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diff --git a/19027-h/19027-h.htm b/19027-h/19027-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..485fb70 --- /dev/null +++ b/19027-h/19027-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8922 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.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 The Revolt On Venus, 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%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .sf {font-size: small;} + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .bbox { border: solid 2px; padding: 1em; } + + ins.corr { text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray; } + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Revolt on Venus, 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: The Revolt on Venus + +Author: Carey Rockwell + +Illustrator: Louis Glanzman + +Release Date: August 11, 2006 [EBook #19027] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLT ON VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, LN Yaddanapudi and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>THE REVOLT ON VENUS</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>THE TOM CORBETT +SPACE CADET STORIES</h2> + +<h3>By Carey Rockwell</h3> + +<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> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a><img src="images/ill-004.png" width="310" height="500" alt="Frontispiece" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>A TOM CORBETT Space Cadet Adventure</h2> + +<h1>THE REVOLT +ON VENUS</h1> + +<h3>By CAREY ROCKWELL</h3> + +<p class="center">WILLY LEY <i>Technical Adviser</i><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">GROSSET & DUNLAP <i>Publishers</i> New York<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center sf">COPYRIGHT, 1954, BY<br /> +ROCKHILL RADIO<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="sf">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /> +ILLUSTRATIONS BY</span> LOUIS GLANZMAN<br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center sf">PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h3>Transcriber's Note</h3> +<p class="center">The DP team has failed to uncover any evidence that the +copyright on this work was renewed.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Table of Contents</h2> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_1"><b>CHAPTER 1</b></a></td><td> </td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_2"><b>CHAPTER 2</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_3"><b>CHAPTER 3</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_4"><b>CHAPTER 4</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_5"><b>CHAPTER 5</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_6"><b>CHAPTER 6</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_7"><b>CHAPTER 7</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_8"><b>CHAPTER 8</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_9"><b>CHAPTER 9</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_10"><b>CHAPTER 10</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_11"><b>CHAPTER 11</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_12"><b>CHAPTER 12</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_13"><b>CHAPTER 13</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_14"><b>CHAPTER 14</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_15"><b>CHAPTER 15</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_16"><b>CHAPTER 16</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_17"><b>CHAPTER 17</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_18"><b>CHAPTER 18</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_19"><b>CHAPTER 19</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#CHAPTER_20"><b>CHAPTER 20</b></a></td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td><td> </td><td align='right'></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"She tried to get farther into the cave"</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_54">54</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>They were completely surrounded by the jungle</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Astro kept his blaster aimed at the monsters</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>His eyes probed the jungle for further movement</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>"Mr. Sinclair!" cried Tom, suddenly relieved</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>The Solar Guard troops landed on the rim of the canyon</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sinclair wasn't able to get clear in time</td><td></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE REVOLT ON VENUS</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<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>"Emergency air lock open!"</p> + +<p>The tall, broad-shouldered officer, wearing the magnificent +black-and-gold uniform of the Solar Guard, +spoke into a small microphone and waited for an acknowledgment. +It came almost immediately.</p> + +<p>"Cadet Corbett ready for testing," a voice crackled +thinly over the loud-speaker.</p> + +<p>"Very well. Proceed."</p> + +<p>Seated in front of the scanner screen on the control +deck of the rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i>, Captain Steve Strong +replaced the microphone in its slot and watched a bulky +figure in a space suit step out of the air lock and drift +away from the side of the ship. Behind him, five boys, +all dressed in the vivid blue uniforms of the Space Cadet +Corps, strained forward to watch the lone figure +adjust the nozzles of the jet unit on the back of his +space suit.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Tom!" said the biggest of the five boys, his +voice a low, powerful rumble as he rooted for his unit +mate.</p> + +<p>"If Tom makes this one," crowed the cadet next to +him, a slender boy with a thick shock of close-cropped +blond hair, "the <i>Polaris</i> unit is home free!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> +<p>"This is the last test, Manning," replied one of the remaining +three cadets, the insigne of the <i>Arcturus</i> unit +on the sleeve of his uniform. "<i>If</i> Corbett makes this one, +you fellows deserve to win."</p> + +<p>Aboard the rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i>, blasting through +the black void of space two hundred miles above Earth, +six Space Cadets and a Solar Guard officer were conducting +the final test for unit honors for the term. All +other Academy units had been eliminated in open competition. +Now, the results of the individual space orientation +test would decide whether the three cadets of the +<i>Arcturus</i> unit or the three cadets of the <i>Polaris</i> unit +would win final top unit honors.</p> + +<p>Roger Manning and Astro kept their eyes glued to +the telescanner screen, watching their unit mate, Tom +Corbett, drift slowly through space toward his starting +position. The young cadet's task was basically simple; +with his space helmet blacked out so that he could not +see in any direction, he was to make his way back to the +ship from a point a mile away, guided only by the audio +orders from the examining officer aboard the ship. His +score was measured by the time elapsed, and the +amount of corrections and orders given by the examining officer. +It was an exercise designed to test a cadet's +steadiness under emergency conditions of space.</p> + +<p>The three members of the <i>Arcturus</i> unit had completed +their runs and had returned to the ship in excellent +time. Roger and Astro had also taken their tests +and now it depended on Tom. If he could return to the +<i>Polaris</i> in less than ten minutes, with no more than three +corrections, the <i>Polaris</i> unit would be victorious.</p> + +<p>Seated directly in front of the scanner, Captain Steve +Strong, the examining officer, watched the space-suited +figure dwindle to a mere speck on the screen. As the +regular skipper of the <i>Polaris</i> crew, he could not help +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>secretly rooting for Tom, but he was determined to be +fair, even to the extent of declaring the <i>Arcturus</i> unit +the winner, should the decision be very close. He leaned +forward to adjust the focus on the scanner, bringing the +drifting figure into a close-up view, and then lifted the +microphone to his lips.</p> + +<p>"Stand by, Corbett!" he called. "You're getting close +to range."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," replied Tom. "Standing by."</p> + +<p>Behind Strong, Roger and Astro looked at each other +and turned back to the screen. As one, they crossed the +fingers of both hands.</p> + +<p>"Ready, Corbett!" called Strong. "You'll be clocked +from the second you're on range. One hundred feet—seventy-five—fifty—twenty-five—ten—<i>time</i>!"</p> + +<p>As the signal echoed in his blacked-out space helmet, +Tom jerked his body around in a sudden violent move, +and grasping the valve of the jet unit on his back, he +opened it halfway. He waited, holding his breath, expecting +to hear Captain Strong correct his course. He +counted to ten slowly, and when no correction came +over the headphones, he opened the valve wide and +blindly shot through space.</p> + +<p>Aboard the Polaris, Astro and Roger shouted with joy +and Strong could not repress a grin. The tiny figure on +the scanner was hurtling straight for the side of the +<i>Polaris</i>!</p> + +<p>As the image grew larger and larger, anxious eyes +swiveled back and forth from the scanner screen to the +steady sweeping hand of the chronometer. Roger bit his +lip nervously, and Astro's hands trembled.</p> + +<p>When Tom reached a point five hundred feet away +from the ship, Strong flipped open the audio circuit and +issued his first order.</p> + +<p>"Range five hundred feet," he called. "Cut jets!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> +<p>"You're already here, spaceboy!" yelled Roger into +the mike, leaning over Strong's shoulder. The captain +silenced him with a glare. No one could speak to the +examinee but the testing officer.</p> + +<p>Tom closed the valve of his jet unit and blindly jerked +himself around again to drift feet first toward the ship. +Strong watched this approach closely, silently admiring +the effortless way the cadet handled himself in weightless +space. When Tom was fifty feet away from the ship, +and still traveling quite fast, Strong gave the second order +to break his speed. Tom opened the valve again and +felt the tug of the jets braking his acceleration. He +drifted slower and slower, and realizing that he was +close to the hull of the ship, he stretched his legs, striving +to make contact. Seconds later he felt a heavy thump +at the soles of his feet, and within the ship there was the +muffled clank of metal boot weights hitting the metal +skin of the hull.</p> + +<p>"<i>Time!</i>" roared Strong and glanced at the astral chronometer +over his head. The boys crowded around as the +Solar Guard captain quickly computed Tom's score. +"Nine minutes, fifty-one seconds, and two corrections," +he announced, unable to keep the pride out of his voice.</p> + +<p>"We win! We win!" roared Roger. "Term honors go +to the <i>Polaris</i>!"</p> + +<p>Roger turned around and began pounding Astro on +the chest, and the giant Venusian picked him up and +waltzed him around the deck. The three members of +the <i>Arcturus</i> unit waited until the first flush of victory +died away and then crowded around the two boys to +congratulate them.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget the cadet who did it," commented +Strong dryly, and the five cadets rushed below to the +jet-boat deck to wait for Tom.</p> + +<p>When Tom emerged from the air lock a few moments +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>later, Roger and Astro swarmed all over him, and another +wild dance began. Finally, shaking free of his +well-meaning but violent unit mates, he grinned and +gasped, "Well, from that reception, I guess I did it."</p> + +<p>"Spaceboy"—Roger smiled—"you made the <i>Arcturus</i> +unit look like three old men in a washtub counting +toes!"</p> + +<p>"Congratulations, Corbett," said Tony Richards of +the <i>Arcturus</i> crew, offering his hand. "That was really +fast maneuvering out there."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Tony." Tom grinned, running his hand +through his brown curly hair. "But I have to admit I was +a little scared. Wow! What a creepy feeling to know +you're out in space alone and not able to see anything."</p> + +<p>Their excitement was interrupted by Strong's voice +over the ship's intercom. "Stand by, all stations!"</p> + +<p>"Here we go!" shouted Roger. "Back to the Academy—and +leave!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Yeeeeooooow!</i>" Astro's bull-like roar echoed through +the ship as the cadets hurried to their flight stations.</p> + +<p>As command cadet of the <i>Polaris</i>, Tom climbed up to +the control deck, and strapping himself into the command +pilot's seat, prepared to get under way. Astro, the +power-deck cadet who could "take apart a rocket engine +and put it back together again with his thumbs," +thundered below to the atomic rockets he loved more +than anything else in the universe. Roger Manning, the +third member of the famed <i>Polaris</i> unit, raced up the +narrow ladder leading to the radar bridge to take command +of astrogation and communications.</p> + +<p>While Captain Strong and the members of the <i>Arcturus</i> +unit strapped themselves into acceleration cushions, +Tom conducted a routine check of the many gauges on +the great control panel before him. Satisfied, he flipped +open the intercom and called, "All stations, check in!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> +<p>"Radar deck, aye!" drawled Roger's lazy voice.</p> + +<p>"Power deck, aye!" rumbled Astro.</p> + +<p>"Energize the cooling pumps!" ordered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Cooling pumps, aye!"</p> + +<p>The whine of the mighty pumps was suddenly heard, +moaning eerily throughout the ship.</p> + +<p>"Feed reactant!"</p> + +<p>The sharp hiss of fuel being forced into the rocket engines +rose above the whine of the pumps, and the ship +trembled.</p> + +<p>"Stand by to blast," called Tom. "Standard space +speed!"</p> + +<p>Instantly the <i>Polaris</i> shot toward Earth in a long, +curving arc. Moments later, when the huge round ball +of the mother planet loomed large on the scanner +screen, Roger's voice reported over the intercom, "Academy +spaceport control gives us approach orbit 074 for +touchdown on Ramp Twelve, Tom."</p> + +<p>"074 Ramp Twelve," repeated Tom. "Got it!"</p> + +<p>"Twelve!" roared Astro suddenly over the intercom. +"Couldn't you make it closer to the Academy than that, +Manning? We'll have to walk two miles to the nearest +slidewalk!"</p> + +<p>"Too bad, Astro," retorted Roger, "but I guess if I +had to carry around as much useless muscle and bone as +you do, I'd complain too!"</p> + +<p>"I'm just not as lucky as you, Manning," snapped Astro +quickly. "I don't have all that space gas to float me +around."</p> + +<p>"Knock it off, fellows," interjected Tom firmly. "We're +going into our approach."</p> + +<p>Lying on his acceleration cushion, Strong looked over +at Tony Richards of the <i>Arcturus</i> unit and winked. +Richards winked and smiled back. "They never stop, +do they, sir?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p>"When they do," replied Strong, "I'll send all three of +them to sick bay for examination."</p> + +<p>"Two hundred thousand feet to Earth's surface," +called Tom. "Stand by for landing operations."</p> + +<p>As Tom adjusted the many controls on the complicated +operations panel of the ship, Roger and Astro followed +his orders quickly and exactly. "Cut main drive +rockets and give me one-half thrust on forward braking +rockets!" ordered Tom, his eyes glued to the altimeter.</p> + +<p>The <i>Polaris</i> shuddered under the sudden reverse in +power, then began an upward curve, nose pointing back +toward space. Tom barked another command. "Braking +rockets full! Stand by main drive rockets!"</p> + +<p>The sleek ship began to settle tailfirst toward its destination—Space +Academy, U.S.A.</p> + +<p>In the heart of a great expanse of cleared land in the +western part of the North American continent, the cluster +of buildings that marked Space Academy gleamed +brightly in the noon sun. Towering over the green +grassy quadrangle of the Academy was the magnificent +Tower of Galileo, built of pure Titan crystal which +gleamed like a gigantic diamond. With smaller buildings, +including the study halls, the nucleonics laboratory, +the cadet dormitories, mess halls, recreation halls, +all connected by rolling slidewalks—and to the north, +the vast area of the spaceport with its blast-pitted ramps—the +Academy was the goal of every boy in the year +<span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 2353, the age of the conquest of space.</p> + +<p>Founded over a hundred years before, Space Academy +trained the youth of the Solar Alliance for service +in the Solar Guard, the powerful force created to protect +the liberties of the planets. But from the beginning, +Academy standards were so high, requirements so +strict, that not many made it. Of the one thousand boys +enrolled every year, it was expected that only twenty-one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>of them would become officers, and of this group, +only seven would be command pilots. The great Solar +Guard fleet that patrolled the space lanes across the +millions of miles between the satellites and planets possessed +the finest, yet most complicated, equipment in +the Alliance. To be an officer in the fleet required a +combination of skills and technical knowledge so demanding +that eighty per cent of the Solar Guard officers +retired at the age of forty.</p> + +<p>High over the spaceport, the three cadets of the <i>Polaris</i> +unit, happy over the prospect of a full month of +freedom, concentrated on the task of landing the great +ship on the Academy spaceport. Watching the teleceiver +screen that gave him a view of the spaceport +astern of the ship, Tom called into the intercom, "One +thousand feet to touchdown. Cut braking rockets. Main +drive full!"</p> + +<p>The thunderous blast of the rockets was his answer, +building up into roaring violence. Shuddering, the great +cruiser eased to the ground foot by foot, perfectly balanced +on the fiery exhaust from her main tubes.</p> + +<p>Seconds later the giant shock absorbers crunched on +the ramp and Tom closed the master switch cutting all +power. He glanced at the astral chronometer over his +head and then turned to speak into the audio log recorder. +"Rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i> completed space flight +one-seven-six at 1301."</p> + +<p>Captain Strong stepped up to Tom and clapped him +on the shoulder. "Secure the <i>Polaris</i>, Tom, and tell Astro +to get the reactant pile from the firing chamber +ready for dumping when the hot-soup wagon gets +here." The Solar Guard officer referred to the lead-lined +jet sled that removed the reactant piles from all ships +that were to be laid up for longer than three days. "And +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>you'd better get over to your dorm right away," Strong +continued. "You have to get ready for parade and full +Corps dismissal."</p> + +<p>Tom grinned. "Yes, sir!"</p> + +<p>"We're blasting off, sir," said Tony Richards, stepping +forward with his unit mates. "Congratulations again, +Corbett. I still can't figure out how you did it so +quickly!"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Tony," replied Tom graciously. "It was luck +and the pressure of good competition."</p> + +<p>Richards shook hands and then turned to Strong. "Do +I have your permission to leave the ship, sir?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Permission granted," replied Strong. "And have a +good leave."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>The three <i>Arcturus</i> cadets saluted and left the ship. +A moment later Roger and Astro joined Strong and Tom +on the control deck.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Strong, "what nonsense have you three +planned for your leave? Try and see Liddy Tamal. I +hear she's making a new stereo about the Solar Guard. +You might be hired as technical assistants." He smiled. +The famous actress was a favorite of the cadets. Strong +waited. "Well, is it a secret?"</p> + +<p>"It was your idea, Astro," said Roger. "Go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Tom. "You got us into this."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," mumbled Astro, turning red with embarrassment, +"we're going to Venus."</p> + +<p>"What's so unusual about going to Venus?" asked +Strong.</p> + +<p>"We're going hunting," replied Astro.</p> + +<p>"Hunting?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," gulped the big Venusian. "For tyrannosaurus."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> +<p>Strong's jaw dropped and he sat down suddenly on +the nearest acceleration cushion. "I expected something +a little strange from you three whiz kids." He laughed. +"It would be impossible for you to go home and relax +for a month. But this blasts me! Hunting for a tyrannosaurus! +What are you going to do with it after you catch +it?" He paused and then added, "If you do."</p> + +<p>"Eat it," said Astro simply. "Tyrannosaurus steak is +delicious!"</p> + +<p>Strong doubled with laughter at the seriousness of +Astro's expression. The giant Venusian continued doggedly, +"And besides, there's a bounty on them. A thousand +credits for every tyranno head brought in. They're +dangerous and destroy a lot of crops."</p> + +<p>Strong straightened up. "All right, all right! Go ahead! +Have yourselves a good time, but don't take any unnecessary +chances. I like my cadets to have all the arms +and legs and heads they're supposed to have." He +paused and glanced at his watch. "You'd better get hopping. +Astro, did you get the pile ready for the soup +wagon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, Tom, secure the ship." He came to attention. +"Unit, <i>stand—to</i>!"</p> + +<p>The three cadets stiffened and saluted sharply.</p> + +<p>"Unit dismissed!"</p> + +<p>Captain Strong turned and left the ship.</p> + +<p>Hurriedly, Tom, Roger, and Astro checked the great +spaceship and fifteen minutes later were racing out of +the main air lock. Hitching a ride on a jet sled to the +nearest slidewalk, they were soon being whisked along +toward their quarters. Already, cadet units were standing +around in fresh blues waiting for the call for final +dress parade.</p> + +<p>At exactly fifteen hundred, the entire Cadet Corps +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>stepped off with electronic precision for the final drill of +the term. By threes, each unit marching together, with +the <i>Polaris</i> unit walking behind the standard bearers as +honor unit, they passed the reviewing stand. Senior officers +of the Solar Guard, delegates from the Solar Alliance, +and staff officers of the Academy accepted their +salute. Commander Walters stood stiffly in front of the +stand, his heart filled with pride as he recognized the +honor unit. He had almost washed out the <i>Polaris</i> unit +in the beginning of their Academy training.</p> + +<p>Major Lou Connel, Senior Line Officer of the Solar +Guard, stepped forward when the cadets came to a stop +and presented Tom, Roger, and Astro with the emblem +of their achievement, a small gold pin in the shape of a +rocket ship. He, too, had had his difficulties with the +<i>Polaris</i> unit, and while he had never been heard to compliment +anyone on anything, expecting nothing but the +best all the time, he nevertheless congratulated them +heartily as he gave them their hard-won trophy.</p> + +<p>After several other awards had been presented, Commander +Walters addressed the Cadet Corps, concluding +with "... each of you has had a tough year. But when +you come back in four weeks, you'll think this past term +has been a picnic. And remember, wherever you go, +whatever you do, you're Space Cadets! Act like one! +But above all, have a good time! Spaceman's luck!"</p> + +<p>A cadet stepped forward quickly, turned to face the +line of cadets, and held up his hands. He brought them +down quickly and words of the Academy song thundered +from a thousand voices.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<i>From the rocket fields of the Academy</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>To the far-flung stars of outer space,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>We're Space Cadets training to be</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Ready for dangers we may face.</i><br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Up in the sky, rocketing past,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Higher than high, faster than fast,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Out into space, into the sun,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Look at her go when we give her the gun.</i><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>We are Space Cadets, and we are proud to say</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Our fight for right will never cease.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Like a cosmic ray, we light the way</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>To interplanet peace!</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"<i>Dis</i>-missed!" roared Walters. Immediately the precise +lines of cadets turned into a howling mob of eager +boys, everyone seemingly running in a different direction.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Roger. "I've got everything set! Let's +get to the station ahead of the mob."</p> + +<p>"But what about our gear?" said Tom. "We've got to +get back to the dorm."</p> + +<p>"I had it sent down to the station last night. I got the +monorail tickets to Atom City last week, and reserved +seats on the <i>Venus Lark</i> two weeks ago! Come on!"</p> + +<p>"Only Roger could handle it so sweetly," sighed Astro. +"You know, hotshot, sometimes I think you're useful!"</p> + +<p>The three cadets turned and raced across the quadrangle +for the nearest slidewalk that would take them to +the Academy monorail station and the beginning of +their adventure in the jungles of Venus.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-022.png" width="500" height="151" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_2" id="CHAPTER_2"></a>CHAPTER 2</h2> + + +<p>"The situation may be serious and it may not, but I +don't want to take any chances."</p> + +<p>Commander Walters sat in his office, high up in the +Tower of Galileo, with department heads from the +Academy and Solar Guard. Behind him, an entire wall +made of clear crystal offered a breath-taking view of the +Academy grounds. Before him, their faces showing +their concern over a report Walters had just read, Captain +Strong, Major Connel, Dr. Joan Dale, and Professor +Sykes waited for the commanding officer of the Academy +to continue.</p> + +<p>"As you know," said Walters, "the resolution passed +by the Council in establishing the Solar Guard specifically +states that it shall be the duty of the Solar Guard +to investigate and secure evidence for the Solar Alliance +Council of any acts by any person, or group of persons, +suspected of overt action against the Solar Constitution +or the Universal Bill of Rights. Now, based on +the report I've just read to you, I would like an opinion +from each of you."</p> + +<p>"For what purpose, Commander?" asked Joan Dale, +the young and pretty astrophysicist.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<p>"To decide whether it would be advisable to have a +full and open investigation of this information from the +Solar Guard attaché on Venus."</p> + +<p>"Why waste time talking?" snapped Professor Sykes, +the chief of the nucleonics laboratory. "Let's investigate. +That report sounds serious."</p> + +<p>Major Connel leveled a beady eye on the little gray-haired +man.</p> + +<p>"Professor Sykes, an investigation is serious. When it +is based on a report like this one, it is doubly serious, +and needs straight and careful thinking. We don't want +to hurt innocent people."</p> + +<p>Sykes shifted around in his chair and glared at the +burly Solar Guard officer. "Don't try to tell me anything +about straight thinking, Connel. I know more about the +Solar Constitution and the rights of our citizens than +you'll know in ten thousand light years!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah?" roared Connel. "And with all your brains +you'd probably find out these people are nothing more +than a harmless bunch of colonists out on a picnic!"</p> + +<p>The professor shot out of his chair and waved an angry +finger under Connel's nose. "And that would be a +lot more than I'm finding out right now with that contraption +of yours!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>Connel's face turned red. "So that's how you feel +about my invention!" he snapped.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the way I feel about your invention!" replied +Sykes hotly. "I know three cadets that could build +that gadget in half the time it's taken you just to figure +out the theory!"</p> + +<p>Commander Walters, Captain Strong, and Joan Dale +were fighting to keep from laughing at the hot exchange +between the two veteran spacemen.</p> + +<p>"They sound like the <i>Polaris</i> unit," Joan whispered to +Strong.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> +<p>Walters stood up. "Gentlemen! Please! We're here to +discuss a report on the activities of a secret organization +on Venus. I will have to ask you to keep to the subject +at hand. Dr. Dale, do you have any comments on the +report?" He turned to the young physicist who was +choking off a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well, Commander," she began, still smiling, "the report +is rather sketchy. I would like to see more information +before any real decision is made."</p> + +<p>Walters turned to Strong. "Steve?"</p> + +<p>"I think Joan has the right idea, sir," he replied. +"While the report indicates that a group of people on +Venus are meeting regularly and secretly, and wearing +some silly uniform, I think we need more information +before ordering a full-scale investigation."</p> + +<p>"He's right, Commander," Connel broke in. "You just +can't walk into an outfit and demand a look at their records, +books, and membership index, unless you're pretty +sure you'll find something."</p> + +<p>"Send a man from here," Strong suggested. "If you +use anyone out of the Venus office, he might be recognized."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," commented Sykes.</p> + +<p>Joan nodded. "Sounds reasonable."</p> + +<p>"How do you feel about it, Connel?" asked Walters.</p> + +<p>Connel, still furious over Sykes's comment on his +spectrum recorder, shot an angry glance at the professor. +"I think it's fine," he said bluntly. "Who're you going +to send?"</p> + +<p>Walters paused before answering. He glanced at +Strong and then back at Connel. "What about yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Me?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" continued Walters. "You know as much +about Venus as anyone, and you have a lot of friends +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>there you can trust. Nose around a while, see what you +can learn, unofficially."</p> + +<p>"But what about my work on the spectrum recorder?" +asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"That!" snorted Sykes derisively. "Huh, that can be +completed any time you want to listen to some plain +facts about—"</p> + +<p>"I'll never listen to anything you have to say, you +dried-up old neutron chaser!" blasted Connel.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," cackled Sykes. "And it's the same +bullheaded stubbornness that'll keep you from finishing +that recorder."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, gentlemen," said Walters firmly. "I cannot +allow personal discussions to interfere with the problem +at hand. How about it, Connel? Will you go to Venus?"</p> + +<p>Lou Connel was the oldest line officer in the Solar +Guard, having recommended the slightly younger Walters +for the post of commandant of Space Academy and +the Solar Guard so that he himself could escape a desk +job and continue blasting through space where he had +devoted his entire life. While Walters had the authority +to order him to accept the assignment, Connel knew +that if he begged off because of his work on the recorder, +Walters would understand and offer the assignment +to Strong. He paused and then growled, "When +do I blast off?"</p> + +<p>Walters smiled and answered, "As soon as we contact +Venus headquarters and tell them to expect you."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be better to let me go without any fanfare?" +mused the burly spaceman. "I could just take a +ship and act as though I'm on some kind of special detail. +As a matter of fact, Higgleston at the Venusport +lab has some information I could use."</p> + +<p>"Anything Higgleston could tell you," interjected +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>Sykes, "I can tell you! You're just too stubborn to listen +to me."</p> + +<p>Connel opened his mouth to blast the professor in return, +but he caught a sharp look from Walters and he +clamped his lips together tightly.</p> + +<p>"I guess that's it, then," said Walters. "Anyone have +any other ideas?" He glanced around the room. "Joan? +Steve?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Dale and Captain Strong shook their heads silently. +Strong was disappointed that he had not been +given the assignment on Venus. Four weeks at the deserted +Academy would seem like living in a graveyard. +Walters sensed his feelings, and smiling, he said, "You've +been going like a hot rocket this past year, Steve. I have +a specific assignment for you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!" Strong looked up eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I want you to go to the Sweet Water Lakes around +New Chicago—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?"</p> + +<p>"—go to my cabin—"</p> + +<p>"Sir?"</p> + +<p>"—<i>and go fishing</i>!"</p> + +<p>Strong grinned. "Thanks, skipper," he said quietly. "I +guess I could use a little relaxation. I was almost +tempted to join Corbett, Manning, and Astro. They're +going hunting in the jungle belt of Venus for a tyrannosaurus!"</p> + +<p>"Blast my jets!" roared Connel. "Those boys haven't +killed themselves in line of duty, so they go out and tangle +with the biggest and most dangerous monster in the +entire solar system!"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Joan with a smile, "I'll put my money on +Astro against a tyranno any time, pound for pound!"</p> + +<p>"Hear, hear!" chimed in Sykes, and forgetting his argument +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>with Connel, he turned to the spaceman. "Say, +Lou," he said, "when you get to Venus tell Higgy I said +to show you that magnetic ionoscope he's rigging up. It +might give you some ideas."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," replied Connel, also forgetting the hot exchange +of a few minutes before. He stood up. "I'll take +the <i>Polaris</i>, Commander. She's the fastest ship available +with automatic controls for a solo hop."</p> + +<p>"She's been stripped of her reactant pile, Major," said +Strong. "It'll take a good eighteen hours to soup her up +again."</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of it," said Connel. "Are there any specific +orders, Commander?"</p> + +<p>"Use your own judgment, Lou," said Walters. "You +know what we want and how far to go to get it. If you +learn anything, we'll start a full-scale investigation. If +not, we'll forget the whole matter and no one will get +hurt."</p> + +<p>"And the Solar Guard won't get a reputation of being +nosy," added Strong.</p> + +<p>Connel nodded. "I'll take care of it." He shook hands +all around, coming to Sykes last. "Sorry I lost my temper, +Professor," he said gruffly.</p> + +<p>"Forget it, Major." Sykes smiled. He really admired +the gruff spaceman.</p> + +<p>The thick-set senior officer came to smart attention, +saluted crisply, turned, and left the office. For the time +being, the mysterious trouble on Venus was his responsibility.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Atom City express leaving on Track Four!"</p> + +<p>A metallic voice boomed over the station loud-speaker, +as last-minute passengers boarded the long +line of gleaming white monorail cars, hanging from a +single overhead steel rail. In the open doorway of one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>of the end cars, a conductor lifted his arm, then paused +and waited patiently as three Space Cadets raced down +the stairs and along the platform in a headlong dash for +the train. They piled inside, almost one on top of the +other.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for waiting, sir," gasped Tom Corbett.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, Cadet," said the conductor. "I couldn't let +you waste your leave waiting for another train."</p> + +<p>The elderly man flipped a switch in the narrow vestibule +and the door closed with a soft hiss of air. He inserted +a light key into a <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: 'nearby' hyphenated to conform with majority practice in text.">near-by</ins> socket and twisted it +gently, completing a circuit that flashed the "go" light +in the engineer's cab. Almost immediately, the monorail +train eased forward, suspended on the overhead rail. By +the time the last building of Space Academy flashed +past, the train was rolling along at full speed on its dash +across the plains to Atom City.</p> + +<p>The ride to the great metropolis of the North American +continent was filled with excitement and anticipation +for the three members of the <i>Polaris</i> crew. The cars +were crowded with cadets on leave, and while there +was a lot of joking and horseplay, the few civilian passengers +were impressed with the gentlemanly bearing +of the young spacemen. Tom and Roger finally settled +down to read the latest magazines supplied by the +monorail company. But Astro headed for the dining car +where he attracted a great deal of attention by his order +of a dozen eggs, followed by two orders of waffles and a +full quart of milk. Finally, when the dining-car steward +called a halt, because it was closing time, Astro made +his way back to Tom and Roger with a plastic bag of +French fried potatoes, and the three boys sat, munching +them happily. The countryside flashed by in a blur of +summer color as the train roared on at a speed of two +hundred miles an hour.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<p>A few hours and four bags of potatoes later, Astro +yawned and stretched his enormous arms, nearly poking +Roger in the eye.</p> + +<p>"Hey, ya big ape!" growled Roger. "Watch the eye!"</p> + +<p>"You'd never miss it, Manning," said Astro. "Just use +your radar."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, I like this eye just the way it is."</p> + +<p>"We're almost there," called Tom. He pointed out the +crystal window and they could see the high peaks of the +Rocky Mountain range looming ahead. "We cut through +the new tunnel in those mountains and we'll be in Atom +City in ten minutes!"</p> + +<p>There was a bustle of activity around them as other +cadets roused themselves and collected their gear. Once +again conversation became animated and excited as the +train neared its destination. Flashing into the tunnel, +the line of cars began to slow down, rocking gently.</p> + +<p>"We'd better go right out to the spaceport," said +Tom, pulling his gear out of the recessed rack under his +seat. "Our ship blasts off for Venus in less than a half-hour."</p> + +<p>"Boy, it'll be a pleasure to ride a spaceship without +having to astrogate," said Roger. "I'll just sit back and +take it easy. Hope there are some good-looking space +dolls aboard."</p> + +<p>Tom turned to Astro. "You know, Astro," he said seriously, +"it's a good thing we're along to take care of this +Romeo. If he were alone, he'd wind up in another kind +of hunt."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see how Manning's tactics work on a female +dasypus novemcinctur maximus," said Astro with +a sly grin.</p> + +<p>"A female what?" yelled Roger.</p> + +<p>"A giant armadillo, Roger," Tom explained, laughing. +"Very big and very mean when they don't like you. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>Don't forget, everything on Venus grows big because of +the lighter gravity."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," drawled Roger, looking at Astro. "Big and +dumb!"</p> + +<p>"What was that again?" bellowed the giant Venusian, +reaching for the flip cadet. The next moment, Roger +was struggling futilely, feet kicking wildly as Astro held +him at arm's length six inches off the floor. The cadets +in the car roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>"Atom City!" a voice over the intercar communicator +boomed and the boys looked out the window to see the +towering buildings of Atom City slowly slide by. The +train had scarcely reached a full stop when the three +cadets piled out of the door, raced up the slidestairs, +and jumped into a jet cab. Fifteen minutes later they +marched up to one of the many ticket counters of the +Atom City Interplanetary Spaceport.</p> + +<p>"Reservations for Cadets Corbett, Manning, and Astro +on the <i>Venus Lark</i>, please," announced Tom.</p> + +<p>The girl behind the counter ran her finger down a +passenger manifest, nodded, and then suddenly +frowned. She turned back to Tom and said, "I'm sorry, +Cadet, but your reservations have been pre-empted by +a priority listing."</p> + +<p>"Priority!" roared Roger. "But I made those reservations +two weeks ago. If there was a change, why didn't +you tell us before?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," said the girl patiently, "but according +to the manifest, the priority call just came in a few +hours ago. Someone contacted Space Academy, but you +had already left."</p> + +<p>"Well, is there another ship for Venusport today?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied and picked up another manifest. +Glancing at it quickly, she shook her head. "There are +no open reservations," she said. "I'm afraid the next +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>flight for Venusport with open reservations isn't for four +days."</p> + +<p>"Blast my jets!" growled Roger disgustedly. "Four +days!" He sat down on his gear and scowled. Astro +leaned against the desk and stared gloomily at the floor. +At that moment a young man with a thin face and a +strained intense look pushed Tom to one side with a +curt "Excuse me!" and stepped up to the desk.</p> + +<p>"You're holding three reservations on the <i>Venus +Lark</i>," he spoke quickly. "Priority number four-seven-six, +S.D."</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, and Astro looked at him closely. They +saw him nervously pay for his tickets and then walk +away quickly without another look at the ticket girl.</p> + +<p>"Were those our seats, miss?" asked Tom. The girl +nodded.</p> + +<p>The three cadets stared after the young man who had +bumped them off their ship.</p> + +<p>"The symbol S.D. on the priority stands for Solar +Delegate," said Roger. "Maybe he's a messenger."</p> + +<p>The young man was joined by two other men also +dressed in Venusian clothing, and after a few words, +they all turned and stepped onto the slidewalk rolling +out to the giant passenger ship preparing to blast off.</p> + +<p>"This is the most rocket-blasting bit of luck in the +universe!" growled Roger. "Four days!"</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, Roger," said Tom. "We can spend the four +days in Atom City. Maybe Liddy Tamal is here. We +can follow Captain Strong's suggestion."</p> + +<p>"Even she doesn't make four days delay sound exciting," +interrupted Roger. "Come on. We might as well +go back to town or we won't even get a room."</p> + +<p>He picked up his gear and walked back to the jet cab-stand. +Astro and Tom followed the blond-haired cadet +glumly.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<p>The stand was empty, but a jet cab was just pulling +up to the platform with a passenger. As the boys walked +over to wait at the door, it opened and a familiar figure +in a black-and-gold uniform stepped out.</p> + +<p>"Captain Strong!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-033.png" width="500" height="423" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Corbett!" exclaimed Strong. "What are you doing +here? I thought you were aboard the <i>Venus Lark</i>."</p> + +<p>"We were bumped out of our reservation by an S.D. +priority," said Astro.</p> + +<p>"And we can't get out of here for another four days," +added Roger glumly.</p> + +<p>Strong sympathized. "That's rough, Astro." He looked +at the three dour faces and then said, "Would you consider +getting a free ride to Venus?"</p> + +<p>The three cadets looked up hopefully.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<p>"Major Connel's taking the <i>Polaris</i> to Venus to complete +some work with Professor Higgleston in the Venus +lab," explained Strong. "If you can get back to the +Academy before he blasts off, he might give you a ride."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks!" said Roger. "I'd rather sit here."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Roger," said Tom. "We're on leave, +remember? And it's only a short hop to Venus."</p> + +<p>"Yeah, hotshot," added Astro. "We'll get to Venus +faster than the <i>Venus Lark</i>, and save money besides."</p> + +<p>"O.K.," said Roger. "I guess I can take him for a little +while."</p> + +<p>Strong suppressed a smile. Roger's reluctance to go +with Connel was well founded. Any cadet within hailing +distance of the hard-bitten spaceman was likely to +wind up with a bookful of demerits.</p> + +<p>"Are you on an assignment, sir?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Vacation," said Strong. "Four weeks of fishing at +Commander Walters' cabin at Sweet Water Lakes."</p> + +<p>"If you pass through New Chicago," said Tom, "you +would be welcome to stop in at my house. Mom and +Dad would be mighty happy to meet you. And I think +Billy, my kid brother, would flip a rocket."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Tom. I might do that if I have time." He +looked at his watch. "You three had better hurry. I'd +advise taking a jetcopter back to the Academy. You +might not make it if you wait for a monorail."</p> + +<p>"We'll do that, sir," said Tom.</p> + +<p>The three boys threw their gear into the waiting cab +and piled in. Strong watched them roar away, frowning +in thought. An S.D. priority, the highest priority in +space, was used only by special couriers on important +missions for one of the delegates. He shrugged it off. +"Getting to be as suspicious as an old space hen," he +said to himself. "Fishing is what I need. A good fight +with a trout instead of a space conspiracy!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_3" id="CHAPTER_3"></a>CHAPTER 3</h2> + + +<p>"Blast off—minus—five—four—three—two—one—<i>zero</i>!"</p> + +<p>As the main drive rockets blasted into life, Tom fell +back in his seat before the control panel of the <i>Polaris</i> +and felt the growing thrust as the giant ship lifted off +the ground, accelerating rapidly. He kept his eyes on +the teleceiver screen and saw Space Academy fall away +behind them. On the power deck Astro lay strapped in +his acceleration cushion, his outstretched hand on the +emergency booster rocket switch should the main rockets +fail before the ship could reach the free fall of space. +On the radar bridge Roger watched the far-flung stars +become brighter as the rocket ship hurtled through the +dulling layers of the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>As soon as the ship reached weightless space, Tom +flipped on the gravity generators and put the <i>Polaris</i> on +her course to Venus. Almost immediately the intercom +began to blast.</p> + +<p>"Now hear this!" Major Connel's voice roared. "Corbett, +Manning, and Astro! I don't want any of your +space-blasted nonsense on this trip! Get this ship to Venusport +in the shortest possible time without burning +out the pump bearings. And, Manning—!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied the blond-haired cadet.</p> + +<p>"If I so much as hear one wisecrack between you and +that overgrown rocket jockey, Astro, I'll log both of you +twenty-five demerits!"</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir," acknowledged Roger lazily. "I +rather appreciate your relieving me of the necessity of +speaking to that space ape!"</p> + +<p>Listening to their voices on the control deck, Tom +grinned and waited expectantly. He wasn't disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Ape!" came a bull-like roar from the power deck. +"Why, you skinny moth-eaten piece of space junk—"</p> + +<p>"Cadet Astro!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?" Astro was suddenly meek.</p> + +<p>"If you say one more word, I'll bury you in demerits!"</p> + +<p>"But, sir—"</p> + +<p>"No <i>buts</i>!" roared Connel. "And you, Manning—!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?" chimed in Roger innocently.</p> + +<p>"Keep your mouth shut!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"Corbett?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I'm putting you in charge of monitoring the intercom. +If those two space idiots start jabbering again, call +me. That's an order! I'll be in my quarters working." +Connel switched off abruptly.</p> + +<p>"You hear that, fellows?" said Tom. "Knock it off."</p> + +<p>"O.K., Tom," replied Roger, "just keep him out of my +sight."</p> + +<p>"That goes for me, too," added Astro. "Ape! Just wait +till I—"</p> + +<p>"Astro!" Tom interrupted sharply.</p> + +<p>"O.K., O.K.," groaned the big cadet.</p> + +<p>Glancing over the panel once more and satisfying +himself that the ship was functioning smoothly, Tom +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>sighed and settled back in his seat, enjoying the temporary +peace and solitude. It had been a tough year, filled +with intensive study in the quest for an officer's commission +in the Solar Guard. Space Academy was the finest +school in the world, but it was also the toughest. The +young cadet shook his head, remembering a six-weeks' +grind he, Roger, and Astro had gone through on a nuclear +project. Knowing how to operate an atomic rocket +motor was one thing, but understanding what went on +inside the reactant pile was something else entirely. +Never had the three cadets worked harder, or more +closely together. But Astro's thorough, practical knowledge +of basic nucleonics, combined with Roger's native +wizardry at higher mathematics, and his own understanding +of the theory, had enabled them to pull +through with a grade of seventy-two, the highest average +ever made by a cadet unit not specializing in physics.</p> + +<p>As the ship rocketed smoothly through the airless void +of space toward the misty planet of Venus, Tom made +another quick but thorough check of the panel, and +then returned to his reflections on the past term. It had +been particularly difficult since they had missed many +valuable hours of classroom work and study because of +their adventure on the new colony of Roald (as described +in <i>The Space Pioneers</i>), but they had come +through somehow. He shook his head wondering how +they had made it. Forty-two units had washed out during +the term. Instead of getting easier, the courses of +study were getting more difficult all the time, and in his +speech on the parade grounds, Commander Walters +had promised—</p> + +<p>"Emergency!"</p> + +<p>Roger's voice over the intercom brought Tom out of +his reverie sharply.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> +<p>"All hands," continued the cadet on the radar bridge +hurriedly, "secure your stations and get to the jet-boat +deck on the double! Emergency!"</p> + +<p>As the sharp clang of the emergency alarm rang out, +Tom did not stop to question Roger's sudden order. +Neutralizing all controls, he leaped for the hatch leading +below. Taking the ladder four steps at a time, Tom +saw Major Connel tear out of his quarters. The elder +spaceman dived for the ladder himself, not stopping to +ask questions. He was automatic in his reliance on the +judgment of others. The few seconds spent in talk could +mean the difference between life and death in space +where you seldom got a second chance.</p> + +<p>Tom and Connel arrived on the jet-boat deck to find +Astro already preparing the small space craft for launching. +As they struggled into space suits, Roger appeared. +In answer to their questioning looks, he explained laconically, +"Unidentifiable object attached to ship on +fin parallel to steering vanes. Thought we'd better go +outside first and examine later."</p> + +<p>Connel nodded his mute agreement, and thirty seconds +later the tiny jet boat was blasting out of the escape +lock into space.</p> + +<p>Circling around the ship to the stern, the jet boat, +under Major Connel's sure touch, stopped fifty feet +from the still glowing, exhaust tubes. He and the three +cadets stared out at a small metallic boxlike object attached +to the underside of the stabilizer fin.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose it is?" asked Astro.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied Roger, "but it sure doesn't belong +there. That's why I rang the emergency on you."</p> + +<p>"You were absolutely right, Manning," asserted Connel. +"If it's harmless, we can always get back aboard +and nothing's been lost except a little time." He rose +from the pilot's seat and stepped toward the hatch. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +"Come with me, Corbett. We'll have a look. And bring +the radiation counter along."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!"</p> + +<p>Tom reached into a near-by locker, and pulling out a +small, rectangular box with a round hornlike grid in its +face, plunged out of the hatch with Major Connel and +blasted across the fifty-foot gap to the stabilizer fin of +the <i>Polaris</i>.</p> + +<p>Connel gestured toward the object on the fin. "See if +she's hot, Corbett."</p> + +<p>The young cadet pressed a small button on the +counter and turned the horn toward the mysterious box. +Immediately the needle on the dial above the horn +jumped from white to pink and finally red, quivering +against the stop pin.</p> + +<p>"Hot!" exclaimed Tom. "She almost kicked the pin +off!"</p> + +<p>"Get off the ship!" roared Connel. "It's a fission bomb +with a time fuse!"</p> + +<p>Tom dove at the box and tried to pull it off the stabilizer, +but Major Connel grabbed him by the arm and +wrenched him out into space.</p> + +<p>"You space-blasted idiot!" Connel growled. "That +thing's liable to go off any second! Get away from here!"</p> + +<p>With a mighty shove, the spaceman sent Tom flying +out toward the jet boat and then jumped to safety himself. +Within seconds he and the young cadet were +aboard the jet boat again and, not stopping to answer +Astro's or Roger's questions, he jammed his foot down +hard on the acceleration lever, sending the tiny ship +blasting away from the <i>Polaris</i>.</p> + +<p>Not until they were two miles away from the stricken +rocket ship did Connel bring the craft to a stop. He +turned and gazed helplessly at the gleaming hull of the +<i>Polaris</i>.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> +<p>"So they know," he said bitterly. "They're trying to +stop me from even reaching Venus."</p> + +<p>The three cadets looked at each other and then at the +burly spaceman, bewilderment in their eyes.</p> + +<p>"What's this all about, sir?" Roger finally asked.</p> + +<p>"I'm not at liberty to tell you, Manning," replied +Connel. "Though I want to thank you for your quick +thinking. How did you happen to discover the bomb?"</p> + +<p>"I was sighting on Regulus for a position check and +Regulus was dead astern, so when I swung the periscope +scanner around, I spotted that thing stuck to the +fin. I didn't bother to think about it, I just yelled."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-040.png" width="500" height="438" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Glad you did," nodded Connel and turned to stare +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>at the <i>Polaris</i> again. "Now I'm afraid we'll just have to +wait until that bomb goes off."</p> + +<p>"Isn't there anything we can do?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not a blasted thing," replied Connel grimly. "Thank +the universe we shut off all power. If that baby had +blown while the reactant was feeding into the firing +chambers, we'd have wound up a big splash of nothing."</p> + +<p>"This way," commented Astro sourly, "it'll just blast a +hole in the side of the ship."</p> + +<p>"We might be able to repair that," said Tom hopefully.</p> + +<p>"There she goes!" shouted Roger.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-041.png" width="500" height="431" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Staring out the windshield, they saw a sudden blinding +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>flash of light appear over the stern section of the +<i>Polaris</i>, a white-hot blaze of incandescence that made +them flinch and crouch back.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" exclaimed Connel.</p> + +<p>Before their eyes they saw the stabilizer fin melt and +curl under the intense heat of the bomb. There was no +sound or shock wave in the vacuum of space, but they +all shuddered as though an overwhelming force had +swept over them. Within seconds the flash was gone +and the <i>Polaris</i> was drifting in the cold blackness +of space! The only outward damage visible was the +twisted stabilizer, but the boys realized that she must +be a shambles within.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have to wait a while before we go back +aboard. There might be radioactivity around the hull," +Roger remarked.</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Tom. "The <i>Polaris</i> was still +coasting when we left her. We cut out the drive rockets, +but we didn't brake her. She's probably drifted away +from the radioactivity already."</p> + +<p>"Corbett's right," said Connel. "A hot cloud would be +a hundred miles away by now." He pressed down on +the acceleration lever and the jet boat eased toward +the ship. Edging cautiously toward the stern of the +spaceship, they saw the blasted section of the fin already +cooling in the intense cold of outer space.</p> + +<p>"Think I'd better call a Solar Guard patrol ship, sir?" +asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"Let's wait until we check the damage, Manning," +replied Connel.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," chimed in Astro grimly, "if I can help it, I'm +going to bring the <i>Polaris</i> in." He paused and then +added, "If I have to carry her on my back."</p> + +<p>As soon as a quick check with the radiation counter +showed them that the hull was free of radioactivity, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>Major Connel and the three cadets re-entered the ship.</p> + +<p>While the lack of atmosphere outside had dissipated +the full force of the blast, the effect on the inside of the +ship, where Earth's air pressure was maintained, was +devastating. Whole banks of delicate machinery were +torn from the walls and scattered over the decks. The +precision instruments of the inner hull showed no signs +of leakage, and the oxygen-circulating machinery could +still function on an auxiliary power hookup.</p> + +<p>Completing the quick survey of the ship, Major Connel +realized that they would never be able to continue +their flight to Venus and instructed Roger to contact +the nearest Solar Guard patrol ship to pick them up.</p> + +<p>"The <i>Polaris</i> will have to be left in space," continued +Connel, "and a maintenance crew will be sent out to see +if she can be repaired. If they decide it isn't worth the +labor, they'll junk her here in space."</p> + +<p>The faces of the three cadets fell.</p> + +<p>"But there's no real damage on her power deck, sir," +said Astro. "And the hull is in good shape, except for the +stabilizer fin and some of the stern plates. Why, sometimes +a green Earthworm unit will crack a fin on their +first touchdown."</p> + +<p>"And the radar deck can be patched up easy, sir," +spoke up Roger. "With some new tubes and a few rolls +of wire I could have her back in shape in no time."</p> + +<p>"That goes for the control deck, too!" said Tom doggedly. +Then, after a quick glance at his unit mates, he +faced Connel squarely. "I think it goes without saying, +sir, that we'd appreciate it very much if you could recommend +that she be restored instead of junked."</p> + +<p>Connel allowed himself a smile in the face of such +obvious love for the ship. "You forget that to repair her +out in space, the parts have to be hauled from Venus. +But I'll see what I can do. Meantime, Roger, see if you +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>can't get that patrol ship to give us a lift to Venusport. +Tell the C.O. I'm aboard and on urgent official business."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"And," continued the spaceman, noticing the downcast +looks of Tom and Astro, "it wouldn't hurt if you +two started repairing as much as you can. So when the +maintenance crew arrives, they won't find her in such +a mess."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir!" chorused the two cadets happily.</p> + +<p>Connel returned to his quarters and sat down heavily +in the remains of his bunk, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. +Somehow, word had gotten out that he was going +to check on the secret organization on Venus and someone +had made a bold and desperate attempt to stop him +before he could get started. It infuriated him to think +that anyone would interrupt official business. As far as +Connel was concerned, nothing came before official +business. And he was doubly furious at the danger to +the three cadets, who had innocently hitched a ride on +what was almost a death ship. Someone was going to +pay, Connel vowed, clenching his huge fists—and pay +dearly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-044.png" width="500" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_4" id="CHAPTER_4"></a>CHAPTER 4</h2> + + +<p>"<i>Yeeooowww!</i>"</p> + +<p>Roaring with jubilation and jumping high in the air +at every other step, Astro raced out of the gigantic maintenance +hangar at the Venusport spaceport and charged +at his two unit mates waiting on the concrete apron.</p> + +<p>"Everything's O.K.," he yelled, throwing his arms +around them. "The <i>Polaris</i> is going to be brought in for +full repairs! I just saw the audiograph report from the +maintenance chief!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger broke into loud cheers and pounded +each other on the back.</p> + +<p>"Great Jupiter," gasped Roger, "I feel as though I've +been sitting up with a sick friend!"</p> + +<p>"Your friend's going to make a full recovery," asserted +Astro.</p> + +<p>"Did you see Major Connel?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Astro. "I think he had a lot to do with it. +I saw him talking to the head maintenance officer."</p> + +<p>"Well, now that we've sweated the old girl through +the crisis," asserted Roger, "how's about us concentrating +on our vacation?"</p> + +<p>"Great," agreed Tom. "This is your party, Astro. Lead +the way."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> +<p>The three cadets left the spaceport in a jet cab and +rode happily into the city of Venusport. As they slid +along the superhighway toward the first and largest of +the Venusian cities, Astro pointed out the sights. Like +slim fingers of glass, the towering Titan crystal buildings +of the city arose before them, reaching above the +misty atmosphere to catch the sunlight.</p> + +<p>"Where do we get our safari gear, Astro?" asked +Roger.</p> + +<p>"In the secondhand shops along Spaceman's Row," +replied the big Venusian. "We can get good equipment +down there at half the price."</p> + +<p>The cab turned abruptly off the main highway and +began twisting through a section of the city shunned +by the average Venusian citizen. Spaceman's Row had +a long and unsavory history. For ten square blocks it +was the hide-out and refuge of the underworld of space. +The grimy stores and shadowy buildings supplied the +needs of the countless shadowy figures who lived beyond +the law and moved as silently as ghosts.</p> + +<p>Leaving the jet cab, the three cadets walked along +the streets, past the cheaply decorated store fronts and +dingy hallways, until they finally came to a corner shop +showing the universal symbol of the pawnshop: three +golden balls. Tom and Roger looked at Astro who nodded, +and they stepped inside.</p> + +<p>The interior of the shop was filthy. Rusted and worn +space gear was piled in heaps along the walls and on +dusty counters. An old-fashioned multiple neon light +fixture cast an eerie blue glow over everything. Roger +grimaced as he looked around. "Are you sure we're in +the right place, Astro?"</p> + +<p>Tom winked. Roger had a reputation for being fastidious.</p> + +<p>"This is it," nodded Astro. "I know the old geezer that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>runs this place. Nice guy. Name's Spike." He turned to +the back of the shop and bawled, "Hey, Spike! Customers!"</p> + +<p>Out of the gloomy darkness a figure emerged slowly. +"Yeah?" The man stepped out into the pale light. He +dragged one foot as he walked. "Whaddaya want?"</p> + +<p>Astro looked puzzled. "Where's Spike?" he asked. +"Doesn't Spike Freyer own this place?"</p> + +<p>"He died a couple months ago. I bought him out just +before." The crippled man eyed the three cadets warily. +"Wanna buy something?"</p> + +<p>Astro looked shocked. "Spike, dead? What happened?"</p> + +<p>"How should I know," snarled the little man. "I +bought him out and he died a few weeks later. Now, +you wanna buy something or not?"</p> + +<p>"We're looking for jungle gear," said Tom, puzzled by +the man's strange belligerence.</p> + +<p>"Jungle gear?" the man's eyes widened. "Going hunting?"</p> + +<p>"Yeah," supplied Roger. "We need complete outfits +for three. But you don't look like you have them. Let's +go, fellas." He turned toward the door, anxious to get +out into the open air.</p> + +<p>"Just a minute! Just a minute, Cadet," said the proprietor +eagerly. "I've got some fine hunting gear here! +A little used, but you won't mind that! Save you at least +half on anything you'd buy up in the city." He started +toward the back of the store and then paused. "Where +you going hunting?"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"So I'll know what kind of gear you need. Light—heavy—kind +of guns—"</p> + +<p>"Jungle belt in the Eastern Hemisphere," supplied +Astro.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> +<p>"Big game?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>"Yeah. Tyrannosaurus."</p> + +<p>"Tyranno, eh?" nodded the little man. "Well, now, +you'll need heavy stuff for that. I'd say at least three +heavy-duty paralo-ray pistols for side arms, and three +shock rifles. Then you'll need camping equipment, synthetics, +and all the rest." He counted the items off on +grubby little fingers.</p> + +<p>"Let's take a look at the blasters," said Tom.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-048.png" width="500" height="428" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Right this way," said the man. He turned and limped +to the rear of the shop, followed by the three cadets. +Opening a large cabinet, he pulled out a heavy rifle, a +shock gun that could knock out any living thing at a +range of a thousand yards, and stun the largest animal +at twice the distance.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> +<p>"This blaster will knock the scales off any tyranno +that you hit," he said, handing the weapon over to Tom +who expertly broke it down and examined it.</p> + +<p>As Tom checked the gun, the proprietor turned to the +other cadets casually.</p> + +<p>"Why would three cadets want to go into that section +of the jungle belt?"</p> + +<p>"We just told you," said Roger. "We're hunting tyranno."</p> + +<p>"Uh, yes, of course." He turned away and pulled three +heavy-duty paralo-ray pistols out of the cabinet. "Now +these ray guns are the finest money can buy. Standard +Solar Guard equipment...."</p> + +<p>"Where did you get them?" demanded Roger sharply.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know how it is, Cadet." The man laughed. +"One way or another, we get a lot of gear. A man is +discharged from the Solar Guard and he can keep his +equipment, then he gets hard up for a few credits and +so he comes to me."</p> + +<p>Tom closed the shock rifle and turned to Astro. "This +gun is clean enough. Think it can stop a tyranno, +Astro?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said the big cadet confidently. "Easy."</p> + +<p>"O.K.," announced Tom, turning back to the proprietor. +"Give us the rest of the stuff."</p> + +<p>"And watch your addition when you make out the +bill," said Roger blandly. "We can add, too."</p> + +<p>A half-hour later the three cadets stood in front of the +shop with all the gear they would need and hailed a +jet cab. They stowed their newly purchased equipment +inside and started to climb in as Astro announced, +"Spaceport, driver!"</p> + +<p>"Huh?" Roger paused. "Why back there?"</p> + +<p>"How do you think we're going to get to the jungle +belt?" asked Astro. "Walk?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<p>"Well, no, but—"</p> + +<p>"We have to rent a jet launch," said Astro. "Or try to +buy a used one that we can sell back again. Pile in, +now!"</p> + +<p>As the cab shot away from the curb with the three +cadets, the proprietor of the pawnshop stepped out of +the doorway and watched it disappear, a puzzled frown +on his face. Quickly he re-entered the shop, and limping +to a small locker in the rear, opened it, exposing the +screen of a teleceiver. He flipped on the switch, tuned it +carefully, and in a moment the screen glowed to life.</p> + +<p>"Hello, this is the shop," called the little man. +"Lemme speak to Lactu! This is urgent!" As he waited +he stared out through the dirty window to the street +where the cadets had been a moment before and he +smiled thinly.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Arriving at the spaceport, Astro led his unit mates to +a privately owned repair hangar and dry dock where +wealthier Venusian citizens kept their space yachts, jet-powered +craft, and small runabouts. Astro opened the +door to the office with a bang, and a young girl, operating +an automatic typewriter, looked up.</p> + +<p>"Astro!" she cried. "How wonderful to see you!"</p> + +<p>"Hiya, Agnes," replied Astro shyly. The big cadet was +well known and liked at the repair hangar. His early +life had been spent in and around the spaceport. First +just listening to the stories of the older spacemen and +running errands for them, then lending a helping hand +wherever he could, and finally becoming a rigger and +mechanic. This all preceded his years as an enlisted +spaceman and his eventual appointment to Space Academy. +His big heart and honesty, his wild enthusiasm +for any kind of rocket power had won him many +friends.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> +<p>"Is Mr. Keene around?" asked Astro.</p> + +<p>"He's with a customer right now," replied Agnes. +"He'll be out in a minute." Her eyes swept past Astro +to Tom and Roger who were standing in the doorway. +"Who are your friends?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me!" mumbled Astro. "These are my unit +mates, Cadet Corbett and Cadet Manning."</p> + +<p>Before Tom could acknowledge the introduction, +Roger stepped in front of him and sat on the edge of the +desk. Looking into her eyes, he announced, "Tell you +what, Astro, you and Tom go hunting. I've found all I +could ever want to find right here. Tell me, my little +space pet, are you engaged for dinner tonight?"</p> + +<p>Agnes looked back into his eyes innocently. "As a +matter of fact I am." Then, grinning mischievously, she +added, "But don't let that stop you."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't let a tyranno stop me," bragged the blond-haired +cadet. "Tell me who your previous engagement +is with and I'll get rid of him in nothing flat!"</p> + +<p>The girl giggled and looked past Roger. He turned to +see a tall, solidly built man in coveralls scowling at him.</p> + +<p>"Friend of yours, Agnes?" the newcomer asked.</p> + +<p>"Friend of Astro's, Roy," said Agnes. "Cadet Manning, +I'd like you to meet my brother, Roy Keene."</p> + +<p>Roger jumped up and stuck out his hand. "Oh—er—ah—how +do you do, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well, Cadet," replied Keene gruffly, but with a +slight twinkle in his eye. He turned to Astro and gripped +the big cadet's hand solidly. "Well, Astro, it's good to +see you. How's everything going at Space Academy?"</p> + +<p>"Swell, sir," replied Astro, and after introducing Tom +and bringing Keene up to date on his life history, he +explained the purpose of their visit. "We're on summer +leave, sir, and we'd like to go hunting tyrannosaurus. +But what we need most right now is a jet boat. We'd +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>like to rent one, or if you've got something cheap, we'd +buy it."</p> + +<p>Keene rubbed his chin. "I'm afraid I can't help you, +Astro. There's nothing available in the shop right now. +I'd lend you my Beetle, but one of the boys has it out +on a three-day repair job."</p> + +<p>Astro's face fell. "Oh, that's too bad." He turned to +Tom and Roger. "Well, we could drop in from a stratosphere +cruiser and then work our way back to the nearest +colony in three or four weeks."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Keene. "I've got an idea." +He turned and called to a man standing on the other +side of the hangar, studying a radar scanner for private +yachts. "Hey, Rex, mind coming over here a minute."</p> + +<p>The man walked over. He was in his late thirties, tall +and broad-shouldered, his hair was almost snow-white, +contrasting sharply with his deeply tanned and handsome +features.</p> + +<p>"This is the <i>Polaris</i> unit from Space Academy, Rex," +said Keene. "Boys, meet Rex Sinclair." After the introductions +were completed, Keene explained the cadets' +situation. Sinclair broke into a smile. "It would be a +pleasure to have you three boys as my guests!"</p> + +<p>"Guests!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>Sinclair nodded. "I have a plantation right on the +edge of the jungle belt. Things get pretty dull down +there in the middle of the summer. I'd be honored if +you'd use my home as a base of operations while you +hunt for your tyrannosaurus. As a matter of fact, you'd +be helping me out. Those brutes destroy a lot of my +crops and we have to go after them every three or four +years."</p> + +<p>"Well, thanks," said Tom, "but we wouldn't want to +impose. We'd be happy to pay you—"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> +<p>Sinclair held up his hand. "Wouldn't think of it. Do +you have your gear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Astro. "Arms, synthetics, the works. +Everything but transportation."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's sitting out on the spaceport. That black +space yacht on Ramp Three." Sinclair smiled. <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: original lacked the opening quote mark.">"Get</ins> your +gear aboard and make yourselves at home. I'll be ready +to blast off in half an hour."</p> + +<p>Astro turned to Keene. "Thanks a lot, sir. It was swell +of you to set us up this way."</p> + +<p>Keene slapped him on the shoulder. "Go on. Have a +good time."</p> + +<p>Shaking hands all around and saying quick good-bys, +the three boys hurried out to stow their gear aboard +Sinclair's luxurious space yacht. While Roger and Tom +relaxed in the comfortable main cabin, Astro hurried +below to inspect the power deck.</p> + +<p>Roger laughed as the big cadet disappeared down +the hatch. "That guy would rather play with a rocket +tube than do anything else in the universe!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom. "He's a real lucky guy."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Ever meet anyone that didn't love that big hick?"</p> + +<p>"Nope," said Roger with a sly grin. "And that goes for +me too! But don't you ever tell him!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Major Connel had been waiting to see the Solar Alliance +Delegate from Venus for three hours. And Major +Connel didn't like to wait for anyone or anything. +He had read every magazine in the lavish outer office +atop the Solar Guard Building in downtown Venusport, +drunk ten glasses of water, and was now wearing a path +in the rug as he paced back and forth in front of the +secretary who watched him shyly.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> +<p>The buzzer on the desk finally broke the silence and +the girl answered quickly as Connel stopped and glared +at her expectantly. She listened for a second, then replacing +the receiver, turned to the seething Solar Guard +officer and smiled sweetly. "Delegate James will see you +now, Major."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Connel gruffly, trying hard not to +take his impatience out on the pretty girl. He stepped +toward an apparently solid wall that suddenly slid back +as he passed a light beam and entered the spacious +office of E. Philips James, Venusian Delegate to the +Grand Council of the Solar Alliance.</p> + +<p>E. Philips James was a small man, with small hands +that were moving nervously all the time. His head was a +little too large for his narrow body that was clothed in +the latest fashion, and his tiny black mustache was carefully +trimmed. As Connel stalked into the room, James +bounced out of his chair to meet him, smiling warmly.</p> + +<p>"Major Connel! How delightful to see you again," he +said, extending a perfumed hand.</p> + +<p>"You could have seen me a lot sooner," growled Connel. +"I've been sitting outside for over three hours!"</p> + +<p>James lifted one eyebrow and sat down without making +any comment. A true diplomat, E. Philips James +never said anything unless it was absolutely necessary. +And when he spoke, he never really said very much. He +sat back and waited patiently for Connel to cool off and +get to the point of his call.</p> + +<p>In typical fashion, Connel jumped to it without any +idle conversational prologue. "I'm here on a security assignment. +I need confidential information."</p> + +<p>"Just one moment, Major," said James. He flipped +open his desk intercom and called to his secretary outside. +"Record this conversation, please."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<p>"Record!" roared Connel. "I just told you this was +secret!"</p> + +<p>"It will be secret, Major," assured James softly. "The +record will go into the confidential files of the Alliance +for future reference. A precaution, Major. Standard procedure. +Please go on."</p> + +<p>Connel hesitated, and then, shrugging his shoulders, +continued, "I want to know everything you know about +an organization here on Venus known as the Venusian +Nationalists."</p> + +<p>James's expression changed slightly. "Specific information, +Major? Or just random bits of gossip?"</p> + +<p>"No rocket wash, Mr. James. Information. Everything +you know!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know why you've come to me," replied James, +visibly annoyed at the directness of the rough spaceman. +"I know really very little."</p> + +<p>"I'm working under direct orders of Commander Walters," +said Connel grimly, "who is also a delegate to the +Solar Council. His position as head of the Solar Guard +is equal to yours in every respect. This request comes +from his office, not out of my personal curiosity."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, of course, Major," replied James. "Of +course."</p> + +<p>The delegate rose and walked over to the window, +seemingly trying to collect his thoughts. After a moment +he turned back. "Major, the organization you +speak of is, so far as I know, an innocent group of Venusian +farmers and frontier people who meet regularly to +exchange information about crops, prices, and the latest +farming methods. You see, Major"—James's voice took +on a slightly singsong tone, as though he were making +a speech—"Venus is a young planet, a vast new world, +with Venusport the only large metropolis and cultural +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>center. Out in the wilderness, there are great tracts of +cultivated land that supply food to the planets of the +Solar Alliance and her satellites. We are becoming the +breadbasket of the universe, you might say." James +smiled at Connel, who did not return the smile.</p> + +<p>"Great distances separate these plantations," continued +James. "Life is hard and lonely for the Venusian +plantation owner. The Venusian Nationalists are, to my +knowledge, no more than a group of landowners who +have gotten together and formed a club, a fraternity. It's +true they speak the Venusian dialect, these groups have +taken names from the old Venusian explorers, but I +hardly think it is worth while investigating."</p> + +<p>"Do they have a headquarters?" Connel asked. "A +central meeting place?"</p> + +<p>"So far as I know, they don't. But Al Sharkey, the +owner of the largest plantation on Venus, is the president +of the organization. He's a very amiable fellow. +Why don't you talk to him?"</p> + +<p>"Al Sharkey, eh?" Connel made a mental note of the +name.</p> + +<p>"And there's Rex Sinclair, a rather stubborn individualist +who wrote to me recently complaining that he +was being pressured into joining the organization."</p> + +<p>"What kind of pressure?" asked Connel sharply.</p> + +<p>James held up his hand. "Don't get me wrong, Major. +There was no violence." The delegate suddenly became +very businesslike. "I'm afraid that's all the information +I can give you, Major." He offered his hand. "So nice to +see you again. Please don't hesitate to call on me again +for any assistance you feel we can give you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. James," said Connel gruffly and left +the office, a frown creasing his forehead. Being a +straightforward person himself, Major Connel could not +understand why anyone would hesitate about answering +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>a direct question. He didn't for a moment consider +the delegate anything but an intelligent man. It was +the rocket wash that went with being a diplomat that +annoyed the ramrod spaceman. He shrugged it off. Perhaps +he would find out something from Al Sharkey or +the other plantation owner, Rex Sinclair.</p> + +<p>When he crossed the slidewalk and waited at the +curb for a jet cab, Connel suddenly paused and looked +around. He felt a strange excitement in the air—a kind +of tension. The faces of passing pedestrians seemed +strained, intense, their eyes were glowing, as though +they all were in on some huge secret. He saw groups of +men and women sitting in open sidewalk cafés, leaning +over the table to talk to each other, their voices low and +guarded. Connel shivered. He didn't like it. Something +was happening on Venus and he had to find out what it +was before it was too late.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-057.png" width="500" height="156" 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>"Wow!" exclaimed Roger.</p> + +<p>"Jumping Jupiter!" commented Tom.</p> + +<p>"Blast my jets!" roared Astro.</p> + +<p>Rex Sinclair smiled as he maneuvered the sleek black +space yacht in a tight circle a thousand feet above the +Titan crystal roof of his luxurious home in the heart of +the wild Venusian jungle.</p> + +<p>"She's built out of Venusian teak," said Sinclair. "Everything +but the roof. I wanted to keep the feeling of +the jungle around me, so I used the trees right out of +the jungle there." He pointed to the sea of dense tropical +growth that surrounded the house and cleared land.</p> + +<p>The ship nosed up for a thousand yards and then +eased back, smoothly braked, to a concrete ramp a +thousand yards from the house. The touchdown was as +gentle as a falling leaf, and when Sinclair opened the +air lock, a tall man in worn but clean fatigues was waiting +for them.</p> + +<p>"Howdy, Mr. Sinclair," he called, a smile on his lined, +weather-beaten face. "Have a good trip?"</p> + +<p>"Fine trip, George," replied Sinclair, climbing out of +the ship. "I want you to meet some friends of mine. +Space Cadets Tom Corbett, Roger Manning, and Astro. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>They're going to stay with us during their summer leave +while they hunt for tyranno. Boys, this is my foreman, +George Hill."</p> + +<p>The boys shook hands with the thick-set, muscular +man, who smiled broadly. "Glad to meet you, boys. Always +wanted to talk to someone from the Academy. +Wanted to go there myself but couldn't pass the physical. +Bad eyes."</p> + +<p>Reaching into the ship, he began lifting out their +equipment. "You chaps go on up to the house now," he +said. "I'll take care of your gear."</p> + +<p>With Sinclair leading the way, the boys slowly +walked up a flagstone path toward the house, and they +had their first chance to see a Venusian plantation home +at close range.</p> + +<p>The Sinclair house stood in the middle of a clearing +more than five thousand yards square. At the edges, like +a solid wall of green vegetation, the Venusian jungle +rose more than two hundred feet. It was noon and the +heat was stifling. They were twenty-six million miles +closer to the sun, and on the equator of the misty planet. +While Astro, George, and Sinclair didn't seem to mind +the temperature, Tom and Roger were finding it unbearable.</p> + +<p>"Can you imagine what it'll be like in the house with +that crystal roof!" whispered Roger.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet," replied Tom. "But as soon as the sun drops +out of the zenith, it should cool off some."</p> + +<p>When the group stepped up onto the porch, two +house servants met them and took their gear. Then Sinclair +and the foreman ushered the cadets inside. They +were surprised to feel a distinct drop in temperature.</p> + +<p>"Your cooling unit must be pretty large, Mr. Sinclair," +commented Tom, looking up at the crystal roof where +the sun was clearly visible.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> +<p>Sinclair smiled. "That's special crystal, mined on Titan +at a depth of ten thousand feet. It's tinted, and shuts +out the heat and glare of the sun."</p> + +<p>George then left to lay out their gear for their first +hunt the next morning, and Sinclair took them on a +tour of the house. They walked through long corridors +looking into all the rooms, eventually winding up in the +kitchen, and the three boys marveled at the simplicity +yet absolute perfection of the place. Every modern convenience +was at hand for the occupant's comfort. When +the sun had dropped a little, they all put on sunglasses +with glareproof eye shields and walked around the +plantation. Sinclair showed them his prize-winning +stock and the vast fields of crops. Aside from the main +house, there were only four other buildings in the clearing. +They visited the smallest, a cowshed.</p> + +<p>"Where do your field hands live, Mr. Sinclair?" asked +Tom, as they walked through the modern, spotless, +milking room.</p> + +<p>"I don't have any," replied the planter. "Do most of +the work with machinery, and George and the houseboys +do what has to be done by hand."</p> + +<p>As they left the shed and started back toward the +main house they came abreast of a small wooden structure. +Thinking they were headed there, Roger started +to open the door.</p> + +<p>"Close that door!" snapped Sinclair. Roger jerked +back. Astro and Tom looked at the planter, startled by +the sharpness in his voice.</p> + +<p>Sinclair smiled and explained, "We keep some experiments +on different kinds of plants in there at special low +temperatures. You might have let in hot air and ruined +something."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir," said Roger. "I didn't know."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> +<p>"Forget it," replied the planter. "Well, let's get back +to the house. We're having an early dinner. You boys +have to get started at four o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Four o'clock!" exclaimed Roger.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"We have to go deep into the thicket," Astro explained, +using the local term for the jungle, "so that at +high noon we can make camp and take a break. You +can't move out there at noon. It gets so hot you'd fall +on your face after fifteen minutes of fighting the creepers."</p> + +<p>"Everything stops at noon," added Sinclair. "Even the +tyrannosaurus. You have to do your traveling in the cool +of the day, early and late. Six hours or so will take you +far enough away from the plantation to find tracks, if +there are any."</p> + +<p>"Tell me, Mr. Sinclair," asked Roger suddenly, "is this +the whole plantation?" He spread his hands in a wide +arc, taking in the clearing to the edge of the jungle.</p> + +<p>Sinclair grinned. "Roger, it'd take a man two weeks +to go from one corner of my property to another. This +is just where I live. Three years ago I had five hundred +square miles under cultivation."</p> + +<p>Back in the house, they found George setting the table +on the porch and his wife busy in the kitchen. Mrs. +Hill was a stout woman, with a pleasant face and a +ready smile. With very little ceremony, the cadets, Sinclair, +George, and his wife sat down to eat. The food +was simple fare, but the sure touch of Mrs. Hill's cooking +and the free use of delicate Venusian jungle spices +added exotic flavor, new but immensely satisfying to +the three hungry boys, a satisfaction they demonstrated +by cleaning their plates quickly and coming back for +second helpings. Astro, of course, was not happy until +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>he had polished off his fourth round. Mrs. Hill beamed +with pleasure at their unspoken compliment to her +cooking.</p> + +<p>After the meal, Mrs. Hill stacked the dishes and put +them into a small carrier concealed in the wall. Pressing +a button, near the opening, she explained, "That dingus +takes them to the sink, washes them, dries them, and +puts everything in its right place. That's the kind of +modern living I like!"</p> + +<p>As the sun dropped behind the wall of the jungle and +the sky darkened, they all relaxed. Sinclair and George +smoked contentedly, Mrs. Hill brought out some needle +point, and the three cadets rested in comfortable contour +chairs. They chatted idly, stopping only to listen +to the wild calls of birds and animals out in the jungle +as George, or Sinclair, identified them all. George told +of his experiences on tyrannosaurus hunts, and Astro +described his method of hunting as a boy.</p> + +<p>"I was a big kid," he explained. "And since the only +way of earning a living was by working, I found I could +combine business with pleasure. I used to hitch rides +over the belt and parachute in to hunt for baby tyrannos." +He grinned and added, "When I think back, I +wonder how I ever stayed in one piece."</p> + +<p>"Land sakes!" exclaimed Mrs. Hill. "It's a wonder +you weren't eaten alive! Those tyrannos are horrible +things."</p> + +<p>"I was almost a meal once," confessed Astro sheepishly, +and at the urging of the others he described the +incident that had cured him of hunting alone in the +jungles of Venus with only a low-powered shock blaster.</p> + +<p>"If I didn't get it at the base of the brain where the +nerve centers aren't so well protected with the first +shot, I was in trouble," he said. "I took a lot of chances, +but was careful not to tangle with a mama or papa tyrannosaurus. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>I'd stalk the young ones. I'd wait for him +to feed and then let him have it. If I was lucky, I'd get +him with one shot, but most of the time I'd just stun +him and have to finish him off with a second blast. Then +I'd skin him, take the hams and shoulders, and get out +of there fast before the wild dogs got wind of the blood. +I'd usually hunt pretty close to a settlement where I +could get the meat frozen. After that, I'd just have to +call a couple of the big restaurants in Venusport and +get the best price. I used to make as much as fifty credits +on one kill."</p> + +<p>"How would you get the meat to Venusport?" asked +Roger, who, for all his braggadocio, was awed by his +unit mate's calm bravery and skill as a hunter.</p> + +<p>"The restaurant that bought it would send a jet boat +out for it and I'd ride back with it. After a while the +restaurant owners got to know me and would give me +regular orders. I was trying to fill a special order on +that last hunt."</p> + +<p>"What happened?" asked Tom, equally impressed +with Astro's life as a boy hunter.</p> + +<p>"I had just about finished hunting in a section near +a little settlement on the other side of Venus," began +the big cadet, "but I thought there might be one more +five-hundred-pound baby around, so I dropped in." +Astro paused and grinned. "I didn't find a baby, I found +his mother! She must have weighed twenty-five or +thirty tons. Biggest tyranno I've ever seen. She spotted +me the same time I saw her and I didn't even stop to +fire. I never could have dented her hide. I started running +and she came after me. I made it to a cave and +went as far back inside as I could. She stuck her head +in after me, and by the craters of Luna, she was only +about three feet away, with me backed up against a +wall. She tried to get farther in, opened her mouth, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>snapped and roared like twenty rocket cruisers going +off at once."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 393px;"> +<img src="images/ill-064.png" width="393" height="500" alt=""She tried to get farther into the cave."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"She tried to get farther into the cave."</span> +</div> + +<p>Tom gulped and Roger's eyes widened.</p> + +<p>"I figured there was only one thing to do," continued +Astro. "Use the blaster, even though it couldn't do much +damage. I let her have one right in the eye!" Astro +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>shook his head and laughed. "You should have seen her +pull her head out of that cave! I couldn't sleep for +months after that. I used to dream that she was sticking +her head in my window, always getting closer."</p> + +<p>"Did the blaster do any damage at all?" asked Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir," said Astro. "I was close enough for the +heat charge from the muzzle to get her on the side +of the head. Nothing fatal, but she's probably still out +there in the jungle more ugly than ever with half a +face."</p> + +<p>The group fell silent, each thinking of how he would +have reacted under similar conditions; each silently +thankful that it hadn't happened to him. Finally Mrs. +Hill rose and said good night, and George excused himself +to take a last look at the stock. Remembering their +early call for the next morning, the cadets said good +night to Sinclair and retired to their comfortable rooms. +In bed at last, each boy stretched full length on his bed +and in no time was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It was still dark, an hour and a half before the sun +would burst over the top of the jungle, when Sinclair +went to the cadets' room to rouse them. He found them +already up and dressed in their jungle garb. Each boy +was wearing skin-tight trousers and jerseys made of +double strength space-suit cloth and colored a dark +moldy green. A hunter dressed in this manner and +standing still could not be seen at twenty paces. The +snug fit of the suit was protection against thorns and +snags that could find no hold on the hard, smooth-surfaced +material.</p> + +<p>After a hearty breakfast the three cadets collected +their gear, the paralo-ray pistols, the shock rifles, and +the small shoulder packs of synthetic food and camping +equipment. Each boy also carried a two-foot jungle +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>knife with a compass inlaid in the handle. A helmet of +clear plastic with a small mesh-covered opening in the +face covered each boy's head. Dressed as they were, +they could walk through the worst part of the jungles +and not get so much as a scratch.</p> + +<p>"Well," commented Sinclair, looking them over, "I +guess you boys have everything. I'd hate to be the tyranno +that crosses your path!"</p> + +<p>The boys grinned. "Thanks for everything, sir," said +Tom. "You've been a lot of help."</p> + +<p>"Think nothing of it, Tom. Just bring back a pair of +tyranno scalps!"</p> + +<p>"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Hill?" asked Astro. "We'd +like to say good-by to them."</p> + +<p>"They left before you got up," replied Sinclair. +"They're taking a few days off for a visit to Venusport."</p> + +<p>The boys pulled on their jungle boots. Knee-length +and paper-thin, they were nonetheless unpenetrable +even if the boys should step on one of the needle-sharp +ground thorns.</p> + +<p>They waved a last good-by to their host, standing on +the steps of the big house, and moved across the clearing +to the edge of the jungle wall.</p> + +<p>As the cadets approached the thick tangle of vines, +the calls and rustling noises from the many crawling +things hidden in the forbidding thicket slowly died +down. They walked along the edge of the tangle of +jungle creepers until they found an opening and stepped +through.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 297px;"> +<img src="images/ill-067.png" width="297" height="500" alt="They were completely surrounded by the jungle" title="" /> +<span class="caption">They were completely surrounded by the jungle</span> +</div> + +<p>After walking only ten feet they were completely +surrounded by the jungle and could not even see the +clearing they had just left. It was dark, the network of +vines, the thick tree trunks and rank growing vegetation +shutting out the sun, leaving the interior of the +jungle strangely plunged in gloom. Astro moved ahead, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>followed by Roger, with Tom bringing up the rear. +They followed the path they had entered, as far as it +went, and then began cutting their way through the +underbrush, stopping only to cut notches in the trees to +mark their passage.</p> + +<p>Their long-bladed knives slicing through vines and +brush easily, Tom, Roger, and Astro hacked their way +deeper and deeper into the mysterious and suffocating +green world.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-068.png" width="500" height="146" 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>"I guess that's the Sharkey place over there," mumbled +Major Connel to himself, banking his jet launch over +the green jungles and pointing the speedy little craft's +nose toward the clearing in the distance. The Solar +Guard officer wrenched the scout around violently in +his approach. He was still boiling over the Venusian +Delegate's indifference toward his mission.</p> + +<p>The launch skimmed the jungle treetops and glided +to a perfect stop near the largest of a group of farm +buildings. Cutting the motors, Connel sat and waited +for someone to appear. He sat there for ten minutes but +no one came out to greet him. Finally he climbed out +of the launch and stood by the hatch, peering intently +at the buildings around him, his eyes squinting against +the glare of the fiery sun overhead. The plantation +seemed deserted. Reaching back into the launch and +pulling out a paralo-ray gun, he strapped its reassuring +bulk to his side and stepped toward the building that +was obviously the main house. Nothing else moved in +the hot noon sun.</p> + +<p>As he strode purposefully toward the house, eyes +alert for any sign of life, he thought for a moment everyone +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>might be taking a midday nap. Many of the Venusian +colonists adapted the age-old custom of the tropics +to escape the intense heat of midday. But he dismissed +the thought immediately, realizing that his approach +in the jet would have awakened the deepest of sleepers.</p> + +<p>Entering the house, he stopped in the spacious front +hall and called:</p> + +<p>"Hello! Anybody home? Halloo!"</p> + +<p>The only answer was the echo of his own voice, vibrating +through the large rooms.</p> + +<p>"Funny," muttered the spaceman. "Why is this place +deserted?"</p> + +<p>He walked slowly through the house, opening doors +and looking into all the rooms, searching the whole +place thoroughly before returning to the clearing. Going +to the nearest of the outbuildings, he opened one of +the wide doors and stared into the gloomy interior. With +his experienced eye he saw immediately that the building +had been used to house a large jet craft. There was +the slightly pungent odor of jet fuel, and on the floor +the tire marks of a dolly used to roll the craft out to the +launching strip. He followed the tracks outside and +around to the side of the building where he saw the +dolly. It was empty.</p> + +<p>Shaking his head grimly, Connel made a quick tour +of the remaining buildings. They were all deserted but +the last one, which seemed to be built a little more +sturdily than the others. Unlike the others, it was +locked. He looked for a window and discovered that the +walls were solid. There were no openings except the +locked door. He hesitated in front of the door, looking +down at the ground for a sign of what might have been +stored in the building. The surrounding area revealed +no tracks. He pulled out a thick-bladed pocketknife and +stepped to the lock, then suddenly stopped and grinned.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<p>"Great," he said to himself. "A Solar Guard officer +about to break into private property without a warrant. +Fine thing to have known back at the Academy!"</p> + +<p>He turned abruptly and strode back to the scout. +Climbing into the craft, he picked up the audioscriber +microphone and recorded a brief message. Removing +the threadlike tape from the machine, he returned to +the house and left it on the spool of the audioscribe-replay +machine near the front door.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the eerie silence of the Sharkey +plantation was once again shattered by the hissing roar +of jets as the launch took off and climbed rapidly over +the jungle. Air-borne, Connel glanced briefly at a chart, +changed course, and sent the launch hurtling at full +speed across the jungle toward the Sinclair plantation.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"How far do you think we've come?" asked Tom +sleepily.</p> + +<p>Astro yawned and stretched before answering. "I'd +say about fifteen miles, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Seems more like a hundred and fifteen," moaned +Roger who was sprawled on the ground. "I ache all over. +Start at the top of my head and work down, and you +won't find one square inch that isn't sore."</p> + +<p>Tom grinned. He was tired himself, but the three-day +march through the jungle had been three of the most +exciting days in his life. Coming from a large city where +he had to travel two hours by monorail to get to open +green country, the curly-haired cadet found this passage +through the wildest jungle in the solar system new +and fascinating. He had seen flowers of every color in +the spectrum, some as large as himself; giant shrubs +with leaves so fine that they looked like spider webs; +Venusian teakwood trees fifty to a hundred feet thick +at the base with some twisted into strange spirals as +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>their trunks, shaded by another larger tree, sought a +clear avenue to the sun. There were bushes that grew +thorns three inches long, hard as steel and thin as needles; +jungle creepers, vines two and three feet thick, +twisting around tree trunks and strangling them. He +saw animals too, all double the size of anything on +Earth because of the lighter Venusian gravity; insects +the size of rats, rats the size of dogs, and wild dogs the +size of ponies. Up in the trees, small anthropoids, cousins +to the monkeys of Earth, scampered from limb to +limb, screaming at the invaders of their jungle home. +Smooth-furred animals that looked like deer, their horns +curling overhead, scampered about the cadets like puppies, +nuzzling them, nipping at their heels playfully, +and barking as though in laughter when Astro roared +at them for getting in the way.</p> + +<p>But there were dangerous creatures in the jungle too; +the beautiful but deadly poisonous brush snakes that +lurked unseen in the varicolored foliage, striking out at +anything that passed; animals resembling chipmunks +with enlarged razor-sharp fangs, whose craving for raw +meat was so great that they would attack an animal ten +times its size; lizards the size of elephants with scales +like armor plate that rooted in swampy ground for their +food, but which would attack any intruder, charging +with amazing speed, their three horns poised; and, finally, +there were the monsters of Venus—giant beasts +whose weights were measured in tons, ruled over by +the most horrible of them all—the tyrannosaurus.</p> + +<p>Fights to death between the jungle creatures were +common sights for the boys during their march. They +saw a weird soundless fight between a forty-foot snake +and a giant vulture with talons nearly two feet across +and a beak resembling a mammoth nutcracker. The +vulture won, methodically cutting the reptile's body +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>into sections, its beak slicing through the snake as easily +as a knife going through butter.</p> + +<p>More than once Astro spotted a dangerous creature, +and telling Roger and Tom to stand back, he would +level his shock rifle and blast it.</p> + +<p>So far they had seen nothing of their prey—the tyrannosaurus. +Tracks around the steaming swamps were +as close as they had come. Once, late in the evening of +the second day they caught a fleeting glimpse of a +plant-eating brontosaurus lumbering through the brush.</p> + +<p>All three of the boys had found it difficult to sleep in +the jungle. The first two nights they had taken turns at +staying on guard and tending the campfire. Nothing had +bothered them, and on the third night out, they decided +the fire would be enough to scare off the jungle animals. +It was risky, but the continual fight through the jungle +underbrush had tired the three boys to the bone and +the few hours they stood guard were sorely missed the +next day, so they decided to chance it.</p> + +<p>Roger was already asleep. Astro had just finished +checking his rifle to be ready for instant fire, when Tom +threw the last log on the campfire and crawled into his +sleeping bag.</p> + +<p>"Think it'll be all right, Astro?" asked Tom. "I'm not +anxious to wake up inside one of these critter's stomachs."</p> + +<p>"Most of them have never seen fire, Tom," Astro said +reassuringly. "It scares them. Besides, we're getting +close to the big stuff now. You might see a tyranno or a +big bronto any time. And if they come along, you'll +hear 'em, believe me. They're about as quiet as a squadron +of cruisers on battle emergency blasting off from +the Academy in the middle of the night!"</p> + +<p>"O.K.," replied Tom. "You're the hunter in this crew." +Suddenly he laughed. "You know I really got a bang out +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>of the way Roger jumped back from that waddling +ground bird yesterday."</p> + +<p>Astro grinned. "Yeah, the one thing in this place that's +as ferocious as a kitten and he pulls his ray gun like an +ancient cowboy!"</p> + +<p>A very tired voice spoke up from the other sleeping +bag. "Is that so! Well, when you two brave men came +face to face with that baby lizard on a tree root, you +were ready to finish your leave in Atom City!" Roger +unzipped the end of the bag, stuck his blond head out, +and gave his unit mates a sour look. "Sack in, will you? +Your rocket wash is keeping me awake!"</p> + +<p>Laughing, Astro and Tom nodded good night to each +other and closed their sleeping bags. The jungle was +still, the only movement being the leaping tongues of +flame from the campfire.</p> + +<p>An hour later it began to rain, a light drizzle at first +that increased until it reached the steady pounding of +a tropical downpour. Tom awoke first, opening the flap +of his sleeping bag only to get his face full of slimy water +that spilled in. Spluttering and coughing he sat up +and saw that the campfire was out and the campsite +was already six inches deep in water.</p> + +<p>"Roger, Astro!" he called and slapped the nearest +sleeping bag. Astro opened the flap a little and peered +out sleepily. Instantly he rolled out of the bag and +jumped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Wake Roger up!" he snapped. "We've got to get out +of here!"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Roger mumbled through the +bag, not opening it. "Why the excitement over a little +rain?"</p> + +<p>"The fire's out, hotshot," said Astro. "It's as dark as +the inside of a cow's number-four belly. We've got to +move!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<p>"Why?" asked Tom, not understanding the big cadet's +sudden nervous excitement. "What's the matter +with staying right where we are? Why go trooping +around in the dark?"</p> + +<p>"We can't light a fire anywhere," added Roger, finally +sticking his head out of his sleeping bag.</p> + +<p>"We've got to get on high ground!" said Astro, hurriedly +packing the camping equipment. "We're in a +hollow here. The rain really comes down on Venus, and +in another hour this place will be a pond!"</p> + +<p>Sensing the urgency in Astro's voice, Roger began +packing up his equipment and in a few moments the +three boys had their gear slung over their shoulders and +were slogging through water already knee-deep.</p> + +<p>"I still don't see why we have to go tracking through +the jungle in the middle of the night," grumbled Roger. +"We could climb up a tree and wait out the storm."</p> + +<p>"You'd have to wait long after the rain stops," replied +Astro. "There is one thing in this place nothing ever +gets enough of, and that's water. Animals know it and +hang around all the water holes. If a small animal tries +to get a drink, he more than likely winds up in something's +stomach. When it rains like this, hollows fill up +like the one we just left, and everything within running, +hopping, and crawling distance heads for it to get a +bellyful of water. In another hour our camp will be like +something out of a nightmare, with every animal in the +jungle coming down for a drink and starting to fight +one another."</p> + +<p>"Then if we stayed there—" Roger stopped.</p> + +<p>"We'd be in the middle of it," said Astro grimly. "We +wouldn't last two minutes."</p> + +<p>Walking single file, with Astro in the lead, followed +by Roger and then Tom, they stumbled through the +pitch-black darkness. Astro refused to shine a light, for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>fear of being attacked by a desperate animal, more eager +for water than afraid of the light. They carried +their shock blasters cocked and ready to fire. The rain +continued, increasing in fury until they were enveloped +in a nearly solid wall of water. In a little while the floor +of the jungle became one continuous mudhole, with +each step taking them ankle-deep into the sucking mud. +Their climb was uphill, and the water from above increased, +washing down around them in torrents. More +than once one of the cadets fell, gasping for breath, into +the dirty water, only to be jerked back to more solid +footing by the other two. Stumbling, their hands groping +wildly in the dark, they pushed forward.</p> + +<p>They were reaching higher ground when Astro +stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" he whispered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>The boys stood still, the rain pounding down on their +plastic headgear, holding rifles ready and straining their +ears for some sound other than the drumming of rain.</p> + +<p>"I don't hear anything," said Roger.</p> + +<p>"<i>Shhh!</i>" hissed Astro.</p> + +<p>They waited, and then from a distance they heard +the faint crashing of underbrush. Gradually it became +more distinct until there was no mistaking its source. +A large monster was moving through the jungle near +them!</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom, trying to keep his voice +calm.</p> + +<p>"A big one," said Astro. "A real big one. And I think +it's heading this way!"</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" gasped Roger. "What do we +do?"</p> + +<p>"We either run, or stay here and try to blast it."</p> + +<p>"Whatever you say, Astro," said Roger. "You're the +boss."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> +<p>"Same here," said Tom. "Call it."</p> + +<p>Astro did not answer right away. He strained his ears, +listening to the movements of the advancing monster, +trying to ascertain the exact direction the beast was +taking. The noise became more violent, the crashing +more sharply defined as small trees were crushed to the +ground.</p> + +<p>"If only I knew exactly what it is!" said Astro desperately. +"If it's a tyranno, it walks on its hind legs and +has its head way up in the trees, and could pass within +ten feet of us and not see us. But if it's a bronto, it has a +long snakelike neck that he pokes all around and he +wouldn't miss us at a hundred feet!"</p> + +<p>"Make up your mind quick, big boy," said Roger. "If +that thing gets any closer, I'm opening up with this +blaster. He might eat me, but I'll sure make his teeth +rattle first!"</p> + +<p>The ground began to shake as the approaching monster +came nearer. Astro remained still, ears straining for +some sound to indicate exactly what was crashing down +on them.</p> + +<p>Above them, the shrill scream of an anthropoid suddenly +pierced the dark night as its tree home was sent +crashing to the ground. There was a growing roar and +the crashing stopped momentarily.</p> + +<p>"Let's get out of here," said Astro tensely. "That's a +tyranno, but he's down on all fours now, looking for +that monkey! Keep together and make as little noise +as you can. No talking. Keep your blasters and emergency +lights ready. If he discovers us, you shine the +light on his face Roger, and Tom and I will shoot. +O.K.?"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger agreed.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Astro, "let's go—and spaceman's +luck!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_7" id="CHAPTER_7"></a>CHAPTER 7</h2> + + +<p>"What can I do for you, Officer?"</p> + +<p>Connel heaved his bulk out of the jet launch and +looked hard at the man standing in front of him. "You +Rex Sinclair?"</p> + +<p>Sinclair nodded. "That's right."</p> + +<p>Connel offered his hand. "Major Connel, Solar +Guard."</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet you," replied the planter, gripping the +spaceman's hand. "Have something to cool you off."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said Connel. "I can use it. Whew! Must be +at least one twenty in the shade."</p> + +<p>Sinclair chuckled. "This way, Major."</p> + +<p>They didn't say anything more until Connel was resting +comfortably in a deep chair, admiring the crystal +roof of Sinclair's house. After a pleasant exchange about +crops and problems of farming on Venus, the gruff +spaceman squared his back and stared straight at his +host. "Mr. James, the Solar Delegate, told me you've resisted +pressure to join the Venusian Nationalists."</p> + +<p>Sinclair's expression changed slightly. His eyebrows +lifting quizzically. "Why—yes, that's true."</p> + +<p>"I'd like you to tell me what you know about the organization."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> +<p>"I see," mused Sinclair. "Is that an order?" he added, +chuckling.</p> + +<p>"That's a request. I'd like to learn as much about the +Nationalists as possible."</p> + +<p>"For what purpose?"</p> + +<p>Connel paused and then said casually, "A spot check. +The Solar Guard likes to keep its eyes open for trouble."</p> + +<p>"Trouble?" exclaimed Sinclair. "You're not serious!"</p> + +<p>Connel nodded his head. "It's probably nothing but +a club. However, I'd like to get some facts on it."</p> + +<p>"Have you spoken to anyone else?" asked Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"I just came from the Sharkey plantation. It's deserted. +Not a soul around. I'll drop back by there before +I return to Venusport." Connel paused and looked +squarely at Sinclair. "Well?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know much about them, Major," replied the +planter. "It always seemed to me nothing more than a +group of planters getting together—"</p> + +<p>Connel cut him off. "Possibly, but why didn't you +join?"</p> + +<p>"Well—"</p> + +<p>"Aren't all your friends in it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I just don't have time. I have a big place, +and there's only me and my foreman and housekeeper +now. All the field hands left some time ago."</p> + +<p>"Where'd they go?"</p> + +<p>"Venusport, I guess. Can't get people to farm these +days."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Sinclair," declared Connel, "let's lay +our cards on the table. I know how you must feel talking +about your friends, but this is really important. Vitally +important to every citizen in the Solar Alliance. +Suppose the Nationalists were really a tight organization +with a purpose—a purpose of making Venus independent +of the Solar Alliance. If they succeeded, if +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>Venus did break away, Mercury might follow, then +Mars—the whole system fall apart—break up into independent +states. And when that happens, there's trouble—customs +barriers, jealousies, individual armies and +navies, and then, ultimately, a space war. It's more than +just friendship, Sinclair, it's the smallest crack in the +solid front of the Solar Alliance, but it's a crack that <i>can</i> +be opened further if we don't stop it now."</p> + +<p>Sinclair was impressed. "Very well, Major, I'll tell +you everything I know about them. And you're right, +it is hard to talk about your friends. I've grown up here +in the Venusian jungle. I helped my father clear this +land where the house is built. Most of the men in the +Nationalists are friends of mine, but"—he sighed—"you're +right, I can't allow this to happen to the Solar +Alliance."</p> + +<p>"Allow what to happen?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"Just what you said, about Venus becoming an independent +state."</p> + +<p>"Tell me all you know," said Connel.</p> + +<p>"The group began to form about three years ago. Al +Sharkey came over here one night and said a group of +the planters were getting together every so often to exchange +information about crops and farming conditions. +I went a few times, we all did, on this part of Venus. +At first it was fun. We even had picnics and barn +dances every three or four weeks. Then one night someone +suggested we come dressed in old costumes—the +type worn by our forefathers who founded Venus."</p> + +<p>Connel nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, one thing led to another," continued Sinclair. +"They started talking about the great history of our +planet, and complaining about paying taxes to support +the Solar Alliance. Instead of opening up new colonies +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>like the one out on Pluto, we should develop our +own planet. We stopped dancing, the women stopped +coming, and then one night we elected a president. Al +Sharkey. The first thing he did was order all members +to attend meetings in the dress of our forefathers. He +gave the organization a name, the Venusian Nationalists. +Right after that, I stopped going. I got tired of listening +to speeches about the wonderful planet we live +on, and how terrible it was to be governed by men on +Earth, millions of miles away."</p> + +<p>"Didn't they consider that they had equal representation +in the Solar Alliance Chamber?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"No, Major. There wasn't anything you could say to +any of them. If you tried to reason with them, they +called you a—a—" Sinclair stopped and turned away.</p> + +<p>"What did they call you?" demanded Connel, getting +madder by the minute.</p> + +<p>"Anyone that disagreed with them was called an +Earthling."</p> + +<p>"And you disagreed?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"I quit," said Sinclair stoutly. "And right after that, +I started losing livestock. I found them dead in the +pens, poisoned. And some of my crops were burned."</p> + +<p>"Did you protest to the Solar Guard?"</p> + +<p>"Of course, but there wasn't any proof any one of my +neighbors had done it. They don't bother me any more, +but they don't speak to me either. It's as though I had +a horrible disease. There hasn't been a guest in this +house in nearly two years. Three space cadets are the +first visitors here since I quit the organization."</p> + +<p>"Space Cadets?" Connel looked at the planter quizzically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, nice young chaps. Corbett, Manning, and a big +fellow named Astro. They're out in the jungle now hunting +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>for tyrannosaurus. I met them through a friend in +Venusport and invited them to use my house as a base +of operations. Do you know them?"</p> + +<p>Connel nodded. "Very well. Finest cadet unit at the +Academy. How long have they been in the jungle?"</p> + +<p>"About four and a half days now."</p> + +<p>"Hope they get themselves a tyranno. But at the +same time"—Connel couldn't help chuckling—"if they +do, Space Academy will never hear the end of it!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the hot wilting silence around the house +was shattered by a thunderous roar. Connel jumped up, +followed Sinclair to the window, and stared out over +the clearing. They saw what appeared to be a well-organized +squadron of jet boats come in for a landing +with near military precision. The doors opened quickly +and men poured out onto the dusty field. They were +dressed alike in coveralls with short quarter-length +space boots and round plastic crash helmets. Each man +carried a paralo-ray gun strapped to his hips. The uniforms +were a brilliant green, with a white band across +the chest. The men formed ranks, waited for a command +from a man dressed in darker green, and then +marched up toward the house.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" roared Connel. "Who are +they?"</p> + +<p>"The Nationalists!" cried Sinclair. "They threatened +to burn down my house and destroy my farm if I wrote +that letter to the delegate. They've come to carry out +their threat!"</p> + +<p>Connel pulled the paralo-ray gun from his hip and +gripped it firmly. "Do you want those men in your +house?" he asked Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"No—no, of course not!"</p> + +<p>"Then you have Solar Guard protection."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<p>"How—?" Sinclair asked. "There are no Solar Guardsmen +around here!"</p> + +<p>"What in blazes do you think I am, man!" roared +Connel as he lunged for the door and stepped out onto +the porch. The men were within a hundred feet of the +porch when they saw Connel. The Solar Guard officer +spread his legs and stuck out his jaw, his paralo-ray gun +leveled. "The first one of you tin soldiers that puts a +foot on these steps gets frozen stiffer than a snowball +on Pluto! Now stand where you are, state your business, +and then <i>blast off</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Halt!" The leader of the column of men held up his +hand. Connel saw that the plastic helmets were frosted +over, except for a clear band across the eye level. All of +the faces were hidden. The leader stepped forward, his +hand on his paralo-ray gun. "Greetings, Major Connel."</p> + +<p>Connel snorted. "If you'd take off that Halloween +mask, I might know who I'm talking to!"</p> + +<p>"My name is Hilmarc."</p> + +<p>"Hilmarc?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I am the leader of this detachment."</p> + +<p>"Leader, huh?" grunted Connel. "Leader of what? A +bunch of little tin soldiers?"</p> + +<p>"You shall see, Major." Hilmarc's voice was low and +threatening.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to count to five," announced Connel +grimly, lifting his paralo-ray gun, "and if you and your +playmates aren't back in your ships, I start blasting."</p> + +<p>"That would be unwise," replied Hilmarc. "Your one +gun against all of ours."</p> + +<p>Connel grinned. "I know. It's going to be a whale of +a fight, isn't it?" Then, without pause, he shouted, "<i>One—two—three—four—five!</i>"</p> + +<p>He opened fire, squeezing the trigger rapidly. The +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>first row of green-clad men were immediately frozen. +Dropping to one knee, the spaceman again opened fire, +and men in the second row stiffened as they tried to return +the fire.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Cut him down!" roared Hilmarc frantically.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-084.png" width="500" height="430" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The men broke ranks and the area in front of Sinclair's +house crackled with paralo-ray gunfire. Darting +behind a chair, Connel dropped to the floor, his gun +growing hot under the continuous discharge of paralyzing +energy. In a matter of moments the Solar Guard +officer had frozen nearly half of the attacking troop, +their bodies scattered in various positions. Suddenly his +gun spit fire and began to smoke. The energy charge +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>was exhausted. Connel jumped to his feet and snapped +to attention. He knew from experience that if being hit +was inevitable, the best way to receive the charge was +by standing at attention, taking the strain off the heart. +He faced the clearing and a dozen shots of paralyzing +energy hit him simultaneously. He became rigid and +the short furious battle was over.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-085.png" width="500" height="430" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>One of the green-clad men released Hilmarc from +the effects of Connel's ninth shot and he stepped forward +to stare straight into Connel's eyes. "I know you +can hear me, Major. I want to compliment you on your +shooting. But your brave resistance now is as futile as +the resistance of the entire Solar Guard in the near future." +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>Hilmarc smiled arrogantly and stepped back. +"Now, if you'll excuse me, I will attend to the business +I came here for—to take care of a weakling and an informer!" +He turned and shouted to his men. "You have +your orders! Get Sinclair and then burn everything in +sight."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Astro, Tom," gasped Roger. "I—I can't go on."</p> + +<p>The blond-haired cadet fell headlong to the ground, +almost burying himself in the mud. Tom and Astro +turned without a word, and gripping Roger under each +arm, helped him to his feet. Behind them, the thunder +of the stalking tyrannosaurus came closer, and they +forced themselves to greater effort. For two days they +had been running before the monster. It was a wild +flight through a wild jungle that offered them little protection. +And while their fears were centered on the +brute behind them, their sleepy, weary eyes sought out +other dangers that lay ahead. More than once they +stopped to blast a hungry, frightened beast that barred +their path, leaving it for the tyrannosaurus and giving +themselves a momentary respite in their flight.</p> + +<p>Astro led the way, tirelessly slashing at the vines and +creepers with his jungle knife, opening the path for +Roger and Tom. The Venusian cadet was sure that they +were near the clearing around the Sinclair plantation. +Since early morning he had seen the trail markers they +had left when they started into the jungle. The cadets +knew that if they didn't reach the clearing soon they +would have to stand and fight the terrible thing that +trailed them. During the first wild night, they had +stumbled into a sinkhole, and as Tom wallowed helplessly +in the clinging, suffocating mud, Astro and Roger +stood and fought the giant beast. The shock rifles +cracked against the armorlike hide of the monster, momentarily +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>stunning him, but in the darkness and rain, +they were unable to get a clear head shot. When Tom +finally pulled himself out of the mudhole, they struggled +onward through the jungle, with only one shot left +in each blaster.</p> + +<p>"How much farther, Astro?" asked Tom, his voice +weak with fatigue. "I'm starting to fold too."</p> + +<p>"Not too far now, Tom," the big cadet assured him. +"We should be hitting the clearing soon now." He +turned and looked back. "If we could only get a clear +shot at that brute's head!"</p> + +<p>"Hang on, Roger," said Tom. "Just a little more now."</p> + +<p>Roger didn't answer, merely bobbing his head in acknowledgment.</p> + +<p>Behind them, the crashing thunderous steps seemed +to be getting closer and Astro drove himself harder, +slashing at the vines and tangled underbrush, sometimes +just bursting through by sheer driving strength. +But the heavy-footed creature still stalked them ponderously.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Astro stopped and sniffed the air. "Smoke!" +he cried. "We're almost there!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger smiled wanly and they pushed on. A +moment later the giant cadet pointed through the underbrush. +"There! I see the clearing! And—by the stars—there's +a fire! The house is burning!"</p> + +<p>Forgetting the danger behind them, the three boys +raced toward the clearing. Just before they emerged +from the jungle, they stopped and stood openmouthed +with astonishment, staring at the scene before them.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" gasped Astro. "Look!"</p> + +<p>The outbuildings of the plantation were burning furiously, +sending up thick columns of smoke. The wind +blew the dense fumes toward them and they began to +cough and gag. Through the smoke they saw a strange +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>array of jet craft in the clearing. Then suddenly their +attention was jerked back to another danger. The tyrannosaurus +was nearly upon them.</p> + +<p>"Run!" roared Astro. He broke for the clearing, followed +by Roger and Tom. Once in the open, the boys +ran several hundred yards to the nearest jet craft, and +safely in the hatch, turned to see the monster come to +the edge of the clearing and stop. They saw the brute +clearly for the first time.</p> + +<p>It stood up on its hind legs, standing almost a hundred +feet high. It moved its flat, triangular-shaped head +in a slow arc, peering out over the clearing. The smoke +billowed around it. It snorted several times in fear and +anger. Astro looked at it, wide-eyed, and finally spoke +in awed tones. "By the rings of Saturn, it is!"</p> + +<p>"Is what?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"The same tyranno I blasted when I was a kid, the +one that trapped me in the cave!"</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" snorted Roger. "How can you tell?"</p> + +<p>"There on the head, the scars—and that eye. That's +the mark of a blaster!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be a rocket-headed Earthworm!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>The smoke thickened at the moment, and when it +cleared again, the great beast was gone. "I guess the +smoke chased him away," said Astro. "Smoke!" He +whirled around. With the threat of the tyrannosaurus +gone, they could face the strange happenings around +the clearing.</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Tom. He started for the burning +buildings in back of the house.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment a group of the green-clad men +came around the side of the house. Astro grabbed Tom +by the arm and pulled him back.</p> + +<p>"What's going on here? All these ships, buildings +burning, and those men dressed in green. What is it?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<p>The three boys huddled behind the jet and studied +the scene.</p> + +<p>"I don't get it," said Tom. "Who are those men? They +almost look as if they're soldiers of some kind, but I +don't recognize the uniform."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's the fire department," suggested Roger.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" roared Tom suddenly. "There on +the porch! Major Connel!"</p> + +<p>"Omigosh!" said Astro. "It is, but what's the matter +with him? Why is he standing there like that?"</p> + +<p>"He's been paralo-rayed!" exclaimed Roger. "See how +still he is! Whatever these jokers in uniforms are, they're +not friendly!" He raised his shock rifle. "This last shot +in my blaster should—"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, Roger," said Tom, "don't go off half-cocked. +We can't do much with just three shots. We'd +better take over one of these ships. There must be guns +aboard."</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Astro. "How about that big one over +there?" He pointed to the largest of the assembled +crafts.</p> + +<p>"O.K.," said Tom. "Sneak around this side and make +a dash for it."</p> + +<p>Gripping their rifles, they slipped around the stern +of the small ship, and keeping a wary eye on the milling +men around the front of the building, they dashed toward +the bigger ship.</p> + +<p>On the porch of the main house, Major Connel, every +muscle in his body paralyzed, saw the three cadets dart +across the field and his heart skipped a beat. Immediately +before him, two of the green-clad men were holding +Sinclair while Hilmarc addressed him arrogantly.</p> + +<p>"This is just the beginning, Sinclair. Don't try to cross +us again. Neither you nor anyone else can stop us!" He +whirled around and faced Connel. "And as for you and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>your Solar Guard, Major Connel, you can tell them—"</p> + +<p>Hilmarc's tirade was suddenly interrupted by a shrill +whistle and the glare of a red flare overhead. There was +a chorus of shouts as the men ducked for cover.</p> + +<p>A voice, Connel recognized as Tom's, boomed out +over the loud-speaker of the large jet ship near the edge +of the clearing. "Now hear this! You are covered by an +atomic mortar. Drop your guns and raise your hands!"</p> + +<p>The men stared at the ship, confused, but Hilmarc +issued a curt command. "Return to the ships!"</p> + +<p>"But—but he'll blast us," whined one of the men. +"He'll kill us all."</p> + +<p>"You fool!" roared Hilmarc. "It must be a friend of +Connel's or Sinclair's. He won't dare fire an atomic shell +near this house, for fear of killing his friends! Now get +aboard your ships and blast off!"</p> + +<p>From their ship, Tom, Roger, and Astro saw the men +scatter across the field, and realizing their bluff had +failed, they opened fire with the paralo-ray guns. But +their range was too far. In a few moments the clearing +around the Sinclair home was alive with the coughing +roar of the jets blasting off.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were alone, Sinclair snatched up an +abandoned ray gun and released the major from the +charge. Connel immediately jumped for another gun. +But then, as the jets started to take off, he saw that it +would be useless to pursue the invaders. Thankful +that the cadets had arrived in time, he trotted across +the clearing to meet them as they climbed wearily from +the remaining jet ship.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna," he roared good-naturedly, +"you three space-brained idiots had me scared! I +thought you would really let go with that mortar!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger grinned, relieved to find the spaceman +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>unhurt, while Astro looked off at the disappearing +fleet of ships.</p> + +<p>"What's happened, sir?" asked Tom. "What's it all +about?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't time to explain now," said Connel. "I just +want you three to know you got back here in time to +save the rest of this man's property." He turned toward +Sinclair, who was just approaching. "Did you recognize +any of them?" he asked the planter.</p> + +<p>Sinclair shook his head. "I thought I did—by their +voices, I mean. But I couldn't see anyone through that +frosted headgear they were wearing."</p> + +<p>"Well, they left a ship. We'll find out who that belongs +to," said Connel. "All right, Corbett, Manning, +Astro. Stand by to blast off!"</p> + +<p>"Blast off?" exclaimed Roger. "But we're on leave, +sir!"</p> + +<p>"Not any more, you're not!" snapped Connel. "You're +recalled as of now! Get this ship ready to blast off for +Venusport in five minutes!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-044.png" width="500" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_8" id="CHAPTER_8"></a>CHAPTER 8</h2> + + +<p>"Are you sure they went south, Astro?"</p> + +<p>Major Connel was examining a map of the Southern +Hemisphere of Venus. The three cadets were grouped +around him in the small control room of the jet ship.</p> + +<p>"I think so, sir," replied Astro. "I watched them circle +and then climb. There would be no reason to climb +unless they were going over the mountains."</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Tom?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir. The map doesn't show anything +but jungle for about a thousand square miles. Unless +there's a secret base somewhere between here and +there"—he placed his fingers on the map where the +Sharkey and Sinclair plantations were marked—"I don't +see where they could have gone."</p> + +<p>"Well, that must be the answer, then," sighed the +gruff spaceman. "Our alert to the patrol ships in this +area narrows it down. Nothing was spotted in the air. +And they couldn't have blasted off into space. All their +ships were low-flying stuff."</p> + +<p>Blasting off from the Sinclair plantation immediately, +the three cadets and the major had hoped to find the +operations base of the green-clad invaders, but the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>ships had disappeared. The ship they had captured +proved to be a freighter with no name and all identifying +marks removed. They had asked the Solar Guard +ship registry in Venusport to check on the vessel's title +but so far had received no answer.</p> + +<p>Now blasting back to Venusport at full speed, Connel +told the boys the real nature of his mission to Venus. +The boys were shocked, unable to believe that anyone, +or any group of persons, would dare to buck the authority +of the Solar Guard. Yet they had seen with their +own eyes a demonstration of the strength of the Nationalists. +Roger had sent a top-secret teleceiver message to +Commander Walters at Space Academy, requesting an +immediate conference with Connel, and had received +confirmation within a half-hour.</p> + +<p>"I think Captain Strong will be along too," said Roger +to Tom after Connel had retired to a compartment with +a recorder to transcribe a report of the affair at Sinclair's. +"The message said we were to prepare a full +report for consideration by Commander Walters, Professor +Sykes, and Captain Strong."</p> + +<p>"Boy," said the curly-haired cadet, "this thing is too +big for me to swallow. Imagine a bunch of dopes dressing +up in uniforms and burning a guy's buildings because +he wrote a letter to his delegate!"</p> + +<p>"I'd hate to be a member of that organization when +Commander Walters gets through with them," said +Roger in a slow drawl. "And particularly the guy that +ordered Connel blasted with that ray gun. Ten shots at +once! Wow! That guy must have nerves made of steel!"</p> + +<p>Within an hour the jet freighter was circling Venusport +and was given priority clearance for an immediate +landing. Immediately upon landing, the ship swarmed +with Solar Guardsmen, grim-faced men assigned to +guard it, while technicians checked the ship for identification. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>The three boys were still wearing the jungle +garb when they presented themselves to Major Connel +with the request for a little sleep.</p> + +<p>"Take an aspirin!" roared Connel. "We've got important +work to do!"</p> + +<p>"But, sir," said Roger, his eyes half-closed, "we're +dead on our feet! We've been out in the jungle for three +days and—"</p> + +<p>"Manning," interrupted the spaceman, "everything +you saw during that business back at Sinclair's might be +valuable. I'm sorry, but I'll have to insist that you talk +to the Solar Guard security officers first. As tired as you +are, you might forget something after a heavy sleep."</p> + +<p>There was little else the boys could do but follow the +burly officer out of the ship to a well-guarded jet cab +which took them through the streets of Venusport to +the Solar Guard headquarters.</p> + +<p>They rode the elevator to the conference room in silence, +each boy feeling at any moment that he would +collapse from exhaustion. In the long corridor they +passed tough-looking enlisted guardsmen who were +heavily armed, and before being allowed into the conference +room, they were scrutinized by a burly officer. +Finally inside, they were allowed to sit down in soft +chairs and were given hot cups of tea to drink while +precise, careful interrogators took down the story of +their first meeting with the Venusian Nationalists. They +were forced to repeat details many times, in the hope +that something new might be added. Groggy after +nearly two hours of this, the boys felt sure that the time +had come for them to be allowed to get some sleep, but +after the last question from the interrogators, they were +ushered into the presence of Commander Walters, Major +Connel, Professor Sykes, Captain Strong, and several +recording secretaries. Before the conference began, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>Delegate E. Philips James arrived with his personal secretary. +He offered his excuses for being late and took his +place at the long table. Tom shot a glance at the secretary. +The man looked vaguely familiar to him. The cadet +tried to place him, but he was so tired that he +could not think.</p> + +<p>"Major Connel," began Commander Walters abruptly, +"what do you consider the best possible move for the +Solar Guard to make? Under the present circumstances, +do you think we should undertake a full-scale investigation? +We talked to Al Sharkey, and while he admits +being head of an organization known as the Venusian +Nationalists, he denies any knowledge of any attack +on Sinclair such as you describe. And he claims to +have been in Venusport when the incident happened."</p> + +<p>Connel thought a moment. "I don't know about +Sharkey, but I don't think a public investigation should +be made yet. I think it would arouse a lot of speculation +and achieve no results."</p> + +<p>"Then you think we should move against them merely +on the basis of this encounter at the Sinclair plantation," +asked E. Philips James in his smoothest manner.</p> + +<p>Connel shook his head. "I think our best bet is to locate +their base. If we can nail them with solid evidence, +we'll have a good case to present before the Grand +Council of the Solar Alliance."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Major." James smiled. Behind him, +his secretary was busy transcribing the conversational +exchange on his audioscriber.</p> + +<p>"What would you require to locate the base?" asked +Walters.</p> + +<p>"I haven't worked out the details yet," said Connel, +"but a small expedition into the jungle would be better +than sending a regiment of guardsmen, or a fleet of +ships."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> +<p>"Do you have any idea where the base might be?" +Sykes suddenly spoke up. "Most of those men were supposed +to be planters who know the jungle well. Isn't it +possible that they might have their base well hidden +and a small party, such as you suggest, could cover too +little ground?"</p> + +<p>Connel turned to Astro. "Astro, do you know that section +of the belt?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Astro. "I hunted all over that area +when I was a boy." The big cadet went on to explain +how he had become so familiar with the jungle, and described +briefly their experience with the tyrannosaurus. +All of the men at the table were impressed by his knowledge +of jungle lore.</p> + +<p>"I gather you plan to take these cadets on your expedition, +Major," commented James.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do. They work well together and have already +been in the jungle," answered Connel.</p> + +<p>"What do you three boys think of the idea?" asked +Walters. "I don't have to remind you that you'll be up +against two kinds of danger: the jungle itself, and the +Nationalists."</p> + +<p>"We understand, sir," replied Tom, without even +waiting for his unit mates' quick nods.</p> + +<p>"There's another factor," Captain Strong broke in. +"You'll be giving up your leave. There won't be any extra +time off. Should this mission be completed before +the next term at the Academy begins, fine. But if not, +you'll have to return to work immediately."</p> + +<p>"We understand that too, sir," said Tom. "We're willing +to do anything we can. And if I might offer a personal +opinion"—he glanced at Astro and Roger—"I +think the <i>Polaris</i> unit appreciates the seriousness of the +situation and we agree with the major. A small party, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>especially ours, since we're already established as hunters, +would be less suspect than a larger one."</p> + +<p>"I think we all agree that the <i>Polaris</i> unit is qualified +for the mission, Corbett," said Walters, who saw +through Tom's eagerness to be assigned to go with the +major.</p> + +<p>The meeting broke up soon afterward. Connel remained +with Strong and Walters to work out the details +of the mission and to draft a top-secret report to the +Grand Council of the Solar Alliance.</p> + +<p>The three weary cadets were quartered in the finest +hotel in Venusport and had just stumbled into bed +when the room teleceiver signal buzzed. Tom shuffled +over to the screen near the table where the remains of a +huge supper gave mute evidence of their hunger. +Switching on the machine, he saw Strong's face come +into focus.</p> + +<p>"I hope you boys aren't too comfortable," announced +Strong. "I'm afraid the sleep you're so hungry for will +have to wait. This is an emergency!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" groaned Roger. "I can't understand why +emergencies come up every time I try to pound the pillow!"</p> + +<p>Astro fell back onto his bed with the look of a martyred +saint and groaned.</p> + +<p>"What is it, sir?" asked Tom, who was as tired as the +others. Nonetheless he felt the urgency in Strong's +voice.</p> + +<p>"You blast off in half an hour," said the Solar Guard +captain. "The <i>Polaris</i> has been refitted and you're to +check her over before returning to Sinclair's. Everything +has been prepared for you. Get dressed and you'll find +a jet cab waiting for you in front of the hotel. I had +hoped to see you again before you left, but I've been ordered +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>back to the Academy with Commander Walters. +We've got to report to the Solar Council, personally."</p> + +<p>"O.K., sir," said Tom, then smiled and added, "We're +sorry your fishing was interrupted."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't catching anything, anyway." Strong +laughed. "I've got to go. See you back at the Academy. +Spaceman's luck!"</p> + +<p>"Same to you, sir," replied Tom. The screen blurred +and the image faded as the connection was broken. +Tom turned to face his sleepy-eyed unit mates. "Well, I +guess we'd better take another aspirin. It looks like a +hard night!"</p> + +<p>Hastily donning fresh jungle gear supplied the night +before in anticipation of the mission, the three cadets +trouped wearily out of their rooms and rode down to +the lobby in the vacuum elevator. They walked across +the deserted lobby as though in a trance and outside to +the quiet street. A jet cab stood at the curb, the driver +watching them. He whistled sharply and waved at +them. "Hey, cadets! Over here!"</p> + +<p>Still in a fog, the three cadets climbed into the back +seat, flopping into the soft cushions with audible groans +as the cab shot away from the hotel and sped into the +main highway which led to the spaceport.</p> + +<p>The traffic was light and the cab zoomed along at a +smooth, fast clip, lulling the boys into a fitful doze. But +they were rudely awakened when the car spun into a +small country lane and the driver slammed on the +brakes. He whirled around and grinned at them over a +paralo-ray pistol. "Sorry, boys, the ride ends here. Now +climb out and start stripping."</p> + +<p>The three sleepy cadets came alive instantly. Without +a word they moved in three different directions simultaneously. +Tom dived for one door, Astro the other, +while Roger flopped to the floor. The driver fired, missing +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>all of them, and before he could fire again he was +jerked out of his seat and held in a viselike grip by Astro. +Tom quickly wrenched the paralo-ray gun from his +hand.</p> + +<p>"All right, you little space crawler," growled Astro, +"start talking!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-099.png" width="500" height="429" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Take it easy, Astro," said Tom. "How do you expect +him to talk when you've got him around the Adam's +apple!"</p> + +<p>"Yeah, you big ape," said Roger in a slow drawl. +"Find out what he has to say before you twist his head +off!"</p> + +<p>Astro released the man, pushing him against the cab +door and pinning him there.</p> + +<p>"Now let's have it," he growled. "What's this all +about?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<p>"I didn't mean any harm," whined the cab driver. "A +guy calls me and says for me to meet three Space Cadets."</p> + +<p>"What guy?" snapped Tom.</p> + +<p>"A guy I once knew when I was working the fields in +the jungle belt. I worked on a plantation as a digger."</p> + +<p>"What's his name?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"I don't know his name. He's just a guy. He calls me +and says it's worth a hundred credits to pick up three +Space Cadets from the hotel and hold 'em for an hour. +I figured the best way to hold you would be to make +you take your clothes off."</p> + +<p>"What did he look like?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"A little guy, with a bald head and a limp. That's all +I know—honest."</p> + +<p>"A limp, eh?" asked Tom. "A little fellow?"</p> + +<p>"How little?" asked Astro, getting the drift of Tom's +question.</p> + +<p>"Real little. About five feet maybe, not much more'n +that!"</p> + +<p>The three boys looked at each other and nodded.</p> + +<p>"The guy we bought our jungle gear from in the +pawnshop!" exclaimed Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," said Tom. "It sure sounds like him. But why +would he want to stop us? And more important, who +told him that Captain Strong was sending a cab for us?"</p> + +<p>They turned back to the cab driver for further explanation, +but the man was now actually crying with fright.</p> + +<p>"We won't get anything more out of this little creep," +said Astro. "Let's just turn him over to the Solar Guard +at the spaceport. They'll know how to handle him."</p> + +<p>"Right," Tom agreed. "We've lost enough time as +it is."</p> + +<p>"No, no—please!" moaned the cabman. "Lemme go! +Take the cab. Drive it to the spaceport and just leave it, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>but please don't turn me over to the Solar Guard. If I'm +seen with them, I'll be—" Suddenly the man darted to +one side, eluded Astro's lunge, and scampered away. In +a moment he was swallowed up in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Boy," breathed Astro, "he was sure scared of something!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom. "And I'm beginning to get a little +scared myself!"</p> + +<p>The cadets climbed into the cab and roared off toward +the spaceport, each boy with the feeling that he +was sitting on a smoldering volcano that was suddenly +starting to erupt around him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-022.png" width="500" height="151" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_9" id="CHAPTER_9"></a>CHAPTER 9</h2> + + +<p>"Rocket cruiser <i>Polaris</i> to Solar Guard Venusport! Request +emergency relay circuit to Commander Walters +en route Earth!"</p> + +<p>On the radar bridge of the <i>Polaris</i>, Roger Manning +spoke quickly into the teleceiver microphone. Just a few +minutes before the giant spaceship had blasted off from +Venusport, heading for the Sinclair plantation, Major +Connel had ordered Roger to get in touch with Walters +to report the latest security leak. On the control deck +the major paced back and forth restlessly as Tom guided +the <i>Polaris</i> on its short flight.</p> + +<p>"I'll find the spy in the Solar Guard if I have to tear +Venusport apart piece by piece!" fumed Connel.</p> + +<p>"What about that jet freighter we took away from the +Nationalists, sir?" asked Tom. "Did you ever find out +where it came from?"</p> + +<p>Connel nodded. "It was an old bucket on the Southern +Colonial run. She was reported lost last year. Somehow +those jokers got hold of her and armed her to the +teeth."</p> + +<p>"You think maybe the crew could have mutinied, +sir?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> +<p>"It's highly possible, Corbett," answered Connel, and +glanced around. "If they have any other ships of that +size, the <i>Polaris</i> will be able to handle them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir." Tom smiled. "The repair crew did a good +job on her." The cadet paused. "Do you suppose one of +the Nationalists planted that bomb on her fin?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," replied Connel. "And it seems to tie +in with a rather strange thing that happened in the Venusian +Delegate's office the day before it happened."</p> + +<p>"What was that, sir?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Three priority orders for seats aboard a Venusport—Atom +City express were stolen. Before a check could be +made, the ship had made its run and the people using +the priorities were gone. They must have been the ones +that bumped you off your seats."</p> + +<p>"How do you think that ties in with the bomb on the +<i>Polaris</i>, sir?"</p> + +<p>"We're trying to figure that out now," said Connel. +"If only we knew what they looked like it would help. +The girl at the ticket office doesn't remember them and +neither does the ship's stewardess."</p> + +<p>"But we saw them, sir!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"You what!" roared Connel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. We were standing there at the ticket counter +when they called for their tickets."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you'd recognize them again?"</p> + +<p>"I'll say!" asserted Tom. "And I'm sure Astro and +Roger would, too. We were so mad, we could have +blasted them on the spot."</p> + +<p>Connel turned to the intercom and shouted, "Manning, +haven't you got that circuit through yet?"</p> + +<p>"Working on it, sir." Roger's voice was smooth and +unruffled over the intercom. "I'm in contact with the +commander's ship now. They're calling him to the radar +bridge now."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<p>Tom suddenly jumped out of his seat as though stung. +"Say! I saw one of the fellows again too!"</p> + +<p>Connel whirled quickly to face the young cadet. +"Where?" he demanded. "Where did you see him?"</p> + +<p>"I—I'm trying to remember." Tom began pacing the +deck, snapping his fingers impatiently. "It was sometime +during the past few days—I know it was!"</p> + +<p>"In Venusport?" demanded Connel, following Tom +around the deck.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir—"</p> + +<p>"Before or after your trip into the jungle?"</p> + +<p>"Uhh—before, I think," Tom replied hesitantly. "No. +No. <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'it'.">It</ins> was after we came back."</p> + +<p>"Well, out with it, Corbett!" exploded the major. +"When? Where? You didn't do that much visiting! You +were too tired to move!"</p> + +<p>"That's just it, sir," said Tom, shaking his head. "I +was so tired everything was a blur. Faces are all mixed +up. I—I—" The boy stopped and put his hands to his +head as though trying to squeeze the one vital face out +of his hazy memory.</p> + +<p>Connel kept after him like a hungry, stalking animal. +"Where, Corbett? When?" he shouted. "You've got to +remember. This is important! Think, blast you!"</p> + +<p>"I'm trying, sir," replied the cadet. "But it just won't +come to me."</p> + +<p>The buzz of the intercom suddenly sounded and +Connel reluctantly left Tom to answer it. Roger's voice +crackled over the speaker. "I have Commander Walters +now, sir. Feeding him down to the control-deck teleceiver."</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right," replied Connel and turned to Tom. +"Come on, Corbett. I want you to report to the commander +personally."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Tom, walking slowly to the teleceiver. +"I'm sorry I can't remember where I saw that +man."</p> + +<p>"Forget it," Connel said gruffly. "It'll come to you +again sometime." He paused and then added as gently +as he could, "Sorry I blasted you like that."</p> + +<p>When Commander Walters' face appeared on the +teleceiver screen, Connel reported the incident of the +cab driver and the news that Tom, Roger, and Astro +had seen the three men who had taken the priorities on +the <i>Venus Lark</i>.</p> + +<p>"Just a minute," said Walters. "I'll have a recorder +take down the descriptions."</p> + +<p>Connel motioned to Tom, who stepped before the +screen. When he saw Walters nod, he gave a complete +description of the three men he had seen in the Atom +City spaceport.</p> + +<p>"Let's see, now," said Walters, after Tom had concluded +his report. "The man who asked for the tickets +was young, about twenty-two, dressed in Venusian +clothing, dark, six feet tall, weighed about one hundred +and fifty pounds. Right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>Connel suddenly stepped before the screen to interject, +"And Corbett saw him in Venusport again sometime +during the last two days."</p> + +<p>"Really? Where?"</p> + +<p>Connel glanced at Tom and then replied hurriedly, +"Well, he can't be sure, sir. We rushed him around +pretty fast and he saw a lot of people. But at least we +know he's in Venusport somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded Walters. "That's something to work +on, at least. And you have nothing more to add to the +descriptions of the other two, Corbett?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> +<p>"Not anything particular, sir," said Tom. "They were +dressed in Venusian-type clothes also, but we didn't get +a close look at them."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Walters. "Proceed with your mission, +Major. I'll have an alert sent out for the cab driver, +and I'll have the owner of the pawnshop picked up. +There must be someone on the Solar Delegate's staff +who stole those priorities. We'll start searching there +first, and if we come up with anyone who can't explain +his absence from Venusport at the time the priorities +were used, and fits Corbett's description, we'll contact +you. End transmission!"</p> + +<p>"End transmission!" repeated Connel. The screen +blanked out and Roger's voice came over the intercom +immediately. "We'll be over Sinclair's in three minutes," +he called. "Stand by."</p> + +<p>Tom turned to the controls and in exactly two minutes +and fifty seconds the clearing surrounding Sinclair's +home and the burned outbuildings came into +view. Working effortlessly, with almost casual teamwork, +the three cadets brought the giant spaceship to +rest in the middle of the clearing. As the power was cut, +the cadets saw George and Mrs. Hill jumping into a jet +car and speeding out to greet them.</p> + +<p>After Tom introduced Connel to the couple, the major +questioned them closely about their absence during +the attack by the shock troops.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sinclair often gives us time off for a trip into +Venusport," explained Hill. "It <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'get's'.">gets</ins> pretty lonely out +here."</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Sinclair in now?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"No, he isn't," replied the plantation foreman. "He's +on his weekly trip around the outer fields. I don't expect +him back for another day or two."</p> + +<p>"For goodness sakes," exclaimed Mrs. Hill, "you can +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>ask your questions just as easily and a darn sight more +comfortably in the house! Come on. Let's get out of the +sun."</p> + +<p>The small group climbed into the jet car and roared +off across the clearing toward the house. The lone building +left standing by the Nationalists looked strange +amid the charred ruins of the other buildings. In the +house, the three cadets busied themselves with home-baked +apple pie which the housekeeper had brought +out, while Connel was telling George of the attack on +the plantation.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-107.png" width="500" height="423" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"I've known about them all along, of course," said the +foreman. "But I never paid any attention to them. I just +quit, like Mr. Sinclair, when they started all that tomfoolery +about wearing uniforms and stuff."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> +<p>"Well," said Connel, accepting a wedge of pie at Mrs. +Hill's insistence, "now they've made the wrong move. +Burning Sinclair's property and attacking an officer of +the Solar Guard is going too far."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do about it?" asked George.</p> + +<p>"I'm not at liberty to say, Mr. Hill," replied Connel. +"But I can tell you this. When any person, or group of +persons, tries to dictate to the Alliance, the Solar Guard +steps in and puts a stop to it!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the silence of the jungle clearing was shattered +by the roar of a single jet craft coming in for a +landing. Without looking out the window, George +smiled and said, "There's Mr. Sinclair now! I know the +sound of his jets."</p> + +<p>The group crowded out onto the front porch while +George took the jet car and drove off to pick up his employer. +A few moments later Sinclair was seated before +Connel, wiping his sweating brow and accepting a cool +drink from Mrs. Hill.</p> + +<p>"I was on my way to the north boundary when I saw +your ship landing," explained Sinclair. "At first I +thought it might be those devils coming back, but then +I saw the Solar Guard insigne on the ship and figured +it might be you." He looked at Connel closely. "Anything +new, Major?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," replied Connel. "But you can rest assured +that you won't be bothered by them again."</p> + +<p>Sinclair paused, eying the major speculatively. "You +know, as soon as you left, I went over to talk to Al +Sharkey. I was plenty mad and really blasted him, but +he swears that he was in Venusport at the time and +doesn't know a thing about the raid."</p> + +<p>Connel nodded. "That's true. We checked on him. +But while he might not have been in on the raid itself, +there's nothing that says he didn't order it done!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> +<p>"I doubt it," said Sinclair, with a queer apologetic +note in his voice. "I'm inclined to believe that it was +nothing more than a bunch of the younger, more hotheaded +kids in the organization. As a matter of fact, +Sharkey told me he was quitting as president. Seems +you fellows in Venusport scared him plenty. Not only +that, but I heard him calling up the other planters telling +them what happened and every one of them is chipping +in to rebuild my plantation."</p> + +<p>Connel looked at the planter steely-eyed. "So you +think it was done by a bunch of kids, huh?"</p> + +<p>Sinclair nodded. "Wouldn't be surprised if they're +not scared too!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you are entitled to your opinion, Mr. Sinclair. +And if the other planters are going to rebuild your +buildings, that's fine and charitable of them." Suddenly +Connel's voice became harsh. "That does not, however, +erase the fact that a group of uniformed men, armed +with paralo-ray guns and with ships equipped with +blasters, attacked you! Atomic blasters, Mr. Sinclair, +are not bought at the local credit exchange. They are +made exclusively for the Solar Guard! That bunch of +hotheaded kids, as you call them, are capable of attacking +any community—even ships of the Solar Guard itself! +That is a threat to the peace of the solar system +and must be stopped!"</p> + +<p>Sinclair nodded quickly. "Oh, I agree, Major, I agree. +I'm just saying that—"</p> + +<p>Connel stopped him. "I understand, Mr. Sinclair. +You're a peaceful man and want to keep your life peaceful. +But my job is to ensure that peace. As long as a +group of militant toughs like we had here are on the +loose, you won't have peace. You'll have pieces!"</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, and Astro, sitting quietly and listening, +felt like standing up and cheering as the major finished.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> +<p>"I know you can't tell me what you're going to do, +Major Connel," said the planter, "but I hope that you'll +allow me to help in any way I can."</p> + +<p>Connel hesitated before answering. "Thank you, Mr. +Sinclair. But I'm not here officially now." And then he +added, "Nor in regard to the Nationalists."</p> + +<p>Sinclair's eyes lit up slightly. "Oh?"</p> + +<p>"No. As you know, the cadets had quite a time with a +tyrannosaurus. They wounded it and it might still be +dangerous. That is, more dangerous than normally. I've +got orders to track him down and finish him off."</p> + +<p>"But I thought you said you were going to put a stop +to this business with the Nationalists," said the planter.</p> + +<p>"I said the Solar Guard would, Sinclair."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," mumbled Sinclair, "the Solar Guard. Of +course."</p> + +<p>Connel got up abruptly. "I would appreciate it if you +would look after our ship, though," he said. "I don't +think we'll be longer than a week. Shouldn't be hard to +track a tyrannosaurus, especially if it's wounded."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have all the equipment you need," +said Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank you," replied Connel. Then, thanking +Mrs. Hill for the refreshments, the burly spaceman and +the three cadets said good-by and left the house.</p> + +<p>An hour later, ready to strike off into the jungle, the +Solar Guard officer took four of the latest model shock +rifles out of the arms locker of the <i>Polaris</i> and gave one +to each boy with extra ammunition. "Never go after a +giant with a popgun," he said. "It's a wonder you didn't +kill yourselves with those old blasters you used, let +alone kill a tyranno."</p> + +<p>The three cadets examined the rifles closely and with +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"These are the latest Solar Guard issue," said Connel. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"When you pull that trigger, you release a force three +times greater than anything put into a rifle before."</p> + +<p>Then, checking the <i>Polaris</i> and cutting all power, +Connel removed the master switch and hid it. "That's +so no one will get any bright ideas while we're gone," +he explained as the boys watched curiously.</p> + +<p>"You think someone might try to steal her, sir?" asked +Tom.</p> + +<p>"You never can tell, Corbett," answered Connel noncommittally.</p> + +<p>Once again the three boys moved across the clearing +toward the jungle wall. Astro took the lead as before, +followed by Roger and Tom, and Connel brought up +the rear. They moved directly to the spot where they +had last seen the tyrannosaurus, found the trampled +underbrush and massive tracks, and moved purposefully +into the dank, suffocating green world.</p> + +<p>The trail was plain to see. Where the boys once had +to hack their way through the thick underbrush, the +monster had created a path for them. The three cadets +felt better about being back in the jungle with more reliable +equipment and joked about what they would do +to the tyrannosaurus when they saw it again.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were supposed to be the home-grown +Venusian hick that could manage in the jungle like that +fairy-tale character, Tarzan," Roger teased Astro.</p> + +<p>"Listen, you sleepwalking space Romeo," growled +Astro, "I know more about this jungle than you could +learn in ten years. And I'm not foolish enough to battle +with a tyranno with the odds on his side. I ran for a +good reason!"</p> + +<p>"Boy, did you run!" taunted Roger. "You were as fast +as the <i>Polaris</i> on emergency thrust!"</p> + +<p>"Knock off that rocket wash!" roared Connel. "The +Nationalists might have security patrols in this area. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>They could hear you talking and blast you before you +could bat an eyelash! Now keep quiet and stay alert!"</p> + +<p>The three cadets quieted down after that, walking +carefully, stepping around dead brush that might betray +their presence. After working their way along the +tyrannosaurus's trail for several hours, Connel called a +halt, and after a quick look at his compass, motioned for +them to cut away from the monster's tracks.</p> + +<p>"We'll start working around in a circle," he said. "One +day east, one south, west, and north. Then we'll move +in closer to the heart of the circle, and repeat the same +procedure. That should cover a lot of ground in eight +days. If anything's moving around out here, besides +what should be here, we'll find it. From now on, we'll +have a scout. Astro, you know the jungle, you take the +point, about five hundred yards ahead. If you see anything, +signs of a patrol or any danger from the jungle, +fall back and report. Don't try to do anything yourself. +Four guns in a good position are better than one popping +off by itself."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," said Astro. With a quick nod to Tom +and Roger, he moved off through the jungle. In ten feet +he was invisible. In thirty seconds his footsteps were +lost in the thousands of jungle sounds around them.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the lead now," said Connel. "Corbett, you +bring up the rear. All right, move out!"</p> + +<p>From above, in the leafy roof covering the jungle; +from the side, in the thick tangle of vines; and from below, +in the thorny underbrush, the eyes of living things, +jungle things, followed the movements of the three +spacemen, perhaps wondering if these new beasts were +a threat to their lives.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a>CHAPTER 10</h2> + + +<p>"Hal-loo-ooo!"</p> + +<p>Astro's voice boomed out over the tops of the trees, +where the birds fluttered in sudden fright. It echoed +through the darkness around him, where smaller creatures +crawled and slithered into the protection of their +holes. The voice of the big cadet was loud, but it was +not loud enough for his mates to hear.</p> + +<p>Astro was lost.</p> + +<p>He couldn't understand how it had happened. Over +and over during the past six hours he had retraced his +steps mentally, trying to visualize the trail, trying to locate +the telltale marks he had made with his jungle +knife, and so find Major Connel, Tom, and Roger. It +was dark now and the big cadet had to face the dangerous +jungle alone. He laughed ironically. Connel had +given him the point because he knew the jungle! And +now he was lost.</p> + +<p>Astro was a little frightened too. It was his frank realization +of trouble that made him afraid. He knew what +was in the jungle, and though he had been there alone +before, he had never been in it as deeply as this, nor +had he ever been lost in the nightmarish place after +sundown.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<p>While he was desperately anxious to find his unit +mates, he had not fired his rifle. The threat of exposing +his position to a possible Nationalist patrol prevented +him from signaling with the blaster or even from building +a fire. During the last hours of the day, when the +suspicion that he was lost became a concrete fact, the +big cadet had been reluctant even to yell. Now, with +pitch-black night closing around him, he dared to call, +hoping it would be heard and recognized by his friends, +or if not, considered the howl of a jungle beast by an +enemy patrol should one be near.</p> + +<p>He stood with his back against the rough bark of a +teakwood tree to protect his rear and to face out toward +the pitch-black night. More than once the big cadet felt +the sudden ripple of a crawling thing moving around +him, across his toes or down the tree trunk. There was a +sudden thrashing in the underbrush near by and he +brought the shock rifle up quickly, ears tuned for the +growl, or scream, or hiss of an attacking beast.</p> + +<p>The luminous dial of his watch showed it to be three +thirty in the morning, two and a half hours to go before +the sun would drive the fearful darkness away. He had +been calling every five minutes. And every time he +shouted, the movements in the darkness around him increased.</p> + +<p>"Hal-loo-ooo!"</p> + +<p>He waited, turning his head from one side to the +other, intent on the sounds that came from a distance; +the answering call of the waddling ground bird that +had confused him at first until he recognized it; the +shrill scream of the tiny swamp hog; the distant chattering +of the monkeylike creatures in the treetops. But +there was no sound from a human throat.</p> + +<p>Astro called again and again. The seconds dragged +by into minutes, the minutes into an hour, and then two +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>hours, and finally, as every muscle in his body ached +from standing backed up to the tree all night and holding +his rifle on alert, the gray murky dawn broke over +the jungle and he began to see the green of the jungle +around him. When the sun at last broke over the Venusian +horizon, the night's frost on the leaves and bushes +danced and glittered like jewels.</p> + +<p>He washed his face in a near-by pool, careful not to +drink any of the water. He opened a can of synthetic +food, and after eating his fill, cleared away the brush +down to the naked black soil and banking it high on all +sides he stretched full length on the ground. He dared +not sleep. Hungry animals were moving about freely +now. A paralo-ray gun and the rifle, both cocked and +ready to fire, were held in his hands. He relaxed as completely +as he could, idly watching the mother of a brood +of the anthropoids scamper through the branches of +the trees overhead, bringing her squalling young their +breakfast. An hour later, refreshed, he started through +the jungle again, eyes open for signs of recent activity, +human activity, for the big cadet wanted to return to +his comrades.</p> + +<p>Stopping occasionally to climb a tree, Astro searched +the sky above the treetops for smoke that would mark a +campsite. He felt that sure if there was any, he would +find Roger, Tom, and Connel, since a Nationalist patrol +wouldn't advertise its presence in the jungle. But there +were no smoke signs. The top of the jungle stretched +green and still as far as he could see, steaming under +the burning rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>Astro knew that it would be impossible to spend another +night like the first in the jungle, so after searching +through the forest until three in the afternoon, he +stopped, opened another can of synthetic food, and ate. +He was used to being alone now. The first wave of fear +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>had left him and he was beginning to remember things +he knew as a young boy; jungle signs that warned him +of dangers, the quick identification of the animal cries, +and the knowledge of the habits of the jungle creatures.</p> + +<p>After eating, he took his jungle knife and hacked at a +long, tough vine, yanking it down from its lofty tangle. +He started weaving it into a tight oblong basket and +two hours later, just before the sun dropped into the +jungle for the night, he was finished. He had a seven-foot +bag woven tightly and pulled together with a small +opening at one end. Just before the sky darkened, the +big cadet crawled into this makeshift sleeping bag, +pulled the opening closed with a tight draw cord, and +in thirty seconds was asleep. Nothing would be able to +bite through the tough vine matting, and the chances of +a larger beast accidentally stepping on him were small. +Nevertheless, Astro had pulled the bag close to a huge +tree and placed it deep between the swollen roots.</p> + +<p>He awoke with a start. The ground was shaking violently. +He was sweating profusely and judged that it +must be late in the morning with the sun beating directly +on him. Carefully he opened the end of the makeshift +sleeping bag and peered out. He gasped and +reached for his shock rifle, bringing it up into firing position. +The sight that confronted him was at once horrifying +and fascinating. A hundred yards away, a giant +snake, easily a hundred feet long and five feet thick, +was wrapped around a raging tyrannosaurus. The monsters +were in a fight to death. Astro shuddered and +pulled back into the bag, keeping the blaster aimed at +the two struggling beasts.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 307px;"> +<img src="images/ill-117.png" width="307" height="500" alt="Astro kept his blaster aimed at the monsters" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Astro kept his blaster aimed at the monsters</span> +</div> + +<p>The big cadet deduced that the snake must have +been surprised in its feeding by the tyrannosaurus, and +was trying to defend itself. There wasn't a living thing +in the jungle that would deliberately attack a tyrannosaurus. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Only man, with his intelligence and deadly +weapons, could win over the brute force and cunning of +the jungle giant. And even that had failed with this +monster. Astro quickly saw it was the same beast that +had chased the three cadets out of the jungle!</p> + +<p>With three coils wrapped around the tyrannosaurus's +body, the snake was trying to wrap a fourth around its +neck and strangle it, but the monster was too wily. +Rearing back, it suddenly fell to the ground, its weight +crushing the three coils around its middle. The snake +jerked spasmodically, stunned, as the tyrannosaurus +scrambled up again. The ground trembled and branches +were ripped from near-by trees. All around the jungle +had been leveled. Everything fell before the thrashing +monsters.</p> + +<p>Recovering, the snake's head darted in again, trying +to circle the tyrannosaurus's head and complete the last +and fatal coil, but the giant beast lunged, its massive +jaws snapping, and the snake drew back. Suddenly its +tail lashed out and circled the left legs of the tyrannosaurus. +Astro could see the beast straining against the +sudden pressure, at the same time alert for the swooping +head of the snake. The pressure on the leg was too +great, and the beast fell to the ground, giving the snake +a momentary advantage. Its head darted in again, but +the tyrannosaurus drew its head into its narrow shoulders, +then shot out again as the snake missed. Astro saw +the snake quiver and jerk back as the tyrannosaurus +clamped its jaws closed and bit a chunk out of the +green, scaly body.</p> + +<p>The snake had enough. It wanted to get away, to slip +to the top of the tallest tree in the forest, out of reach of +the tyrannosaurus, and wait for the wound to heal or +for death to come. It unwound in a maddened convulsive +movement and slithered toward the tree where +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>Astro lay. But the monster was after it, immediately +grabbing it by the tail and jerking it back. The snake +was forced to turn and fight back.</p> + +<p>Astro knew that if the snake could get away it would +head for the teakwood above his head, the highest tree +around, and the tyrannosaurus would stamp the ground +around its base into powder. He had to move!</p> + +<p>A hundred feet to the left was a wild thicket of +ground thorns, their needlelike tips bristling. Even the +snake would stay away from them. It was his only +chance should the snake get loose from the tyrannosaurus +again. Making up his mind quickly, the cadet +opened the end of the sleeping bag and shoved his +weapons out before him. Then hugging the ground, he +dashed across the clearing. This gave the tyrannosaurus +its final advantage. The snake pulled back, momentarily +attracted by Astro's move, and the tyrannosaurus +struck, catching the snake just behind the head in a +grip of death.</p> + +<p>The thorns ripped at Astro's tight-fitting jungle dress, +tearing into his flesh as he dove into the thicket. But +once inside the cadet lay still, pointing his rifle at the +tyrannosaurus who was methodically finishing off the +giant snake. In a few seconds the snake was dead and +the tyrannosaurus began to feast.</p> + +<p>Astro stayed in the thicket, watching the monster devour +nearly all of the dead reptile foe and then rise up +and move off through the jungle. Astro knew that in no +time the scavengers of the jungle would be swarming +over the remains of the snake. Once again he had to +move.</p> + +<p>Getting out of the thicket was painful. From every +direction the thorns jabbed at him, and but for the +toughness of his jungle suit, Astro would have been +ripped to shreds. After easing his way back into the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>clearing, the cadet pulled out the remains of his jungle +pack. He then saw that his suit was torn to ribbons, and +the many slashes on his chest and arms were bleeding +profusely. The scent of the blood would attract the carnivorous +creatures, so he stripped off the bloody jungle +suit, dropping it back in the thicket, and hurried away. +A short time later he came to a water hole where he +sponged himself off and applied medication from his +emergency kit to the scratches. Finished, he took stock. +The night's sleep had refreshed him, and except for the +loss of his protective clothing, he was in good shape. He +shouldered the pack, strapped the paralo-ray gun to his +hips, and gripping the rifle tightly, he moved off +through the jungle once more. He decided to follow the +tyrannosaurus. The beast would leave a path for him, +saving him the effort of hacking his way through the +vines and creepers, and should an enemy patrol be out, +it would stay away from the tyrannosaurus. Finally, he +knew Tom, Roger, and Connel would go after the beast +if they saw it.</p> + +<p>The sun shone down on the half-naked giant moving +through the jungle, a new white-skinned animal who +was braver than the rest, a creature who dared to trail +the king of the jungle.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It's all my fault!" said Connel disgustedly. "I should +have been able to read his trail signs."</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer. He pulled the straps of his jungle +pack tighter and slung it over his shoulder. Roger +stood to one side, watching Major Connel. Both boys +sensed what was coming.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is the last day we can spend searching for +him," said Connel. "We've already lost two days."</p> + +<p>Roger glanced at Tom and said casually, "It wouldn't +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>hurt to keep our eyes open for signs of him, would it, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Now listen, boys," said Connel firmly, "I know how +you feel about Astro. I have to admit I have a liking for +the lad myself. But we've been sent out here to locate +the base of operations of the Nationalists. The best way +to do that is to work around the jungle in a given area. +We haven't done that so far. We've put all our time and +effort into a random search for Astro. We can't signal +him, build a fire, shoot off a blaster—or use any of the +simple communication devices. We have to work under +cover, for fear of giving away our presence here in the +jungle." He slung his gear over his shoulder and added, +"We'll continue our search for Astro until noon and +then we simply will have to abandon it. And stop worrying +about him. He's a big strong lad and he's been in +this jungle alone before. I have every confidence that +he can make his way back to Sinclair's plantation +safely."</p> + +<p>The Solar Guard officer paused and looked at the two +downcast cadets before him. "None of that sulking +business!" he growled. "You're cadets on an urgent mission. +Now move out. I'll take the point first and you +bring up the rear, Corbett." Without another word, the +burly spaceman turned and moved off through the jungle.</p> + +<p>Roger hung back to talk to Tom. "What do you think, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>Tom shook his head before answering. "He's right, +Roger. We're on a job. It's the same here in the jungle +as it is in space. We know that something is liable to +happen to any one of us at any time. And the mission +always comes first."</p> + +<p>Roger nodded. "Sure, that's the way it is in the book. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>But this is real. That big hick might be hurt—or +trapped. Maybe he needs our help!"</p> + +<p>"I know how you feel, Roger," replied Tom. "I want +to take off and hunt for Astro myself, but Connel needs +us. Don't forget that bunch of guys in uniforms back at +Sinclair's. Commander Walters and the others don't +hold conferences like that one back in Venusport for +the fun of it. This is serious."</p> + +<p>Roger shrugged and started off after Connel, Tom +following slowly behind. Their march through the jungle +was made in silence, each hoping for a miracle. But +as the sun grew higher and the deadline hour of noon +approached, they steeled themselves to the fact that +they might never see the Venusian cadet again. A short +time later, when Tom was taking his turn at cutting the +trail through the brush, he broke through into a clearing. +He stopped and called out, "Major! Roger! Quick!"</p> + +<p>Connel and the blond-haired cadet rushed forward, +stopping beside Tom to stare in amazement. Before +them, a large area of the jungle was pounded down and +lying amidst the tangle of giant creepers and uprooted +bushes was the remains of a giant snake.</p> + +<p>"By the rings of Saturn!" gasped Connel, walking forward +to inspect the clearing. Tom and Roger followed, +breaking to the side, their rifles at ready. The two boys +had become jungle-wise quickly and knew that death +lurked behind the wall of green surrounding the cleared +area.</p> + +<p>"It must have been some fight!" Connel pointed to +the tracks of the tyrannosaurus. "The tyranno must +have stumbled on the snake while it was feeding," said +Connel. "Otherwise it would have lit out for that tree +over there." He pointed to the giant teakwood that Astro +had slept under. The three spacemen saw the makeshift +sleeping bag at the same time.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> +<p>"Major! Look!" cried Tom and raced to the base of +the tree.</p> + +<p>"It's Astro's, all right," said Connel, examining the +woven bag. "I wonder if he was here when those two +things were going after each other."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Roger in a choked whisper, "he was." +He pointed to the ragged remains of Astro's jungle suit +dangling on the near-by thornbush. The blood was stiff +on the material.</p> + +<p>The three Earthmen stared at the suit, each too horrified +to speak.</p> + +<p>Connel's face was set in hard lines as he finally found +his voice and growled, "Our search is over. Let's get +back to our job."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-123.png" width="500" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a>CHAPTER 11</h2> + + +<p>It was not until late the same afternoon that Astro, following +the trail of the tyrannosaurus, realized that the +giant beast was seriously hurt. At first the traces of +blood on the ground and underbrush were slight, but +gradually the blood spots became more profuse and the +trail was covered with huge blotches of red. The Venusian +cadet grew more cautious. The tyrannosaurus +would be ten times as dangerous now. And it might be +close by, lying in the jungle, licking its wounds.</p> + +<p>As the sun began to sink in the western Venusian sky, +Astro began to think about the coming night. He would +have to hole up. He couldn't chance stumbling into the +beast in the dark. But it would also mean taking time to +make another sleeping bag. Suddenly he saw a movement +in the brush to his left. He dropped to the ground +and aimed the shock rifle in that direction, eyes probing +the green tangle for further movement.</p> + +<p>"Make one move and you'll die!" a harsh voice cut +through the jungle. Astro remained still, his eyes darting +to left and right, trying to locate the owner of the +voice.</p> + +<p>"Throw down your gun and stand up with your +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>hands over your head!" came another voice, this one +immediately behind him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 399px;"> +<img src="images/ill-125.png" width="399" height="500" alt="His eyes probed the jungle for further movement" title="" /> +<span class="caption">His eyes probed the jungle for further movement</span> +</div> + +<p>A patrol! Astro swore at himself for blindly walking +into a trap and dropped his gun. He stood up and raised +his hands over his head, turning slowly.</p> + +<p>"Don't turn around! Stand still!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> +<p>Astro stopped.</p> + +<p>He could hear the rustle of movement in the underbrush +behind him and then someone called, "Circle +around to the right. Spread out and see if there are any +others!"</p> + +<p>Off to the side, he could hear the crashing of footsteps +moving away in the jungle.</p> + +<p>"All right," continued the unknown voice, "drop that +paralo-ray pistol to the ground. But no smart tricks. We +can see you and you can't see us, so take it easy and do +as we say."</p> + +<p>Astro lowered his hands and unbuckled the gun belt, +letting it fall to the ground. There was a sudden burst +of movement behind him and powerful arms gripped +his wrists. Within seconds his hands were tied quickly +and expertly, and he was spun around to face his captors.</p> + +<p>There were ten men, all dressed in the same green +uniforms and plastic headgear he had seen at the Sinclair +plantation. They stood in a semicircle around him, +their guns leveled at his naked chest. The leader of the +party nudged the nearest man and commented, "Never +thought I'd see any animal like this in the jungle!" The +other men laughed appreciatively.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" the leader demanded. "What are you +doing here?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Astro," replied the big cadet boldly. +"I'm a Space Cadet, <i>Polaris</i> unit, Space Academy, +U.S.A. I'm here in the jungle with the rest of my unit +hunting tyrannosaurus."</p> + +<p>"Tyranno, eh?" queried the man. "How long have +you been trailing this one?"</p> + +<p>"Just today. I saw him fight a big snake and lost my +jungle gear in a thicket where I was hiding. I was separated +from my space buddies two days ago."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> +<p>"Say, Helia," suddenly called one of the other men, +"he sounds like a Venusian."</p> + +<p>"Is that true?" asked the leader. "Are you from Venus?"</p> + +<p>Astro nodded. "Venusport."</p> + +<p>"Then why are you in Space Academy?"</p> + +<p>"I want to be a spaceman."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you go to school on Venus, instead of +Earth. We have good space schools here."</p> + +<p>"I want a commission in the Solar Guard. You can +only get that through the Academy," replied Astro +stoutly.</p> + +<p>"Solar Guard!" snorted the leader, and then turned to +the nearest man, speaking rapidly in a strange tongue.</p> + +<p>For a moment the language confused Astro, then he +recognized it as the ancient Venusian dialect. He understood +it and started to answer, but then, on second +thought, he decided not to reveal his knowledge of the +language.</p> + +<p>The leader turned back to Astro and asked a question.</p> + +<p>Astro shook his head and said, "If you're talking to +me, you have to speak English. I know that's the Venusian +dialect you're speaking, but I never learned it."</p> + +<p>The leader's fist shot out and crashed against Astro's +jaw. The big cadet rocked back with the punch and +then he lunged forward, straining against his bonds.</p> + +<p>"Why, you—!" he exploded angrily.</p> + +<p>"That was for not being a true Venusian!" snapped +the leader. "Every son of Venus should understand his +mother tongue!"</p> + +<p>Astro bit his lip and fell silent.</p> + +<p>The leader turned away, and shouting a command, +started off through the jungle. Astro knew that the patrol +had been ordered to move out, but he stood still, +waiting for them to push him. They did. A hard jab in +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>his naked side with the butt of a gun sent him stumbling +forward in the center of the patrol.</p> + +<p>Well, there was one consolation, he thought grimly. +At least he wouldn't have to spend the night out in the +jungle alone again!</p> + +<p>Astro had expected a long march, but to his surprise, +he was pushed along a well-worn jungle trail for only +three hundred yards in from the tyrannosaurus's track. +Finally they stopped before a huge teakwood tree. The +leader pounded his rifle butt on the trunk three times.</p> + +<p>Mystified, Astro watched a small section of the trunk +open to reveal a modern vacuum-tube elevator shaft. +He was pushed inside with the men of the patrol and +the tree-trunk door was closed. The leader pushed a +lever and the car dropped so suddenly that Astro nearly +lost his balance. He judged that they must have fallen +two hundred feet when the car stopped and another +door opened. He was pushed out into a high-vaulted +tunnel with cement walls.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up!" snapped the leader.</p> + +<p>The big cadet moved along the tunnel, followed by +the patrol, turning from one tunnel into another, all of +them slanting downhill. Astro guessed that he was being +taken to some subterranean cave. He asked his captors +where they were taking him.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk!" snapped one of the men at his side.</p> + +<p>"This jungle will be swarming with Solar Guardsmen +once they discover I'm lost," said Astro. "Who are you +and what are you holding me prisoner for?" The big +cadet decided it would be better to feign ignorance of +the existence of the rebel organization.</p> + +<p>"Let the Solar Guard come!" snapped the leader. +"They'll find something they never expected."</p> + +<p>"But what do you want with <i>me</i>?" asked the cadet.</p> + +<p>"You'll know soon enough!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> +<p>They had been walking for nearly an hour and the +tunnels still slanted downward but more sharply now. +Turning into a much larger tunnel than any of the rest, +Astro noticed a huge door on one side. Through its +crystal-covered ports he saw racks of illegal heat blasters +and paralo-ray guns. A man stepped out of the door, +and raising his hand in a form of salute, called out a few +words in the Venusian tongue. Astro recognized it as a +greeting, "Long live Venusians!" and <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'surpressed'.">suppressed</ins> a smile.</p> + +<p>One by one, the men of the patrol handed over their +rifles and ray guns, while the man in the armory +checked off their names. Then they all removed their +knee-length jungle boots and traded their plastic helmets +for others of the same design but of a lighter material. +Each man turned his back while switching helmets, +obviously to avoid being recognized by any of the +others, since the new helmet was also frosted except for +a slit at eye level. Wearing the lighter headgear and +common street shoes, the men continued their march +through the tunnel. They passed into a still larger tunnel, +and for the first time, Astro could see daylight. As +they drew nearer to the mouth of the tunnel, the cadet +could see outside, and the scene before him made him +gasp for breath.</p> + +<p>A full twenty miles long and fifteen miles wide, a +canyon stretched before him. And it seemed to the big +cadet that every square inch of the canyon floor was occupied +by buildings and spaceships. Hundreds of green-clad +men were moving around the ships and buildings.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" gasped Astro as the patrol +paused in the mouth of the tunnel. "What—what is +this?"</p> + +<p>"The first city of Venus. True Venus. Built by Venusians +with Venusian materials only!" said the leader +proudly. "There's the answer to your Solar Guard!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> +<p>"I don't understand," said Astro. "What are you going +to do?"</p> + +<p>"You'll see." The man chuckled. "You'll see. Move +on!"</p> + +<p>As they trooped out of the tunnel and down into the +canyon they passed groups of men working on the +many ships. The cadet recognized what they were doing +at once. The unmistakable outlines of gun ports +were being cut into the sides of several bulky space +freighters. Elsewhere, the steady pounding of metal and +grinding of machinery told the cadet that machine +shops were going at full blast. He noticed a difference +between the men of the patrol and the workers. Neither +spoke to the other. In fact, Astro saw that it was rarely +that a worker even glanced at them as they passed by.</p> + +<p>Up ahead, Astro saw a huge building, wide and +sprawling but only a few stories high. It was nearly +dark now and lights began to wink on in the many windows. +He guessed that he was being taken to the building +and was not surprised when the leader pulled him +by the arm, guiding him toward a small side door. +There was a curious look about the building and the +cadet couldn't figure out what it was. Glancing quickly +at the wall as he passed through the door, he nearly +burst out laughing. The building was made of wood! +He guessed that the rebels were using materials at hand +rather than importing anything from outside planets. +And since Venus was largely a planet of jungles and +vegetation, with few large mineral deposits, wood +would be the easiest thing to use.</p> + +<p>The inside of the building was handsomely decorated +and designed. He saw walls covered with carvings, depicting +old legends about the first colonists. He shook +his head. "Boy," he thought, "they sure go for the Venusian +stuff in a big way!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<p>"All right!" snapped the leader. "Stop here!"</p> + +<p>Astro stood before a huge double door that had been +polished to a brilliant luster. The cadet waited for the +leader to enter, but the Nationalist stood perfectly still, +eyes straight ahead. Suddenly the doors swung open, +revealing a huge chamber, at least a hundred and fifty +feet long. At the far end a man dressed in white with a +green band across his chest sat in a beautifully carved +chair. Arrayed on either side of him were fifty or more +men dressed in various shades of green. The man in +white lifted his hand and the patrol leader stepped forward, +pushing Astro before him. They walked across +the polished floor and stopped ten feet away from the +man in white, the patrol leader bowing deeply. Astro +glanced at the men standing at either side of the man in +white. The bulge of paralo-ray pistols was plainly visible +beneath their flowing robes.</p> + +<p>The man in white lifted his hand in the salute Astro +had seen before. Then the patrol leader straightened up +and began to speak rapidly in the Venusian dialect. +Translating easily, Astro heard him report his capture. +When he concluded, the man in white looked at Astro +closely and spoke three words. Astro shook his head.</p> + +<p>"He does not speak our mother tongue, Lactu," volunteered +the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>The man in white nodded. "How is it," he said in +English, "that you are a native-born Venusian and do +not speak the language of your planet?"</p> + +<p>"I was an orphan. I had very little formal education," +said Astro. "And as long as we're asking questions +around here, how about my asking a few? Who in space +are you? What's the idea of holding me a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"One question at a time, please, brother Venusian," +said the man in white. "And when you address me, my +name is Lactu."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> +<p>"Lactu what?" asked Astro belligerently.</p> + +<p>"Your own name should tell you that we on Venus +only have one name."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that rocket wash!" barked Astro. "When +do I get out of here?"</p> + +<p>"You will never leave here as you came," said Lactu +quietly.</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?" demanded the cadet.</p> + +<p>"You have discovered the existence of our base. Ordinarily +you would have been burned to a crisp and left +in the jungle. Fortunately, you are a Venusian by birth, +and therefore have the right to join our organization."</p> + +<p>"What does that mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means," said Lactu, "that you will take an oath to +fight until death if necessary to free the planet Venus +and the Venusian citizens from the slavery of the Solar +Alliance and—"</p> + +<p>"Awright, buster!" roared Astro. "I've had enough of +that rocket wash! I took an oath of allegiance to the +Solar Guard and the Solar Alliance, to uphold the cause +of peace throughout the universe and defend the liberties +of the planets. Your idea is to destroy peace and +make slaves out of the people of Venus—like these dummies +you've got here!" Astro gestured contemptuously +at the men standing on both sides of Lactu. "I don't +want any part of you, so start blasting!" continued the +big cadet, his voice booming out in the big room. "But +make it good, 'cause I'm tough!"</p> + +<p>There was a murmur among the men and several put +their hands on the butts of their paralo-ray guns. Even +the calm expression in Lactu's eyes changed.</p> + +<p>"You are not afraid of us, are you?" he asked in a low, +almost surprised tone of voice.</p> + +<p>"You, nor anything that crawls in the jungle like +you!" shouted Astro. "If you're not happy with the way +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>things are run on Venus, why don't you take your beef +to the Solar Alliance?"</p> + +<p>"We prefer to do it our way!" snapped one of the men +near Lactu. "And as for you, a few lashes with a Venusian +wet whip will teach you to keep a civil tongue!"</p> + +<p>Astro turned around slowly, looking at each of the +men individually. "I promise you," he said slowly, "the +first man who lays a whip on me will die."</p> + +<p>"And who, pray, will do the killing?" snorted a short, +stout figure in the darkest of the green uniforms. "You? +Hardly!"</p> + +<p>"If it isn't me"—Astro turned to face the man—"it +will be any one of a thousand Space Cadets."</p> + +<p>"You have a lot of confidence in yourself and your +friends," said Lactu. "Death apparently doesn't frighten +you."</p> + +<p>"No more than it does any man of honor," said the +cadet. "I've faced death before. As for my friends"—Astro +shrugged and grinned—"touch me and wait for +what happens. And by the stars, mister, you can depend +on it happening!"</p> + +<p>"Enough of this, Lactu!" said a man near the end of +the group. "We have important business to conduct. +Take this foolish boy out and do away with him!"</p> + +<p>Lactu waved his hand gently. "Observe, gentlemen, +here is the true spirit of Venus. This boy is not an +Earthman, nor a Martian. He is a Venusian—a proud +Venusian who has drifted with the tides of space and +taken life where he found it. Tell me honestly, gentlemen, +what would you have thought of Astro, a Venusian, +if he had acted any differently than he has? If he +had taken an oath he does not believe and groveled at +our feet? No, gentlemen, to kill this proud, freeborn Venusian +would be a crime. Tell me, Astro, do you have +any skills?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<p>"I can handle nuclear materials in any form."</p> + +<p>"We are wasting time, Lactu!" exclaimed one of the +men suddenly. "Settle with this upstart later. Now let +us take a vote on the issue before us. The ship is waiting +to blast off for Mercury. Do we ask for her assistance, +or not?"</p> + +<p>There was a loud murmur among the assembled men, +and Lactu held up his hand. "Very well, we will vote. +All in favor of asking the people of Mercury to join our +movement against the Alliance will say aye!"</p> + +<p>"Aye," chorused the men.</p> + +<p>"Against?"</p> + +<p>Lactu looked around, but there was no reply.</p> + +<p>Lactu turned back to Astro. "Well, Venusian, this is +your last chance to join forces with us and to fight for +your mother planet."</p> + +<p>"Go blast your jets!" snapped Astro. Immediately +Lactu's eyes became hard steely points.</p> + +<p>"That was your last chance!" he said. "Take him out +and kill him!"</p> + +<p>The door suddenly burst open and a green-clad +trooper raced across the bare floor, bowing hastily before +Lactu. "Forgive this interruption, Lactu," he said +breathlessly. "There are men in the jungle headed for +the canyon rim. Three of them!"</p> + +<p>Lactu turned to Astro. "Your friends, no doubt!" He +snapped an order. "Capture them and bring them to +me. And as for you, Astro, we are in need of capable +men to build war heads for our space torpedoes. To ensure +the safety of your friends, I would advise your +working for us. If not, your friends will die before another +night falls."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a>CHAPTER 12</h2> + + +<p>"You're right, Tom," said Major Connel. "They must be +around here somewhere. Start looking. If they're not +here, it may mean he's still alive."</p> + +<p>It was Tom who had thought of looking for Astro's +weapons. Refusing to believe that his unit mate had +been killed, the curly-haired cadet was examining the +torn jungle suit when the idea occurred to him.</p> + +<p>Quickly Roger, Connel, and Tom spread out over the +trampled area, searching the underbrush for Astro's +paralo-ray pistol or shock rifle. Connel examined the +underbrush and vines closely for scorch marks made by +the blaster. Finding none, he rejoined the boys.</p> + +<p>"Well?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir," replied Roger.</p> + +<p>"Can't find them, Major," said Tom.</p> + +<p>Connel smacked his fists together and spoke excitedly. +"I'm sure Astro wouldn't be caught unawares by a +couple of things like a snake or a tyrannosaurus without +putting up a fight. If he was attacked suddenly, he +would have fired at least one shot, and if it went wild, +it would have burned the vines and brush around here. +You didn't find his weapons, and there are no scorched +areas. I'll stake my life on it, Astro's alive!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<p>Roger's and Tom's faces brightened. They knew Connel +had no proof, but they were willing to believe anything +that would keep their hopes for their giant unit +mate alive.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Connel, "assuming he is not dead, and +that he is somewhere in the jungle, we have to figure +out what he would do."</p> + +<p>Roger was thoughtful a moment. "How long would +he last without his jungle suit, sir?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>Tom's eyes lit up. "If he's alive, sir, then he's probably +following a path or trail that would keep him away +from heavy underbrush," he said.</p> + +<p>Connel thought a moment. "There's only one trail +away from here." He turned and pointed to the trail +made by the tyrannosaurus. "That one."</p> + +<p>The three spacemen stared at the wide path left by +the huge beast. Connel hesitated. "It's due north," he +said finally. "We've come a full day west and should be +making a turn north. We'll follow the tyrannosaurus's +trail for a full day."</p> + +<p>Roger and Tom grinned. They knew Connel was +making every effort to find Astro, while still keeping his +mission in mind.</p> + +<p>The three spacemen moved along the trail quickly, +eyes alert for any sign Astro might have left. Connel +saw the great bloodstains left by the tyrannosaurus and +cautioned the two cadets. "This tyranno is wounded +pretty badly. It might be heading back for its lair, but +it might not make it, and stop along the way. Be careful +and keep your eyes open for any sign that he might +have—"</p> + +<p>Connel was stopped by Tom's sudden cry. "Major! +Look!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<p>Connel turned and stared. A thousand yards ahead of +them on the broken trail they saw the monstrous bulk +of a tyrannosaurus emerge from the gloom.</p> + +<p>"By the rings of Saturn," breathed Connel, "that's the +one!"</p> + +<p>The great beast spotted the three Earthmen at the +same instant. It raised itself on its hind legs, and shaking +its massive head in anger, started to charge down +its own trail toward them.</p> + +<p>"Disperse!" cried Connel. "Take cover!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger darted to one side of the trail while +Connel dived for the other. Taking cover behind a tree, +the boys turned and pointed their rifles down the trail. +They saw that the tyrannosaurus had already covered +half the distance between them.</p> + +<p>"Aim for the legs!" shouted Connel, from his place of +concealment. "Don't try for a head shot! He's moving +too fast! Give it to him in the legs. Try to cut him +down!"</p> + +<p>Roger and Tom lay flat on the ground and trained +their rifles on the approaching beast.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the right leg," said Roger. "You take the left, +Tom."</p> + +<p>"On target!" replied Tom, squinting through the +sight.</p> + +<p>"Ready!" Connel's voice roared across the trail.</p> + +<p>Only a hundred and fifty feet away the tyrannosaurus, +hearing Connel's voice, suddenly stopped. Its head +weaved back and forth as though it suspected a trap.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" roared Connel.</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger fired together, but at the same moment +the monster lunged toward Connel's position. +Both shots missed, the energy charges merely scorching +its sides.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-138.png" width="500" height="425" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The tyrannosaurus roared with anger and turned toward +the boys, head down and the claws of its short +forelegs extended.</p> + +<p>At that moment Connel opened fire, aiming for the +monster's vulnerable neck. But it was well protected +behind its shoulders and the spaceman only succeeded +in drawing the beast's attention back to himself.</p> + +<p>At this instant Tom and Roger opened fire again, +sending violent shock charges into the beast's hide. +Caught in the withering cross fire, it turned blindly on +the boys and charged at them. The two cadets fired +coolly, rapidly, unable to miss the great bulk. The air +became acrid with the sharp odor of ionized air. Maddened +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>now beyond the limits of its endurance, hit +at least twenty times and wild with pain, the great +king of the Venusian jungle bore down on the two +cadets.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-139.png" width="500" height="429" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Roger and Tom saw that their fire was not going to +stop the tyrannosaurus's charge. They were pouring a +nearly steady stream of fire into the monster now, while +on the other side of the trail Connel was doing the +same, raking the monstrous hulk from the forelegs to +the hindquarters.</p> + +<p>The boys jumped back, Tom still facing the beast +and firing his rifle from the waist. But Roger stumbled +in the tangle of the underbrush and fell backward, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>dropping his rifle. The beast's head swooped low, jaws +open.</p> + +<p>Seeing Roger's danger, Tom jumped downward again +without hesitation and fired point-blank at the beast's +scaly head, only ten feet away.</p> + +<p>The monster roared in sudden agony and pulled +back, jerking his head up against a thick branch of the +tree overhead. The limb tore loose under the impact +and fell crashing to the ground on top of Roger.</p> + +<p>From behind, Connel stepped closer to the tyrannosaurus +and fired from a twenty-five-foot range. It wavered +and stumbled back, obviously mortally wounded. +From both sides Tom and Connel poured their weapons' +power into the giant beast. Blinded, near death, +the monster wavered uncertainly. Bellowing in fear and +pain, it turned and lumbered back down the trail.</p> + +<p>Connel and Tom watched it until they were certain it +could not attack them without warning again, and then +they hurried to Roger. The heavy tree limb had landed +across his back, pinning him to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Roger!" yelled Tom. "Roger, are you all right?"</p> + +<p>The blond-haired cadet didn't answer. Grabbing a +stout branch lying on the ground near by, Connel and +Tom worked it beneath the limb which lay across Roger's +body and pried it up.</p> + +<p>"I've got it," said Connel, holding the weight of the +limb on his shoulder. "Pull him out!"</p> + +<p>Tom quickly pulled the unconscious cadet clear and +laid him on the ground. Dropping the limb, Connel +bent down to examine the boy. He ran his fingers along +Roger's spine, feeling the bones one by one through the +skin-tight jungle suit. Finally he straightened and shook +his head. "I can't tell anything," he said. "We'll have to +take him back to Sinclair's right away." He stood up. +"I'll make a stretcher for him. Meanwhile, you go after +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>that tyranno and finish him off. He's pretty far gone, +but you never can tell."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," replied Tom. He picked up his rifle +and reloaded it, checking it carefully. He repeated the +precaution with Roger's blaster.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up," urged Connel, already reaching for a +suitable branch. "Time means everything now."</p> + +<p>"Be right back, sir," replied Tom. And as he walked +away, he looked back at the unconscious form of his +unit mate. He could not help reflecting on the bitter +fact that already two members of the expedition were +in danger, and they were no closer to their goal of finding +the Nationalists' hidden base.</p> + +<p>Moving carefully, one of the two rifles slung over his +shoulder, the other in his hand ready for use, Tom followed +the trail of the tyrannosaurus. Two thousand +yards farther along he saw a place where the monster +had fallen and then struggled back to its feet to stagger +on. Rounding a turn in the trail, Tom stopped abruptly. +Before him, not a hundred feet away, the beast lay +sprawled on the ground. The area all around was devoid +of any vegetation. It was trampled down to the +black soil. Tom deduced that it was the beast's lair. He +pressed forward cautiously until he was a scant thirty +feet away, and crouched between the roots of a huge +tree where he would be protected should the monster +be able to rise and fight again.</p> + +<p>Sighting carefully on the base of the monster's neck, +he squeezed the trigger of the shock rifle. A full energy +charge hit the tyrannosaurus in its most vulnerable +spot. It jerked under the sudden blast, involuntarily +tried to rise to its feet, and then fell back, the ground +shaking under the impact of its thirty tons. Then, after +one convulsive kick with its hind legs that uprooted a +near-by tree, the beast stiffened and lay still.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> +<p>Tom waited, watching the beast for signs of life. +After five minutes he stepped forward cautiously, his +rifle ready. He circled the tyrannosaurus slowly. The +great bulk towered above him, and the cadet's eyes +widened in amazement at the size of the fallen giant. +Stopping at its head, which was as wide as he was tall, +Tom looked at the jaws and teeth that had torn so many +foes into bloody bits, and shook his head. He had come +to the jungle to kill just such a beast. But with Astro +missing and Roger unconscious the thrill of victory was +somehow missing. He turned and headed back down +the trail.</p> + +<p>Connel had finished the litter by the time Tom returned, +and the officer was leaning over the blond-haired +cadet, examining his back again.</p> + +<p>"We'd better move out right away, Tom," said Connel. +"I still can't tell what's wrong. It may be serious, +and then it may be nothing more than just shock. But +we can't take a chance."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded. "Very well, sir." He adjusted his shoulder +pack, slung both rifles over his shoulder, and +started to pick up his end of the litter when suddenly +the jungle silence was shattered by a deafening roar. +Connel jumped to his feet!</p> + +<p>"Corbett!" he cried. "That's a rocket ship blasting +off!"</p> + +<p>"It sure sounded like it, sir," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"And I'll stake my life it's not more than a half mile +away!"</p> + +<p>The two men jumped out into the trail and scanned +the sky. The unmistakable roar of a spaceship echoed +through the jungle. The ship was accelerating, and the +reverberations of the rocket exhaust rolled over the +treetops. Suddenly a flash of gleaming metal streaked +across the sky and Connel roared.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> +<p>"We've found it, Corbett!" He slapped the cadet on +the back. "The Nationalists' base! We've found it!"</p> + +<p>Tom nodded, a half-smile on his face. "We sure have, +Major." He hesitated a moment. "You know, sir, if +Roger is really badly hurt we might not make it back to +Sinclair's in time, so—" He stopped.</p> + +<p>"I know what you're thinking, Tom," said the officer, +"and I agree. But one of us has to go back with the information."</p> + +<p>"You go, sir," said Tom. "I'll take Roger and—"</p> + +<p>"You can't carry him alone—"</p> + +<p>"I can make it somehow," protested Tom.</p> + +<p>Connel shook his head. "I'll help you."</p> + +<p>"You mean, you're going to allow yourself to be captured +too?" spluttered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not quite." Connel smiled. "But a good intelligence +agent gets as much information as he can. And he gets +correct information! I'll help you get him to the base +and you can take him on in for medical attention. I'll +get back to Sinclair's later."</p> + +<p>Tom tried to protest, but the burly spaceman had +turned away.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a>CHAPTER 13</h2> + + +<p>"Stand where you are!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Major Connel stiffened and looked around, +the unconscious form of Roger stretched between them +on the litter. From the jungle around them, green-clad +Nationalists suddenly emerged, brandishing their guns.</p> + +<p>"Put Roger down," muttered Connel quietly. "Don't +try anything."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," replied Tom, and they lowered the +litter to the ground gently.</p> + +<p>"Raise your hands!" came the second command from +a man who appeared directly in front of them.</p> + +<p>Standing squarely in front of them, the little man +said something in the Venusian dialect and waited, but +Connel and Tom remained silent.</p> + +<p>"I guess you don't speak the Venusian tongue," he +sneered. "So I'll have to use the disgusting language of +Earth!" He looked down at the unconscious form of +Roger. "What happened to him?"</p> + +<p>"He was injured in a fight with a tyrannosaurus," replied +Connel. "May I remind you that you and these +men are holding guns on an officer of the Solar Guard. +Such a crime is punishable by two years on a prison +asteroid!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> +<p>"You'll be the one to go to prison, my stout friend!" +The man laughed. "A little work in the shops will take +some of that waistline off you!"</p> + +<p>"Are you taking us prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I see." Connel seemed to consider for a moment. +"Who are you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am Drifi, squad officer of the jungle patrol."</p> + +<p>"Connel, Senior Officer, Solar Guard," acknowledged +Connel. "If we are being held prisoner, I wish to make +a request."</p> + +<p>"Prisoners don't make requests," said Drifi, and then +added suspiciously, "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"See that this man"—Connel indicated Roger—"is +given medical attention at once."</p> + +<p>Drifi eyed the major cautiously.</p> + +<p>"I make this request as one officer to another," said +Connel. "A point of honor between opponents."</p> + +<p>Drifi's eyes gleamed visibly at the word <i>officer</i>, and +Tom almost grinned at Connel's subtle flattery.</p> + +<p>"You—and you," snapped Drifi at the green-clad men +around them, "see that this man is taken to the medical +center immediately!" Two men jumped to pick up the +litter.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Connel. "Now will you be so kind +as to tell me what this is all about?"</p> + +<p>"You'll find out soon enough. We have a special way +of treating spies."</p> + +<p>"Spies!" roared Connel. The officer sounded so indignant +that Tom was almost fooled by his tone. "We're +hunters! One of our party is lost here in the jungle. We +were searching for him when we were attacked by a +tyrannosaurus. During the fight, this man was injured. +We're not spies!"</p> + +<p>Drifi shrugged his shoulders, and barking a command +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>to his men, turned into the jungle. Connel and +Tom were forced to follow.</p> + +<p>They were taken to the giant teakwood that Astro +had seen, and Tom and Connel watched silently as the +door opened, revealing the vacuum tube. The men +crowded into the car and it dropped to the lower level.</p> + +<p>Following the same twisting turns in the tunnels, +Tom and Connel were brought to the armory and saw +the men surrender their weapons and change their helmets +and shoes. They tried desperately to get a look at +the faces of the men around them while the headgear +was being changed, but, as before, the men were careful +to keep their faces averted.</p> + +<p>Continuing down the tunnel, Connel tried to speak +to Drifi again. "I would appreciate it greatly, sir," he +said in his most formal military manner, "if you could +give me any news about the other man of our party. +Have you seen him?"</p> + +<p>Drifi did not answer. He marched stiffly ahead, not +even bothering to look at Connel.</p> + +<p>As they neared the exit, Connel drifted imperceptibly +closer to Tom and whispered out of the side of his +mouth, "Keep your eyes open for ships. Count as many +as you can. How many are armed, their size, and so on. +Look for ammunition dumps. Check radar and communications +installations. Get as much information as +you can, in case only one of us can escape."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," whispered Tom. "Do you think they might +have Astro?"</p> + +<p>"It's a good guess. We were following the tyrannosaurus's +trail when they caught us, and I'm pretty +sure Astro had been doing the same thing."</p> + +<p>"Stop that talking!" snapped Drifi, suddenly whirling +on them. "You," he shouted at one of the guards, "get +up here and keep them apart!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> +<p>A guard stepped quickly between Tom and Connel, +and the conversation ended.</p> + +<p>At the exit Connel and Tom stopped involuntarily +at the sight before them. Astro had entered the canyon +near twilight, but the two spacemen got a view of the +Nationalists' base under the full noon sun. Connel +gasped and muttered a space oath. Tom turned halfway +to his superior and was starting to speak when both +were shoved rudely ahead. "Keep moving," a guard +growled.</p> + +<p>As they walked, their eyes flicked over the canyon, +alert for details. Tom counted the ships arrayed neatly +on the spaceport some distance away, then counted +others outside repair shops with men scurrying over +them like so many ants. Near the center of the canyon +the bare trunk of a giant teakwood soared skyward, a +gigantic communications tower. Tom scanned the revolving +antenna, and from its shape and size deduced +the power and type of radar being used at the base. He +admitted to himself that the Nationalists had the latest +and best. Connel was busy too, noting buildings of +identical design scattered around the canyon floor that +were too small to be spaceship hangars or storage depots. +He guessed that they were housings for vacuum-tube +elevator shafts that led to underground caves.</p> + +<p>The canyon echoed with the splutter of arc welders, +the slow banging of iron workers, the cough and hissing +of jet sleds, the roar of activity that meant deadly danger +to the Solar Alliance. Connel noticed as he moved +across the canyon floor that the workers were in good +spirits. The morale of the rebels, thought the space +officer, was good! Too good!</p> + +<p>At a momentary halt in their march, when Drifi +stopped to speak with a sentry, Tom and Connel found +an opportunity to speak again.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> +<p>"I've counted a dozen big converted freighters on the +blast ramps, sir," whispered Tom hurriedly. "Three more +being repaired, nearly finished, and there are about +fifty smaller ships, all heavily armed."</p> + +<p>"That checks with my count, Tom," replied Connel +hurriedly. "What do you make of the radar?"</p> + +<p>"At least as good as we have!"</p> + +<p>"I thought so, too! If a Solar Guard squadron tried to +attack this base now, they'd be spotted and blasted out +of space!"</p> + +<p>"What about stores, sir?" asked Tom. "I didn't see +anything like a supply depot."</p> + +<p>Connel told him of the small buildings which he believed +housed the elevator shafts to underground storerooms. +"Only one thing is missing!" he concluded.</p> + +<p>"What's that, sir?"</p> + +<p>"The nuclear chambers where they produce ammunition +for their fleet."</p> + +<p>"It must be underground too, sir," said Tom. "There +isn't a building in the canyon that's made of concrete +and steel."</p> + +<p>"Right. Either that, or it's back up there in the cliffs +in one of those tunnels!" The officer snorted. "By the +stars, Corbett, this place is an atom bomb ready to go +off in the lap of the Solar Alliance."</p> + +<p>"What are we going to do, sir?" asked Tom. "So far, +it looks as if it's going to be tough to get out again."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to wait for a break, Tom," sighed Connel.</p> + +<p>"I hope they've taken good care of Roger," said the +cadet in a low voice. "And I hope they've got Astro."</p> + +<p>"Watch it," warned Connel. "Drifi's coming back. Remember, +if we're separated and you do manage to escape, +get back to Sinclair's. Contact Commander Walters +and tell him everything that's happened. The code +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>name for direct emergency contact through Solar Guard +communications center in Venusport is Juggernaut!"</p> + +<p>"Juggernaut!" repeated Tom in a whisper. "Very well, +sir. But I sure hope we aren't separated."</p> + +<p>"Well have to take what comes. <i>Sh!</i> Here he comes."</p> + +<p>"All right, let's go," said the patrol leader.</p> + +<p>They continued across the canyon until they +reached a four-story wooden structure without windows. +Drifi opened a small door and motioned them inside.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" Connel demanded.</p> + +<p>"This is where you'll stay until Lactu sends for you. +Right now, he is in conference with the Division Leaders."</p> + +<p>"Divisions of what? Ships? Men?" asked Connel offhandedly, +trying not to show any more than idle curiosity.</p> + +<p>"You'll find out when the Solar Guard comes looking +for a fight," said Drifi. "Now get in there!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Connel were shoved inside and the door +closed behind them. It was pitch black, and they +couldn't see an inch in front of their faces. But both +Tom and Connel knew instantly that they were not +alone.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Come on. Gimme that wrench!" barked Astro. The +little man beside him handed up the wrench and leaned +over the side of the engine casing to watch Astro pull +the nut tight. "Now get over there and throw on the +switch," snapped the big cadet.</p> + +<p>The little man scurried over to one side of the vast +machine shop and flipped on the wall switch. There +was an audible hum of power and then slowly the machine +Astro had just worked on began to speed up, soon +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>revving up to ten thousand revolutions per minute.</p> + +<p>"Is it fixed?" demanded the shop foreman, coming up +beside Astro.</p> + +<p>"Yeah, she's fixed. But I don't work on another job +until you give me another helper. That asteroid head +you gave me doesn't know a—" Astro stopped. Something +out beyond the double doors caught his eye. It +was the sight of Tom and Connel entering the wooden +building.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with him?" demanded the foreman.</p> + +<p>"Huh? What? Oh—ah—well, he's O.K., I guess," +Astro stammered. "It's just that he's a little green, that's +all."</p> + +<p>"Well, get to work on that heater in chamber number +one. It's burned a bearing. Change it, and hurry up +about it!"</p> + +<p>"Sure—sure!" The big cadet grinned.</p> + +<p>"Say, what's the matter with you?" asked the foreman, +staring at him suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"I'm O.K.," replied Astro quickly.</p> + +<p>The foreman continued to stare at Astro as the big +cadet turned to his assistant nonchalantly. "Come on, +genius, get that box of tools over to the heater!" he +shouted. As he turned away, the foreman nodded to the +green-clad guard, who followed closely behind Astro, +his hand on the butt of his paralo-ray gun.</p> + +<p>Seeing the little assistant struggling with the heavy +box, Astro stopped and picked it out of his arms with +one hand. Grinning, he held it straight out and then +slowly brought it around in a complete circle over his +head, still holding it with only one hand. The guard's +eyes widened behind his plastic helmet at this show of +strength.</p> + +<p>"You're very strong, Astro," he said, "but you are altogether +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>too contemptuous of a fellow Venusian." He +nodded to the small assistant.</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Astro. His grin hardened and he +leaned forward slightly, balancing on the balls of his +feet. "That goes for you and every other green space +monkey in this place. Drop that ray gun and I'll tie you +up in a knot!"</p> + +<p>Frightened, the guard pulled the paralo-ray gun out +of its holster, but Astro quickly stepped in and sank his +fist deep into the guard's stomach. The man dropped +like a stone. Astro grinned and turned his back to walk +toward the heater. He heard the other workers begin +to chatter excitedly, but he didn't pay any attention to +them.</p> + +<p>"Astro! Astro!" His little assistant ran up beside him. +"You hit a division guard!"</p> + +<p>"I did, huh?" replied the big cadet in an innocent +tone. "What kind of a division?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know? Venus has been divided into areas +called divisions. Each division has a chief, and every +Venusian citizen in that division is under his personal +jurisdiction."</p> + +<p>"Uh-huh," said Astro vaguely. He climbed up on to +the machine and began taking off the outer casing.</p> + +<p>"The best men in the division are made the Division +Chief's personal guards."</p> + +<p>"What happens to the second and third and fourth +best men?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they're given jobs here according to their +knowledge and capacities."</p> + +<p>"What was your job before you came here?"</p> + +<p>"I was a field worker on my chief's plantation."</p> + +<p>"Why did you join?" asked Astro. "Did you think it +better to have Venusians ruling Venus, instead of belonging +to the Solar Alliance?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> +<p>"I didn't think about it at all," admitted the little +man. "Besides, I didn't join. I was recruited. My chief +just put me on a ship and here I am."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it, now that you're here?" +asked Astro. He began running his fingers along a few +of the valves, apparently paying no attention to the +guard who was just now staggering to his feet.</p> + +<p>The little assistant paused and considered Astro's +question. Finally he replied weakly, "I don't know. It's +all right, I guess. It's better here in the shops than in +the caves where the others go."</p> + +<p>"Others? What others?"</p> + +<p>"Those that don't like it," replied the man. "They're +sent to the caves."</p> + +<p>"What caves?"</p> + +<p>"Up in the cliff. The tunnels—" He suddenly stopped +when an angry shout echoed in the machine shop. The +guard Astro had hit rushed up. He turned to several +workmen near by. "Take this blabbering idiot to the +caves!" he ordered angrily.</p> + +<p>Astro slowly climbed down from the machine and +faced the guard menacingly. As the guard's finger tightened +on the trigger of his paralo-ray gun, the foreman +suddenly rushed up and knocked the gun out of his +hand. "You fool! You stiffen this man and we'll be held +up in production for hours!"</p> + +<p>"So what!" sneered the guard.</p> + +<p>"Lactu and your Division Chief will tell you so what!" +barked the foreman. He turned to Astro. "And as for +you, if you try anything like that again, I'll—"</p> + +<p>"You won't do a thing," said Astro casually. "I'm the +best man you've got and you know it. Lactu knows it +too. So don't threaten me and keep these green space +jerks away from me! I'll fix your machines, because I +want to, not because you can make me!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> +<p>The foreman eyed the big cadet curiously. "Because +you want to? You've changed your tune since you first +came here."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Astro. "Maybe I like what I see around +here. It all depends."</p> + +<p>"Well, make up your mind later," barked the foreman. +"Now get that machine fixed!"</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Astro simply, turning back to the machine +and starting to whistle. Strangely enough, he was +happy. He was a prisoner, but he felt better than he +had in days. Just knowing that Tom and Major Connel +were right across the canyon gave him a surge of confidence. +Working over the machine quickly, surely, the +big cadet began to formulate a plan. Now was the time! +They were together again. Now was the time to escape!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-044.png" width="500" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a>CHAPTER 14</h2> + + +<p>"Put your back against the door, Tom!" snapped Connel. +"Quickly!"</p> + +<p>Tom felt the powerful grip of the Solar Guard officer's +fingers on his arm as he was pulled backward. He +closed his eyes, then opened them, hoping to pierce the +darkness, but he saw nothing. Beside him, he could +sense the tenseness in Connel's body.</p> + +<p>There was a rustle of movement to the right of them.</p> + +<p>"Careful, Tom," cautioned Connel. "To your right!"</p> + +<p>"I hear it, sir," said Tom, turning toward the noise +and bracing himself.</p> + +<p>"My name is Connel," the burly spaceman suddenly +spoke up in loud tones. "I'm an official in the Solar +Guard! Whoever you are, speak up! Identify yourself."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence and then a voice +spoke harshly in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"How do we know you're a Solar Guard officer? How +do we know you're not a spy?"</p> + +<p>"Do you have any kind of light?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we have a light. But we are not going to give +away our positions. We know how to move in here. You +don't."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> +<p>"Then how do you expect me to prove it?"</p> + +<p>"The burden of proof lies with you."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever heard of me?" asked Connel after a +pause.</p> + +<p>"We know there is an officer in the Solar Guard +named Connel."</p> + +<p>"I am that officer," asserted Connel. "I was sent into +the jungle to find this base, but one of our party was +injured and we were captured by a patrol."</p> + +<p>Tom and Connel heard voices whispering in the darkness +and then a loud order.</p> + +<p>"Lie down on the floor, both of you!"</p> + +<p>The two spacemen hesitated and then got down flat +on their backs.</p> + +<p>"Close your eyes and lie still. One of us here knows +what Connel looks like. I hope for your sake that you're +telling the truth. If you're not—" The voice stopped but +the threat was plain.</p> + +<p>"Do as they say, Tom," said Connel.</p> + +<p>The cadet closed his eyes and he heard the shuffle of +feet around them. Suddenly there was a flash of light on +his face but he kept his eyes tightly closed. The light +moved away, but he could tell that it was still burning.</p> + +<p>"It's Connel, I think," said a high-pitched voice directly +over them.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty sure. I met him once in Atom City at a scientific +meeting. He was making a speech with a Professor +Sykes."</p> + +<p>"That's right," said Connel, hearing the remark. "I +was there."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember meeting a man from Venus wearing +a long red robe?" asked the high-pitched voice.</p> + +<p>Connel hesitated. "No," he said. "I only remember +talking to three men. Two were from Venus and one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>was from Mars. But neither of the two from Venus wore +a red robe. They wore purple—"</p> + +<p>"He's right," acknowledged the voice. "This is Connel."</p> + +<p>"Open your eyes," said the first voice.</p> + +<p>Connel and Tom opened their eyes and in the light +of a small hand torch they saw two gaunt faces before +them. The tallest of the men stuck out a bony hand. +"My name is Carson." They recognized his voice as the +one that had spoken first. "And this is Bill Jensen," he +added.</p> + +<p>"This is Tom Corbett, Space Cadet," said Connel. He +glanced around the room, and in the weak reflected +light of the torch, saw almost fifty men crouched against +the walls, each of them holding a crude weapon.</p> + +<p>"You'll understand our caution, Major," said Carson. +"Once before we had a plan to escape and a spy was +sent in. As you see, we didn't escape."</p> + +<p>"Neither did the spy," commented Jensen grimly.</p> + +<p>"How long have you been here?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"The oldest prisoner has been here for three years," +replied Carson. And as the other men began to gather +around them, Connel and Tom saw that they were +hardly more than walking skeletons. Their cheeks were +hollow, eyes sunk in their sockets, and they wore little +more than rags.</p> + +<p>"And there's no way to escape?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Three guards with blasters are stationed on the +other side of that door," said Carson. "There is no other +entrance or exit. We tried a tunnel, but it caved in and +after that they put in a wooden floor." He stamped on +it. "Teak. Hard as steel. We couldn't cut through."</p> + +<p>"But why are you being held prisoners?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"All of us joined the Nationalists believing it was just +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>a sort of good-neighbor club, where we could get together +and exchange ideas for our own improvement. +And when we found out what Lactu and the Division +Chiefs were really up to, we tried to quit. As you see, +we couldn't. We knew too much."</p> + +<p>"Blasted rebels!" muttered Connel. "The Solar Guard +will cool them off!"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's too late," said Carson. "They're preparing +to strike now. I've been expecting it for some +time. They have enough ships and arms to wipe out the +entire Solar Guard garrison here on Venus in one attack!" +He shook his head. "After that, with Solar Guard +ships and complete control of the planet—" He paused +and sighed. "It will mean a long, bloody space war."</p> + +<p>Tom and Connel plied the prisoners with questions +and soon began to get a complete picture of the scope +of the Nationalist movement.</p> + +<p>"Lactu and his commanders should be sent to a prison +asteroid for life," said Carson, "for what they have done +to former Nationalists."</p> + +<p>"Hundreds of unsuspecting Venusians have been +brought here under the guise of helping to free Venus. +But when they come and recognize what Lactu really +intends to do, they want to quit. But it's too late, and +they're sent to the caves."</p> + +<p>Tom looked at the gaunt man fearfully. There was +something in his voice that sent a chill down his spine.</p> + +<p>"They are driven like cattle into the canyon walls," +continued Carson. "There they are forced to dig the +huge underground vaults for storage dumps. They are +beaten and whipped and starved."</p> + +<p>"Why aren't you in the caves then?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"Some of us were," replied Carson. "But each of us +here owns land and it is necessary to keep us alive to +send back directives to our bankers and foremen to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>give aid in one form or another to Sharkey and the Division +Chiefs."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Connel. "If you were to die, then your +property would be out of their reach."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Carson.</p> + +<p>"Is Sharkey the real leader of the movement?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe so. But then, no one knows. That's +the idea of the frosted helmets. If you don't know who a +man is, you can liquidate him without conscience. He +may be your closest friend, but you would never know +it."</p> + +<p>"The blasted space crawlers!" growled Connel. "Well, +they'll pay!"</p> + +<p>"You have a plan?" asked Carson eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No," said Connel slowly, "but at least we all have +more of a chance now."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Carson.</p> + +<p>"The Solar Guard sent us here to find this base. If we +don't return, or send some sort of message back within +a reasonable time, this jungle will be swarming with +guardsmen!"</p> + +<p>Carson looked a little disappointed. "We shall see," +he said.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There were three things on Astro's mind as twilight +darkened into night over the canyon. One, he had to +find out why Roger wasn't with Tom and Connel when +they were taken into the building; two, he had to figure +out a way to contact Tom and Connel; and finally, he +had to escape himself, or help Tom and Connel escape.</p> + +<p>The big cadet finished the last job in the machine +shop. It had taken very little time, but the big cadet had +lingered over it, trying to find answers to his three problems. +Around him, the workers were leaving their +benches and lathes, to be replaced by still others. A +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>twelve-hour shift was being used by the Nationalists +in their frantic preparations for an attack on the Venusport +garrison of the Solar Guard. Astro finally dropped +the last wrench into the tool kit and straightened up. +He stretched leisurely and glanced over at his guard. +The man was still rubbing his stomach where Astro had +hit him, and he watched the big cadet with a murderous +gleam in his eye.</p> + +<p>"All finished," said Astro. "Where and when do I +eat?"</p> + +<p>"If I had my way, you wouldn't," sneered the guard.</p> + +<p>"Either I knock off and eat," said Astro confidently, +"or I call the foreman and you talk to Lactu."</p> + +<p>"Feeling pretty big, aren't you?" growled the guard. +"I haven't forgotten that punch in the stomach."</p> + +<p>"Why, I hardly touched you," said Astro in mock surprise.</p> + +<p>The guard glared at him, muttered an oath, and +turned away. Astro could see that he was boiling, almost +out of his mind with helpless, frustrated anger, +and suddenly the young cadet realized how he would +be able to move about the base freely. Grinning, he +walked arrogantly in front of the guard and out of the +shop into the dark Venusian night. It was very warm +and many of the workers had stripped down to their +trousers. He passed the open doorway of a large tool +shop and glanced inside. It was empty. The men had +apparently gone to eat. He suddenly stopped, turned +to the guard, and growled, "If you want to settle our +differences now, we can step inside."</p> + +<p>The guard hesitated and glared at Astro. "When I +settle with you, big boy, you'll know about it."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with right now?" asked Astro. +"Yellow?" He turned and walked into the tool shop +without looking back. The guard rushed after him. But +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>the big cadet had carefully gauged the distance between +them, and when he heard the rushing steps of +the guard immediately behind him, he suddenly spun +around, swinging a roundhouse right, catching the +guard in the pit of the stomach again. The man stopped +dead in his tracks. His eyes bulged and glazed, and he +dropped to the floor like a stone. Astro pulled the man +to the corner of the empty shop, removed the plastic +helmet, and then tied and gagged him. He pulled the +helmet over his own head, nearly tearing one ear off, +grabbed the gun and stepped back outside. He stood in +front of the door and glanced up and down the area +between the buildings. Fifty feet away a group of men +were working over a tube casing, but they didn't even +look up.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-160.png" width="500" height="429" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Staying in the shadows, he walked down the lane, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>moving carefully. The plastic helmet would keep him +from being recognized right away, but to complete his +plan, he needed one of the green uniforms of the +guards.</p> + +<p>Deciding it would be too risky to walk around the +base, he crouched behind a huge crate of machinery at +the head of the lane. Sentries were constantly patrolling +the area and he was certain that one would pass by +soon. He only hoped the man would be big enough. +Fifteen minutes later the cadet heard footsteps in a +slow measured tread. He peered around the edge of +the crate and silently breathed a thankful prayer. It was +a green-clad guard, and luckily, almost as big as he +was.</p> + +<p>Crouching in the shadow of the crate, Astro tensed +for the attack. It had to be quick and it had to be silent. +He couldn't club the guard because of his helmet. He +would have to get him around the throat to choke off +any outcry.</p> + +<p>The slow steps came nearer and the big cadet raised +himself on the balls of his feet, ready to spring. When +the guard's shadow fell across him, Astro leaped forward +like a striking tiger.</p> + +<p>The guard didn't have a chance. Astro's arm coiled +around his throat and the cry of alarm that welled up +within him died down in a choking gasp. Within seconds +he was unconscious and the big cadet had dragged +him behind the crate. He stripped him of his uniform, +bound and gagged him with his own rags, and crammed +him into the crate. Then, protected by the helmet and +green uniform and carrying the blaster, the cadet +stepped out confidently and strode down the lane.</p> + +<p>He went directly to the building he had seen Tom +and Connel enter, and walked boldly up to the guard +lounging in front of the door.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<p>"You're relieved," said Astro in the Venusian dialect. +"They want you up in the caves." The cadet had no +idea where the caves were, but he knew that they +couldn't be near by and it would be some time before +an alarm could be sounded.</p> + +<p>"The caves?" asked the guard. "Who said so?"</p> + +<p>"The chief. He wants you to identify somebody."</p> + +<p>"Me? Identify someone? I don't understand." The +guard was puzzled. "What section of the caves?"</p> + +<p>"The new section," said Astro quickly, figuring there +must be a new and an old section because he had heard +a guard refer to the old one.</p> + +<p>"Up by the jungle tunnels?"</p> + +<p>Astro nodded.</p> + +<p>"Must be more of those Solar Guardsmen," said the +guard, relaxing. "We have two of them in here, another +in the hospital, and one of them working in the machine +shop."</p> + +<p>Hospital! Astro gulped. That would be Roger. But he +dared not ask too many questions. "What's going to +happen to them?" he asked casually.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said the guard, "but I wish we'd +hurry up and attack Venusport. I'm getting tired of +living out here in the jungle."</p> + +<p>"Me too," said Astro. "Well, you'd better get going."</p> + +<p>The guard nodded and started to walk away. Suddenly +Astro stiffened. Two other guards were rounding +the corner of the building. He called to the departing +guard quickly. "Who's on duty with you tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Maron and Teril," replied the guard, and then strode +off into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"So long," said Astro, turning to face the two men +walking toward him. He would have to get rid of them.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Maron, Teril," he called casually. "Everything +quiet?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> +<p>"Yes," replied the shorter of the two, as they stopped +in front of Astro, "no trouble tonight."</p> + +<p>"Well, there's trouble now!" growled Astro. He +brought up the blaster and cocked it. "Make one wrong +move, and you're dead little space birds! Get over there +and open that door!"</p> + +<p>Stunned, both men turned to the door without a protest +and Astro took their guns. "Open up!" he growled.</p> + +<p>The men slid the heavy bar back and pushed the door +open.</p> + +<p>"Get inside!" ordered Astro. The two men stumbled +inside. Astro stepped to the door. "Tom! Major!"</p> + +<p>There was a cry of joy from the blackness within and +Astro recognized Tom.</p> + +<p>"Astro!" roared Connel, rushing up. "What in the +stars—?"</p> + +<p>"Can't talk now," said Astro. "Here. Take these blasters +and then tie these two up. Close the door, but leave +it open a crack. We can talk while I stay outside and +keep watch. If there isn't a guard out here, it might +mean trouble."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Connel. He took the blasters, tossing +one over to Tom. "Blast it, I never felt anything so good +in my life!" He closed the door, leaving it open an inch.</p> + +<p>"Why is Roger in the hospital?" asked Astro quickly.</p> + +<p>Connel told him of the fight with the tyrannosaurus +and Roger's injury, ending with their capture by the +patrol.</p> + +<p>"You know what's going on here, Major?" asked +Astro.</p> + +<p>"I sure do," said Connel. "And the sooner we blast +them, the happier I'll be."</p> + +<p>"One of us will have to escape and get back to the +<i>Polaris</i> to contact Commander Walters," said Astro. +"But they've got radar here as good as ours. That has to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>be put out of commission or they can blast any attacking +fleet."</p> + +<p>"You're right," said Connel grimly, and turned back +into the room. "Tom!" he called.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Tom, coming up to the door.</p> + +<p>"Since Astro and I speak Venusian—" said Connel, +and then added when Tom gasped, "Yes, I speak it +fluently, but I kept it a secret. That means you're the +one to go. Astro and I will have more of a chance here. +You escape and return to the <i>Polaris</i>. Contact Commander +Walters. Tell him everything that's happened. +We'll give you thirty-six hours to make it. At exactly +noon, day after tomorrow, we'll knock out their radar."</p> + +<p>"But how, sir?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Never mind. We'll figure out something. Just get +back to the <i>Polaris</i> and tell the Solar Guard to attack at +noon, day after tomorrow. If you don't and the fleet attacks +earlier, or later, they'll be wiped out."</p> + +<p>"What about you, sir?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"If you get back in time, we'll be all right. If not, +then this is good-by. We'll hold out as long as we can, +but that can't be forever. We're fighting smart, determined +men, Tom. And it's a fight to the finish. Now +hurry up and get into one of those uniforms."</p> + +<p>While Tom turned back inside to put on the uniform, +Connel returned to Astro outside the door. "Think we +can do it, Astro?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see why not, sir," replied the big cadet.</p> + +<p>A moment later Tom returned, dressed in one of the +guard's green uniform and wearing a helmet. Carson +was with him, similarly clad. "Astro better show me the +way out of the base," said Tom. "Carson will stand +guard until he gets back."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," said Connel. Tom and Carson slipped +out the door.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> +<p>"All set, Astro?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yeah, there's only one thing wrong," replied the big +cadet.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"I don't know the way out of the base."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-123.png" width="500" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a>CHAPTER 15</h2> + + +<p>"I can tell you the way out of the base."</p> + +<p>Adjusting the plastic helmet over his head, Carson +stepped up close to Astro and Tom and spoke confidently. +"It's very simple."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" exclaimed Tom. "I thought we'd have to go +fumbling around."</p> + +<p>Carson pointed through the darkness. "Follow this +lane straight down until you come to a large repair +lock. There's a space freighter on the maintenance cradle +outside. You can't miss it. Turn left and follow a +trail to the base of the canyon wall. There are jungle +creepers and vines growing up the side and you can +climb them easily."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded and repeated the directions, then turned +to Astro. "Maybe you'd better stay here, Astro. I can +make it alone."</p> + +<p>"No." Connel spoke sharply from the doorway. "Astro +speaks Venusian. If you're stopped, he can speak for +you. You'd give yourself away."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," said Tom. "I guess that is best. +Ready to go, Astro?"</p> + +<p>"Ready," replied the big cadet.</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Major," said Tom, reaching into the doorway +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>to shake hands with Connel. "I'll try my best."</p> + +<p>"It's a matter of life and death, Tom." Connel's voice +was low and husky. "Not our lives, or the lives of a few +people, but the life and death of the Solar Alliance."</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir." Tom turned to Astro and the two +cadets marched off quickly.</p> + +<p>They had no difficulty finding the giant ship on the +cradles outside the repair shop and quickly turned toward +the base of the cliff. Twenty minutes later they +had left the center of activity and were close to the +canyon wall. They were congratulating themselves on +their luck in not being stopped or questioned when +suddenly they saw a guard ahead of them on sentry +duty.</p> + +<p>"Ill take care of him," whispered Astro. "You hide +here in the shadows, and when I whistle, you start +climbing. Then I'll cover you from there until you get +to the top. Got it?"</p> + +<p>"Right!" The two cadets shook hands briefly. Each +knew that there was no need to speak of their feelings. +"Take care of Roger," said Tom. "We don't know how +badly he's been injured."</p> + +<p>"I'll see to him," said Astro. "Watch me now and wait +for my whistle." He turned away and then paused to +call back softly, "Spaceman's luck, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Same to you, Astro," replied Tom, and then crouched +tensely in the shadows.</p> + +<p>The big cadet walked casually toward the sentry, +who spotted him immediately and brought his gun up +sharply, calling a challenge in the Venusian tongue.</p> + +<p>"A friend," replied Astro in the same dialect.</p> + +<p>The sentry lowered the gun slightly. "What are you +doing out here?" he asked suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Just taking a walk," said Astro. "Looking for something."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> +<p>"What?" asked the sentry.</p> + +<p>"Trying to make a connection."</p> + +<p>"A connection? What kind of connection?"</p> + +<p>"This kind!" said Astro suddenly, chopping the side +of his hand down on the sentry's neck, between the +helmet and his uniform collar.</p> + +<p>The sentry fell to the ground like a poleaxed steer +and lay still. Astro grinned, then turned and went whistling +off into the darkness. Twenty feet away Tom heard +the signal and hurried to the base of the cliff. He +grabbed a thick vine and pulled himself upward, hand +over hand. Halfway up he found a small ledge and +stopped to rest. Below him, he could see Astro hurrying +back toward the center of the base. The dim lights and +the distant hum of activity assured him that so far his +escape was unnoticed. He resumed his climb, and fifteen +minutes later the curly-haired cadet stood on the +canyon rim. After another short rest he turned and +plunged into the jungle.</p> + +<p>Tom knew that as long as he kept the planet of +Earth over his right shoulder, while keeping the distant +star of Regulus ahead of him, he was traveling in the +right direction to Sinclair's plantation. He stopped to +check his bearings often, occasionally having to climb +a tree to see over the top of the jungle. He ignored the +threat of an attack by a jungle beast. For some reason +it did not present the danger it had when he had first +entered the jungle, seemingly years before. Under pressure, +the cadet had become skilled in jungle lore and +moved with amazing speed. He kept the blaster ready +to fire at the slightest movement, but fortunately during +the first night he encountered nothing more dangerous +than a few furry deerlike animals that scampered +behind him off the trail.</p> + +<p>Morning broke across the jungle in a sudden burst of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>sunlight. The air was clear and surprisingly cool, and +Tom felt that he could make the Sinclair plantation by +nightfall if he continued pushing full speed ahead.</p> + +<p>He stopped once for a quick meal of the last of the +synthetics that he had stuffed in his pocket from his +shoulder pack, and then continued in a steady, ground-eating +pace through the jungle. Late in the afternoon +he began to recognize signs of recent trail blazing, and +once he cut across the path Astro had made. He wondered +if the trail was one Astro had cut while he was +lost, or previously. He finally decided to go ahead on +his own, since he had managed to come this far without +the aid of any guide markers.</p> + +<p>As the darkening shadows of night began to spread +over the jungle the young cadet began to worry. He +had been allowed thirty-six hours to make it back to +the <i>Polaris</i>, communicate with Commander Walters, +and tell him the position of the base, and Tom had to +allow time for the Solar Guard fleet to assemble and +blast off, so that it would arrive at the base at exactly +noon on the next day. He had to reach the Sinclair plantation +before nightfall or the fleet would never make it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly to his left he heard a noisy crashing of +underbrush and the roar of a large beast. Tom hesitated. +He could hide; he could fight; or he could break +to his right and try to escape. The beast growled menacingly. +It had picked up his scent. Tom was sure it +was a large beast on the prowl for food, and he decided +that he could not waste time hiding, or risk being injured +in a battle with the jungle prowler. He quickly +broke to his right and raced through the jungle. Behind +him, the beast picked up the chase, the ground trembling +with its approach. It began to gain on him. Tom +was suddenly conscious of having lost his bearings. He +might be running away from the clearing!</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> +<p>Still he ran on, legs aching and lungs burning. He +charged through the underbrush that threatened any +moment to trip him. When he was almost at the point +of complete exhaustion, and ready to turn and face the +beast behind him, he saw something that renewed his +spirit and sent new strength through his body. Ahead +through the vines and creepers, the slender nose of the +<i>Polaris</i> was outlined against the twilight sky.</p> + +<p>Disregarding the beast behind him, he plunged +through the last few feet of jungle undergrowth and +raced into the clearing around the Sinclair home. Behind +him, the beast suddenly stopped growling, and +when Tom reached the air lock of the <i>Polaris</i>, he saw +that the beast had turned back, reluctant to come out +of the protection of the jungle.</p> + +<p>Tom pulled the air-lock port open and was about to +step inside when he heard a harsh voice coming from +the shadow of the port stabilizer.</p> + +<p>"Just stop right where you are!"</p> + +<p>Tom jerked around. Rex Sinclair stepped out of the +shadow, a paralo-ray gun in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sinclair!" cried Tom, suddenly relieved. "Boy, +am I glad to see you!" He jumped to the ground. "Don't +you recognize me? Cadet Corbett!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/ill-171.png" width="310" height="500" alt=""Mr. Sinclair!" cried Tom, suddenly relieved" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Mr. Sinclair!" cried Tom, suddenly relieved</span> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, I recognize you," snarled Sinclair. "Get away +from that air lock or I'll blast you!"</p> + +<p>Tom's face expressed the confusion he felt. "But, Mr. +Sinclair, you're making a mistake. I've got to get aboard +and warn—" He stopped. "What's the idea of holding a +paralo ray on me?"</p> + +<p>"You're not warning anybody!" Sinclair waved the +gun menacingly. "Now get over to the house and walk +slowly with your hands in the air or I'll freeze you +solid!"</p> + +<p>Stunned by this sudden turn of events, Tom turned +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>away from the air lock. "So you're one of them, too," +said Tom. "No wonder we were caught in the jungle. +You knew we were looking for the base."</p> + +<p>"Never mind that," snapped Sinclair. "Get into the +house and make it quick!"</p> + +<p>The young cadet walked slowly toward the house. He +saw the charred remains of the burned outbuildings +and nodded. "So it was all an act, eh? You had your +buildings burned to throw us off the track. Small price +to pay to remain in the confidence of the Solar Guard."</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" growled Sinclair.</p> + +<p>"You might be able to shut me up, but it'll take a lot +more than a bunch of rabble rousers to shut up the +Solar Guard!"</p> + +<p>"We'll see," snapped Sinclair.</p> + +<p>They reached the house and Tom climbed the steps +slowly, hoping the planter would come close enough +for a sudden attack, but he was too careful. They +moved into the living room and Tom stopped in surprise. +George Hill and his wife were tied hand and foot +to two straight-backed chairs.</p> + +<p>Tom gasped. "George! Mrs. Hill!"</p> + +<p>George Hill strained against his bonds and mumbled +something through the gag in his mouth, but Tom +couldn't understand what he was trying to say. Mrs. +Hill just looked at the planter with wide, frightened +eyes. The cadet whirled around angrily. "Why, you +dirty little space rat!"</p> + +<p>Sinclair didn't hesitate. He squeezed the trigger of +his paralo-ray gun and Tom stiffened into rigidity.</p> + +<p>The planter dropped the ray gun into a chair and +leisurely began to tie the hands and feet of the immobilized +cadet.</p> + +<p>"Since you can hear me, Corbett," said Sinclair, "and +since you are powerless to do anything about what I'm +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>about to tell you, I'm going to give you a full explanation. +I owe it to you. You've really worked for it."</p> + +<p>Unable to move a muscle, Tom nevertheless could +hear the planter clearly. He mentally chided himself at +his stupidity in allowing himself to be captured so easily.</p> + +<p>Sinclair continued, "My original invitation to you and +your friends, to use my home as a base for your hunting +operations was sincere. I had no idea you were in any +way connected with the investigation the Solar Guard +was planning to make into the Nationalist movement."</p> + +<p>Tom was completely bound now, and the planter +stepped back, picked up the ray gun, and flipping on +the neutralizer, released the cadet from the effects +of the ray charge. Tom shuddered involuntarily, his +nerves and muscles quivering as life suddenly flowed +into them again. He twisted at the bonds on his wrists, +and to his amazement found them slightly loose. He was +sure he could work his hands free, but decided to wait +for a better opportunity. He glanced at the clock on the +wall near by and saw that it was nine in the evening. +Only fifteen hours before the Solar Guard must attack!</p> + +<p>Sinclair sat down casually in a chair and faced the +cadet. George and Mrs. Hill had stopped struggling +and were watching their employer.</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about the bomb we found on +the <i>Polaris</i> on our trip to Venus?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"I planned that little surprise myself, Corbett," said +Sinclair. "Unfortunately our agents on Earth bungled +it."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that was pretty stupid. There would +have been another man sent in Major Connel's place, +and we were warned that something big was in the +wind."</p> + +<p>"Ah, quite so, Corbett," said Sinclair. "But the destruction +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>of the <i>Polaris</i> would have caused no end of +speculation. There would have been an investigation +which would have temporarily removed the spotlight +from the Nationalist movement. That would have given +us ample time to complete our preparations for the attack."</p> + +<p>"Then you knew," said Tom bitterly, "when Major +Connel, Roger, Astro, and I left here that we were going +to be captured."</p> + +<p>"Well, that was one of the details of the final plan. +Personally, I hoped that you and your nosy major would +meet a more dramatic and permanent end in the jungle."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with us?" asked Tom, +glancing at George and his wife. "And what do Mr. and +Mrs. Hill have to do with your scheme?"</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately they discovered who I am, and of +course had to be taken care of. As to your eventual disposition, +I haven't had time to think about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better start thinking," said Tom. "And +you'd better do a good job when you attack the Solar +Guard. Perhaps you don't know it, Sinclair, but the +whole pattern of the Solar Guard is one of defense. We +do not invite attack, but are prepared for it. And we +have the power to counterattack!"</p> + +<p>"When we get through with your Solar Guard, Corbett," +sneered Sinclair, "there won't be anything left +but smoldering heaps of junk and the dead bodies of +stupid men!"</p> + +<p>The buzz of a teleceiver suddenly sounded in another +part of the house and Sinclair left the room quickly. +When he was sure the planter was out of earshot, Tom +turned to George and whispered, "I think I can work +my hands loose. Where can I find a ray gun?" George +began to mumble frantically but Tom couldn't understand +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>him, and the sound of returning footsteps silenced +Hill. The planter strode back into the room, +hurriedly putting on the green uniform of the Nationalists. +"I've just received word of a speed-up in the +preparations for our attack," he said. "Soon, Corbett—soon +you will see what will happen to the Solar Guard!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-123.png" width="500" height="143" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a>CHAPTER 16</h2> + + +<p>"Bring that dirty little space crawler in here!"</p> + +<p>Captain Strong had never seen Commander Walters +so angry. The cords stood out in his neck and his face +was red with fury as he paced up and down the Solar +Guard office in Venusport. "A spy," he roared. "A spy +right in the heart of our organization!" He shook his +head.</p> + +<p>The door opened and two burly Solar Guardsmen +entered, saluted, and turned to flank the doorway, hands +on their paralo-ray pistols. The private secretary of E. +Philips James shuffled in slowly, followed by two more +guards. Walters stepped up to the thin, intense young +man and glared at him. "If I had my way, I'd send you +out to the deepest part of space and leave you there!"</p> + +<p>The man bit his lip but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Where is your secret base?" demanded Walters.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," replied the secretary nervously.</p> + +<p>"Who told you to intercept this message from Mercury?" +Walters tapped a paper on his desk. "Who gave +you your orders?"</p> + +<p>"I receive orders on an audioceiver in my home," answered +the man, a slight quaver in his voice. "I have +never seen my superior."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> +<p>"And you followed the Nationalist movement blindly, +doing whatever they told you, without question, is +that it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>sir</i>!" roared Walters.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," corrected the secretary.</p> + +<p>"Who told you to forge those orders for priority seats +on the <i>Venus Lark</i>?"</p> + +<p>"My superior," said the man.</p> + +<p>"How did you know Major Connel was coming here +to investigate the Nationalists?"</p> + +<p>"I read the decoded message sent to the Solar Delegate, +Mr. James."</p> + +<p>"Who told you to send men to bomb the <i>Polaris</i>?"</p> + +<p>"My superior," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Your superior—your superior!" Walters' voice was +edged with contempt. "What else has your superior told +you to do?"</p> + +<p>"A great many things," said the young man simply.</p> + +<p>Walters studied the thin face and then turned to +Captain Strong. "There's only one thing to do, Steve. +There's no telling how many of these rats are inside our +organization. Relieve every civilian in any position of +trust and put in our own man. I'll make a public teleceiver +broadcast in half an hour. I'm declaring martial +law."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Strong grimly.</p> + +<p>"If you hadn't been in the code room when this message +from Mercury came in, we would never have +known the Nationalists were trying to get the Mercurians +to join them in their attack on us until it was too +late. It's the only break we've had, so far, learning that +the Mercurians are still decent, loyal Solar citizens. I +hate to think of what would have happened if they +hadn't warned us."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> +<p>"He very nearly got away with it, sir," said Strong. +"If I hadn't heard the signal for a top-secret message +come through on the coding machine, I never would +have suspected him. He tried to hide it in his tunic. He +also confessed to trying to kidnap the cadets when he +heard me tell them that a cab would be waiting for +them."</p> + +<p>"Well, we know now," said Walters. He turned to one +of the guardsmen. "Sergeant, I'm holding you personally +responsible for this man."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," said the guard, stepping toward the +secretary, but Walters stopped him and addressed the +man.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you one last chance to tell me where your +base is and how many ships you have," he said.</p> + +<p>The secretary looked down at his feet and mumbled, +"I don't know where the base is, and I don't know how +many ships there are."</p> + +<p>"Then what does this list we found in your tunic +mean?" snapped Strong. "These are the names of ships +that have been lost in space."</p> + +<p>"I don't know. That list was sent to me over the audioceiver +by my superior. I was to relay it to Mercury +should they accept our proposal to join forces +against—" He stopped.</p> + +<p>"Get him out of my sight!" barked Walters.</p> + +<p>The guards closed in around the little man and he +slowly shuffled out of the office.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how many more there are like him in our +organization, Steve?" The commander had turned to +the window and was staring out blindly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," replied Strong. "But I think we'd +better be prepared for trouble."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said Walters, turning to the Solar Guard +captain. "What do you suggest?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<p>"Since we don't know how many ships they have, +where their base is, or when they plan to attack, I suggest +putting the Venus squadrons in defense pattern A. +Meanwhile, call in three additional squadrons from +Mars, Earth, and Luna. That way, we can at least be assured +of an even fight."</p> + +<p>"But we don't know if they'll attack here on Venus. +Suppose we weaken Earth's fleet and they attack +there?" Walters paused, looking troubled. Then he +sighed. "I guess you're right. Put the plan into effect +immediately. It's the only thing we can do."</p> + +<p>At exactly midnight every teleceiver on Venus was +suddenly blacked out for a moment and then came into +focus again to reveal the grim features of Commander +Walters.</p> + +<p>In homes, restaurants, theaters, arriving and departing +space liners, in every public and private gathering +place, the citizens of Venus heard the announcement.</p> + +<p>"As commander in chief of the Solar Guard, I hereby +place the entire planet of Venus under martial law. All +public laws are suspended until further notice. All public +officials are hereby relieved of their authority. A ten +<span class="smcap">P.M.</span> until six <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> curfew will go into effect immediately. +Anyone caught on the streets between these +hours will be arrested. An attack is expected on the +city of Venusport, as well as other Venusian cities, momentarily. +Follow established routine for such an occurrence. +Obey officers and enlisted men of the Solar Guard +who are here on Venus to protect you and your property. +That is all!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the living room of Sinclair's house Tom waited impatiently +for the sound of Sinclair's yacht taking off before +attempting to free himself from the rope on his +wrists. But when a half-hour had passed with no sound +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>from outside, he decided not to waste any more time.</p> + +<p>Relaxing completely, the curly-haired cadet began +working his wrists back and forth in the loop of rope. +It was slow, painful work, and in no time the skin was +rubbed raw. George and Mrs. Hill watched him, wide-eyed. +They saw the skin of his wrists gradually turn +pink, then red, as the cadet pulled and pushed at the +rope. A half-hour had passed before he felt the rope +slipping down over the widest part of his hand. Slowly, +so as not to lose the precious advantage, he pulled with +all his strength, unmindful of the pain. He heard a +sharp gasp from Mrs. Hill and then felt the rope become +damp. His wrists were bleeding. But at the same +time he felt the rope slipping over his hands. He gave +a quick tug and the rope slipped off and dropped to the +floor, a bloody tangle. He spun around and untied the +foreman and his wife quickly, removing the gags from +their mouths gently.</p> + +<p>"Your wrists!" cried Mrs. Hill.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about them, ma'am," said Tom. He +looked at Hill. "How long have you been tied up?"</p> + +<p>"Just about an hour before you came," answered the +foreman. "I found Sinclair in front of a teleceiver in his +room. It's in a secret panel and I didn't know it was +there. I waited and heard him talking to someone in +Venusian. But he spotted me and pulled a ray gun."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where he's gone?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"No, but I sure wish I did!" said the burly foreman +stoutly. "I have something to settle with him."</p> + +<p>"That'll have to wait until the Solar Guard is finished +with him. Come on!" Tom started toward the door.</p> + +<p>"Where are we going?" asked Hill.</p> + +<p>"To the <i>Polaris</i>! I've got to warn the Solar Guard of +their plans. They're going to attack the Venusport garrison +and take over Venus!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> +<p>"By the stars!" gasped Mrs. Hill. "Here I've been +feeding that man all these years and didn't know I was +contributing to a revolution!"</p> + +<p>Tom was out of the door and running toward the +<i>Polaris</i> before she had finished talking. George followed +right behind him.</p> + +<p>As the cadet raced across the dark clearing one hope +filled his mind—that the <i>Polaris</i> would be in the same +condition in which they had left it.</p> + +<p>The port was still open where Sinclair had caught +him and he climbed inside the giant ship quickly. As +soon as he entered, he snapped on the emergency lights +and searched the ship carefully. After examining every +compartment, and satisfied that there was no one +aboard, he made his way back to the radar bridge. +There, he saw immediately why Sinclair had felt free +to leave the ship. All radar and communications equipment +had been completely smashed.</p> + +<p>The young cadet returned to the control deck and +called down to George Hill, waiting in the air lock. +"George! Get Mrs. Hill aboard quickly. We're blasting +off!"</p> + +<p>"Blasting off?" the foreman called back. "But I +thought you were going to contact Venusport!"</p> + +<p>"I can't," replied Tom. "Sinclair has smashed the +communications and the radar. We'll have to take our +information to Venusport in person. I only hope he's +left the rockets and atomic motors alone."</p> + +<p>"How about using the teleceiver in the house?" asked +the foreman, climbing up to the control deck.</p> + +<p>"Can't take a chance," said Tom. "This is top secret. +They might have the teleceiver tapped."</p> + +<p>"Do you know how to handle this ship alone?" asked +George, glancing around at the great control board. "I +don't know anything about a ship this size."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<p>"I can handle it," said Tom. "Get Mrs. Hill aboard!"</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Tommy," said Mrs. Hill, climbing up +into the control deck. "I have some bandages and salve +for your wrists."</p> + +<p>"There's no time, Mrs. Hill," said Tom. "We've got +to—"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" she interrupted firmly. "You just give me +your hands. It'll take only a minute!"</p> + +<p>Tom reluctantly held out his wrists and Mrs. Hill +expertly applied the salve and bandaged the cadet's +raw wrists. Admittedly feeling better, Tom turned to +the master switch and found it missing. For a second +panic seized him, until he remembered that Major Connel +had hidden it. He felt under the pilot's chair and +breathed easier, pulling out the vital instrument.</p> + +<p>"Better get into acceleration chairs," said Tom, strapping +himself into his seat. "This might be a rough take-off."</p> + +<p>"Watch yourself, Tom," cautioned George. "We +aren't afraid for ourselves, but you've got to get to Venusport!"</p> + +<p>"If he's left the power deck alone, everything will +be O.K."</p> + +<p>The young cadet stretched out a trembling hand and +switched on the automatic firing control. Then, crossing +his fingers, he flipped on the main generator and +breathed easier as the steady hum surged through the +ship. He thought briefly of Astro and Roger, wishing his +two unit mates were at their stations, and then switched +on the power feed to the energizing pumps. There was +a second's wait as the pressure began to build, and he +watched the indicator over his head on the control +panel carefully. When it had reached the proper level, +he switched in the reactant feed, giving it full D-12 +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>rate. He glanced at the astral chronometer over his +head automatically and noted the time.</p> + +<p>"Stand by!" he called. "Blast off minus five—four—three—two—one—<i>zero</i>!"</p> + +<p>He threw the master switch and a roaring burst of +power poured into the main tubes. The ship bucked +slightly, raised itself from the ground slowly, and then +suddenly shot upward. In less than a minute the <i>Polaris</i> +had cleared atmosphere and Tom turned on the artificial-gravity +generators. He made a quick computation +on the planetary calculator, fired the port steering rockets, +and sent the ship in a long arching course for Venusport. +Then, unstrapping himself, he turned to see +how Mr. and Mrs. Hill had taken the blast-off.</p> + +<p>The foreman and his wife were shaking their heads, +still in acceleration shock, and Tom helped them out of +their cushions.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my! Do you boys have to go through this all the +time?" Mrs. Hill asked. "It's a wonder to me how a human +body can take it."</p> + +<p>"I feel pretty much the same way," muttered George.</p> + +<p>"A cup of hot tea will fix you up fine," Tom reassured +them, and leaving the ship on automatic control, he +went into the small galley off the control deck and +brewed three cups of tea. In a few moments the elderly +couple felt better, and Tom told them of the Nationalists' +base and Connel's plan to wreck the radar station +at noon the next day. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hill were +shocked at the scope of the Nationalists' plan.</p> + +<p>"Well, they bit off more than they could chew when +they decided to buck the Solar Guard," asserted Tom. +"When Commander Walters gets finished with them, +Sinclair and the rest won't have anything left but memories!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> +<p>"Tell me something, Tom," said George, looking at +the control panel thoughtfully. "Have you figured out +how you're going to land this ship alone and with no +radar?"</p> + +<p>"I'll have to use the seat of my pants." Tom smiled, +and turned back to his seat. George and his wife looked +at each other and quickly strapped themselves into +their acceleration cushions.</p> + +<p>A few moments later Tom began braking the ship +with the nose rockets. It made a slow-climbing arc over +the spaceport and then settled slowly, tailfirst. The +stern teleceiver was out of order, and the young cadet +had to rely entirely on "feel," to get the <i>Polaris</i> in safely. +He had calculated his rate of fall, the gravity of Venus, +and the power of the rockets, and was dropping at a +predetermined rate. At the critical point he increased +power on the drive rockets, continuing to fall slowly +until he felt the jarring bump of the directional fins +touching the ground.</p> + +<p>"Touchdown!" he roared triumphantly.</p> + +<p>He closed the master switch and turned to look at +the smiling faces of Mr. and Mrs. Hill.</p> + +<p>"That was fine, Tom," said George, "but I don't want +to do it again."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a scaredy cat, George Hill!" taunted Mrs. +Hill. "Tom handles this ship as if he were born on it."</p> + +<p>Tom grinned. "We'd better hurry up. There must be +something going on. There aren't any lights on here +at the spaceport and all the administration buildings +are dark."</p> + +<p>He hurried to the air lock and swung it open, jumping +lightly to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" growled a rough voice. "Get your hands in +the air and stay right where you are!"</p> + +<p>Puzzled, Tom did as he was told, announcing, "I'm +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>Space Cadet Tom Corbett, <i>Polaris</i> unit. I request immediate +transportation to Commander Walters. I have +important information for him."</p> + +<p>He was momentarily blinded by the glare of a ring +of lights around him, and when he finally could see, he +found himself in the middle of a squad of Solar Guardsmen +in battle dress.</p> + +<p>"What's the password?" asked a tough sergeant +whose shock rifle was aimed right at Tom's midsection.</p> + +<p>"Juggernaut!" replied Tom quietly.</p> + +<p>The word sent the sergeant into a frenzy of action. +"Peters, Smith, get the jet car around here!"</p> + +<p>"What's up, Sergeant?" asked Tom. "Why is everything +so dark?"</p> + +<p>"Martial law!" replied the guardsman. "Curfew from +ten until six."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" gasped Tom. "It looks as if I just made it!"</p> + +<p>As George and Mrs. Hill climbed out of the air lock, +a jet car raced up and skidded to a stop in front of them. +A moment later Tom and the couple, accompanied by +two of the guardsmen, were speeding through the dark +and empty streets of Venusport. The car was stopped +once at a mid-town check point, and Tom had to repeat +the password. They picked up another jet car, full of +guardsmen as escorts, and with the echo of the exhausts +roaring in the empty avenues, they sped to central Solar +Guard headquarters.</p> + +<p>Tom had never seen so many enlisted guardsmen in +one spot before except on a parade ground. And he +noted with a tinge of excitement that each man was +in battle dress. Arriving at headquarters, they were +whisked to the top floor of the building and ushered +into Commander Walters' office. The commander smiled +broadly as the young cadet stepped to the front of his +desk and saluted smartly.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> +<p>"Cadet Corbett reporting, sir," he said.</p> + +<p>In a moment the office was filled with men; E. Philips +James, the Solar Delegate, Captain Strong, fleet commanders, +and officers of the line.</p> + +<p>"Make your report, Cadet Corbett," said Walters.</p> + +<p>Tom spoke quickly and precisely, giving full details +on the location of the base, the approximate number +of fighting ships, the armament of each, the location of +supply dumps, and finally of Major Connel's plan to +sabotage the radar at noon the following day. Then, +one by one, each official asked him questions pertinent +to their tasks. Fleet commanders asked about the ships' +speed, size, armor; Strong inquired about the stores and +supporting lines of supply; Walters asked for the names +of all people connected with the movement. All of these +questions Tom answered as well as he could.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," said Walters, "thanks to Corbett +and the others on this mission, we have all the information +we need to counter the Nationalists. I propose to +follow Major Connel's plan and attack the base at noon +tomorrow. Squadrons A and B will approach from the +south and east at exactly noon. Squadrons C, D, and +E will come in from the north and west as a second +wave at 1202. The rest of the fleet will go in from above +at 1205. Supporting squadrons are now on their way +from Earth and Mars. Blast off at six hundred hours. +Spaceman's luck!"</p> + +<p>"Good work, Tom," said Strong, when the conference +broke up.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Tom. "But I can't help worrying about +Roger and Astro and Major Connel. What's going to +happen to them, sir?"</p> + +<p>Strong hesitated. "I don't know, Tom. I really don't +know."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a>CHAPTER 17</h2> + + +<p>"What time is it, Astro?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly eleven o'clock, sir."</p> + +<p>"All set?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"You know what to do. Move out!"</p> + +<p>Astro and Major Connel were crouched behind a pile +of fuel drums piled near the communications and radar +building in the heart of the Nationalists' base. Above +them, the gigantic tree used as the radar tower rose +straight into the Venusian morning sky.</p> + +<p>After helping Tom to escape, Astro had returned to +the prison building for Connel and was surprised to find +the place surrounded by green-clad Nationalist guards. +Rather than attempt to release Connel then, Astro hid +and waited for the time set to wreck the radar communications +of the enemy. During the second day, he +had successfully eluded the many patrols looking for +him. Once from a hiding place he overheard one of the +men mention Connel. He took a daring chance and approached +the patrol openly. Speaking the Venusian dialect, +he learned that Connel had escaped. That news +sent the cadet on a different game of hide-and-seek as +he prowled around the base searching for the Solar +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>Guard officer. He had found him hiding near the radar +tower, and they spent the night close to the communications +building waiting for the time to strike.</p> + +<p>Their plan was simple. Astro would enter the building +from the front, while Connel would enter from the +rear. Astro would draw attention to himself, and while +the guards inside the building were busy dealing with +him, Connel would come upon them from behind, +knock them out of action, and then destroy the radar +equipment.</p> + +<p>The two spacemen gave no thought to their own +safety. They were concerned only with accomplishing +their objective. Having no way of knowing whether +Tom had made it back to Venusport or whether their +destruction of the communications center would be of +any value, they nevertheless had to proceed on the assumption +that Tom had gotten through.</p> + +<p>Astro crawled behind the drums and stopped twenty +feet from the door to wait for several Nationalist officers +to leave. They finally got into a jet car and roared +away. Astro nodded to the major waiting to edge +around to the rear and then headed for the main entrance.</p> + +<p>Connel saw Astro making his way to the front door +and hurried around to complete his part of the mission. +He waited exactly three minutes, gripped his shock +rifle firmly, and then crossed over to the rear of the +building and stepped inside.</p> + +<p>Once inside, the major found it difficult to keep from +bursting into laughter. The large ground-floor room +was a frenzy of brawling, yelling, shouting Nationalist +guards trying to capture the giant cadet. Astro was +standing in the middle of the floor, swinging his great +hamlike fists methodically, mowing down the guards +like tenpins. Two of them were on his back, trying to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>choke him, while others crowded in from all sides. But +they could not bring the cadet down. Astro saw Connel, +shook himself, and stood free.</p> + +<p>"Stand back!" roared Connel. "The first one of you +green monkeys that makes a move will have his teeth +knocked out! Now line up over there against the wall—and +I mean fast!"</p> + +<p>The sudden attack from the rear startled the Nationalist +guards, and they milled around in confusion. +There was no confusion, however, when Connel fired +a blast over their heads. Astro grabbed a paralo-ray gun +and opened up on the guards. A second later the squad +of Nationalists were frozen in their tracks.</p> + +<p>Once the men were no further danger to them, Connel +and Astro locked the front and rear doors and then +raced up the stairs that led to the main radar and communications +rooms on the second floor.</p> + +<p>"You start at that end of the hall, I'll start here!" +shouted Connel. "Smash everything you see!"</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir." Astro waved his hand and charged +down the hall. He exploded into a room, firing rapidly, +and an electronics engineer froze in a startled pose in +front of his worktable. The big cadet gleefully swung a +heavy chair across the table of delicate electronic instruments, +and smashed shelves of vital parts, pausing +only long enough to see if he had left anything unbroken. +He rushed out into the hall again. At the other +end he heard Connel in action in another room. Astro +grinned. It sounded as if the major was having a good +time. "Well," thought the big cadet, "I'm not having +such a bad time myself!"</p> + +<p>The next room he invaded contained the radar-control +panel, and the big cadet howled with glee as he +smashed the butt of his paralo-ray gun into the delicate +vacuum tubes, and ripped wires and circuits loose.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> +<p>Suddenly he stopped, conscious of someone behind +him. He spun around, finger starting to squeeze the +trigger of his gun, and then caught himself just in time. +Major Connel was leaning against the doorjamb, a wide +grin on his face.</p> + +<p>"How're you doing?" he drawled.</p> + +<p>"Not bad," said Astro casually. "Be a lot of work here, +fixing these things, eh?" He grinned.</p> + +<p>"What time is it?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>Astro looked at his watch. "Twenty to twelve."</p> + +<p>"We'd better clear out of here and head for the jungle."</p> + +<p>Astro hesitated. "You know, sir, I've been thinking."</p> + +<p>"If you have an idea, spill it," said the major.</p> + +<p>"How about releasing the prisoners, taking over a +ship, and blasting off?"</p> + +<p>"And have the Solar Guard fleet blast us out of the +skies? No, sir! Come on, we've got to get moving!"</p> + +<p>"We could still try to release Carson and the others," +said Astro stoutly.</p> + +<p>"We can try all right, but I don't think we'll be very +successful."</p> + +<p>The two spacemen returned to the first floor of the +building and headed for the rear door without so much +as a look at the line of frozen guards along the wall. +Once outside, they skirted the edge of the building, +staying close to the hedge, and then struck out boldly +across the canyon floor toward the prison building. +They were surprised to see that their smashing attack +had gone unnoticed, and Connel reasoned that the constant +roar of activity in the canyon had covered the +sounds of their raid.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to hurry, sir," said Astro as they turned +into the lane leading to the prison. "Ten minutes to +twelve."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> +<p>"It's no good, Astro," said Connel, suddenly pulling +the cadet back and pointing to the building. "Look at +all the guards—at least a dozen of them."</p> + +<p>Astro waited a second before saying grimly, "We +could try, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a pigheaded idiot!" roared Connel. "Nothing +will happen to those men now, and in five minutes +there'll be so much confusion around here that we'll be +able to walk over and open the door without firing a +shot!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was an explosive roar behind them +and they spun around. On the opposite side of the canyon +three rocket ships were hurtling spaceward.</p> + +<p>"They must have spotted our fleet coming in," said +Connel, a puzzled frown on his face.</p> + +<p>"But how could they?" asked Astro. "We knocked out +their radar!"</p> + +<p>Connel slammed his fist into the palm of his hand. +"By the stars, Astro, we forgot about their monitoring +spaceship above the tower! When we knocked out the +main station here in the canyon, it took over and +warned the base of the attack!"</p> + +<p>From all sides the canyon reverberated with the roaring +blasts of the Nationalist fleet blasting off. Around +them, the green-clad rebels were running to their defense +posts. Officers shouted frantic orders and workers +dropped tools to pick up guns. The building that held +Carson and the other planters was suddenly left alone +as the guards hurried to ships and battle stations.</p> + +<p>Connel counted the number of ships blasting off and +smiled. "They don't stand a chance! They're sending up +only two heavy cruisers, four destroyers, and about +twenty scouts. The Solar Guard fleet will blast them +into space dust."</p> + +<p>Astro jumped up and started to run.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<p>"Hey, Astro! Where are you going?" shouted Connel.</p> + +<p>"To find Roger!" Astro shouted in reply. "I'll meet +you back here!"</p> + +<p>"Right!" shouted Connel, settling back into concealment. +There was no need to release the planters in the +guardhouse now. Connel was satisfied that in a few moments +the rebellion against the Solar Alliance would be +defeated. He smiled in prospect of seeing a good fight.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Bandit at three o'clock—range twenty miles!" +Aboard the command ship of the first group of attacking +Solar Guard squadrons, Captain Strong stood in the +middle of the control deck and watched the outline of +an approaching Nationalist cruiser on the radar scanner. +The voice of the range finder droned over the ship's +intercom.</p> + +<p>"Change course three degrees starboard, one degree +down on ecliptic plane," ordered Strong calmly.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir," replied Tom at the controls.</p> + +<p>"Main battery, stand by to fire." Strong watched the +enemy ship closely.</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye!" came the answer over the intercom.</p> + +<p>"Approaching target!" called the range finder. "Closing +to fifty thousand yards—forty thousand—"</p> + +<p>"<i>Pleiades</i> and <i>Regulus</i>," Strong called the other two +ships of his squadron. "Cut in on port and starboard +flanks. Squadron B, stand by!"</p> + +<p>Abrupt acknowledgment came over the audioceiver +as the cruisers deployed for the attack.</p> + +<p>"Twenty-three thousand yards, holding course." The +range-finder's voice was a steady monotone.</p> + +<p>"Stand by to fire!" snapped Strong.</p> + +<p>"Two bandits at nine o'clock on level plane of ecliptic!" +came the warning from the radar bridge.</p> + +<p>Before Strong could issue an order countering the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>enemy move, the voice of the commander of the <i>Pleiades</i> +came in over the audioceiver, "Our meat, Strong, +you take care of the big baby!"</p> + +<p>On the scanner screen Strong saw the trails of two +space torpedoes erupt from the side of the <i>Pleiades</i>, +followed immediately by two more from its flanking +ship, the <i>Regulus</i>. The four missiles hurtled toward the +two enemy destroyers, and a second later two brilliant +flashes of light appeared on the scanner. Direct hits on +the two destroyers!</p> + +<p>"Range—ten thousand feet," came the calm voice +over the intercom, reminding Strong of the enemy +cruiser.</p> + +<p>"Arm war heads!" snapped Strong over the intercom, +and, on the gun deck, men twirled the delicate fuses +on the noses of the space torpedoes and stepped +back.</p> + +<p>"On target!" called the range finder.</p> + +<p>"Full salvo—fire!" called Strong, and turned to Tom +quickly. "Ninety-degree turn—five degrees up!"</p> + +<p>The Solar Guard cruiser quivered under the recoil +of the salvo and then bucked under the sudden change +of course to elude the torpedoes fired by the enemy a +split second later.</p> + +<p>As the Solar Guard cruiser roared up in a long arc, +eluding the enemy torpedoes, the Nationalist ship maneuvered +frantically to evade the salvo of war heads, +but Strong had fired a deadly pattern. In a few seconds +the enemy ship was reduced to space junk.</p> + +<p>Concentrating on the control panel, Tom had been +too busy maneuvering the giant ship to see the entire +engagement, but he heard the loud exulting cries of the +gun crew over the intercom. He looked up at Strong, +and the Solar Guard captain winked. "One down!"</p> + +<p>"Here come squadrons C, D, and E, sir," said Tom, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>indicating the radar. "Right on time." He glanced at the +astral chronometer over his head. "Two minutes after +twelve."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't look as if we'll need them, Tom," said +Strong. "The Nationalists got only two cruisers and four +destroyers off the ground. We've already knocked out +one of their cruisers and two destroyers, and Squadron +B is taking on the second cruiser and its destroyer escorts +now!" He turned to the radar scanner and saw the +white evenly spaced blips that represented Squadron B +enveloping the three enemy ships. The bulky converted +cruiser was maneuvering frantically to get away. But +there was no escape. In a perfectly co-ordinated action +the Solar Guard ships fired their space torpedoes simultaneously. +The three Nationalist ships exploded in a +deadly flash of fire.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-194.png" width="500" height="440" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p><p>"Don't tell me that's all they've got!" exclaimed +Strong. "Why, we still have the rest of the fleet coming +in at 1205!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tom froze in his seat. Before him on the +radar scanner he saw a new cluster of white blips, +seemingly coming from nowhere. They were enemy +ships, hurtling spaceward to meet the Solar Guard fleet. +"Captain Strong! Look! More of them. From secret +ramps in the jungle!"</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" roared the Solar Guard +captain. "Attention! Attention! All ships—all ships!" he +called into the fleet intercom. "This is Strong aboard +command ship. Bandit formation closing fast. Regroup! +Take tight defensive pattern!"</p> + +<p>As the Solar Guard squadrons deployed to meet this +new attack, Tom felt a chill run down his spine. The +mass of ships blasting to meet them outnumbered them +by almost three to one. And there were more ships +blasting off from the secret ramps in the jungle! He had +led the Solar Guard into a trap!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-044.png" width="500" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a>CHAPTER 18</h2> + + +<p>"Fire at will! Fire at will!"</p> + +<p>Aboard the command ship, Captain Strong roared +the order to the rest of the fleet, and the individual ship +commanders of the Solar Guard vessels broke formation +and rocketed into the mass of Nationalist ships, firing +salvo after salvo of space torpedoes. But it was a losing +battle. Time and again, Strong and Tom saw Solar +Guard ships hemmed in by three and four Nationalists' +vessels, then blasted into oblivion.</p> + +<p>Strong had ordered Tom to maneuver the command +ship at will, seeking targets, yet still keeping from being +a target, and the young cadet had guided the powerful +ship through a series of maneuvers that had even surprised +the experienced Solar Guard officer.</p> + +<p>"Where's the rest of the fleet?" roared Strong. "Why +aren't they here yet?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, sir," replied Tom, "but if they don't +show up soon, there won't be much left to save!"</p> + +<p>"Bandits dead ahead," droned the voice from the radar +bridge calmly, "trying to envelop us."</p> + +<p>Tom's hand shot out for the intercom to relay orders +to the power deck and glanced quickly at the scanner. +He almost cheered. "Steve—I mean, Captain Strong. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>The rest of the fleet! It's coming in! Attacking from top-side!"</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna, you're right!" yelled the +young Solar Guard captain, as he saw the white blips on +the scanner screen. "O.K., it's time to stop running and +fight!"</p> + +<p>The Solar Guard reinforcements swooped down on +the fighting ships with dazzling speed, and the sky over +the jungle belt of Venus base was so thick with zooming, +firing, maneuvering ships that observers on the +ground couldn't tell one ship from another. For an hour +the battle raged. During the seesawing back and forth +it seemed as if all ships must be blasted into space junk. +Finally the superior maneuvering and over-all spacemanship +of the Solar Guard vessels began to count +heavily, and the Nationalist ships began to plunge into +the jungle or drift helplessly out into space. Reforming, +the Solar Guard ships encircled the enemy in a deadly +englobement pattern, and wheeling in great co-ordinated +arcs through space, sent combined volleys of torpedoes +crashing into the enemy ships. The space battle +was over, a complete Solar Guard victory.</p> + +<p>Strong called to the remaining ships of his fleet, +"Take formation K. Land and attack the enemy base +according to prearranged order. The enemy fleet is destroyed, +but we still have a big job to do."</p> + +<p>"What happens now, sir?" asked Tom, relaxing for +the first time since the space battle had begun.</p> + +<p>"We try to destroy their base and put an end to this +rebellion as quickly as possible," replied Strong coldly.</p> + +<p>One by one, the ships of the Solar Guard fleet landed +around the rim of the canyon base. Troop carriers, that +had stood off while the space battle raged, disgorged +hundreds of tough Solar Guard Marines, each carrying +shock rifles, paralo-ray pistols, and small narco grenades +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>that would put an enemy to sleep in five seconds. A +half-hour later, after the last Nationalist ship had been +blasted out of the skies, the rim of the canyon was alive +with Solar Guardsmen waiting to go into action. Many +had comrades in the Solar Guard ships lost in the space +fight and they were eager to avenge their friends.</p> + +<p>"How many ships did we lose, sir?" asked Tom, after +the squadron commanders had made their reports to +Captain Strong.</p> + +<p>"Forty," said Strong grimly. "But the entire Nationalist +fleet was wiped out. Thank the universe that their +radar was knocked out, or we would have been completely +wiped out."</p> + +<p>"Thank Astro and Major Connel for that, sir," said +Tom with the first smile on his face in days. "I knew +none of those green jokers could stop those two!"</p> + +<p>"I've got to report to Commander Walters and the +Solar Alliance, Tom. You take a squad of men and move +out. Your job is to find Astro, Roger, and Major Connel."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir!" said Tom happily.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Down in the canyon, Major Connel had waited as +long as he dared for Astro to return with news of Roger. +From his position, the tough spaceman could not tell +how the gigantic space battle had ended until he saw +the Solar Guard troop carriers land on the rim of the +canyon above. Satisfied, he decided that it was time to +move.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 296px;"> +<img src="images/ill-199.png" width="296" height="500" alt="The Solar Guard troops landed on the rim of the canyon" title="" /> +<span class="caption">The Solar Guard troops landed on the rim of the canyon</span> +</div> + +<p>He stood up, careful not to expose himself, since +fighting had broken out among the workers. Every +street, shop, and corner would bring dangers, and having +stayed alive this far, Connel wanted to reach the +Solar Guard forces and continue the fight alongside his +friends. Astro was nowhere in sight when the major +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>moved cautiously down a side alley, and he was beginning +to think that Astro had not escaped from the base +with Roger, when he saw the big cadet suddenly appear +around a corner running as hard as he could. A +few seconds later three green-clad Nationalist guards +rounded the corner and pounded after him.</p> + +<p>Astro saw Connel and ducked behind an overturned +jet car, yelling, "I'm unarmed! Nail them, Major!"</p> + +<p>In a flash Connel dropped to the pavement, and firing +from a kneeling position, cut the Nationalists down expertly. +When the last of the enemy was frozen, Connel +rushed to Astro's side.</p> + +<p>"What about Roger?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I couldn't reach him," replied Astro. "The sick bay's +in the main administration building and that's so well +guarded it would take a full company to break in."</p> + +<p>Connel nodded grimly. "Well, the best thing for us +to do is get more men and then tackle it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Astro. "I think we'd better head for +the canyon walls on the west. The Marines are pouring +down that side."</p> + +<p>"Let's go," grunted the major, and led the way down +the narrow lane. But when they reached the open area +beyond the repair shops they saw that the Nationalist +guards had thrown up barriers in the streets and were +preparing defenses against frontal assault.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'd better stay where we are, sir," the big +cadet said, after scanning the Nationalist defenses. +"We'd never be able to get through now."</p> + +<p>"Ummmh," mused Connel. "You're right. Maybe we +can be of more use striking behind the lines."</p> + +<p>Astro grinned. "That's just what I was thinking, sir." +He pointed to a near-by barrier set up in the middle of +the street. "We could pick off the men behind that—"</p> + +<p>"Look out!" roared Connel. Behind them, five Nationalist +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>guards had suddenly appeared. But they were +more surprised than Astro and Connel, and the big +cadet took advantage of it by charging right into +them.</p> + +<p>It was a short but vicious fight. There was no time to +aim or fire a paralo-ray gun. It was a matter of bare +knuckles and feet and knees and shoulders. One by one, +the green-clad men were laid low, and finally, Connel, +out of breath, turned to grin at Astro.</p> + +<p>"Feel better," he gasped, "than I've felt in weeks!"</p> + +<p>Astro grinned. One of Connel's front teeth was missing. +Astro leaned against the wall and pointed to the +canyon wall where the columns of Solar Guard Marines +were making their way down into the base under heavy +covering fire from above. "Won't be long now!"</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Connel. "They'll probably send +scouts out ahead of those columns and we can make +contact with them over there." He pointed toward a +high tangle of barbed wire set up in the middle of +the near-by street. Astro nodded, and exchanging his +broken ray gun for one belonging to a fallen Nationalist, +raced to the edge of the barrier with the major. +They crouched and waited for the first contact by the +Marines.</p> + +<p>"They shouldn't be too long now," said Connel.</p> + +<p>"No more than a minute, sir," said Astro, pointing to +a running figure darting from one protective position to +another.</p> + +<p>"You, there!" shouted a familiar voice. "Behind that +barrier!"</p> + +<p>Astro glanced at Connel. "Major, that sounds like—!"</p> + +<p>"Come out with your hands in the air and nothing +will happen to you!" the voice called again.</p> + +<p>"By the stars, you're right!" yelled Connel. "It's Corbett!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<p>Astro jumped up and yelled, "Tom! Tom! You big +space-brained jerk! It's me, Astro!"</p> + +<p>Behind the corner of a house, Tom peered cautiously +around the edge and saw the big cadet scramble over +the tangle of barbed wire with Connel right behind +him. Tom held up his hand for the squad in back of him +to hold their fire and stepped out to meet his friends. +"Major! Astro!"</p> + +<p>The three spacemen pounded each other on the back +while the patrol of Marines watched, grinning. "Where's +Roger?" asked Tom finally.</p> + +<p>Astro quickly told him of the heavily guarded administration +building.</p> + +<p>"Is he all right?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"No one knows," replied Connel. "We haven't been +able to get any news of him at all."</p> + +<p>"I'm going after him," said Tom, his jaw set. "No telling +what they'll try to do with him when they see their +goose is cooked."</p> + +<p>"I'll go with you," said Astro.</p> + +<p>"No, you stay here with Major Connel," said Tom. +"I think it would be better if just one tried it, with the +rest creating a diversion on the other side."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," said Connel. He turned to the rest of +the patrol. "Men, there's an injured Space Cadet in the +sick bay of the main building. He's the third member +of the <i>Polaris</i> unit and has contributed as much to victory +in this battle as any of us. We've got to get him out +of the hands of the Nationalists before something happens +to him. Are you willing to try?"</p> + +<p>The Marines agreed without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Connel, "here's what we'll do." +Quickly the major outlined a plan whereby Tom would +sneak through the lines of the Nationalists around the +administration building, while the rest of them created +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>a diversionary move. It was a daring plan that would +require split-second timing. When they were all agreed +as to what they would do and the time of the operation +was set, they moved off toward the administration +building. The rebellion was over, defeated. Yet the Nationalist +leaders were still alive. They were desperate +men and Roger was in their hands. His life meant more +to Tom Corbett and Astro than the smashing victory of +the Solar Guard, and they were prepared to give their +own lives to save his.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-068.png" width="500" height="146" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a>CHAPTER 19</h2> + + +<p>"Ready?" asked Connel.</p> + +<p>"All set, sir," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"Remember, we'll open up in exactly five minutes and +we'll continue to attack for another seven minutes. +That's all the time you have to get inside, find Roger, +and get out again."</p> + +<p>"I understand, sir," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"Move out," said Connel, "and spaceman's luck!"</p> + +<p>With a last quick glance at Astro who gave him a reassuring +nod, Tom dropped to his knees and crawled +out from behind their hidden position. Dropping flat on +his stomach, he inched forward toward the administration +building. All around him ray guns and blasters +were firing with regularity as the columns of Marines +advanced from all sides of the canyon toward the center, +mopping up everything in front of them. The roof +of the administration building seemed a solid sheet of +fire as the Nationalist leaders fought back desperately.</p> + +<p>He reached the side of the building that was windowless, +and scrambled toward the back door without +interference. There he saw five green-clad men, +crouched behind sandbags, protecting the rear entrance. +Glancing at his watch he saw the sweeping hand +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>tick off the last few seconds of his allotted time. At the +exact instant it hit the five-minute mark, there was a +sudden burst of activity at the front of the building. +Connel and the Marine patrol had opened fire in a +mock attack. The men guarding the rear left their barricade +and raced into the building to meet the new assault.</p> + +<p>Without a second's hesitation, Tom jumped toward +the door. He reached up, found it unlocked, and then +with his ray gun ready, kicked the door open. He +rushed in and dived to the floor, ray gun in his hand, +ready to freeze anything or anyone in sight.</p> + +<p>The hall was empty. In the front, the firing continued +and the halls of the building echoed loudly with the +frantic commands of the defenders. Gliding along the +near wall, Tom moved slowly forward. Before him, a +door was ajar and he eased toward it. On tiptoe the +curly-haired cadet inched around the edge of the door +and glanced inside. He saw a Nationalist guard on his +hands and knees loading empty shock rifles. Tom +quickly stepped inside and jammed his gun in the man's +back. "Freeze!" he said between his teeth.</p> + +<p>The trooper tensed, then relaxed, and slowly raised +his hands.</p> + +<p>"Where's the sick bay?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"On the second floor, at the end of the hall."</p> + +<p>"Is that where you're keeping Cadet Manning?" demanded +Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the man. "He's—"</p> + +<p>Tom fired before the trooper could finish. It was +rough, but he knew he had to act swiftly if he was to +help Roger. The trooper was frozen in his kneeling position, +and Tom scooped up a loaded shock rifle before +slipping back into the hall. It was still empty. The firing +outside seemed to be increasing.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> +<p>He located the stairs, and after a quick but careful +check, started up, heart pounding, guns ready. On the +second floor he glanced up and down the hall, and +jumped back into the stair well quickly. Firing from an +open window, three troopers were between him and +the only door at the end of the hall. Not sure if Roger +was in that room or not, Tom had to make sure by looking. +And the only way he could do that was to eliminate +the men in his way. He dropped to one knee and +took careful aim with the ray pistol. It would be tricky +at such long range, but should the paralo-ray fail, the +cadet was prepared to use the shock rifle. He fired, and +for a breathless second waited for the effects of the ray +on the troopers. Then he saw the men go rigid and he +smiled. Three hundred feet with a ray pistol was very +fancy shooting!</p> + +<p>He raced for the door. As he entered the room, he +saw a figure stretched out on the floor. He stopped still, +cold fear clutching at his heart.</p> + +<p>"Roger!" he called. The blond-haired cadet didn't +move. Tom jumped to his unit mate's side and dropped +to one knee beside him. It was dark in the room and he +couldn't see very well, but there was no need for light +when he felt Roger's pulse.</p> + +<p>"Frozen, by the stars!" he exclaimed. He stepped +back, flipped the neutralizer switch on his ray gun, and +fired a short burst. Almost immediately Roger groaned, +blinked his eyes, and sat up.</p> + +<p>"Roger! Are you all right?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yeah—sure. I'm O.K.," mumbled his unit mate. +"Those dirty space rats. They didn't know what to do +with me when the Marines landed, so they froze me. +They were scared to kill me. Afraid of reprisals."</p> + +<p>"They sure used their heads that time," said Tom +with a grin. "How's your back?"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> +<p>"Fine. I just wrenched it a little. It's better now. But +never mind me. What's going on? Where's Astro and +Major Connel? And how did you get here?"</p> + +<p>Tom gave him a quick run-down on everything that +had happened, concluding with, "Major Connel and +Astro, with a patrol of Solar Guard Marines, are outside +now drawing the Nationalist fire. Time's running out on +us fast. Think you can walk?"</p> + +<p>"Spaceboy," replied Roger, "to get out of this place +I'd crawl on my hands and knees!"</p> + +<p>"Then come on!" Tom gave the shock rifle to his unit +mate and stepped back into the hall. It was quiet. Tom +waved at Roger to follow and slipped down the hall toward +the stairs. Outside, the Marine patrol continued +firing, never letting up for a second. The two boys +reached the stairs and had started down when Tom +grabbed Roger by the arm. "There's someone moving +around down there!"</p> + +<p>They hugged the wall and held their breath. Tom +glanced at his watch. Only forty-five seconds to go before +the Marines would stop firing and retire. They had +to get out of the building!</p> + +<p>"We'll have to take a chance, Roger," murmured +Tom. "We'll try to rush them and fight our way out."</p> + +<p>"Don't bother!" said a harsh voice behind them. The +two cadets spun around and looked back toward the +second floor. Standing at the top of the stairs, Rex Sinclair +scowled down at them, ray guns in each hand, leveled +at the two cadets.</p> + +<p>"By the craters of Luna!" cried Roger. "You!"</p> + +<p>"That's one of the things I forgot to tell you, Roger," +said Tom wryly. "Sinclair belongs to this outfit too!"</p> + +<p>"Belongs!" roared Roger. "Look at that white uniform +he's wearing! This yellow rat is Lactu, the head of the +whole Nationalist movement!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> +<p>Tom gaped at the white-clad figure at the head of the +stairs. "The leader!" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Corbett," replied Sinclair quietly. "And +if it hadn't been for three nosy cadets, I would have +been the leader of the whole planet. But it's finished +now. All that is left for me is escape. And you two are +going to help me do just that!"</p> + +<p>Roger suddenly dropped to one knee and leveled the +blaster. But the Nationalist leader was too quick. His +paralo-ray crackled and Roger was frozen solid.</p> + +<p>"Why, you—!" roared Tom.</p> + +<p>"Drop your gun, Corbett," warned Sinclair, "and take +that blaster away from him."</p> + +<p>"I'll get you, Sinclair," said Tom through clenched +teeth, "and when I do—"</p> + +<p>"Stop the talk and get busy!" snapped Sinclair.</p> + +<p>Tom took the blaster out of Roger's paralyzed hands +and dropped it on the floor. Still holding one ray gun on +Tom, Sinclair flipped on the neutralizer of the other gun +and released Roger again.</p> + +<p>"Now get moving down those stairs!" <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'order'.">ordered</ins> Sinclair. +"One more funny move out of either of you and I'll do +more than just freeze you."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with us?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"As I said, you are going to help me escape. This time +the Solar Guard has won. But there are other planets, +other people who need strong leadership and who like +to put on uniforms and play soldier. People will always +find reason to rebel against authority, and I will be +there to channel their frustrations into my own plans. +Perhaps it will be Mars. Or Ganymede. Or even Titan. +Another name, another plan, and once again the Solar +Guard will have to fight me. Only next time, I assure +you, it is I who will win!"</p> + +<p>"There won't be any next time," growled Roger. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>"You're washed up now. This base is swarming with +Marines. How do you think you're going to get out of +here?"</p> + +<p>"You shall see, my friend. You shall see!"</p> + +<p>Sinclair motioned them toward a door on the ground +floor. "Open it!" demanded Sinclair. Tom opened it and +stepped inside. It was a cleaner's closet, crammed with +old-fashioned mops and pails and dirty rags. Sinclair +pushed Roger inside and was about to follow when several +green-clad guards came running down the hall toward +them.</p> + +<p>"Lactu! Lactu!" they shouted frantically. "They're +pouring into the base! The Solar Guard—they've got us +surrounded!"</p> + +<p>"Keep fighting!" snapped Sinclair. "Don't surrender! +Inflict as much damage as possible!"</p> + +<p>"Where—where are you going?" asked one of the +men, looking at the closet speculatively.</p> + +<p>"Never mind me!" barked Sinclair. "Do as I tell you. +Fight back!"</p> + +<p>"It looks like we're losing a leader," observed another +of the men slowly. "You wouldn't be running out on us, +would you, Lactu?"</p> + +<p>Sinclair fired three quick blasts from the ray guns, +freezing the men solid, and then turned back to Tom +and Roger. "Stay in that closet and do as I tell you."</p> + +<p>Inside the closet, Sinclair kicked a pail out of the way +and barked, "Remove the loose plank in the floor and +drop it on the floor."</p> + +<p>Tom felt around until he found the loose board and +lifted it up.</p> + +<p>"What's down there?" asked Roger.</p> + +<p>"You'll see," said Sinclair. "Now step back, both of +you!"</p> + +<p>Tom and Roger backed up and watched while Sinclair +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>bent over the hole in the floor. He felt around inside +with one hand and appeared to turn something. +Suddenly the wall opposite the two cadets slid back to +reveal a narrow flight of stairs leading down. Sinclair +motioned with his gun again. "Get going, both of you."</p> + +<p>Tom stepped forward, followed by Roger, and they +started down the stairs. At the bottom they found themselves +in a narrow tunnel about four hundred feet underground. +The floor of the tunnel slanted downward +sharply.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-210.png" width="500" height="425" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"At the end of this tunnel," announced Sinclair, "is a +clearing and in that clearing is a spaceship. It is nearly +three miles from the canyon. By the time the Solar +Guard learns of my absence, we shall be lost in space."</p> + +<p>"We?" asked Tom. "You're taking us with you?"</p> + +<p>"But of course," said Sinclair. "How else would I assure +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>myself that the Solar Guard will not harm me unless +I take two of their most honored Space Cadets +with me?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It's been fifteen minutes," announced Connel, "and +they haven't come out yet. There's only one thing to do. +Take that building and find out what's happened."</p> + +<p>The major was crouched behind a wrecked jet car, +staring at the administration building.</p> + +<p>"I can get that Marine captain over to our left to co-ordinate +an attack with us, sir," suggested Astro.</p> + +<p>"It's risky," said Connel. "They still have a lot of men +in there. But if we wait for another column to reach us, +it might be too late. All right, Astro, tell him we're attacking +in ten minutes and ask him to give us all the +help he can."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Astro, and flopped to the ground to +worm his way toward the head of the Marine column +on the left.</p> + +<p>It took the cadet nearly five minutes to cover the +hundred yards between the two Solar Guard positions. +Several times the firing became so heavy that the cadet +was forced to remain still on the ground while rifle and +ray-gun fire crackled over his head. He made it finally, +several Marines coming out to help him over the top of +the barrier. Gasping for breath, the big cadet asked to +see the commanding officer.</p> + +<p>A grimy, tired-looking officer turned and walked over +to the cadet.</p> + +<p>"Astro!"</p> + +<p>"Captain Strong!"</p> + +<p>"Where's Tom and Roger and Major Connel?" demanded +Strong.</p> + +<p>Astro told the captain of Tom's attempt to save Roger +and that nothing had been heard from him since. "Major +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>Connel wants us to attack together," Astro continued. +"He's jumping off in four minutes!"</p> + +<p>"Right!" snapped Strong. He turned to a young Solar +Guard officer waiting respectfully near by. "You take +them in, Ferris. Full frontal attack. Don't use blasters +unless you have to. Take as many prisoners as possible."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," replied the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>"I'll go back to the other position with Cadet Astro. +Start your attack as soon as you see Major Connel and +his men go in."</p> + +<p>"Got it, sir," said the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Strong and Astro made their way back to Connel's +position quickly, and after a brief but hearty handclasp, +the two officers began plotting the last assault against +the Nationalists' stronghold. While other Marine columns +were wiping up small groups of rebels fighting +from disabled spaceships, repair shops, and other buildings, +Strong's column had been driving straight for the +heart of the base. The administration building was the +last barrier between them and complete victory over +the rebels.</p> + +<p>Strong and Connel spoke briefly of Tom and Roger, +neither wanting to voice his inner fears in front of Astro. +The Nationalists previously had shown little regard +for human life. Now, with their backs to the wall, Connel +and Strong knew that if Tom and Roger were captured, +they might be used as hostages to ensure safe +passage for some of the rebels.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," said Connel finally. "Tom and Roger will +be expecting us." He forced himself to grin at Astro, but +the giant cadet turned and faced the building grimly. +Connel lifted his hand, took a last look up and down the +line of waiting Marines, then brought his hand down +quickly. "Over the top. Spaceman's luck!" he shouted.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> +<p>The Marines vaulted over the top of their defense position +and charged madly toward the building, all guns +blazing. The Nationalists returned the fire, and for the +first few seconds it seemed that the world had suddenly +gone mad. Strong found himself shouting, running, and +firing in a red haze. Astro was roaring at the top of his +lungs, and Connel just charged ahead blindly. Marines +began to drop on all sides, cut down by the withering +fire. Then, when it appeared that they would have to +fall back, the main column, led by the Solar Guard lieutenant, +broke through the last barricade and swarmed +into the building.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the battle was over. The last remnants +of the Nationalists had been defeated and the +green-clad troopers were herded into the streets like +cattle. Strong and Connel, followed by Astro, charged +through the building like wild bulls searching for Tom +and Roger.</p> + +<p>"No sign of them," said Strong finally. "They must +have slipped out somehow."</p> + +<p>"No!" roared Connel. "They've been taken out of here +as hostages. I'll bet my life on that. There must be a secret +way out of here!"</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Strong. "Let's find it." Suddenly he +stopped. "Look! Those three troopers outside that door! +They're frozen! Let's have a look there first!"</p> + +<p>They rushed over to the closet where the three Nationalists +had been frozen by Sinclair.</p> + +<p>Strong stopped and gasped. "By the craters of Luna, +it's Sharkey!"</p> + +<p>"Sharkey? Who's that?" asked Astro.</p> + +<p>"Supposed to be the leader of the Nationalists," said +Connel.</p> + +<p>Strong quickly released Sharkey from the paralo-ray +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>effects and the man shuddered so violently from the reaction +that Astro had to grab him to keep him from falling +down.</p> + +<p>"Where are Corbett and Manning?" demanded Connel.</p> + +<p>"Lactu ... he took them both in there ... through +a secret passageway." Sharkey pointed to the closet +with a trembling finger.</p> + +<p>Strong jumped for the closet door and jerked it open. +He saw the open wall and the stairs leading down. +"Come on! This way!"</p> + +<p>Connel ran wildly into the closet, followed by Astro. +Suddenly the big cadet stopped, turned, and fired point-blank +at the figurehead of the Nationalist rebellion. +Sharkey once again grew rigid.</p> + +<p>The two Solar Guard officers raced down the stairs +into the tunnel and ran headlong through the darkness. +Time was precious now. The lives of Tom and Roger +might be lost by a wasted second.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/ill-022.png" width="500" height="151" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a>CHAPTER 20</h2> + + +<p>"What's that noise, Tom?"</p> + +<p>The two cadets were walking through the tunnel +when they heard the strange booming roar. Behind +them, Sinclair overheard Roger's whispered question +and laughed. "That is the sound of the slaves being fed +their lunch. They do not know yet that there has been +a battle and soon they'll be free!"</p> + +<p>"Slaves!" gasped Roger. "What kind of slaves?"</p> + +<p>"You shall see. Keep going!" Sinclair prodded the cadets +with his ray gun. The tunnel had grown larger and +the downward slant of the floor lessened as they pressed +forward. The noise ahead of them grew louder and +stronger and now they could distinguish occasional +words above the din.</p> + +<p>"We must pass through the big vault where the +slaves are working," said Sinclair. "I would advise you +to keep your mouths shut and do as I say!"</p> + +<p>Neither Tom nor Roger answered, keeping their eyes +straight ahead.</p> + +<p>The tunnel suddenly cut sharply to the right and they +could see a blaze of light in front of them. The two boys +stopped involuntarily, and then were nudged forward +by Sinclair's guns. Before them was a huge cavern +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>nearly a thousand yards high and three thousand yards +across, illuminated by hundreds of torches. Along one +side of the cave a line of men were waiting to have battered +tin plates filled from a huge pot at the head of the +line. The men were in rags, and every one of them was +hardly more than skin and bones. At strategic places +around the cavern, Nationalist guards kept their guns +trained and ready to fire. They brought up their guns +quickly as Tom and Roger entered, and then lowered +them again as Sinclair appeared. Every eye turned to +the Nationalist leader as he marched across the floor of +the cave, Tom and Roger walking before him.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Sinclair, "these wretched fools thought +my organization was a utopia until they learned that I +was no better for them than the Solar Guard. Unfortunately +they learned too late and were sent here to dig +underground pits for my spaceships and storage +dumps."</p> + +<p>The small column of three marched across the floor +of the cave toward another small tunnel on the opposite +side. The slaves were absolutely still, and the guards +smiled a greeting at their leader when he passed them.</p> + +<p>Sinclair ignored them all. "Beyond that tunnel," he +continued, pointing to the small opening ahead of them, +"there is a spaceship. We will board that ship and blast +off. The three of us. Where we will go, I haven't decided +yet. Perhaps a long trip into deep space until the +Solar Guard has forgotten about you and me and the +Nationalists. Then we will return, as I said before, to +Mars, or perhaps Ganymede, and I will start all over +again."</p> + +<p>"You're mad!" said Tom through clenched teeth. +"Crazy as a space bug!"</p> + +<p>"We shall see, Corbett. We shall see!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly Roger broke away and raced toward the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>mass of slaves. He shouted wildly, "Get the guards! The +Nationalists are beaten! The base in the canyon has +been destroyed! Hurry! Rebel!"</p> + +<p>The emaciated men milled around the cadet, all asking +questions at once.</p> + +<p>Sinclair signaled to the guards. "Shoot him down!" +Four guards took careful aim.</p> + +<p>"Roger! Look out!" warned Tom.</p> + +<p>Roger whirled around in time to see the guards about +to fire. He dived for a mound of dirt and hid behind it. +The energy shock waves licked at the sand where he +had stood a second before. Roger got up and ran for +better cover, the guards continuing to fire at him. Then, +around the cadet, the slave workers began to come +alive. Some hurled stones at the guards, others began +climbing up the sides to the ledges where the guards +stood. Taking in the situation at a glance, Sinclair +shoved the ray gun in Tom's back and snarled, "Get +going!"</p> + +<p>The young cadet had no alternative. He turned and +marched hurriedly across the floor toward the small +tunnel ahead of him. Several slave workers tried to attack +Sinclair, but in their weakened condition, they +were no match for the alert Nationalist leader who +froze them instantly with his paralo-ray gun.</p> + +<p>Roger saw Tom heading for the tunnel and made a +sudden dash for Sinclair. But the rebel leader heard the +pounding of footsteps and turned to fire at Roger as the +cadet sailed through the air in a flying tackle. The jolting +ray hit him squarely and he landed on the ground +with a thud a few feet from Sinclair, completely immobilized +again.</p> + +<p>Tom tried to seize the momentary advantage, but +once again Sinclair was quicker and forced Tom back +into the small opening of the tunnel.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> +<p>Around them, the slave workers were being whipped +into a frenzy after months of stored-up hatred for their +guards. Hundreds of them were climbing up toward the +guards' posts, unmindful of the deadly fire pouring +down on them.</p> + +<p>"Get in there quick!" demanded Sinclair. He shoved +Tom through the small opening, and after a quick +glance over his shoulder at the surging slaves, followed +the cadet.</p> + +<p>Sinclair flashed a light ahead of them and Tom saw +the reflection of a bright surface. In the distance he recognized +the outlines of a spaceship.</p> + +<p>"Keep moving!" ordered Sinclair. "You're my protection +in getting out of here, and if I have to freeze you +and carry you aboard, that's just what I'll do! Now get +moving!"</p> + +<p>Tom walked to the air lock of the ship, Sinclair right +in back of him. The rebel leader pressed an outside button +in the ship's stabilizer fin and the port swung open +slowly. "Get in!" growled Sinclair.</p> + +<p>Tom stepped into the ship and waited. Sinclair +climbed in in back of him and closed the air lock.</p> + +<p>"Through that hatch," said Sinclair, motioning toward +the iron ladder, "and keep your hands in the air."</p> + +<p>"How do you think you're going to get through the +Solar Guard fleet that's standing off above the canyon?" +asked Tom casually. "As soon as they see this ship blast +off, you'll have a hundred atomic war heads blasting +after you!"</p> + +<p>"Not as long as I have you!" sneered Sinclair. "You're +my protection!"</p> + +<p>"You're wrong," said Tom. "They'll open fire, anyway."</p> + +<p>"That's the chance I've got to take," said Sinclair. +"Now climb up to the control deck and get on the audioceiver. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>You're going to tell them you're aboard!"</p> + +<p>Tom walked ahead of the rebel leader toward the +control deck, his mind racing. He knew that Sinclair +was going through with his plan and he also knew that +the Solar Guard would not pay any attention to anything +he had to say. If, after three warnings, Sinclair +didn't brake jets and bring his ship to a stop, he would +be blasted out of space. He had to do something.</p> + +<p>"Where's the communicator?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Over by the radar scanner." Sinclair eyed him suspiciously. +"Remember, Corbett, your life depends on this +as much as mine. If you don't convince them you're +worth saving by letting me get away, you're a dead +pigeon!"</p> + +<p>"You don't have to tell me," said Tom. "I know when +I'm licked."</p> + +<p>Sinclair took his position in the pilot's chair, facing +the control panel. For a brief moment his back was to +Tom as he bent over to turn on the generators. Tom +took a deep breath and lurched across the deck. But +Sinclair turned and saw him coming, and jerked up the +ray gun. He wasn't able to get clear in time. Tom's fingers +circled the barrel of the gun as Sinclair fired. The +barrel grew hot as Sinclair fired repeatedly. Tom's fingers +were beginning to blister under the intense heat, +but he held on. With his other hand he reached up for +the rebel's throat. Sinclair grabbed his wrist and, locked +together, they rolled around on the deck.</p> + +<p>Sinclair continued to fire the ray gun and Tom's fingers +were burning with pain from the heat. Suddenly +the cadet let go the gun, spun around, and jerked Sinclair +off balance. He swung his free hand as hard as he +could into the rebel's stomach. Sinclair doubled over +and staggered back, dropping the gun. Tom was on top +of him like a shot, pounding straight, jolting rights and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>lefts to the man's head and stomach. But Sinclair was +tough. He twisted around, and quick as a cat, jumped +to his feet. Then, stepping in, he rapped a solid right to +Tom's jaw. The cadet reeled back, nearly falling to the +deck. Sinclair was in on top of him in a flash, pounding +his head and body with vicious smashing blows.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/ill-220.png" width="387" height="500" alt="Sinclair wasn't able to get clear in time" title="" /> +<span class="caption">Sinclair wasn't able to get clear in time</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom fell to the floor under the savagery of the rebel +leader's attack. Sinclair lifted his foot to kick the cadet +as Tom's fingers tightened around the barrel of the +discarded ray gun. He brought it up sharply against the +planter's shin and he staggered back in pain. Tom took +careful aim. He fired the gun. Nothing happened. The +gun was empty.</p> + +<p>Sinclair rushed the cadet again, but Tom stepped +aside and swung the heavy gun with all his might. The +metal smashed against Sinclair's head and he sank to +the deck, out cold.</p> + +<p>The last rebel of Venus had been defeated.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"We found Roger trying to keep the slaves away from +the guards," said Strong. "They were ready to tear them +apart!"</p> + +<p>"Can't say that I blame them," snorted Connel. +"Some of those poor devils had been working in the +caves for three years!"</p> + +<p>Tom, Roger, and Astro sat sprawled in chairs in one +of the offices of the Nationalist headquarters listening +to Strong and Major Connel sum up the day's battle. +The entire army of Nationalist guards, Division Chiefs, +and workers had been rounded up and put aboard the +troop carriers to be taken to a prison asteroid. Each individual +rebel would be dealt with under special court +proceedings to be established by Solar Alliance decree +later.</p> + +<p>"There are still some things I don't understand," said +Astro. "How did they know you were going to investigate +them in the first place?"</p> + +<p>"After our meeting with Commander Walters," said +Connel, "we sent a special coded message to the Solar +Alliance Delegate here on Venus. His secretary intercepted +the message, used stolen priorities for himself +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>and two assistants to get to Earth and back on an express +space liner without being missed."</p> + +<p>"The secretary!" shouted Tom. "That's the same fellow +I saw in Atom City when we were bumped out of +our seats on the <i>Venus Lark</i>!"</p> + +<p>Roger looked up at Tom with a scowl. "A fine time to +remember!"</p> + +<p>Strong grinned. "We discovered him, Tom, when that +attempt was made to kidnap you by the cab driver. We +also picked up the owner of the pawnshop."</p> + +<p>"The most amazing thing about this space joker, Sinclair," +commented Connel, "was the way he had everyone +fooled. I couldn't figure out how he was able to get +around so quickly until I learned about those buildings."</p> + +<p>"What buildings?" asked Tom, suddenly remembering +how the rebel leader had disappeared so quickly +and quietly when he was being held captive with Mr. +and Mrs. Hill in the Sinclair home.</p> + +<p>"Every one of the important members of the organization, +the Division Chiefs, they called themselves, had +a small shack on his property near the edge of the jungle. +It was nothing more than a covering for a shaft that +led to a tunnel, which, in turn, led to other tunnels under +the jungle and eventually connected with one leading +right into the base."</p> + +<p>"You mean," said Astro, "they have underground tunnels +all through the jungle?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," asserted Connel. "If they had been +prepared for our attack, they could have beaten the +pants off us. Not only in space, but on the ground. They +could have run circles around us in those tunnels. I got +suspicious when I found a hut at the Sharkey place +with no windows in it."</p> + +<p>"Say, remember the time Sinclair barked at me for +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>going near that shack on his place when we first arrived?" +said Roger.</p> + +<p>Connel grinned. "I'll bet you a plugged credit that if +you had opened that door you'd have been frozen stiffer +than a snowman on Pluto."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow," said Tom happily, "we got what we +came after."</p> + +<p>"What was that?" asked Strong.</p> + +<p>"A tyrannosaurus!" replied the curly-haired cadet.</p> + +<p>"And that's another thing," said Connel. "That tyrannosaurus +we killed was a pet of the Nationalists. I don't +mean a household pet, but it fitted into their plans +nicely. The tyranno's lair was near the top of that canyon. +Any time a stray hunter came along, the tyrannosaurus +would scare him away. So when you three came +along and said you were deliberately hunting for a tyrannosaurus, +they got worried."</p> + +<p>"Worried?" asked Roger. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"They thought you were actually hunting or investigating +them, and when I started nosing around, they +were sure. That's why Sinclair ordered his boys to burn +down his plantation—to try to throw us off the track. So +you see," Connel concluded, "your summer leave really +started the ball rolling against them."</p> + +<p>"Summer leave!" shouted Roger. "What day is it?"</p> + +<p>"The twenty-ninth of August," replied Strong.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" moaned the blond-haired cadet. "We start +back to class in three days!"</p> + +<p>"Three days!" roared Astro. "But—but it'll take three +days to write up our reports of everything that's happened! +We won't have any time for fun!"</p> + +<p>"Fun!" snorted Connel. "Fun is for little boys. You +three space-brained, rocket-headed idiots are spacemen!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"> +<img src="images/ill-224.png" width="550" height="411" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="bbox"> +<h3>Transcriber's Note</h3> + +<p class="center">A hyperlinked "Table of Contents" has been added.</p> + +<p class="center">The following typos were corrected.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><b>Page</b></td><td align='left'><b>Typo</b></td><td align='left'><b>Corrected to</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>19</td><td align='left'>nearby</td><td align='left'>near-by</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>43</td><td align='left'>Get</td><td align='left'>"Get</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>94</td><td align='left'>it</td><td align='left'>It</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>96</td><td align='left'>get's</td><td align='left'>gets</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>119</td><td align='left'>surpressed</td><td align='left'>suppressed</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>198</td><td align='left'>order</td><td align='left'>ordered</td></tr> +</table></div></div> +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Revolt on Venus, by Carey Rockwell + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLT ON VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 19027-h.htm or 19027-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/0/2/19027/ + +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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