + +<p>"Now, now, Major," said Devers. "I wouldn't be too +hard on the lad. How do you know that he isn't in some +kind of trouble?"</p> + +<p>"That's just it," growled Connel. "One of those three +is always in trouble."</p> + +<p>"He saved your life," reminded Devers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm well aware of that," replied Connel stiffly. "But +it's a personal debt. It has nothing to do with his behavior +as a cadet. I ordered him to go to that hotel and rest, +not go skylarking all over Marsport. This is typical of +the whole unit's attitude."</p> + +<p>"But you said that they were the best crew you ever +had," insisted Devers.</p> + +<p>"I know, but what's worse is that <i>they</i> know it! Blast +it, Carter, it isn't easy to say the things I've said about +Corbett! He's a fine lad. But look at it this way. I have +to return to Atom City immediately. Corbett may be in +trouble, right?" Devers nodded. "Well, how do you +think I feel, blasting off and leaving him?"</p> + +<p>Devers nodded his understanding as Connel continued +furiously, "And furthermore, I have more important +things to think about than wet-nursing a cadet."</p> + +<p>At that moment Connel noticed a jet car racing +across the spaceport toward the <i>Polaris</i>. As it drew near, +he saw the insigne of the Solar Guard on the hood. His +eyes widened hopefully for a second. "Humph," he +grunted, "this may be him now!"</p> + +<p>"If it is," cautioned Devers, "go easy on the boy."</p> + +<p>"We'll see, we'll see."</p> + +<p>The car screamed to a stop in front of them, the +plastic blister was thrown back, and another Solar Guard +messenger climbed out, saluting Connel smartly.</p> + +<p>"Message from Solar Guard headquarters, Major +Connel," he said.</p> + +<p>Connel took the paper and ripped it open. "Excuse +me, Carter," he muttered and stepped to one side to +read the note hurriedly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="smcap lowercase">HEMMINGWELL'S CHIEF FOREMAN +ARRESTED AS SABOTEUR. ADVISE YOU +RETURN IMMEDIATELY. WALTERS</p></div> + +<p>Dashing up the metal ladder, Connel roared the order +to the waiting ground crew. "Stand by to blast off."</p> + +<p>Carter Devers scrambled up into the giant ship after +the Solar Guard officer, and in less than a minute later, +all ports were sealed and the <i>Polaris</i> was ready for +space. In the pilot's chair, Connel called traffic control +for blast-off, and at the same time prepared to raise +ship.</p> + +<p>By the time Devers had strapped himself into the copilot's +chair next to Connel, the ship was quivering with +leashed power. Suddenly Connel roared the familiar +call for space.</p> + +<p>"Blast off, minus five, four, three, two, one, <i>zero</i>!"</p> + +<p>The great ship literally exploded off the ground, and +within seconds, was rocketing through the thin atmosphere +above Mars on course for Earth, far across the +deep black velvet void of space, but leaving Tom +Corbett, her true commander, behind.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Captain Steve Strong and Commander Walters +watched grimly as the <i>Polaris</i> landed on the Academy +spaceport. They had been in contact with Connel during +his trip back to Earth and had already told the bluff +major of still another incident that had taken place at +the Academy while he was gone.</p> + +<p>Roger and Astro had stolen a rocket scout and +disappeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't get it, sir," sighed Strong. "Manning and +Astro blowing wide open, Corbett disappearing—" He +shook his head. "It doesn't make sense."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," said Walters. "But those three are +really in trouble now. Connel won't stand for this kind of +behavior."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that he'll go so far as to ask for a +court-martial?"</p> + +<p>Walters hesitated. "I hate to say this, Steve," he said +finally, "but if Major Connel doesn't, I will be forced to. +No other unit has had more of an opportunity to prove +itself than the <i>Polaris</i> unit. And every time, something +like this happens."</p> + +<p>"But suppose they have good explanations," insisted +Strong.</p> + +<p>"It would have to be better than anything they've +had before," replied Walters. "Frankly, I cannot see +how that is possible."</p> + +<p>Walters climbed into his jet car and Strong followed, +biting his lip.</p> + +<p>The car shot across the field to the now grounded +<i>Polaris</i>, pulling alongside it just as Major Connel and +Carter Devers climbed out of the open hatch. Without even +the courtesy of a greeting, Connel roared, "What's this +about those two cadets stealing a ship?"</p> + +<p>"Let's talk about that later, Lou," said Walters. +"Climb in. We've got something more important to +discuss. The saboteur."</p> + +<p>Devers stepped forward. "This is no place for me, I +know," he said. "<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original reads 'I"ll'.">I'll</ins> leave you here. And thanks for the +lift, Major."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>Connel grunted his acknowledgment and climbed +into the car as Strong turned to Devers.</p> + +<p>"There was a message for you, Mr. Devers," said the +Solar Guard captain. "You're to get in touch with your +Atom City office immediately."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Steve," said Devers, and with a wave of his +hand to the others walked away.</p> + +<p>As the jet car raced back to the Tower of Galileo, +Walters brought Connel up to date on the incident at +the hangar leading to the arrest of Pat Troy. When they +reached Walters' office, high in the tower, Troy was +ushered in by two guards.</p> + +<p>"Sit down!" barked Connel, taking command of the +situation.</p> + +<p>Troy walked to the center of the room and sat down +in the indicated chair, facing Walters, Connel, and +Strong.</p> + +<p>"We'd like to get to the bottom of this as soon as +possible, Troy," began Connel. "So I suggest that you tell +us the truth and save us the trouble of pulling it out of +you.</p> + +<p>"I will answer all of your questions to the best of my +ability, sir," said Troy calmly. "And I will tell the truth +at all times."</p> + +<p>"Very well," snorted Connel. "Now, who are you +working for?"</p> + +<p>"Professor Hemmingwell," replied Troy.</p> + +<p>"Stow that," snarled Connel. "Who paid you to +sabotage the ship?"</p> + +<p>"I have not committed any sabotage for anyone, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then you deny that you wrecked that firing unit?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Walters suddenly leaned forward. "But you do not +deny that you knew about the special unit that +Professor Hemmingwell had created," he said. "A unit that +only he and I knew about?"</p> + +<p>"I knew about the unit—yes, sir," replied Troy.</p> + +<p>"How could you?" demanded Walters.</p> + +<p>"I overheard you both discussing it one day."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"In the hangar," said Troy. "You and Professor +Hemmingwell were talking on the main deck while I was +inside—what will be the radar deck—working. I heard +you talking about the unit, and after you left, I +happened to find a blueprint on the table. It coincided with +what you had been talking about. I looked at it and +then thought nothing of it. A few minutes later the +professor came running in and took the blueprint away."</p> + +<p>"Did he ask you if you had read the print?" asked +Connel.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Troy. "If he had, I would have told +him that I had."</p> + +<p>"Now," said Connel, "did you have anything to do +with the so-called accident to the oscillating timing +device?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you know who did?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"We can put you under drugs, you know, and get the +truth out of you," warned Connel.</p> + +<p>"You'll get the same answer, sir," Troy calmly replied.</p> + +<p>Walters, Strong, and Connel moved to one side of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +room and talked in low tones while Troy remained +seated.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Walters, "do we give him drugs or not?"</p> + +<p>"I may be sticking my neck out, Commander," said +Steve, "but I think that he's telling the truth."</p> + +<p>"Same here," said Connel. "I would suggest that we +let him loose, and even let him go back to work, but +keep an eye on him."</p> + +<p>"And you wouldn't give him drugs now?"</p> + +<p>"No. I'd give the benefit of the doubt to a man any +time," said the hardened space major.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Walters. He turned back and told +Troy he was free, but that he was not to leave the +restricted area. And he was only permitted to work on +less critical projects. "Do you have anything to say?" +Walters asked.</p> + +<p>Troy smiled at them and shook his head. "No, sir. +That's fine with me," he said. "And I'll keep my eye +open for the real saboteur—"</p> + +<p>"That won't be necessary!" snapped Connel. "We're +capable of handling our own detective work."</p> + +<p>Troy grinned again. "Very well, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>Connel dismissed the guards and the foreman walked +out of the office a free man.</p> + +<p>Connel and Walters turned to discussing the installation +of the receivers on Mars, with Connel lauding +young Lieutenant Slick highly. "That boy deserves a +promotion in rank," he stated.</p> + +<p>Walters nodded. "I'll put his name on the list at the +end of the year," he said. "If he has done everything +you say he has, he deserves it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>Steve Strong stood to one side, waiting impatiently +for the two older men to finish their conversation before +asking about Tom Corbett. At the same time, he was a +little fearful of bringing up the subject of the <i>Polaris</i> +unit, in the face of what Astro and Roger had just done. +It was not an easy thing to do, but at the first opportunity +he broke into the conversation with a direct question +to Connel.</p> + +<p>"Major, is there any doubt in your mind about Corbett's +disappearance being an accident or do you—"</p> + +<p>Connel cut him off. "Do I think he's AWOL?"</p> + +<p>Strong nodded silently.</p> + +<p>"Steve," said Connel patiently, "I know how you feel +about those three boys, but tell me, how long can this +go on? They constantly take off on their own, without +authorization—"</p> + +<p>"But they usually have a good reason," Strong interrupted +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't they give us the reason first?" Connel +shot back.</p> + +<p>"What Lou is trying to say," interjected Walters +quietly, "is that Corbett, Manning, and Astro have time +and time again committed us to take action, to get them +out of situations that they initiated. It's time they were +stopped! They are only one unit in this Academy, not +the whole works."</p> + +<p>"Then I guess you mean"—Strong hesitated, a lump +in his throat—"it will be the end of the unit when they +get back?"</p> + +<p>"If they get back," snapped Connel, "I intend to see +that all three receive solid disciplinary action."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well, Major," said Strong. He rose and addressed +the commander. "I request permission for +emergency leave, sir, commencing now."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-112.png" width="500" height="419" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Permission denied!" said Walters. "This is exactly +what I've been talking about, Steve. You want to leave +to go to Mars and look for Tom when we need you here +on the project."</p> + +<p>Strong's face suddenly turned white. And then, for +the first time in his career, he ignored military courtesy +and turned to leave without the courtesy of a salute or +permission to do so. Connel almost called him back, but +Commander Walters put a restraining hand on the +major's arm.</p> + +<p>"Think of it this way, Lou," he said. "If you wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +something you believed to be right, and it was denied +you, how would you feel?"</p> + +<p>"I'd very likely do the same thing," snapped the +major. "And I'd get my rockets busted for it by my +commanding officer!"</p> + +<p>Walters grinned and pulled the major back to the +desk where they continued their discussion of the +receivers on Mars.</p> + +<p>They had no sooner begun their discussion when the +sliding door opened and Professor Hemmingwell burst +into the room, his smock flying behind him, his hair +ruffled and eyes wide with fright.</p> + +<p>"The ship! The ship!" he cried out. "Someone has +blown up the whole control panel of the ship!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-027.png" width="500" height="156" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a>CHAPTER 10</h2> + + +<p>"It will take weeks to repair it!"</p> + +<p>Professor Hemmingwell stood on the main deck of +the giant spaceship staring sadly at the mess of wires +and tubes, controls and gauges, switches and filaments, +all shattered and useless.</p> + +<p>"When did it happen?" demanded Connel.</p> + +<p>"Less than half an hour ago," replied Dave Barret. +"Professor Hemmingwell and I were down at the far +end of the hangar. The men had just left for the day +and we were planning the work for tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Then what happened?" demanded Connel. "Wait, +don't answer yet!" He stopped himself and turned to a +Space Marine standing nearby. "You! Can you work an +audio recorder?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the Marine.</p> + +<p>"Then get a machine up here on the double and take +down everything that's said."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the Marine and left the ship. Connel +silently began inspecting the wreckage. It was ten times +as serious as the first sabotage attempt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barret, Commander Walters, Professor Hemmingwell, +and Captain Strong watched the major, their teeth +clenched, eyes clouded with anger. Where the destruction +of the first unit could have been called an accident, +here was tangible evidence of a deliberate attempt to +stop the whole project. The Space Marine, accompanied +by Firehouse Tim Rush, returned five minutes later +with the audio recorder and set it up for operation.</p> + +<p>Connel took the small needlelike microphone in his +hand and spoke into it as the reel of sound tape +unwound slowly.</p> + +<p>"This is a preliminary inquiry into the sabotage of the +control deck of spaceship XX, Operation Space Projectile," +he said. "This is Major Lou Connel, interrogator!" +He paused and nodded to Barret who stepped forward. +"My first witness will be Dave Barret." Holding the +microphone close to the young engineer's mouth, Connel +said, "Tell us everything you know of this incident."</p> + +<p>Barret spoke slowly and carefully, describing how he +and Professor Hemmingwell had been at the other end +of the hangar when the explosion had occurred. +Professor Hemmingwell had immediately run out of the +hangar to inform Commander Walters, leaving Barret +alone to check the damage. "Then you and Commander +Walters and the Space Marines showed up, sir," he +concluded. "That's all I know."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Connel and turned to the professor. +"Your statement, Professor Hemmingwell."</p> + +<p>"It happened just about the way Dave said," +Hemmingwell began. "Except for one thing. I cannot see +why there weren't any guards at their posts this afternoon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +We were without any men at the entrances for +nearly an hour. Anyone could have slipped into the +hangar and planted the bomb."</p> + +<p>"Why weren't the entrances guarded?" snapped +Connel, looking directly at Firehouse Tim Rush.</p> + +<p>"Cadets Manning and Astro left their posts without +leave, sir," reported the stocky little spaceman.</p> + +<p>Captain Strong took an involuntary step forward, his +face drained of all color. Connel looked at him, +steely-eyed. "Did you hear that, Strong?" he growled.</p> + +<p>Strong nodded. "I—I did," he stammered.</p> + +<p>"So those two idiots not only stole a rocket scout, but +they left their posts."</p> + +<p>Strong could only shake his head in utter disbelief. +Commander Walters looked at him pityingly.</p> + +<p>"I knew they had taken the scout," said Walters, his +voice hard and tight. "But I didn't think they were +foolish enough to leave their posts."</p> + +<p>"Well, they did, sir," declared Rush. "They left about +four hours before they were to be relieved. I was +making the rounds when I discovered that they were gone. +I put two other men on guard right away, but the doors +were unguarded for at least an hour. Anyone could +have walked in without the slightest trouble."</p> + +<p>Connel turned back to Walters. "This is the end! +Those two cadets are going up before a general +court-martial."</p> + +<p>"Commander," protested Strong, "you can't—!"</p> + +<p>"Shut up, Steve!" barked Connel. "There's a limit to +how long you can defend your unit. Face it, man, those +three boys have gone off their rockers. They're too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +cocky. This is the last straw." He turned away from the +young Solar Guard officer and faced the others. "Let's +get on with the interrogation. Firehouse! What have +you got to say about this?"</p> + +<p>The tough little enlisted guard stepped up and +reported clearly and rapidly and without pause. When he +was finished, Connel turned to the guards that had +replaced Roger and Astro and each one repeated the story +told by Firehouse Tim.</p> + +<p>Over and over, Connel heard the same story. No one +seemed to have been around the ship when the explosion +took place. And it seemed that the only time when +a saboteur could have gotten into the hangar and +planted the bomb was during the hour the doors were +unguarded.</p> + +<p>Finally, the interrogation was over and Connel declared, +"One thing to remember when you are dealing +with sabotage is this: if the saboteur fails, he might return. +If our enemy does not know the extent of the +damage, then he might return and make another +attempt. So, not a word about this to anyone. And that +includes your mothers."</p> + +<p>"Major, there is one thing I'd like to add," said Barret, +stepping forward.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"It's about the cadets," said Barret. "I talked to them +just before they blasted off in the scout. They had a lot +to say about your taking Corbett with you on the trip to +Mars. They seemed disgruntled and dissatisfied."</p> + +<p>Steve Strong whirled on the young engineer. "What +did they say?" he demanded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Simply that they didn't feel that they were getting a +fair deal with Tom being taken off guard duty, since he +was actually responsible for them having it in the first +place.</p> + +<p>"They said that!" exclaimed Strong. "But how could +that—" He suddenly closed his mouth and turned +away, frowning.</p> + +<p>"But how could what, Steve?" asked Walters.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," said Strong. "You have already +reprimanded me too often as it is for speaking up in their +behalf."</p> + +<p>Walters lifted his eyebrows. "It appears to me that +you're getting a little touchy!" he barked. "Watch yourself, +Steve. Don't let your feelings for those boys get out +of hand."</p> + +<p>"Blast it!" exclaimed Professor Hemmingwell. "While +you continue talking about those stupid cadets, you're +just wasting my time. There's plenty of work to do and +precious little time to do it in." He turned to Barret. +"Come on, Dave, let's get this mess cleared away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Dave Barret.</p> + +<p>As Hemmingwell and Barret turned their attention to +the wrecked control panel, Connel, Walters, and Strong +climbed out of the ship and left the hangar. On the +slidewalk, headed back to the Academy, Commander +Walters looked at Connel inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"What now, Lou?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea, Commander," said Connel. "I'm going +to spend the rest of the night listening to this audiotape +over again. Then I'm going to do a little digging +around."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right," said Walters. "And I suppose you'll want +to talk to Manning and Astro when they get back."</p> + +<p>Connel looked at Captain Strong grimly. "I want to +talk to them so badly, I would crawl on my hands and +knees to get to them right now."</p> + +<p>Strong flushed angrily but said nothing, and as soon +as the three officers arrived at the Academy grounds, he +excused himself. He walked slowly and thoughtfully +along, looking at the dormitories with unseeing eyes +and hearing with deaf ears the noise of the cadets getting +ready for bed. He could not believe that Roger or +Astro had abandoned their posts, or that Tom would +run off to disappear on Mars, just for the sake of +disappearing. In all his years at the Academy, Strong had +never met three boys who so exemplified the true spirit +of Space Cadets. Something was wrong somewhere. +But what?</p> + +<p>Strong paused outside the huge recreation hall, +watching the cadets. Tony Richards and the <i>Capella</i> +unit walked by, and returning their salutes, Strong +could only see Tom, Roger, and Astro.</p> + +<p>A figure dressed in the black-and-gold uniform of an +officer in the Solar Guard walked toward him. Strong's +eyes lighted up with recognition.</p> + +<p>"Joan!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"</p> + +<p>"Looking for you," she said. She had some papers in +her hand and held them out to him.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" he asked, glancing at them in the light +reflected from the hall, and then back to the serious +face of the brilliant young physicist, Dr. Joan Dale, +who, in spite of being a woman, had been placed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +charge of the Academy laboratories, the largest and +most complete in the entire Solar Alliance.</p> + +<p>"Steve," she began, "I was in charge of the psychograph +tests taken of all the workers at the projectile +operation after the first mishap—"</p> + +<p>"How did you know about the second?" Strong +interrupted quickly, remembering Connel's admonition +about keeping the incident quiet.</p> + +<p>"I was ordered to go over the graphs again, to look +for any possible clue in a worker's mental make-up that +would lead him to a criminal act." She paused and +looked up at him squarely. "Do you suspect me too?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Joan," said the young captain. "But this +whole business is getting me down. Tom, disappearing +on Mars, Roger and Astro walking off guard duty and +stealing a scout, and now this latest sabotage attempt." +He sighed and shook his head. "I'm tired I guess."</p> + +<p>She smiled. "I understand, Steve, and regardless of +what Major Connel and Commander Walters have said, +I'll bet my last credit there's a good reason for what the +boys have done."</p> + +<p>Strong looked down at the pretty physicist and +smiled. "Thanks, Joan," he said. "Now, what about +these papers?"</p> + +<p>"It's about the report on Pat Troy," she replied. +"When we asked him if he was working with anyone +other than the professor, he lied."</p> + +<p>She produced a sheet of paper from among those she +held and handed it to Strong. The young captain took it +and scanned it quickly. The paper was ordinary graph +paper with a series of small, wavy lines on it in red ink.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +Near the bottom of the paper, there was a jagged peak +in the wavy line. "What does this mean?" he asked, +pointing to the peak.</p> + +<p>"That was his reaction when he was asked if he +worked for anyone else."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean it's a lie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. All the waves that you see," she continued, +pointing to the line, "represent answers to questions +about his personal life. Does he shave in the morning? +Does he brush his teeth at night, and so forth. They're +comparison questions to show his reaction when he tells +the truth. That peak indicates a lie."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Strong thoughtfully, "he might be the +saboteur."</p> + +<p>"Or know who it is," said Joan.</p> + +<p>"I've got to get this information to Connel right +away!" said Strong. "Can I have this paper?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I made copies. I was just going to take one to +the commander when I saw you."</p> + +<p>"I'll try to locate Major Connel and you go on and tell +the commander what you've found. And Joan—" Strong +hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Put in a good word for the cadets, will you?" Strong +pleaded. "Both Connel and Commander Walters are all +set to blast them right out of the service."</p> + +<p>"I'll do what I can—" Suddenly Dr. Dale stopped, +her eyes widening with fright. She pointed down the +walk behind Strong.</p> + +<p>Steve turned around and gasped. Connel was striding +toward them grimly, followed by four guards carrying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +a stretcher covered by a blanket. Strong quickly recognized +the outline of a human form beneath the blanket.</p> + +<p>"Major," exclaimed Steve, "what—who—?"</p> + +<p>"It's getting thicker by the hour, Steve!" said Connel +in a low voice. "This is the first time in the history of the +Academy that there has been what looks like"—he +paused and turned to look at the draped body being +carried past them—<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: The original does not have the opening quote.">"an</ins> attempt at murder," he finished.</p> + +<p>"Murder!" said Strong. "But—"</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" demanded Joan.</p> + +<p>"A little man who can tell us a great deal if and when +he regains consciousness! Pat Troy!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-057.png" width="500" height="151" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a>CHAPTER 11</h2> + + +<p>"Vroom-m-m!"</p> + +<p>As the shattering blast of noise pounded against his +eardrums, Tom Corbett opened his eyes, blinked, and +stared around him. By the dim light from a small window +in the wall over his head, he saw that he was in +some sort of metal enclosure. Suddenly the floor +trembled and again the shocking, shattering noises rang +through his aching head. He tried to sit up but found +that his hands were tied behind his back. The ropes +were so tight, his hands were almost completely numb. +Slowly he clenched his fingers, then opened them again, +repeating the process over and over again while needlelike +pains shot through his hands. Finally there was +feeling in his fingers again and he struggled to a +sitting position.</p> + +<p>Again the metal enclosure vibrated and there was another +thunderous blast. This time Tom recognized the +sound.</p> + +<p>"A jet!" exclaimed the cadet aloud. "I'm in the van of +a jet truck."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Tom tried to stand up, he found that his feet +were bound. Again he went through the slow, painful +process of restoring circulation in his legs and feet, gritting +his teeth against the needles of pain. Finally he +felt strong enough to push his back against the wall and +inch his way upright.</p> + +<p>The noise around him continued. Again and again, +he could hear the shattering explosions of the exhausts +and the screaming whine of the jets. Looking around +carefully for the first time, he saw that the van was +empty except for a pile of heavy quilted rugs in one corner +which he knew were used to protect and cushion +cargo.</p> + +<p>Hopping to the corner, he flopped down on the +blankets and, one by one, he began dragging them out. +There was nothing else in the van that would aid him in +cutting the thick ropes around his wrists and he hoped +to find something under the heap.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he felt something hard and boxlike under +the last blanket and he tore it off quickly.</p> + +<p>He nearly screamed for joy when he recognized a +heavy metal toolbox. Sitting on the floor of the van, he +maneuvered the top open, then spun around and hopefully +looked inside. There was nothing in the box but a +dirty cloth, and Tom slumped back in bitter disappointment.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the cadet became aware of the intense heat +inside the van. He was sweating, and he found it difficult +to breath. He inched over to the side of the huge +truck and touched the metal paneling. It was blisteringly +hot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The New Sahara," he thought, a vision of the desolate +sun-baked wasteland of the Martian desert flashing +through his mind.</p> + +<p>He looked around again desperately. The only thing +in the van that might cut through the rope was the edge +of the toolbox. He inched his way back to the box and +began rubbing the rope across the edge of the box, but +it was too smooth.</p> + +<p>Tom knew that he would have to roughen the edge +of the box, so that it would cut the thick fibers of the +rope, and in sudden inspiration, he inspected the floor +of the van. The heavy-gauge metal was scarred and +roughened from the many heavy loads dragged across +it. He turned the box over, and with great difficulty, +rubbed it back and forth across the floor. Every few +minutes he tested the edge of the box with his finger. +It was losing its slick surface, but there was a long way +to go.</p> + +<p>It got hotter inside the van and Tom's uniform was +soaked with sweat. He found it difficult to breathe and +the continuous roar of the jets tortured his ears.</p> + +<p>He did not know how long he had worked, but eventually, +he felt that the edge of the box was sufficiently +rough to try to cut the ropes. He righted the box, placed +the ropes on the edge again and, with a silent prayer, +began scraping them across the metal.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes there was a tug at the bonds. The +cadet pushed harder. There was another tug and the +rope seemed to give a little. Working frantically, he +sawed back and forth. The sweat poured from his forehead, +his arms and back ached unbearably, and soon he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +felt something warm and wet begin to trickle down the +palms of his hands. He knew it was blood, but he kept +on grimly, and suddenly he was rewarded. With a snap, +the ropes parted. His hands were free!</p> + +<p>Tom hastily untied his feet, and giving the toolbox an +affectionate pat, rose to his feet to begin the next step +in his plan to escape.</p> + +<p>The young cadet examined the entire surface of the +inside paneling of the van with his finger tips. He could +find no opening other than the back door, which he +knew was locked by an electronic beam. Without the +proper light-key adjustment, the door could not be +opened. And the vent high in the wall was much too +small to help him.</p> + +<p>He sat down, disheartened. He was still no better off +than before. And there was no way of telling where he +was, whether it was day or night, and how long he had +been riding in the jet truck.</p> + +<p>He rested on the floor of the van, the bumpy ride +cushioned by the soft blankets, and tried to recall the +events that had led him into this trap. He remembered +the two men, Cag and Monty, and grimly vowed to repay +them if he ever met them again.</p> + +<p>Suddenly remembering something more immediate, +Tom sat bolt upright. He got up and went to the front +of the huge van. There he knelt down in one corner and +felt the floor with his hands. He found exactly what he +had been hoping for. A large grate, and it was cool! He +jumped up, grinning, grabbed the heavy toolbox and +carried it back to the corner where he let it drop on the +grate. It sagged slightly, near the corner. He picked up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +the box and dropped it again. The grate sagged a little +more. Tom got down on his knees and felt along the +edge of the floor. The grate was giving way.</p> + +<p>He really began to hammer in earnest then. And each +time the heavy box thudded on the grate, he thanked +his lucky stars that he had lived near a garage when he +was a boy back in New Chicago. Time and time again, +he had slipped inside the huge vans after the produce +had been taken out, to find a piece of fruit. He had gotten +into the sealed vans, through the refrigerating compartment, +a huge unit beneath the van and connected +to the cab. Opening the outside hatch to the unit, he +had squeezed inside and then unscrewed the grate from +the bottom.</p> + +<p>With a final hard smash, the grate gave way, clattering +into the recesses of the refrigerating unit. Now Tom +was grateful for the roar of the jets. It covered the +sound of his escape.</p> + +<p>Quickly reaching down into the unit, Tom began +tearing the mechanism apart; ripping out coils of copper +tubing and rubber connections. Disconnecting a +pipe, he used it to pry apart the rest of the unit, and finally, +after removing the broken parts, there was room +enough for his body.</p> + +<p>Stuffing the heavy pipe in his tunic, Tom dropped +into the unit and opened the outside hatch. A blast of +cool air struck him. The sun was setting and the cadet +knew that soon the near-zero temperatures of night +would settle over the desert. Tom poked his head out +and the air stream hit him like a solid wall. He looked +back past the spinning wheels and saw a long stretch of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +deserted road bordering a canal. His view forward was +blocked by the overhanging cab of the truck. The small +step up to the cab was a foot away. Tom eased back +into the compartment again and sat back against the +wall to consider his next move. He would have a better +chance of not being seen if he waited for darkness. On +the other hand, they might reach their destination +before that and he would be caught. Tom made up his +mind quickly.</p> + +<p>Moving back to the hatch, he eased himself through +the opening. There was a ticklish moment when he had +to let go of the side of the compartment and swing over +on the step. He took a deep breath and lurched forward.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-128.png" width="500" height="411" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Behind him, the huge thick wheels spun over the +road. A slip now would mean instant, crushing death. +His fingers reached for and grasped the door handle. +Seconds later, he stood balanced on the step, swaying +in the wind.</p> + +<p>He dared a glance into the window of the cab, +wondering why he had not been noticed before. He saw +Cag and Monty inside, Cag driving and Monty asleep. +The driver was on the opposite side from Tom, and +Monty was slumped against the door.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-129.png" width="500" height="412" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Tom realized that if he opened the door, Monty +would fall out and probably be killed, but he had no +choice. He reached up for the handle and tested it gently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +before swinging down on it to make sure it would +open. It gave a little. Then bracing himself, he pulled +hard.</p> + +<p>The door swung open and Monty fell out, hitting the +pavement and rolling off into the sand to lie still. Tom +paid no attention to him. With a mighty effort, he +swung into the cab and confronted a startled, wild-eyed +Cag.</p> + +<p>"You!" cried Cag.</p> + +<p>"Stop this crate, or so help me, I'll break your head!" +Tom shouted, brandishing the short length of pipe.</p> + +<p>In reply, Cag suddenly swerved the big truck to one +side of the road, hoping to throw Tom out of the open +door. Tom managed to grab hold just in time. He swung +back into the cab and struck out with the pipe.</p> + +<p>Cag ducked and swung the heavy truck to the opposite +side of the road, trying to throw Tom off balance, +but the cadet was not to be denied. He swung the +heavy pipe again and again, landing hard, telling blows +on the arms and shoulders of the burly truck driver. Finally +a solid blow caught Cag on the side of the head +and he slumped over unconscious. Tom leaned over +him, grabbed the wheel, and maneuvered the big truck +back onto a straightaway course. A minute later he +brought the truck to a stop.</p> + +<p>Tom jumped out and pulled Cag after him, taking a +bottle of water from the small compartment behind the +driver's seat. He splashed some on the man's face, and +while Cag moaned and came to, Tom drank his fill. He +hadn't realized that he was so thirsty.</p> + +<p>"Cag," said Tom coldly, when he knew the man could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +understand him, "I'll beat your ears off if you don't tell +me who put you up to this!"</p> + +<p>Cag was silent. Tom stepped in and slapped the man +across the face.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Talk!" he snarled.</p> + +<p>Dirty, his clothes ripped, his hands bloody, Cadet +Tom Corbett did not look like the carefree young cadet +that Cag had met a few hours ago. He was frightened +and began to whine.</p> + +<p>"Talk or I'll slap you silly!" Tom growled.</p> + +<p>Cag saw the wild rage in Tom's eyes and began to +stutter.</p> + +<p>"The trucking outfit! Just find out who owns this +trucking outfit and who would gain if the projectiles +failed."</p> + +<p>Tom was back in the cab in a flash. He started the +mighty jets and began to engage the clutch.</p> + +<p>Cag leaped up. "You can't leave me here in the desert! +I'll die."</p> + +<p>Tom looked at the man, threw out the rest of the food +and water from the compartment, and gunned the huge +truck down the highway.</p> + +<p>Eight hours later Tom rolled into Marsport, stopping +the big truck at the first Solar Guard substation he +could find.</p> + +<p>He raced inside without cutting the jets of the truck +and reported to a sergeant seated behind the desk, +reading.</p> + +<p>"I'm Cadet Tom Corbett!" he shouted. "I've got to +get in touch with Commander Walters at the Academy +right away."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stand where you are, Corbett!" said the sergeant, +jumping up and leveling a paralo-ray gun at him. +"You're under arrest!"</p> + +<p>Tom stared, and then, spinning on his heels, dashed +out of the station, the guard's ray blasts spitting at his +heels. Jumping into the truck, he gunned the jets and +roared off into the dark Martian night.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-068.png" width="500" height="155" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a>CHAPTER 12</h2> + + +<p>"Aw, shut your big Venusian mouth!"</p> + +<p>As Roger's voice roared over the intercom loud-speaker +of the speedy rocket scout, down on the power +deck Astro's face turned red.</p> + +<p>"Manning," he growled into the intercom microphone, +"if I didn't need you to get me back to Mother +Earth, I'd come up there and take you apart!"</p> + +<p>For four days the two cadets had been aboard the +rocket scout, circling in an orbit between Mars and +Earth, conducting equipment tests for Dave Barret. +They had become bored with the routine work and +spent most of their time needling each other, but as +Roger said, at least they were in space.</p> + +<p>"O.K., let's knock off the space gas!" called Roger +over the intercom. "It's time to run another test. Want +to come up topside and take a hand?"</p> + +<p>"Be right there, Roger!" said Astro. He set the power-deck +controls on automatic, and then, with a quick look +around to make sure everything was shipshape, he +climbed the ladder to the control deck.</p> + +<p>Roger was standing at the chart table, audiophones<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +on his ears, listening for the automatic astral chronometer +time-check broadcast on a suprahigh-frequency +audio channel from the giant electronic clock in the +Tower of Galileo. All spaceship chronometers were +checked against this huge clock regularly, in order to +maintain constant uniform time so necessary for the +delicate art of astrogation between celestial bodies.</p> + +<p>Astro started to speak to the blond-haired cadet, but +Roger waved him off, listening for the signal. Suddenly +he looked up at their own chronometer above the control +board and took off the audiophones, smiling his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"Right on the split second, Astro," he said.</p> + +<p>"O.K.," replied the big Venusian. "Then let's run that +test and get it over with."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Roger, turning back to the control +panel. "Do you want to go outside this time?"</p> + +<p>"I might as well," replied Astro. "Give me a change +of scenery."</p> + +<p>The big Venusian turned to a locker, pulled out a +bulky space suit, and climbed into it quickly. Adjusting +the space helmet, he nodded at Roger and stepped into +the air-lock chamber, pulling the hatch closed behind +him. While waiting for the oxygen in the small chamber +to be pumped back into the ship and the pressure to be +equalized with the vacuum of space outside, he checked +his helmet intercom to insure a clear line of communication +with Roger.</p> + +<p>The red hand closed on the <i>zero</i> of the gauge over +the door and Astro moved to the outer hatch. He unlocked +it, swung the door open, and slowly climbed out +into the fantastic beauty of endless space. No sooner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +was he outside than the synthetic gravity generators +lost their pull on his body and he started into space. +Tightly grasping two metal handles in the hull, the big +cadet performed a quick somersault and planted his +feet firmly on the hull. His magnetic-soled space boots +held him fast and he called Roger over his helmet intercom.</p> + +<p>"I'm outside, Roger," he reported. "On my way down +to the exhaust."</p> + +<p>"Right," came Roger's voice over the intercom. "Let +me know when you're ready."</p> + +<p>Without replying, Astro made his way slowly and +carefully down the length of the rocket scout toward +the main drive rocket assembly. Stopping at the trailing +edge of the hull, where it enclosed the four rockets, the +big Venusian squatted on his heels, making certain the +soles of his space boots stayed in contact with the metal +of the hull. He peered over the edge and braced himself +in a position where he could observe the individual +rocket exhausts.</p> + +<p>"O.K., Roger!" he called into his intercom. "Open up +number one."</p> + +<p>"Number one, aye," replied Roger. "And watch yourself, +you big baboon. Don't burn your nose!"</p> + +<p>"Go ahead, go ahead!" growled Astro in reply.</p> + +<p>A long tongue of flame shot out of the exhaust of the +number one tube and, after drawing back momentarily, +Astro watched the tube keenly.</p> + +<p>"You know," he commented idly as he kept his eyes +fixed on the tube, "I still can't figure out what's so +different about these tubes. They're exactly the same as +any others I've ever seen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-136.png" width="500" height="570" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"That's how much you know, Astro," snorted Roger. +"Dave Barret said they were using a new duralumin alloy +in the tubes."</p> + +<p>"Still doesn't look any different to me," persisted +Astro. "And for us to spend four whole days out here testing +them"—he paused and shook his head—"seems like +an awful waste of time," he concluded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you care? We're out in space, aren't we? +Or would you rather be back on guard duty?"</p> + +<p>"No, of course not," replied Astro. "But even space +gets dull after a while with nothing to do. Barret sure +gave us an old crate. Not even a long-range receiver +aboard."</p> + +<p>"What do you want to listen to?" snorted Roger. +"Flight orders and all the rest of that rocket wash?"</p> + +<p>"Be a relief to listen to somebody else beside you for +a change," snapped Astro. "Anyhow, suppose something +important happened. Suppose our orders were +changed. How would we know about it?"</p> + +<p>"What difference does it make?" replied Roger. +"We've got our orders—straight from Barret. As long as +we follow them, we won't get into trouble."</p> + +<p>"For a change," murmured Astro.</p> + +<p>"Now cut the griping and finish up out there!"</p> + +<p>"O.K.," sighed Astro. "That's enough on number one. +Give me number two."</p> + +<p>The ship bucked slightly as one rocket tube was cut +out and another flared at full power, but Astro clung to +the hull tightly, continuing his observations. With troubled +eyes he watched all four rocket tubes in operation, +unable to understand the difference between these +tubes and the standard makes. Finally he shrugged his +shoulders, and rising to his feet, called Roger again.</p> + +<p>"That's enough, pal," he said. "I'm coming in."</p> + +<p>"O.K.," replied Roger from the control deck. "And +don't fall all over your big feet."</p> + +<p>In five minutes the Venusian cadet was inside the air +lock again, and as the pressure was boosted to equalize<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +with the interior of the ship, he removed his space suit +and helmet. He opened the inner hatch and stepped +into the control deck to see Roger staring at the teleceiver +in openmouthed astonishment. A harsh voice +was coming over the loud-speaker.</p> + +<p>"... Order you to cut all power and stand by for a +boarding party, or I'll open fire immediately!"</p> + +<p>With an exclamation of startled surprise, Astro +rushed to the teleceiver screen and saw a man in the +uniform of the Solar Guard, his face grim and purposeful. +Just as Astro was about to speak, the officer spoke +again.</p> + +<p>"Did you hear me? This is Captain Newton aboard +the cruiser <i>Regulus</i>! I order you to cut all power and +stand by or I'll open fire! Acknowledge!"</p> + +<p>"Roger," gasped Astro, "what's this all about?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know," stammered the blond-haired cadet. +He grabbed the teleceiver microphone and called +into it rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Rocket scout 4J9 to <i>Regulus</i>. This is Space Cadet +Roger Manning. There must be some mistake, sir. Cadet +Astro and I are out here on special assignment for +the Space Projectile project."</p> + +<p>"I know who you are!" shouted Newton. "If you don't +stand by, I'll open fire! This is your last warning!"</p> + +<p>Astro grabbed the mike from Roger's hand.</p> + +<p>"All right!" he bellowed. "We don't know what it's all +about, but for the love of Saturn's rings, don't start +shooting."</p> + +<p>Captain Newton nodded grimly. "Very well," he said. +"Bring your ship to a dead stop in space and open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +your starboard air lock. I will send a jet boat over to +you."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," said Astro.</p> + +<p>When the Solar Guard captain signed off and his image +faded from the teleceiver screen, Astro and Roger +numbly complied with Newton's abrupt orders, bringing +the ship to a dead stop in space and opening the starboard +air lock. Then the two cadets sat in the main deck +of the small scout and waited, their faces showing their +concern. Neither felt like talking. They were so confused +that they didn't know what to say. Finally Roger +got up and in a daze walked to the chart table to note +the time of the tests in the log. Then he automatically +logged the time of Newton's order.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he threw the pencil down and turned to +Astro.</p> + +<p>"Blast it!" he shouted. "What's this all about?"</p> + +<p>Astro merely grunted, shrugged his shoulders, and +slumped further down in his chair. The big cadet was +worried. Anything that threatened his career at the +Space Academy made him literally tremble with fear. +In his whole life there was never anything that he +wanted more than to be an officer in the Solar Guard. +And the only way that could be accomplished was by +being a Space Cadet. Now he was under arrest. He +didn't stop to reason why. All he knew was that it was +a direct threat to his future as a power-deck officer in +the Solar Guard.</p> + +<p>The two boys felt the metallic thump of something +hitting the hull of their rocket scout. They realized +immediately that it was the sound of the jet boat coupling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +on their ship and they turned to face the air-lock hatch.</p> + +<p>Captain Newton was the first to step through the air-lock +hatch and he was followed by six Space Marines, +holding their ray guns leveled.</p> + +<p>"I am Captain Newton of the Solar Guard, in command +of the rocket cruiser <i>Regulus</i>," he announced. "I +arrest you in the name of the Solar Alliance." The officer +handed over the standard warrant that was used by +the Solar Guard.</p> + +<p>Roger read it slowly. It was a simple warrant for their +arrest, on the grounds of desertion, taking a Solar Guard +vessel without permission, and being absent without +leave from Space Academy. Stunned, the cadet handed +it to Astro who had been reading it over his shoulder, +his face white with shock.</p> + +<p>"And I warn you, Cadet Manning," continued Newton, +"that anything you say from now on may be used +against you."</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir," said Roger, dazed.</p> + +<p>"Then do I have your word," said Newton, "on your +honor as Space Cadets, that you will not make any attempt +to escape or in any way jeopardize my authority +over you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," nodded Roger.</p> + +<p>"On my honor, sir," said Astro, gulping, "as a Space +Cadet."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Newton. "Then I'll let you take the +scout back to the Academy yourselves. I'll escort you in +the <i>Regulus</i>."</p> + +<p>He turned to the squad of Space Marines and nodded. +They filed into the air lock and Newton followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +slowly. He paused in the hatch and looked back at the +two cadets, a momentary gleam of sympathy in his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"You'd better be prepared for a rough time, boys," he +said. "Major Connel is going to haul you in front of a +court-martial as soon as you land."</p> + +<p>"But what've we done?" Astro suddenly exploded.</p> + +<p>"The charges are listed in the warrant, Cadet Astro!"</p> + +<p>"But that's all wrong!" protested Astro. "We were +ordered to—"</p> + +<p>"Hold it, Astro," Roger interrupted. "Let's stop and +figure this out first. We can tell our side at the +court-martial!"</p> + +<p>Captain Newton looked at the two boys piercingly +for a second, then turned and entered the air lock, slamming +the hatch closed behind him. Slowly and thoughtfully, +Astro and Roger prepared to get their ship under +way. They were still stunned by the sudden turn of +events.</p> + +<p>They had no idea what had happened. But they +knew Dave Barret was at the heart of their troubles. +They vowed silently that he wouldn't get away with it!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>This time it was not a cadet court that Roger and +Astro faced. It was a five-man board of Solar Guard officers, +consisting of four captains and one major, who +conducted the court-martial in closed session. Only the +defendants and the complaining witnesses were allowed +to be present. The evidence the board heard was as +damaging to the boys as it was bewildering. Major Connel +testified to their being absent without leave and taking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +a Solar Guard space vessel without permission. +Firehouse Tim Rush stated that they had deserted their +stations. When Roger was called to the stand, he entered +the only defense he could, stating that he and Astro had +been operating under Dave Barret's orders. The board +immediately called Barret in to testify and his words +blasted the cadets' case to smithereens.</p> + +<p>"... I have no idea what they were doing out in +that rocket scout," he stated calmly. "I certainly didn't +send them up on any such ridiculous tests. If you will +examine the exhaust tubes of that ship, you'll see that +they're made of standard materials used in all Solar +Guard ships." He turned to the board, casually. "No, +gentlemen," he continued, "I don't know what these +boys are talking about. You can call Professor +Hemmingwell in, if you like. I'm sure he'll vouch for what +I've said."</p> + +<p>As Barret stepped down from the stand, Astro lunged +toward him, blind with anger and shouting his fury. It +took six Space Marines to force him back to his chair. +Roger merely sat, staring blankly into space, a wry +smile curling his lips. He clearly saw the trap into +which he and his unit mate had fallen, and there was +no way out.</p> + +<p>The board didn't deliberate very long after the last +testimony was taken. When they returned to the chamber, +the presiding officer addressed Roger and Astro +directly, asking formally whether they had anything to +say before sentence was passed. Roger stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"I have something to say, sir," he said in a quiet but +firm voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Very well," nodded the major.</p> + +<p>"Sir," began Roger, with a glance at Astro, "this is not +a plea for mercy but understanding. We are, it is true, +nothing but boys in training to become officers of the +Solar Guard. One of the most important parts of our +training is how to take orders without question. Now at +this trial, we have been accused of three specific instances +of misconduct. We can offer no other defense +than what we have already claimed. Major Connel and +Warrant Officer Rush have stated that we should have +cleared Barret's orders with them first, since Barret is +only a civilian and has no right to give us orders. That +may very well be true. But I submit this for your consideration, +gentlemen—" Roger paused and looked up +and down the line of stony-faced officers. "What would +have been your judgment," he resumed, "if Dave Barret +had asked us to do these things and we had refused? +Would you have been less hard on us? That's all, sir."</p> + +<p>Roger stepped back abruptly and the officers stirred +uncomfortably. They recognized the merit in Roger's +statement, and had not the decision been made, there +was more than one who might have reconsidered, remembering +their own difficulties as Space Cadets. However, +the presiding officer picked up a sheet of paper +and addressed the boys coldly.</p> + +<p>"While I must compliment Cadet Manning for his +admirable statement," he said, "it does not change the +decision of this board. Normally, these offenses would +be punished by immediate dismissal from the Cadet +Corps. However, in view of their past record at the +Academy, it is the decision of this board to exercise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +some lenience. Cadet Roger Manning, Cadet Astro, you +are sentenced to serve on the enlisted man's work gangs +here at Space Academy for a period of exactly six +months. All pay and privileges to be denied during that +time. Case is closed!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-092.png" width="500" height="152" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a>CHAPTER 13</h2> + + +<p>"Atom City rocket liner now loading on Ramp Two!"</p> + +<p>The metallic voice of the dispatcher echoed through +the waiting room of the subspaceport on the outskirts +of Marsport and the passengers began moving toward +the field gate, where the stewards of the ship checked +each ticket against the liner's seating plan. Near them, +a squad of four Space Marines scrutinized all passengers +carefully as they boarded the waiting jet cars that +would take them to the ship far out in the middle of the +field.</p> + +<p>Tom Corbett sat at the refreshment stand in the waiting +room, sipping a glass of milk thoughtfully and eying +the squad of Space Marines. He wore a big-billed hat +pulled low over his face and a tight-fitting black jacket, +the standard uniform of a merchant spaceman.</p> + +<p>"Anything else?" asked the pretty waitress behind the +counter.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," growled Tom. "Gimme another glass of milk +and another of these crummy sandwiches."</p> + +<p>"Well, you don't have to be rude about it!" snapped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +the girl. "Somebody should teach you space tramps +some manners!"</p> + +<p>As she flounced off angrily the young cadet smiled. +He knew his disguise must be good indeed to fool this +young girl, who met hundreds of people at the spaceport +every day and could easily recognize a person for +what he truly was. Now his only hope was that the disguise +would fool the squad of Marines at the gate.</p> + +<p>After having abandoned the jet truck, Tom had +moved through the glittering city of Marsport carefully, +keeping to the dark alleys and shadows. Gradually he +had worked his way back to the area around Sloppy +Sam's where, for a few credits, he had been able to buy +a merchant spaceman's clothes with no questions asked. +He buried his cadet uniform in the loose ground near a +construction project.</p> + +<p>Then, staying in the area, he wandered in and out of +the dingy bars and restaurants looking for the man he +had seen at the spaceport, the driver of the truck that +had crashed the fence.</p> + +<p>He spent three days in his search, not daring to ask +questions, simply keeping his eyes open for the man. +Finally he had been forced to abandon the search when +he saw a stereo newscast reporting that the missing cadet, +Tom Corbett, had been traced to Skid Row. He decided +that it was time to leave Mars and went to the +huge main spaceport, hoping to get aboard a ship +bound for Earth. But the Space Marines were stationed +at every gate, examining each departing passenger carefully, +and Tom knew it would be impossible to get past +them. Then he noticed a poster advertising special non-scheduled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +flights to Atom City, Earth, at reduced rates, +that would blast off from a subspaceport on the outskirts +of the city. With renewed hope, he had gone +there immediately and bought a ticket. Space Marines +were on guard here too, but only a small squad. The +cadet resolved to make his break here. He had no other +choice.</p> + +<p>"Here's your milk!" said the waitress, slopping it +down on the counter before the cadet. "And your sandwich!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 369px;"> +<img src="images/ill-147.png" width="369" height="600" alt="Tom saw that the Space Marines were watching +the passengers very closely" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Tom saw that the Space Marines were watching +the passengers very closely</span><br /> +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Picture originally on page 137; Moved to correspond to text.">Note</ins></div> + +<p>Tom paid for the order and took his time about +chewing the stale sandwich. He knew he had to get +aboard the ship that was loading now, but the Space +Marines were watching the passengers very closely. +Suddenly Tom saw a spaceport attendant race up to the +squad and hand a message to the sergeant in command +of the squad. Leaving the counter, Tom walked quickly +to a newsstand near the gate, where he could stand +close to the Marines. The sergeant read the message +quickly and turned to his squad. Tom strained his ears +to listen.</p> + +<p>"We have to move out of here or we'll never get out," +he said. "There's a Martian sandstorm coming this way. +It should hit in about fifteen minutes. This will be the +last flight. Then nothing will get off the ground until it +blows over. May last for days."</p> + +<p>"But what about that cadet?" asked the man nearest +to the sergeant. "What if he shows up?"</p> + +<p>"Just about all the passengers for this flight are +aboard now," growled the sergeant. "Besides, do you +see him anywhere?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom turned his back to the troopers quickly and +heard the Marine reply, "Naw."</p> + +<p>"Then get your gear and pile on the truck outside," +ordered the sergeant, "or we'll be living in this station +for a couple of days."</p> + +<p>The Marines quickly marched away from the gate, +through the waiting room, and out the door.</p> + +<p>Tom dug into his pocket for the ticket to Atom City +and stepped quickly to the gate, presenting his ticket to +the steward. "Spaceman Wilson!" Tom growled.</p> + +<p>The steward checked his ticket casually and announced, +"Seat fourteen, berth twelve!"</p> + +<p>Tom walked through the gate, trying to look casual.</p> + +<p>"Hey you!" There was a sudden cry of alarm behind +Tom and for a moment he was tempted to run. But he +turned slowly and looked back. The man at the newsstand +was shouting at him.</p> + +<p>"Ya tryin' to steal my paper?" he yelled.</p> + +<p>Tom looked down and saw that he was still holding +the paper he had picked up to hide his face from the +Marines. He smiled, reached into his pocket for a coin, +and flipped it back to the man.</p> + +<p>"Sorry," he called and walked on.</p> + +<p>He hurried through a tunnel to the open area of the +field where the other passengers were waiting in jet +cars. He slipped into the nearest one and settled down +beside a fat woman. She looked at him archly, sniffed +audibly, and turned to stare out the window. Tom +merely grinned and settled deeper in the seat. In a moment +the jet cab was speeding across the small field to +the waiting passenger ship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Safely inside the ship, Tom sank into his assigned +seat, buckled his acceleration belt, and listened to the +voice of the skipper counting off the seconds until blast +off.</p> + +<p>"Five, four, three, two, one, <i>zero</i>!"</p> + +<p>There was very little acceleration shock, since this +was a vessel designed for the comfort of the passengers. +In fact, Tom found it difficult to determine just exactly +when it left the ground. The force of the drive pushed +him deep in his seat, to be sure, but it was a gradual +pressure and not at all like the sudden violent jerk that +came when he gunned the <i>Polaris</i>.</p> + +<p>He smiled. There was considerably less power in this +ship than in the <i>Polaris</i>!</p> + +<p>The thought of the giant rocket cruiser made him +think about Roger and Astro. He wondered what they +were doing and if they had stayed out of trouble.</p> + +<p>During the trip back to Atom City, Tom kept to himself, +avoiding the other passengers on the ship as much +as possible, taking his meals in his berth. The cadet had +a lot of thinking to do. Though temporarily safe, he +knew he couldn't dodge the Solar Guard forever. He +kept track of his pursuit by stereo newscasts which the +ship picked up from both Mars and Earth, and he was +pleased to learn that the Marines and Solar Guardsmen +were still searching for him in Marsport.</p> + +<p>There was one bit of information that was general +news to the others on the ship, but of particular interest +to Tom. He had sat up in his berth and listened.</p> + +<p>"... The report of a sabotage attempt on a highly +secret project now in progress at Space Academy was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +denied today by project officials and Commander Walters. +The commander said there was no basis for the report +that the entire control panel of a new type ship +had been destroyed."</p> + +<p>Tom switched off his set and settled back in his bunk. +He saw through the denial by Commander Walters. +There was no need to upset the public and, more important, +let the saboteur know how successful he had +been.</p> + +<p>Though Tom knew who was responsible, this knowledge +did not mean much while he was still a fugitive. +He would have to have proof. He would have to have +more than just <i>his</i> word and accusation to make his +charges stick. But how to get it?</p> + +<p>"Attention," boomed the voice of the captain over the +ship's loud-speaker. "Fasten your deceleration belts, +please! We land at Atom City in thirty minutes. Fasten +your deceleration belts, please!"</p> + +<p>Certain he wouldn't be seen by the passengers and +crew strapped in for the landing, Tom slipped out of his +berth and down the companionway to the luggage compartment. +Safely inside, he examined the contents of +several expensive-looking bags, opening them by +springing the locks with his knife. Finally he found a +set of civilian clothes that would fit him. Leaving a hundred +credits in the suitcase, more than the clothes were +worth, he returned to his berth where he quickly +washed, shaved, and dressed in the stolen clothes, +steadying himself against the lurching of the ship as it +made its landing approach.</p> + +<p>When the ship finally touched down at the Atom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +City spaceport, Tom waited in his berth until he was +sure most of the passengers had left. Then he walked +quickly out of the ship, head down and hat pulled low +over his face, to lose himself in the crowded spaceport.</p> + +<p>Safe for the time being, at least until the Solar Guard +traced him to Earth, Tom moved openly through the +streets of Atom City and went directly to the monorail +station where he purchased a ticket for Space Academy. +He boarded a local train instead of the express +and rode the jet-propelled train in the comfort of the +dining car where he had a huge meal.</p> + +<p>The stop before the Academy was a small village that +catered to the wants of the hundreds of civilian workers +at the Academy spaceport. Tom had been there many +times with Astro and Roger, and knew of a small hotel +where he could hide out until he could contact his unit +mates.</p> + +<p>It was early evening when Tom registered at the hotel +under the name of Joseph Cazippi, an engineer from +Titan Colony. Safely in his room, Tom turned to the +window and stared longingly at the Tower of Galileo in +the distance, as it caught the last of the sun's rays and +gleamed proudly against the gathering night sky.</p> + +<p>He whirled away from the window and froze as +someone knocked on the door and a young voice called:</p> + +<p>"Lemme in, Tom!"</p> + +<p>The young cadet gulped in fear. Someone had recognized +him! He wondered if he should open the door or +slip out of the window and leave.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Tom!" the voice called. "This is Tiny! Come +on, lemme in."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tiny!" shouted Tom in swift relief. He opened the +door and a small boy of about twelve stepped inside.</p> + +<p>"Hiya, Tom," greeted the boy enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Tom grinned his welcome. He and Roger and Astro +had met the youngster on several of their trips to the +village and had become great friends. They always had +to tell him stories about the Cadet Corps.</p> + +<p>"How did you know I was here, Tiny?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"I followed you from the monorail station," replied +the boy. "You couldn't fool me in those civvies. Where's +your uniform?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that now," said Tom, kneeling before +him. "Look, Tiny, can you keep a secret?"</p> + +<p>"Sure!" said the boy gleefully. "Sure I can, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm on a secret assignment, see?" whispered +the cadet with a conspiratorial air. "And I need someone +like you to help me. But you can't tell anyone I'm +here!"</p> + +<p>"Sure, I understand, Tom. Whatcha want me to do?"</p> + +<p>"Go to the Academy and find Astro and Roger. Tell +them to come here at nine o'clock tonight. But remember, +don't talk to anyone else!"</p> + +<p>"O.K.!" replied the youngster. "I getcha! You going +to catch spies, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet, Tiny. But you do what I told you +and then hurry right back to me and tell me what they +said!"</p> + +<p>The boy nodded and hurried off. From the window, +Tom watched him climb on his jet bike and roar off into +the gathering darkness toward the Academy.</p> + +<p>It was nearly two hours before he heard the jet bike<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +return and he hurried to the door, waiting impatiently +for the boy to come in. When the door opened and Tiny +stepped in, Tom sensed immediately that something +was wrong.</p> + +<p>"Tom!" gasped Tiny, his eyes wide with shock. "You +know what happened?"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Roger and Astro—" the boy stopped, seemingly unable +to go on.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you see them?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Naw, I couldn't. They wouldn't let me."</p> + +<p>"Who wouldn't let you?"</p> + +<p>"The guards."</p> + +<p>"What guards? What are you talking about, Tiny?"</p> + +<p>"The guards at the jail! Roger and Astro are on the +enlisted man's work gang for six months!" said Tiny.</p> + +<p>Hiding his shocked surprise, Tom hurriedly gave the +boy a ten-credit note and swore him to silence.</p> + +<p>"Now you hurry home, Tiny, and don't tell anyone +you've seen me!" he said.</p> + +<p>"O.K., Tom," replied the boy. "But what does it all +mean?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I knew," said Tom grimly. "And when I find +out, Tiny, I promise you I'll let you know."</p> + +<p>When Tom was finally alone, he stood at the window, +staring at the gleaming tower, now lighted and shining +brilliantly in the darkness. He suddenly felt that he +would never see the tower again.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a>CHAPTER 14</h2> + + +<p>"Stand clear!"</p> + +<p>Professor Hemmingwell's voice rang over the roar of +activity in the hangar as the huge new control panel +was lifted along the hull to a large hole that had been +cut into the side of the experimental ship at the control-deck +level.</p> + +<p>"Easy does it!" called the professor, standing on the +deck and peering through the hole. "Careful now!"</p> + +<p>Now even with the hole, the panel was slowly pulled +into the ship by the workers. Even Major Connel and +Steve Strong lent a hand, setting it into place. When it +had been securely anchored, a team of technicians +swarmed over the panel to begin the intricate work of +connecting all the controls to the various parts of the +ship, and Hemmingwell and the two Solar Guard officers +stepped back to watch them.</p> + +<p>"This puts us back on schedule now," said the professor, +turning, red-eyed and tired, to Connel and Strong. +"It was a good idea of yours, Steve, to prefabricate the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +panel and have it put into position all at once. If we had +tried to install it piece by piece, we'd be weeks behind."</p> + +<p>"Good work, Steve," Connel chimed in.</p> + +<p>Strong merely nodded his thanks. He was tired. More +tired than he had ever been in his life. Not only had he +supervised the construction of the new control panel, +but he had been working on a special report to present +to the Solar Guard Review Board requesting another +trial for Astro and Roger. And he had spent every spare +minute haunting the MP headquarters of the Solar +Guard for word of Tom. So, he accepted the compliments +of Connel and Professor Hemmingwell with little +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"You better get some rest, Steve," said Connel, aware +of Strong's attitude. "I know how hard you've been +working these past few days. So knock off and I want +your word that you will go back to your quarters and +get some sleep!"</p> + +<p>"Sorry, Major," replied Strong, "I can't give you my +word about that."</p> + +<p>Connel's face darkened with anger. "All right! Then +do what you want. Get out!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Strong merely nodded and left the ship.</p> + +<p>Outside the hangar, he stopped suddenly when he +saw Dave Barret step off the slidewalk from the Academy +and stride toward him. The young captain +clenched his teeth in sudden anger. He had talked to +Astro and Roger many times since they had been put +on the work gang and they swore that their story of +their ill-fated flight was true. Strong could not believe +that they would lie. He had been too close to them and +had, many times, put his very life into their hands. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +there seemed to be no way to break Barret's story. He +waited for the man to pass him.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Strong," said Barret, as though surprised. +"Well, how's the genius? Get the control panel +in this morning?"</p> + +<p>Barret was annoyed that Strong's plan to replace the +control panel had been accepted over his own. The captain +returned his cold stare and nodded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-157.png" width="500" height="411" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"It's in," he said, and then added, "I would like to ask +you a few questions, Barret."</p> + +<p>"Sorry, haven't got time!" replied Barret curtly as he +tried to brush past Strong. But the young captain +grabbed him by the arm and spun him around.</p> + +<p>"Make time!" he snarled. "I want the straight story +about that so-called test flight!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barret glared at Strong. "I suggest that you let go of +my arm, Captain," he threatened, "or I will be forced to +bring charges of assault against you!"</p> + +<p>Realizing an open fight would be useless, Strong released +his grip on the man's arm and turned away +quickly. Barret's mocking laugh echoed in his ears as he +stepped on the slidewalk and glided away toward the +Academy. Behind him, the big hangar buzzed with the +sound of men working in high gear again. The mighty +ship and its specially designed equipment seemed at +last to be ready for testing. But Strong felt none of the +excitement. It mattered little to the Solar Guard captain +whether the project was a success or failure. His +thoughts were of the three cadets in his unit, who were, +first and foremost, his responsibility.</p> + +<p>With double guards around the hangar area and even +tighter security restrictions than before, the unknown +saboteur was unable to attack the precious ship again. +But he struck elsewhere. The single track monorail that +Barret had run into the area was blocked by an explosion +in the mouth of the tunnel. Nearly a thousand tons +of rock and earth had fallen on the hangar side, blocking +delivery of vital equipment.</p> + +<p>With powerful earth-moving machinery, the tunnel +was cleared of the heavy rocks and dirt, and all that remained +was a general cleaning up, and the enlisted +man's work gangs had been assigned to that job.</p> + +<p>Nearly a hundred tough, battle-scarred spacemen +from the enlisted ranks of the Solar Guard worked in +the area, stripped to the waist, their bodies burned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +brown from the sun. Sent to the work gang for petty +offenses, rather than for criminal acts, the enlisted men as +a whole did not mind the work. They were under +guard, watched by a squad of Space Marines armed +with paralo-ray guns, but there was no attempt to make +the men feel as if they were criminals. Most of the +sentences were short, usually running from five to thirty +days, with some extreme cases serving as long as three +months. But no one had ever remembered a Space Cadet +working on the squad, and particularly for six +months! It was an extraordinary situation and the +guards, as well as the men on the work details, +sympathized with Roger and Astro. They realized that +nothing really serious had been done, or the boys would +have been sent to the prison asteroid, where all true +criminals were sent. So a true spirit of comradeship +developed between the cadets and the enlisted men.</p> + +<p>When Captain Strong arrived to speak to Roger and +Astro, he found them in the tunnel, working as a team +of a shoveler and a sweeper. Roger would sweep up a +little pile of dirt and Astro would shovel it into a +handcart nearby.</p> + +<p>"All right, you Venusian pug!" bawled Roger. "Police +the joint!"</p> + +<p>Astro scooped up the little pile of dirt neatly and +deposited it in the truck.</p> + +<p>"Manning, what made the spaceship cross to Pluto?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"To get to the other side of the universe," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"All right," interrupted Strong. "If you two will cut +out the comedy, I'd like to talk to you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Captain Strong!" yelled Roger. "Hey, fellas! Look!" +He turned to the other men on the work gang. "We're +special characters! See? We have visitors during working +hours!"</p> + +<p>Strong laughed with the others, and then motioning +for Roger and Astro to follow him, walked to an isolated +corner of the tunnel.</p> + +<p>"How is it going?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Fine, sir," said Roger. "We have no complaints."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," chimed in Astro with a grin. "The food is better +here than at the Academy!"</p> + +<p>"Give this Venusian bum a good kitchen and he'd go +to the Rock!" Roger laughed.</p> + +<p>Strong noted their lean, brown bodies and decided +that a little work in the sun with a pick and shovel had +done them good. But six months of it would interfere +with their work at the Academy and could hold them +back.</p> + +<p>He told them of the work he had been doing to have +their case renewed by the Solar Guard Review Board +and asked them for any special details in their relationship +with Barret that might lend weight to his plea for +outright pardon, rather than just a commutation of sentence. +He wanted it clear on their records that they +had been accused unjustly, and that, therefore, their +sentence was an error.</p> + +<p>But neither Astro nor Roger could add anything to +what the young captain already knew. He finally turned +to leave, cautioning them both to stay out of trouble, +especially Roger.</p> + +<p>"Manning," he warned, "your mouth is your big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +weakness. I'm detailing Astro to make sure it stays +closed!"</p> + +<p>"You see?" gloated Astro. "You see who the captain +trusts!"</p> + +<p>"Listen, you big bum!" began Roger angrily, then +stopped and grinned. "O.K., Captain Strong, I'll keep +on the ball."</p> + +<p>"You'd better," Astro interrupted, "or I'll stand you +on your head!"</p> + +<p>With a pat on the back, Strong left them. Just as he +was about to leave the tunnel, Roger called after him:</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything about Tom, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not a word," replied Strong grimly. "So far as I +know, he's still on Mars."</p> + +<p>"A—a fugitive?" asked Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Astro. The Solar Guard is still looking for him."</p> + +<p>Strong watched the two cadets turn back to their +work dejectedly, and then, sighing with weariness, he +headed back to the slidewalk. In the morning he would +check the reports of the Security Section for word of +Tom. Then he squared his shoulders determinedly. He +would check them now!</p> + +<p>He could not go to bed yet. Not while Tom was still +missing and while Astro and Roger were on the work +gang. He would not sleep until they were free and the +<i>Polaris</i> unit was together again out in space!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Tom Corbett was also unable to sleep. He had spent +the night in the village hotel tossing and turning, his +mind seething with plans to aid Roger and Astro.</p> + +<p>Finally, at dawn, he got up and sneaked out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +hotel. Avoiding the convenience of the monorail, he +struck out on foot over the rugged countryside for +Space Academy. He had a plan, but the plan required +that he talk to Roger and Astro first, and then to Captain +Strong, but it had to be done secretly. He realized +that his knowledge of the identity of the saboteur +would be a more effective weapon if everyone still believed +he was on Mars.</p> + +<p>After getting close enough to the Academy to use the +slidewalk system crisscrossing the huge area, he loitered +on the crowded platforms which connected the +hangar, the Academy, and the spaceport. He kept his +coat collar high and his civilian hat pulled low over his +eyes.</p> + +<p>He was on the main slidewalk, moving toward the +Tower building, when his eyes picked out the familiar +close-cropped blond hair of Roger and the unmistakable +bulk of Astro on the walk leading to the hangar. +Changing at the slidewalk intersection, he took off after +them, hoping he would not be noticed in the crowd of +civilian workers. Roger and Astro were carrying tools +over their shoulders and were lagging behind the main +body of workers moving toward a huge tunnel opening. +Tom saw his chance and moved up quickly beside +them.</p> + +<p>"Keep walking and don't show surprise!" he whispered +sharply.</p> + +<p>But it was too much to ask. Astro and Roger jumped +in surprise and let out involuntary shouts of joy, which +attracted the attention of the guards. They noticed the +stranger in civilian clothes and stared at him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tom!" exclaimed Roger. "What the devil are +you—?"</p> + +<p>"Sh!" hissed Tom. "We haven't got much time." He +saw one of the guards turn and stare at him. "Listen to +me," he continued quickly. "I've got important dope +about the saboteur!"</p> + +<p>"How?" gasped Astro.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," replied Tom. "Now, to nail him, I've +got to get him into the act! I need proof!"</p> + +<p>"But who is it?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell you now. Here comes the guard. Are you +going to be working around here long?"</p> + +<p>"At least another three days," said Roger. "But +who—?"</p> + +<p>Roger noticed the guard move up to them and he +suddenly straightened up and snorted derisively, "Yeah. +But why a guy should want to join the Solar Guard is +more than I can see. You must be wacky, mister!"</p> + +<p>He and Astro walked away, and after a hesitant look +at Tom, the guard followed the two cadets. Tom +boarded the slidewalk heading back toward the Academy. +So far, so good. He knew where his unit mates +were, but up ahead, in the gleaming Tower of Galileo, +was his second target, Captain Strong. His skipper had +to listen to him, had to be sympathetic and help him +catch the saboteur. It was the only way Tom could +clear his own name and free Roger and Astro.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a>CHAPTER 15</h2> + + +<p>"Scott!"</p> + +<p>"Here!" bellowed a grizzled spaceman in reply to +Major Connel's call.</p> + +<p>"Augutino!"</p> + +<p>"Here!"</p> + +<p>"Jones!</p> + +<p>"Present!"</p> + +<p>"Smith!"</p> + +<p>"Here!"</p> + +<p>"Albert!"</p> + +<p>"Here!"</p> + +<p>Connel checked the last name on the clipboard and +turned to Professor Hemmingwell standing beside him +at the base of the ship. "All present and ready, sir."</p> + +<p>"Fine!" said the professor. He turned and looked +around. "Where is Dave?"</p> + +<p>"Here he comes now," said Connel.</p> + +<p>They both watched Barret stride toward them, his +arms loaded with gear.</p> + +<p>"This is the stuff I told you about, Professor," he said +as Hemmingwell looked at it curiously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What stuff?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"Portable heaters for the crew's space suits, just in +case—" Barret paused meaningfully.</p> + +<p>"In case of what?" growled Connel.</p> + +<p>"Why, ask them!" replied Barret, gesturing toward +the group of civilian crewmen who had been selected +for the test flight of the spaceship.</p> + +<p>Connel turned to look at them, then back at Barret. +"Ask them what?" he barked.</p> + +<p>"How they feel about making this flight," said Barret.</p> + +<p>Connel scowled and turned to the men. "Is there +anything to what he says?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>The men shuffled their feet nervously but did not +reply.</p> + +<p>"Well?" exploded Connel.</p> + +<p>"See, they're afraid of you, Connel," said Barret, +deliberately omitting the courtesy of using the major's +title.</p> + +<p>Ignoring Barret's thrust, Connel continued to face +the men. "Is that right, men?" he shouted. "Are you +afraid of me?"</p> + +<p>There was a mumble from the group and then the +man named Scott, a thick-set individual with black +flashing eyes, stepped forward.</p> + +<p>"Speaking for myself," he said, looking straight at the +major, "I'm not afraid of anything that walks. And that +includes you, Major Connel. No offense meant, it's just +a statement of fact." He paused and drew a deep +breath. Then he added, "But I am afraid of this ship."</p> + +<p>"Why?" demanded Connel, who could not help +admiring the man for his straightforward approach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She's junk-jinxed," said the man, using the expression +of spacemen who believed a ship with a suspicious +accident record should be junked because it was jinxed.</p> + +<p>"Junk-jinxed!" cried Connel, amazed.</p> + +<p>"Preposterous," snorted Professor Hemmingwell. +"Why, you helped build this ship, Scotty! Do you doubt +the work you've put into her? Or the work of your +friends?"</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with it," replied Scott stubbornly. +"The others feel the same way I do."</p> + +<p>Barret stepped forward. Arrogantly and before +Connel could stop him, he began addressing the men. "Listen, +you men!" he shouted. "You're being childish! +Why, you built this ship! How can you possibly allow +yourselves to be so stupid as to believe in an idiotic +thing like a jinx. Now, why don't you just get aboard +and stop being so ridiculously superstitious!"</p> + +<p>Connel could have reached out with one of his big +hands and squeezed Barret's neck to shut him up. +Instead of allaying their fears, which even he would +admit were real enough, the man was creating further +resentment with his attack on their pride as thinking, +reasoning men.</p> + +<p>"All right, all right!" he bellowed. "That's enough for +now, <i>Mister</i> Barret!" He turned to the men and he +could tell by the expressions on their faces that he had +lost them. They would not take the ship aloft. But he +had to try.</p> + +<p>"Now listen," he growled. "This is a very important +project and someone has been trying to get us to wash +out the whole idea. If you don't come through, he'll succeed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +You are the best men in your fields, and if each of +you attend to your particular job, then the ship will +blast off and be a success! Now, how about it?"</p> + +<p>He was met with the stony faces of men who were +afraid. Nothing he could say or offer them would get +them to take the ship off the ground. He tried a new +tack. "I'm offering you <i>double wages</i>!" he roared.</p> + +<p>The men were silent.</p> + +<p>"Double wages <i>and</i> a bonus!"</p> + +<p>Silence.</p> + +<p>"All right! Beat it!" he growled. "Don't ever show +your faces around here again!"</p> + +<p>Connel turned to Professor Hemmingwell. "I'll see if +I can't muster a crew from the ranks of the Solar +Guard," he said.</p> + +<p>"Major," said the professor, his face worn and haggard +from the long ordeal of completing the project, +"I wouldn't want men <i>ordered</i> to man this vessel."</p> + +<p>"They're in the Solar Guard and they take orders," +said Connel.</p> + +<p>"No," persisted Hemmingwell. "I will not let a man +on that ship that does not want to go. Remember, Major, +it is still my personal property."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Connel grimly. "I'll see if I can recruit +a crew from the civilian workers around the Academy."</p> + +<p>But Major Connel encountered the same superstitious +dread everywhere. The word had spread that the +projectile ship was jinxed. Old tales of other ships that +had gone out into space, never to be heard of again, +were recalled, and the men found instances of similar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +prelaunching happenings on the projectile ship. Very +little of it was true, of course. The stories were +half-truths and legends that had been handed down through +generations of spacemen, but they seemed to have special +significance now.</p> + +<p>Connel fumed and ranted, threatened and cajoled, +begged and pleaded, but it was no use. There was not a +man in the Academy who would set foot inside the +"jinxed" ship. Finally, in a last desperate attempt, he +ignored Hemmingwell's order and appealed to +Commander Walters.</p> + +<p>"No, Lou. I cannot order men to take that ship up," +Commander Walters replied, "and you know it!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" argued Connel. "You're the commander, +aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"I most certainly am," asserted Walters, "and if I +want to get other things done in the Solar Guard, I can't +order men to take a jinxed ship off the ground." He +looked at Connel narrowly. "Do you remember the old +freighter, the <i>Spaceglow</i>?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Connel frowned but didn't reply.</p> + +<p>"You were mate on that ship before you enlisted in +the Solar Guard," persisted Walters. "And I read the log +of your first trip when you wrote, and I quote, 'There +seems to be some mysterious and unanswerable +condition aboard this vessel that makes her behave as if she +had human intelligence....'"</p> + +<p>"That has nothing to do with <i>this</i> situation!" roared +Connel.</p> + +<p>"They're alike! You couldn't get a crew on that wagon +in any port of call from Venus to Jupiter!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But we found out what was wrong with her eventually!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but the legend still exists that the <i>Spaceglow</i> +had intelligence of its own!" asserted Walters.</p> + +<p>"All right," snorted Connel. "So we have to fight superstition! +But, blast it, Commander, we're faced with +a saboteur. There's nothing supernatural or mysterious +about a man with a bomb!"</p> + +<p>Connel turned abruptly and walked out of the commander's +office, more furious than Walters had ever +seen him.</p> + +<p>Back at the hangar, Connel faced the professor. It +was a tough thing to tell the elderly man, and Connel, +for all his hard exterior, could easily appreciate the professor's +feelings. After many years of struggle to convince +die-hard bankers of the soundness of his Space +Projectile plan, followed by sabotage and costly work +stoppages, it was heart-rending to have a "jinx" finally +stop him.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said Connel, "but that's the way things +are, Professor."</p> + +<p>"I understand, Major," replied Hemmingwell wearily. +He turned away, shoulders slumping, and walked +back to his tiny office in the shadow of the mighty ship +that was anchored on the ground.</p> + +<p>"May I speak to you a moment, Major?" a voice broke +the silence in the hangar.</p> + +<p>Connel turned around slowly. "You!" he exclaimed. +"If it hadn't been for you and your big mouth, this ship +might be in space right now!"</p> + +<p>"Stop blowing your jets!" snapped Dave Barret. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +want to see this ship in space as badly as you do. Perhaps +even more so. But listen, I'm not afraid of the jinx. +Neither are you, nor is Professor Hemmingwell. We're +spacemen. And we know the operation of every piece of +equipment on that ship. What's to prevent us from taking +her up?"</p> + +<p>Connel looked at the young man, immediately recognizing +the value of his suggestion. He nodded his head +curtly. "All right," he said. "I'll take you up on that."</p> + +<p>Barret grinned, stuck out his hand, and after a +friendly shake turned and ran to the professor's office. +Connel walked back to the outside of the hangar and +began bellowing orders for the giant ship to be brought +out to the blast ramp and prepared for the blast-off.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-170.png" width="500" height="402" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>But Dave Barret did not go directly to Professor +Hemmingwell's office. He made one stop. Looking +around quickly to make sure that he was not observed, +he slipped into the teleceiver booth and made a hurried +call to an Atom City number. When a gruff voice +answered, he merely said three words:</p> + +<p>"It's all set!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Roger and Astro were some distance away from the +main gang, working at the tunnel mouth overlooking +the hangar area.</p> + +<p>"Look, Astro," said Roger. "They're bringing out the +ship. They must be ready to blast off!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-171.png" width="500" height="414" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Astro stopped his work momentarily and stared as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +the huge ship was inched out of the hangar, resting on +her tail fins, her nose pointing skyward.</p> + +<p>"I'd sure like to be bucking the power deck on that +baby," sighed Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yeah, and I'd give my eyeteeth to see that radar +deck," said Roger. "It must be really something with all +the gear to control those projectiles when they're +released."</p> + +<p>"Do you believe any of that talk about her being +jinxed?" asked Astro.</p> + +<p>"Stop being a Venusian lunkhead!" snorted Roger. +"The only thing wrong with that ship is a rocket-blasting +clever saboteur."</p> + +<p>"You know," said Astro, "I've been thinking."</p> + +<p>"Don't strain yourself," snorted Roger. But when +Astro failed to reply in kind, the blond-haired cadet +realized he was serious. "What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, in the name of the moons of Mars, would +Barret want to do the things he did to us?"</p> + +<p>"Simple," said Roger, beginning to sweep industriously +as he saw the guard walking toward them. "He +didn't like the way we manhandled him."</p> + +<p>"You think he was just getting even with us?" asked +Astro, also resuming work.</p> + +<p>"What else?" asked Roger. "We made him look pretty +silly. And that was no love tap I gave him that night we +caught him in the hangar."</p> + +<p>"That's what I mean," said Astro. "I know Major +Connel said he was supposed to be there. But with that +teleceiver conversation I overheard and all the rest—well, +I just don't get it," he concluded lamely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You'll get it in the neck if you don't watch out," said +Roger. "Here comes Spike and he doesn't like to see us +loafing!"</p> + +<p>The two cadets worked steadily for ten minutes, and +when the guard finally walked away, they paused to +watch the big ship again.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what Tom is up to?" said Roger thoughtfully. +"He said he knew who the saboteur was, but he +needed help to prove it."</p> + +<p>"I'd give a full year's leave just to get my hands on +that guy for ten minutes," said Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," grunted Roger. "Well, come on, hot-shot, we +still got a lot of cleaning to do."</p> + +<p>They returned to their work, but even then, as they +watched the preparations for the take-off of the big +ship, they both thought about Tom. They knew his +problems were as difficult as their own, and with much +more at stake. If Tom failed in his efforts to catch the +saboteur, it could very well mean the end of the <i>Polaris</i> +unit.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-092.png" width="500" height="152" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a>CHAPTER 16</h2> + + +<p>"<i>Bump-ty—bump-ty—bump-ty—</i>"</p> + +<p>Tom Corbett's heart beat with such rapid, heavy +drumming that the young cadet felt as though it was +going to tear itself right out of his chest.</p> + +<p>For nearly six hours Tom had lain in wait in Galaxy +Hall, the museum of Space Academy, on the second +floor of the Tower building. He was hiding in the tail +section of the <i>Space Queen</i>, the first rocket ship to +breach space safely, blasting from Earth to Luna and +back again. He had kept watch through a crack in the +hull of the old ship, waiting for the lights to go out, a +signal that the Academy had bedded down for the +night.</p> + +<p>Now, in the silence of the museum, surrounded by +the ancient objects that traced man's progress to the +stars, Tom felt like crying. For as long as he had been +at the Academy, he had revered these crude, frail +objects and wondered if he would ever match the bravery +of the men who used them. Now, unless his plan was +successful, he would be finished as a cadet and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +dream of being an officer in the Solar Guard would vanish +forever.</p> + +<p>The Tower building had been quiet for over an hour. +Tom had not heard any voices or movement other than +the evenly paced steps of the guards patrolling their +lonely beats outside.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-175.png" width="500" height="403" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>He slipped out of the antiquated ship, and staying +well in the shadows, moved out into the corridor to the +head of the slidestairs. He peered over the railing to +the main floor below and saw Warrant Officer Mike +McKenny through the open door of a small office, +seated at his desk, watching an evening stereo program. +The young cadet jumped on the stairs quickly and rode +the moving belt of plastic to the upper floors where the +officers' quarters were located.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom was in great danger of discovery. No civilian +was allowed on Academy grounds after taps. And he +was still wearing the civilian clothes he had taken from +the suitcase on the passenger ship from Mars. Silently +but swiftly, he made his way from level to level toward +the seventy-fifth floor.</p> + +<p>He knew that there would be a guard stationed in +the halls outside the officers' apartments and it would +be impossible to elude him. He would simply have to +brazen it out.</p> + +<p>At the seventy-fifth floor the young cadet stepped off +the slidestairs noisily, his heels clicking on the dark +crystal floor, and strode down the hall. He was +immediately seen by the guard who advanced to meet him, +his ray gun at the ready. Tom was prepared.</p> + +<p>"Guard!" he yelled.</p> + +<p>The guard stopped in front of him, a puzzled look on +his face. "Yes?" he replied.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" snapped Tom. "Show me where Captain +Strong's quarters are and be quick about it!"</p> + +<p>"But who are—?" The guard started to protest, but +Tom did not give him the chance to finish.</p> + +<p>"Don't stand there like an idiot, man! <i>Move!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Uhh—yes, sir," stammered the guard, obviously +taken aback.</p> + +<p>"Lead the way," continued Tom loudly. "I haven't +much time."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, but would you mind lowering your voice, +sir? Some of the officers are asleep, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, get on then and stop jabbering!"</p> + +<p>The guard turned quickly and started down the hall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +Tom followed, hardly able to keep from smiling at the +man's frustration and confusion.</p> + +<p>They stopped at the door to Captain Strong's +quarters and the guard rapped softly.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" came a muffled voice from inside.</p> + +<p>"Someone to see you, sir," called the guard.</p> + +<p>"Just a moment."</p> + +<p>The guard stepped to one side and stood at rigid +attention. When the door opened and Captain Strong was +revealed, Tom brushed past the guard and stepped into +the room, talking quickly.</p> + +<p>"My name is Hinkleworth, Captain," he announced. +"I am here at the request of Commissioner Jessup to +discuss the installation of new radar equipment on all +Solar Guard rocket cruisers!"</p> + +<p>Tom slammed the door closed behind him and +turned to face the astonished Solar Guard officer.</p> + +<p>"What in the star-blazing—?" Strong began angrily.</p> + +<p>"It's me, Captain Strong!" Tom said quickly, pulling +his hat off and lowering his collar.</p> + +<p>"Corbett!" gasped Strong, taking an involuntary step +back, his face mirroring his disbelief.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" whispered the boy, motioning to the door. +Recovering his composure, Strong swept past him, opened +the door, and found the guard still standing there at +attention.</p> + +<p>"All right, Corporal," said Strong. "Resume your +station."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the guard and walked down the +hall. Strong watched him for a moment, then turned +back into his room, closing and locking the door behind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +him. He faced the young cadet, who grinned back at +him weakly.</p> + +<p>"All right, spaceboy," said Strong, flopping in the +nearest chair. "Start at the beginning and give it to me. +<i>All of it!</i>"</p> + +<p>Tom began his story with the incident of the runaway +truck at Marsport, told of his abduction and escape +from the two truckers, Cag and Monty, his efforts +to reach Space Academy, and finally revealed the identity +of the man he thought was responsible for the +whole effort to stop the projectile operation.</p> + +<p>At this, Strong jumped to his feet. "That's the most +fantastic thing I've ever heard, Corbett!" he snapped. +"What kind of proof do you have?"</p> + +<p>"None, sir," replied Tom. "The only reason I came +here tonight is to ask you to help me get that proof."</p> + +<p>When Strong was silent, shaking his head, Tom tried +again.</p> + +<p>"Sir, you do believe me, don't you?" asked the boy +with a sinking feeling in his heart. "What about all the +things that have happened to me and to Roger and +Astro?"</p> + +<p>"I can explain them away just as easily as you can explain +your theory," replied Strong. He walked over and +patted the cadet on the shoulder sympathetically. "I'm +sorry, Tom," he said gently. "Your story is just too fantastic +and you haven't even the slightest shred of evidence. +Just a few words an unreliable witness said +under duress."</p> + +<p>"I realize that, sir," replied the cadet. "But don't you +see? This is the only way to clear my name."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>Strong turned to the window, looked out thoughtfully +for a moment, and then turned back to the boy. +"How do you think I can help you?" he said, a more +sympathetic note in his voice.</p> + +<p>His eyes bright with hope again, Tom spoke quickly +and eagerly. The Solar Guard captain calmly packed +his pipe and lighted it, stopping the boy now and then +to ask a question. Finally, when Tom was finished, +Strong nodded and silently puffed at his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir?" asked Tom eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Tom," replied Strong. "It's a pretty +wild idea. And it leaves me way out on a limb."</p> + +<p>"Only if we fail, sir," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Which is more than likely," Strong commented +dryly.</p> + +<p>"Captain Strong," said Tom, "if you really don't think +it can work, then I suggest that you call the guard and +turn me in. I've put you in enough trouble already." +Tom moved to the door.</p> + +<p>"Stop playing the hero, Corbett," said Strong. "I +didn't say I wouldn't help you. But we have to think +this thing out."</p> + +<p>Tom sat down, eying Strong hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Now, let me get this straight," said Strong. "First +you want me to help Astro and Roger escape from the +work gang. All right, that may work easily enough. But +why?"</p> + +<p>"So we can get aboard the projectile ship and go +through her tests with her."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you've heard that Connel, Professor +Hemmingwell, and Dave Barret are going to take her up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Tom replied, grinning. "That's why I want +to go along. To make sure no more accidents happen."</p> + +<p>"I could send a squad of Space Marines for that kind +of job," mused Strong.</p> + +<p>"But that would alert Barret," protested Tom. "He +might not try anything. If he doesn't suspect he's being +watched, we may be able to catch him in the act. And +he certainly wouldn't think the three of us are aboard."</p> + +<p>"Hum. Maybe you're right," nodded Strong. "Then +after I get you three on the ship, I'm supposed to spend +my time trailing your prize suspect, right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," nodded the young cadet.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to give it consideration, Tom," said Strong +after a momentary pause. "As much as I admire your +plan and as much as I want to help you, this places me +in a highly untenable position. Have you stopped to +think what would happen to me if it were ever known +that I had sheltered you here in my quarters and aided +in the escape of two convicted cadets from the work +gang?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Tom soberly. "And—all I can say is +I'll do whatever you think is best."</p> + +<p>"Well, get some sleep now," sighed Strong. "I've got +to make a tour of the guard."</p> + +<p>Without another word, Tom went into Captain +Strong's bedroom and fell asleep thirty seconds after his +head hit the pillow. His last waking thought was that if +his plan had any merit Captain Strong would help him.</p> + +<p>Steve Strong did not leave his quarters immediately. +He sat in the easy chair and puffed thoughtfully on his +pipe until there was nothing left in the burnt and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +charred bowl. Then he rose and left the room to make +his rounds. He walked slowly through the hollow, +empty hallways of the Tower building, riding up and +down the slidestairs, speaking curtly to the guards, and +finally walked out on the wide steps facing the grassy +quadrangle.</p> + +<p>Strong glanced up at the sky. He counted the stars +he could see and he remembered that as a boy of eight +he knew the names and positions of every one. He +recalled his entrance to the Academy as a cadet and how +his unit instructor had guided him and taught him the +many things a spaceman must know. He thought of his +long tour as a line officer in the Solar Guard fleet under +Commander Walters, then a major, and he remembered +his brother officers, many of whom were now +dead. There was one thing they all had in common, one +thing that overshadowed all personal differences. One +thing that was almost like a religion. Comradeship. A +feeling of belonging, a knowledge that there was <i>always</i> +someone who would believe in you and your ideas.</p> + +<p>One thing. Friendship.</p> + +<p>Captain Strong spun on his heel, walked back into +the Tower, and rode the slidestairs back to his quarters. +He had made up his mind.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a>CHAPTER 17</h2> + + +<p>"<i>Stand by to raise ship!</i>"</p> + +<p>Connel's bull-throated roar blasted through the intercom +of the gleaming projectile ship from the power +deck where Dave Barret was stationed, up to the radar +bridge where Professor Hemmingwell waited anxiously.</p> + +<p>On the main deck, seated at the controls, Connel +spoke rapidly into the audioceiver microphone. +"Projectile vessel to spaceport traffic control," he called. +"Request blast-off clearance!"</p> + +<p>"Spaceport traffic control to Connel," came a voice in +reply over the audioceiver. "You are cleared. Your time +is two minutes to zero!"</p> + +<p>Connel began snapping the many levers and switches +on the control panel in proper sequence, keeping a wary +eye on the astral chronometer over his head as one of +its red hands ticked off the seconds to blast-off.</p> + +<p>The teleceiver screen to his right showed a view of +the stern of the vessel and Connel could see some of the +ground crew slowly rolling away the boarding equipment. +Flipping on the switch that opened a circuit to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +an outside loud-speaker, he bellowed an order for the +area to be cleared. The crew scurried back behind the +blast deflectors and watched the ship through the thick +crystal viewports.</p> + +<p>"Power deck," Connel called into the intercom, +"check in!"</p> + +<p>"Power deck, aye!" reported Barret.</p> + +<p>"Radar deck, check in!"</p> + +<p>"Radar deck, aye!" Professor Hemmingwell acknowledged +in a thin voice.</p> + +<p>"Feed reactant!" Connel ordered.</p> + +<p>"Reactant feeding at D-9 rate," said Barret after a +split-second pause.</p> + +<p>"Energize cooling pumps!"</p> + +<p>"Cooling pumps, aye!"</p> + +<p>"Cut in take-off gyros!"</p> + +<p>"Gyros on," repeated Barret.</p> + +<p>"All clear forward and up!" replied the elderly man.</p> + +<p>"Right!" bawled Major Connel. "Stand by!"</p> + +<p>Tensely he watched the red hand crawl up the face +of the chronometer and he gripped the intercom microphone +tightly. "Blast off," he began, "minus five, four, +three, two, one, <i>zero</i>!"</p> + +<p>Connel slammed home the master control switch and +in an instant the silver ship trembled under a tremendous +surge of power. Flame and smoke poured out of +its exhaust and slowly it began to reach for sky, straining +as if to break invisible bonds holding it to Earth. Her +jets shrieking torturously, the ship picked up speed and +then suddenly, as though shot from a cannon, it blasted +up through the atmosphere—spacebound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>A moment later, on the control deck of the ship, Major +Connel swung forward in his chair, shook off the +effects of the tremendous acceleration, and called into +the intercom, "Switch on the gravity generators!"</p> + +<p>As soon as the artificial gravity was in effect, the officer +put the ship on standard cruising speed, changed +course slightly to put them on a direct heading to Mars, +and then ordered Barret and Hemmingwell to the control +deck.</p> + +<p>"Well, Professor," he said as he gave the old man a +hearty handshake, "so far so good. She handles like a +baby carriage. If the projectiles work half as well, you'll +really have yourself something!"</p> + +<p>Professor Hemmingwell smiled appreciatively and +turned to Barret, who was just climbing through the +hatch from the power deck. "You've done as much as +anyone to help this ship get into space, Dave," he said. +"Thank you!"</p> + +<p>"Think nothing of it, Professor," replied Barret airily.</p> + +<p>"Well, shall we begin the first series of tests?" asked +Connel.</p> + +<p>"By all means!" said the professor enthusiastically. +"If you and Dave will check the firing stations, I'll take +care of the paper work!"</p> + +<p>"Right," replied Connel. "Let's go, Barret!"</p> + +<p>"I'll work outside, Major," said Barret, turning toward +the air lock. "You see that all the firing chambers are +properly loaded."</p> + +<p>"Anything you say, Barret."</p> + +<p>The two men turned away from the smiling professor +and left the control deck. They separated in the companionway,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +Connel hurrying to the starboard firing +chambers and Barret going to the midships air lock +where he put on a space suit for his task out on the hull.</p> + +<p>In two minutes the young scientist was out on the +odd-looking blisters that marked the exterior of the +firing chambers ringing the hull.</p> + +<p>At each blister Barret examined the hollow firing +tube carefully. In several he made delicate adjustments +to a small metallic ring extending from the opening of +the tube. The ring was one of the most important parts +of the firing unit, emitting the long-range electronic +beam controlling the flight of the projectile.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, inside the ship, Connel checked the loading +of each of the chambers, making certain that each +of the ten-foot-long torpedolike projectiles was properly +secured in its blasting cradle. After fifteen minutes +and a complete trip around the ship, the major was +satisfied that all was in readiness. He returned to the +control deck, meeting Barret on the way, and they +found Professor Hemmingwell just completing his +calculations for the initial test. He turned to them, waving +a paper in front of their eyes.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said proudly, "we are almost ready. +If you will adjust course fifteen degrees to port, we'll be +in proper position for the test!"</p> + +<p>"Right," nodded Connel. "Stand by below, Barret."</p> + +<p>"On my way," replied Barret, disappearing through +the hatch.</p> + +<p>"Well, Professor," said Connel, walking to the +controls, "this is the big moment!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Hemmingwell. "If these rocket projectiles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +prove workable now, there's nothing to stop us +from carrying on with our test of the ground receivers +on Mars immediately."</p> + +<p>"Power deck to control deck, check in!" Barret's voice +suddenly crackled over the intercom.</p> + +<p>"Control deck, aye," replied Connel. "Ready to +blast?"</p> + +<p>"All set!"</p> + +<p>"Give me a ten-second burst on the starboard steering +rockets," ordered Connel, gripping the steering vane +control tightly.</p> + +<p>"Coming up!"</p> + +<p>There was a sudden, jolting blast from the stern and +Connel and Hemmingwell hung on grimly as the +mighty ship turned in space. Watching the control +panel instruments carefully, Connel slammed home the +switch that opened the powerful nose braking rockets +and brought the ship to a dead stop in space.</p> + +<p>"On course, Professor, ready to fire!" Connel announced +triumphantly, and Hemmingwell took his station +before the giant projectile control board.</p> + +<p>"Stand by to fire one!" said the professor, making a +minute adjustment on the panel. Behind him, Connel +unconsciously crossed his fingers.</p> + +<p>"Fire one!" shouted Hemmingwell.</p> + +<p>Connel pressed a red button on the panel and waited, +holding his breath. There was a distinct hissing and +then the great ship lurched slightly. On the teleceiver +overhead a white flash appeared, streaked across the +screen, and then disappeared in the darkness of space.</p> + +<p>"Fire two!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again there was a hissing sound and another white +burst of light faded into the millions of other pinpoints +of lights in the black void.</p> + +<p>Over and over again, at one-minute intervals, the +projectiles were fired, until all twelve of the firing +chambers had discharged their fire-tailed missiles.</p> + +<p>The professor sat back and smiled weakly at Connel. +The gruff major winked encouragingly and they both +turned to watch the teleceiver screen anxiously. The +gyros on each projectile had been preset for a circular +flight of fifteen minutes' duration. Soon they would be +returning and the delicate job of bringing them safely +aboard would begin.</p> + +<p>"Here comes number one," shouted Connel, as a small +pinpoint of light appeared on the screen.</p> + +<p>"I'm ready!" said the professor. He watched the +teleceiver screen carefully, made a minute adjustment of +the dial controlling the directional beam emitted by the +ring in the number-one firing chamber, and at the last +possible moment, snapped the remote-control switch +that cut the power in the approaching test projectile. It +hung dead in space, immediately over the chamber. +Gently the professor increased the power of the electro-magnetic +ring and pulled the projectile back into the +chamber as easily as slipping a hand in a glove.</p> + +<p>"Success!" Connel shouted. "Professor, you've +done it!"</p> + +<p>"Congratulations, sir," Dave Barret called over the +intercom from the power deck.</p> + +<p>"Here comes number two," said Professor +Hemmingwell excitedly, and began to repeat the process<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +to draw the approaching projectiles back into the ship.</p> + +<p>One after another, five projectiles were taken aboard +successfully. Then, as he worked on the sixth, the professor +began to frown. He rechecked his instruments +and then shook his head, obviously disturbed.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble?" growled Connel, noticing Hemmingwell's +growing nervousness.</p> + +<p>"The homing ring on number six tube isn't working +properly," replied Hemmingwell. "I can't control the +projectile."</p> + +<p>"Any idea what's wrong?" the Solar Guard officer +asked.</p> + +<p>"The settings on the ring must be wrong." The professor +picked up the intercom mike. "Dave," he called, +"check in!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?" replied Barret immediately.</p> + +<p>"Did you check the settings on all the rings in the +firing chambers?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," reported Barret. "They looked O.K. to me. +Why don't you check with Connel? He supervised their +installation."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said the major. "I'll go outside and look +them over."</p> + +<p>Connel turned on his heel and hurried to the air-lock +chamber. Moving with amazing speed for a big man, +he donned the space suit in the chamber while the pressure +was being equalized. As soon as the air-lock portal +opened, he scrambled out on the hull and made his way +forward to the bulging firing chambers. Stooping over +the empty tube of number six, he examined the ring +carefully and began to frown. Moving on to number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +seven, his frown deepened. By the time he checked the +rings of eight and nine, his face was a grim mask of +anger.</p> + +<p>"Professor," he called into his helmet microphone, +"check in."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 419px;"> +<img src="images/ill-189.png" width="419" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, Major," replied Hemmingwell from the control +deck. "Have you found the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"I sure have," Connel growled. "It's sabotage! And +now I think I know who—"</p> + +<p>Connel never finished. There was a sudden burst of +power from the great ship and the officer was hurled +into space.</p> + +<p>"Major!" cried Hemmingwell. "Barret! What have +you done? Connel is outside!"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't help it, Professor," replied Barret from the +power deck. "My hand slipped and—"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk!" shouted Hemmingwell. "Stop the ship!"</p> + +<p>"I can't! The control is jammed!"</p> + +<p>As the ship surged through space and the professor +and Barret yelled at each other over the intercom, three +Space Cadets rose from their hiding place in the hold +of the ship.</p> + +<p>Tom Corbett nudged Roger and Astro. "You hear +that?" he said grimly.</p> + +<p>"Yeah!" replied Roger.</p> + +<p>"Let's go!" growled Astro.</p> + +<p>Without another word, they opened the hatch and +made their way quickly through the rocketing ship, +each going to their separate stations, according to the +prearranged plan. Roger climbed up to the radar bridge, +Tom entered the control deck, and Astro burst into the +power deck.</p> + +<p>"You!" Barret cried out, his eyes wide with sudden +fear as the huge Venusian advanced on him menacingly.</p> + +<p>"Get away from those controls," growled the big cadet. +"If you don't, so help me, I'll break you in two!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>Barret backed away, his face white, hands pawing +the air frantically as if he were trying to push the big +cadet back.</p> + +<p>"Get over there," said Astro. "Sit down and keep your +mouth shut!"</p> + +<p>On the control deck, Tom was strapping himself into +the pilot's chair and calling frantically into the intercom, +"Give me a course, Roger!"</p> + +<p>"One-seventy-degree turn to starboard," replied +Roger, "and full ahead! I've got the major on my scanner."</p> + +<p>"Pour on the power, Astro!" shouted Tom, gripping +the controls firmly.</p> + +<p>As the mighty ship blasted in a long, sweeping arc, +Professor Hemmingwell sat numbly in his chair, aware +only that the three cadets were taking the vessel back +into the area where the remaining projectiles, completely +out of control, were buzzing around in space like +maddened hornets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-027.png" width="500" height="156" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a>CHAPTER 18</h2> + + +<p>"There he is!"</p> + +<p>Roger's voice rose to a triumphant shout on the +intercom. "Put the brakes on this wagon!"</p> + +<p>"Check!" retorted Astro from the power deck, his +fingers flying over the switches of the control panel and +bringing the ship to a sudden blasting stop.</p> + +<p>On the control deck, Tom turned to Professor +Hemmingwell. "I'm going outside to get Major Connel, sir," +he said. "Do you think you'll be all right?"</p> + +<p>The old man nodded absently, still dazed by the +sudden turn of events. Tom hurried past him and met +Roger coming down from the radar bridge. "I'm going +too!" the blond-haired cadet announced.</p> + +<p>"You tell Astro?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah. He's got Barret locked in the power-deck +storeroom and he'll take over the control deck. Wonder +if they have a jet boat aboard?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it. Not on a test flight."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to hurry," said Roger as they reached +the air lock and began to scramble into space suits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "He probably doesn't have much +oxygen."</p> + +<p>"There's another reason," grunted Roger.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Those projectiles. We're right back in the middle of +them. Any one of them could wreck the ship."</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean," said Tom. "Guess it's up to +Astro to keep dodging them."</p> + +<p>"Never thought I'd be out in space ducking hot +projectiles to save old Blast-off Connel's hide."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I," said Tom. "But here we are."</p> + +<p>Stepping into the air lock, they quickly equalized the +pressure and a moment later climbed out on the hull.</p> + +<p>"See him, Roger?" asked Tom over the helmet intercom.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," replied Roger.</p> + +<p>"I see him," called Astro from the control deck. "I got +him spotted on the teleceiver. Go aft, about a thousand, +maybe fifteen hundred yards. I'll direct you from there."</p> + +<p>"Right!" snapped Roger. "And listen, you Venusian +bonehead! Make it good. I don't like being a clay pigeon +for this crazy shooting gallery out here!"</p> + +<p>"Aw, damp your tubes and get to work," drawled +Astro. "Honestly, Tom, did you ever hear him <i>not</i> complain?"</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer. He was busy fastening two oxygen +tanks to the front of his space suit and Roger's. +When he had finished, he checked the pressure and, +satisfied, nodded to his unit mate.</p> + +<p>Opening the nozzles of the bottles, they shot away +from the ship into the nothingness of space.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have to go about fifteen degrees to your starboard +and five degrees up on the ecliptic," called Astro +from the control deck. "You'll hit Connel right on the +nose!"</p> + +<p>"Right!" replied Tom, turning the nozzle of the oxygen +bottle to the left and immediately shooting off in +the indicated direction. Roger followed quickly and +expertly.</p> + +<p>"See him?" called Tom.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Roger. "Are you sure, you big clunk?"</p> + +<p>"He's right above you!" snorted Astro over the intercom. +Then his voice rose in alarm. "No! That isn't—"</p> + +<p>"Duck, Tom!" cried Roger.</p> + +<p>Tom opened the nozzle of his oxygen bottle wide and +turned it. As he shot away, a projectile roared through +the area he had just left.</p> + +<p>Roger had done the same thing, flipping over and +shooting up and away from the moving object.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" exclaimed Tom. "That was close!"</p> + +<p>"You blockhead!" roared Roger. "What are you trying +to do to us? Set us up for coffins?"</p> + +<p>"For you, that's not a bad idea, Manning!" snorted +Astro. "Just damp your tubes. I made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"Some mistake!" growled Roger.</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger maneuvered back together, and locking +arms so they would not drift apart, scanned the +void around them for Connel. Suddenly Tom jerked +free. "Roger!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" replied the cadet. "Do you see him?"</p> + +<p>"There!" Tom pointed back to the ship. "On the stern! +He's hanging on to the cleat over the main tubes!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 417px;"> +<img src="images/ill-195.png" width="417" height="500" alt=""He's hanging on to the cleat over the main tube!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"He's hanging on to the cleat over the main tube!"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Astro," Roger called, "we're coming back in. We've +spotted him."</p> + +<p>"I heard you!" said Astro. "Must've come back on his +own steam. Go get him, quick!"</p> + +<p>Turning the nozzles of their oxygen tanks, the two +cadets shot toward the ship. They quickly clambered +onto the stern where Connel lay stretched out on the +side of the hull, arms extended, his gloved hands gripping +the small cleat on the side of the hull.</p> + +<p>In a matter of minutes, the two boys had the Solar +Guard officer safely inside the air-lock chamber and had +removed his space helmet and suit. His eyes were +closed, and his face was deathly white. Tom immediately +clapped an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, +while Roger applied heating units to the wrists and +neck.</p> + +<p>Astro burst into the chamber, followed by the professor. +"Will he be all right?" Hemmingwell asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Think nothing of it, Professor Hummingbird," said +Roger. "The old major will come around any second, +and when he does, stand back. The first thing he'll do is +yell."</p> + +<p>"Roger, the name is Hemmingwell," hissed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yeah, sure," nodded Roger, and then turned to +Astro. "Is Barret still locked up?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," replied the Venusian. "And I hid the key, so +Connel can't get to him until he cools off."</p> + +<p>"The major is coming around," said Tom.</p> + +<p>As they watched, Connel stirred, coughed several +times, and then opened his eyes. He stared in amazement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +at Tom, then turned to blink unbelievingly at +Roger and Astro. "What in the star-blazing—?"</p> + +<p>"It's us all right, sir!" Tom assured him.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," chimed in Roger. "And you're not in heaven +or—er—any place else either."</p> + +<p>As Connel suddenly flushed with anger and sat up, +Hemmingwell spoke quickly. "They saved your life, +Major," he said.</p> + +<p>"They did?" Connel's face clouded in confusion. "I +don't understand. How did you three get aboard, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"It's a long story, sir," said Tom. "Right now, maybe +we'd better—"</p> + +<p>Before the cadet could finish, there was a loud crashing +and a series of jolting bumps as the ship lurched.</p> + +<p>"What the blue blazes!" roared Connel, jumping to +his feet in alarm.</p> + +<p>"The projectiles!" exclaimed Roger. "We've got to get +out of here!"</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" cried Astro. "I forgot all +about them!"</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, Astro, Hemmingwell, and Connel raced +out of the air lock to their stations. Astro poured on the +power without waiting for an order from the control +deck and soon they were rocketing into the safety of +space.</p> + +<p>Watching the wildly flying missiles on the teleceiver +screen, Connel breathed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" he snorted. "Glad we're out of that mess."</p> + +<p>"But what are we going to do about them, sir," asked +Tom, a worried frown wrinkling his forehead as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +watched the screen. "We can't just leave those things +there. Some other ship may—"</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about it," Connel broke in brusquely. +"The projectiles will run out of fuel in a few minutes +and they'll just drift. They can be fished out any time."</p> + +<p>"We can go back and get them ourselves," said the +young cadet eagerly. "Roger and I can—"</p> + +<p>"We've got more important things to do now!" thundered +Connel. Switching on the intercom, he ordered +Roger and Astro to report to the control deck. They appeared +within seconds of his order and he faced the +three cadets grimly.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys," he asked, "what's the story?"</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd better explain, sir," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"I guess you'd better," nodded Connel.</p> + +<p>Tom quickly ran over the chain of events, beginning +with his abduction on Mars to their appearance on the +ship, including the part Barret had played in tricking +Roger and Astro into taking the scout. As he spoke, +Connel looked more and more amazed, and when Tom +finally uttered the name of the man he thought was responsible +for all the sabotage, Connel jumped out of his +chair.</p> + +<p>"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"You were nearly killed a few minutes ago, sir," said +Tom. "And who sabotaged the rings? Barret! Who was +around every time something happened? Who incited +the crew to keep from taking this ship into space? Who +spread the rumor that it was jinxed? The answer to +every one of those questions, sir, is Barret. And Dave +Barret is working for—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me at that sniveling space pup!" interrupted +Connel, snarling his rage. "I'll tear him apart and throw +him to the buzzards!"</p> + +<p>The enraged major jumped to the hatch but Astro +and Tom barred his way, with Roger stepping quickly +in back of him, a heavy wrench in his hand, ready to +assist in any manner necessary to subdue the howling +officer.</p> + +<p>"Try to kill me!" Connel howled. "Why, I'll—I'll—"</p> + +<p>"No, Major!" shouted Tom. "He's the only one that +can help us convict Carter Devers!"</p> + +<p>Connel stopped. He stared at Astro's bulk and then +turned to see Roger trying to hide the wrench. "Were +you going to hit me with that thing, Manning?" he +growled.</p> + +<p>Roger gulped. "Yes, sir," he said. "If it was necessary +to keep you away from Barret, sir. I'm sorry, sir."</p> + +<p>Connel spun back to face Tom. "Corbett, you must +have a plan," he said. "Let's have it quick."</p> + +<p>Tom grinned. "All right, sir," he began. Suddenly, out +of the corner of his eyes, he saw Professor Hemmingwell +slump to the deck.</p> + +<p>Hurriedly they picked up the old man and eased him +gently to the nearby acceleration couch. After gulping +some water that Roger poured for him, the old man +smiled weakly. "I'm afraid I don't have the strength to +withstand all this excitement," he said. "But now I understand +why things were never easy for me. Carter +Devers—he did this to me. He blocked the proposals +every time that they were submitted to the Solar delegations. +He—" Hemmingwell's head fell back. Roger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +had put a sedative into the water and the old man was +now unconscious.</p> + +<p>"It's just fatigue," said Connel. "He'll be all right in a +little while." He turned to Tom. "All right, Corbett, +carry on!"</p> + +<p>Tom hurriedly concluded his story of the events leading +up to their startling appearance on the ship, and as +he spoke, he saw the major's frown change to a glowing +grin. When Tom finished, Connel suddenly extended +his hand in a gesture of friendship.</p> + +<p>"I have to admit it, Corbett," he said. "You've done +a good job. And," he added with a twinkle in his eye, +"by going along with you, I am an accomplice with +Captain Strong in the aiding of three fugitives from the +Solar Guard."</p> + +<p>Tom, Astro, and Roger grinned. "Now, let's get Barret +up here and ask him a few questions," continued +Connel. "And, Manning, if I can't restrain myself, you +have my permission to hit me with that wrench! But so +help me, if you belt me before the time comes, I'll bend +that wrench over your skull!"</p> + +<p>While Astro and Roger went below to get Barret, +Connel and Tom reviewed their plan.</p> + +<p>"Better keep the news quiet for a while," said Connel. +"If we telecast it back to the Academy, Devers might +get wise."</p> + +<p>"Good idea, sir," acknowledged Tom.</p> + +<p>"But I can't understand Devers' motive," said Connel. +"What does he stand to gain if this project is a +failure?"</p> + +<p>"He'll lose plenty if it's a success," Tom asserted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Devers owns Jilolo Spaceways, the parent company of +Universal Jet Trucking and Surface Transportation! If +the projectiles worked, surface cargo delivery would be +wiped out."</p> + +<p>Before Connel could comment on Tom's startling revelation, +they heard the sound of angry voices just outside +the control-deck hatch.</p> + +<p>"That must be Astro and Roger bringing in Barret," +said Tom with a grin.</p> + +<p>The hatch clanked open and Astro appeared, carrying +Roger under one arm and Barret under the other. +He dropped them both unceremoniously on the deck, +but when they jumped to their feet, Roger charged forward +quickly and landed a stinging right to Barret's +jaw. The man dropped to the deck again like a stone.</p> + +<p>"Manning!" roared Connel. "What was the idea?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to make sure I got in my licks before the +Solar Guard got hold of him," replied Roger, rubbing +his knuckles and looking down at Barret's inert form.</p> + +<p>Astro grinned sheepishly. "I tried to stop him, sir!" +he said.</p> + +<p>"I'll just bet you tried to stop him!" bellowed Connel. +"Cadet Manning, you put that man to sleep, now you +wake him up!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!" said Roger, and while Connel, Astro, and +Tom roared with laughter, he poured an entire bottle +of water on Barret's face.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a>CHAPTER 19</h2> + + +<p>"I don't know what you're talking about!"</p> + +<p>Shouting angrily, Barret sat in one of the pilot's +chairs, flanked by Roger and Astro, while Connel and +Tom stood in front of him firing questions.</p> + +<p>"Barret," said Connel, "I have enough evidence on +you now to send you to a prison asteroid for ten years +at least!"</p> + +<p>"On what charge?" demanded the young man.</p> + +<p>"Trying to kill an officer of the Solar Guard."</p> + +<p>"Where is your proof?" demanded Barret.</p> + +<p>"Right there!" snorted Major Connel, pointing to the +sleeping figure of Professor Hemmingwell.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" demanded Barret.</p> + +<p>"He'll swear that you deliberately sent this ship into +full drive while I was out on the hull checking the +rings."</p> + +<p>"He can't," protested Barret. "He was on the bridge! +He couldn't have seen a thing!"</p> + +<p>Tom shook his head gently. "Barret, after what you've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +done to his ship and the projectile operation," he said, +"Hemmingwell will swear to anything."</p> + +<p>"It's a frame-up!" shouted Barret.</p> + +<p>"And what do you think you did to us?" snarled +Roger.</p> + +<p>Barret flushed and turned away. "You can't scare +me," he muttered. "Go ahead. Let him swear to whatever +he wants."</p> + +<p>Connel stepped back grimly and turned to Astro and +Roger. "All right, boys," he said. "Take him below and +see if you can't get some different answers out of him." +The hardened spaceman turned his back and walked +to the viewport.</p> + +<p>"Why, you dirty space rat!" screamed Barret. "You +wouldn't dare!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, wouldn't he!" retorted Roger. "Listen, pal, he +figures we owe you plenty for what you did to us, and +he's just giving us a chance to pay you back!" He faced +Barret grimly. "Mister, you're going to get the works! +Come on, Astro!"</p> + +<p>As the giant Venusian advanced on Barret, the man +shrank back in his chair, eyes widening in sudden fear. +When Astro stretched out his huge hand and grabbed +him by the front of his jacket, he screamed in fright.</p> + +<p>"All right, all right!" he cried out. "I'll talk! Devers +did it! He made me do it! He's responsible for the whole +thing!"</p> + +<p>"Turn on that audiograph, Corbett!" shouted Connel.</p> + +<p>Tom snapped on the machine and brought the microphone +over to Barret, holding it in front of his trembling +mouth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right, talk!" Connel growled. "And tell it all."</p> + +<p>Barret had hardly uttered the first stumbling words +when Roger let out a shout of alarm. "Hey! The scanner!" +he cried.</p> + +<p>They all turned to the teleceiver screen. To their horror, +they saw a menacing shape blasting toward them. +They recognized it instantly—a space torpedo!</p> + +<p>Astro dove through the power-deck hatch while +Roger raced for the radar-bridge ladder. Tom hurled +himself into the copilot's chair, and with Connel beside +him in the command position, he waited for Astro to +supply power. Suddenly the ship trembled violently and +then shot forward as, far below, the jet exhausts +screamed under the full thrust of all the atomic reactors. +Tom rode the controls hard and kept his eye on the +scanner screen.</p> + +<p>"It's a magnetic gyrofish!" he cried as he saw the +torpedo curve after them. "Roger, can you plot her +for me?"</p> + +<p>"Working on it now, Tom!" yelled Roger over the +intercom.</p> + +<p>"How in blazes did that thing get out here?" muttered +Connel.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to worry about that later, I'm afraid, sir," +replied Tom. "We're going to have our hands full getting +away from her. With that magnetic warhead, she'll +follow us all over space unless we can throw her off."</p> + +<p>"Which will take some doing!" grunted Connel, +frowning in deep concern.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Tom!" Roger's voice called over the intercom. +"It's blasting on maximum thrust now. We have a pretty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +good chance. Use that idea we worked out. Make a series +of left turns and always on the up-plane of the +ecliptic!"</p> + +<p>"Right!" said Tom, clutching the master manual-control +lever and beginning to fly the giant ship through +space by "feel."</p> + +<p>"What in blazes are you doing, Corbett?" shouted +Connel in sudden alarm.</p> + +<p>"Just hang on and watch, sir," replied Tom, keeping +his eyes on the scanner where he could see the space +torpedo trailing them. Over and over, Tom kept slamming +the ship into sharp left turns, while the torpedo +followed in an ever-narrowing circle.</p> + +<p>"All right, Tom!" yelled Roger again. "Give it the +same thing on the right and the down-plane of the +ecliptic!"</p> + +<p>"Check!" answered Tom, reversing his controls and +sending the ship corkscrewing through space on an opposite +course.</p> + +<p>Connel grabbed the arms of his chair and gasped, +"You kids are space happy!"</p> + +<p>"Those gyros are so perfect, sir," said Tom, working +the controls quickly and smoothly, "that the only way +you can throw them off balance is to confuse them."</p> + +<p>"Confuse them!" exclaimed Connel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Tom. "It's a theory Roger and I worked +out together. No gyro is perfect, and if you can get it +bouncing back and forth in extreme turns, it will be +thrown out of balance. Then all we have to do is make +the torpedo miss once and it won't come back."</p> + +<p>"Heaven help us all!" was Connel's groaning reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On the ball, Tom!" cried Roger. "She's closing in +on us!"</p> + +<p>"I see her," replied Tom calmly. "Hang on, everybody. +I'm going to turn this ship inside out!"</p> + +<p>Jerking the controls, Tom threw the ship into a mad, +whirling spin, subjecting the vessel to the most severe +strain tests it would ever undergo. The hull groaned +and creaked, and badly fitted equipment tore loose and +clattered across the deck. Suddenly the young cadet +leveled the ship.</p> + +<p>"Nose braking rockets, Astro!" he called.</p> + +<p>"Braking rockets, aye!" acknowledged the Venusian +over the intercom.</p> + +<p>On the power deck, Astro jammed the forward drive +closed and slammed open the nose rockets. The ship +trembled, bucked, and finally came to a shuddering +stop before it started a reverse course, accelerating +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Here it comes!" yelled Roger.</p> + +<p>As Connel and Tom watched tensely, the space torpedo +loomed large and menacing on the scanner, and +then, as they held their breaths, it whistled past the +silvery hull of the ship, with less than two feet to spare!</p> + +<p>Sighing deeply, Tom brought the ship back to level +flight. "We're O.K. now, sir," he said. "Her gyros are +out. She won't come back."</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" Connel suddenly exploded. +"The Solar Guard spends a fortune to develop a foolproof +space torpedo and two hot-shot cadets come along +and get away from the blasted thing! Why haven't you +told this to anyone before?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why—er—" stammered Tom, "we've never had the +chance to prove it, sir."</p> + +<p>Behind them, the power-deck hatch suddenly opened +and Astro stepped in. "Nice work, Tom!" he called.</p> + +<p>"And as for you, you Venusian ape," roared Connel, +"don't you realize that you can blow a reactor tube by +throwing so much power into a ship without energizing +the cooling pumps first?"</p> + +<p>Astro smiled. "Not if you open the by-pass, sir," he +said, "and feed directly off the pump reservoir. The gas +cools the tube and at the same time expands itself and +adds to the power thrust."</p> + +<p>At Astro's easy reply Connel could only stand openmouthed +in amazement. Again, one of the three cadets +of the <i>Polaris</i> unit had developed a revolutionary procedure +that even top rocket scientists would be proud +to call their own.</p> + +<p>Winking at Tom, Astro turned away and suddenly +noticed Barret sprawled on the deck, unconscious.</p> + +<p>"What happened to him?" asked the big Venusian.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I forgot all about him," said Tom. "Guess he +didn't get into an acceleration chair in time. Better get +some more water."</p> + +<p>"We haven't time for him now!" snapped Connel. +"Strap him in good and tight. We've got to find out +where that torpedo came from."</p> + +<p>As though in answer to the major's order, there was +a sudden call over the ship's intercom.</p> + +<p>"Radar bridge to control deck, check in!" There was +a note of alarm in Roger's voice.</p> + +<p>Tom jumped to the control panel to reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Control deck, aye!" he snapped into the microphone.</p> + +<p>"There's a spaceship to starboard!" called Roger. +"Distance twenty miles, fifteen degrees up on the plane +of the ecliptic. And I swear she's maneuvering to fire +another torpedo!"</p> + +<p>"Stand by action stations!" roared Connel, diving into +his chair before the control panel. Tom strapped in next +to him, while Astro made a headlong dash for the power +deck.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" shouted Roger. "She's fired a torpedo!"</p> + +<p>"Raise her! Raise her!" bellowed Connel. "Tell them +who we are!" He turned to Tom. "Go into your act, +Corbett," he said, "and make it good!"</p> + +<p>As Tom manipulated the controls again, the silver +ship plunged through space, turning and gyrating in +the same series of maneuvers it had performed to +escape the first torpedo. But this time the distance +separating them was not as great and the torpedo closed in +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Can't you raise that ship yet, Manning?" Connel +roared into the intercom.</p> + +<p>"I just have, sir," replied Roger in a strained voice. +"But it's—"</p> + +<p>"Let me talk to that lame brain of a skipper," +interrupted Connel. "By the stars, I'll teach him to—"</p> + +<p>"It's no use, Connel," said a gruff voice over the +control-deck loud-speaker. "Even if you duck this torpedo, +I've got ten more!"</p> + +<p>"Who is this?" roared Connel.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know, Connel? Why, I'm surprised!"</p> + +<p>The teleceiver screen glowed into life and Tom and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +Connel stared in horror as they recognized the images +of three men. The one in the foreground smiled mockingly +and said, "Remember me, Connel?"</p> + +<p>"Devers!" Connel roared.</p> + +<p>"And the other two behind him—" stuttered Tom. +"Cag and Monty!"</p> + +<p>"Why, you dirty space crawler," cried Connel, "I'll +get you if it's the last thing I do!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-209.png" width="500" height="413" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"No, you won't, Major." Devers laughed. "The last +thing you'll do is kiss a space torpedo. Then no more +Major Blast-off Connel, no more whimpering Professor +Hemmingwell, and most important, no more projectile +ship!"</p> + +<p>And as Devers laughed loudly, Tom threw the ship<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +into another violent turn and cried, "It's no use, Major. +I can't duck this one!"</p> + +<p>"All hands brace for torpedo!" warned Connel.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was an explosion aft. The ship +lurched and shuddered violently, spinning through +space, and as Tom fought the controls, everything went +black. The ship drifted helplessly, out of control.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-068.png" width="500" height="155" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a>CHAPTER 20</h2> + + +<p>"Turn on the lights! Cut in the emergency batteries!"</p> + +<p>Connel's bull-throated roar carried through the ship +as he stood on the power deck with Astro and shouted +to Tom on the control deck. The space torpedo had destroyed +the stern of the vessel, and if it hadn't been for +Astro's quick action in sealing off the aftersection of the +ship, all the air might have been lost and the crew dead +of suffocation.</p> + +<p>A moment later the emergency lights glowed weakly +and Connel and the big Venusian cadet began a quick +inspection of the ship. The power deck was a total loss. +The ship would never get under way again.</p> + +<p>Up on the radar bridge, Roger was about to turn on +the radar scanner when Tom appeared and stopped +him.</p> + +<p>"Wait a while, Roger," he said. "We may need the +power for something else."</p> + +<p>"What, for instance?" snorted Roger.</p> + +<p>"That ship is still out there, probably closing in for +the kill."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A blasted lot we can do about it," Roger growled.</p> + +<p>"I've got a plan that might work," said Tom half-heartedly. +"It's about the only thing I can think of, unless +Connel and Astro have a better idea."</p> + +<p>"What is it? Whatever it is, it's better than sitting +here like a dead duck, waiting for that rat to come in +and finish us off!" said Roger. "Look, I've just got to see +what he's doing out there." He flipped on the scanner +switch and while he waited for the set to warm up he +turned back to Tom. "What's your idea?"</p> + +<p>"Well," began Tom, "the only thing we've got on +board that we can use to fight back with are those projectiles."</p> + +<p>"How can we fight with projectiles?" demanded +Roger. "They don't carry warheads!"</p> + +<p>"No," agreed Tom. "But they're big and heavy. They +pack a wallop if they hit anything."</p> + +<p>Roger's eyes brightened suddenly. "Say, I think—"</p> + +<p>The scanner began to beep and Roger turned his attention +to the screen. Tom leaned over his shoulder and +watched eagerly. They both saw Devers' ship flying in +a slow circle around them.</p> + +<p>"Probably looking to see which would be the best +way to let us have it!" snarled Roger.</p> + +<p>At that moment Major Connel climbed into the radar +bridge, followed by Astro.</p> + +<p>"Time to go," announced the officer.</p> + +<p>"Go where?" demanded Roger.</p> + +<p>"We have to abandon ship," declared Connel. "The +power deck is shot. We'll never get under way, and +we're just sitting ducks if we stay aboard."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's to prevent Devers from picking us off while +we're outside?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Connel. "But he'll have a harder job +and maybe he won't get all of us."</p> + +<p>"Then, sir," said Tom with a glance at Roger, "I have +an idea."</p> + +<p>"Let's have it," said Connel.</p> + +<p>"The projectiles, sir," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"What about them?"</p> + +<p>"We can still fire them off the emergency batteries, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Will you get to the point, Corbett?" growled Connel. +"Devers is liable to send another torpedo our way any +second and—" Connel suddenly stopped and his eyes +widened. "A torpedo!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Exactly, sir!" exclaimed Tom. "We have five +projectiles! We can use them as torpedoes!"</p> + +<p>"Jumping Jupiter!" exclaimed Astro. "What a terrific +idea!"</p> + +<p>"What a terrific pipe dream!" snapped Connel. "Those +projectiles don't have any warheads!"</p> + +<p>"They could still do a lot of damage if they hit that +ship," asserted Tom.</p> + +<p>"And how do you expect to aim them?" demanded +Connel. "There's not enough juice in the batteries to +steer them!"</p> + +<p>"We'll just fire them straight ahead, sir," broke in +Roger. "Look!" he continued, pointing to the scanner +screen. "Devers' ship is just circling us now. And he's +on the same plane of the ecliptic. If he holds that +course—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He'll cross our bow!" exclaimed Astro excitedly. "A +perfect shot!"</p> + +<p>"Ridiculous!" shouted Connel. "Preposterous! It'll +never work in a million light years! He'll fire another +torpedo and we'll be blasted into space dust!"</p> + +<p>"But we can try it, can't we, sir?" asked Tom, grinning.</p> + +<p>"Of course we can!" roared Connel. "I've never given +up a battle yet and, by the stars, I'm not going to +now!"</p> + +<p>Forgetting rank and protocol, the three cadets danced +around the major, slapping him on the back and howling +their enthusiasm. Connel could not restrain a momentary +grin and then his features assumed his usual +bulldog look.</p> + +<p>"Knock it off!" he shouted. "We've got work to do. +Manning!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Keep your eyes nailed to that scanner!" Connel bellowed. +"Sing out if Devers changes course by so much +as a hair!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Astro!"</p> + +<p>"Sir?"</p> + +<p>"Put space suits on Professor Hemmingwell and Barret +and stand by with them on the control deck."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Corbett, you and I will check the projectiles. Make +sure they're in firing order!"</p> + +<p>Spinning on his heel, Connel left the radar bridge. +Alone for just an instant, the three cadets of the <i>Polaris</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +unit clasped hands in silent determination and then +plunged into their various assignments.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, Connel and Tom returned to the +control deck to find Astro waiting for them. Professor +Hemmingwell and Barret, both in space suits, were +seated on acceleration couches. As Connel walked up to +him, Hemmingwell raised his head slowly, still under +the effects of the sedative.</p> + +<p>"What's—what's happening, Major?" he asked haltingly.</p> + +<p>"Professor," said Connel, "one of two things is going +to happen. Either your ship will be blown to space dust +or Carter Devers will be finished and we'll bring your +ship back to Earth!"</p> + +<p>"Good, good," murmured Hemmingwell.</p> + +<p>"And as for you, Barret"—Connel turned toward the +man angrily—"now you can see what kind of thanks +you get for your dirty work! Your boss is just as willing +to get rid of you as he is to destroy this project!"</p> + +<p>Barret flushed under Connel's glare and turned away.</p> + +<p>At the control panel, Tom opened the circuits to the +five loaded firing chambers and then turned to Connel. +"All set to fire, sir!" he called.</p> + + +<p>"Any word from Manning?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"Not while I've been here," replied Astro.</p> + +<p>Connel picked up the intercom microphone. "Hello, +Manning!" he shouted. "What's the story?"</p> + +<p>"Coming up to the last chapter," replied Roger over +the intercom. "Devers is holding course. Should cross +our bow in two minutes!"</p> + +<p>"Good," replied Connel. "Keep us posted!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>Replacing the microphone, he turned to Tom. "Stupid +fool!" he snorted. "He should've fired another torpedo +and wiped us out. What's the matter with him?" Connel +abhorred stupidity, even in an adversary.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he thinks we've already had it," suggested +Astro. "With our stern blasted away, he might figure +all the air's gone out of the ship."</p> + +<p>"Let's hope he keeps on figuring that way," said +Connel. "Everything ready to fire, Corbett?"</p> + +<p>"All set, sir," the young cadet replied. "I've hooked +up all circuits to this button." He pointed to a button +on the control panel. "We'll blast in salvo."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we will, will we?" exclaimed Connel.</p> + +<p>"If you think it's advisable," Tom amended hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Of course it's advisable!" snorted Connel. "We're almost +aiming blind as it is. A salvo will give us a bigger +spread. Besides," he added, "with a whole barrel of +luck, we might hit him with two of the projectiles. That +would really do some damage."</p> + +<p>"I'd like just a little potful of luck," murmured Astro, +"and be able to land one."</p> + +<p>"Heads up, down there!" Roger's voice suddenly sang +out on the intercom.</p> + +<p>"Devers crossing our bow yet?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"He's still holding course," said Roger. "But he's +training his number one starboard tube this way. He's +going to blast us again!"</p> + +<p>"How long do we have to wait for that bow shot?" +demanded Connel.</p> + +<p>"Another forty-five seconds at least!" came Roger's +reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Blast it!" muttered Connel. "Plenty of time for him +to fire."</p> + +<p>Barret suddenly rose from his acceleration couch, +screaming, "You can't keep me here! Let me go!"</p> + +<p>Astro grabbed him quickly and threw him back +down. "Stay put," he growled.</p> + +<p>"No," cried Barret, frantic with fear. "It's murder! +Let me go!"</p> + +<p>"Relax and enjoy it, Barret," snorted Connel. "It's +your boss who's doing it!"</p> + +<p>"What about Professor Hemmingwell, sir?" asked +Tom. "Shouldn't we—?"</p> + +<p>"No," Hemmingwell spoke up from his daze. "I want +to stay with my ship."</p> + +<p>"Hey!" Roger cried over the intercom. "We're getting +company!"</p> + +<p>"Company?" exclaimed Tom. "What're you talking +about?"</p> + +<p>"A Solar Guard cruiser," replied Roger. "Coming up +to port. About five hundred miles away. Hey! It's the +<i>Polaris</i>!"</p> + +<p>"It must be Captain Strong!" shouted Tom.</p> + +<p>"He won't do us much good now," muttered Connel. +"How much time do we have, Roger?"</p> + +<p>"Get set down there. Only another ten seconds and +Devers will be right on our bow."</p> + +<p>"On the ball, Tom!" ordered Connel.</p> + +<p>"Ready, sir."</p> + +<p>The seconds ticked by slowly. One—two—three—four—Beads +of sweat appeared on Connel's brow. +Astro clenched and unclenched his fists. Hemmingwell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +closed his eyes calmly and waited. Barret slumped back +in his couch, almost paralyzed with fear.</p> + +<p>"Coming up, Tom!" cried Roger.</p> + +<p>Tom didn't reply. He kept his fingers poised on the +firing button. And the seconds ticked off slowly, maddeningly. +Seven—eight—nine—!</p> + +<p>"They've fired," Roger shouted. "Point-blank! We're +going to get it!"</p> + +<p>"Fire, Tom!" shouted Connel.</p> + +<p>Even as Connel spoke, Tom's finger pressed down +hard on the firing button. The ship quivered as five +projectiles blasted from the firing chambers and winged +their deadly way through space. The control room of +the ship was silent, everyone waiting for the impact of +the torpedo and praying that somehow, someway, they +could know whether their own attack had succeeded +even if they lost their own lives in the attempt to +destroy Devers' ship.</p> + +<p>There was a sudden, blasting roar and a brilliant +white flash of light filled the cabin. The deck heaved +violently, then dropped sickeningly. Under the force +of the explosion, everyone was thrown to the deck and +lay deathly still.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the wardroom of the rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i>, Captain +Strong, Major Connel, Professor Hemmingwell, and +Roger and Astro were sipping tea and calmly discussing +the events of the past hour.</p> + +<p>"Your ship wasn't too badly damaged, Professor," said +Strong. "We'll take her in tow and bring her back to +Space Academy. She'll be good as new."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you'll have to do without the services of +Dave Barret though, sir," commented Connel dryly. +"He's got a previous engagement on a prison asteroid +and it's going to take him a long time."</p> + +<p>"I can do very well without him," said Hemmingwell. +"As a matter of fact, I would have done extremely well +without him before." He paused and shook his head. "I +feel so ashamed of myself when I think of the things I +said to those boys." He nodded toward Astro and Roger. +"And all the time they were right."</p> + +<p>Astro grinned shyly. Roger was about to open his +mouth and make a typically flip remark when the hatch +opened and Tom appeared, a bandage covering his +head. The two cadets jumped toward him and snowed +him under with affectionate slaps on the back.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" cried Tom. "I'm injured. Look at +my head!"</p> + +<p>"You couldn't have hit the control panel with +anything better!" snorted Connel.</p> + +<p>"But what happened?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Two of the projectiles hit Devers' ship," said Roger. +"One of them on the power deck. Must've smashed the +reaction tanks and made the stuff wildcat, because it +blew him into rocket dust!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/ill-219.png" width="310" height="500" alt=""The projectiles blew Devers' ship into rocket dust!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"The projectiles blew Devers' ship into rocket dust!"</span><br /> +<ins class="correction" title="Transcriber's Note: Picture originally on page 209; moved to correspond to text.">Note</ins></div> + +<p>"But his torpedo! He fired at the same time!" said +Tom.</p> + +<p>"This unit is the luckiest in the universe," said Roger +proudly. "One of the other projectiles smacked the torpedo +and exploded the warhead. We were bounced +around by the shock wave but that's all!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be a Martian mouse," sighed Tom. "Then +everything is O.K. now?"</p> + +<p>"So far as you three are concerned, it's perfect," said +Strong. "Barret has spilled everything. You're cleared +of all charges!"</p> + +<p>"What about Pat Troy?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"He's in the clear, too," said Strong. "You may remember +that he refused to tell us who he was working +for besides Professor Hemmingwell and that made us +suspicious of him. Well, we found out, when he regained +consciousness a short time ago, that he is a +security agent for the Solar Alliance Council. He had +been assigned to work with the professor and to help +protect him. Barret has admitted that he tried to murder +Troy."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" snorted Connel, suddenly rising.</p> + +<p>The room was intensely quiet and Tom, Astro, and +Roger felt that there was something coming. Strong +could hardly suppress a grin as Connel took a paper +from his tunic.</p> + +<p>"This message was received just fifteen minutes ago," +he said. "It reads, quote, Major Connel, Solar Guard. +With reference to Operation Space Projectile, information +has come to us that the Space Cadet unit, known +as the <i>Polaris</i> unit, has contributed in an outstanding +and extraordinary way to the successful completion of +this highly valuable project. As Senior Line Officer of +the Academy, it is hereby requested that you bestow +upon this unit some form of expression of the gratitude +of this Council for their remarkable and inspired behavior<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +in the face of relentless odds. Signed, Secretary +General, Solar Council, Venusport, Venus. Fourteenth +of June, 2354, end quote."</p> + +<p>Connel slipped the paper inside his tunic and faced +the three cadets.</p> + +<p>"All right, you heard it!" he growled. "And you deserve +it. You have three weeks' leave. But when you +come back," he added, "watch out!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, for the life of a Space Cadet!" said Tom, grinning +at his unit mates. "It's wonderful!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-081.png" width="500" height="155" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="bbox" style="margin-top: 3em;"> +<h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> + +<p class='center'>A few illustrations have been moved to an appropriate place in the text.</p> + +<p class='center'>The following typos have been corrected.</p> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Page</td><td align='left'>Error</td><td align='left'>Correction</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3</td><td align='left'>particularly</td><td align='left'>particular</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>12</td><td align='left'>stomach. That</td><td align='left'>stomach that</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>97</td><td align='left'>I"ll</td><td align='left'>I'll</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>112</td><td align='left'>an attempt at murder,"</td><td align='left'>"an attempt at murder,"</td></tr> +</table></div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sabotage in Space, by Carey Rockwell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SABOTAGE IN SPACE *** + +***** This file should be named 18520-h.htm or 18520-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/2/18520/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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