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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2feca4d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60133 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60133) diff --git a/old/60133-0.txt b/old/60133-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5140cae..0000000 --- a/old/60133-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5309 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Young Visitor to Mars - -Author: Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -Release Date: August 18, 2019 [EBook #60133] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - _A Young Heroes Library Volume_ - - - - - YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS - - - By - RICHARD M. ELAM, Jr. - -[Illustration] - - ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES H. GEER - - _GROSSET & DUNLAP_ - NEW YORK - - Copyright 1953 - By Lantern Press, Inc. - _Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 53-10375_ - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - _Contents_ - - - _Beyond the Earth_ 9 - _Hurtling Danger_ 17 - _First Stop—Luna_ 25 - _The Curious Boy_ 37 - _Pelting Stones_ 47 - _Into Space Again_ 59 - _Invisible Menace_ 73 - _The New World_ 83 - _A Cry in the Night_ 99 - _School on Mars_ 111 - _Yank_ 123 - _Illness Strikes_ 135 - _News for Randy_ 147 - _Peril in the Night_ 159 - _The Peril Continued_ 169 - _Disappointment_ 181 - _Yank in School_ 193 - _Trouble in the Air_ 203 - _Terror in the Night_ 215 - _Lost Underground_ 227 - _A Struggle Against Time_ 237 - _Of Days to Come_ 251 - - - - - _List of Illustrations_ - - - _“The Earth!” She spoke in awe._ 12 - _“Hi, folks,” he greeted._ 21 - _“That’s the headquarters building.”_ 43 - _He was going to Mars._ 65 - _Figures in weird metallic suits._ 78 - _The birds soared away._ 118 - _The whole landscape was blotted out._ 142 - _The picture flashed on._ 156 - _“Pops!” Randy cried._ 164 - _Yank went over the side with a splash._ 189 - _“Please don’t bring Yank back.”_ 200 - _Down, down he went._ 213 - _They felt themselves tumbling downward._ 232 - _They grabbed Yank’s paws and began dancing._ 256 - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - _Beyond the Earth_ - - -The rocket ship _Shooting Star_ powered through the black deeps of space -like a silver bullet. Inside a room of their parents’ suite aboard the -vessel, Ted Kenton and his sister Jill sat before a large window looking -out at the wonders of space in the year A.D. 2003. - -“It doesn’t seem as if we’re moving at all, does it, Sis?” Ted asked. - -Jill shook her auburn head. “No, but it scares me to know how fast we’re -going!” she replied. - -Ted straightened his sturdy young shoulders and shook strands of brown -hair out of his eyes. It was natural that girls should be scared of -things connected with space travel, he thought. “Thousands of miles an -hour isn’t much,” he said lightly. - -“But what if we should hit something!” Jill complained. “It would be an -awful crash!” - -“The only things we have to worry about hitting are meteors,” Ted told -her. “The _Shooting Star_ has radar instruments that tell us when -they’re headed straight at us.” - -“Father says that sometimes meteors come so fast that space ships can’t -get out of the way of them,” Jill returned, with solemn eyes. - -In brotherly fashion Ted pressed the shoulder of his -eleven-and-a-half-year-old sister, younger than he by a year. “Don’t -start worrying about everything that can happen to us, Jill. We’ve got a -lot ahead of us on Mars,” he advised. - -“I—I’m not so sure I want to go to Mars,” Jill blurted. “It’s so cold -and bare and lonely there, Ted. Why did Father have to sign up with the -Martian Archeology Society?” - -Ted looked at her with some surprise. “Dad talked this over with us. You -said you wanted to go.” - -“It didn’t seem so scary then, although I didn’t really _want_ to go, -but out here in the dark where there’s never a sunrise and everything is -so still and quiet, I—I feel afraid!” - -“Does Dad or Mom know you feel this way?” Ted asked. - -She shook her head. “Father’s counted so much on us going to Mars. He -was so lonely there before without us. If he knew I didn’t want to go, -he’d feel he had to get a job on Earth. But you know his first love is -excavation on Mars.” - -“You’ll be all right, Sis, when we get settled in our new home. They’ve -got it all ready for us. Think of the fun it’ll be!” Ted said -encouragingly. - -Jill seemed to feel better and smiled. Both turned their attention to -the wondrous misty veil of the Milky Way outside. It reminded Ted of a -great caravan of countless tiny sheep trooping through the endless black -of space night. Each one of those millions of light points he knew to be -individual giant suns. How frighteningly huge and marvelous was God’s -universe! - -[Illustration: _“The Earth!” She spoke in awe._] - -Directly in front of them hung the wrinkled gray face of Luna, the Moon, -which they would pass before long. Ted shuddered at its forbidding deep -pits and miles of barren, dead plains. - -Jill leaned forward eagerly on the window seat on which they were -perched, her nose almost touching the clear plastic window. “Ted!” she -exclaimed. “What’s that green ball below us?” - -Ted looked, then grinned. “Don’t you even know your own planet when you -see it?” - -“The Earth!” She spoke in awe. “Of course!” - -Ted was not surprised that his sister had not recognized the globe, in -so far as neither of them had seen it before from this dramatic -position. Ever since their fire-off from the Arizona space harbor, the -Earth had been out of their view, beneath them. - -“Look!” Jill cried. “I can make out the outline of Africa! It looks like -it’s buried under fog. I didn’t know before that you could actually -_see_ the atmosphere!” - -“I knew it,” Ted said, with mock superiority. “I bet you don’t know it’s -hundreds of miles deep.” - -“You’re not the only one who knows the answers, Ted Kenton, even if you -are pretty smart,” she returned. “I know that it’s the lack of -atmosphere out here in space that makes everything so crystal clear. -That’s why we can see so many thousands more stars out here than we can -from Earth under a layer of air.” - -“That’s not bad for a girl,” Ted replied, with a tolerant grin. - -She shoved him in playful displeasure. Although the push was not hard, -it upset Ted’s balance, and he slipped off the window seat and rolled -onto the metal floor. Jill gasped in alarm and darted to his side. As -she tried to help him up, she too lost her equilibrium and fell beside -him. Ted looked at her and laughed. - -Their awkwardness was caused by the fact that they wore magnetized shoes -that were attracted to the metal floor of the space ship. Even when -sitting down, they had kept the soles of their shoes on the metal of the -seat. Ted got to his feet and helped Jill up. - -“Will we ever get used to these funny shoes?” Jill complained. - -“We’ll have to,” Ted said. “If we didn’t wear them we’d go floating -around in the air like a feather. That’s another disadvantage of leaving -Earth. We don’t have any weight at all in space. If we wanted to, we -could take off our shoes and stretch out in the air just like on a soft -couch.” - -“It might be fun to swim around in here just like a fish,” Jill mused. -“I think I’ll try it.” - -Ted knew he should stop her, but his curiosity to see such an experiment -prevented him from giving in to the tug of his conscience. - -“Be careful!” Ted warned. “Any motion you make will be hard to stop.” - -When her shoes were off, Jill pressed gently upward from her toes. She -shrieked in pleasure as she rose gracefully into the air. Reaching the -ceiling of the room, she pushed against it and floated downward again. - -“That’s lots of fun!” she said. “Why don’t you try it, Ted?” - -“Uh-uh. Another time. One of us had better keep his feet.” - -Jill tried other movements, whirling and doing flip-overs. Then she grew -bolder, moving more swiftly. She teased Ted into trying to catch her, -and he finally got into the game. He lunged at her but missed her fleet -form every time. The game grew more active. Presently both of them were -scampering about in the space-ship compartment, laughing and having -great fun. - -Jill paused in one corner beneath an air-vent box. “Try and catch me!” -she taunted, her eyes shiny with merriment. “I’ll let you get real -close.” - -Ted glided catlike across the floor, his metal-soled shoes clicking at -every step. Only when he was nearly upon her did she move. She flexed -her knees and soared off above him, laughing. His hands raked the air -but missed her agile form. - -Suddenly Ted’s heart seemed to stop dead. “Jill! Look out! You’ll hit -that air vent!” - -She saw the danger too late. She screamed and crashed heavily into the -metal vent, head on. Her head lolled in unconsciousness, and her body -hung limp as a broken toy against the ceiling of the space-ship room. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - _Hurtling Danger_ - - -His heart pounding in anxiety at Jill’s plight, Ted opened a door and -dashed into the next room of the suite. - -“Jill!” he cried. “She’s hurt!” - -Dr. Kenton looked up, startled, from the desk where he had been -studying. “Let’s go, Son!” the scientist said, jumping to his feet. - -“Where’s Mom?” Ted asked. - -“She’s down in the magazine shop,” his father answered, and added, “It’s -probably for the better.” - -They hurried into the observation room where Ted and Jill had been so -happy together only a short time before. The boy pointed overhead at the -air vent, where Jill’s limp form hung, lighter than a thistle in her -weightlessness. - -Even Dr. Kenton’s tall, stalwart form could not reach high enough to -bring her down. “We’ve got to have something to stand on,” he said. - -Ted thought of the long window seat. He rushed over and knelt down to -examine it. “The window seat is in sections, Dad, and has some clamps -holding it down,” he said. “We ought to be able to get it loose.” - -Dr. Kenton’s strong fingers released the catches that held the seat in -place. Then he lifted it out and carried it across to the spot beneath -the air vent. He stood on the seat and grasped Jill’s slim body, -bringing it down. - -The girl was stretched out waist high in the air, in which position her -father could best see her injury. Ted held her so that a sudden movement -would not send her floating off. The scientist found a cut on Jill’s -temple where she had struck the air vent. She began stirring. In a few -seconds she had recovered consciousness. She was pale and smiled feebly. - -“What happened to me?” she asked in a weak voice. - -Only then did Dr. Kenton seem concerned about the cause of the accident. -He looked inquiringly at Ted. “Well, Ted,” he said, “what did happen?” - -“She wanted to go without her shoes to see what it felt like,” Ted -replied. “I should have stopped her.” - -“You both should be tanned for a trick like that,” his father said -gravely. “Jill could have been seriously injured.” - -They helped Jill to the window seat, then put on her magnetic shoes for -her. She said she felt all right, but her father insisted that she have -the cut treated. A brief visit to the first-aid cabinet, built into the -wall of the room, had Jill’s hurt taken care of in a few moments. - -“What prompted you two to try such a stunt as this?” Dr. Kenton asked as -he closed the door of the first-aid cabinet. “I thought you had been -well grounded on the facts of weightless bodies in space.” - -Ted, embarrassed, kicked the seat section they had removed, forgetting -that it was not fastened down. It scooted off in the air, but Dr. Kenton -alertly grabbed it before it got far. “I guess we were just fidgety for -something to do,” Ted said. - -“I suppose the scenery _is_ getting a little monotonous for you,” their -father replied. “Maybe I can arrange for you to stretch your legs a -bit.” - -“You mean we can tour the ship now?” Jill asked excitedly. - -“I think so,” Dr. Kenton said, “I believe the confusion that always -follows the fire-off is pretty well under control now. I’ll ask -Commander Grissom about it.” - -Their father left and was back in a short while. “We can go,” he told -them. “We’ll leave a note for Mom to let her know where we’ve gone.” - -He scribbled it off, after getting a slip of paper from a drawer in the -wall desk. Then he asked them, “What would you like to see first?” - -[Illustration: _“Hi, folks,” he greeted._] - -“The pilots’ roost!” Ted said, and Jill nodded in agreement. The three -of them clicked along the corridor in their magnetic shoes. Reaching the -pilots’ roost in the nose of the space ship, Dr. Kenton knocked on the -door and was told to enter. Inside, the children found two men in the -light green with gold trim of the Space Transport Command, sitting in -big roomy seats in front of a large bank of dials and levers. Above the -panel was a broad port looking out into space. - -One of the pilots appeared to be busy. The unoccupied one spun on his -swivel seat and smiled at the Kentons. “Hi, folks,” he greeted. “Come on -in!” - -He introduced himself as Lieutenant Foran and his copilot as Lieutenant -Starky, who took a moment from his work to smile a greeting. - -“On every trip we make we usually let the passengers come in a few at a -time,” Lieutenant Foran said, “to look around.” - -The pilot showed them what each dial on the panel meant. Jill was soon -bewildered by it all, but Ted was interested in every gadget and meter. -He decided at that moment that he would like nothing better than one day -to be a pilot on an interplanetary space liner. - -Ted had noticed a huge circular screen built into the middle of the -panel, with circles radiating out from the center of it. Suddenly it -lighted up, and white spots, or “blips,” began popping out on the -glass’s phosphor coating. Ted saw that the pilots’ eyes had flashed -swiftly toward the screen. - -Lieutenant Starky leaned forward and twisted a dial. - -“What’s he doing?” Ted asked. - -“That’s the radarscope,” Lieutenant Foran said. “The screen -automatically lights up when anything comes directly into our path, even -if it’s many thousands of miles away. Those blips are echoes we’re -receiving from our approaching neighbors out there.” - -Lieutenant Foran went over to the panel, looking up at the screen. “What -is it?” he asked his companion. - -“Seems to be a ship,” replied Lieutenant Starky. “Probably the mail -rocket _Moonstone_ on its way back from Luna. The navigator said we’d -pass it.” - -Lieutenant Foran slid into his seat and pressed a button on the panel. A -voice from a speaker said, “Navigation.” - -The young Kentons heard the two crewmen speak in low tones for several -moments. Then Lieutenant Foran switched off and turned to the copilot -with an apprehensive look on his face. “He says the _Moonstone_ should -have turned off course before now! It’s heading straight toward us!” - -“We’ll call the Commander!” Lieutenant Starky said, jabbing a button. - -Jill squeezed her father’s arm. “Are we going to crash?” she whispered. - -“Don’t be scared, honey,” her father said soothingly. “I’m sure we’ll be -all right.” - -But Ted saw the fear in his dad’s eyes, and his own heart seemed to -squirm with terror in his body. Was their very first journey into space -going to end tragically scarcely before it had started? - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - _First Stop—Luna_ - - -“I can’t understand why they don’t turn off course!” Lieutenant Starky -exclaimed. “Their radar _must_ have contacted us!” - -Ted watched the blips from the _Moonstone_ slowly nearing the center of -the screen. By the time they did reach that center, the _Moonstone_ and -the _Shooting Star_ would be occupying the same area in space. - -Lieutenant Foran came over to the Kentons. “I think you folks had better -get back to your suite. We’re going to be awfully busy in here for the -next few minutes,” he said. - -Ted could see that the officer was trying to keep the fear out of his -voice. They must really be in a bad spot. - -As they left, they met stout, red-faced Commander Grissom coming in. His -face was redder than usual, and he was so concerned with the _Shooting -Star’s_ danger that he barely nodded to Dr. Kenton. - -As the Kentons returned to their quarters, golden-haired Mrs. Kenton -faced her family with stricken eyes. - -“What’s happening, John?” she asked her husband. “All the crewmen are -running around like mad.” - -“It’s just a little trouble outside,” the scientist said gently. “I’m -sure Commander Grissom and his men can handle it.” - -Mrs. Kenton began pacing restlessly. “This waiting! I wish we knew -what’s going on.” - -“We can,” the scientist said, crossing the room and pressing a button on -a wall panel. “I thought it might upset us more to listen in, but I -guess it would be better to know what they’re doing.” - -They heard first the voice of Lieutenant Starky coming over the -compartment’s loud-speaker. “_The Moonstone_ has just answered, sir!” - -“What do they say?” the commander asked urgently. - -After a few moments’ pause, the Kentons heard the pilot speak again: -“They say that they had some electronic trouble and that it’s just now -been repaired. Their radio and radar were off because of it.” - -Ted listened tensely as orders flew back and forth. Both space ships set -their rocket jets to carry each away from the other, but at the speeds -they were traveling, only time would tell if they could avoid a crash. - -The Kentons heard the final miles being slowly called off by Commander -Grissom as the two ships hurtled toward one another: - -“Four hundred—three hundred—two—a hundred and fifty....” - -Ted’s eyes were on the side port. He knew that at the last moment either -he would see a large silver shape hurtle past the window or he would -feel the might of tons crashing head on. In the final seconds, Dr. -Kenton had an arm around his wife and daughter, and Ted’s heart was -thumping wildly. - -The light of thousands of stars out there seemed to burn into the boy’s -brain. Would the decisive moment never come? - -Presently Ted saw the blackness of space blurred for only the briefest -instant as the _Moonstone_ drove past, its rockets streaming tongues of -flame! The side jets spurted against the hull of the _Shooting Star_, -causing it to rock. Ted felt the floor tilting beneath him, and he had -to grab a wall rail for support. A glimpse he caught of his parents and -Jill showed that they were having the same trouble. - -[Illustration] - -As the ship steadied itself and drove on an even keel again, Ted grinned -weakly. “We—we made it,” he managed to say. - -The faces of Jill and her mother were still chalky with fright, but Dr. -Kenton’s was as calm as if he had known the _Shooting Star_ would come -through the peril all right. - -They heard the voice of Commander Grissom over the speaker informing the -passengers that the danger was past. Dr. Kenton then cut off the -speaker. - -“I never want to go through an experience like that again!” cried Mrs. -Kenton, taking a seat. - -“I don’t think we need ever fear this happening again,” Dr. Kenton said. -“It’s quite a rare occurrence.” - -“What about meteors?” Jill asked. - -“They’re rare too, fortunately,” he answered. “I don’t see why we can’t -expect an uneventful trip from now until we reach our home on Mars.” - -Hearing this confident remark, the children were interested in the space -ship again. “We didn’t finish our tour!” Jill burst out. - -“Would you like to see the garden?” Dr. Kenton asked. - -“The garden?” Ted asked, puzzled. “What good is a garden on a space -ship?” - -“Come along and you’ll see,” Dr. Kenton said and started for the door. -Mrs. Kenton said she preferred to stay in the suite and collect her -shattered nerves, but the children, of course, were eager to go. - -“Haven’t you two wondered how you’re able to breathe in the ship?” their -father asked as they walked down the corridor. - -“I know how,” Ted said. “The air is pumped through the ship from -compressed-air chambers.” - -“What is air?” his father asked. - -“Mostly oxygen and nitrogen,” Ted answered. - -“The _Shooting Star_ uses oxygen, with helium instead of nitrogen to -dilute it,” Dr. Kenton said. “That’s so that, in case a meteor -penetrates the ship, the rapid decompression won’t cause us to get -bubbles in our blood, which is a dangerous condition called ‘the -Bends.’” - -“But what’s that to do with a garden?” Jill asked. - -“You’ll see in a minute,” came the reply. - -An attendant showed them through the “garden.” There was not much to -see. There were merely rows and rows of broad-leaved plants covered with -plastic and a network of tubes. - -“Some garden,” Ted murmured, when the attendant had walked off to answer -a call. “The plants aren’t pretty and they don’t seem to have fruit or -vegetables either.” - -“They yield something even more precious, though,” his father said. -“Oxygen.” - -“Huh?” Ted asked in surprise. - -Dr. Kenton smiled at the puzzled looks on their faces. “Plants and -people are well suited to one another,” he said. “Plants breathe out -oxygen into our Earth’s atmosphere, and in gratitude we give them back -carbon dioxide which, as you know, we breathe out.” - -“So that’s it!” Jill said. - -“It’s really quite simple,” the scientist went on. “These plants keep -our oxygen tanks filled, and the air exhaled by us is pumped back to -them so that they can keep alive.” - -“Will our home on Mars have a garden producing air?” Ted asked. - -“No, we’ll use air cartridges there because they’re more efficient in -small places.” - -Just then the attendant returned. “The commander has ordered all -passengers back to their suites to prepare for emergency landing,” he -told them. “Jet fire from the _Moonstone_ damaged our hull, and we’ve -got to lay over on Luna for repairs.” - -“Goody!” Jill exclaimed. “We’ll get to land on the Moon!” - -They returned to the main compartment of their suite, and Dr. Kenton -switched on the wall speaker so that he could hear the order from the -commander to “strap down.” - -As they waited, they stood before the big window looking out on the -rugged globe of Luna. Dr. Kenton pressed a button on the sill that slid -a darkening filter over the window. In this way, the blinding glare of -the full moon was cut down considerably. - -“Those big craters look just like eyes!” Ted exclaimed. - -“It’s all so terribly rough-looking down there, I don’t see where we can -land!” Mrs. Kenton said. - -The scientist pointed. “See that large gray plain down there?” he said. -“It’s the Sea of Serenity, and the Moon colony is located on one edge of -it. We’re too far away yet to see it.” - -“Hey, we’re turning around!” Ted exclaimed, as he saw the stars -beginning to blur before his eyes. - -“That’s so that we can use our rear jets to brake our landing,” the -scientist said. - -The order to pull down couches and “strap down” came over the speaker a -few minutes later. Each of the Kentons opened a door in the wall and -pulled down his foam-rubber cot. The couches were fastened securely to -the floor with catches. The family stretched out on the soft mattresses. -They pulled up the plastic straps from the sides and tightened them -across their bodies. - -Presently a crewman stuck his head in the door to make sure they were -ready for the strain of landing. - -Some time later, when he had the sensation of going down in a suddenly -dropping elevator, Ted knew the moment of deceleration had begun. - -In his mind’s eye he could picture what was going on. He imagined the -long sleekness of the _Shooting Star_ plunging toward the moon’s rough -surface. From the ship’s rocket tubes, streams of fire were pouring out -to slow the terrific speed of the ship. If those fire streams should -fail, or not hold back the craft enough, the rocket would be dashed to -bits on Luna. - -As the ship slackened its speed, Ted felt steadily worse. It was as if -his chest were being crushed. He knew that he and the others could stand -any top speed the rocket would go; that it was only a change in speed -that was so grueling. - -He twisted his head and saw the other members of his family buried -deeply in their couches. He knew they were suffering as badly as he. He -remembered the danger of the _Shooting Star_ and _Moonstone_ approaching -one another in the heavens. Then he thought what a frightful crash it -would have been had they met. - -It made him wonder, now, if the _Shooting Star_ could check its downward -plunge in time, or if it would be dashed to atoms on the hard gray soil -of Luna. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - _The Curious Boy_ - - -Just as Ted was expecting the worst, he felt a gentle bump beneath him. -He looked around and saw that the rest of his family were no longer deep -in their couches. That meant the heavy pressure of their descent was off -them. They must have already landed! - -But he could not get up yet, for he was in a vertical position and -hanging by his straps. This was because the rocket had landed upright on -its tail fins. - -Ted heard a rumbling sound. He felt the side of the room to which the -couches were fastened slide down into normal position. Ted unbuckled his -straps and rose to his feet. - -“Hey, it’s time to get up!” he said to the others. - -Dr. Kenton unstrapped himself and then assisted Mrs. Kenton. Ted helped -get Jill loose. - -“Whew! That was awful!” Mrs. Kenton complained. - -“I—I think I left my stomach up in the sky!” Jill said. - -Ted started toward the side window. “I feel so heavy!” he said. “I can -hardly lift my feet!” - -His father plodded with him to the window. “That’s because the gravity -of Luna is added to the ship’s artificial gravity. They’ll cut off the -rocket gravity any moment.” - -Looking out the window, Ted thought that this was like a scene from a -fairy tale. Any moment he expected to see a group of gnomes come -frolicking past! But nothing appeared to be alive in that craggy, lonely -wilderness, except within the man-made structure of lunar rock. - -Jill and her mother, having taken longer to get their bearings, finally -joined the other two at the window. - -“What makes it so awfully bright out there?” asked Jill, squinting her -eyes. - -“Don’t forget that we have a blanket of atmosphere to protect us from -the sun on earth, but here on Luna the sun strikes with full force,” her -father explained. - -“Talk about a sunburn!” Ted said, with a whistle. - -“You couldn’t stand it long,” Dr. Kenton said, chuckling grimly. “It’s -hot enough to boil water out there right now!” - -“Then when the sun is down, it must be nice,” put in Mrs. Kenton -innocently. - -Her husband grinned. “If you call over two hundred degrees below zero -centigrade nice!” - -A crisp voice came over the speaker: “All passengers to the dressing -room to don space gear!” - -“You mean we have to go out in that?” Mrs. Kenton asked, shocked. - -“I don’t know any other way of getting to the settlement across the -way,” was Dr. Kenton’s gentle reply. - -As the Kentons were walking along the corridor to the dressing room, -they suddenly felt light on their feet. The unexpectedness of it sent -them colliding with one another. A voice from a wall speaker said: -“Watch your step. The artificial gravity of the ship has been cut off.” - -“I feel like a feather!” Jill said, dancing along. - -“You should—you weigh only one sixth of your Earth weight,” her father -said. “But you be careful or you’ll have another accident like you did -earlier!” - -The passengers lined up to receive their space gear. It was bulky -equipment, but not very heavy in the light gravity. In the dressing -room, several crewmen demonstrated how to put on the space suits. - -Dr. Kenton, who had put on much space gear in his time, helped his -family into theirs. - -“Climb into the flexible suit first,” he said, as he demonstrated. “Then -all you have to do is to zip it up—so!” - -“What are these tubes on our backs?” Jill asked, after the -asbestos-covered suits were donned. - -“That’s your oxygen source,” her father said. “Those smaller boxes are -refrigerator units that cool the air so that you won’t burn up in the -terrible heat out there.” - -Weighted shoes were pulled on next. These were heavy, in order to bring -the wearer more nearly to his Earth weight. Dr. Kenton helped them on -next with their plastic fish-bowl helmets, fastening them in place with -catches. - -They found that they could talk to one another, even from the air-tight -helmets, because of a compact radio attachment on the top. Last to be -put on were protective gloves. - -When everyone in the dressing room was fully attired, the strange -company left the ship through an air lock—a pair of doors which kept the -air pressure from escaping. The _Shooting Star’s_ gangplank, which was -actually a long escalator, slid out of the side of the ship on gears -until the bottom touched ground. Then the passengers stepped out of the -air lock onto it and were carried slowly downward. The rocket, in -landing on her tail fins, was now in position for the fire-off later -into space. - -“What a strange feeling it is,” thought Ted, setting foot on a world -outside of his own beloved Earth! The ground they walked on was soft and -powdery, and his father said it was called pumice. - -The party was heading for a ring of stone buildings ahead, which were -connected to one another by long tunnels. It reminded Ted of a giant -wheel turned over on the ground. At the center was the largest building -of all. Ted asked his father what it was. - -“That’s the headquarters building,” the scientist answered. “It’s called -the Hub, and it acts as a central control for all the other buildings -around the circle.” - -“Why are the buildings connected with one another?” Jill wanted to know. - -“That’s so the people inside can go from one to the other without having -to put on space suits. You see, all the buildings and connecting -corridors are filled with compressed air. The Moon has no air of its -own, so it has to be manufactured just as it is on the _Shooting Star_.” - -Ted thought his father’s voice sounded queer coming over his helmet -receiver, but he guessed he would get used to it in time. - -[Illustration: “_That’s the headquarters building._”] - -The party from the _Shooting Star_ entered a building where they removed -their space suits. They were told that they were free to do whatever -they liked until the ship was repaired for the journey to Mars. - -Some of the passengers said that they would like to make a tour of the -Wheel, and when others also expressed a wish to do so, a guide took the -entire party around. The Kenton children found that most of the -departments had to do with scientific research, while the rest were -devoted to the running of the colony. - -“Did they haul all these stones from Earth to build this place?” Ted -asked, as they went down one of the long rock passageways. - -“Goodness no!” his father replied with a laugh. “The whole colony is -built of lunar rock, quarried near by.” - -When the Wheel had been circled by the sightseers and it was learned -that the _Shooting Star_ would not be ready for hours for the fire-off, -Dr. Kenton made a suggestion to his family as they sat idly with the -other passengers in the lounge. - -“I have an astronomer friend who runs an observatory not far from here,” -he said. “Would you kids like to visit it?” - -Their eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and they both nodded as one. Mrs. -Kenton, however, was not so ambitious. - -“Not I,” she sighed. “That long walk around this building will last me -for a good while.” - -Ted noticed a sandy-haired boy of his own age watching them closely. -Even as they made the tour around the Wheel, the boy had listened -intently to everything Dr. Kenton had said. And when the scientist had -mentioned going to Mars, Ted saw that his eyes had lighted up as though -with longing. - -“We won’t be able to take the other passengers with us,” Dr. Kenton told -his son and daughter, “because there aren’t enough cars available.” - -After Dr. Kenton had chartered a car from the motor pool, he and his son -and daughter went to the dressing room to climb into their space gear. -As they were zipping up their suits, Ted looked toward the open doorway -and saw the same curious boy watching them again! What could be his -interest in them? - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - _Pelting Stones_ - - -Ted decided he would find out just why the boy was watching them. -“Hello,” Ted greeted. - -“Hi,” the boy answered. - -“What’s your name?” Ted asked. - -“Randy Matthews,” the boy returned. - -Before Ted could go on with his questioning, Dr. Kenton spoke up. -“Randy, would you like to go with us to visit the observatory?” - -“Yes, sir, I would,” was the ready reply. - -“You’d better check with your folks first,” Dr. Kenton advised. - -“I don’t have any folks here,” Randy said. “Mr. Collins is taking care -of me. He’s an engineer.” - -“Then check with him and come on back if you can,” Dr. Kenton said. - -When Randy had left, Ted said, “He’s been watching us a long time, Dad, -just as if he couldn’t wait to make friends with us.” - -“I’ve noticed it, too,” his father said. “I wonder what he meant when he -said he has no folks _here_?” - -Randy got back shortly and said he could go with them. The Kentons had -to wait for him to dress, but they were surprised at his speed. He -seemed to know all the fasteners and fittings perfectly. - -The four of them left the building and went outside where an odd vehicle -awaited them. - -“What a funny-looking car!” Jill exclaimed, and Ted could hear her merry -laugh ring in his helmet receiver. - -“A fresh-air taxi!” Ted put in. - -The car had enormous tires and an open top. It looked more like a -tractor than anything else. - -“Let’s climb in,” Dr. Kenton said. He helped the children in, then took -the driver’s seat. He turned a switch, and they were off. - -When they had gotten up speed, Ted thought this the most exciting ride -he had ever taken! They bounced along over the rough ground without -feeling any of the bumps. Dr. Kenton explained that the tires were -low-pressured and shock-absorbent. - -The young folks were so impressed by their ride that it was much later -before they took time to notice the breath-taking beauty of the sky. The -stars were so numerous, they looked like swaths of white dust against -the absolute blackness. Randy was the first to notice the big green -globe of Earth behind them, and pointed it out. - -“It makes me homesick seeing it,” Jill said, and Ted detected a tremor -in her voice. - -Ted couldn’t help admiring Jill for her courage in agreeing to come -along against her wishes, just to keep the family together. - -When the Moon car reached the observatory, Ted did not find exactly what -he had expected. Instead of a white tower, like the observatories at -home, what he saw was a natural, tall column of jagged rock, on the top -of which was a man-made shiny dome with a slit in it where the telescope -eye peeped out. - -The four got out of the car and walked through a doorway that had been -blasted through the rock in some time past. Beyond this was an air lock -that kept the compressed air of the observatory from escaping. - -When they had gone through the door, the four found facing them a crude -elevator. Dr. Kenton motioned the young people inside and then followed. -He threw a switch, and the elevator cage began rising slowly. - -“This column of rock has always been hollow,” he explained, “so it was -easy to run an elevator up through it.” - -He unfastened his helmet and took it off. “You can take off your hats -now,” he told the children. “There’s air in here.” - -The elevator stopped at the top of the shaft. The four got out and -entered a big room with a rounded ceiling. Ted knew this to be the dome -that housed the telescope. The reflector was like a huge cylinder -resting in its horseshoe yoke across the room. - -“Hello!” Dr. Kenton called. “Is anyone home?” - -[Illustration] - -Suddenly a round face appeared at the side of the telescope. The face -reminded Ted of a circus clown’s, with its wild, wispy hair and broad -grin. - -“John Kenton!” cried the little man, as he ran out and embraced Ted’s -dad. The elderly scientist asked, “What in the world are you doing on -Luna? And who are these young folks with you?” - -Dr. Kenton explained that he was on a stop-over to Mars, and he -introduced the children to the funny little scientist, whose name was -Dr. Beeler. - -“We had some time to kill so we decided to visit the observatory,” Dr. -Kenton finished. “Will you show the children some of the sights?” - -Dr. Beeler’s eyes brightened with pleasure. Ted was sure that the little -man was truly enjoying their visit. Ted thought he must get awfully -lonesome up here by himself. - -Dr. Beeler set the position of the telescope by turning two cranks. Then -he conducted the children up a catwalk to a platform about twelve feet -from the floor. Jill took the first peek through the eyepiece at the top -of the tube. - -“Oooh—it’s beautiful!” Jill cried with a gasp. - -Ted let Randy have the next turn, and then he himself looked. The view -was breath-taking. What he saw was the flattened, white globe of Saturn -with its graceful rings and many satellites. - -“The Moon is much better than the Earth for using a telescope,” Dr. -Beeler said, “because here there is no atmosphere or haze to get in the -way.” - -The children saw other captivating sights. There was the shimmering -pearl of Venus, Earth’s twin, then Jupiter, the king of planets, with -its four orderly larger moons. The children also saw smoky-looking -nebulae and star clusters that resembled bees in a hive. Then Dr. Beeler -showed them what he seemed to think was the greatest treat of all—the -Earth under high magnification. When Jill placed her eye to the -eyepiece, she suddenly turned away, sobbing. - -Dr. Beeler and her father came running to her. - -“What’s the matter, honey?” Dr. Kenton asked. - -“I—I guess I’m homesick!” Jill said. “I miss the green grass and the -blue sky terribly! Oh, why did we ever have to leave home?” - -Ted saw his father’s face grow grave. Now his dad knew that Jill had -never wanted to come along. Her father placed his arm around her -shoulders. “I didn’t know you felt this way,” he said softly. - -Dr. Beeler stood by, fidgeting as though he wanted to say something but -didn’t know just what. - -Presently Dr. Kenton looked at his wrist watch which he could read -through the plastic cuff of his space suit. “We’d better get back to the -colony,” he said. “The _Shooting Star_ may be nearly ready to take off.” - -They came down off the catwalk to the floor level where they took their -leave of Dr. Beeler. Ted saw a sad look in the old astronomer’s eyes as -though he would have liked them to stay longer. - -“Good luck to all of you,” Dr. Beeler said. Then to Jill he added, -“Don’t worry, young lady. You won’t find Mars such a bad place. And -you’ll be seeing the good old Earth again, some day, too.” - -As the four went down in the elevator, Jill said, “I’m sorry I was such -a baby.” - -“Nonsense,” her father returned. “I must confess I’ve been a little -homesick myself since leaving Earth. How about you, Ted, and you, -Randy?” - -Ted had to admit to a certain amount himself, but the Kentons were -surprised to hear Randy’s opinion. - -“No sir,” Randy said, “I’m not homesick for Earth.” - -Ted could not understand why a person should prefer the other planets to -their own home world. Ted could see that his father felt the same, for -he gave their new young friend an odd look. - -Ted thought it would be a good time to learn something more about the -mysterious Randy, and he was about to ask some questions when the cage -touched the ground floor. - -“Everybody out,” Dr. Kenton said. “Put on your helmets and turn on your -air valves.” - -There was no time for questioning now. The three younger folks did as -instructed. Ted liked the caressing feeling he got as the air pumped up -his suit. It was like a soft summer breeze against his skin. It made him -want to giggle. - -The explorers climbed into their car outside, and Dr. Kenton started it. -Then they went flying across the bleak gray moonscape, back toward the -Wheel. Jill had gotten over her gloom, and the excitement of the -carefree ride prompted her to start singing. It was a well-known song -that all the school children at home knew, and Ted and her father both -joined in. Dr. Kenton invited Randy to chime in, but the boy surprised -them once more when he said that he did not even know the song! This -only added to the mystery of Randy. - -Suddenly the scientist jammed the brakes on so suddenly that the -children were pitched forward. - -“What’s wrong?” Ted asked, when he had regained his wits. - -He was surprised to see his father leap from his seat and vault to the -ground. “Out of here—all of you—quickly!” he urged. - -His insistent voice brought them tumbling out of the car to the ground. - -“What is it?” Jill cried frantically. - -“See those spurts of dust just up ahead?” her father said, pointing. -“They’re meteorites striking the ground. We almost blundered right into -a meteor shower!” - -He looked around. “We’ve got to find some shelter,” he told them. “A -cave—a clump of rocks—anything.” - -“There’s a bunch of rocks!” Randy said, indicating a clump off to their -left. - -[Illustration] - -“That seems to be the closest place!” Dr. Kenton said. “Let’s go!” - -They broke into a run across the ground, slipping and sliding in the -powdery pumice. Ted saw bursts of Moon dust closer now, and they were -coming with greater frequency. One huge geyser several feet away threw a -shower of sand over all of them, blinding them momentarily. - -When the “air” cleared, Ted was shocked to find Randy missing. - -“Where’s Randy?” he cried. - -“There he is—on the ground,” Jill shrieked, pointing behind them. - -Ted turned, and his heart seemed to stop beating for a moment. Randy was -stretched out flat. He was unmoving, still as death! - - - - - CHAPTER SIX - _Into Space Again_ - - -The Kentons dashed out into the open to the spot where their young -friend lay. They bent over him. He was struggling feebly, and his mouth -was open and gasping as though he could not get his breath. His suit was -almost deflated. The meteorites had stopped falling, and there was no -further danger from them. - -Ted saw that his father seemed to know just what to do. He swiftly -zipped open a pocket in the side of Randy’s suit and took out a small -strip of sticky fabric. There was a tiny slit in the boy’s suit where a -stone had grazed it. Dr. Kenton stuck the strip over the tear and -pressed it firmly. Then he opened wider the air valve on Randy’s helmet, -and the suit puffed out again. - -Presently Randy’s eyes opened, and he pushed himself up into a sitting -position. - -“What happened?” he asked, almost in a whisper. - -“A meteorite grazed your suit, deflating it,” the scientist replied. -“For a few seconds you were like a fish out of water. We’ll have the -doctor check you over when we get back, but I think we brought you -around in time.” - -They helped him to his feet. At first, he was wobbly, but he soon -regained his full strength and was able to walk alone by the time they -reached the car. - -They climbed into the Moon vehicle and went whirling off in another -swift-paced ride back toward the Wheel. When they arrived at the Moon -colony, Dr. Kenton had a physician examine Randy to make sure he was all -right, which proved to be the case. - -Soon the broadcasting loud-speakers announced that the _Shooting Star_ -had been repaired and would fire off within the next hour. In the -waiting room the Kentons held what they believed was their last meeting -with their new friend Randy. - -There was still much about the boy which puzzled Ted—there were loads of -questions he would have liked to ask him. Although he did not talk much, -Randy seemed to like to be with the Kentons. And now that the parting -was nearly at hand, Ted thought he appeared very downcast. - -“We’ll sure miss you, Randy,” Jill was saying. - -“Yes, we will,” Mrs. Kenton said kindly. “Too bad you can’t go along -with us.” - -At this last remark, Randy looked up wistfully. Ted had an idea that -Randy would like nothing better than to go with them. - -“Have you ever been to Mars, Randy?” Ted asked. - -“Of course,” he replied gently. “I was born there.” - -All the Kentons straightened in surprise. No wonder Randy had said he -was not homesick for Earth, Ted thought. He knew the boy did not mean -that he was a native Martian, but that his father was an Earthman who -had been on Mars when Randy had been born. - -Ted knew that his father had decided to evade the mystery of Randy no -longer when he asked the direct question: “Randy, do you mind telling us -where your parents are?” - -Randy’s eyes dropped, and his slender fingers began twisting. - -“My mother is dead. My father is somewhere on Mars with an engineering -expedition. That’s why Mr. Collins is taking care of me. He’s a close -friend of Father’s.” - -“Son, do you know which expedition your father is with?” Dr. Kenton -asked. - -“Yes, sir,” Randy answered. “It’s the Number Five Syrtis Major -Expedition.” - -Ted was watching his father as he asked the question. A cold, -unexplainable feeling coursed through him. When Randy replied, Dr. -Kenton’s face suddenly paled, and he turned away. Ted felt a stab of -dread. Had something happened to the No. 5 Expedition? What a terrible -tragedy for Randy if this were so. - -“I sure miss Pops,” Randy said softly, a dreamy look on his face. “I -haven’t seen him for two years. We had lots of fun together. He was -teaching me to play baseball—helping me develop a curve.” - -This was the most Randy had ever said at one time, and the Kentons -listened raptly. Ted could see that his father was disturbed over -Randy’s case. He took out his handkerchief and blew his nose hard. - -“Randy, how would you like to go to Mars with us?” Dr. Kenton asked -presently. - -Ted saw the sunshine of joy flare up in the boy’s face. “C—could I?” he -asked. “Really?” - -“Of course,” the scientist said. “We’d be glad to have you, wouldn’t we, -Mom?” - -Mrs. Kenton smiled softly at the boy. “We certainly would, Randy.” - -Randy needed no further urging. First he checked with his guardian, Mr. -Collins, who came to see Dr. Kenton. Mr. Collins was a husky, friendly -person. Randy was off packing as the men talked in the presence of the -other Kentons. - -“I think it would be the best thing in the world for the boy,” Mr. -Collins said thoughtfully. “The Fifth Expedition was given up for lost -about a week ago. I’ve kept it from Randy all this time, hoping that the -lost explorers would turn up. But they never have.” - -“I knew about the expedition,” Ted’s father said. “That’s why I want to -take him. I thought we’d accept him into our family, so that when the -news came to him, he might not take it so hard. I guess I’ve got a soft -spot in my heart for the pioneers on Mars, being a scientist myself.” - -“It’s a grand thing you’re doing,” Mr. Collins said. - -When Mr. Collins left, Mrs. Kenton said to her husband, “We’ll have to -tell Randy about his father ourselves, won’t we?” - -“In due time,” Dr. Kenton replied, “after he comes to know us better. -It’ll be easier that way.” - -“Randy will be able to tell us all about Mars, since he’s from there,” -Jill said excitedly. - -Ted agreed with his sister and decided then that Randy was going to make -a very welcome addition to the Kenton household. - -Less than an hour later, the _Shooting Star_ was in the heavens again, -powering toward the distant red beacon of Mars and leaving behind the -rugged wastelands of the Moon. - -[Illustration: _He was going to Mars._] - -Randy became a much more chipper person than the silent boy the Kentons -had first met. New life seemed to have flowed into him. He was going to -Mars, the land of his birth and the place where he believed his beloved -father to be—alive. Ted felt sorry for the boy in the days that -followed, whenever he talked about the good times he and his father had -had together. When the time came to tell him about his father, it was -not going to be an easy job for Ted’s dad. - -In the eternal night of interplanetary space, time seemed to stand -still. Ted knew that days and days, even weeks, had passed since leaving -the Moon, but without the rising and setting of a sun to go by, it -hardly seemed that any time had passed at all. - -By now the Moon had lost its roundness and had become just another star -in the sky. The red spark of Mars, however, was growing day after day, -week after week. However, it could not yet be recognized as a disk. - -One day Ted noticed what looked like a smudge across the blackness of -the sky. It blotted out the stars behind it and appeared to be close. -But its movement was scarcely noticeable. Ted called his father’s -attention to the blur of light. - -“It looks like a comet!” Dr. Kenton said. “I’ll check with the -commander.” - -The scientist tuned in a two-way speaker system and asked about Ted’s -find. - -“That’s Brooking’s Comet, discovered back in 1970,” Commander Grissom -replied. “It circles the sun every eight years. You’re in for a treat. -We’ll pass through some of its vapor. It’ll be a spectacular sight a few -days from now.” - -Watching the comet took up nearly all of the idle time of Ted, Jill, and -Randy in the hours that followed. Under Dr. Kenton’s guidance they drew -a chart of that part of the sky in which it was located, and plotted its -motion in relation to that of the space ship. - -“You don’t suppose it’ll crash into us, do you?” Mrs. Kenton asked -worriedly, as the comet loomed menacingly outside their compartment -window some time later. - -Dr. Kenton soothed her with a smile. “Don’t worry,” he said. “If the -skipper says we’ll graze it, that’s exactly what will happen. He knows -every inch of this comet’s orbit and our own too!” - -Dr. Kenton explained that the comet appeared to move slowly because it -was coming practically head on. Steadily it blossomed wider, like an -opening flower bud. In the center was a brilliant light, which was the -head, or nucleus. - -“Why won’t the gravitation of the comet pull us into it?” Ted asked. - -“That’s because a comet has very little mass, or what we’d call real -body, to it. It’s mostly a big lump of widely scattered gas particles.” - -“How big is it?” Jill asked. - -“The head is almost as big as Luna, and it has a tail many thousands of -miles long,” her father answered. “It’ll pass us at hundreds of miles a -second, but it will take a long time to get by and will hardly seem to -be moving.” - -When the day of the arrival of the comet’s nucleus came, every eye on -the _Shooting Star_ was peering intently out the windows of the rocket -ship. The commander had ordered all windows covered with filter screens -to cut out the blinding glare of the nucleus. - -The comet arrived with the shocking brilliance of a gigantic fireball. -All Ted could see was an over-all blinding whiteness that made the -blackness of space like bright noonday. The stars were blotted out -completely in the glare. For hours the brilliance continued without -letup, and then it began to dim. - -“The head is past,” Dr. Kenton said. “From now on, the light will grow -weaker and weaker as the tail goes by.” - -Ted still could make out no detail of any kind, and this was -disappointing. As he and Jill and Randy kept their eyes glued to the -window, all they could see was a slow dimming of the comet’s original -brilliance. They grew weary of the sight and turned away from it. When -they returned to it many hours later, the heavens had a strange bluish -cast, and the stars began to burn through it weakly. - -Still later, only the barest evidence of the celestial body remained. -The heavens were only slightly grayed, showing that the tip of the tail -alone had not passed. - -“Will we see the comet after it swings around the sun, and heads out -into space again?” Ted asked. - -“Yes, from a greater distance,” his father answered. “Then it will look -more like a comet to you.” - -Several days later, Jill came running into their compartment, looking -concerned. “Father, I saw some of the passengers going forward into the -pilots’ roost. They stayed there a few minutes, then came out, and some -more people went in. What do you suppose it’s all about?” - -“I have an idea the commander has a treat for us,” her father replied -with a knowing grin. “We’ll get our turn. Just wait.” - -Their chance came shortly later. The Kentons and Randy were summoned -forward, and they entered the pilots’ roost. - -“Want to see something?” the commander asked. “Look out the forward -window.” - -They spoke first to the pilots they had met before, then peered out the -window. Ted’s breath came fast. Poised regally against the backdrop of -stars was a gleaming red-orange globe. It was the planet Mars, their new -home. - - - - - CHAPTER SEVEN - _Invisible Menace_ - - -The Kentons studied the red planet in silent awe. Beneath the thin -cotton of atmosphere, they saw the crisscross markings of the canals -that had baffled Earthmen for many years. Two small globes hovered in -the deeps beyond. They were the two moons, Phobos and Deimos. - -Randy unconsciously shoved forward ahead of the Kentons. “Isn’t it -beautiful!” he murmured. - -“I wonder when we’ll be landing,” Jill said. - -The commander, who had heard her, answered, “In fifty hours, young -lady.” - -“I guess we’d better get back to our suite so that some of the other -passengers can come in,” Dr. Kenton said. - -They thanked the commander and left the pilots’ roost. When they had -returned to their compartment, Ted asked Randy, “Have you ever been to -Earth?” - -Randy shook his head. “It sounds like a terrific place, though. I’ve -studied a lot about it in our Earth Geography course in school, and Pops -has told me a lot about it. Imagine playing baseball outdoors without a -space suit on!” - -Ted realized he had always taken the wonders of Earth for granted. It -was hard to understand that a boy such as Randy existed—a boy who had -never experienced such a free life. He tried to imagine how it would be -if he had lived all of his life on a world where all the breaths you -took were from tanks of artificial air, and where you could never feel -the cooling breezes of summer or the spicy winter winds in your lungs. -Thinking about these things made Ted thankful that he was not in Randy’s -shoes. - -Suddenly an urgent voice came over the speaker in the Kentons’ suite: -“Attention, everyone. Act quickly but do not be frightened. A leak has -developed in our antiradiation shield. Everyone retire immediately to -the rear store compartment at the extreme end of the ship.” - -“My goodness!” exclaimed Mrs. Kenton. “What does that mean?” - -“There’ll be time for explanations later,” replied Dr. Kenton. “The -first thing is to do as he says.” - -They hurried out of the compartment and down the corridor aft. There -were crewmen stationed along the aisle at intervals to calm the people’s -fears and keep them orderly. A warning bell signifying trouble was -pealing throughout the ship. - -The Kentons and Randy crowded into the farthest rear room of the -_Shooting Star_ with the other passengers, all of whom were chattering -excitedly. When the last passenger was in, the transparent door was -fastened shut. - -“Why did we have to come way back here, Father?” Jill asked. - -“Because rays are loose in the ship,” her father replied. “The farther -we are from the atomic engines up front, the safer we are.” - -“Are they dangerous?” his wife asked. - -“They could be, in sufficient intensity. Right now, they’re closing all -the doors along the corridors. The doors have built-in screens to resist -the rays, if they are not too strong. Keep your eyes on the light bulb -out in the corridor. If it turns red, it means the rays have penetrated -that far!” - -“Oh, dear!” groaned Mrs. Kenton. “I knew we shouldn’t have left Earth. -Now it looks like we’ll never reach our new home, after getting so -close, too!” - -“Don’t worry,” Dr. Kenton said. “The ship’s crew knows how to handle -this. They have electronic instruments they turn on that attract the -rays like a magnet. They can clean out the entire ship in about half an -hour. That bulb in the corridor will light if even the slightest bit of -radiation is present. There’s another bulb in the corner of this room, -but let’s certainly hope this one doesn’t light up.” - -Ted heard a groan from one of the passengers. The light in the corridor -was beginning to glow. That meant the radiation had penetrated all the -way to the rear of the ship. The next thing to watch was the bulb inside -the room, Ted thought. His father had not said so, but Ted guessed that -they would probably be in serious trouble if this last one should light. - -Presently figures clothed in weird metallic suits and carrying shiny -instruments were seen in the corridor. - -“The crew is protected by those suits,” Dr. Kenton explained. “The -things they are carrying are the magnetic ray catchers I was telling you -about.” - -“Look!” Jill said suddenly. “The red light has gone out!” - -“We’ve nothing to worry about, then.” The scientist spoke with relief. -“I would say those men got to us just in time.” - -One of the curiously garbed men unfastened the door of the storeroom and -beckoned for the passengers to come out. Then he opened the front piece -of his helmet to speak to them: “Don’t go through the next door until -you hear the all-clear whistle,” he said. “It’ll be just a few minutes.” - -[Illustration: _Figures in weird metallic suits._] - -When the whistle blew, the corridor doors were opened and the passengers -returned to their sections. After the Kentons were back in their suite, -Mrs. Kenton sighed deeply and slumped in an air-cushioned chair. - -“My goodness!” she said. “I’m still quivery. If it’s not one thing it’s -another on these space voyages! I’m surprised we’re still alive after -all that’s happened!” - -“At least you can’t say the trip is boring, Mother,” Jill piped up, and -this brought a relaxing laugh from the others. - - * * * * * * * * - -Nearly two days later Mars was a giant world dead ahead. Ted looked out -the window with Jill and Randy and saw a close-up view of the strange -land that was to be their new home. A great network of deep, straight -gorges split the boundless stretches of red desert. These were the -fabulous canals built by the ancient Martians, now long dead. - -“There’s the Prime Canal,” Randy said, pointing to the largest chasm of -all. “It feeds all the little canals in this section.” - -“Aren’t those trees growing along the canals?” Jill asked. - -Randy nodded. “Evergreens,” he said. - -“What’s that white stuff in the bottom of the canals and near the roots -of the trees?” Ted wanted to know. - -“That’s frost,” Randy answered. “The sun never melts it completely. It -never even gets up to zero in this latitude.” - -Dr. Kenton, whose interest was beyond Mars at the moment, said, “Look, -kids, there’s our comet again!” - -He pointed it out to them in the heavens. It was a long streak across -the sky. The nucleus burned brightly, like a heavenly torch. - -“Now it really looks like a comet!” Ted declared. - -“It’s beautiful!” Jill murmured. - -“We’ll be able to see it from Mars for several days,” Dr. Kenton told -them. “Then it’ll gradually disappear from view.” - -At this point the _Shooting Star_ began its turnabout for rearward -landing. Then, still later, the order that all those aboard the -_Shooting Star_ had been waiting a long time to hear came over the -loud-speakers. “Strap down on couches, everyone! Next stop—Lowell -Harbor!” - -The end of their journey was at hand. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHT - _The New World_ - - -The Kentons had experienced their last landing for a while. After a -final gentle bump, Ted shook his head to clear it and waited for the -side wall to move into proper position. Then he began unfastening the -straps of his couch. He was the first to his feet. As the rest of his -family were unbuckling, he did what everyone always did after a -space-ship landing. He went over to the window and looked out. - -Mars—their new home. At last they were here. From his height of several -hundred feet above the ground, Ted had the best view he would ever have -of Lowell Harbor, center of Earthmen’s activity on the ruddy planet. It -had been named in honor of Percival Lowell, the great astronomer of the -past century who had been so strongly interested in Martian geography. - -Ted felt a breath on his cheek. He turned, and there was Randy right -behind him. There were tears of joy in his eyes, and Ted knew that this -must be one of the happiest days of Randy’s life. - -“What a beautiful spaceport!” said Mrs. Kenton, who had come over to the -window with the other members of the family. - -A huge waterway cut the landscape in two at the edge of the spaceport. -Beyond this stood two large square buildings of transparent plastic -substance. Still farther out was a sprinkling of houses, one of which -the Kentons would occupy. As far as Ted could see, the ground was -rust-red. - -“What makes Mars so red?” Jill asked her father. - -“It’s believed that Mars once contained much more oxygen than it does -now,” the scientist replied, “and the ground was nearer the color we’re -used to seeing it at home. But over the centuries the oxygen was -absorbed by the soil, forming iron oxide, which is the redness we see -now.” - -“Is there any oxygen left?” Ted asked. - -“Very little,” replied Dr. Kenton. “That may be what caused the Martian -races to disappear. This is the greatest mystery about Mars and is one -of the main reasons I’m here—to discover why there are no Martians here -now.” - -“But there’re birds and animals and insects,” Ted said. “Why didn’t they -suffocate too?” - -Dr. Kenton shrugged helplessly. “Another mystery. Maybe they were able -to adapt themselves to the change over the thousands of years by growing -larger breathing apparatuses or something like that. Apparently, man was -the one who lost out in the battle of survival.” - -The command to disembark came over the speaker, and the Kentons gathered -up what small luggage they had kept with them and retired to the -dressing room. When they had suited up with the other passengers, they -entered the air lock and waited for the escalator to roll into position. - -As soon as Randy’s feet touched the soil moments later, Ted saw him -stoop down and seize a handful of red dust and let it trickle slowly -through his gloved fingers. - -[Illustration] - -The commander addressed the group that was gathered around him. “It’s -been a pleasure to have you people with us. This is where we part. A -steward will take you over the bridge across the canal to one of the -large buildings on the other side where you will register. A truck will -bring your luggage over later.” - -As the party walked buoyantly over the ground toward the bridge, Jill -said, “I sure feel light-footed.” - -“You should be,” her father said. “You weigh less than half of your -Earth weight here. Wait until you go back to Earth after this -low-gravity life. You’ll be tired for about six months.” - -“I won’t mind that,” Jill answered earnestly. “I’ll be so glad to get -back.” Ted could see that despite the excitement of their new -surroundings, Jill’s thoughts were still on her distant home in the Blue -Ridge Mountains of Virginia. - -Crossing the bridge, Ted looked over the side at the calm waters of the -canal. - -“This bridge is five hundred feet across and took quite a bit of -engineering work,” Dr. Kenton said, “but it still wasn’t as big a job as -the Martians did on this canal and the others all over the planet. How -they built these giant waterways is another great mystery we may never -know.” - -“Look! Aren’t those the little boats you were telling us about?” Jill -asked, pointing. - -There were a number of tributaries extending out from the canal. It was -along these that the individual houses were located. - -“That’s right,” her father said. “We’ll have a boat of our own, too.” - -Before leaving Earth, Dr. Kenton had explained to his family about the -transportation system that connected the people with the main -headquarters building of Lowell Harbor. When the colony had first been -built, it was figured that the cost of fuel and cars for each individual -family could be saved by making use of the natural waterways. A simple -aluminum boat could run on cheaper fuel. - -The new arrivals entered the nearer of the two largest buildings in the -colony, and because of the compressed air inside, dared remove their -helmets. In here were housed all facilities that had to do with the -running of the settlement. - -As they walked down the corridor to the registration room, Dr. Kenton -said, “You see, the building is made entirely of panes of heavy plastic -so that a hundred per cent sunlight gets in.” - -After registering, the Kentons were assigned their new home. - -“I’m afraid you’ve got the house farthest out, Dr. Kenton,” the clerk -said. “You’re the last family to arrive, and they’re not building any -more until more materials are sent from Earth.” - -“That’s all right,” Dr. Kenton replied. “I knew about that.” - -“Your boat is waiting for you outside the building at Air Lock -Forty-seven,” the clerk went on. “One of our men will show you how it -operates and take you home. Your baggage and certain equipment for your -home will be sent out later.” - -The Kentons walked down a long corridor to the air lock. On their way -they had time to see just how many kinds of service were carried on in -this most important center on Mars. If anything should happen to the -functions of this building, none of the homes could survive for very -long. - -Outside the air lock, the Kentons found their boat awaiting them beyond -a narrow strip of ground. The space-suited man inside the boat -introduced himself as Martin Cooper. The Kentons climbed in and took -their seats in the bottom of the boat, which was long and deep. - -Ted was anxious to see how the boat was operated. He saw Mr. Cooper take -a marble-sized tablet out of a box and drop it into a small tube at the -rear of the boat. Then the man turned some switches. In a moment a -steady popping was heard underwater, and the boat glided off. - -“Is that all there is to it?” Ted asked in amazement. - -“That’s all,” Mr. Cooper answered. - -“But how does it work?” Ted wanted to know. - -“The pill dissolves in the tank of water, generating a lot of pressure,” -Mr. Cooper replied. “It’s the jet pressure that moves us along.” - -There was a steering wheel to guide the boat and a “gas pedal” to -control the release of pressure and their speed. Mr. Cooper turned the -boat into Main Canal, which was filled with other craft like their own -coming and going. Presently the pilot turned out of Main Canal into a -narrow waterway scarcely wider than the boat. - -“This is like the ‘Old Mill’ run at the carnival!” Jill said, as the -craft wound in and out along the irregular course. - -“This boat is great fun!” Ted said. “May Jill and I run it some time, -Dad?” - -“I guess you’ll have to when I’ve gone off on my expedition,” Dr. Kenton -answered. - -“Why doesn’t this water freeze?” Ted asked. - -“It contains a kind of antifreeze mineral supplied by nature herself,” -his father said. “It never freezes, no matter how cold it gets. It’s -another one of the marvels of this planet.” - -[Illustration] - -As they rode along, Ted was intrigued by the strange glow of the Martian -sky. The thin, purplish atmosphere permitted the more brilliant stars to -burn through even in the bright daylight. But then, Ted decided, it -wasn’t such bright daylight after all, because the faraway sun looked -incredibly tiny to him, and there was a sort of twilight glow to the -whole scene. - -Mr. Cooper guided the boat the last few feet of its journey into a -little dock beside the sprawling bungalow which was to be their new -home. - -“End of the line!” Mr. Cooper sang out gaily. “Everyone out!” - -As Mrs. Kenton was helped out by her husband, she exclaimed in a shocked -tone, “Goodness! The house is made of glass! We won’t have any privacy!” - -“It’s not glass—it’s strong plastic like that in the main buildings,” -Dr. Kenton explained. - -“And as for privacy, Mrs. Kenton, you’ll have that,” Mr. Cooper said. -“There’s a diffusing light inside the walls that makes them -solid-looking when you turn on certain lights.” - -“I’m glad to hear that!” Mrs. Kenton said with relief. - -As Mr. Cooper led them over a few feet of ground from the waterway to -the house, Ted, who had been noticing the queer fixtures atop the -building, asked, “What are those things up there, Mr. Cooper?” - -“The network of rods and wires are the television antenna,” was the -reply. “That shiny disk on a pole that looks like an oversized dinner -plate is your solar mirror.” - -Jill wanted to know what the solar mirror was. - -“It collects the energy from the sun,” Mr. Cooper answered patiently. -“That energy in turn is what runs the generator in your home and gives -you electric power.” - -While these explanations were going on, Randy stood fidgeting. All this -was old stuff to him, and the explanations seemed to bore him. - -Mr. Cooper led the party over the few feet of ground that separated the -watercourse from the house. They entered a small alcove at the front of -the house; this was an air lock. Mr. Cooper closed the outer door and -threw a switch on the wall. Ted heard air hissing into the cramped -quarters. - -When this was done, the inner door was opened and the Kentons looked -around the front room of their new home. The house was already -oxygen-pressurized for immediate occupancy. All the furniture was of -beautiful colored plastic, and waterproof, much like the styles that -were popular back on Earth. The floor likewise was of poured plastic, so -that the whole interior could be cleaned with a hose. - -Mr. Cooper prepared to take his leave. “The things you brought from -Earth and your months’ food supply will be sent out in a little while. -New oxygen drums are brought around once a week. If you ever need to -call the headquarters building, just use the radiophone over there on -the wall. Every home has its own broadcast band.” - -The Kentons said good-by to their guide and turned with interest to the -wonders of their home. Mr. Cooper had offered to show them over the -entire house, but Dr. Kenton said he had seen the plans and knew what -the rest of the house was like. - -There were three bedrooms in the one-floor building. Since Randy had -come to live with them, Jill gave up her bedroom to the boys and agreed -to take the smaller guest room. - -When all had gotten acquainted with their bedrooms, Dr. Kenton took them -into the basement, which was just as large as the main floor. - -“Down here are all the things that have to do with the running of our -home,” the scientist said. “Over there is the water tank that draws from -the canal outside. The tank has a purifier in it so that the water is -good to drink.” - -In the next room Ted found a mass of whirring dynamos and turbines. His -father told them that this provided their electricity by drawing on the -energy from the solar mirror. They passed down a narrow corridor. Inside -one of the walls was a niche containing a large gray tank with dials on -it. - -“What’s this?” Jill asked. - -“The most precious article in the house,” her father answered. “It’s our -oxygen drum. The air from it enters a blower that carries it evenly -through the building.” - -The last room was the most surprising of all. Dr. Kenton opened a heavy -door, and Ted, standing in front of it, gasped as a blast of frigid air -hit him. He saw his father grinning. “That gives you an idea of how cold -the ground is,” Dr. Kenton said. “This is a natural deepfreeze. It never -varies more than a few degrees all year ’round.” - -His shivering companions took a moment to look inside. Ted saw a room as -large as the upstairs living room. It was empty. - -“When they bring our food, this place will be a third full,” Dr. Kenton -said. - -“Do you mean to say I have to come downstairs and go into that cold -place every time I want a stick of butter?” Mrs. Kenton asked unhappily. - -Dr. Kenton merely grinned at her. He led them back upstairs and into the -kitchen. He opened one of several doors built right into the wall. -Frigid air seeped out of the compartment just as it had downstairs. - -“This is our regular refrigerator,” Dr. Kenton said. “It connects by -pipe to the basement freezer.” - -“I’m glad to know that,” Mrs. Kenton returned, with a smile of relief. -“I thought I’d have to trot myself to death going up and down those -basement steps.” - -Ted thought what fun it was going to be living in their very own home on -this distant planet. Wouldn’t he have exciting things to tell the kids -back on Earth when he returned? - - - - - CHAPTER NINE - _A Cry in the Night_ - - -Hours later, Ted lay awake in the upper bunk of the double-deck bed he -shared with Randy. The foam-rubber mattress under him was soft as a -cloud, and the cool artificial air of the house inflated his lungs -satisfyingly. - -But though he was comfortable, Ted could not sleep. He had lain awake -for an hour. He guessed it was because of the excitement of the past few -days and the fact that this was his first night on solid ground after -months of life in space. - -He climbed down the ladder to the floor, quietly so as not to disturb -Randy. He stared through the clear plastic walls of his room at the -hushed Martian night. The sky was a glittering canopy of starlight. -Phobos, the fleet closer moon, cast a weak light over the landscape. -Beyond their desert back yard, Ted saw the dark spreading mass of the -sand bog which he had been warned about. It was like quicksand and would -draw anything that touched it down to destruction. Ringing the bog Ted -saw thick clusters of white flowers, which his father had said was a -favorite food of the little Martian color bears. - -Ted had also learned that the animals fed at night. He wondered if any -of the creatures were in these parts, and if there were any chance he -would see one of them. He kept his eyes on the bog for what seemed an -hour, but he caught no sign of movement down there. At last his eyes -grew blurry and he thought he could sleep. He turned away and climbed -the ladder. - -Just as his lids closed, something startled him, and he jerked up in -bed. He wasn’t sure what had aroused him. He sat there in the -semidarkness, his heart bumping rapidly, his ears alerted. - -Then he heard a sound. It seemed far off. It was like a wail, a cry. He -came down the ladder again. In his haste, he tripped on the bottom rung -and went sprawling. He turned anxiously toward the bed and saw Randy sit -up. - -“I’m sorry, Randy,” Ted said. “I thought I heard something outdoors.” - -[Illustration] - -“I heard it, too,” Randy said. - -The two looked outside, straining their eyes to pierce the shadowy -night. Suddenly Randy Whispered tensely, “There!” - -Ted stared where he pointed. There was a figure at the edge of the bog. -They heard the sound repeated. It seemed to be coming from the moving -figure. Ted suddenly remembered his father’s field glasses lying on a -table in his parents’ room. Before going to bed, all of them had used -them to study the stars. - -Ted tiptoed down the hall into his parents’ room. Carefully he lifted -the glasses from the table and returned to his own room. He could hardly -wait to train the glasses on the mysterious thing beside the bog. - -“Did you hear it again?” Ted asked as he swept his glasses over the -landscape. - -Randy nodded. “It sounded like a color bear. He must be in trouble.” - -Finally Ted found what he was looking for. He was able to make out a -little furry body struggling at the bog’s edge. The animal appeared to -be trapped in the marsh. One stubby paw was grasping a root growing out -of the bank. Ted handed the glasses to Randy. - -“It’s a color bear,” Randy whispered. “He’s stuck in the bog. He’ll -never get out by himself.” - -Ted saw a wistful look on Randy’s face. “I sure hate to see anything -happen to those little fellows. They’re so friendly.” - -“You mean they make good pets?” Ted wanted to know. - -“They sure do,” Randy answered. “I owned one once, until he fell into a -bog. It seems they always end up in one sooner or later.” - -“I wonder if we could help him,” Ted suggested. - -“It may be dangerous,” Randy warned. “If we should slip....” - -“You’ve been around them before, haven’t you?” - -“Yes.” - -“I’m willing to try it if you are,” Ted said. - -“Let’s go then.” - -“We’ll have to be careful not to wake the others,” Ted said. - -Softly they crept down the hall to the space-suit closet. Silently they -dressed and inflated their suits with oxygen. Then they went through the -air lock and on outdoors. - -Ted had brought a flashlight. The cone of whiteness fanned out ahead of -them, leading the way for them over the red sands. As they drew near the -sand bog, the wails of the trapped animal became louder and more -frantic. - -“We’d better hurry,” Randy said. “He may go down any moment.” - -They broke into a run and finally reached the side of the little fellow. -The only part of him visible now was his round head, from which -projected big cup-handle ears. His short forepaws still clung to the -root, but even now the boys could see his grip loosening. - -As they knelt beside him, they saw his violet button eyes turned -pleadingly up to them. - -“The bank seems firm,” Randy said. “Let’s brace ourselves and each take -one of his paws.” - -The black mud pulled strongly against them. After a few moments the -boys’ arms ached from the tug of war, but they appeared to be winning -the battle. Slowly the bear rose out of his trap. Just as Ted thought -his own arms would be pulled off from the strain, the animal sucked free -of the clutching slime and came tumbling up over Ted and Randy. - -As the boys climbed to their feet, the color bear ran up first to one -and then to the other, and licked their helmets gratefully with his long -red tongue! - -[Illustration] - -The little creature stood about two and a half feet tall and was so -roly-poly, he must have been nearly that wide. The mud caked his body, -some of it crawling like thick molasses down into a black puddle around -his flat feet. He walked upright just as they did. - -“What’ll we do with him?” Randy asked. - -“Let him go, I guess,” Ted replied. “I wish we could keep him, but I’m -afraid Dad wouldn’t agree. For some reason, he doesn’t like color bears. -Besides, there’s no place to keep him.” - -They walked back toward the house. Presently Ted turned and saw what he -had feared. The bear was trudging along behind. They tried to shoo him -off. This only made him hesitate momentarily and then start following -again. Finally they gave up, permitting him to trail along at a -distance. - -When they reached the air lock, they opened the door. As they waited for -the pressure to come up, the color bear stood outside looking in at -them. Ted thought he had the most plaintive expression he had ever seen. -It was almost human. - -“We can’t let him stand out there like that all night,” Ted said. “He -might wake up the whole house with his cries. They do cry, don’t they?” - -“Just like babies,” Randy said. - -“I forgot, though,” Ted said. “They can’t breathe our air mixture, can -they?” - -“Yes, they can.” Randy told him. “They have a valve in their bodies that -takes care of that.” - -“I believe we can wash that goo off him and leave him in the kitchen -until morning,” Ted said. “Maybe he’ll be quiet if he’s clean.” - -They let the bear in, and in appreciation he licked their helmets again. - -“If you want to stay in here, you’ll have to be quiet,” Randy warned, -just as though the animal could understand. - -“Hey!” Ted cried. “What’s wrong with him?” The little animal was reeling -around as though he could hardly keep his feet, and his eyes were -glazed. - -“They always do that the first few times they enter our atmosphere,” -Randy answered. - -The color bear adjusted himself quickly to the change and then seemed -all right again. Quietly the boys led him down the hall toward the -shower. In the bathroom they shut the door, removed their helmets and -turned on the shower in a gentle spray. The bear did not take to water -willingly, and the boys had to force him under. When he began squealing -and kicking, Ted put his hand over his mouth. As the little animal felt -the warm water, however, his broad mouth turned upward in a grin, and he -sat down in the middle of the plastic basin to enjoy his bath. - -While the mud was washing down the drain Ted began to see what a -beautiful creature the color bear really was. His soft fur was white -next to the body, then merged into reddish brown at the tip. To make him -even more colorful, his paws, legs, and head had a bluish tinge. “What a -patriotic creature he would be on Earth,” Ted thought. He had all the -colors of the American flag. - -When the animal was clean, Ted got out a blotting towel that dried the -bear in a matter of seconds. The little fellow looked happy after his -bath and grinned at them. When he tried to lick their bare faces, they -had to cover up. He seemed hurt by their gesture and pouted for a -moment, with his lower lip quivering. - -“See what I mean?” Randy said, grinning. “They’re almost human.” - -“I wish we could keep him,” Ted said longingly. “He seems like lots of -fun. I think I’ll ask Dad about it.” - -As they were cleaning up the bathroom, Ted, who was leaning over the -shower basin, felt Randy’s hand press sharply on his shoulder. Ted spun -around. Standing in the doorway was his father, a stern look on his -face. - - - - - CHAPTER TEN - _School on Mars_ - - -“What in the world are you two doing?” Dr. Kenton asked. - -Ted told him the whole story of the rescue, ending up with a request -that they keep the Martian animal for a pet. - -Ted’s father shook his head. “That’s impossible. There’s no place to -keep him.” His face grew stern again. “You two did a very foolish thing -going out alone near that bog. You might have fallen in. I want you to -promise that you won’t go near that place again.” - -They promised. Ted knew it was no use arguing about keeping the color -bear. When his father made up his mind, he rarely changed it. - -As the three walked along the hallway with the bear, Dr. Kenton said, -“You kids woke me up with all that splashing in the bathroom, but, -fortunately, Mom is still asleep. We must be quiet so that we won’t -waken her and Jill.” - -The bear was reluctant to be forced out of the house through the air -lock. Ted knew the animal felt no worse than he did. He had become quite -attached to the little fellow in even this short time. - -When the bear was outside in the dark, he looked mournfully through the -transparent doors at his former friends who had rejected him. Then he -began wailing softly. Ted looked hopefully at his father, wishing that -he would have a change of heart. But Dr. Kenton’s expression was set, -and Ted knew there was no chance of the color bear coming back inside. - -The three of them retired to bed, but Ted was a long time getting to -sleep. For almost an hour the Martian creature kept up a soft wail. Ted -covered up his ears with his air-filled pillow, and he was finally able -to drop off to sleep. - -The next morning Ted and Randy went to the front door the first thing -after they rose. There was no sign of the color bear. - -“I guess he finally gave up,” said Ted unhappily. - -“I can’t understand his being alone like he was,” Randy said. “Usually -the little bears travel around in families of about ten. I guess this -one was an orphan.” - -Hearing this, Ted felt even worse. “Maybe a wild animal got him,” he -murmured. “If it hasn’t already, it probably will sooner or later. By -the way, what kind of wild animals do they have here?” - -“None of them ever come close to the colony,” Randy answered. “Hundreds -of miles away, there’s the Great Martian Forest where all kinds of them -live. One of the fiercest kinds are the elephant ants. Big herds of blue -rovers run across the desert closer by. There are different kinds of -birds here, too.” - -“I’ve heard of a dangerous plant in the Great Forest,” Ted said. “What’s -it called?” - -“The whip tree,” Randy answered. “It throws tentacles around anything -that’s near and draws it into its center mouth.” - -Realizing the dangers to the lonely little bear, Ted had not much -appetite for breakfast. Neither of the boys nor Dr. Kenton had mentioned -the adventure of the night before, but Mrs. Kenton had heard some -noises, although they had thought she was asleep. She began asking -questions and finally got the whole story. - -“I wish we could have kept that little animal!” Jill sighed. “He sounds -wonderful!” - -“We can’t adopt every stray animal that comes along,” Dr. Kenton said. -“I’m sure the color bear will get back to his family all right. He -probably just strayed temporarily.” - -Dr. Kenton next said that he was going to report to the science -organization this morning. He asked the children if they wanted to go -along and register in school. They’d have to within the next few days -anyhow. - -“Are the schools like they are back home?” Jill asked. - -“They sure are,” her father said. “Just as modern as you’ll find -anywhere.” - -Hearing this, the children were eager to go. Schools in the twenty-first -century were a combination of wholesome entertainment and instruction. -No dry textbooks or cramped wooden desks with hard seats. Ted and Jill -had heard about the poor children of the mid-1900’s who had to plod -through school with such handicaps as these, and they felt sorry for -them. - -Ted noticed that Dad seemed reluctant to leave Mom by herself, but she -did not seem to mind. - -“Don’t worry about me,” Mrs. Kenton said merrily. “I’ll have plenty to -do unpacking our clothes and things that they dumped in the living room -yesterday. I won’t even miss you _four_ children!” - -When the young folks and Dr. Kenton went outside in their space suits, -Ted saw that the sun was just a little above the horizon. He had learned -that men rose early on Mars to take advantage of the warmth and -illumination of daylight. - -Dr. Kenton looked into the purple sky through which the stars gleamed. -“It’s exactly six-fifteen now,” he said. - -“How did you know that?” Ted asked in surprise. “You didn’t look at your -watch.” - -“I didn’t have to,” his father answered. “That little disk in the sky -gives it to me.” - -“That’s Phobos,” Ted supplied. - -“Right,” his father answered. “It takes only six hours for the moon to -go from one horizon to the other, so you can actually see its movement -in a few minutes’ time. By judging its distance from the star around it, -I can get the time.” - -“That sure must take a lot of knowledge of the stars to know just where -each one should be at any one time!” Ted said. - -“It does,” the scientist replied, “but you’ll learn it in school. I’ll -bet Randy knows how to do it now. How about it, Randy?” - -“Yes sir,” Randy replied with a grin, “but I guess I’m a little off -after being away so long. I thought the time was six-thirty.” - -Dr. Kenton took another look, and Ted could see his face redden inside -his helmet. “I’m the one who’s a little bit off, Randy!” he admitted. -“It _is_ six-thirty.” - -Suddenly Jill cried, “Ooo—look!” - -A half dozen large birds were swooping down on the boat. Dr. Kenton did -not appear alarmed—only amused. “They won’t hurt us,” he said. “They’re -whee birds and very friendly.” - -The beautiful birds folded their scarlet wings, tipped in yellow, and -perched on the sides of the boat. Then they began giving out a peculiar, -“Whee-whee,” as though they were enjoying the boat ride. - -“Don’t they sound funny!” Ted said. - -The birds soared away as the boat turned into Main Canal. A few minutes -later, Dr. Kenton drove up to the building they had registered in the -day before. But instead of docking at the building, Dr. Kenton continued -along the canal beside the building in the direction of the other large -building next to it. - -“We’re going to the science building today,” the scientist explained. - -“Why is that as big as the administration building?” Jill asked. - -[Illustration: _The birds soared away._] - -“Don’t forget, Jill, that science and research is our main business on -Mars,” Dr. Kenton told her. “Every imaginable research project is -carried on there. Your schoolroom is there, too.” - -Dr. Kenton docked the boat at the science building, and the four got out -and entered. When they had removed their space suits, Dr. Kenton took -the children to the school superintendent’s office, where he left them. -The superintendent had them fill out cards, and then he took them down a -hall. - -“We have only a hundred and fifty students enrolled, so we don’t need -many classrooms,” he said, and stopped before one of the rooms, knocking -on the door. - -A dark-haired young man opened it, and the superintendent introduced him -to the children as their teacher, Mr. Garland. He assigned the newcomers -seats, and since school had already begun for the day, he went on with -his lesson. - -The room darkened, and a regular three-dimensional color movie flashed -on the screen. It was a picture about the wonders of the Earth. Ted felt -a lump rise in his throat as he watched. What he was looking at was the -Natural Bridge in Virginia, not far from their old home. Ted looked at -Jill. A stray pencil of light from the camera showed tears glistening in -her eyes. Ted was feeling a wave of homesickness himself. The wonders of -Mars were exciting, but there was no substitute in all the universe for -their own little plot of ground on Earth where they had been born. - -Ted was glad when the movie was over and another subject was taken up. -With slides, Mr. Garland demonstrated the geography of Mars. Ted learned -that the red planet was mostly a vast stretch of desert through which -ran the marvelous network of canals. Mr. Garland likened the climate of -Mars to that atop a high mountain on earth—the air thin and cold. - -Ted was glad when the recreation period came and he could exercise. - -It was his first such opportunity since leaving Earth. In the boys’ gym -the athletic instructor was teaching the game of basketball. Some of the -students like Randy had been born on Mars and knew nothing at all about -the game. Ted said that he had played a lot of it in school back on -Earth and volunteered to help the instructor, who was glad of the -assistance. - -When school was out, the young Kentons and Randy reported to the -science-building office, where Dr. Kenton was waiting for them. - -“Did you get your assignment?” Jill asked. - -“Yes,” he replied. “I’ll be leaving you in a few days. We’re going on an -expedition to Hellespontus, where some mysterious fossils have been -discovered. They may be bones of the ancient Martians. If so, they could -solve the baffling riddle of what happened to those remarkable canal -builders.” - -After getting into space clothes, they went to their boat and started -homeward. As they approached their isolated house at the end of the -winding watercourse, Ted rose in his seat and pointed. - -“Look!” he exclaimed. “There’s the color bear again!” - -Sure enough, seated on the front doorstep, as though waiting for them to -return, was the little Martian animal they had rescued the night before. - - - - - CHAPTER ELEVEN - _Yank_ - - -“Isn’t he the cutest thing!” exclaimed Jill, as she saw the -red-white-and-blue creature. - -“I thought we were rid of him,” Dr. Kenton groaned. - -He brought the boat to the end of the waterway and tied it up. The -children leaped out and ran to the bear, who climbed to his chubby feet -to greet them. He licked the suits of Ted and Randy but merely stared at -Jill and Dr. Kenton. - -“It looks like we just can’t get rid of him,” Ted said, renewing his -hope for possession of the animal. - -“Oh, Father, can’t we keep him?” Jill pleaded, stroking the color bear. - -Randy patted the little round head, and the bear made a sort of purring, -contented sound as the children fondled him. - -Dr. Kenton threw up his hands helplessly. “I guess I know when I’m -licked!” he burst out. “If Mother agrees, we’ll try and keep him. But -you kids will have to attend to him yourselves, and mind you keep him -out of the sand bog, or you won’t have him long.” - -“We will!” Jill said. Now that she had made friends with the bear, he -seemed ready to accept her and licked her suit as a sign of friendship. - -Randy stayed outside with the bear while the other children went inside -to talk persuasively with their mother. She objected at first, but -finally yielded to their persistence. - -“We’ll have to make out a requisition for plastic material for his -outdoor house,” Dr. Kenton said. “Are you children willing to chip in -part of your allowance to pay for it?” - -They nodded. - -“We’ll order it the same time as we do supplies for the garden,” the -scientist said. - -“We’re going to have a garden?” Jill burst out. - -“I thought we’d try it,” her father said. “That’s the only way we can -get fresh vegetables.” - -When Dr. Kenton went to the study to make out the requisition slip, Ted -asked his mother, “Why didn’t Dad want to keep the bear? It seems to me -that he doesn’t like those little guys, or is afraid of them, or -something.” - -“As a matter of fact, he is a little shy of them, I believe,” she -answered. “He accidentally hurt a baby one badly in one of his -explorations a few years ago, when he crushed its forepaw under his boot -and it ran off crying. Your father’s so tender-hearted he’s probably -reminded of that painful incident every time he sees one of the -animals.” - -“Maybe he’ll change after the bear has been around for a while,” Jill -put in. - -The air-lock door opened, and Randy stuck his head in. - -“We’d forgotten all about you, Randy!” Jill exclaimed. - -“Are we going to keep him?” Randy asked anxiously. - -“We sure are!” Jill piped. “Bring him in and let’s introduce him to -Mother.” - -Randy let the color bear inside. When he began staggering about, Mrs. -Kenton exclaimed with horror: “He’s dying, the poor little fellow.” - -Randy assured her he wasn’t really—that he behaved like this because of -the extra oxygen in the air. Randy said that before long the bear would -be able to go in and out without any bad effects at all. - -Ted brought the animal over to his mother. She gingerly patted his blue -furry head. In response he licked her dress. “Now we’re friends,” Mrs. -Kenton said. - -“We’ve got to give him a name,” Jill said. “What’ll we call him?” - -“How about Fuzzy?” suggested Mrs. Kenton. - -“No. Teddy!” Jill said. - -Ted wrinkled his nose. “Then you’d get him mixed up with me. I think he -ought to have a patriotic name because of his colors.” - -“How about Yank, then?” Mrs. Kenton said. - -“That’s a good one!” Jill agreed. - -“Yeah, that’s swell!” Ted said. “What do you think, Randy?” - -He shrugged and grinned. “It sounds all right to me, but I don’t know -what it means.” - -Ted explained the word as being sort of a nickname for America and -Americans. Randy had learned quite a bit about the United States flag, -but the word Yankee was a new one to him. After he learned its meaning, -he agreed that Yank was a perfect name for the color bear. When Dr. -Kenton returned, Ted felt that the final introduction to the newest -member of their family should be made. - -“Yank, meet Dr. Kenton,” Ted said formally. - -Ted’s father smiled and approached the little animal. “Hi, Yank,” he -said. - -His hand went out to pat the round head, but to everyone’s surprise, -Yank drew back with a cry of fright. Dr. Kenton’s face went red as if he -had been snubbed by a human being. Ted felt sorry for his father. Did -the bear unconsciously know what the scientist had done to another -member of his kind? - -“Don’t worry, John,” Mrs. Kenton said soothingly. “He’ll come around to -you before long.” - -Her husband quickly changed the subject. “I’ve made out the -requisitions. I’ll send them over to headquarters now on the -video-sender.” - -[Illustration] - -The children watched interestedly as he went to the video-sender, which -was connected to the radiophone. He fastened the slips face down on a -glass plate and held open a switch for several seconds. About a minute -later, a buzz came over the radiophone. - -“That means it’s been received,” Dr. Kenton said. “I asked to have it -sent to us tomorrow.” - -“Why couldn’t you just phone it in?” Ted asked. - -“This way there doesn’t have to be anyone on the other end,” his father -explained. “The requisition was handled by an automatic machine.” - -Yank was given temporary quarters in the basement. Dr. Kenton said he -could not live indefinitely inside like this—that an outside shelter was -absolutely necessary. - -The next afternoon after school, Dr. Kenton brought the children home. -Sitting outside the house on the ground were two pieces of specially -formed plastic. - -“Here are the things we ordered,” Dr. Kenton said. “The manufacturers -shaped them on molds they already have on hand.” - -The color bear’s house was a rounded dome resembling an Eskimo igloo. -The garden shelter was oval and about twenty-five feet long. - -“How are we going to lift those things?” Ted asked. “They must be -awfully heavy!” - -“On the contrary, they’re quite light,” Dr. Kenton said. “Each of you -grab a handle on the side of the garden top and I’ll show you.” - -They discovered they could lift the large object with ease. They carried -it around the house, and Dr. Kenton showed how it would fit close to the -wall. The entrance would be by way of the back door. - -“The dome is double-walled!” Ted said. - -“Of course, it is,” Dr. Kenton answered. “So is our house—and all the -buildings on Mars.” - -“Why?” Ted asked. - -“For insulation against the cold,” was the reply. “The outer wall gets -almost as cold as the temperature outside, but the vacuum between it and -the inner wall keeps the inside nice and warm.” - -“The walls are so clear in the house, I never noticed they were double,” -Ted said. - -“Shall we get started on the garden?” Dr. Kenton asked. “The sooner we -get it in shape, the sooner we can grow tomatoes and beans and dwarf -fruit trees.” - -They first went into the house, where Mrs. Kenton showed them a large -pile of supplies that had been sent along with the shelter tops. - -“Here’s a foam-rubber mattress for Yank,” the scientist said, pulling -out two bundles, “and a supply of food for him. Everything else is for -the garden.” - -The first thing the four of them did outside was set up Yank’s house, -close to the front door, and lay out his sleeping mat. When this was -done, the little animal walked cautiously inside and sniffed all around. -Then he curled up on the soft cushion and closed his eyes. - -“He seems satisfied with it,” said Jill. - -First work on the garden was to air-seal it to the rear of the house. -This was done with a strange-looking gun that shot a thick gluey liquid -out along the seams between the plastic cover and the house. The rest of -the work had to be done under the dome itself. The workers went back -indoors and hauled all the equipment under the garden shelter. - -“First we bring the warm house atmosphere into here, so that we can -remove our space gear,” Dr. Kenton said. - -When this was done, and with their space suits off, the workers could -move about more efficiently. - -“After supper we’ll prepare the ground, and tomorrow we can plant -seeds,” Dr. Kenton said. - -Ted thumped the hard, cold ground with his shoe. “How can we work this?” -he asked. “It’s hard as stone, and it must be awfully cold.” - -His father pulled some long steel spikes out of the mass of equipment. -Then he took out a sledge hammer. He hammered the spikes at intervals in -the ground along the sides of the dome. Then he attached an electrical -circuit to each of them and the whole to a generator. - -As the generator purred in operation, he said, “Infrared heat rays are -being sent out by the spikes into the ground, warming it. After supper -the ground will be thawed out so that we can till it.” - -When they returned to the garden area after their last meal of the day, -they found that the ground could be worked easily. Electric tools made -the job quick and efficient. Fertilizer and soil conditioner were worked -into the ground after the surface had been loosened up for several feet -down. - -“Did you say we could plant seeds tomorrow?” Jill asked, when they were -through. - -“That’s right,” her father replied. “The chemicals we have put in the -ground are almost miraculous in the speed with which they work in the -soil. They can literally do the job overnight.” - -Jill and Ted went to bed tired and untroubled that night. But not Randy. -Before Ted dropped off, he heard Randy tossing restlessly in the bunk -below. Ted caught some of the words muttered by the boy: “Father ... -miss you ... ever come back to me?” - -They had been kept so busy during those first days in their new home -that Ted had almost forgotten that Randy wasn’t his brother. Randy -seemed to have taken to the family very well, Ted thought, but he -realized no foster parents could take the place of his real father. As -Ted fell asleep, he was thinking what an unhappy day it was going to be -for all of them when Randy found out that his father was never going to -return. - - - - - CHAPTER TWELVE - _Illness Strikes_ - - -The young folks planted seeds the next afternoon when they came home -from school. Then in the next few days, they could scarcely wait to see -the first seedlings break through the soil. The little green crooks -popped up the morning that Dr. Kenton was to leave on his expedition. - -The scientist said that the plants would grow rapidly and produce edible -food within the next ten days. He gave the children instructions for -tending the crops, and they memorized his directions. - -He had showed Jill, Ted, and Randy how to attend to the mechanical -functions of the home and also how to run the boat. The three helped him -to load his gear into the boat, and then stood by as Dr. Kenton bade -farewell to his wife. There were tears in Mrs. Kenton’s eyes as she -waved good-by from inside the house. - -Yank watched the strange goings-on from in front of his own dwelling. He -seemed to understand that Dr. Kenton was leaving, but he still had not -made friends with him. - -When they were all in the boat, Jill dropped a fuel pill into the tank, -and Ted took the steering wheel. He skillfully guided the boat along the -winding watercourse to Main Canal and along its length to the science -building. They all helped unload the gear on the dock, and Dr. Kenton -said that this was where they must part. - -“You three will have to run things while I’m away,” the scientist told -them. “You shouldn’t have any trouble, but if anything does happen, call -headquarters for help. There’s one thing I want you to be sure to attend -to. Bring the empty spare air cartridges in the closet down here and -have them filled. You never know when you’ll need them.” - -“We’ll bring them tomorrow on our way to school,” Ted promised. - -Jill hugged her father hard and long. Like her mother, she was tearful -at his leaving. Ted, himself, felt a tug of dread. He wondered if the -trip into the Martian wilds would be a successful one or whether, as in -the case of Randy’s father, it would end in disaster. - -The children went on to school. Ted was glad to be going because it -would take his and Jill’s minds off the melancholy of their father’s -departure. - -Ted found the opening lesson particularly interesting. In it he learned -facts about the extinct native Martians. Mr. Garland showed slides on -some diggings that had unearthed bones of these early people. The bones -had been organized to the best of Earth scientists’ ability, but many -were missing, and the reconstructed figures were largely guesswork. Ted -wondered if his father’s expedition would uncover more information on -these mysterious ancient people. - -As the young Kentons and Randy started for home in the boat that -afternoon, Jill complained of having a headache. Ted told her it was -probably due to eyestrain from looking at the slides, and this seemed to -satisfy her. But when Ted docked the boat at the house, Jill said she -felt worse. - -Yank came running out to greet them, but the boys were so concerned over -Jill that they paid little attention to him. He stood off sulking and -watched Ted help his sister out of the boat and through the air lock of -their house. - -“Mother, Jill is sick!” Ted called when they were inside. - -Mrs. Kenton had been spraying the hose on the plastic floor and -furniture. She turned it off and allowed the spring on the hose to pull -it back into the wall opening. The water swirled through the drain in -the center of the floor and disappeared in a matter of seconds. - -“What’s wrong with her?” Mrs. Kenton asked in alarm. - -Ted helped Jill off with her helmet. He was shocked to see that her face -was feverish and her eyes strangely bright. She wandered away from the -others and slumped tiredly on the divan. - -“Don’t lie on that rubber cushion, dear!” Mrs. Kenton cried. “It’s still -wet. What on earth has she got?” Mrs. Kenton asked the boys. - -“It looks to me like she’s got bog fever,” Randy offered. - -“How could she catch fever?” Mrs. Kenton asked. - -“There’s a virus that comes from the sand bogs and sometimes gets -through the air valve of space suits,” Randy said. - -“I’d better call a doctor at headquarters right away!” Mrs. Kenton -declared. - -She went to the radiophone and put through the call. She was told that -all the doctors were out on calls and that it might be an hour before -one could come. However, when a nurse on duty in the Medical Center -learned about Jill’s symptoms, she gave instructions for caring for the -girl until the doctor could come. - -As Mrs. Kenton switched off the phone, she said, “The nurse said that -Jill should be put to bed and kept warm. Come on, Honey,” she added, -helping Jill to her feet and leading her toward the guest room. - -“Is the disease serious?” Ted asked Randy worriedly. - -“It can be,” Randy answered soberly. “We’ll probably have to be -quarantined,” he added. - -“How long does bog fever last?” Ted asked. - -“The crisis comes pretty quickly after the first attack,” Randy -answered. “I remember, because a friend of mine had it. If they pass the -crisis, they’re usually well in a few days.” - -Ted was reluctant to ask the next question, but he felt he must know. - -“Did your friend recover, Randy?” - -Randy shook his head, and Ted felt a cold chill of dread run down his -spine. He didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to Jill. She -_had_ to get well. - -About twenty minutes later, Mrs. Kenton came back to the living room. -Her face was drawn and worried. - -“She’s sleeping fitfully and her head is burning up!” she told the boys. -“Oh, why doesn’t that doctor come?” - -With nothing else to do, the boys stared through the clear plastic of -the side wall at the deepening afternoon. The purple sky was growing -darker, and the stars were gleaming steadily brighter. On the horizon, -where the miniature sun was setting, the sky was painted in gorgeous -shades of red. Ted thought he had never seen a more beautiful sunset, -but he could not appreciate it at this time. - -Suddenly Ted spotted a strange yellow mass gliding close to the ground -and apparently coming in the direction of the settlement. - -“What’s that, Randy?” Ted asked. “Do you know?” - -“We’re in for trouble!” Randy answered. - -“What do you mean?” Ted asked, alarmed. - -“It’s a dust storm blowing this way,” Randy said. - -“I’m glad the house is well anchored to the ground,” Ted muttered. He -had already learned in school that such storms were often fierce. - -“It may be an awful blow,” Randy said. “It may keep the doctor from -getting through to us.” - -[Illustration: _The whole landscape was blotted out._] - -Once more Ted had that sinking feeling. He wished desperately that there -were something he could do. But, against the powers of nature, he knew -he was absolutely helpless. All he and Randy could do was wait and hope. - -A few minutes later the dust storm struck with howling fury. The boys -watched the sand spatter noisily against the house. The whole landscape -was blotted out in a blinding, yellowish-red haze. Mrs. Kenton came -running into the room, looking terrified. She had not been prepared for -this latest trouble. - -“How long will this terrible storm last?” she asked, when Randy -explained what it was. - -“Sometimes as long as an hour,” Randy replied. - -Mrs. Kenton’s hands twisted in frenzy. “We can’t wait that long. We must -have that doctor. Poor Jill is twisting and turning so much, I can’t -even keep damp cloths on her forehead.” - -“Why don’t we call headquarters again,” Ted suggested, “and see if the -doctor will be able to come out in the storm.” - -As Mrs. Kenton went into the hall to radiophone again, the boys heard -the storm striking with renewed power. Fine, cutting sand whipped -against the plastic walls with the sound of sleet, accompanied by an -eerie roar. - -Mrs. Kenton came back quickly. “There’s no sound at all over the phone!” -she cried. - -Ted instantly thought of the aerial on top of the house. He went to the -center room and looked through the clear ceiling. His heart sank. The -aerial was swinging loose by the single center pole. - -“The storm has blown the antenna loose!” Ted told his mother. “We can’t -even phone headquarters now, and they can’t reach us either.” - -Mrs. Kenton left the room, moaning. They heard her go down the hall to -Jill’s room. The only sound was the furious clatter of sand against the -house and the groaning of the terrible wind. Ted’s eyes strained to -detect some kind of break in that awful cloud of yellow dust that -surrounded the house, hoping that the storm was nearing its end. - -Suddenly Ted heard a weak sound outside, above the roar of the wind. -“Yank!” he cried. “We forgot all about Yank! We’ve got to let him in!” - -They ran to the front-door air lock. There they found the color bear -clawing at the outer door. The dust covered him so thickly that he -nearly blended completely with the yellowish background. - -Ted flipped a switch opening the outer door. Yank scrambled quickly -inside. Then, when the air pressure in the little outer compartment was -equal to that in the house, Ted opened the inner door. Yank tumbled in -in a flurry of scattering sand. - -Ted thought the Martian animal was the most forlorn sight he had ever -seen. His fur was dirty and matted, his eyes were bloodshot, and every -step he took brought a cascade of sand down around his feet. - -“He looks like he needs another shower,” Randy said. - -“There’s nothing else we can do now,” Ted agreed. Besides, he figured -the activity would take his mind off their troubles. - -Mrs. Kenton was still with Jill. The boys marched Yank down the hallway -to the bathroom. When Yank saw what was in store for him, he eagerly -jumped into the shower basin. Ted turned on the water, and streams of -dark-red liquid poured down Yank into the drain. - -“He must have half the sand of Mars on him,” Ted commented. - -Suddenly his mother came up to the door and looked in. “Jill’s getting -worse!” she said. “Ted, you and Randy must go out after the doctor.” - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTEEN - _News for Randy_ - - -Ted was not keen to venture out into the dust storm, but thoughts of his -sister lying desperately ill quickly drove all hesitation from his mind. -He and Randy climbed into their space suits, and as they approached the -front-door air lock, Ted was relieved to find that he could begin to see -through the thinning dust. - -“It’ll be over in a few minutes now,” Randy said. - -But if Ted expected any easy time of it outdoors, he was mistaken. The -storm still had a lot of fight left in it. The wind struck them -relentlessly, turning them around and blinding their gaze with whirling -dust. They could not even thrust through it to the boat. Ted signaled to -Randy that they would have to stand close to the house until the storm -had subsided even more. - -At last the wind died to gusts. The air was clearer now, and the stars -were once again visible overhead. - -“I think we can make it now,” Ted said. - -They ran over to the boat and climbed in. As Ted dropped a pellet into -the tank, Randy said, “Look at these scratches on the boat! That sand -must cut like a file!” - -They jetted off down the waterway, Ted pressing the accelerator pedal -down to shove the boat along as fast as it could safely go. They whirled -into the Main Canal and sped toward the science building where the -doctors had their offices. Along the way, the boys could see that theirs -wasn’t the only aerial that had been blown down. They could see -space-suited figures on the individual houses working on the webs of -wires and poles. - -Some whee birds appeared out of nowhere and flew down to perch on the -boat and serenade Ted and Randy with their strange chants. However, the -boys were in no mood for them now, and presently the friendly birds -flapped off as though they realized they were not wanted. - -Before reaching the building, the boys saw a boat speeding right at -them. - -“Look out!” Randy warned. “He’s coming straight at us.” - -But the boat pulled up just beside the craft occupied by Ted and Randy. - -“Are you the Kenton family?” the single occupant asked over his radio. - -“Yes, sir!” Ted answered quickly. “Are you the doctor?” - -“Yes,” the man answered. “The storm has held me up. How’s your sister, -Son?” - -“She’s bad off, sir,” Ted answered. “That’s why I had to come for you.” - -“Turn your boat around and don’t spare the horses, as they used to say,” -the doctor said. “I’ll be right behind you.” - -Ted made the fastest trip yet along the waterway back home. True to his -word, the doctor arrived right at his heels. The doctor jumped out of -his boat at the house, grabbed up a large case, and hurried toward the -air lock. The boys went ahead and opened the door for him. - -When the doctor had met Mrs. Kenton inside, he asked to see the sick -girl alone. The boys and Mrs. Kenton paced restlessly in the front room -as they waited for the doctor to come out of Jill’s room. Finally, when -Ted thought he could not stand the waiting any longer, the doctor came -out. He was briskly shaking down a thermometer, and his face was bland. - -“She’ll be a sick girl for a few days,” he said, “but she’ll be all -right. I gave her a shot of some special serum we developed to combat -bog fever. It was none too soon, either.” - -There were tears of joy on Mrs. Kenton’s face, and Ted felt as though he -could turn handsprings. Randy, too, looked vastly relieved. Although he -was not a true member of the family, it seemed as though Ted and Jill -were brother and sister to him, especially since he had no brother or -sister of his own. - -“I’m afraid all of you will have to be quarantined for a week,” the -doctor went on. - -“What’ll we ever find to do with ourselves staying in the house for a -whole week?” Ted thought. Then he remembered the garden that had to be -tended, that antenna that had to be repaired, and other mechanical -duties that had to do with the running of the house. If they kept busy, -the time would pass swiftly, he reasoned. The boys went up on the roof -to try to repair the antenna, but there was such a tangle of wires they -did not know where to start. The doctor said he would leave word at -headquarters for a repairman to come out. - -“It may be a day or so before he can get out here, though,” the doctor -warned. “It looks as though half the aerials in the settlement were -blown down.” - -It was actually two days before a repairman came. By that time, Jill had -passed her worst time, and she was able to sit up a little and see the -boys. - -Ted and Randy were amazed at the rapid growth of the plants in the -garden. Already they were eighteen inches high. Ted thought he could -almost see them growing before his eyes. - -As soon as the radiomen had repaired the antenna, the boys sat down to -watch the television program in progress. It was a newscast that showed -in color the events going on all the way back on Earth and within the -settlement as well. The huge five-by-four-foot screen was sharp and -clear. - -Suddenly the regular telecast was interrupted. A local announcer was -switched in. He held a paper in his hand, and by the expression on his -face, Ted knew he had something very important to say. - -“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said, “we have just received word -that several members of the long-lost expedition to Syrtis Major have -been spotted and contacted by a routine surveying plane. That is all the -information we can give you now, but stand by and we’ll keep you posted -on developments.” - -Randy had sprung to his feet, and Ted could see his body was tense as a -coil of wire. - -“Pops!” Randy burst out. - -“Your father’s expedition!” Ted exclaimed at the same moment. Then -before his hopes got too high, he recalled that the announcer had said -that only some of the men had been found. - -But Randy did not appear to be bothered by this. His face glowed with -happiness. He was convinced his father was one of those who had been -located. - -An hour later, another bulletin was given: “It has been established that -only six of the original thirty-five members of the ill-fated expedition -are alive. Identity of the men has not yet been given us. Stand by for -further news.” - -Randy bit his lip in disappointment as the message was cut off. He and -Ted remained by the set for another hour without moving, hoping any -moment that more news would be given out. At last it came: - -“Our remote TV facilities will carry you to the spot where the lost men -were found,” the announcer said. There was a gray screen for several -moments, and then the scene switched to the interior of a rocket plane. - -“It’ll be just like our going along with them to the place!” Randy -exclaimed happily. - -Ted kept his fingers crossed for Randy. It would be a terrible shock to -him if his father were not one of the survivors. The unhappy moment he -had dreaded for so long might now be at hand. Their screen showed the -swift trip from Lowell Harbor over red sands and lichen forests. At last -the plane came in for landing in a wild, rocky region. - -The man who met the TV men in the plane was the pilot who had first -sighted the missing engineers. “Come with me,” the pilot said, “and I’ll -show you who the survivors are and we’ll hear their story.” - -Ted saw Randy get up and move close to the screen. He saw Randy’s toe -beat a nervous tattoo against the floor as he waited. Mrs. Kenton had -come into the room in the meantime, when she found what was going on. -Even Jill could hardly be restrained from leaving her bed to come in and -take part in the great discovery that meant so much to young Randy -Matthews. - -“The men survived by holing up in an underground cave, and they signaled -the scouting plane,” the pilot explained, as he led the TV men over the -rocky ground. “It was a landslide that broke up the expedition, -destroying all means of transportation and communication. The six who -lived through it gathered up all the spare oxygen tanks and food -supplies. They had plenty along because the expedition was to have -lasted three months. They carried the tanks underground where a hot -spring kept them warm.” - -When the entrance to the cave was reached, the pilot called inside, and -six space-suited figures walked tiredly out. They were not recognizable -in their space dress, for even their helmets were too dark to show their -faces. - -“Gentlemen,” the TV announcer said to the survivors, “I’m sure every -television set, at the colony and on faraway Earth too, is tuned to this -spot. Of course, the big question in all the people’s minds is which of -the men who were lost are among you alive. Will each of you pass before -our camera and give your name?” - -Ted felt his nerves tighten as the men, one by one, faced the screen. -Two, three, then four bearded men passed and gave their names. Randy’s -father was not one of them. Two more to go. Just then the worst possible -thing happened. The screen suddenly went gray. - -[Illustration: _The picture flashed on._] - -Ted heard Randy groan. The seconds ticked by. Still no picture. Finally, -after five minutes, the announcer said that picture service would be -restored in a few more minutes. Ted could see the perspiration gleaming -on Randy’s face, and his fingers were clenching and unclenching -continuously. - -“What a frightful thing for him to be going through!” Mrs. Kenton -whispered to Ted. “I certainly hope and pray his father is one of those -remaining two.” - -The picture flashed on. The announcer spent a moment or two explaining -the difficulty that had thrown the picture off; then he called the two -remaining men. The fifth showed himself. In the close-up his smiling, -grimy face was visible through his helmet. - -“Is—that him?” Ted asked tremulously. - -Randy’s head wagged slowly in the negative. Finally the last man walked -up, and Randy gave a scream of joy and sprang over to the screen. - -“My name is Robert Matthews,” spoke the bearded man. He smiled and waved -into the screen. “Are you listening, Randy boy?” - -Ted looked at Randy. His shoulders were hunched over and were shaking -with quiet sobs. Ted could see tears of joy in his mother’s eyes. Then -he realized there was a lump in his own throat. - -Randy’s father was alive. To Ted, it was almost as though it were his -own father who had been found. - - - - - CHAPTER FOURTEEN - _Peril in the Night_ - - -Randy would have liked nothing better than to have been at Lowell Harbor -to welcome his father, but the quarantine made that impossible. However, -Randy left word for his father to phone him on arrival. - -Hours after the sensational telecast, the radiophone finally buzzed. -Randy ran to it, flipped a switch, and listened on the two-way -microphone. - -“Pops!” Randy exclaimed. “Yes, it’s me! How are you?” On and on the -excited conversation went. - -“Isn’t it wonderful, Mom?” Ted said to his mother. - -“It certainly is!” she answered. “Your dad and I really believed Randy -would never see his father alive again.” - -Yank had been allowed into the house. He seemed to realize that this was -a moment of good times, for he capered about like an animated ball of -fur. He even tried to make noises into the mike himself, but Randy -playfully pushed him off. - -Feeling pretty good himself now, Ted thought that if Yank wanted action -he’d give it to him. He cuffed the little animal gently along his head. -Yank tore after him, catching him near the air lock. Down went the boy -and color bear together. Yank growled menacingly but did not impress Ted -with his mock ferocity. Yank got on top of Ted, and Ted called for help. - -Just then Randy’s long conversation with his father ended, and he came -over to join the fun. Then the three of them were scrambling and yelling -together. Ted halted his play for a moment to look up and see Jill -standing in the doorway, her face beaming as though she would like to -join the fun. Mrs. Kenton looked around, and her face darkened. - -“You’d better get back in that bed, young lady!” her mother threatened. - -Jill squealed and ran off to bed. Ted saw that his mother was not really -angry. She was smiling, and Ted knew she was glad to find that Jill was -feeling so much better. - -The rest of the day passed on the same high note of joy. Where several -days ago, everything had been fear and gloom, now everything was rosy. -The next day, after Randy had talked with his father again, he was -impatient to get out and meet him. Ted, too, was beginning to feel the -pinch of the quarantine. - -The boys went out to take a look at the garden. The stems were high and -full of broad leaves. It looked like a miniature jungle here. And in -such a short time! Ted checked the atmosphere gauge that showed the -percentage of oxygen to carbon dioxide in the greenhouse. The gas from -the carbon dioxide tank had to be just so, or the plants would suffocate -from an overabundance of oxygen. - -When the boys returned to the living room, Mrs. Kenton said to them, “I -have a surprise for you two. Turn your heads.” - -They did so, and when she told them to look around they saw a fully -dressed Jill standing there, her cheeks pink and healthy again. Ted -hugged his sister as though she had been away a long time and was just -getting back. - -At last, the day that, it had seemed, would never arrive finally did -come. Randy was up especially early that morning, saying that he wanted -to visit his father before he went to school. - -The children were in the living room awaiting breakfast. - -“I’m sure they’ll let you off from school one more day to be with your -father, Randy,” Mrs. Kenton called from the kitchen. - -“Even if they do, I don’t want to lose any time seeing him,” Randy said. - -Suddenly Jill pointed a shaky finger toward the front door. “L-look, -there’s a man at the door?” - -Ted turned around, startled. “I wonder who...” he began. - -But Randy was not puzzled. He ran across the room and flipped the switch -that controlled the air lock. A few minutes later a robust man in a -space suit entered and pulled off his helmet. He had a rugged, kindly -face which showed the effects of the terrible strain he had been under -so long. But he was smiling. - -“Pops!” Randy cried and threw his arms around him. - -“Boy, what a squeeze you have!” Mr. Matthews grunted. “You’ve grown, -Randy.” - -When their prolonged greeting was over, Randy introduced his father to -the Kentons. Ted’s hand was almost lost in the large, powerful grip of -Mr. Matthews. - -“You’re just in time for breakfast, Mr. Matthews,” Mrs. Kenton said. - -“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked meal,” the man -answered wistfully. “I’d like to join you.” - -As they were eating, Dr. Matthews heard the story of his son’s adoption -by the Kentons. Then he said, “I can’t thank you folks enough for taking -care of my boy just as if he were one of your own.” - -[Illustration: _“Pops!” Randy cried._] - -“Randy _has_ been one of us,” Mrs. Kenton said warmly. - -“What do you say about that?” his father asked. “Do you want to leave -these nice people?” - -Randy looked uncertain. It was a situation he had given little thought -to before. “I don’t really like leaving them,” Randy said hesitantly. -Then he seemed to have an idea. “I’ve got it, Dad! Why can’t you come -and live here?” - -Mr. Matthews laughed. “I’m afraid that’s carrying hospitality too far. -No, we’ll build us a house of our own, as close by as we can. Until we -get an allotment of housing material, we’ll get a room in headquarters.” - -“There’s no use both of you living there,” Mrs. Kenton said. “Why not -led Randy stay on here until your house is ready to move into?” - -“Sure,” Ted put in. “Why can’t Randy do that?” He had been saddened at -the thought of Randy leaving the household. It had seemed as though -Randy was going to be with them always, for he had not believed that -Randy’s father was ever coming back. - -Randy thought this was a fine idea. Ted could see that he did not like -parting with the Kentons any more than they did with him. Mr. Matthews -was reluctant to take further advantage of the Kenton hospitality, but -at last was talked into the proposition. - -The children went along with Randy’s father back toward town, following -along in the Kenton boat. Mr. Matthews said he’d arrange for Randy to -have the day off from school so that the two of them could have a good -visit. - -The young Kentons were glad to be back in the thick of things. They -found school particularly interesting that day, because a field trip was -announced by Mr. Garland. - -“Every year this class is given an exploring field trip over certain -areas of the planet so that you can get a firsthand knowledge of Mars’s -geography,” the instructor declared. “The trip is by plane and will last -two days. You must have your parents’ consent, of course.” - -That afternoon, as Ted and Jill left school, Ted said, “What do you -think of that trip, Sis?” - -“It sounds like fun!” she said. “I hope we can go.” - -“I’d like to, too, but don’t forget Mom would be by herself.” - -“I’d forgotten about that,” Jill said disappointedly. “Mother would tell -us to go on, if we asked her, I know, but I still wouldn’t want to leave -her. There are so many things that could happen.” - -“We’ll just have to forget it then,” Ted said. “Maybe we can make it -another time.” - -The two kept a brooding silence, and Ted wondered if Jill was as -disappointed as he was. When Randy found out that they had decided not -to go, he said he did not care to go either. - -That night Ted had a dream. In it he was exploring on the great barren -desert with Jill and Randy but they wore no helmets and it seemed as -though they could hardly get their breath. They gasped and choked, and -the dream grew into a nightmare of terror. Suddenly, Ted woke. He sat up -in bed in a cold sweat, feeling a strange lightheadedness. His breath -was coming hard into his lungs. - -It had not only been a dream. Something had happened to the atmosphere -in the house. - - - - - CHAPTER FIFTEEN - _The Peril Continued_ - - -“Randy, wake up!” - -Ted was jostling his bedmate. Randy opened sleepy eyes. He seemed to be -unaffected by the reduced air pressure in the room. Ted remembered that -people vary in their reaction to this. - -But when Ted told him of the danger, Randy bounced out of bed with no -further prompting. Ted switched on a light, and just as he was reading -the air-pressure gauge on the wall, he heard a shrill whistle in the -house. It was the air alarm that had gone off automatically. Ted could -see that the gauge read dangerously low. - -If he and Randy and the others did not get into space suits in a hurry -they would suffer serious consequences, one of which could be an attack -of the “bends.” At worst, they would lose consciousness and die of -anoxia—oxygen starvation. - -Even before Ted could leave the room to rouse his mother and sister, -both were standing at the boys’ door. - -“We’ve got to get on space suits right away!” Ted told them. “It looks -like all the air pressure in the house is leaking out!” - -They went immediately to the closet and began dragging out space dress -in a mad flurry of fear. They pulled on the suits and helmets with haste -and inflated the airtight outfits with fresh, pressurized oxygen from -the small tanks on their backs. - -“What do you think has happened to the air drum in the basement?” Mrs. -Kenton asked her son over her helmet radio. - -“I don’t know, but Randy and I can go down there and see,” Ted answered. - -The boys went downstairs, made a light, and walked over to the giant -metal tank recessed in one of the walls. Checking the gauges on the -tank, Ted turned to Randy with a frown. - -“There’s nothing wrong with this,” Ted said. - -“Then where is the trouble?” Randy asked. - -[Illustration] - -“There must be a leak somewhere in the house,” Ted said. “We’ve got to -find out.” - -The boys went upstairs, and Ted told his mother and sister that all of -them should spread out and search the entire house for a leak. There -were emergency sealers on hand to plug such a leak when it was found. -The sealers were only temporary, but they would last until a full repair -could be made by a repairman. - -Each of them took a room and worked toward the middle of the house in -their search, all lights having been turned on to give maximum -illumination. The job was no easy one. Even the slightest crack anywhere -would be sufficient to cause the loss of pressure; it was just like a -tire tube with a tiny puncture. Ted was the first to finish his assigned -area. He had found nothing. Presently Randy was through, then Mrs. -Kenton, then Jill. No one had found a leak anywhere, and the entire -house had been covered. - -“We must have missed it somewhere!” Ted said. “We’ve wasted a whole -hour!” - -“The spare cartridges your father told us to have filled!” Randy -suddenly exclaimed. “We didn’t do it!” - -“We forgot to in all the excitement after he left!” Ted groaned. - -“What’ll we do?” Mrs. Kenton asked, horrified. “In another hour or so, -we’ll have used up the air in our suits!” - -“Can’t we refill our suit cartridges from the air drum downstairs?” Jill -asked. - -Ted shook his head. “It’s not built that way.” - -“Then we must phone for help right away,” Mrs. Kenton said and rushed -off to the radiophone. - -In a few moments she was back. “They’ll send someone from town with -spare cartridges right away,” she said, “but the man said we couldn’t -get a repairman until morning to fix the leak. We’ll have to stay in our -space suits if we don’t find the leak.” - -“Then let’s look for it again,” Ted suggested. - -Once more they spread out all over the house, but this time they changed -areas, so that if a mistake had been made before there was less chance -of repeating it this time. They renewed their search, and it was not -until all were through, again without having found the leak, that they -realized that another hour had passed and the man with the spare -cartridges had not shown up. - -“The gauge in my helmet shows I’ve got only ten minutes of air left!” -Jill said. - -The others checked their gauges. All showed about ten minutes’ supply -remaining. And there was no guarantee that the spare cartridges would -arrive in that time. - -Just as Mrs. Kenton was going to the radiophone to call the air-supply -center again, the phone buzzed and she answered it. After listening a -moment, she turned to the children with a white face. “The man’s boat -developed some trouble on the way. He says he can’t get here for fifteen -minutes.” - -“That’ll be too late!” Jill cried. - -Mrs. Kenton relayed this information and then said, “He wants to know if -we have any neighbors close by we can borrow from.” - -“I know it’ll take us more than ten minutes to get there and back!” Ted -answered, recalling the goodly distance to their closest neighbor. - -Mrs. Kenton reported this and then, after listening for several seconds, -she finally hung up. “He says that he’ll call back to headquarters and -get an emergency truck here as quickly as possible. But he can’t be -certain that it will get here in time either.” - -Jill began sobbing. Ted could see his mother’s lips trembling, but she -was trying to be brave. Mrs. Kenton hugged Jill to her, trying to calm -her. Ted saw Randy fidgeting nervously. His own stomach felt queasy, and -waves of terror went through him as he thought of the consequences of -running out of air. - -“Come on, Ted,” Randy said finally to his friend, going from the hall -into the living room. “We’ve just got to find that leak. If we can find -it and plug it, the house pressure will rise to normal in a couple of -minutes. I remember our own place doing that once before!” - -“But we’ve gone over the whole place twice!” Ted argued. “There’s no -hope!” - -“Either we’ve passed the leak without seeing it,” Randy went on, “or the -leak is in a spot that we didn’t look at.” - -“But there isn’t any place we didn’t look!” Ted said. “Of course, there -are some places we couldn’t get to, like....” - -They both thought of it at the same time. Both boys’ eyes shifted to the -drainage hole in the center of the plastic floor. Here was one spot they -had not been able to check. There was a grillwork molded into the -plastic that was not easily removable. - -“Suppose it is the drain hole, though,” Randy said. “How can we find -out?” - -[Illustration] - -“I’ve got it,” Ted answered. “We’ll plug up the whole thing with a -sealer, then check the room gauge to see if the pressure builds up.” - -A rubberoid sealing patch was taken out of its case and applied over the -hole. They flattened it out tightly to assist the adhesive to cling fast -in place. Then all four of them went over to the wall to watch the -pressure gauge. - -A minute passed, and the needle failed to move even the tiniest bit. If -this did not work, they knew they would surely be lost, because from -where they stood, they could see outside for quite a distance, and still -no one was coming. - -Over his radio, Ted heard the nervous intake of breath from the others. -He knew his hurried breathing must sound the same to them. Actually, -fear was hastening their doom because the more scared they were the more -oxygen they used up. - -Ted stole a look at his helmet gauge. Only three minutes of air -remained! His eyes turned to the wall gauge again. He wished he could -put out his hand and push it along toward normal. How desperately he -wished for it to move! - -Ted thought he noticed a flicker of the needle. He blinked his eyes. -Yes, it had moved! The others had seen it too. - -“It moved!” cried Jill, almost hysterically. - -“It certainly did!” her mother burst out. “I saw it!” - -The needle continued to climb toward normal. Ted had nothing to say. He -was so filled with relief that he was speechless for the moment. - -They were all so concerned over the snaillike movement of that -all-important needle that they paid no attention to the last few -dwindling draughts of air in their suits. Ted was the first to realize -that his tank was empty. He began feeling that same lightheadedness he -had experienced in his room. - -“Our suits,” he cried out. “Pull them off! The room is just about -normal!” - -He unclipped his own helmet, then pulled it off and drank in precious -gulps of fresh air. The others followed suit. Soon the needle was -vertical, indicating that normal pressure and air supply had been -restored. - -It was five minutes before a light came swiftly across the desert, -moving in their direction. They heard the pop of an exhaust a moment -later as a big-wheeled truck pulled up to a roaring stop outside. - -Ted knew it must be the arrival of the emergency cartridges. But they -had been five minutes late. A shudder shook him as he realized what a -close call this had been. Had they not found the leak when they did, -none of them in the house would now be alive to greet the men. - - - - - CHAPTER SIXTEEN - _Disappointment_ - - -The next afternoon, when Ted, Jill, and Randy arrived home from school, -Mrs. Kenton told them that the repairmen had taken care of the leak in -the drain. It seemed that the hole had been partially stopped up so that -the water had collected and frozen in it, causing the pipe to crack. - -Jill had been impatient to talk ever since she had gotten in the house. -Now her chance had come. “Mother, you know what Mr. Garland wants us to -do?” she asked eagerly. - -Mrs. Kenton smiled. “What does he want you to do?” she asked. - -“He wants us to bring Yank to school for a demonstration lesson in -Martian zoology,” Ted broke in. - -Jill’s face clouded over with disappointment. “I wanted to tell her,” -she muttered. - -“Sorry!” Ted said. “I didn’t know it was a secret.” - -Jill slapped at him playfully, but Ted ducked in time. - -“You little clowns stop performing and get ready for supper,” Mrs. -Kenton said. “We’re eating early because I have a surprise for you.” - -“A surprise!” Jill echoed. “What is it?” - -Her mother smiled secretly but did not answer. Jill ran off to her room -and the boys went to theirs. When the children had dressed and washed, -they seated themselves at the dining-room table. Mrs. Kenton brought in -a large platter of real roast beef. - -“This is the surprise!” Jill said. - -“If it isn’t, I’ll settle for it!” Ted put in. - -Beef was a rarity on Martian tables. It was brought in only occasionally -on the rocket supply ships. Most meat was of the dehydrated and cube -variety that took less space. - -“No, this is not the surprise I was talking about,” Mrs. Kenton said, -“although it was to me when the supply boat drove up this morning with -special rations.” - -“Do you mean there is still another?” Jill asked. - -Her mother nodded and went on. “The beef took only a few minutes to -roast in the electronic oven. I remember my grandmother making so much -of a pressure cooker. She probably would never have believed there would -be an oven of the future that cooked in even less time than the pressure -cooker and without any heat whatsoever.” - -When the main course of the meal was over and apple pie was brought in, -the children were sure this was the surprise Mrs. Kenton had promised. -She said the supply boat had brought the fresh apples with the meat. But -even the treat of apple pie was not the special surprise. - -When supper was over Mrs. Kenton conducted the children into the living -room and had them gather around a recording machine owned by their -father. Mrs. Kenton set a spool of wire rotating and told them to -listen. - -“Hello, kids!” came a voice. - -“Father!” Jill exclaimed. - -They listened to a message addressed especially to them. When it was -over, Mrs. Kenton explained that their father had called by remote -broadcast from his distant work during the day. Then he had had her make -a special wire recording for them so that they could hear it later. Mrs. -Kenton told them this was the surprise. The children admitted that this -was an even greater one than the beef and the apple pie. - -“I thought Father sounded sort of sad or disappointed,” Jill commented. - -“You were right, dear,” Mrs. Kenton replied. “Their work hasn’t gone -along as well as they expected. They had a small landslide that buried -the best of their diggings, which will take larger machinery than -they’ve got to unearth. On top of that, the tracks they thought would -prove to be a clue to the disappearing Martians aren’t human at all but -belong to a group of animals they have already classified.” - -“Gee!” Ted murmured sympathetically, remembering how enthusiastic his -father had been before he had left. Now the greatest mystery on -Mars—that of the disappearing Martians—was just as baffling as before. - -“Because of this,” Mrs. Kenton said, “they’re ending the expedition -ahead of time and coming home.” - -“That’s why he said he’d be seeing us shortly,” Randy said. - -“I’m glad to hear that, anyway,” Jill murmured. - -“When will he be back?” Ted asked. - -“Within two or three days, he said,” his mother replied. - -“That will be before the class goes on the ...” Jill burst out, then -covered her mouth with her hand as she caught herself. - -“Before the class goes on what?” Mrs. Kenton asked. - -“We’ll have to tell her now,” Jill said lamely to the boys. - -“The class is going on a sight-seeing rocket-plane tour of Mars next -week,” Ted explained. - -His mother looked at Jill curiously. “But why such a secret about it?” - -“We just thought you wouldn’t be especially interested,” Jill said, -“since we weren’t going.” - -“Don’t you want to?” Mrs. Kenton asked. - -“Oh, yes!” Jill said. “Only....” - -A knowing look came into Mrs. Kenton’s eyes. “I see! You didn’t tell me -about it and show your interest because you didn’t want to leave me here -alone! That’s it, isn’t it?” - -Mrs. Kenton threw an arm around each of her children. “That was a very -unselfish thing for you to do,” she said. “But now that Father will be -back sooner than he expected, you’ll be able to go after all.” - -“Can we really, Mother?” Jill asked enthusiastically, her eyes full of -stars. - -“Will it be dangerous?” Mrs. Kenton asked cautiously. - -“There have been lots of these trips made already,” Randy volunteered. -“There hasn’t been any trouble yet.” - -“Well, you have my permission,” Mrs. Kenton said, “but your Father will -have to agree too.” - -“But tomorrow’s the last day we can make reservations!” Jill protested. -“If we wait until he comes, we can’t make it!” - -“Go ahead and make your reservations then,” her mother said. “I don’t -believe your father will object if I don’t. But if he does, you can -cancel your seats.” - -“We’ll lose our money if we do that,” Ted said, “but I guess that can’t -be helped.” Suddenly Ted looked fearful. “Dad did leave the check-book, -didn’t he?” - -“Yes, he left it,” his mother assured him with a smile. - -“Pops is coming out here tonight for a visit,” Randy said. “Now that you -and Jill are going on the trip, Ted, I think I’ll ask Pops to let me go -along too!” - -“That’ll be great!” Ted said. “All three of us will go together.” - -The next morning the children got Yank up at an early hour so that he -could go off to school with them. - -“You’d better be on your good behavior today,” Jill warned the color -bear as they climbed into the boat. “If you cut up like you do in the -house, Mr. Garland may flunk us!” - -Yank looked at her solemnly as though he understood. But then his broad -mouth widened in a grin as if he were telling the girl that he had no -intention of taking her remarks seriously! As soon as the boat moved -down the waterway, Yank stood up. - -“Sit down, Yank,” Randy told him. “You’re rocking the boat!” - -Yank paid no attention to this reproof. He was enjoying himself. - -“Stop him!” Jill squealed. “He’ll turn us over!” - -Randy rose unsteadily to his feet and moved toward the rear. He made a -lurch at him, but Yank leaned out of his reach and looked back, grinning -merrily. - -“You naughty bear!” Jill cried, half in fear and half in anger. - -Randy leaned forward again and pulled Yank back on top of himself with a -fierce jerk. As Randy went down, the bear rolled off him and up on the -edge of the boat. - -[Illustration: _Yank went over the side with a splash._] - -Randy lunged at him, but Yank’s fur slipped from the boy’s fingers. Yank -went over the side with a splash into the frigid water. As soon as Yank -touched the water, Randy made a grab at him and caught one of his -forepaws. Yank screeched in shock and fear at the sudden freezing -plunge. - -Ted slowed the boat down and turned the wheel over to Jill while he -helped Randy pull the Martian animal aboard again. Yank looked -thoroughly beaten as he flopped, dripping and cold, into the bottom of -the boat. His round little ears were drooping sadly, and the corners of -his mouth were turned down. He looked more like a polar bear now, -because crystals of frost were growing all over him. - -In spite of themselves, the children had to laugh at their little pet’s -predicament. As the shiny spikes of frost popped out on his face, Yank -would brush at them furiously with his paws. Even his eyebrows were -growing icy. This further increased the laughter of the children. - -“I guess that’ll teach you to behave, Yank!” Ted chuckled, and offered -to take the wheel back. - -“Let me drive the rest of the way,” Jill said. - -Ted yielded to her, and he was pleased at the skill with which she drove -and docked at the science building. - -The children were a little ahead of time, and this gave them a chance -before class to tell Mr. Garland about their wish to make the trip with -the others. Randy had gotten his father’s permission the night before. - -Mr. Garland frowned as he looked over his list, and Ted had a sinking -feeling. - -The teacher looked up. “Two of you can go, but not all three, I’m -afraid. Yesterday I thought that quite a few more could go, but I found -out last night I had omitted several names from my list. Which one of -you wants to drop out?” - - - - - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - _Yank in School_ - - -At this surprising remark from their teacher, the young folks’ faces -drooped with disappointment. For several seconds none of the three had -anything to say. Mr. Garland idly fingered the two checks they had -handed him. - -Finally Randy spoke up. “I’ll drop out,” he said. “I’ve been on a trip -like this before with my father, but Ted and Jill haven’t.” - -“That’s a fine decision, Randy,” Mr. Garland said. He handed one of the -checks back and added the Kenton children’s names to his list. - -For the moment, all interest in the trip was gone for Ted. He knew Randy -must be keenly disappointed. Although until late yesterday none of them -had expected to go, they had talked a long time last night with Mr. -Matthews over the exciting things they would see. Randy had been quite -as interested as Ted and Jill about the coming adventure. - -Suddenly Ted said: “Take Jill’s and my name off the list too, Mr. -Garland. I don’t think two of us should go if the third one can’t.” - -“That’s right,” Jill agreed. - -“That doesn’t make sense, you two,” Randy protested. - -Mr. Garland looked up. “There’s no sense both of you missing the trip -for the sake of one. It’s the educational opportunity of a lifetime.” - -Ted then gave in, although he knew it was not going to be nearly so much -fun without Randy along. - -The discussion ended abruptly when Ted heard a shriek from one of the -incoming pupils. He turned and was shocked to see Yank chasing one of -the girls toward the back of the room. - -“Yank, come back here!” Jill called, when she saw what was going on. - -But Yank was once more enjoying himself. He was grunting happily as he -pursued the girl around the back of the room, and along the side toward -the front. The bear’s three owners caught the little fellow as he was -coming around again. - -“I just patted him and he took out after me!” gasped the girl who had -been chased. - -“He was just playing,” Ted told her. “He couldn’t hurt you if he tried. -His teeth are only made for chewing soft flowers.” - -Mr. Garland restored order and announced that zoology would be the first -subject of the day so that the active Yank could then be taken outside. -First Mr. Garland stood Yank on the platform at the head of the class -with Ted to help keep him still. - -The teacher pointed out the physical characteristics of the Martian -animal, touching Yank’s paws, head, jaws, and other parts with a -pointer. Yank followed the movement of the stick with his eyes. Then the -whole class started giggling. The bear was looking at the stick -cross-eyed. - -Ted had to force down a grin. He could see that Mr. Garland was having -the same trouble. When Yank got tired of following the stick with his -eyes, he seized it in his mouth and began gnawing on it. This brought a -burst of laughter from the pupils. - -Ted took the stick from Yank, and the bear thought this was a signal for -them to wrestle. At home, this was the way Ted usually got him to play. - -“Get off me, Yank,” Ted muttered in a low, angry voice. “We’re at -school, not home! I thought we warned you to behave yourself here! -You’re just trying to show off!” - -Yank seemed to get the tone of Ted’s outburst, even if he could not -understand the words. He stopped his foolishness and actually kept as -still as a little gentleman for the next few minutes as Mr. Garland -continued to demonstrate. - -But then he could hold off no longer. As the instructor was leaning over -close to him to point out the peculiar upsweep of his blue-tipped -eyebrows, Yank’s big red tongue came out of his mouth and scraped along -Mr. Garland’s cheek. - -The teacher blushed at the renewed laughter as he wiped his face with -his handkerchief. Ted was worried lest Mr. Garland hold Yank’s behavior -against him. But the teacher was a good sport and said, with a grin, -“You win, Yank. Better take him outside, Ted. This will have to conclude -our study of Martian color bears for a while!” - -Ted took Yank outside and tied him beneath the classroom window so that -he could watch him every now and then. Ted knew what the animal must be -thinking: “Please let me in! I’ll behave myself.” - -When Ted returned, the class was quiet again. Mr. Garland set up the -projector for a color movie on American history. But this was not merely -a history lesson. The children were told to study the costumes and -architecture. It was actually several studies in one. - -When the picture was over an hour later, Ted was blinking his eyes to -accommodate them to the harsh daylight again when one of the children -cried out, “Look!” - -Every eye in the room did look. Following the pointing finger, they -turned their gaze to one of the transparent side walls. There was Yank -standing with his button nose pressed flat against the plastic, just -like a small child looking out a glass window. This brought another -round of laughter from the class. On this note, Mr. Garland dismissed -the class for lunch. - -That afternoon, as Ted, Jill, and Randy were about to leave for the day, -Mr. Garland called them back just as they reached the door. - -“Oh-oh,” Ted murmured with dread. “He’s going to give it to us now for -bringing that little cutup to school!” - -Meekly the three of them stood in front of the teacher’s desk. He looked -up at them and smiled. “I don’t think that little bit of fun hurt us -this morning. But please don’t bring Yank back again! I’m afraid one day -of him is all I can stand.” He looked outside where they could see Yank -seated on the ground. - -He smiled again, and the relieved children grinned back. They had -started toward the door, when Ted, who was looking back, pulled Randy -and Jill to a stop. - -“Listen,” he said. He turned them around and they heard part of a -conversation Mr. Garland was having with one of the other pupils that -might very well work to their benefit. - -“Did I hear that boy say he couldn’t make the trip?” Jill whispered -excitedly. - -“I thought he did,” Ted replied. - -They waited expectantly, hoping that the teacher would look up and call -them back. Ted felt a new surge of hope rise in him when Mr. Garland -finally motioned to them. The boy, meanwhile, had left. - -“I’ve just had a cancellation,” Mr. Garland told them. “Randy, you can -make that trip after all, if you want to.” - -“Do I?” Randy burst out, his face beaming. He fumbled around in his -pocket for the check his father had given him. Then he pulled out the -rumpled slip of paper. - -The instructor smoothed it out and wrote Randy’s name on the list. The -children left the room and walked happily down the hall. - -“That was a swell thing you did, Randy,” Jill said, “giving up your -place to one of us. I’m so glad that you really can go!” - -[Illustration: “_Please don’t bring Yank back._”] - -“I’m glad too,” Randy admitted. “After all we talked about last night, I -sure wanted to go badly!” - -Yank hopped around excitedly as he saw his friends coming up to release -him. - -“You’ll never see this place again, Yank,” Ted said to him sternly, as -he untied him. “I guess you’re just not cut out to be a school pupil.” - -For this remark, Ted got a juicy lick on the side of his helmet. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - _Trouble in the Air_ - - -Dr. Kenton arrived home the following afternoon. Ted could see that he -was a very different person from the one who had set out. His father -looked tired and beaten. Even the special meal of fresh fruits and -vegetables from their garden failed to interest him very much. - -As they were eating supper, his wife asked him, “Why was this expedition -so important to you, John?” - -“I suppose I had counted too much on its being a huge success,” the -scientist replied. “Then too, I thought it would solve that -all-important question of the disappearing ancient Martians that’s been -puzzling us ever since the first landing was made here ten years ago.” - -“There’ll be other expeditions,” Mrs. Kenton said encouragingly. “Some -day you’ll find the answer, I’m sure.” - -“Yes, I suppose so,” Dr. Kenton said. But Ted could see that his father -was very downcast because of the expedition’s failure. - -“I wish I had known you were coming when you did,” Mrs. Kenton said to -her husband. “I would have invited Mr. Matthews to eat with us. You knew -that Randy had found his father, didn’t you?” - -Ted was glad to see his father smile as he turned to Randy. “Yes, we got -the news,” Dr. Kenton said. “I’m sure glad for you, Randy. You see, it -never pays to give up hope. I’ll be pleased to meet your father.” - -Just then Yank came bounding in from the living room. The bear had taken -to the taste of lettuce leaves, and Ted would occasionally slip him a -leaf from the table. Yank sidled up to Ted, where he sat next to his -father, eyeing the crisp leaves on the boy’s plate. Yank’s other eye was -cast warily at Dr. Kenton, whom he still appeared not to regard as a -close friend. - -“When are you and I going to be friends, Yank?” the scientist said as -Ted handed the bear a green leaf. He reached out to pet the little -Martian animal, but Yank drew back. “I can’t understand your attitude, -young fellow.” - -Ted thought this the proper moment to bring up a very important matter. -“Dad,” he began, “Jill and Randy and I have signed up for a sight-seeing -plane tour of Mars with our school class. Mom says it’s all right for us -to go if you agree.” - -Dr. Kenton thought a moment, and Ted felt doubtful. Then his father -said, “I think it would be a grand thing for you. You can get a lot -better picture of this planet from the air than you ever can from the -ground.” - -“Goody, we can go!” Jill cried out. - -Ted felt like shouting himself, for now the last barrier had been -removed and they were going for sure. - -The next week found twenty-five eager students stepping into a sleek jet -craft from the roll-away ladder at Lowell Harbor. Randy and Ted found a -double seat together, and Jill sat with a girl friend. When all the -passengers were in, Mr. Garland said that they could remove their space -helmets. - -When all were seated, they waved to their parents and relatives who -stood on the ground. - -“I’m as excited as if I’d never made a trip like this!” Randy said. - -“I’m excited too!” Ted admitted. He didn’t add that he had scarcely -slept the night before because he was in such a dither of anticipation. - -Mr. Garland told the children to fasten their safety belts, as they were -almost ready to take off. In a few minutes they felt the ship moving -beneath them. Ted waved a final farewell to his parents and Mr. -Matthews, for he had a seat beside the window. When they waved back, Ted -felt a little uneasy. It was the first time he had ever been away from -his folks. He wondered fearfully if something would happen on the flight -so that he would never see them again. - -Swiftly the rocket plane picked up speed. Then, with a whoosh of jets, -it launched itself into the air. - -“We’re off!” one of the boys shouted gaily. - -Soon Lowell Harbor was only a small circle in the red desert behind -them, and the vast stretches of wilderness began to come into view. Mr. -Garland pointed out the important natural formations as they cruised -along. By now almost all of Mars had been accurately mapped. There were -miles and miles of wind-ribbed sand dunes with rows of furrows like a -farmer’s carefully seeded fields. - -Ted had never before realized the wonder of the canals until he saw them -from this height. They were straight as arrows, and some were tremendous -in size, even dwarfing the majesty of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. It -caused him to wonder again about those very accomplished engineers of -the ancient past who had built them and had since so mysteriously -disappeared. - -Ted recognized much of the landscape from their geography study. Some of -the ocher-red deserts and forests had been named far back in the past -before the twenty-first century. They passed over the great oasis of -Solis Lacus and the dense woodland of Mare Sirenum. But always there -were canals, and more canals, draining the great icecaps and supplying -the entire planet. - -“Isn’t the sky pretty?” Jill said to Ted and Randy who were sitting -behind her. “It seems we’re closer to the stars when we’re off the -ground.” - -Ted had to agree with her. The heavens were a deep gorgeous violet, with -the starlight pulsing softly through. They traced the slow movement of -Phobos, the timeteller, and they could also pick out the distant tiny -moon, Deimos, that resembled a white arc light. - -The hours passed all too quickly for the eager sight-seers. - -“We’re over the Great Martian Forest,” Mr. Garland told them late that -afternoon. “It’s the end of the line. After we’ve covered this, we’ll -start back.” - -Ted looked groundward, seeing what resembled a colossal, sprawling beast -spread out in all directions. Ted shuddered at the sight. Many explorers -had been trapped in this terrible wilderness and had never come out -alive. Wild animals, blind trails, and carnivorous whip plants were -thought to have destroyed them. - -Suddenly someone called out as he pointed down, “Look, what’s that -moving?” - -All stared where he pointed. In an open space inside the forest, -numerous creatures were rolling along like a tide. - -“They’re blue rovers,” Mr. Garland said. “They’re something like the old -American bison that roamed the plains of the United States.” - -More strange animals were seen, and still the plane was not out of the -huge forest. If anything, the jungle grew even more densely, and now -rocky cliffs and shallow gorges could be seen among the thick -vegetation. Mars had no extremely deep or high natural formations such -as the Earth had. - -“Most of the forest turns brown in the winter,” Mr. Garland addressed -his students, “but when the polar cap melts in the spring, everything -pops out green again.” - -Ted knew that the seasons were twice as long on Mars as they were on -Earth, even though the days and nights were just about the same. How -frightfully cold must be the winters, he thought. But on the other hand, -what a long, nice summer to enjoy! - -Finally the dense growth began thinning out again as the outer fringe of -the forest was reached. Suddenly, without warning, the plane careened -sharply on its side. Some of the students were flung out of their seats, -and they screamed in terror. Mr. Garland, who had been standing by a -window, was thrown backward onto the floor. When the ship had righted -itself, Mr. Garland climbed slowly to his feet. - -“Anybody hurt?” the teacher asked. - -No one else appeared to be, but Ted saw Mr. Garland grimace in pain. He -seemed to have injured his ankle. - -“Mr. Garland, _you’re_ hurt!” Ted said. - -“Never mind me!” the instructor said. “Put your safety belts -on—quickly!” - -His students did so, and then the plane started bucking again. Poor Mr. -Garland was flung against the wall this time, but he recovered himself -and hobbled into the pilot’s cabin to see what was wrong. Ted heard his -classmates babbling in fright all around him. He and Randy tried to -quiet Jill’s mounting terror. - -“Take it easy,” Ted said to her. “It may not be anything serious.” - -Mr. Garland was back in a few minutes, and Ted could see that his face -was grave. - -“We’ve got to bail out, kids,” he told the class grimly. - -“Into that?” cried one of the boys, pointing to the forest below. - -“We’ve no other choice, the pilot tells me,” Mr. Garland replied, his -voice shaky. “There’s a fire in the jets, and we can’t crash-land -without wrecking the plane.” - -Terrified, the students stared at him, as though they still could not -believe what he was saying. - -“He says there’s an open space ahead of us where we can parachute down,” -Mr. Garland went on. “He’s sending a message for help now. We’ve got -enough supplies and air to last us until a search party comes from -Lowell Harbor. There’s no cause for alarm.” - -There was no more time for talk. Despite his obviously painful injury, -the teacher quickly distributed chutes and showed the children how to -put them on. The chutes were specially designed for use in Mars’s rare -atmosphere. Next, space helmets were donned. Then Mr. Garland lined the -children up with their rip cords fastened to an overhead cord for -automatic opening of the chutes when they jumped. Ted, his sister, and -Randy had stayed together, and they found themselves the first three in -line to jump. - -Chutes with supplies had been shoved out first by hand, and then Mr. -Garland signaled to Ted for the first jump. Things had moved so swiftly -that Ted hardly had time to become scared. Randy and Jill seemed to feel -the same way. The ship was still jerking erratically and plumes of smoke -swirled about. The oval door was open, and Ted saw yawning space beneath -him. At Mr. Garland’s word, he took a deep breath and sprang out. He -felt the straps on his back yank him sharply as the chute popped open. - -[Illustration: _Down, down he went._] - -Down, down he went. Finally he glanced upward and saw two other -parachutes above him. They would be Jill and Randy, he thought. He -looked groundward again to see where he was heading. Just as Mr. Garland -had said, a flat open space lay beneath. - -Once more he glanced upward. There were still only two other chutes -above. Where were the others? Hadn’t they jumped too? Then he spied the -ship at a considerable distance away. It was careening downward as -though heading for a crash! - -Ted felt a sick tug in his stomach. It looked as though the three of -them were the only ones who were going to escape alive. The ship must -have gone out of control before the others could jump! - - - - - CHAPTER NINETEEN - _Terror in the Night_ - - -As soon as Ted reached the ground, he made for the spot where he had -seen the supply chutes land. If these were lost, especially the one with -the spare air cartridges, Randy and Jill and he could never survive -until help came. - -Ted ran down a dusty ravine. His eyes searched clumps of bushes and -spiky cactus, and a momentary panic came over him. The chutes were not -in sight. Just then he was aware that a strong wind was blowing. The -chutes had probably carried farther than he had thought. He searched -some more, and his heart quickened with joy when he found the two -parachutes within yards of each other, half buried in the sand beyond a -big boulder. - -As soon as he had found these, he thought immediately of Randy and Jill. -He should have seen them by now. He returned to the spot where he had -come down, but they were nowhere around. A new terror crept into his -breast. Could the wind have carried them farther up into the forest, -possibly into the dangerous part where the brush grew dense as jungle -and deadly whip plants thrived? The wind was stronger than ever now, but -he ducked into it and renewed his search. - -He made a thorough examination of the territory all around, but after a -half hour’s time he still had not located Jill and Randy. For the sixth -time he returned to his original spot where he had left the parachutes -of supplies. By now the blood red of approaching sunset was filling the -sky, and grotesque shadows were creeping over the ground. - -Ted could not remember when he had felt any more depressed and lonely -than he did at this moment. He could imagine all sorts of terrible -things happening to his sister and friend. By now, the wind had died -down. Thank goodness the blow had not brought on one of those violent -dust storms, he thought. - -Suddenly he heard a noise overhead that quickened hope in him. It had -sounded like the drone of a plane! He leaped to his feet from where he -had been slumped on the ground and searched the darkening starry sky. -Yes, there was a plane! He could hardly believe it when he saw that the -number on the wedge-shaped wing was the same as that of the ship from -which he had bailed out. That meant that the plane had not crashed after -all! - -As the plane roared overhead, he ran back and forth and waved his hands -frantically to get the attention of someone in it. To his dismay the -plane kept on going and presently was lost in the approaching twilight. - -He thought the world had ended for him now. Jill and Randy were gone, -and hopes of rescue too. But then he heard a crashing of bushes near by. -His heart thudded against his ribs in fear. He was remembering that wild -animals inhabited this district, and he was totally unarmed. - -Then he heard his name called. A moment later Randy and Jill came -running up! He was never so glad to see two people in his life as he was -then. - -“What happened to you?” he asked them. - -“The wind carried us down into the forest a little way,” Jill answered. -“Oh, Ted, I was scared to death! Those whip plants throw out arms like -an octopus at anything that comes near them! I almost got caught by -one!” - -Ted showed them the chutes that held spare air cartridges and food. -Unfortunately, Mr. Garland had thrown out only a few supply chutes, not -all of them. - -They had never eaten with space helmets on, but they had learned about -the tiny air-lock opening in the facepiece of the helmet that made this -possible. - -“These will last us through the night,” Ted said. “I don’t know what -we’ll do after that. A search party probably won’t get here that quick.” - -Just then Jill heard the plane returning. Ted hurriedly explained that -this was the one they had been on and that it had not crashed after all. -He said that all three of them should run back and forth and wave like -everything to try to attract their attention this time. - -Ted thought that the plane had missed them again, but then he saw it -bank and head back toward them. The ship circled overhead for several -minutes, and the children saw a parachute drop out. They followed the -chute to the ground with their eyes and ran over to it. - -“Here’s a note,” Ted said, untying an envelope from the chute. He opened -it. “It says: ‘Open the long case and you will find a walkie-talkie -radio in it. Turn it on, and we’ll speak with you.’” - -They did this. Then Ted spoke into the mike, “Can you hear me?” - -“Yes,” came Mr. Garland’s voice. “We had just about given up hope of -sighting you. The ship went out of control just after you three jumped. -But the fire in the engine burned out soon after, and the pilot regained -control. We should be able to get back to Lowell Harbor all right, even -though we’re crippled. Are you three hurt?” - -“No, sir, just scared,” Ted answered. - -“We’ll send you down all the rest of our air cartridges and more food -and water,” the teacher went on. “They’ll last you through tomorrow, and -by that time a search party should be back in a helicopter. We can’t -possibly land, ourselves, because of the terrain and our damaged engine. -I’d come down myself to stay with you, but my ankle is broken and I’m -afraid I wouldn’t be much help. However, if you want me to....” - -“I think we’ll be all right,” Ted said bravely, yet feeling an -encroaching dread even as he said it. - -“There’s an electron rifle and flashlights in with the other stuff,” Mr. -Garland said. “I don’t think anything will bother you, though; otherwise -I wouldn’t leave you alone. Most of the animals stay back in the -thickest part of the forest.” - -“Will you be going now?” Ted asked. - -“Yes, there’s no way else we can help you except send rescuers as -quickly as possible,” Mr. Garland declared. “Whatever you do, don’t -leave that spot.” - -That ended their conversation. Presently the other supply chutes filled -the air, and Randy and the two young Kentons retrieved them. Then, -lonesomely, the three watched the plane disappear into the sunset. - -“I’m afraid,” Jill murmured, casting an anxious glance around her at the -forbidding woodland. - -“I am too, Sis,” Ted confessed. He looked at Randy, and his eyes were -enough to tell that he was frightened too. - -They looked around for some place of protection overnight. As the sun -disappeared behind a distant ridge, they found a shallow opening under a -clump of rocks that would shield them on three sides at least. Then they -ate from a food packet, and after this they admitted that they felt -better. - -“If we get through this night safely,” Ted said, “we’ll probably make it -all right.” - -At last darkness set in. Phobos was making one of his frequent trips -across the heavens, but his light was weaker than moonglow on Earth. -However, it seemed to Ted that it wasn’t quite so lonely now, with the -sky burning with its millions of cold lights. Yet it was still -frightening to know that the three of them were off by themselves in -probably the most perilous region of Mars. - -They decided it was best not to use their flashlights unnecessarily, -lest they attract wild beasts. They kept the atomic rifle handy in case -it was needed in a hurry. Ted suggested that two of them sleep while one -stood watch. Jill said she’d like to take the first watch because she -was too nervous to sleep anyhow. - -Ted was just about to doze off some minutes later when Jill’s scream -blasted into his radio and brought him springing to his feet. - -“There!” Jill said, pointing. - -Randy too was wide awake now, and the three of them stared, -fear-stricken, across the dark drifts at a giant creature which stood at -a distance looking at them. The light of Phobos and the stars was bright -enough to show his awesome outline. - -“What is it?” Ted whispered to Randy. - -“It’s an elephant ant,” Randy whispered softly. “See that trunklike -sucker on its head? Get the gun, Ted. These things are mean.” - -Ted caught up the atomic rifle and set it for fire, thinking all the -while how Mr. Garland had missed his guess about their not being -troubled by animals. Slowly the enormous insect approached the opening -in the rocks. It was indeed the height of an elephant. Ted could hear -the rustle of its hard-shelled body as it walked nearer. - -The Martian animal’s slowness up until now deceived Ted, for, without -warning, the insect broke into a rapid run. Bravely Ted tried to take -careful aim and protect the two unarmed ones with him. But even as he -fired the gun, Jill bumped him in her mad dash to escape the oncoming -horror. - -Ted saw a blinding glare that lit up the scene for a moment as brightly -as noonday. In that shocking instant Ted got a vivid view of the -elephant ant, its brown spindly legs and antenna shining glossily, its -curling trunk out-thrust at them menacingly. But as the blast of the -rifle died out and the ant continued to charge, Ted knew he had missed -his mark. - -[Illustration] - -There was no time to fire again. Ted couldn’t carry much, but he dropped -his useless weapon and gathered up the spare air cartridges. Then -swiftly he darted after Jill and Randy, who seemed to have found a way -of escape. He saw them disappearing through a narrow passage beside the -rock. He was glad to see that Randy had managed to hang onto one of the -flashlights and was leading the way with it. - -Ted didn’t know how long they ran up and down rocky inclines and -gullies. But they seemed to be leaving their enemy behind. They ducked -in and out of clutching vines and creepers. More than once, Ted dropped -one of the bulky air tanks, but he retrieved them, for they were the -most precious things they possessed. Finally he caught up with Randy. - -“Help me take these!” he urged Randy. - -The boy took some and they hurried on after Jill, whose fear seemed to -have given her unusual speed. At last they reached the point where they -could punish themselves no longer. Jill had fallen exhausted to the -ground, and Ted felt as if he were ready to drop too. If the ant reached -them now, it simply couldn’t be helped. Ted had sacrificed the rifle for -the precious air cartridges, but he was not sorry he had done so. - -They sprawled breathlessly on the ground, their chests heaving, their -eyes staring fearfully in the direction they had come. Any instant they -expected to see the horrible creature bearing down on them again. But -after several minutes, during which time the animal had not appeared, -Ted felt they had eluded it. For the first time since the terrifying -adventure, he felt that he could relax. - -And yet he could not relax, really, even now. For the balance of the -night still lay before them. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY - _Lost Underground_ - - -The three of them decided it was not safe to go back to the open area -tonight. After waiting a while longer still in the dark to see that -their attacker was not coming, they searched the gloom around for a -place to spend the rest of the night. - -Randy found an opening in the dense underbrush ahead of them. Jill and -Ted followed him and his flashlight beam along the trail. Suddenly they -saw him stop dead in his tracks. Ted walked abreast of him. - -“What do you see?” Ted asked. - -Randy did not reply but instead shot his light ahead into the darkness. -Ted saw before them a huge cave entrance. - -“Gosh, do you suppose that’s the den of some wild animal?” Ted asked. - -“I don’t know,” Randy answered in a quivery voice. “It seems like a good -place to stay if it isn’t.” - -Jill had joined them by now. She too had taken some of the load of the -spare oxygen cartridges. - -“Are we going into that spooky place?” Jill asked. - -“We can go up to it carefully and shine our light in,” Ted said. “But -we’d better be ready to run if something comes charging out! I wish I -had that gun now!” - -Jill hung back as Randy and Ted moved stealthily forward toward the -black cavern entrance. Randy had his light shining directly into it all -the time they were moving. When they were at the threshold of the cave, -they got a good view of the interior. - -“It’s not deep at all!” Ted said. “It just goes back a little way.” - -“It looks deserted too,” Randy added. “Seems safe to me. What do you -think, Ted?” - -“Let’s go inside and see if there’s anything lying around,” Ted -suggested. “If it’s a den, there ought to be bones and things.” - -Cautiously they entered the cavern. Its ceiling reached high over their -heads and the opening was festooned with trailing vines and creepers. -Even the jungle growth seemed to have taken over, weeds and thick grass -choking the floor. Boulders of all sizes were scattered around. - -“It looks like it hasn’t been used for years and years,” Ted commented. - -They flashed the light over the whole interior, but there was no sign of -recent use. There was one other exit—a narrow passage at the rear. - -“If we close up that rear opening with a big stone, it ought to be safe -for us to stay here,” Randy said. - -Ted agreed with him. They called Jill, and the three shoved a large red -boulder in front of the narrow passage. They divided watches again, but -before relaxing for the night, they replaced their air cartridges with -new ones. - -Randy took first watch this time. Ted was very tired from their -exhausting race and had trouble falling asleep, but the next thing he -knew, Randy was shaking him to change watch. - -The rest of the night passed without further disturbance. The boys got -softhearted about calling on Jill for her turn, and rather than wake -her, they stood her duty. Another change of air cylinders had to be made -before morning. Ted was able to change Jill’s while she slept. - -The orange glow of dawn was a welcome sight to the children. Things did -not seem half so grim in the dawn as they had the night before. The -sun’s feeble rays shone directly into the cave mouth. The boulder -covering the rear opening was still in place. - -Ted caught Randy’s eyes staring thoughtfully at the boulder. He wondered -if Randy was thinking the same thing that he was: _What was on the other -side of that mysterious opening?_ - -“Hadn’t we better be getting back to the open place?” Jill asked, as -they were putting on fresh air tanks again. - -“The search party won’t be coming until a few hours yet,” Randy said. -“Besides, it’s not very far.” - -Ted knew then that Randy, too, was curious about the opening. He was -stalling their return. - -Ted then came right out with it. “I’d sure like to know what’s on the -other side of that rock.” - -“Why don’t we go and see?” Randy said eagerly. - -“We could go just a little way,” Ted added, glancing at Jill, whose face -showed doubt. “Just a few feet even.” - -Jill gave in grudgingly, but she got the boys to promise that they -wouldn’t go far. “Don’t forget, we’ve got some food back there,” she -reminded them, “and I’m getting hungry.” - -They left the air cartridges in the cave and walked through the enticing -opening, Ted in the lead. He flicked on his flashlight, for it was pitch -dark. Ahead of him he saw a narrow passageway. Slowly he moved along it, -Randy and Jill right behind him. - -[Illustration: _They felt themselves tumbling downward._] - -They were completely unprepared for the shock that next came to them. -Suddenly the ground dropped away under their feet, and they felt -themselves tumbling downward! - -All three of them cried out in terror as they fell. Finally Ted felt his -body striking a cushioned surface. Then he was rolling down an incline -of the same soft material. Down, down, head over heels he went—deeper -and deeper into the core of the red planet, it seemed. - -At last his body stopped turning. Something crashed into him from -behind. Then he heard heavy breathing and gasping and he knew that it -was either Randy or Jill who had collided with him. - -“Jill? Randy?” he asked in a shuddery voice, still dazed by their rough -experience. - -“Yes,” Randy’s voice came weakly. - -“Jill!” Ted cried. “Where are you?” - -“Here I am,” she answered, from a few feet away. “What happened to us?” - -“I don’t know,” her brother answered dully. He felt around for broken -bones, but he appeared to be uninjured. - -“Are you two all right?” he asked Jill and Randy. - -They said they thought so. By now Ted could see their forms very -faintly. There was light coming from somewhere. Their next task was to -try to find a way out of this dismal place. - -“I knew we should have gone back!” Jill complained bitterly. “Now we -probably never will!” - -“I’m sorry, Sis,” Ted said lamely. “You were right. I’m sure glad we -changed our air tanks before we left!” - -“Let’s start looking for a way to the top,” Randy said. “The search -party will never find us down here.” - -They discovered that the flashlight had been smashed in the fall. They -would have to depend now on catlike vision to show them the way. As -nearly as Ted could make out, they were still in a corridor. It -stretched mysteriously ahead of them, turning a bend about fifty feet -away. - -“That seems to be the only way we can go,” Ted said, looking forward. -“We certainly can’t climb back up the way we came down.” He looked -behind at the steep, rugged incline they had so unexpectedly tumbled -down. The slope was covered with a matting of lichens or moss that had -broken their fall. - -They walked along the corridor. Finally the light at the far end began -to get brighter. - -“It looks like daylight ahead!” Jill said hopefully. - -They increased their pace in the hope of finding a way leading back to -the surface of the ground. They made a final turn in the winding -underground aisle. Then the corridor abruptly blossomed into a mammoth -open area, still underground. - -The sight that faced them quickened their heartbeats and made their -mouths sag open in amazement. Before them stood a towering iron gate, -through which they could see evidence of one-time human habitation! - -“What in the world have we found?” Ted exclaimed. - -“It must be a city!” Randy burst out. “It is! We’ve found an underground -Martian city!” - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - _A Struggle Against Time_ - - -“A Martian city!” Ted echoed. “Wouldn’t Dad like to be in on this!” - -“I don’t care about an old city!” Jill complained. “I just want to get -out of here!” - -“Maybe we can find a way to the top from in there,” Ted proposed. -“There’s no other place we can go.” - -The three walked up to the towering gates and began tugging on them. At -first the gates would not budge, but after much struggling, the children -got one open wide enough on its creaking hinges so that they could -squeeze through. Once inside, they began walking along a rocky avenue -lined with small buildings and statues. The high dome of the city -gleamed with a light of its own, illuminating the entire grand -underground area like brilliant moonlight. - -“The glow has probably been burning for thousands of years,” Randy -remarked, “ever since the first Martians built the city.” - -“It’ll probably be thousands of years more before it’ll go out,” Ted -added. “It seems to have the natural light that Mr. Garland said some of -the Martian caves have.” - -They paused before a statue, and all three of them felt chills race up -their backs as they realized they were the first Earth humans ever to -gaze on the true likeness of a Martian. The man was not very different -from Earthmen. He had the usual number of arms and legs, but he was -short and spindly and his head was bald. If the color of the statue was -correct, the extinct Martians had light-green skins. - -“Dad and the other scientists will sure have the time of their lives -with this place!” Ted said. “It may even hold the answer to the biggest -riddle about what caused the Martians to disappear.” - -“Father won’t find out anything about it if we don’t get out of here!” -Jill said anxiously. - -“There must be a way to the top of the ground somewhere,” Randy -answered. “I don’t see how the Martians could have walked up that steep -incline we slid down.” - -“Maybe the dirt has covered it over during the years,” Ted said. “Maybe -there are steps underneath. But I don’t see how we could expect to -uncover them. Let’s go on.” - -[Illustration] - -They moved along, searching the uneven rocky streets. It was not a large -city, and the three had no trouble keeping their bearings. A check on -their air supply showed only an hour and a half of oxygen left in each -of their suits. There would be even less were they to hurry and so -breathe faster. This time they had no spare cartridges. If they did not -find their way topside by that time, they were surely doomed. - -After covering part of the city, the children found that the end of it -fanned out into five separate narrow streets. - -“One of these streets may lead to ground level,” Ted said. - -“The only thing to do is try them,” Randy came back. - -“We’ll save time if each of us takes a different way,” Ted suggested. - -But Jill would have none of this plan. She had no desire to follow a -lonely underground avenue by herself. They finally decided that Ted and -Jill would go together and Randy agreed to go alone. - -“We’ve got to watch out that we don’t get lost,” Ted cautioned. “Don’t -go off down any alleyways, Randy. We won’t either.” - -“We ought to set a time when we both meet back here,” Randy said. - -“I’ve got it,” Ted said. “We’ll count off ten minutes and then start -heading back whether we’ve found anything or not. If neither of us has -found anything, we’ll try the other streets the same way.” - -Ted and Jill took their leave of Randy and set off down the thorofare. -They had to hurry because of their dwindling time, and yet they dared -not go so fast that they were breathing heavily. The way they followed -carried them quite a distance down the deserted street, on both sides of -which were crumbling buildings of plaster set close together. By the -time the ten minutes was up, Ted and Jill had come to a dead end against -a stone wall. - -“This way certainly can’t help us,” Ted muttered. “Let’s go back to -Randy.” - -When they got back and Randy had not returned, Ted became worried. Time -was fleeting steadily, and they still were no better off than they had -been before. Finally Ted heard a scuffling along the street and saw -Randy hurrying his way. - -“No luck!” he gasped. “I got sidetracked on the way back. Then I had to -run to get here in time.” - -“You shouldn’t have done that,” Ted told him. “Now you’ve got less air -than we have. What does your gauge show?” - -“Fifty-six minutes,” Randy answered, after checking. - -Ted examined his own and asked Jill about hers. “We’ve got an hour and -five,” Ted said. - -“We’ll have to hurry if we’re going to search the other three streets,” -Randy pointed out. - -This time Jill agreed to help by going alone so as to save time. They -agreed to cut the search period to five minutes, at which time they -would come back to their meeting place. Ted had been gone about a minute -when he heard someone calling. His heart stirred with hope, and he -hustled back at moderate speed to the place from where they had started. - -“I think I’ve found a way out!” Jill was crying excitedly. - -Fortunately they were able to catch Randy before he got very far, and -the two boys followed Jill down the street where she had made her -discovery. After a hundred feet or so they came into a big open area and -at one side of it there rose a huge stone staircase leading upward. - -“There!” Jill cried happily. - -“Let’s go up!” Ted urged. - -They started up the steps that slowly turned in a half spiral as they -ascended. After a long climb, the children found themselves in a large -gallery. In spite of their hurry, the three became as hypnotized by the -sight of many stone tables or altars arranged in orderly fashion -throughout the place. Lying on top of the altars were long oblong cases, -fancily decorated. - -“These must be coffins!” Randy burst out. - -“Let’s get out of here!” Jill pleaded. - -Ted’s gaze had turned from the altars to the smooth, rounded walls of -the room that were covered with paintings from one end to the other. - -“Look!” he exclaimed, running over to the wall. “The Martians had a -Michelangelo too! Those pictures seem to tell a story! Say, do you -suppose this mural shows the history of the Martian race and what -happened to them?” - -“I don’t care what they show, Ted!” Jill retorted. “All I want to do is -get out of here before our air is gone!” - -Ted saw the wisdom of her remark and gave up an impulse to look over the -exciting story in pictures. Another flight of stairs was the only way -out of the shrine, and without delay the three hurried up. They made a -final turn on the stairs and then the subdued glare of Martian sunlight -struck their faces. They were finally above ground. - -They appeared to have walked into a sporting arena which was surrounded -by tiers of stone seats, much in the manner of the ancient Roman -Coliseum. As the three of them crossed it through deep powdery dust, -they found bones of strange animals scattered over the whole area. There -were also the remains of curved swords and scarred shields. - -“Ugh!” Jill shuddered. “There’s no telling what terrible things took -place on this very spot we’re walking over!” - -“There’s an opening over there on the other side,” Randy indicated. - -“Let’s go to it,” Ted suggested. “I can’t wait to get off this gruesome -field either!” - -They moved across the arena briskly, yet not too fast. They headed -directly for the opening in the high stone wall that encircled the -ancient field of contest. When they reached the entranceway, they passed -through and found themselves at the fringe of a forest. A few dozen -paces carried them through green corkscrew trees to an open plain. - -“I guess the trees around here kept this place from being discovered -before now,” Ted said. - -“Which way do we go now?” Jill moaned. “We’ve got to find that cave -where our air tanks are!” - -Ted made a quick orientation of their position in relation to the arena -and underground city. “My guess is the cave ought to be in that -direction,” he said, pointing southward around the bend of the arena. -“What do you think, Randy?” - -“It sounds right,” Randy agreed. “Let’s get started.” - -They had no more than set out again when Ted suddenly pulled up sharply -in his tracks, nearly toppling over backward in the motion. - -“Gee! Look what I almost stepped on!” he shouted, pointing in the dust -ahead of him. - -It was a matlike object, lying flat in the red dust, with rows and rows -of fine hairs vibrating over its surface. Ted remembered the deadly -carpet plant from his study of Martian botany in school. - -“Ted!” Jill screamed, as she saw the danger. - -To study the action of the plant for himself, Ted picked up a broken -shard of pottery and tossed it onto the plant. Instantly the voracious -plant rolled up tightly, enveloping the shard in its sucking folds. - -“That’s what would have happened to your foot if you’d stepped on it, -Ted,” Randy said in a shivery voice. - -They carefully skirted the carpet plant and hurried on, bearing -southward in the direction they hoped would bring them to the mouth of -the cave that had been the original cause of their trouble. - -“How much air time, Randy?” Ted asked, beginning to pant a little. - -“Eighteen minutes,” Randy answered, and Ted could hear a nervous whimper -from Jill. - -“You sure this is right, Ted?” Randy asked worriedly, a few minutes -later. “If you’re wrong we’ll die. I’ve only got seven minutes of air -left now. It’s really going fast with us hurrying so!” - -Ted sighed heavily and felt a clutch of dread in his heart as he studied -Jill’s pinched, anxious expression. They _had_ to be headed right! They -just couldn’t lose the battle after being so close to salvation. - -At last they rounded a huge face of rock that Ted thought he remembered. -The cave should be only a few feet away beyond that clump of vegetation, -he told himself. They pushed through the curling, tubelike leaves. To -their left lay the cave entrance! - -Randy gave a cry of relief and dashed into the cave. Ted and his sister -entered more slowly; they had a little more time to waste than Randy. -When they entered, they found Randy hastily discarding his old oxygen -cartridge and replacing it with a new one. When he was through, he -helped Jill with hers while Ted attended to his own. - -When they were done, they sat down on the floor of the cave and drank in -deep, refreshing draughts of the precious gas they had feared they would -never breathe again. - -“Isn’t this great?” Ted remarked. “Just like a cold drink on a hot day!” - -“Speaking of food, I could use some,” Jill said. “I’m starved after all -that!” - -“Let’s go back and get it,” Randy proposed. “We dropped the food case -when the elephant ant was chasing us.” - -“Do you think it’s safe?” Jill asked. - -“If it’s the ant you’re afraid of, they do most of their hunting at -night,” Randy reassured her. “I don’t think there’s much chance of -meeting it.” - -They started out over the trail they had followed in such haste the -night before. After a while they found their food case where they had -dropped it. All made a run for it at the same time. The sight of food -settled their nerves, and they ate nearly all of the supply in the case. -When they were through, Randy happened to look up into the distance and -jabbed Ted in the ribs. - -“Look!” he exclaimed. “Somebody’s coming!” - -Ted and Jill leaped to their feet. They shaded their eyes with their -gloved hands in order to see better. - -“It’s the search party!” Ted burst out. - -“Father’s with them!” Jill said joyfully. - -“I can see Pops too!” came from Randy. - -Ted uttered a deep, long sigh. Their frightening adventure was over at -last. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - _Of Days to Come_ - - -The Kentons had just risen from the supper table after a wonderful meal -that had featured fresh fruits and vegetables from their own garden. Two -days had passed since the adventure in the Great Martian Forest. This -was a night of celebration, and Mr. Matthews was present. - -“Now tell us the surprise you had for us, Father,” Jill begged, as they -all sat in the living room together. Mrs. Kenton had left cleaning up -until later in order to be in on the exciting talk of the evening. - -“Not until I know for sure,” Dr. Kenton replied. “I’ll get a phone call -in a few minutes about it.” - -“Can’t you even tell us what it’s _about_?” Jill went on. - -“I wouldn’t want to build up false hopes for nothing, Jill,” her father -said. “You can wait a little while.” - -“It was a privilege to eat in such celebrated company tonight,” Mr. -Matthews said, with a wink at the children. “You kids will even get your -name in the schoolbooks for finding that fabulous city.” - -“It’s the pilot and Mr. Garland who got us to bail out that should get -the credit,” Ted said, with a grin. “If it weren’t for them, we’d never -have found the underground city.” - -“The mural showing the great events in the lives of the ancient Martians -was the most important thing of all,” Dr. Kenton remarked. “I was -beginning to believe that the greatest riddle of Mars was never going to -be solved.” Dr. Kenton had gone to the underground city as soon as he -met the young explorers and had heard about their outstanding discovery. - -Ted, Jill, and Randy knew the answer now, as did every other colonist on -the red planet. The paintings on the wall of the shrine had revealed the -baffling riddle. It was simply and clearly portrayed in pictures, just -as though the Martians had expected someone someday to know their story. -The revelation was that hundreds of years ago all Martians had left -their world in large space ships because of Mars’s disappearing oxygen. -Apparently there still existed somewhere the remains of a -supercivilization which had built these space craft. - -“Do you think the animals on Mars will finally die out, Dad?” Ted asked, -“as the rest of the oxygen combines with the rocks?” - -“Eventually, I would think,” Dr. Kenton replied. - -“Where do you suppose the Martians went to find a new home?” Mr. -Matthews asked. - -“They may still be looking,” the scientist replied. “It’s a long way to -the stars, remember, and we’re sure they didn’t land any place in our -solar system.” - -Just then, Yank came bounding into the room. He too had been permitted -inside for the celebration. He had been eating his supper in the -kitchen. Ted was amazed to see the color bear run up to his father and -stand beside him while the scientist scratched his head. - -“You and Yank are friends!” Ted exclaimed. - -“We sure are,” Dr. Kenton said. “After you kids left, poor Yank was so -lonely he even turned to me. I guess he decided to bury the hatchet when -he found out I meant him no harm.” - -“I wonder why he was so long making friends,” Jill remarked. - -Dr. Kenton took one of Yank’s forepaws and rubbed back the fur, -revealing a scar. “Yank is the fellow I hurt accidentally a few years -ago,” the scientist said. “I just thought of checking his paw the day -you kids left on your trip.” - -“He never forgot, did he?” Jill asked. - -“Not until I’d convinced him I was sorry,” her father replied, rumpling -the soft hair of the bear’s head. “His injury was the reason he was -alone in the world. He couldn’t keep up with the pace of his friends.” - -“Our family is so safe and cozy here,” Mrs. Kenton said, “I hate to -think of you going out into that cold wilderness again on a new -expedition, John.” - -“Maybe I won’t be going,” Dr. Kenton said, with a mysterious smile. - -“What do you mean?” his wife asked in surprise. - -Just then the phone buzzed. Dr. Kenton went into the hall to answer it. -In a few moments he was back again, and he was smiling happily. - -“Kids, how would you like to go back to Earth at the end of the school -term?” he asked the children. - -“Gee, do you mean that?” Ted exclaimed. - -“Oh, Father!” Jill cried out joyously. - -“It’s true enough,” their father said. “That’s what the call was about -and the surprise I was hoping to have for you.” - -“That’s the grandest surprise you could have had,” Mrs. Kenton murmured, -unspeakably happy herself. - -“The Science Union has offered this trip to you, Jill, you, Randy, and -you, Ted, as a reward for your important discovery,” Dr. Kenton went on. -“They also want me to go back and give lectures all over the country on -our latest findings about Mars. It may keep me there a long time.” - -[Illustration: _They grabbed Yank’s paws and began dancing._] - -“That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Kenton said. “I was afraid you’d have to stay -behind here.” - -Ted and Jill were so enthusiastic over the proposed trip that they -grabbed Yank’s paws and began dancing around with him. Randy stood -watching them, not quite sharing their high spirits. When Ted saw him, -he grabbed Randy’s hand and made him join in the celebration. A moment -later Randy was enjoying himself as much as the rest. - -Dr. Kenton said to Randy’s father: “They are in need of some space-port -engineers back on Earth. If Randy would like to go with Ted and Jill, -would you consider a job like that?” - -“You may not know it, John, but I’ve had my application in for such a -job for years,” Mr. Matthews answered, highly pleased. “I’ll say I’ll -take it!” - -“If you kids will stop jumping around a minute,” Dr. Kenton said, “I’ve -got something else to say.” - -They stopped and listened intently. - -“If we go Earthward it may be a long time before we come back to Mars,” -he said. “We—or at least you—may never get back.” - -“That’s all right with me,” Ted said. “I’ve seen enough of Mars to last -me a lifetime! It’s interesting here, but it’s nothing compared to good -old Earth.” - -“That’s what I say!” Jill chimed in. - -“There’s more here that I should like to look into,” the scientist said, -with a brooding look on his face. “There are still many unsolved -mysteries, such as how these great canals were built, and I’d like to be -in on the discovery—if and when it’s ever made.” - -“We can take Yank home with us to Virginia, can’t we?” Jill asked -anxiously. - -“I don’t see why not,” Dr. Kenton answered. “He seemed to adapt himself -to our breathing mixture all right.” - -Jill hugged the little Martian animal and got a grateful lick in return. -Then the Kenton children took Randy aside and began telling him of the -wonders of Earth that he would soon be able to see for himself. - -“Wait until you enjoy the fun of a swim on a hot day!” Ted said. - -“—And the cold air turning your nose red in the winter and the crunch of -snow under your feet!” Jill put in. - -“It sounds great,” Randy said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I -think I’m going to like Earth.” - -“I know you will,” Ted said earnestly. “There’s nothing as wonderful as -Earth in all the universe!” - -It looked as though Ted’s trip to Mars would turn out to be nothing more -than a long visit. A few weeks from now he would be a traveler returning -home to his beloved land. What wondrous stories he’d tell the kids back -there of adventure on the mysterious red planet which hung in the deeps -of everlasting night! - - - THE END - - - YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS - - By RICHARD M. ELAM, JR. - - Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - -Ted and Jill Kenton and their parents are en route by space ship to Mars -where Dr. Kenton is to pursue scientific research. As they are guided -around the flying space ship, a crisis develops. Another space ship is -bearing down on their own craft. The ships just manage to scrape by each -other, but the Kenton ship is slightly damaged and must make an -emergency landing on the moon for repairs. - -Here they meet Randy Matthews, whose father is missing on another -Martian expedition, and arrangements are made for Randy to join the -Kentons. The ship is repaired and takes off to continue the flight to -Mars. - -There new and exciting adventures befall Jill, Ted, and Randy. They -rescue a color bear who becomes their pet; they discover an air leak in -their space suits and barely escape with their lives; and eventually -after encountering hitherto unknown dangers, they find the lost caves of -the early Martians and open the way to research of the earlier -civilization. - -This book of continuous thrills and excitement will hold the reader -spellbound while inspiring real thought of the scientific possibilities -of space travel. - - _This is a Young Heroes Library Volume._ - - - YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR - - By FRANCIS LYNDE KROLL - - Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - -It was in the days when the Pawnees and the Sioux roamed the plains in -search of buffalo herds. In the camp of the Sioux, Chief Great Bear sat -at the council fire with his braves who planned to drive the Pawnees -from the Sioux hunting grounds. - -But Great Bear had other problems. His grandson, Little Bear, was -beginning to grow up. He had to be taught how to use a bow and arrow, -how to shoot straight, how to saddle a horse, how to ride, and the many -things a young Indian needed to learn. - -How Great Bear trained his little grandson and how together they tracked -a horse thief who stole their horses; how the courage, determination, -and ability of Little Bear saved the entire tribe, make absorbing, -exciting reading, and when at length Little Bear is finally called -“warrior,” the reader has an authentic, historically accurate picture of -the real life of a boy in an Indian tribe. - - _This is a Young Heroes Library Volume._ - - - _Adventures For Young People—About Young People_ - -[Illustration] - -All the books in the Young Heroes Library are exciting, wholesome books -for active youngsters who want to read about heroes in their own age -group. - -They are written by authors who understand the interests of children, -and who are capable of writing in the clear, concise language necessary -to be easily understood. - -The quality of these books ... the paper, large size type, beautiful -illustrations, and colorful dust wrappers, are seldom found in this -price range. The contents have already earned the approval of -librarians, educators, and youths themselves. - -YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR by Francis Lynde Kroll - - Story of Little Bear’s education in the ways of his Indian tribe. - (Selected by Junior Literary Guild) - -YOUNG BUCKSKIN SPY by Selden Loring - - Two American boys in the Revolutionary War help General George - Washington beat the British Army. - -YOUNG INFIELD ROOKIE by Charles Coombs - - A Little League baseball team scores twice; it wins the championship - and renews an ex-major leaguer’s faith in himself. - -YOUNG SAND HILLS COWBOY by Francis Lynde Kroll - - A city boy visits a ranch and finds “the big race” a lot tougher than - he had expected. - -YOUNG PONY EXPRESS RIDER by Charles Coombs - - Danger puts 14-year-old Tod Gilmer in the pony express saddle as he - roars across Indian territory. - -YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS by Richard M. Elam, Jr. - - Fascinating adventures await Jill and Ted Kenton in the world of - tomorrow. - - All illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP - Publishers of WORDS: _The New Dictionary_ - New York 10, N. Y. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 60133-0.txt or 60133-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/1/3/60133/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson 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 print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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} - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Young Visitor to Mars - -Author: Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -Release Date: August 18, 2019 [EBook #60133] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="img"> -<img class="cover" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Young Visitor to Mars" width="500" height="729" /> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<p class="center"><i>A Young Heroes Library Volume</i></p> -<h1>YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS</h1> -<p class="center"><span class="small">By</span> -<br /><span class="large">RICHARD M. ELAM, Jr.</span></p> -<div class="img" id="i03"> -<img src="images/i03.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="390" height="245" /> -</div> -<p class="center smaller">ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES H. GEER</p> -<p class="center"><i>GROSSET & DUNLAP</i> -<br /><span class="smaller">NEW YORK</span></p> -</div> -<p class="center smaller">Copyright 1953 -<br />By Lantern Press, Inc. -<br /><i>Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 53-10375</i> -<br /><span class="small">MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</span></p> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2><i>Contents</i></h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#c1"><i>Beyond the Earth</i></a> 9</dt> -<dt><a href="#c2"><i>Hurtling Danger</i></a> 17</dt> -<dt><a href="#c3"><i>First Stop—Luna</i></a> 25</dt> -<dt><a href="#c4"><i>The Curious Boy</i></a> 37</dt> -<dt><a href="#c5"><i>Pelting Stones</i></a> 47</dt> -<dt><a href="#c6"><i>Into Space Again</i></a> 59</dt> -<dt><a href="#c7"><i>Invisible Menace</i></a> 73</dt> -<dt><a href="#c8"><i>The New World</i></a> 83</dt> -<dt><a href="#c9"><i>A Cry in the Night</i></a> 99</dt> -<dt><a href="#c10"><i>School on Mars</i></a> 111</dt> -<dt><a href="#c11"><i>Yank</i></a> 123</dt> -<dt><a href="#c12"><i>Illness Strikes</i></a> 135</dt> -<dt><a href="#c13"><i>News for Randy</i></a> 147</dt> -<dt><a href="#c14"><i>Peril in the Night</i></a> 159</dt> -<dt><a href="#c15"><i>The Peril Continued</i></a> 169</dt> -<dt><a href="#c16"><i>Disappointment</i></a> 181</dt> -<dt><a href="#c17"><i>Yank in School</i></a> 193</dt> -<dt><a href="#c18"><i>Trouble in the Air</i></a> 203</dt> -<dt><a href="#c19"><i>Terror in the Night</i></a> 215</dt> -<dt><a href="#c20"><i>Lost Underground</i></a> 227</dt> -<dt><a href="#c21"><i>A Struggle Against Time</i></a> 237</dt> -<dt><a href="#c22"><i>Of Days to Come</i></a> 251</dt> -</dl> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2><i>List of Illustrations</i></h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#pic1"><i>“The Earth!” She spoke in awe.</i></a> 12</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic2"><i>“Hi, folks,” he greeted.</i></a> 21</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic3"><i>“That’s the headquarters building.”</i></a> 43</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic4"><i>He was going to Mars.</i></a> 65</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic5"><i>Figures in weird metallic suits.</i></a> 78</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic6"><i>The birds soared away.</i></a> 118</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic7"><i>The whole landscape was blotted out.</i></a> 142</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic8"><i>The picture flashed on.</i></a> 156</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic9"><i>“Pops!” Randy cried.</i></a> 164</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic10"><i>Yank went over the side with a splash.</i></a> 189</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic11"><i>“Please don’t bring Yank back.”</i></a> 200</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic12"><i>Down, down he went.</i></a> 213</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic13"><i>They felt themselves tumbling downward.</i></a> 232</dt> -<dt><a href="#pic14"><i>They grabbed Yank’s paws and began dancing.</i></a> 256</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c1">CHAPTER ONE -<br /><i>Beyond the Earth</i></h2> -<p>The rocket ship <i>Shooting Star</i> powered -through the black deeps of space like a silver -bullet. Inside a room of their parents’ suite -aboard the vessel, Ted Kenton and his sister Jill -sat before a large window looking out at the wonders -of space in the year <span class="small">A.D.</span> 2003.</p> -<p>“It doesn’t seem as if we’re moving at all, does -it, Sis?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>Jill shook her auburn head. “No, but it scares -me to know how fast we’re going!” she replied.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>Ted straightened his sturdy young shoulders -and shook strands of brown hair out of his eyes. -It was natural that girls should be scared of things -connected with space travel, he thought. “Thousands -of miles an hour isn’t much,” he said -lightly.</p> -<p>“But what if we should hit something!” Jill -complained. “It would be an awful crash!”</p> -<p>“The only things we have to worry about hitting -are meteors,” Ted told her. “The <i>Shooting -Star</i> has radar instruments that tell us when -they’re headed straight at us.”</p> -<p>“Father says that sometimes meteors come so -fast that space ships can’t get out of the way of -them,” Jill returned, with solemn eyes.</p> -<p>In brotherly fashion Ted pressed the shoulder -of his eleven-and-a-half-year-old sister, younger -than he by a year. “Don’t start worrying about -everything that can happen to us, Jill. We’ve got -a lot ahead of us on Mars,” he advised.</p> -<p>“I—I’m not so sure I want to go to Mars,” Jill -blurted. “It’s so cold and bare and lonely there, -Ted. Why did Father have to sign up with the -Martian Archeology Society?”</p> -<p>Ted looked at her with some surprise. “Dad -talked this over with us. You said you wanted to -go.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>“It didn’t seem so scary then, although I didn’t -really <i>want</i> to go, but out here in the dark where -there’s never a sunrise and everything is so still -and quiet, I—I feel afraid!”</p> -<p>“Does Dad or Mom know you feel this way?” -Ted asked.</p> -<p>She shook her head. “Father’s counted so -much on us going to Mars. He was so lonely -there before without us. If he knew I didn’t want -to go, he’d feel he had to get a job on Earth. But -you know his first love is excavation on Mars.”</p> -<p>“You’ll be all right, Sis, when we get settled in -our new home. They’ve got it all ready for us. -Think of the fun it’ll be!” Ted said encouragingly.</p> -<p>Jill seemed to feel better and smiled. Both -turned their attention to the wondrous misty -veil of the Milky Way outside. It reminded Ted -of a great caravan of countless tiny sheep trooping -through the endless black of space night. -Each one of those millions of light points he -knew to be individual giant suns. How frighteningly -huge and marvelous was God’s universe!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<div class="img" id="pic1"> -<img src="images/i04.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="800" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“The Earth!” She spoke in awe.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>Directly in front of them hung the wrinkled -gray face of Luna, the Moon, which they would -pass before long. Ted shuddered at its forbidding -deep pits and miles of barren, dead plains.</p> -<p>Jill leaned forward eagerly on the window seat -on which they were perched, her nose almost -touching the clear plastic window. “Ted!” she -exclaimed. “What’s that green ball below us?”</p> -<p>Ted looked, then grinned. “Don’t you even -know your own planet when you see it?”</p> -<p>“The Earth!” She spoke in awe. “Of course!”</p> -<p>Ted was not surprised that his sister had not -recognized the globe, in so far as neither of them -had seen it before from this dramatic position. -Ever since their fire-off from the Arizona space -harbor, the Earth had been out of their view, beneath -them.</p> -<p>“Look!” Jill cried. “I can make out the outline -of Africa! It looks like it’s buried under fog. I -didn’t know before that you could actually <i>see</i> -the atmosphere!”</p> -<p>“I knew it,” Ted said, with mock superiority. -“I bet you don’t know it’s hundreds of miles -deep.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>“You’re not the only one who knows the answers, -Ted Kenton, even if you are pretty smart,” -she returned. “I know that it’s the lack of atmosphere -out here in space that makes everything so -crystal clear. That’s why we can see so many -thousands more stars out here than we can from -Earth under a layer of air.”</p> -<p>“That’s not bad for a girl,” Ted replied, with -a tolerant grin.</p> -<p>She shoved him in playful displeasure. Although -the push was not hard, it upset Ted’s -balance, and he slipped off the window seat and -rolled onto the metal floor. Jill gasped in alarm -and darted to his side. As she tried to help him -up, she too lost her equilibrium and fell beside -him. Ted looked at her and laughed.</p> -<p>Their awkwardness was caused by the fact that -they wore magnetized shoes that were attracted -to the metal floor of the space ship. Even when -sitting down, they had kept the soles of their -shoes on the metal of the seat. Ted got to his feet -and helped Jill up.</p> -<p>“Will we ever get used to these funny shoes?” -Jill complained.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>“We’ll have to,” Ted said. “If we didn’t wear -them we’d go floating around in the air like a -feather. That’s another disadvantage of leaving -Earth. We don’t have any weight at all in space. -If we wanted to, we could take off our shoes and -stretch out in the air just like on a soft couch.”</p> -<p>“It might be fun to swim around in here just -like a fish,” Jill mused. “I think I’ll try it.”</p> -<p>Ted knew he should stop her, but his curiosity -to see such an experiment prevented him from -giving in to the tug of his conscience.</p> -<p>“Be careful!” Ted warned. “Any motion you -make will be hard to stop.”</p> -<p>When her shoes were off, Jill pressed gently -upward from her toes. She shrieked in pleasure -as she rose gracefully into the air. Reaching the -ceiling of the room, she pushed against it and -floated downward again.</p> -<p>“That’s lots of fun!” she said. “Why don’t you -try it, Ted?”</p> -<p>“Uh-uh. Another time. One of us had better -keep his feet.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>Jill tried other movements, whirling and doing -flip-overs. Then she grew bolder, moving -more swiftly. She teased Ted into trying to catch -her, and he finally got into the game. He lunged -at her but missed her fleet form every time. The -game grew more active. Presently both of them -were scampering about in the space-ship compartment, -laughing and having great fun.</p> -<p>Jill paused in one corner beneath an air-vent -box. “Try and catch me!” she taunted, her eyes -shiny with merriment. “I’ll let you get real -close.”</p> -<p>Ted glided catlike across the floor, his metal-soled -shoes clicking at every step. Only when he -was nearly upon her did she move. She flexed her -knees and soared off above him, laughing. His -hands raked the air but missed her agile form.</p> -<p>Suddenly Ted’s heart seemed to stop dead. -“Jill! Look out! You’ll hit that air vent!”</p> -<p>She saw the danger too late. She screamed and -crashed heavily into the metal vent, head on. Her -head lolled in unconsciousness, and her body -hung limp as a broken toy against the ceiling of -the space-ship room.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c2">CHAPTER TWO -<br /><i>Hurtling Danger</i></h2> -<p>His heart pounding in anxiety at Jill’s -plight, Ted opened a door and dashed -into the next room of the suite.</p> -<p>“Jill!” he cried. “She’s hurt!”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton looked up, startled, from the desk -where he had been studying. “Let’s go, Son!” the -scientist said, jumping to his feet.</p> -<p>“Where’s Mom?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“She’s down in the magazine shop,” his father -answered, and added, “It’s probably for the better.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>They hurried into the observation room where -Ted and Jill had been so happy together only a -short time before. The boy pointed overhead at -the air vent, where Jill’s limp form hung, lighter -than a thistle in her weightlessness.</p> -<p>Even Dr. Kenton’s tall, stalwart form could -not reach high enough to bring her down. -“We’ve got to have something to stand on,” he -said.</p> -<p>Ted thought of the long window seat. He -rushed over and knelt down to examine it. “The -window seat is in sections, Dad, and has some -clamps holding it down,” he said. “We ought to -be able to get it loose.”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton’s strong fingers released the -catches that held the seat in place. Then he lifted -it out and carried it across to the spot beneath the -air vent. He stood on the seat and grasped Jill’s -slim body, bringing it down.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<p>The girl was stretched out waist high in the -air, in which position her father could best see -her injury. Ted held her so that a sudden movement -would not send her floating off. The scientist -found a cut on Jill’s temple where she had -struck the air vent. She began stirring. In a few -seconds she had recovered consciousness. She was -pale and smiled feebly.</p> -<p>“What happened to me?” she asked in a weak -voice.</p> -<p>Only then did Dr. Kenton seem concerned -about the cause of the accident. He looked inquiringly -at Ted. “Well, Ted,” he said, “what -did happen?”</p> -<p>“She wanted to go without her shoes to see -what it felt like,” Ted replied. “I should have -stopped her.”</p> -<p>“You both should be tanned for a trick like -that,” his father said gravely. “Jill could have -been seriously injured.”</p> -<p>They helped Jill to the window seat, then put -on her magnetic shoes for her. She said she felt -all right, but her father insisted that she have the -cut treated. A brief visit to the first-aid cabinet, -built into the wall of the room, had Jill’s hurt -taken care of in a few moments.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>“What prompted you two to try such a stunt -as this?” Dr. Kenton asked as he closed the door -of the first-aid cabinet. “I thought you had been -well grounded on the facts of weightless bodies -in space.”</p> -<p>Ted, embarrassed, kicked the seat section they -had removed, forgetting that it was not fastened -down. It scooted off in the air, but Dr. Kenton -alertly grabbed it before it got far. “I guess we -were just fidgety for something to do,” Ted said.</p> -<p>“I suppose the scenery <i>is</i> getting a little monotonous -for you,” their father replied. “Maybe -I can arrange for you to stretch your legs a bit.”</p> -<p>“You mean we can tour the ship now?” Jill -asked excitedly.</p> -<p>“I think so,” Dr. Kenton said, “I believe the -confusion that always follows the fire-off is pretty -well under control now. I’ll ask Commander -Grissom about it.”</p> -<p>Their father left and was back in a short while. -“We can go,” he told them. “We’ll leave a note -for Mom to let her know where we’ve gone.”</p> -<p>He scribbled it off, after getting a slip of paper -from a drawer in the wall desk. Then he asked -them, “What would you like to see first?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<div class="img" id="pic2"> -<img src="images/i05.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="667" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“Hi, folks,” he greeted.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>“The pilots’ roost!” Ted said, and Jill nodded -in agreement. The three of them clicked along -the corridor in their magnetic shoes. Reaching -the pilots’ roost in the nose of the space ship, Dr. -Kenton knocked on the door and was told to enter. -Inside, the children found two men in the -light green with gold trim of the Space Transport -Command, sitting in big roomy seats in front of -a large bank of dials and levers. Above the panel -was a broad port looking out into space.</p> -<p>One of the pilots appeared to be busy. The unoccupied -one spun on his swivel seat and smiled -at the Kentons. “Hi, folks,” he greeted. “Come -on in!”</p> -<p>He introduced himself as Lieutenant Foran -and his copilot as Lieutenant Starky, who took a -moment from his work to smile a greeting.</p> -<p>“On every trip we make we usually let the -passengers come in a few at a time,” Lieutenant -Foran said, “to look around.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>The pilot showed them what each dial on the -panel meant. Jill was soon bewildered by it all, -but Ted was interested in every gadget and meter. -He decided at that moment that he would -like nothing better than one day to be a pilot on -an interplanetary space liner.</p> -<p>Ted had noticed a huge circular screen built -into the middle of the panel, with circles radiating -out from the center of it. Suddenly it lighted -up, and white spots, or “blips,” began popping -out on the glass’s phosphor coating. Ted saw that -the pilots’ eyes had flashed swiftly toward the -screen.</p> -<p>Lieutenant Starky leaned forward and twisted -a dial.</p> -<p>“What’s he doing?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“That’s the radarscope,” Lieutenant Foran -said. “The screen automatically lights up when -anything comes directly into our path, even if it’s -many thousands of miles away. Those blips are -echoes we’re receiving from our approaching -neighbors out there.”</p> -<p>Lieutenant Foran went over to the panel, looking -up at the screen. “What is it?” he asked his -companion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>“Seems to be a ship,” replied Lieutenant -Starky. “Probably the mail rocket <i>Moonstone</i> on -its way back from Luna. The navigator said we’d -pass it.”</p> -<p>Lieutenant Foran slid into his seat and pressed -a button on the panel. A voice from a speaker -said, “Navigation.”</p> -<p>The young Kentons heard the two crewmen -speak in low tones for several moments. Then -Lieutenant Foran switched off and turned to the -copilot with an apprehensive look on his face. -“He says the <i>Moonstone</i> should have turned off -course before now! It’s heading straight toward -us!”</p> -<p>“We’ll call the Commander!” Lieutenant -Starky said, jabbing a button.</p> -<p>Jill squeezed her father’s arm. “Are we going -to crash?” she whispered.</p> -<p>“Don’t be scared, honey,” her father said -soothingly. “I’m sure we’ll be all right.”</p> -<p>But Ted saw the fear in his dad’s eyes, and his -own heart seemed to squirm with terror in his -body. Was their very first journey into space -going to end tragically scarcely before it had -started?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c3">CHAPTER THREE -<br /><i>First Stop—Luna</i></h2> -<p>“I can’t understand why they don’t turn -off course!” Lieutenant Starky exclaimed. -“Their radar <i>must</i> have contacted us!”</p> -<p>Ted watched the blips from the <i>Moonstone</i> -slowly nearing the center of the screen. By the -time they did reach that center, the <i>Moonstone</i> -and the <i>Shooting Star</i> would be occupying the -same area in space.</p> -<p>Lieutenant Foran came over to the Kentons. -“I think you folks had better get back to your -suite. We’re going to be awfully busy in here for -the next few minutes,” he said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>Ted could see that the officer was trying to -keep the fear out of his voice. They must really -be in a bad spot.</p> -<p>As they left, they met stout, red-faced Commander -Grissom coming in. His face was redder -than usual, and he was so concerned with the -<i>Shooting Star’s</i> danger that he barely nodded to -Dr. Kenton.</p> -<p>As the Kentons returned to their quarters, -golden-haired Mrs. Kenton faced her family with -stricken eyes.</p> -<p>“What’s happening, John?” she asked her -husband. “All the crewmen are running around -like mad.”</p> -<p>“It’s just a little trouble outside,” the scientist -said gently. “I’m sure Commander Grissom and -his men can handle it.”</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton began pacing restlessly. “This -waiting! I wish we knew what’s going on.”</p> -<p>“We can,” the scientist said, crossing the -room and pressing a button on a wall panel. “I -thought it might upset us more to listen in, but -I guess it would be better to know what they’re -doing.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>They heard first the voice of Lieutenant Starky -coming over the compartment’s loud-speaker. -“<i>The Moonstone</i> has just answered, sir!”</p> -<p>“What do they say?” the commander asked -urgently.</p> -<p>After a few moments’ pause, the Kentons -heard the pilot speak again: “They say that they -had some electronic trouble and that it’s just now -been repaired. Their radio and radar were off -because of it.”</p> -<p>Ted listened tensely as orders flew back and -forth. Both space ships set their rocket jets to -carry each away from the other, but at the speeds -they were traveling, only time would tell if they -could avoid a crash.</p> -<p>The Kentons heard the final miles being -slowly called off by Commander Grissom as the -two ships hurtled toward one another:</p> -<p>“Four hundred—three hundred—two—a hundred -and fifty....”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<p>Ted’s eyes were on the side port. He knew that -at the last moment either he would see a large -silver shape hurtle past the window or he would -feel the might of tons crashing head on. In the -final seconds, Dr. Kenton had an arm around his -wife and daughter, and Ted’s heart was thumping -wildly.</p> -<p>The light of thousands of stars out there -seemed to burn into the boy’s brain. Would the -decisive moment never come?</p> -<p>Presently Ted saw the blackness of space -blurred for only the briefest instant as the <i>Moonstone</i> -drove past, its rockets streaming tongues of -flame! The side jets spurted against the hull of -the <i>Shooting Star</i>, causing it to rock. Ted felt the -floor tilting beneath him, and he had to grab a -wall rail for support. A glimpse he caught of his -parents and Jill showed that they were having -the same trouble.</p> -<div class="img" id="i06"> -<img src="images/i06.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="700" height="235" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<p>As the ship steadied itself and drove on an -even keel again, Ted grinned weakly. “We—we -made it,” he managed to say.</p> -<p>The faces of Jill and her mother were still -chalky with fright, but Dr. Kenton’s was as calm -as if he had known the <i>Shooting Star</i> would come -through the peril all right.</p> -<p>They heard the voice of Commander Grissom -over the speaker informing the passengers that -the danger was past. Dr. Kenton then cut off the -speaker.</p> -<p>“I never want to go through an experience -like that again!” cried Mrs. Kenton, taking a seat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>“I don’t think we need ever fear this happening -again,” Dr. Kenton said. “It’s quite a rare -occurrence.”</p> -<p>“What about meteors?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“They’re rare too, fortunately,” he answered. -“I don’t see why we can’t expect an uneventful -trip from now until we reach our home on -Mars.”</p> -<p>Hearing this confident remark, the children -were interested in the space ship again. “We -didn’t finish our tour!” Jill burst out.</p> -<p>“Would you like to see the garden?” Dr. Kenton -asked.</p> -<p>“The garden?” Ted asked, puzzled. “What -good is a garden on a space ship?”</p> -<p>“Come along and you’ll see,” Dr. Kenton said -and started for the door. Mrs. Kenton said she -preferred to stay in the suite and collect her shattered -nerves, but the children, of course, were -eager to go.</p> -<p>“Haven’t you two wondered how you’re able -to breathe in the ship?” their father asked as they -walked down the corridor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>“I know how,” Ted said. “The air is pumped -through the ship from compressed-air chambers.”</p> -<p>“What is air?” his father asked.</p> -<p>“Mostly oxygen and nitrogen,” Ted answered.</p> -<p>“The <i>Shooting Star</i> uses oxygen, with helium -instead of nitrogen to dilute it,” Dr. Kenton said. -“That’s so that, in case a meteor penetrates the -ship, the rapid decompression won’t cause us to -get bubbles in our blood, which is a dangerous -condition called ‘the Bends.’”</p> -<p>“But what’s that to do with a garden?” Jill -asked.</p> -<p>“You’ll see in a minute,” came the reply.</p> -<p>An attendant showed them through the “garden.” -There was not much to see. There were -merely rows and rows of broad-leaved plants -covered with plastic and a network of tubes.</p> -<p>“Some garden,” Ted murmured, when the -attendant had walked off to answer a call. “The -plants aren’t pretty and they don’t seem to have -fruit or vegetables either.”</p> -<p>“They yield something even more precious, -though,” his father said. “Oxygen.”</p> -<p>“Huh?” Ted asked in surprise.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>Dr. Kenton smiled at the puzzled looks on -their faces. “Plants and people are well suited to -one another,” he said. “Plants breathe out oxygen -into our Earth’s atmosphere, and in gratitude -we give them back carbon dioxide which, -as you know, we breathe out.”</p> -<p>“So that’s it!” Jill said.</p> -<p>“It’s really quite simple,” the scientist went -on. “These plants keep our oxygen tanks filled, -and the air exhaled by us is pumped back to them -so that they can keep alive.”</p> -<p>“Will our home on Mars have a garden producing -air?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“No, we’ll use air cartridges there because -they’re more efficient in small places.”</p> -<p>Just then the attendant returned. “The commander -has ordered all passengers back to their -suites to prepare for emergency landing,” he -told them. “Jet fire from the <i>Moonstone</i> damaged -our hull, and we’ve got to lay over on Luna -for repairs.”</p> -<p>“Goody!” Jill exclaimed. “We’ll get to land -on the Moon!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>They returned to the main compartment of -their suite, and Dr. Kenton switched on the wall -speaker so that he could hear the order from the -commander to “strap down.”</p> -<p>As they waited, they stood before the big window -looking out on the rugged globe of Luna. -Dr. Kenton pressed a button on the sill that slid -a darkening filter over the window. In this way, -the blinding glare of the full moon was cut down -considerably.</p> -<p>“Those big craters look just like eyes!” Ted -exclaimed.</p> -<p>“It’s all so terribly rough-looking down there, -I don’t see where we can land!” Mrs. Kenton -said.</p> -<p>The scientist pointed. “See that large gray -plain down there?” he said. “It’s the Sea of Serenity, -and the Moon colony is located on one edge -of it. We’re too far away yet to see it.”</p> -<p>“Hey, we’re turning around!” Ted exclaimed, -as he saw the stars beginning to blur before his -eyes.</p> -<p>“That’s so that we can use our rear jets to -brake our landing,” the scientist said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>The order to pull down couches and “strap -down” came over the speaker a few minutes -later. Each of the Kentons opened a door in the -wall and pulled down his foam-rubber cot. The -couches were fastened securely to the floor with -catches. The family stretched out on the soft mattresses. -They pulled up the plastic straps from -the sides and tightened them across their bodies.</p> -<p>Presently a crewman stuck his head in the door -to make sure they were ready for the strain of -landing.</p> -<p>Some time later, when he had the sensation of -going down in a suddenly dropping elevator, -Ted knew the moment of deceleration had begun.</p> -<p>In his mind’s eye he could picture what was -going on. He imagined the long sleekness of the -<i>Shooting Star</i> plunging toward the moon’s rough -surface. From the ship’s rocket tubes, streams of -fire were pouring out to slow the terrific speed of -the ship. If those fire streams should fail, or not -hold back the craft enough, the rocket would be -dashed to bits on Luna.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>As the ship slackened its speed, Ted felt steadily -worse. It was as if his chest were being -crushed. He knew that he and the others could -stand any top speed the rocket would go; that it -was only a change in speed that was so grueling.</p> -<p>He twisted his head and saw the other members -of his family buried deeply in their couches. -He knew they were suffering as badly as he. He -remembered the danger of the <i>Shooting Star</i> and -<i>Moonstone</i> approaching one another in the heavens. -Then he thought what a frightful crash it -would have been had they met.</p> -<p>It made him wonder, now, if the <i>Shooting Star</i> -could check its downward plunge in time, or if it -would be dashed to atoms on the hard gray soil of -Luna.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c4">CHAPTER FOUR -<br /><i>The Curious Boy</i></h2> -<p>Just as Ted was expecting the worst, he felt a -gentle bump beneath him. He looked around -and saw that the rest of his family were no longer -deep in their couches. That meant the heavy -pressure of their descent was off them. They must -have already landed!</p> -<p>But he could not get up yet, for he was in a -vertical position and hanging by his straps. This -was because the rocket had landed upright on its -tail fins.</p> -<p>Ted heard a rumbling sound. He felt the side -of the room to which the couches were fastened -slide down into normal position. Ted unbuckled -his straps and rose to his feet.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>“Hey, it’s time to get up!” he said to the -others.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton unstrapped himself and then assisted -Mrs. Kenton. Ted helped get Jill loose.</p> -<p>“Whew! That was awful!” Mrs. Kenton complained.</p> -<p>“I—I think I left my stomach up in the sky!” -Jill said.</p> -<p>Ted started toward the side window. “I feel so -heavy!” he said. “I can hardly lift my feet!”</p> -<p>His father plodded with him to the window. -“That’s because the gravity of Luna is added to -the ship’s artificial gravity. They’ll cut off the -rocket gravity any moment.”</p> -<p>Looking out the window, Ted thought that -this was like a scene from a fairy tale. Any moment -he expected to see a group of gnomes come -frolicking past! But nothing appeared to be alive -in that craggy, lonely wilderness, except within -the man-made structure of lunar rock.</p> -<p>Jill and her mother, having taken longer to get -their bearings, finally joined the other two at the -window.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>“What makes it so awfully bright out there?” -asked Jill, squinting her eyes.</p> -<p>“Don’t forget that we have a blanket of atmosphere -to protect us from the sun on earth, but -here on Luna the sun strikes with full force,” her -father explained.</p> -<p>“Talk about a sunburn!” Ted said, with a -whistle.</p> -<p>“You couldn’t stand it long,” Dr. Kenton said, -chuckling grimly. “It’s hot enough to boil water -out there right now!”</p> -<p>“Then when the sun is down, it must be nice,” -put in Mrs. Kenton innocently.</p> -<p>Her husband grinned. “If you call over two -hundred degrees below zero centigrade nice!”</p> -<p>A crisp voice came over the speaker: “All passengers -to the dressing room to don space gear!”</p> -<p>“You mean we have to go out in that?” Mrs. -Kenton asked, shocked.</p> -<p>“I don’t know any other way of getting to the -settlement across the way,” was Dr. Kenton’s gentle -reply.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>As the Kentons were walking along the corridor -to the dressing room, they suddenly felt light -on their feet. The unexpectedness of it sent them -colliding with one another. A voice from a wall -speaker said: “Watch your step. The artificial -gravity of the ship has been cut off.”</p> -<p>“I feel like a feather!” Jill said, dancing along.</p> -<p>“You should—you weigh only one sixth of -your Earth weight,” her father said. “But you be -careful or you’ll have another accident like you -did earlier!”</p> -<p>The passengers lined up to receive their space -gear. It was bulky equipment, but not very heavy -in the light gravity. In the dressing room, several -crewmen demonstrated how to put on the space -suits.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton, who had put on much space gear -in his time, helped his family into theirs.</p> -<p>“Climb into the flexible suit first,” he said, as -he demonstrated. “Then all you have to do is to -zip it up—so!”</p> -<p>“What are these tubes on our backs?” Jill -asked, after the asbestos-covered suits were -donned.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>“That’s your oxygen source,” her father said. -“Those smaller boxes are refrigerator units that -cool the air so that you won’t burn up in the -terrible heat out there.”</p> -<p>Weighted shoes were pulled on next. These -were heavy, in order to bring the wearer more -nearly to his Earth weight. Dr. Kenton helped -them on next with their plastic fish-bowl helmets, -fastening them in place with catches.</p> -<p>They found that they could talk to one another, -even from the air-tight helmets, because of -a compact radio attachment on the top. Last to be -put on were protective gloves.</p> -<p>When everyone in the dressing room was fully -attired, the strange company left the ship -through an air lock—a pair of doors which kept -the air pressure from escaping. The <i>Shooting -Star’s</i> gangplank, which was actually a long escalator, -slid out of the side of the ship on gears -until the bottom touched ground. Then the passengers -stepped out of the air lock onto it and -were carried slowly downward. The rocket, in -landing on her tail fins, was now in position for -the fire-off later into space.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>“What a strange feeling it is,” thought Ted, -setting foot on a world outside of his own beloved -Earth! The ground they walked on was soft and -powdery, and his father said it was called pumice.</p> -<p>The party was heading for a ring of stone -buildings ahead, which were connected to one -another by long tunnels. It reminded Ted of a -giant wheel turned over on the ground. At the -center was the largest building of all. Ted asked -his father what it was.</p> -<p>“That’s the headquarters building,” the -scientist answered. “It’s called the Hub, and it -acts as a central control for all the other buildings -around the circle.”</p> -<p>“Why are the buildings connected with one -another?” Jill wanted to know.</p> -<p>“That’s so the people inside can go from one to -the other without having to put on space suits. -You see, all the buildings and connecting corridors -are filled with compressed air. The Moon -has no air of its own, so it has to be manufactured -just as it is on the <i>Shooting Star</i>.”</p> -<p>Ted thought his father’s voice sounded queer -coming over his helmet receiver, but he guessed -he would get used to it in time.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<div class="img" id="pic3"> -<img src="images/i07.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="742" /> -<p class="caption">“<i>That’s the headquarters building.</i>”</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>The party from the <i>Shooting Star</i> entered a -building where they removed their space suits. -They were told that they were free to do whatever -they liked until the ship was repaired for the -journey to Mars.</p> -<p>Some of the passengers said that they would -like to make a tour of the Wheel, and when -others also expressed a wish to do so, a guide took -the entire party around. The Kenton children -found that most of the departments had to do -with scientific research, while the rest were devoted -to the running of the colony.</p> -<p>“Did they haul all these stones from Earth to -build this place?” Ted asked, as they went down -one of the long rock passageways.</p> -<p>“Goodness no!” his father replied with a -laugh. “The whole colony is built of lunar rock, -quarried near by.”</p> -<p>When the Wheel had been circled by the sightseers -and it was learned that the <i>Shooting Star</i> -would not be ready for hours for the fire-off, Dr. -Kenton made a suggestion to his family as they -sat idly with the other passengers in the lounge.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>“I have an astronomer friend who runs an observatory -not far from here,” he said. “Would -you kids like to visit it?”</p> -<p>Their eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and they -both nodded as one. Mrs. Kenton, however, was -not so ambitious.</p> -<p>“Not I,” she sighed. “That long walk around -this building will last me for a good while.”</p> -<p>Ted noticed a sandy-haired boy of his own age -watching them closely. Even as they made the -tour around the Wheel, the boy had listened -intently to everything Dr. Kenton had said. And -when the scientist had mentioned going to Mars, -Ted saw that his eyes had lighted up as though -with longing.</p> -<p>“We won’t be able to take the other passengers -with us,” Dr. Kenton told his son and daughter, -“because there aren’t enough cars available.”</p> -<p>After Dr. Kenton had chartered a car from the -motor pool, he and his son and daughter went to -the dressing room to climb into their space gear. -As they were zipping up their suits, Ted looked -toward the open doorway and saw the same curious -boy watching them again! What could be his -interest in them?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c5">CHAPTER FIVE -<br /><i>Pelting Stones</i></h2> -<p>Ted decided he would find out just why the -boy was watching them. “Hello,” Ted -greeted.</p> -<p>“Hi,” the boy answered.</p> -<p>“What’s your name?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“Randy Matthews,” the boy returned.</p> -<p>Before Ted could go on with his questioning, -Dr. Kenton spoke up. “Randy, would you like to -go with us to visit the observatory?”</p> -<p>“Yes, sir, I would,” was the ready reply.</p> -<p>“You’d better check with your folks first,” Dr. -Kenton advised.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<p>“I don’t have any folks here,” Randy said. -“Mr. Collins is taking care of me. He’s an engineer.”</p> -<p>“Then check with him and come on back if -you can,” Dr. Kenton said.</p> -<p>When Randy had left, Ted said, “He’s been -watching us a long time, Dad, just as if he -couldn’t wait to make friends with us.”</p> -<p>“I’ve noticed it, too,” his father said. “I wonder -what he meant when he said he has no folks -<i>here</i>?”</p> -<p>Randy got back shortly and said he could go -with them. The Kentons had to wait for him to -dress, but they were surprised at his speed. He -seemed to know all the fasteners and fittings perfectly.</p> -<p>The four of them left the building and went -outside where an odd vehicle awaited them.</p> -<p>“What a funny-looking car!” Jill exclaimed, -and Ted could hear her merry laugh ring in his -helmet receiver.</p> -<p>“A fresh-air taxi!” Ted put in.</p> -<p>The car had enormous tires and an open top. -It looked more like a tractor than anything else.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<p>“Let’s climb in,” Dr. Kenton said. He helped -the children in, then took the driver’s seat. He -turned a switch, and they were off.</p> -<p>When they had gotten up speed, Ted thought -this the most exciting ride he had ever taken! -They bounced along over the rough ground -without feeling any of the bumps. Dr. Kenton -explained that the tires were low-pressured and -shock-absorbent.</p> -<p>The young folks were so impressed by their -ride that it was much later before they took time -to notice the breath-taking beauty of the sky. The -stars were so numerous, they looked like swaths -of white dust against the absolute blackness. -Randy was the first to notice the big green globe -of Earth behind them, and pointed it out.</p> -<p>“It makes me homesick seeing it,” Jill said, -and Ted detected a tremor in her voice.</p> -<p>Ted couldn’t help admiring Jill for her courage -in agreeing to come along against her wishes, -just to keep the family together.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>When the Moon car reached the observatory, -Ted did not find exactly what he had expected. -Instead of a white tower, like the observatories at -home, what he saw was a natural, tall column of -jagged rock, on the top of which was a man-made -shiny dome with a slit in it where the telescope -eye peeped out.</p> -<p>The four got out of the car and walked -through a doorway that had been blasted -through the rock in some time past. Beyond this -was an air lock that kept the compressed air of the -observatory from escaping.</p> -<p>When they had gone through the door, the -four found facing them a crude elevator. Dr. -Kenton motioned the young people inside and -then followed. He threw a switch, and the elevator -cage began rising slowly.</p> -<p>“This column of rock has always been hollow,” -he explained, “so it was easy to run an -elevator up through it.”</p> -<p>He unfastened his helmet and took it off. “You -can take off your hats now,” he told the children. -“There’s air in here.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>The elevator stopped at the top of the shaft. -The four got out and entered a big room with a -rounded ceiling. Ted knew this to be the dome -that housed the telescope. The reflector was like -a huge cylinder resting in its horseshoe yoke -across the room.</p> -<p>“Hello!” Dr. Kenton called. “Is anyone -home?”</p> -<div class="img" id="i08"> -<img src="images/i08.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="318" /> -</div> -<p>Suddenly a round face appeared at the side of -the telescope. The face reminded Ted of a circus -clown’s, with its wild, wispy hair and broad grin.</p> -<p>“John Kenton!” cried the little man, as he ran -out and embraced Ted’s dad. The elderly scientist -asked, “What in the world are you doing on -Luna? And who are these young folks with you?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>Dr. Kenton explained that he was on a stop-over -to Mars, and he introduced the children to -the funny little scientist, whose name was Dr. -Beeler.</p> -<p>“We had some time to kill so we decided -to visit the observatory,” Dr. Kenton finished. -“Will you show the children some of the sights?”</p> -<p>Dr. Beeler’s eyes brightened with pleasure. -Ted was sure that the little man was truly enjoying -their visit. Ted thought he must get awfully -lonesome up here by himself.</p> -<p>Dr. Beeler set the position of the telescope by -turning two cranks. Then he conducted the children -up a catwalk to a platform about twelve feet -from the floor. Jill took the first peek through the -eyepiece at the top of the tube.</p> -<p>“Oooh—it’s beautiful!” Jill cried with a gasp.</p> -<p>Ted let Randy have the next turn, and then he -himself looked. The view was breath-taking. -What he saw was the flattened, white globe of -Saturn with its graceful rings and many satellites.</p> -<p>“The Moon is much better than the Earth for -using a telescope,” Dr. Beeler said, “because here -there is no atmosphere or haze to get in the way.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>The children saw other captivating sights. -There was the shimmering pearl of Venus, -Earth’s twin, then Jupiter, the king of planets, -with its four orderly larger moons. The children -also saw smoky-looking nebulae and star clusters -that resembled bees in a hive. Then Dr. Beeler -showed them what he seemed to think was the -greatest treat of all—the Earth under high magnification. -When Jill placed her eye to the eyepiece, -she suddenly turned away, sobbing.</p> -<p>Dr. Beeler and her father came running to her.</p> -<p>“What’s the matter, honey?” Dr. Kenton -asked.</p> -<p>“I—I guess I’m homesick!” Jill said. “I miss the -green grass and the blue sky terribly! Oh, why -did we ever have to leave home?”</p> -<p>Ted saw his father’s face grow grave. Now his -dad knew that Jill had never wanted to come -along. Her father placed his arm around her -shoulders. “I didn’t know you felt this way,” he -said softly.</p> -<p>Dr. Beeler stood by, fidgeting as though he -wanted to say something but didn’t know just -what.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>Presently Dr. Kenton looked at his wrist watch -which he could read through the plastic cuff of -his space suit. “We’d better get back to the -colony,” he said. “The <i>Shooting Star</i> may be -nearly ready to take off.”</p> -<p>They came down off the catwalk to the floor -level where they took their leave of Dr. Beeler. -Ted saw a sad look in the old astronomer’s eyes -as though he would have liked them to stay -longer.</p> -<p>“Good luck to all of you,” Dr. Beeler said. -Then to Jill he added, “Don’t worry, young lady. -You won’t find Mars such a bad place. And you’ll -be seeing the good old Earth again, some day, -too.”</p> -<p>As the four went down in the elevator, Jill -said, “I’m sorry I was such a baby.”</p> -<p>“Nonsense,” her father returned. “I must confess -I’ve been a little homesick myself since leaving -Earth. How about you, Ted, and you, -Randy?”</p> -<p>Ted had to admit to a certain amount himself, -but the Kentons were surprised to hear Randy’s -opinion.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<p>“No sir,” Randy said, “I’m not homesick for -Earth.”</p> -<p>Ted could not understand why a person -should prefer the other planets to their own -home world. Ted could see that his father felt -the same, for he gave their new young friend an -odd look.</p> -<p>Ted thought it would be a good time to learn -something more about the mysterious Randy, -and he was about to ask some questions when the -cage touched the ground floor.</p> -<p>“Everybody out,” Dr. Kenton said. “Put on -your helmets and turn on your air valves.”</p> -<p>There was no time for questioning now. The -three younger folks did as instructed. Ted liked -the caressing feeling he got as the air pumped -up his suit. It was like a soft summer breeze -against his skin. It made him want to giggle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>The explorers climbed into their car outside, -and Dr. Kenton started it. Then they went flying -across the bleak gray moonscape, back toward -the Wheel. Jill had gotten over her gloom, and -the excitement of the carefree ride prompted -her to start singing. It was a well-known song that -all the school children at home knew, and Ted -and her father both joined in. Dr. Kenton invited -Randy to chime in, but the boy surprised -them once more when he said that he did not -even know the song! This only added to the -mystery of Randy.</p> -<p>Suddenly the scientist jammed the brakes on -so suddenly that the children were pitched forward.</p> -<p>“What’s wrong?” Ted asked, when he had regained -his wits.</p> -<p>He was surprised to see his father leap from his -seat and vault to the ground. “Out of here—all of -you—quickly!” he urged.</p> -<p>His insistent voice brought them tumbling -out of the car to the ground.</p> -<p>“What is it?” Jill cried frantically.</p> -<p>“See those spurts of dust just up ahead?” her -father said, pointing. “They’re meteorites striking -the ground. We almost blundered right into -a meteor shower!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>He looked around. “We’ve got to find some -shelter,” he told them. “A cave—a clump of rocks—anything.”</p> -<p>“There’s a bunch of rocks!” Randy said, indicating -a clump off to their left.</p> -<div class="img" id="i09"> -<img src="images/i09.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="398" /> -</div> -<p>“That seems to be the closest place!” Dr. Kenton -said. “Let’s go!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>They broke into a run across the ground, slipping -and sliding in the powdery pumice. Ted -saw bursts of Moon dust closer now, and they -were coming with greater frequency. One huge -geyser several feet away threw a shower of sand -over all of them, blinding them momentarily.</p> -<p>When the “air” cleared, Ted was shocked to -find Randy missing.</p> -<p>“Where’s Randy?” he cried.</p> -<p>“There he is—on the ground,” Jill shrieked, -pointing behind them.</p> -<p>Ted turned, and his heart seemed to stop beating -for a moment. Randy was stretched out flat. -He was unmoving, still as death!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c6">CHAPTER SIX -<br /><i>Into Space Again</i></h2> -<p>The Kentons dashed out into the open to the -spot where their young friend lay. They -bent over him. He was struggling feebly, and his -mouth was open and gasping as though he could -not get his breath. His suit was almost deflated. -The meteorites had stopped falling, and there -was no further danger from them.</p> -<p>Ted saw that his father seemed to know just -what to do. He swiftly zipped open a pocket -in the side of Randy’s suit and took out a small -strip of sticky fabric. There was a tiny slit in the -boy’s suit where a stone had grazed it. Dr. Kenton -stuck the strip over the tear and pressed it firmly. -Then he opened wider the air valve on Randy’s -helmet, and the suit puffed out again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>Presently Randy’s eyes opened, and he pushed -himself up into a sitting position.</p> -<p>“What happened?” he asked, almost in a -whisper.</p> -<p>“A meteorite grazed your suit, deflating it,” -the scientist replied. “For a few seconds you were -like a fish out of water. We’ll have the doctor -check you over when we get back, but I think we -brought you around in time.”</p> -<p>They helped him to his feet. At first, he was -wobbly, but he soon regained his full strength -and was able to walk alone by the time they -reached the car.</p> -<p>They climbed into the Moon vehicle and -went whirling off in another swift-paced ride -back toward the Wheel. When they arrived at the -Moon colony, Dr. Kenton had a physician examine -Randy to make sure he was all right, -which proved to be the case.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<p>Soon the broadcasting loud-speakers announced -that the <i>Shooting Star</i> had been repaired -and would fire off within the next hour. -In the waiting room the Kentons held what they -believed was their last meeting with their new -friend Randy.</p> -<p>There was still much about the boy which -puzzled Ted—there were loads of questions he -would have liked to ask him. Although he did -not talk much, Randy seemed to like to be -with the Kentons. And now that the parting was -nearly at hand, Ted thought he appeared very -downcast.</p> -<p>“We’ll sure miss you, Randy,” Jill was saying.</p> -<p>“Yes, we will,” Mrs. Kenton said kindly. “Too -bad you can’t go along with us.”</p> -<p>At this last remark, Randy looked up wistfully. -Ted had an idea that Randy would like nothing -better than to go with them.</p> -<p>“Have you ever been to Mars, Randy?” Ted -asked.</p> -<p>“Of course,” he replied gently. “I was born -there.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>All the Kentons straightened in surprise. No -wonder Randy had said he was not homesick for -Earth, Ted thought. He knew the boy did not -mean that he was a native Martian, but that his -father was an Earthman who had been on Mars -when Randy had been born.</p> -<p>Ted knew that his father had decided to evade -the mystery of Randy no longer when he asked -the direct question: “Randy, do you mind telling -us where your parents are?”</p> -<p>Randy’s eyes dropped, and his slender fingers -began twisting.</p> -<p>“My mother is dead. My father is somewhere -on Mars with an engineering expedition. That’s -why Mr. Collins is taking care of me. He’s a close -friend of Father’s.”</p> -<p>“Son, do you know which expedition your father -is with?” Dr. Kenton asked.</p> -<p>“Yes, sir,” Randy answered. “It’s the Number -Five Syrtis Major Expedition.”</p> -<p>Ted was watching his father as he asked the -question. A cold, unexplainable feeling coursed -through him. When Randy replied, Dr. Kenton’s -face suddenly paled, and he turned away. Ted -felt a stab of dread. Had something happened to -the No. 5 Expedition? What a terrible tragedy -for Randy if this were so.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>“I sure miss Pops,” Randy said softly, a -dreamy look on his face. “I haven’t seen him for -two years. We had lots of fun together. He was -teaching me to play baseball—helping me develop -a curve.”</p> -<p>This was the most Randy had ever said at one -time, and the Kentons listened raptly. Ted could -see that his father was disturbed over Randy’s -case. He took out his handkerchief and blew his -nose hard.</p> -<p>“Randy, how would you like to go to Mars -with us?” Dr. Kenton asked presently.</p> -<p>Ted saw the sunshine of joy flare up in the -boy’s face. “C—could I?” he asked. “Really?”</p> -<p>“Of course,” the scientist said. “We’d be glad -to have you, wouldn’t we, Mom?”</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton smiled softly at the boy. “We -certainly would, Randy.”</p> -<p>Randy needed no further urging. First he -checked with his guardian, Mr. Collins, who -came to see Dr. Kenton. Mr. Collins was a husky, -friendly person. Randy was off packing as the -men talked in the presence of the other Kentons.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>“I think it would be the best thing in the -world for the boy,” Mr. Collins said thoughtfully. -“The Fifth Expedition was given up for -lost about a week ago. I’ve kept it from Randy -all this time, hoping that the lost explorers would -turn up. But they never have.”</p> -<p>“I knew about the expedition,” Ted’s father -said. “That’s why I want to take him. I thought -we’d accept him into our family, so that when -the news came to him, he might not take it so -hard. I guess I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for -the pioneers on Mars, being a scientist myself.”</p> -<p>“It’s a grand thing you’re doing,” Mr. Collins -said.</p> -<p>When Mr. Collins left, Mrs. Kenton said to -her husband, “We’ll have to tell Randy about -his father ourselves, won’t we?”</p> -<p>“In due time,” Dr. Kenton replied, “after he -comes to know us better. It’ll be easier that way.”</p> -<p>“Randy will be able to tell us all about Mars, -since he’s from there,” Jill said excitedly.</p> -<p>Ted agreed with his sister and decided then -that Randy was going to make a very welcome -addition to the Kenton household.</p> -<p>Less than an hour later, the <i>Shooting Star</i> was -in the heavens again, powering toward the distant -red beacon of Mars and leaving behind the -rugged wastelands of the Moon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<div class="img" id="pic4"> -<img src="images/i10.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="787" /> -<p class="caption"><i>He was going to Mars.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>Randy became a much more chipper person -than the silent boy the Kentons had first met. -New life seemed to have flowed into him. He was -going to Mars, the land of his birth and the place -where he believed his beloved father to be—alive. -Ted felt sorry for the boy in the days that followed, -whenever he talked about the good times -he and his father had had together. When the -time came to tell him about his father, it was not -going to be an easy job for Ted’s dad.</p> -<p>In the eternal night of interplanetary space, -time seemed to stand still. Ted knew that days -and days, even weeks, had passed since leaving -the Moon, but without the rising and setting of -a sun to go by, it hardly seemed that any time had -passed at all.</p> -<p>By now the Moon had lost its roundness and -had become just another star in the sky. The red -spark of Mars, however, was growing day after -day, week after week. However, it could not yet -be recognized as a disk.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>One day Ted noticed what looked like a -smudge across the blackness of the sky. It blotted -out the stars behind it and appeared to be close. -But its movement was scarcely noticeable. Ted -called his father’s attention to the blur of light.</p> -<p>“It looks like a comet!” Dr. Kenton said. “I’ll -check with the commander.”</p> -<p>The scientist tuned in a two-way speaker system -and asked about Ted’s find.</p> -<p>“That’s Brooking’s Comet, discovered back in -1970,” Commander Grissom replied. “It circles -the sun every eight years. You’re in for a treat. -We’ll pass through some of its vapor. It’ll be a -spectacular sight a few days from now.”</p> -<p>Watching the comet took up nearly all of the -idle time of Ted, Jill, and Randy in the hours -that followed. Under Dr. Kenton’s guidance they -drew a chart of that part of the sky in which it -was located, and plotted its motion in relation to -that of the space ship.</p> -<p>“You don’t suppose it’ll crash into us, do you?” -Mrs. Kenton asked worriedly, as the comet -loomed menacingly outside their compartment -window some time later.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<p>Dr. Kenton soothed her with a smile. “Don’t -worry,” he said. “If the skipper says we’ll graze it, -that’s exactly what will happen. He knows every -inch of this comet’s orbit and our own too!”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton explained that the comet appeared -to move slowly because it was coming practically -head on. Steadily it blossomed wider, like an -opening flower bud. In the center was a brilliant -light, which was the head, or nucleus.</p> -<p>“Why won’t the gravitation of the comet pull -us into it?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“That’s because a comet has very little mass, -or what we’d call real body, to it. It’s mostly a big -lump of widely scattered gas particles.”</p> -<p>“How big is it?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“The head is almost as big as Luna, and it has -a tail many thousands of miles long,” her father -answered. “It’ll pass us at hundreds of miles a -second, but it will take a long time to get by and -will hardly seem to be moving.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>When the day of the arrival of the comet’s -nucleus came, every eye on the <i>Shooting Star</i> was -peering intently out the windows of the rocket -ship. The commander had ordered all windows -covered with filter screens to cut out the blinding -glare of the nucleus.</p> -<p>The comet arrived with the shocking brilliance -of a gigantic fireball. All Ted could see was -an over-all blinding whiteness that made the -blackness of space like bright noonday. The stars -were blotted out completely in the glare. For -hours the brilliance continued without letup, -and then it began to dim.</p> -<p>“The head is past,” Dr. Kenton said. “From -now on, the light will grow weaker and weaker -as the tail goes by.”</p> -<p>Ted still could make out no detail of any kind, -and this was disappointing. As he and Jill and -Randy kept their eyes glued to the window, all -they could see was a slow dimming of the comet’s -original brilliance. They grew weary of the sight -and turned away from it. When they returned to -it many hours later, the heavens had a strange -bluish cast, and the stars began to burn through -it weakly.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<p>Still later, only the barest evidence of the celestial -body remained. The heavens were only -slightly grayed, showing that the tip of the tail -alone had not passed.</p> -<p>“Will we see the comet after it swings around -the sun, and heads out into space again?” Ted -asked.</p> -<p>“Yes, from a greater distance,” his father answered. -“Then it will look more like a comet to -you.”</p> -<p>Several days later, Jill came running into their -compartment, looking concerned. “Father, I saw -some of the passengers going forward into the -pilots’ roost. They stayed there a few minutes, -then came out, and some more people went in. -What do you suppose it’s all about?”</p> -<p>“I have an idea the commander has a treat for -us,” her father replied with a knowing grin. -“We’ll get our turn. Just wait.”</p> -<p>Their chance came shortly later. The Kentons -and Randy were summoned forward, and they -entered the pilots’ roost.</p> -<p>“Want to see something?” the commander -asked. “Look out the forward window.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>They spoke first to the pilots they had met before, -then peered out the window. Ted’s breath -came fast. Poised regally against the backdrop of -stars was a gleaming red-orange globe. It was the -planet Mars, their new home.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c7">CHAPTER SEVEN -<br /><i>Invisible Menace</i></h2> -<p>The Kentons studied the red planet in silent -awe. Beneath the thin cotton of atmosphere, -they saw the crisscross markings of the canals that -had baffled Earthmen for many years. Two small -globes hovered in the deeps beyond. They were -the two moons, Phobos and Deimos.</p> -<p>Randy unconsciously shoved forward ahead of -the Kentons. “Isn’t it beautiful!” he murmured.</p> -<p>“I wonder when we’ll be landing,” Jill said.</p> -<p>The commander, who had heard her, answered, -“In fifty hours, young lady.”</p> -<p>“I guess we’d better get back to our suite so -that some of the other passengers can come in,” -Dr. Kenton said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>They thanked the commander and left the -pilots’ roost. When they had returned to their -compartment, Ted asked Randy, “Have you ever -been to Earth?”</p> -<p>Randy shook his head. “It sounds like a terrific -place, though. I’ve studied a lot about it in our -Earth Geography course in school, and Pops has -told me a lot about it. Imagine playing baseball -outdoors without a space suit on!”</p> -<p>Ted realized he had always taken the wonders -of Earth for granted. It was hard to understand -that a boy such as Randy existed—a boy who had -never experienced such a free life. He tried to -imagine how it would be if he had lived all of -his life on a world where all the breaths you took -were from tanks of artificial air, and where you -could never feel the cooling breezes of summer -or the spicy winter winds in your lungs. Thinking -about these things made Ted thankful that -he was not in Randy’s shoes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<p>Suddenly an urgent voice came over the -speaker in the Kentons’ suite: “Attention, everyone. -Act quickly but do not be frightened. A -leak has developed in our antiradiation shield. -Everyone retire immediately to the rear store -compartment at the extreme end of the ship.”</p> -<p>“My goodness!” exclaimed Mrs. Kenton. -“What does that mean?”</p> -<p>“There’ll be time for explanations later,” replied -Dr. Kenton. “The first thing is to do as he -says.”</p> -<p>They hurried out of the compartment and -down the corridor aft. There were crewmen stationed -along the aisle at intervals to calm the -people’s fears and keep them orderly. A warning -bell signifying trouble was pealing throughout -the ship.</p> -<p>The Kentons and Randy crowded into the -farthest rear room of the <i>Shooting Star</i> with the -other passengers, all of whom were chattering -excitedly. When the last passenger was in, the -transparent door was fastened shut.</p> -<p>“Why did we have to come way back here, Father?” -Jill asked.</p> -<p>“Because rays are loose in the ship,” her father -replied. “The farther we are from the atomic -engines up front, the safer we are.”</p> -<p>“Are they dangerous?” his wife asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<p>“They could be, in sufficient intensity. Right -now, they’re closing all the doors along the corridors. -The doors have built-in screens to resist the -rays, if they are not too strong. Keep your eyes on -the light bulb out in the corridor. If it turns red, -it means the rays have penetrated that far!”</p> -<p>“Oh, dear!” groaned Mrs. Kenton. “I knew we -shouldn’t have left Earth. Now it looks like we’ll -never reach our new home, after getting so close, -too!”</p> -<p>“Don’t worry,” Dr. Kenton said. “The ship’s -crew knows how to handle this. They have electronic -instruments they turn on that attract the -rays like a magnet. They can clean out the entire -ship in about half an hour. That bulb in the corridor -will light if even the slightest bit of radiation -is present. There’s another bulb in the corner -of this room, but let’s certainly hope this one -doesn’t light up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>Ted heard a groan from one of the passengers. -The light in the corridor was beginning to glow. -That meant the radiation had penetrated all -the way to the rear of the ship. The next thing -to watch was the bulb inside the room, Ted -thought. His father had not said so, but Ted -guessed that they would probably be in serious -trouble if this last one should light.</p> -<p>Presently figures clothed in weird metallic -suits and carrying shiny instruments were seen -in the corridor.</p> -<p>“The crew is protected by those suits,” Dr. -Kenton explained. “The things they are carrying -are the magnetic ray catchers I was telling you -about.”</p> -<p>“Look!” Jill said suddenly. “The red light has -gone out!”</p> -<p>“We’ve nothing to worry about, then.” The -scientist spoke with relief. “I would say those -men got to us just in time.”</p> -<p>One of the curiously garbed men unfastened -the door of the storeroom and beckoned for the -passengers to come out. Then he opened the -front piece of his helmet to speak to them: “Don’t -go through the next door until you hear the all-clear -whistle,” he said. “It’ll be just a few -minutes.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<div class="img" id="pic5"> -<img src="images/i11.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="723" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Figures in weird metallic suits.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>When the whistle blew, the corridor doors -were opened and the passengers returned to their -sections. After the Kentons were back in their -suite, Mrs. Kenton sighed deeply and slumped -in an air-cushioned chair.</p> -<p>“My goodness!” she said. “I’m still quivery. -If it’s not one thing it’s another on these space -voyages! I’m surprised we’re still alive after all -that’s happened!”</p> -<p>“At least you can’t say the trip is boring, -Mother,” Jill piped up, and this brought a relaxing -laugh from the others.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p><p>Nearly two days later Mars was a giant world -dead ahead. Ted looked out the window with -Jill and Randy and saw a close-up view of the -strange land that was to be their new home. A -great network of deep, straight gorges split the -boundless stretches of red desert. These were the -fabulous canals built by the ancient Martians, -now long dead.</p> -<p>“There’s the Prime Canal,” Randy said, pointing -to the largest chasm of all. “It feeds all the -little canals in this section.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>“Aren’t those trees growing along the canals?” -Jill asked.</p> -<p>Randy nodded. “Evergreens,” he said.</p> -<p>“What’s that white stuff in the bottom of the -canals and near the roots of the trees?” Ted -wanted to know.</p> -<p>“That’s frost,” Randy answered. “The sun -never melts it completely. It never even gets up -to zero in this latitude.”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton, whose interest was beyond Mars -at the moment, said, “Look, kids, there’s our -comet again!”</p> -<p>He pointed it out to them in the heavens. It -was a long streak across the sky. The nucleus -burned brightly, like a heavenly torch.</p> -<p>“Now it really looks like a comet!” Ted declared.</p> -<p>“It’s beautiful!” Jill murmured.</p> -<p>“We’ll be able to see it from Mars for several -days,” Dr. Kenton told them. “Then it’ll gradually -disappear from view.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>At this point the <i>Shooting Star</i> began its turnabout -for rearward landing. Then, still later, the -order that all those aboard the <i>Shooting Star</i> had -been waiting a long time to hear came over the -loud-speakers. “Strap down on couches, everyone! -Next stop—Lowell Harbor!”</p> -<p>The end of their journey was at hand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c8">CHAPTER EIGHT -<br /><i>The New World</i></h2> -<p>The Kentons had experienced their last landing -for a while. After a final gentle bump, -Ted shook his head to clear it and waited for the -side wall to move into proper position. Then he -began unfastening the straps of his couch. He -was the first to his feet. As the rest of his family -were unbuckling, he did what everyone always -did after a space-ship landing. He went over to -the window and looked out.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>Mars—their new home. At last they were here. -From his height of several hundred feet above -the ground, Ted had the best view he would ever -have of Lowell Harbor, center of Earthmen’s activity -on the ruddy planet. It had been named in -honor of Percival Lowell, the great astronomer -of the past century who had been so strongly interested -in Martian geography.</p> -<p>Ted felt a breath on his cheek. He turned, and -there was Randy right behind him. There were -tears of joy in his eyes, and Ted knew that this -must be one of the happiest days of Randy’s life.</p> -<p>“What a beautiful spaceport!” said Mrs. Kenton, -who had come over to the window with the -other members of the family.</p> -<p>A huge waterway cut the landscape in two at -the edge of the spaceport. Beyond this stood two -large square buildings of transparent plastic substance. -Still farther out was a sprinkling of -houses, one of which the Kentons would occupy. -As far as Ted could see, the ground was rust-red.</p> -<p>“What makes Mars so red?” Jill asked her father.</p> -<p>“It’s believed that Mars once contained much -more oxygen than it does now,” the scientist replied, -“and the ground was nearer the color we’re -used to seeing it at home. But over the centuries -the oxygen was absorbed by the soil, forming -iron oxide, which is the redness we see now.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>“Is there any oxygen left?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“Very little,” replied Dr. Kenton. “That may -be what caused the Martian races to disappear. -This is the greatest mystery about Mars and is -one of the main reasons I’m here—to discover -why there are no Martians here now.”</p> -<p>“But there’re birds and animals and insects,” -Ted said. “Why didn’t they suffocate too?”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton shrugged helplessly. “Another -mystery. Maybe they were able to adapt themselves -to the change over the thousands of years -by growing larger breathing apparatuses or something -like that. Apparently, man was the one who -lost out in the battle of survival.”</p> -<p>The command to disembark came over the -speaker, and the Kentons gathered up what small -luggage they had kept with them and retired to -the dressing room. When they had suited up with -the other passengers, they entered the air lock -and waited for the escalator to roll into position.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>As soon as Randy’s feet touched the soil moments -later, Ted saw him stoop down and seize -a handful of red dust and let it trickle slowly -through his gloved fingers.</p> -<div class="img" id="i12"> -<img src="images/i12.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="351" /> -</div> -<p>The commander addressed the group that was -gathered around him. “It’s been a pleasure to -have you people with us. This is where we part. -A steward will take you over the bridge across the -canal to one of the large buildings on the other -side where you will register. A truck will bring -your luggage over later.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>As the party walked buoyantly over the ground -toward the bridge, Jill said, “I sure feel light-footed.”</p> -<p>“You should be,” her father said. “You weigh -less than half of your Earth weight here. Wait -until you go back to Earth after this low-gravity -life. You’ll be tired for about six months.”</p> -<p>“I won’t mind that,” Jill answered earnestly. -“I’ll be so glad to get back.” Ted could see that -despite the excitement of their new surroundings, -Jill’s thoughts were still on her distant -home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.</p> -<p>Crossing the bridge, Ted looked over the side -at the calm waters of the canal.</p> -<p>“This bridge is five hundred feet across and -took quite a bit of engineering work,” Dr. Kenton -said, “but it still wasn’t as big a job as the -Martians did on this canal and the others all over -the planet. How they built these giant waterways -is another great mystery we may never know.”</p> -<p>“Look! Aren’t those the little boats you were -telling us about?” Jill asked, pointing.</p> -<p>There were a number of tributaries extending -out from the canal. It was along these that the -individual houses were located.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<p>“That’s right,” her father said. “We’ll have a -boat of our own, too.”</p> -<p>Before leaving Earth, Dr. Kenton had explained -to his family about the transportation -system that connected the people with the main -headquarters building of Lowell Harbor. When -the colony had first been built, it was figured that -the cost of fuel and cars for each individual family -could be saved by making use of the natural -waterways. A simple aluminum boat could run -on cheaper fuel.</p> -<p>The new arrivals entered the nearer of the -two largest buildings in the colony, and because -of the compressed air inside, dared remove their -helmets. In here were housed all facilities that -had to do with the running of the settlement.</p> -<p>As they walked down the corridor to the registration -room, Dr. Kenton said, “You see, the -building is made entirely of panes of heavy plastic -so that a hundred per cent sunlight gets in.”</p> -<p>After registering, the Kentons were assigned -their new home.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“I’m afraid you’ve got the house farthest out, -Dr. Kenton,” the clerk said. “You’re the last family -to arrive, and they’re not building any more -until more materials are sent from Earth.”</p> -<p>“That’s all right,” Dr. Kenton replied. “I -knew about that.”</p> -<p>“Your boat is waiting for you outside the -building at Air Lock Forty-seven,” the clerk -went on. “One of our men will show you how it -operates and take you home. Your baggage and -certain equipment for your home will be sent out -later.”</p> -<p>The Kentons walked down a long corridor to -the air lock. On their way they had time to see -just how many kinds of service were carried on -in this most important center on Mars. If anything -should happen to the functions of this -building, none of the homes could survive for -very long.</p> -<p>Outside the air lock, the Kentons found their -boat awaiting them beyond a narrow strip of -ground. The space-suited man inside the boat -introduced himself as Martin Cooper. The -Kentons climbed in and took their seats in the -bottom of the boat, which was long and deep.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>Ted was anxious to see how the boat was operated. -He saw Mr. Cooper take a marble-sized tablet -out of a box and drop it into a small tube at -the rear of the boat. Then the man turned some -switches. In a moment a steady popping was -heard underwater, and the boat glided off.</p> -<p>“Is that all there is to it?” Ted asked in amazement.</p> -<p>“That’s all,” Mr. Cooper answered.</p> -<p>“But how does it work?” Ted wanted to know.</p> -<p>“The pill dissolves in the tank of water, generating -a lot of pressure,” Mr. Cooper replied. “It’s -the jet pressure that moves us along.”</p> -<p>There was a steering wheel to guide the boat -and a “gas pedal” to control the release of pressure -and their speed. Mr. Cooper turned the boat -into Main Canal, which was filled with other -craft like their own coming and going. Presently -the pilot turned out of Main Canal into a narrow -waterway scarcely wider than the boat.</p> -<p>“This is like the ‘Old Mill’ run at the carnival!” -Jill said, as the craft wound in and out along -the irregular course.</p> -<p>“This boat is great fun!” Ted said. “May Jill -and I run it some time, Dad?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>“I guess you’ll have to when I’ve gone off on -my expedition,” Dr. Kenton answered.</p> -<p>“Why doesn’t this water freeze?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“It contains a kind of antifreeze mineral supplied -by nature herself,” his father said. “It never -freezes, no matter how cold it gets. It’s another -one of the marvels of this planet.”</p> -<div class="img" id="i13"> -<img src="images/i13.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="270" /> -</div> -<p>As they rode along, Ted was intrigued by the -strange glow of the Martian sky. The thin, purplish -atmosphere permitted the more brilliant -stars to burn through even in the bright daylight. -But then, Ted decided, it wasn’t such bright daylight -after all, because the faraway sun looked -incredibly tiny to him, and there was a sort of -twilight glow to the whole scene.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>Mr. Cooper guided the boat the last few feet -of its journey into a little dock beside the sprawling -bungalow which was to be their new home.</p> -<p>“End of the line!” Mr. Cooper sang out gaily. -“Everyone out!”</p> -<p>As Mrs. Kenton was helped out by her husband, -she exclaimed in a shocked tone, “Goodness! -The house is made of glass! We won’t have -any privacy!”</p> -<p>“It’s not glass—it’s strong plastic like that in -the main buildings,” Dr. Kenton explained.</p> -<p>“And as for privacy, Mrs. Kenton, you’ll have -that,” Mr. Cooper said. “There’s a diffusing light -inside the walls that makes them solid-looking -when you turn on certain lights.”</p> -<p>“I’m glad to hear that!” Mrs. Kenton said with -relief.</p> -<p>As Mr. Cooper led them over a few feet of -ground from the waterway to the house, Ted, -who had been noticing the queer fixtures atop -the building, asked, “What are those things up -there, Mr. Cooper?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>“The network of rods and wires are the television -antenna,” was the reply. “That shiny disk -on a pole that looks like an oversized dinner plate -is your solar mirror.”</p> -<p>Jill wanted to know what the solar mirror was.</p> -<p>“It collects the energy from the sun,” Mr. -Cooper answered patiently. “That energy in turn -is what runs the generator in your home and gives -you electric power.”</p> -<p>While these explanations were going on, -Randy stood fidgeting. All this was old stuff to -him, and the explanations seemed to bore him.</p> -<p>Mr. Cooper led the party over the few feet of -ground that separated the watercourse from the -house. They entered a small alcove at the front -of the house; this was an air lock. Mr. Cooper -closed the outer door and threw a switch on the -wall. Ted heard air hissing into the cramped -quarters.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>When this was done, the inner door was -opened and the Kentons looked around the front -room of their new home. The house was already -oxygen-pressurized for immediate occupancy. -All the furniture was of beautiful colored plastic, -and waterproof, much like the styles that were -popular back on Earth. The floor likewise was of -poured plastic, so that the whole interior could -be cleaned with a hose.</p> -<p>Mr. Cooper prepared to take his leave. “The -things you brought from Earth and your months’ -food supply will be sent out in a little while. -New oxygen drums are brought around once a -week. If you ever need to call the headquarters -building, just use the radiophone over there on -the wall. Every home has its own broadcast -band.”</p> -<p>The Kentons said good-by to their guide and -turned with interest to the wonders of their -home. Mr. Cooper had offered to show them over -the entire house, but Dr. Kenton said he had seen -the plans and knew what the rest of the house was -like.</p> -<p>There were three bedrooms in the one-floor -building. Since Randy had come to live with -them, Jill gave up her bedroom to the boys and -agreed to take the smaller guest room.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>When all had gotten acquainted with their -bedrooms, Dr. Kenton took them into the basement, -which was just as large as the main floor.</p> -<p>“Down here are all the things that have to do -with the running of our home,” the scientist -said. “Over there is the water tank that draws -from the canal outside. The tank has a purifier -in it so that the water is good to drink.”</p> -<p>In the next room Ted found a mass of whirring -dynamos and turbines. His father told them -that this provided their electricity by drawing on -the energy from the solar mirror. They passed -down a narrow corridor. Inside one of the walls -was a niche containing a large gray tank with -dials on it.</p> -<p>“What’s this?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“The most precious article in the house,” her -father answered. “It’s our oxygen drum. The air -from it enters a blower that carries it evenly -through the building.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>The last room was the most surprising of all. -Dr. Kenton opened a heavy door, and Ted, standing -in front of it, gasped as a blast of frigid air -hit him. He saw his father grinning. “That gives -you an idea of how cold the ground is,” Dr. Kenton -said. “This is a natural deepfreeze. It never -varies more than a few degrees all year ’round.”</p> -<p>His shivering companions took a moment to -look inside. Ted saw a room as large as the upstairs -living room. It was empty.</p> -<p>“When they bring our food, this place will be -a third full,” Dr. Kenton said.</p> -<p>“Do you mean to say I have to come downstairs -and go into that cold place every time I want a -stick of butter?” Mrs. Kenton asked unhappily.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton merely grinned at her. He led -them back upstairs and into the kitchen. He -opened one of several doors built right into the -wall. Frigid air seeped out of the compartment -just as it had downstairs.</p> -<p>“This is our regular refrigerator,” Dr. Kenton -said. “It connects by pipe to the basement -freezer.”</p> -<p>“I’m glad to know that,” Mrs. Kenton returned, -with a smile of relief. “I thought I’d have -to trot myself to death going up and down those -basement steps.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>Ted thought what fun it was going to be living -in their very own home on this distant planet. -Wouldn’t he have exciting things to tell the kids -back on Earth when he returned?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c9">CHAPTER NINE -<br /><i>A Cry in the Night</i></h2> -<p>Hours later, Ted lay awake in the upper -bunk of the double-deck bed he shared -with Randy. The foam-rubber mattress under -him was soft as a cloud, and the cool artificial air -of the house inflated his lungs satisfyingly.</p> -<p>But though he was comfortable, Ted could -not sleep. He had lain awake for an hour. He -guessed it was because of the excitement of the -past few days and the fact that this was his first -night on solid ground after months of life in -space.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>He climbed down the ladder to the floor, -quietly so as not to disturb Randy. He stared -through the clear plastic walls of his room at the -hushed Martian night. The sky was a glittering -canopy of starlight. Phobos, the fleet closer moon, -cast a weak light over the landscape. Beyond -their desert back yard, Ted saw the dark spreading -mass of the sand bog which he had been -warned about. It was like quicksand and would -draw anything that touched it down to destruction. -Ringing the bog Ted saw thick clusters of -white flowers, which his father had said was a -favorite food of the little Martian color bears.</p> -<p>Ted had also learned that the animals fed at -night. He wondered if any of the creatures were -in these parts, and if there were any chance he -would see one of them. He kept his eyes on the -bog for what seemed an hour, but he caught no -sign of movement down there. At last his eyes -grew blurry and he thought he could sleep. He -turned away and climbed the ladder.</p> -<p>Just as his lids closed, something startled him, -and he jerked up in bed. He wasn’t sure what had -aroused him. He sat there in the semidarkness, -his heart bumping rapidly, his ears alerted.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>Then he heard a sound. It seemed far off. It -was like a wail, a cry. He came down the ladder -again. In his haste, he tripped on the bottom -rung and went sprawling. He turned anxiously -toward the bed and saw Randy sit up.</p> -<p>“I’m sorry, Randy,” Ted said. “I thought I -heard something outdoors.”</p> -<div class="img" id="i14"> -<img src="images/i14.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="344" /> -</div> -<p>“I heard it, too,” Randy said.</p> -<p>The two looked outside, straining their eyes -to pierce the shadowy night. Suddenly Randy -Whispered tensely, “There!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<p>Ted stared where he pointed. There was a -figure at the edge of the bog. They heard the -sound repeated. It seemed to be coming from the -moving figure. Ted suddenly remembered his -father’s field glasses lying on a table in his -parents’ room. Before going to bed, all of them -had used them to study the stars.</p> -<p>Ted tiptoed down the hall into his parents’ -room. Carefully he lifted the glasses from the -table and returned to his own room. He could -hardly wait to train the glasses on the mysterious -thing beside the bog.</p> -<p>“Did you hear it again?” Ted asked as he -swept his glasses over the landscape.</p> -<p>Randy nodded. “It sounded like a color bear. -He must be in trouble.”</p> -<p>Finally Ted found what he was looking for. -He was able to make out a little furry body -struggling at the bog’s edge. The animal appeared -to be trapped in the marsh. One stubby -paw was grasping a root growing out of the -bank. Ted handed the glasses to Randy.</p> -<p>“It’s a color bear,” Randy whispered. “He’s -stuck in the bog. He’ll never get out by himself.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>Ted saw a wistful look on Randy’s face. “I sure -hate to see anything happen to those little fellows. -They’re so friendly.”</p> -<p>“You mean they make good pets?” Ted -wanted to know.</p> -<p>“They sure do,” Randy answered. “I owned -one once, until he fell into a bog. It seems they -always end up in one sooner or later.”</p> -<p>“I wonder if we could help him,” Ted suggested.</p> -<p>“It may be dangerous,” Randy warned. “If we -should slip....”</p> -<p>“You’ve been around them before, haven’t -you?”</p> -<p>“Yes.”</p> -<p>“I’m willing to try it if you are,” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Let’s go then.”</p> -<p>“We’ll have to be careful not to wake the -others,” Ted said.</p> -<p>Softly they crept down the hall to the space-suit -closet. Silently they dressed and inflated -their suits with oxygen. Then they went through -the air lock and on outdoors.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>Ted had brought a flashlight. The cone of -whiteness fanned out ahead of them, leading the -way for them over the red sands. As they drew -near the sand bog, the wails of the trapped animal -became louder and more frantic.</p> -<p>“We’d better hurry,” Randy said. “He may -go down any moment.”</p> -<p>They broke into a run and finally reached the -side of the little fellow. The only part of him -visible now was his round head, from which projected -big cup-handle ears. His short forepaws -still clung to the root, but even now the boys -could see his grip loosening.</p> -<p>As they knelt beside him, they saw his violet -button eyes turned pleadingly up to them.</p> -<p>“The bank seems firm,” Randy said. “Let’s -brace ourselves and each take one of his paws.”</p> -<p>The black mud pulled strongly against them. -After a few moments the boys’ arms ached from -the tug of war, but they appeared to be winning -the battle. Slowly the bear rose out of his trap. -Just as Ted thought his own arms would be -pulled off from the strain, the animal sucked -free of the clutching slime and came tumbling -up over Ted and Randy.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>As the boys climbed to their feet, the color -bear ran up first to one and then to the other, and -licked their helmets gratefully with his long red -tongue!</p> -<div class="img" id="i15"> -<img src="images/i15.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="363" /> -</div> -<p>The little creature stood about two and a half -feet tall and was so roly-poly, he must have been -nearly that wide. The mud caked his body, some -of it crawling like thick molasses down into a -black puddle around his flat feet. He walked -upright just as they did.</p> -<p>“What’ll we do with him?” Randy asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>“Let him go, I guess,” Ted replied. “I wish -we could keep him, but I’m afraid Dad wouldn’t -agree. For some reason, he doesn’t like color -bears. Besides, there’s no place to keep him.”</p> -<p>They walked back toward the house. Presently -Ted turned and saw what he had feared. The -bear was trudging along behind. They tried to -shoo him off. This only made him hesitate momentarily -and then start following again. Finally -they gave up, permitting him to trail along at a -distance.</p> -<p>When they reached the air lock, they opened -the door. As they waited for the pressure to come -up, the color bear stood outside looking in at -them. Ted thought he had the most plaintive -expression he had ever seen. It was almost -human.</p> -<p>“We can’t let him stand out there like that all -night,” Ted said. “He might wake up the whole -house with his cries. They do cry, don’t they?”</p> -<p>“Just like babies,” Randy said.</p> -<p>“I forgot, though,” Ted said. “They can’t -breathe our air mixture, can they?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>“Yes, they can.” Randy told him. “They have -a valve in their bodies that takes care of that.”</p> -<p>“I believe we can wash that goo off him and -leave him in the kitchen until morning,” Ted -said. “Maybe he’ll be quiet if he’s clean.”</p> -<p>They let the bear in, and in appreciation he -licked their helmets again.</p> -<p>“If you want to stay in here, you’ll have to be -quiet,” Randy warned, just as though the animal -could understand.</p> -<p>“Hey!” Ted cried. “What’s wrong with him?” -The little animal was reeling around as though -he could hardly keep his feet, and his eyes were -glazed.</p> -<p>“They always do that the first few times they -enter our atmosphere,” Randy answered.</p> -<p>The color bear adjusted himself quickly to the -change and then seemed all right again. Quietly -the boys led him down the hall toward the -shower. In the bathroom they shut the door, removed -their helmets and turned on the shower -in a gentle spray. The bear did not take to water -willingly, and the boys had to force him under. -When he began squealing and kicking, Ted put -his hand over his mouth. As the little animal felt -the warm water, however, his broad mouth -turned upward in a grin, and he sat down in the -middle of the plastic basin to enjoy his bath.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>While the mud was washing down the -drain Ted began to see what a beautiful creature -the color bear really was. His soft fur was white -next to the body, then merged into reddish -brown at the tip. To make him even more colorful, -his paws, legs, and head had a bluish tinge. -“What a patriotic creature he would be on -Earth,” Ted thought. He had all the colors of -the American flag.</p> -<p>When the animal was clean, Ted got out a -blotting towel that dried the bear in a matter of -seconds. The little fellow looked happy after his -bath and grinned at them. When he tried to lick -their bare faces, they had to cover up. He seemed -hurt by their gesture and pouted for a moment, -with his lower lip quivering.</p> -<p>“See what I mean?” Randy said, grinning. -“They’re almost human.”</p> -<p>“I wish we could keep him,” Ted said longingly. -“He seems like lots of fun. I think I’ll ask -Dad about it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>As they were cleaning up the bathroom, Ted, -who was leaning over the shower basin, felt -Randy’s hand press sharply on his shoulder. Ted -spun around. Standing in the doorway was his -father, a stern look on his face.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c10">CHAPTER TEN -<br /><i>School on Mars</i></h2> -<p>“What in the world are you two doing?” -Dr. Kenton asked.</p> -<p>Ted told him the whole story of the rescue, -ending up with a request that they keep the -Martian animal for a pet.</p> -<p>Ted’s father shook his head. “That’s impossible. -There’s no place to keep him.” His face grew -stern again. “You two did a very foolish thing -going out alone near that bog. You might have -fallen in. I want you to promise that you won’t -go near that place again.”</p> -<p>They promised. Ted knew it was no use arguing -about keeping the color bear. When his father -made up his mind, he rarely changed it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<p>As the three walked along the hallway with -the bear, Dr. Kenton said, “You kids woke me up -with all that splashing in the bathroom, but, fortunately, -Mom is still asleep. We must be quiet -so that we won’t waken her and Jill.”</p> -<p>The bear was reluctant to be forced out of the -house through the air lock. Ted knew the animal -felt no worse than he did. He had become quite -attached to the little fellow in even this short -time.</p> -<p>When the bear was outside in the dark, -he looked mournfully through the transparent -doors at his former friends who had rejected him. -Then he began wailing softly. Ted looked hopefully -at his father, wishing that he would have a -change of heart. But Dr. Kenton’s expression was -set, and Ted knew there was no chance of the -color bear coming back inside.</p> -<p>The three of them retired to bed, but Ted was -a long time getting to sleep. For almost an hour -the Martian creature kept up a soft wail. Ted -covered up his ears with his air-filled pillow, and -he was finally able to drop off to sleep.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>The next morning Ted and Randy went to -the front door the first thing after they rose. -There was no sign of the color bear.</p> -<p>“I guess he finally gave up,” said Ted unhappily.</p> -<p>“I can’t understand his being alone like he -was,” Randy said. “Usually the little bears travel -around in families of about ten. I guess this one -was an orphan.”</p> -<p>Hearing this, Ted felt even worse. “Maybe a -wild animal got him,” he murmured. “If it -hasn’t already, it probably will sooner or later. -By the way, what kind of wild animals do they -have here?”</p> -<p>“None of them ever come close to the colony,” -Randy answered. “Hundreds of miles away, -there’s the Great Martian Forest where all kinds -of them live. One of the fiercest kinds are the elephant -ants. Big herds of blue rovers run across -the desert closer by. There are different kinds of -birds here, too.”</p> -<p>“I’ve heard of a dangerous plant in the Great -Forest,” Ted said. “What’s it called?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>“The whip tree,” Randy answered. “It throws -tentacles around anything that’s near and draws -it into its center mouth.”</p> -<p>Realizing the dangers to the lonely little bear, -Ted had not much appetite for breakfast. -Neither of the boys nor Dr. Kenton had mentioned -the adventure of the night before, but -Mrs. Kenton had heard some noises, although -they had thought she was asleep. She began asking -questions and finally got the whole story.</p> -<p>“I wish we could have kept that little animal!” -Jill sighed. “He sounds wonderful!”</p> -<p>“We can’t adopt every stray animal that comes -along,” Dr. Kenton said. “I’m sure the color bear -will get back to his family all right. He probably -just strayed temporarily.”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton next said that he was going to report -to the science organization this morning. He -asked the children if they wanted to go along and -register in school. They’d have to within the next -few days anyhow.</p> -<p>“Are the schools like they are back home?” -Jill asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>“They sure are,” her father said. “Just as -modern as you’ll find anywhere.”</p> -<p>Hearing this, the children were eager to go. -Schools in the twenty-first century were a combination -of wholesome entertainment and instruction. -No dry textbooks or cramped wooden desks -with hard seats. Ted and Jill had heard about the -poor children of the mid-1900’s who had to plod -through school with such handicaps as these, and -they felt sorry for them.</p> -<p>Ted noticed that Dad seemed reluctant to -leave Mom by herself, but she did not seem to -mind.</p> -<p>“Don’t worry about me,” Mrs. Kenton said -merrily. “I’ll have plenty to do unpacking our -clothes and things that they dumped in the living -room yesterday. I won’t even miss you <i>four</i> -children!”</p> -<p>When the young folks and Dr. Kenton went -outside in their space suits, Ted saw that the sun -was just a little above the horizon. He had -learned that men rose early on Mars to take -advantage of the warmth and illumination of -daylight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>Dr. Kenton looked into the purple sky -through which the stars gleamed. “It’s exactly -six-fifteen now,” he said.</p> -<p>“How did you know that?” Ted asked in surprise. -“You didn’t look at your watch.”</p> -<p>“I didn’t have to,” his father answered. “That -little disk in the sky gives it to me.”</p> -<p>“That’s Phobos,” Ted supplied.</p> -<p>“Right,” his father answered. “It takes only -six hours for the moon to go from one horizon to -the other, so you can actually see its movement -in a few minutes’ time. By judging its distance -from the star around it, I can get the time.”</p> -<p>“That sure must take a lot of knowledge of -the stars to know just where each one should be -at any one time!” Ted said.</p> -<p>“It does,” the scientist replied, “but you’ll -learn it in school. I’ll bet Randy knows how to do -it now. How about it, Randy?”</p> -<p>“Yes sir,” Randy replied with a grin, “but I -guess I’m a little off after being away so long. I -thought the time was six-thirty.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>Dr. Kenton took another look, and Ted could -see his face redden inside his helmet. “I’m the -one who’s a little bit off, Randy!” he admitted. -“It <i>is</i> six-thirty.”</p> -<p>Suddenly Jill cried, “Ooo—look!”</p> -<p>A half dozen large birds were swooping down -on the boat. Dr. Kenton did not appear alarmed—only -amused. “They won’t hurt us,” he said. -“They’re whee birds and very friendly.”</p> -<p>The beautiful birds folded their scarlet wings, -tipped in yellow, and perched on the sides of the -boat. Then they began giving out a peculiar, -“Whee-whee,” as though they were enjoying the -boat ride.</p> -<p>“Don’t they sound funny!” Ted said.</p> -<p>The birds soared away as the boat turned into -Main Canal. A few minutes later, Dr. Kenton -drove up to the building they had registered in -the day before. But instead of docking at the -building, Dr. Kenton continued along the canal -beside the building in the direction of the other -large building next to it.</p> -<p>“We’re going to the science building today,” -the scientist explained.</p> -<p>“Why is that as big as the administration -building?” Jill asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<div class="img" id="pic6"> -<img src="images/i16.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="796" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The birds soared away.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>“Don’t forget, Jill, that science and research is -our main business on Mars,” Dr. Kenton told -her. “Every imaginable research project is carried -on there. Your schoolroom is there, too.”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton docked the boat at the science -building, and the four got out and entered. -When they had removed their space suits, Dr. -Kenton took the children to the school superintendent’s -office, where he left them. The superintendent -had them fill out cards, and then he -took them down a hall.</p> -<p>“We have only a hundred and fifty students -enrolled, so we don’t need many classrooms,” he -said, and stopped before one of the rooms, knocking -on the door.</p> -<p>A dark-haired young man opened it, and the -superintendent introduced him to the children -as their teacher, Mr. Garland. He assigned the -newcomers seats, and since school had already -begun for the day, he went on with his lesson.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>The room darkened, and a regular three-dimensional -color movie flashed on the screen. -It was a picture about the wonders of the Earth. -Ted felt a lump rise in his throat as he watched. -What he was looking at was the Natural Bridge -in Virginia, not far from their old home. Ted -looked at Jill. A stray pencil of light from the -camera showed tears glistening in her eyes. Ted -was feeling a wave of homesickness himself. The -wonders of Mars were exciting, but there was no -substitute in all the universe for their own little -plot of ground on Earth where they had been -born.</p> -<p>Ted was glad when the movie was over and -another subject was taken up. With slides, Mr. -Garland demonstrated the geography of Mars. -Ted learned that the red planet was mostly a vast -stretch of desert through which ran the marvelous -network of canals. Mr. Garland likened the -climate of Mars to that atop a high mountain on -earth—the air thin and cold.</p> -<p>Ted was glad when the recreation period came -and he could exercise.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>It was his first such opportunity since leaving -Earth. In the boys’ gym the athletic instructor -was teaching the game of basketball. Some of the -students like Randy had been born on Mars and -knew nothing at all about the game. Ted said -that he had played a lot of it in school back on -Earth and volunteered to help the instructor, -who was glad of the assistance.</p> -<p>When school was out, the young Kentons and -Randy reported to the science-building office, -where Dr. Kenton was waiting for them.</p> -<p>“Did you get your assignment?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“Yes,” he replied. “I’ll be leaving you in a few -days. We’re going on an expedition to Hellespontus, -where some mysterious fossils have been -discovered. They may be bones of the ancient -Martians. If so, they could solve the baffling riddle -of what happened to those remarkable canal -builders.”</p> -<p>After getting into space clothes, they went to -their boat and started homeward. As they approached -their isolated house at the end of the -winding watercourse, Ted rose in his seat and -pointed.</p> -<p>“Look!” he exclaimed. “There’s the color bear -again!”</p> -<p>Sure enough, seated on the front doorstep, as -though waiting for them to return, was the little -Martian animal they had rescued the night -before.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c11">CHAPTER ELEVEN -<br /><i>Yank</i></h2> -<p>“Isn’t he the cutest thing!” exclaimed Jill, -as she saw the red-white-and-blue creature.</p> -<p>“I thought we were rid of him,” Dr. Kenton -groaned.</p> -<p>He brought the boat to the end of the waterway -and tied it up. The children leaped out and -ran to the bear, who climbed to his chubby feet -to greet them. He licked the suits of Ted and -Randy but merely stared at Jill and Dr. Kenton.</p> -<p>“It looks like we just can’t get rid of him,” -Ted said, renewing his hope for possession of -the animal.</p> -<p>“Oh, Father, can’t we keep him?” Jill pleaded, -stroking the color bear.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>Randy patted the little round head, and the -bear made a sort of purring, contented sound as -the children fondled him.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton threw up his hands helplessly. “I -guess I know when I’m licked!” he burst out. -“If Mother agrees, we’ll try and keep him. But -you kids will have to attend to him yourselves, -and mind you keep him out of the sand bog, or -you won’t have him long.”</p> -<p>“We will!” Jill said. Now that she had made -friends with the bear, he seemed ready to accept -her and licked her suit as a sign of friendship.</p> -<p>Randy stayed outside with the bear while the -other children went inside to talk persuasively -with their mother. She objected at first, but -finally yielded to their persistence.</p> -<p>“We’ll have to make out a requisition for plastic -material for his outdoor house,” Dr. Kenton -said. “Are you children willing to chip in part -of your allowance to pay for it?”</p> -<p>They nodded.</p> -<p>“We’ll order it the same time as we do supplies -for the garden,” the scientist said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<p>“We’re going to have a garden?” Jill burst -out.</p> -<p>“I thought we’d try it,” her father said. -“That’s the only way we can get fresh vegetables.”</p> -<p>When Dr. Kenton went to the study to make -out the requisition slip, Ted asked his mother, -“Why didn’t Dad want to keep the bear? It seems -to me that he doesn’t like those little guys, or is -afraid of them, or something.”</p> -<p>“As a matter of fact, he is a little shy of them, -I believe,” she answered. “He accidentally hurt -a baby one badly in one of his explorations a few -years ago, when he crushed its forepaw under his -boot and it ran off crying. Your father’s so tender-hearted -he’s probably reminded of that painful -incident every time he sees one of the animals.”</p> -<p>“Maybe he’ll change after the bear has been -around for a while,” Jill put in.</p> -<p>The air-lock door opened, and Randy stuck -his head in.</p> -<p>“We’d forgotten all about you, Randy!” Jill -exclaimed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>“Are we going to keep him?” Randy asked -anxiously.</p> -<p>“We sure are!” Jill piped. “Bring him in and -let’s introduce him to Mother.”</p> -<p>Randy let the color bear inside. When he began -staggering about, Mrs. Kenton exclaimed -with horror: “He’s dying, the poor little fellow.”</p> -<p>Randy assured her he wasn’t really—that he -behaved like this because of the extra oxygen in -the air. Randy said that before long the bear -would be able to go in and out without any bad -effects at all.</p> -<p>Ted brought the animal over to his mother. -She gingerly patted his blue furry head. In response -he licked her dress. “Now we’re friends,” -Mrs. Kenton said.</p> -<p>“We’ve got to give him a name,” Jill said. -“What’ll we call him?”</p> -<p>“How about Fuzzy?” suggested Mrs. Kenton.</p> -<p>“No. Teddy!” Jill said.</p> -<p>Ted wrinkled his nose. “Then you’d get him -mixed up with me. I think he ought to have a -patriotic name because of his colors.”</p> -<p>“How about Yank, then?” Mrs. Kenton said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>“That’s a good one!” Jill agreed.</p> -<p>“Yeah, that’s swell!” Ted said. “What do you -think, Randy?”</p> -<p>He shrugged and grinned. “It sounds all right -to me, but I don’t know what it means.”</p> -<p>Ted explained the word as being sort of a -nickname for America and Americans. Randy -had learned quite a bit about the United States -flag, but the word Yankee was a new one to him. -After he learned its meaning, he agreed that -Yank was a perfect name for the color bear. -When Dr. Kenton returned, Ted felt that the -final introduction to the newest member of their -family should be made.</p> -<p>“Yank, meet Dr. Kenton,” Ted said formally.</p> -<p>Ted’s father smiled and approached the little -animal. “Hi, Yank,” he said.</p> -<p>His hand went out to pat the round head, but -to everyone’s surprise, Yank drew back with a -cry of fright. Dr. Kenton’s face went red as if he -had been snubbed by a human being. Ted felt -sorry for his father. Did the bear unconsciously -know what the scientist had done to another -member of his kind?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<p>“Don’t worry, John,” Mrs. Kenton said soothingly. -“He’ll come around to you before long.”</p> -<p>Her husband quickly changed the subject. -“I’ve made out the requisitions. I’ll send them -over to headquarters now on the video-sender.”</p> -<div class="img" id="i17"> -<img src="images/i17.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="413" /> -</div> -<p>The children watched interestedly as he went -to the video-sender, which was connected to the -radiophone. He fastened the slips face down on -a glass plate and held open a switch for several -seconds. About a minute later, a buzz came over -the radiophone.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>“That means it’s been received,” Dr. Kenton -said. “I asked to have it sent to us tomorrow.”</p> -<p>“Why couldn’t you just phone it in?” Ted -asked.</p> -<p>“This way there doesn’t have to be anyone on -the other end,” his father explained. “The requisition -was handled by an automatic machine.”</p> -<p>Yank was given temporary quarters in the -basement. Dr. Kenton said he could not live indefinitely -inside like this—that an outside shelter -was absolutely necessary.</p> -<p>The next afternoon after school, Dr. Kenton -brought the children home. Sitting outside the -house on the ground were two pieces of specially -formed plastic.</p> -<p>“Here are the things we ordered,” Dr. Kenton -said. “The manufacturers shaped them on molds -they already have on hand.”</p> -<p>The color bear’s house was a rounded dome -resembling an Eskimo igloo. The garden shelter -was oval and about twenty-five feet long.</p> -<p>“How are we going to lift those things?” Ted -asked. “They must be awfully heavy!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>“On the contrary, they’re quite light,” Dr. -Kenton said. “Each of you grab a handle on the -side of the garden top and I’ll show you.”</p> -<p>They discovered they could lift the large object -with ease. They carried it around the house, -and Dr. Kenton showed how it would fit close -to the wall. The entrance would be by way of -the back door.</p> -<p>“The dome is double-walled!” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Of course, it is,” Dr. Kenton answered. “So -is our house—and all the buildings on Mars.”</p> -<p>“Why?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“For insulation against the cold,” was the reply. -“The outer wall gets almost as cold as the -temperature outside, but the vacuum between -it and the inner wall keeps the inside nice and -warm.”</p> -<p>“The walls are so clear in the house, I never -noticed they were double,” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Shall we get started on the garden?” Dr. Kenton -asked. “The sooner we get it in shape, the -sooner we can grow tomatoes and beans and -dwarf fruit trees.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>They first went into the house, where Mrs. -Kenton showed them a large pile of supplies that -had been sent along with the shelter tops.</p> -<p>“Here’s a foam-rubber mattress for Yank,” the -scientist said, pulling out two bundles, “and a -supply of food for him. Everything else is for the -garden.”</p> -<p>The first thing the four of them did outside -was set up Yank’s house, close to the front door, -and lay out his sleeping mat. When this was -done, the little animal walked cautiously inside -and sniffed all around. Then he curled up on the -soft cushion and closed his eyes.</p> -<p>“He seems satisfied with it,” said Jill.</p> -<p>First work on the garden was to air-seal it to -the rear of the house. This was done with a -strange-looking gun that shot a thick gluey liquid -out along the seams between the plastic cover -and the house. The rest of the work had to be -done under the dome itself. The workers went -back indoors and hauled all the equipment under -the garden shelter.</p> -<p>“First we bring the warm house atmosphere -into here, so that we can remove our space gear,” -Dr. Kenton said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>When this was done, and with their space suits -off, the workers could move about more efficiently.</p> -<p>“After supper we’ll prepare the ground, and -tomorrow we can plant seeds,” Dr. Kenton said.</p> -<p>Ted thumped the hard, cold ground with his -shoe. “How can we work this?” he asked. “It’s -hard as stone, and it must be awfully cold.”</p> -<p>His father pulled some long steel spikes out -of the mass of equipment. Then he took out a -sledge hammer. He hammered the spikes at intervals -in the ground along the sides of the dome. -Then he attached an electrical circuit to each of -them and the whole to a generator.</p> -<p>As the generator purred in operation, he said, -“Infrared heat rays are being sent out by the -spikes into the ground, warming it. After supper -the ground will be thawed out so that we can -till it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<p>When they returned to the garden area after -their last meal of the day, they found that the -ground could be worked easily. Electric tools -made the job quick and efficient. Fertilizer and -soil conditioner were worked into the ground -after the surface had been loosened up for several -feet down.</p> -<p>“Did you say we could plant seeds tomorrow?” -Jill asked, when they were through.</p> -<p>“That’s right,” her father replied. “The -chemicals we have put in the ground are almost -miraculous in the speed with which they work in -the soil. They can literally do the job overnight.”</p> -<p>Jill and Ted went to bed tired and untroubled -that night. But not Randy. Before Ted dropped -off, he heard Randy tossing restlessly in the bunk -below. Ted caught some of the words muttered -by the boy: “Father ... miss you ... ever -come back to me?”</p> -<p>They had been kept so busy during those first -days in their new home that Ted had almost forgotten -that Randy wasn’t his brother. Randy -seemed to have taken to the family very well, Ted -thought, but he realized no foster parents could -take the place of his real father. As Ted fell -asleep, he was thinking what an unhappy day it -was going to be for all of them when Randy -found out that his father was never going to return.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c12">CHAPTER TWELVE -<br /><i>Illness Strikes</i></h2> -<p>The young folks planted seeds the next -afternoon when they came home from -school. Then in the next few days, they could -scarcely wait to see the first seedlings break -through the soil. The little green crooks popped -up the morning that Dr. Kenton was to leave -on his expedition.</p> -<p>The scientist said that the plants would grow -rapidly and produce edible food within the next -ten days. He gave the children instructions for -tending the crops, and they memorized his directions.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>He had showed Jill, Ted, and Randy how to -attend to the mechanical functions of the home -and also how to run the boat. The three helped -him to load his gear into the boat, and then stood -by as Dr. Kenton bade farewell to his wife. There -were tears in Mrs. Kenton’s eyes as she waved -good-by from inside the house.</p> -<p>Yank watched the strange goings-on from in -front of his own dwelling. He seemed to understand -that Dr. Kenton was leaving, but he still -had not made friends with him.</p> -<p>When they were all in the boat, Jill dropped -a fuel pill into the tank, and Ted took the steering -wheel. He skillfully guided the boat along -the winding watercourse to Main Canal and -along its length to the science building. They -all helped unload the gear on the dock, and Dr. -Kenton said that this was where they must part.</p> -<p>“You three will have to run things while I’m -away,” the scientist told them. “You shouldn’t -have any trouble, but if anything does happen, -call headquarters for help. There’s one thing I -want you to be sure to attend to. Bring the empty -spare air cartridges in the closet down here and -have them filled. You never know when you’ll -need them.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>“We’ll bring them tomorrow on our way to -school,” Ted promised.</p> -<p>Jill hugged her father hard and long. Like her -mother, she was tearful at his leaving. Ted, himself, -felt a tug of dread. He wondered if the trip -into the Martian wilds would be a successful one -or whether, as in the case of Randy’s father, it -would end in disaster.</p> -<p>The children went on to school. Ted was glad -to be going because it would take his and Jill’s -minds off the melancholy of their father’s departure.</p> -<p>Ted found the opening lesson particularly -interesting. In it he learned facts about the extinct -native Martians. Mr. Garland showed slides -on some diggings that had unearthed bones of -these early people. The bones had been organized -to the best of Earth scientists’ ability, but -many were missing, and the reconstructed figures -were largely guesswork. Ted wondered if his father’s -expedition would uncover more information -on these mysterious ancient people.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>As the young Kentons and Randy started for -home in the boat that afternoon, Jill complained -of having a headache. Ted told her it was probably -due to eyestrain from looking at the slides, -and this seemed to satisfy her. But when Ted -docked the boat at the house, Jill said she felt -worse.</p> -<p>Yank came running out to greet them, but the -boys were so concerned over Jill that they paid -little attention to him. He stood off sulking and -watched Ted help his sister out of the boat and -through the air lock of their house.</p> -<p>“Mother, Jill is sick!” Ted called when they -were inside.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton had been spraying the hose on -the plastic floor and furniture. She turned it off -and allowed the spring on the hose to pull it back -into the wall opening. The water swirled -through the drain in the center of the floor and -disappeared in a matter of seconds.</p> -<p>“What’s wrong with her?” Mrs. Kenton asked -in alarm.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>Ted helped Jill off with her helmet. He was -shocked to see that her face was feverish and her -eyes strangely bright. She wandered away from -the others and slumped tiredly on the divan.</p> -<p>“Don’t lie on that rubber cushion, dear!” Mrs. -Kenton cried. “It’s still wet. What on earth has -she got?” Mrs. Kenton asked the boys.</p> -<p>“It looks to me like she’s got bog fever,” Randy -offered.</p> -<p>“How could she catch fever?” Mrs. Kenton -asked.</p> -<p>“There’s a virus that comes from the sand bogs -and sometimes gets through the air valve of space -suits,” Randy said.</p> -<p>“I’d better call a doctor at headquarters right -away!” Mrs. Kenton declared.</p> -<p>She went to the radiophone and put through -the call. She was told that all the doctors were -out on calls and that it might be an hour before -one could come. However, when a nurse on -duty in the Medical Center learned about Jill’s -symptoms, she gave instructions for caring for -the girl until the doctor could come.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<p>As Mrs. Kenton switched off the phone, she -said, “The nurse said that Jill should be put to -bed and kept warm. Come on, Honey,” she -added, helping Jill to her feet and leading her -toward the guest room.</p> -<p>“Is the disease serious?” Ted asked Randy -worriedly.</p> -<p>“It can be,” Randy answered soberly. “We’ll -probably have to be quarantined,” he added.</p> -<p>“How long does bog fever last?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“The crisis comes pretty quickly after the first -attack,” Randy answered. “I remember, because -a friend of mine had it. If they pass the crisis, -they’re usually well in a few days.”</p> -<p>Ted was reluctant to ask the next question, -but he felt he must know.</p> -<p>“Did your friend recover, Randy?”</p> -<p>Randy shook his head, and Ted felt a cold -chill of dread run down his spine. He didn’t -know what he’d do if something happened to -Jill. She <i>had</i> to get well.</p> -<p>About twenty minutes later, Mrs. Kenton -came back to the living room. Her face was -drawn and worried.</p> -<p>“She’s sleeping fitfully and her head is burning -up!” she told the boys. “Oh, why doesn’t that -doctor come?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>With nothing else to do, the boys stared -through the clear plastic of the side wall at the -deepening afternoon. The purple sky was growing -darker, and the stars were gleaming steadily -brighter. On the horizon, where the miniature -sun was setting, the sky was painted in gorgeous -shades of red. Ted thought he had never seen a -more beautiful sunset, but he could not appreciate -it at this time.</p> -<p>Suddenly Ted spotted a strange yellow mass -gliding close to the ground and apparently coming -in the direction of the settlement.</p> -<p>“What’s that, Randy?” Ted asked. “Do you -know?”</p> -<p>“We’re in for trouble!” Randy answered.</p> -<p>“What do you mean?” Ted asked, alarmed.</p> -<p>“It’s a dust storm blowing this way,” Randy -said.</p> -<p>“I’m glad the house is well anchored to the -ground,” Ted muttered. He had already learned -in school that such storms were often fierce.</p> -<p>“It may be an awful blow,” Randy said. “It -may keep the doctor from getting through to us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<div class="img" id="pic7"> -<img src="images/i18.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="731" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The whole landscape was blotted out.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>Once more Ted had that sinking feeling. He -wished desperately that there were something -he could do. But, against the powers of nature, -he knew he was absolutely helpless. All he and -Randy could do was wait and hope.</p> -<p>A few minutes later the dust storm struck with -howling fury. The boys watched the sand spatter -noisily against the house. The whole landscape -was blotted out in a blinding, yellowish-red haze. -Mrs. Kenton came running into the room, looking -terrified. She had not been prepared for this -latest trouble.</p> -<p>“How long will this terrible storm last?” she -asked, when Randy explained what it was.</p> -<p>“Sometimes as long as an hour,” Randy replied.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton’s hands twisted in frenzy. “We -can’t wait that long. We must have that doctor. -Poor Jill is twisting and turning so much, I can’t -even keep damp cloths on her forehead.”</p> -<p>“Why don’t we call headquarters again,” Ted -suggested, “and see if the doctor will be able to -come out in the storm.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>As Mrs. Kenton went into the hall to radiophone -again, the boys heard the storm striking -with renewed power. Fine, cutting sand whipped -against the plastic walls with the sound of sleet, -accompanied by an eerie roar.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton came back quickly. “There’s no -sound at all over the phone!” she cried.</p> -<p>Ted instantly thought of the aerial on top of -the house. He went to the center room and -looked through the clear ceiling. His heart sank. -The aerial was swinging loose by the single center -pole.</p> -<p>“The storm has blown the antenna loose!” -Ted told his mother. “We can’t even phone -headquarters now, and they can’t reach us -either.”</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton left the room, moaning. They -heard her go down the hall to Jill’s room. The -only sound was the furious clatter of sand against -the house and the groaning of the terrible wind. -Ted’s eyes strained to detect some kind of break -in that awful cloud of yellow dust that surrounded -the house, hoping that the storm was -nearing its end.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>Suddenly Ted heard a weak sound outside, -above the roar of the wind. “Yank!” he cried. -“We forgot all about Yank! We’ve got to let him -in!”</p> -<p>They ran to the front-door air lock. There they -found the color bear clawing at the outer door. -The dust covered him so thickly that he nearly -blended completely with the yellowish background.</p> -<p>Ted flipped a switch opening the outer door. -Yank scrambled quickly inside. Then, when the -air pressure in the little outer compartment was -equal to that in the house, Ted opened the inner -door. Yank tumbled in in a flurry of scattering -sand.</p> -<p>Ted thought the Martian animal was the most -forlorn sight he had ever seen. His fur was dirty -and matted, his eyes were bloodshot, and every -step he took brought a cascade of sand down -around his feet.</p> -<p>“He looks like he needs another shower,” -Randy said.</p> -<p>“There’s nothing else we can do now,” Ted -agreed. Besides, he figured the activity would -take his mind off their troubles.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>Mrs. Kenton was still with Jill. The boys -marched Yank down the hallway to the bathroom. -When Yank saw what was in store for him, -he eagerly jumped into the shower basin. Ted -turned on the water, and streams of dark-red -liquid poured down Yank into the drain.</p> -<p>“He must have half the sand of Mars on him,” -Ted commented.</p> -<p>Suddenly his mother came up to the door and -looked in. “Jill’s getting worse!” she said. “Ted, -you and Randy must go out after the doctor.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c13">CHAPTER THIRTEEN -<br /><i>News for Randy</i></h2> -<p>Ted was not keen to venture out into the -dust storm, but thoughts of his sister lying -desperately ill quickly drove all hesitation from -his mind. He and Randy climbed into their space -suits, and as they approached the front-door air -lock, Ted was relieved to find that he could begin -to see through the thinning dust.</p> -<p>“It’ll be over in a few minutes now,” Randy -said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>But if Ted expected any easy time of it outdoors, -he was mistaken. The storm still had a lot -of fight left in it. The wind struck them relentlessly, -turning them around and blinding their -gaze with whirling dust. They could not even -thrust through it to the boat. Ted signaled to -Randy that they would have to stand close to the -house until the storm had subsided even more.</p> -<p>At last the wind died to gusts. The air was -clearer now, and the stars were once again visible -overhead.</p> -<p>“I think we can make it now,” Ted said.</p> -<p>They ran over to the boat and climbed in. As -Ted dropped a pellet into the tank, Randy said, -“Look at these scratches on the boat! That sand -must cut like a file!”</p> -<p>They jetted off down the waterway, Ted pressing -the accelerator pedal down to shove the boat -along as fast as it could safely go. They whirled -into the Main Canal and sped toward the science -building where the doctors had their offices. -Along the way, the boys could see that theirs -wasn’t the only aerial that had been blown down. -They could see space-suited figures on the individual -houses working on the webs of wires and -poles.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>Some whee birds appeared out of nowhere and -flew down to perch on the boat and serenade Ted -and Randy with their strange chants. However, -the boys were in no mood for them now, and -presently the friendly birds flapped off as though -they realized they were not wanted.</p> -<p>Before reaching the building, the boys saw a -boat speeding right at them.</p> -<p>“Look out!” Randy warned. “He’s coming -straight at us.”</p> -<p>But the boat pulled up just beside the craft -occupied by Ted and Randy.</p> -<p>“Are you the Kenton family?” the single occupant -asked over his radio.</p> -<p>“Yes, sir!” Ted answered quickly. “Are you -the doctor?”</p> -<p>“Yes,” the man answered. “The storm has -held me up. How’s your sister, Son?”</p> -<p>“She’s bad off, sir,” Ted answered. “That’s -why I had to come for you.”</p> -<p>“Turn your boat around and don’t spare the -horses, as they used to say,” the doctor said. “I’ll -be right behind you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>Ted made the fastest trip yet along the waterway -back home. True to his word, the doctor arrived -right at his heels. The doctor jumped out -of his boat at the house, grabbed up a large case, -and hurried toward the air lock. The boys went -ahead and opened the door for him.</p> -<p>When the doctor had met Mrs. Kenton inside, -he asked to see the sick girl alone. The boys and -Mrs. Kenton paced restlessly in the front room as -they waited for the doctor to come out of Jill’s -room. Finally, when Ted thought he could not -stand the waiting any longer, the doctor came -out. He was briskly shaking down a thermometer, -and his face was bland.</p> -<p>“She’ll be a sick girl for a few days,” he said, -“but she’ll be all right. I gave her a shot of some -special serum we developed to combat bog fever. -It was none too soon, either.”</p> -<p>There were tears of joy on Mrs. Kenton’s face, -and Ted felt as though he could turn handsprings. -Randy, too, looked vastly relieved. Although -he was not a true member of the family, -it seemed as though Ted and Jill were brother -and sister to him, especially since he had no -brother or sister of his own.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid all of you will have to be quarantined -for a week,” the doctor went on.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>“What’ll we ever find to do with ourselves -staying in the house for a whole week?” Ted -thought. Then he remembered the garden that -had to be tended, that antenna that had to be -repaired, and other mechanical duties that had -to do with the running of the house. If they kept -busy, the time would pass swiftly, he reasoned. -The boys went up on the roof to try to repair the -antenna, but there was such a tangle of wires they -did not know where to start. The doctor said he -would leave word at headquarters for a repairman -to come out.</p> -<p>“It may be a day or so before he can get out -here, though,” the doctor warned. “It looks as -though half the aerials in the settlement were -blown down.”</p> -<p>It was actually two days before a repairman -came. By that time, Jill had passed her worst -time, and she was able to sit up a little and see -the boys.</p> -<p>Ted and Randy were amazed at the rapid -growth of the plants in the garden. Already they -were eighteen inches high. Ted thought he could -almost see them growing before his eyes.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>As soon as the radiomen had repaired the antenna, -the boys sat down to watch the television -program in progress. It was a newscast that -showed in color the events going on all the way -back on Earth and within the settlement as well. -The huge five-by-four-foot screen was sharp and -clear.</p> -<p>Suddenly the regular telecast was interrupted. -A local announcer was switched in. He held a -paper in his hand, and by the expression on his -face, Ted knew he had something very important -to say.</p> -<p>“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said, -“we have just received word that several members -of the long-lost expedition to Syrtis Major -have been spotted and contacted by a routine -surveying plane. That is all the information we -can give you now, but stand by and we’ll keep -you posted on developments.”</p> -<p>Randy had sprung to his feet, and Ted could -see his body was tense as a coil of wire.</p> -<p>“Pops!” Randy burst out.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>“Your father’s expedition!” Ted exclaimed -at the same moment. Then before his hopes got -too high, he recalled that the announcer had said -that only some of the men had been found.</p> -<p>But Randy did not appear to be bothered by -this. His face glowed with happiness. He was convinced -his father was one of those who had been -located.</p> -<p>An hour later, another bulletin was given: “It -has been established that only six of the original -thirty-five members of the ill-fated expedition -are alive. Identity of the men has not yet been -given us. Stand by for further news.”</p> -<p>Randy bit his lip in disappointment as the -message was cut off. He and Ted remained by -the set for another hour without moving, hoping -any moment that more news would be given out. -At last it came:</p> -<p>“Our remote TV facilities will carry you to the -spot where the lost men were found,” the announcer -said. There was a gray screen for several -moments, and then the scene switched to the -interior of a rocket plane.</p> -<p>“It’ll be just like our going along with them -to the place!” Randy exclaimed happily.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<p>Ted kept his fingers crossed for Randy. It -would be a terrible shock to him if his father -were not one of the survivors. The unhappy moment -he had dreaded for so long might now be -at hand. Their screen showed the swift trip from -Lowell Harbor over red sands and lichen forests. -At last the plane came in for landing in a wild, -rocky region.</p> -<p>The man who met the TV men in the plane -was the pilot who had first sighted the missing -engineers. “Come with me,” the pilot said, “and -I’ll show you who the survivors are and we’ll hear -their story.”</p> -<p>Ted saw Randy get up and move close to the -screen. He saw Randy’s toe beat a nervous tattoo -against the floor as he waited. Mrs. Kenton had -come into the room in the meantime, when she -found what was going on. Even Jill could hardly -be restrained from leaving her bed to come in -and take part in the great discovery that meant -so much to young Randy Matthews.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<p>“The men survived by holing up in an underground -cave, and they signaled the scouting -plane,” the pilot explained, as he led the TV -men over the rocky ground. “It was a landslide -that broke up the expedition, destroying all -means of transportation and communication. -The six who lived through it gathered up all -the spare oxygen tanks and food supplies. They -had plenty along because the expedition was -to have lasted three months. They carried the -tanks underground where a hot spring kept them -warm.”</p> -<p>When the entrance to the cave was reached, -the pilot called inside, and six space-suited figures -walked tiredly out. They were not recognizable -in their space dress, for even their -helmets were too dark to show their faces.</p> -<p>“Gentlemen,” the TV announcer said to the -survivors, “I’m sure every television set, at the -colony and on faraway Earth too, is tuned to -this spot. Of course, the big question in all the -people’s minds is which of the men who were -lost are among you alive. Will each of you pass -before our camera and give your name?”</p> -<p>Ted felt his nerves tighten as the men, one by -one, faced the screen. Two, three, then four -bearded men passed and gave their names. -Randy’s father was not one of them. Two more -to go. Just then the worst possible thing happened. -The screen suddenly went gray.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<div class="img" id="pic8"> -<img src="images/i19.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="728" /> -<p class="caption"><i>The picture flashed on.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>Ted heard Randy groan. The seconds ticked -by. Still no picture. Finally, after five minutes, -the announcer said that picture service would be -restored in a few more minutes. Ted could see -the perspiration gleaming on Randy’s face, and -his fingers were clenching and unclenching continuously.</p> -<p>“What a frightful thing for him to be going -through!” Mrs. Kenton whispered to Ted. “I -certainly hope and pray his father is one of those -remaining two.”</p> -<p>The picture flashed on. The announcer spent -a moment or two explaining the difficulty that -had thrown the picture off; then he called the -two remaining men. The fifth showed himself. -In the close-up his smiling, grimy face was visible -through his helmet.</p> -<p>“Is—that him?” Ted asked tremulously.</p> -<p>Randy’s head wagged slowly in the negative. -Finally the last man walked up, and Randy gave -a scream of joy and sprang over to the screen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>“My name is Robert Matthews,” spoke the -bearded man. He smiled and waved into the -screen. “Are you listening, Randy boy?”</p> -<p>Ted looked at Randy. His shoulders were -hunched over and were shaking with quiet sobs. -Ted could see tears of joy in his mother’s eyes. -Then he realized there was a lump in his own -throat.</p> -<p>Randy’s father was alive. To Ted, it was almost -as though it were his own father who had -been found.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c14">CHAPTER FOURTEEN -<br /><i>Peril in the Night</i></h2> -<p>Randy would have liked nothing better than -to have been at Lowell Harbor to welcome -his father, but the quarantine made that impossible. -However, Randy left word for his father to -phone him on arrival.</p> -<p>Hours after the sensational telecast, the radiophone -finally buzzed. Randy ran to it, flipped a -switch, and listened on the two-way microphone.</p> -<p>“Pops!” Randy exclaimed. “Yes, it’s me! How -are you?” On and on the excited conversation -went.</p> -<p>“Isn’t it wonderful, Mom?” Ted said to his -mother.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>“It certainly is!” she answered. “Your dad and -I really believed Randy would never see his father -alive again.”</p> -<p>Yank had been allowed into the house. He -seemed to realize that this was a moment of good -times, for he capered about like an animated ball -of fur. He even tried to make noises into the mike -himself, but Randy playfully pushed him off.</p> -<p>Feeling pretty good himself now, Ted thought -that if Yank wanted action he’d give it to him. -He cuffed the little animal gently along his head. -Yank tore after him, catching him near the air -lock. Down went the boy and color bear together. -Yank growled menacingly but did not impress -Ted with his mock ferocity. Yank got on top of -Ted, and Ted called for help.</p> -<p>Just then Randy’s long conversation with his -father ended, and he came over to join the fun. -Then the three of them were scrambling and -yelling together. Ted halted his play for a moment -to look up and see Jill standing in the doorway, -her face beaming as though she would like -to join the fun. Mrs. Kenton looked around, and -her face darkened.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<p>“You’d better get back in that bed, young -lady!” her mother threatened.</p> -<p>Jill squealed and ran off to bed. Ted saw that -his mother was not really angry. She was smiling, -and Ted knew she was glad to find that Jill was -feeling so much better.</p> -<p>The rest of the day passed on the same high -note of joy. Where several days ago, everything -had been fear and gloom, now everything was -rosy. The next day, after Randy had talked with -his father again, he was impatient to get out and -meet him. Ted, too, was beginning to feel the -pinch of the quarantine.</p> -<p>The boys went out to take a look at the garden. -The stems were high and full of broad leaves. It -looked like a miniature jungle here. And in such -a short time! Ted checked the atmosphere gauge -that showed the percentage of oxygen to carbon -dioxide in the greenhouse. The gas from the carbon -dioxide tank had to be just so, or the plants -would suffocate from an overabundance of oxygen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>When the boys returned to the living room, -Mrs. Kenton said to them, “I have a surprise for -you two. Turn your heads.”</p> -<p>They did so, and when she told them to look -around they saw a fully dressed Jill standing -there, her cheeks pink and healthy again. Ted -hugged his sister as though she had been away -a long time and was just getting back.</p> -<p>At last, the day that, it had seemed, would -never arrive finally did come. Randy was up especially -early that morning, saying that he wanted -to visit his father before he went to school.</p> -<p>The children were in the living room awaiting -breakfast.</p> -<p>“I’m sure they’ll let you off from school one -more day to be with your father, Randy,” Mrs. -Kenton called from the kitchen.</p> -<p>“Even if they do, I don’t want to lose any time -seeing him,” Randy said.</p> -<p>Suddenly Jill pointed a shaky finger toward -the front door. “L-look, there’s a man at the -door?”</p> -<p>Ted turned around, startled. “I wonder who...” he -began.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>But Randy was not puzzled. He ran across the -room and flipped the switch that controlled the -air lock. A few minutes later a robust man in a -space suit entered and pulled off his helmet. He -had a rugged, kindly face which showed the -effects of the terrible strain he had been under so -long. But he was smiling.</p> -<p>“Pops!” Randy cried and threw his arms -around him.</p> -<p>“Boy, what a squeeze you have!” Mr. Matthews -grunted. “You’ve grown, Randy.”</p> -<p>When their prolonged greeting was over, -Randy introduced his father to the Kentons. -Ted’s hand was almost lost in the large, powerful -grip of Mr. Matthews.</p> -<p>“You’re just in time for breakfast, Mr. Matthews,” -Mrs. Kenton said.</p> -<p>“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked -meal,” the man answered wistfully. “I’d -like to join you.”</p> -<p>As they were eating, Dr. Matthews heard the -story of his son’s adoption by the Kentons. Then -he said, “I can’t thank you folks enough for taking -care of my boy just as if he were one of your -own.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<div class="img" id="pic9"> -<img src="images/i20.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="744" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“Pops!” Randy cried.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p>“Randy <i>has</i> been one of us,” Mrs. Kenton said -warmly.</p> -<p>“What do you say about that?” his father -asked. “Do you want to leave these nice people?”</p> -<p>Randy looked uncertain. It was a situation he -had given little thought to before. “I don’t really -like leaving them,” Randy said hesitantly. Then -he seemed to have an idea. “I’ve got it, Dad! Why -can’t you come and live here?”</p> -<p>Mr. Matthews laughed. “I’m afraid that’s -carrying hospitality too far. No, we’ll build us a -house of our own, as close by as we can. Until we -get an allotment of housing material, we’ll get a -room in headquarters.”</p> -<p>“There’s no use both of you living there,” -Mrs. Kenton said. “Why not led Randy stay on -here until your house is ready to move into?”</p> -<p>“Sure,” Ted put in. “Why can’t Randy do -that?” He had been saddened at the thought of -Randy leaving the household. It had seemed as -though Randy was going to be with them always, -for he had not believed that Randy’s father was -ever coming back.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>Randy thought this was a fine idea. Ted could -see that he did not like parting with the Kentons -any more than they did with him. Mr. Matthews -was reluctant to take further advantage of the -Kenton hospitality, but at last was talked into the -proposition.</p> -<p>The children went along with Randy’s father -back toward town, following along in the Kenton -boat. Mr. Matthews said he’d arrange for Randy -to have the day off from school so that the two -of them could have a good visit.</p> -<p>The young Kentons were glad to be back in -the thick of things. They found school particularly -interesting that day, because a field trip was -announced by Mr. Garland.</p> -<p>“Every year this class is given an exploring -field trip over certain areas of the planet so that -you can get a firsthand knowledge of Mars’s geography,” -the instructor declared. “The trip is by -plane and will last two days. You must have your -parents’ consent, of course.”</p> -<p>That afternoon, as Ted and Jill left school, -Ted said, “What do you think of that trip, Sis?”</p> -<p>“It sounds like fun!” she said. “I hope we can -go.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<p>“I’d like to, too, but don’t forget Mom would -be by herself.”</p> -<p>“I’d forgotten about that,” Jill said disappointedly. -“Mother would tell us to go on, if we -asked her, I know, but I still wouldn’t want to -leave her. There are so many things that could -happen.”</p> -<p>“We’ll just have to forget it then,” Ted said. -“Maybe we can make it another time.”</p> -<p>The two kept a brooding silence, and Ted -wondered if Jill was as disappointed as he was. -When Randy found out that they had decided -not to go, he said he did not care to go either.</p> -<p>That night Ted had a dream. In it he was exploring -on the great barren desert with Jill and -Randy but they wore no helmets and it seemed -as though they could hardly get their breath. -They gasped and choked, and the dream grew -into a nightmare of terror. Suddenly, Ted woke. -He sat up in bed in a cold sweat, feeling a strange -lightheadedness. His breath was coming hard -into his lungs.</p> -<p>It had not only been a dream. Something had -happened to the atmosphere in the house.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c15">CHAPTER FIFTEEN -<br /><i>The Peril Continued</i></h2> -<p>“Randy, wake up!”</p> -<p>Ted was jostling his bedmate. Randy -opened sleepy eyes. He seemed to be unaffected -by the reduced air pressure in the room. Ted -remembered that people vary in their reaction -to this.</p> -<p>But when Ted told him of the danger, Randy -bounced out of bed with no further prompting. -Ted switched on a light, and just as he was reading -the air-pressure gauge on the wall, he heard -a shrill whistle in the house. It was the air alarm -that had gone off automatically. Ted could see -that the gauge read dangerously low.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>If he and Randy and the others did not get into -space suits in a hurry they would suffer serious -consequences, one of which could be an attack -of the “bends.” At worst, they would lose consciousness -and die of anoxia—oxygen starvation.</p> -<p>Even before Ted could leave the room to -rouse his mother and sister, both were standing -at the boys’ door.</p> -<p>“We’ve got to get on space suits right away!” -Ted told them. “It looks like all the air pressure -in the house is leaking out!”</p> -<p>They went immediately to the closet and began -dragging out space dress in a mad flurry of -fear. They pulled on the suits and helmets with -haste and inflated the airtight outfits with fresh, -pressurized oxygen from the small tanks on their -backs.</p> -<p>“What do you think has happened to the air -drum in the basement?” Mrs. Kenton asked her -son over her helmet radio.</p> -<p>“I don’t know, but Randy and I can go down -there and see,” Ted answered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>The boys went downstairs, made a light, and -walked over to the giant metal tank recessed in -one of the walls. Checking the gauges on the -tank, Ted turned to Randy with a frown.</p> -<p>“There’s nothing wrong with this,” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Then where is the trouble?” Randy asked.</p> -<div class="img" id="i21"> -<img src="images/i21.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="315" /> -</div> -<p>“There must be a leak somewhere in the -house,” Ted said. “We’ve got to find out.”</p> -<p>The boys went upstairs, and Ted told his -mother and sister that all of them should spread -out and search the entire house for a leak. There -were emergency sealers on hand to plug such a -leak when it was found. The sealers were only -temporary, but they would last until a full repair -could be made by a repairman.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<p>Each of them took a room and worked toward -the middle of the house in their search, all lights -having been turned on to give maximum illumination. -The job was no easy one. Even the slightest -crack anywhere would be sufficient to cause -the loss of pressure; it was just like a tire tube -with a tiny puncture. Ted was the first to finish -his assigned area. He had found nothing. Presently -Randy was through, then Mrs. Kenton, -then Jill. No one had found a leak anywhere, and -the entire house had been covered.</p> -<p>“We must have missed it somewhere!” Ted -said. “We’ve wasted a whole hour!”</p> -<p>“The spare cartridges your father told us to -have filled!” Randy suddenly exclaimed. “We -didn’t do it!”</p> -<p>“We forgot to in all the excitement after he -left!” Ted groaned.</p> -<p>“What’ll we do?” Mrs. Kenton asked, horrified. -“In another hour or so, we’ll have used up -the air in our suits!”</p> -<p>“Can’t we refill our suit cartridges from the -air drum downstairs?” Jill asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<p>Ted shook his head. “It’s not built that way.”</p> -<p>“Then we must phone for help right away,” -Mrs. Kenton said and rushed off to the radiophone.</p> -<p>In a few moments she was back. “They’ll send -someone from town with spare cartridges right -away,” she said, “but the man said we couldn’t -get a repairman until morning to fix the leak. -We’ll have to stay in our space suits if we don’t -find the leak.”</p> -<p>“Then let’s look for it again,” Ted suggested.</p> -<p>Once more they spread out all over the house, -but this time they changed areas, so that if a -mistake had been made before there was less -chance of repeating it this time. They renewed -their search, and it was not until all were -through, again without having found the leak, -that they realized that another hour had passed -and the man with the spare cartridges had not -shown up.</p> -<p>“The gauge in my helmet shows I’ve got only -ten minutes of air left!” Jill said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<p>The others checked their gauges. All showed -about ten minutes’ supply remaining. And there -was no guarantee that the spare cartridges would -arrive in that time.</p> -<p>Just as Mrs. Kenton was going to the radiophone -to call the air-supply center again, the -phone buzzed and she answered it. After listening -a moment, she turned to the children with a -white face. “The man’s boat developed some -trouble on the way. He says he can’t get here for -fifteen minutes.”</p> -<p>“That’ll be too late!” Jill cried.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton relayed this information and -then said, “He wants to know if we have any -neighbors close by we can borrow from.”</p> -<p>“I know it’ll take us more than ten minutes to -get there and back!” Ted answered, recalling the -goodly distance to their closest neighbor.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton reported this and then, after -listening for several seconds, she finally hung up. -“He says that he’ll call back to headquarters and -get an emergency truck here as quickly as possible. -But he can’t be certain that it will get here -in time either.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_175">175</div> -<p>Jill began sobbing. Ted could see his mother’s -lips trembling, but she was trying to be brave. -Mrs. Kenton hugged Jill to her, trying to calm -her. Ted saw Randy fidgeting nervously. His -own stomach felt queasy, and waves of terror -went through him as he thought of the consequences -of running out of air.</p> -<p>“Come on, Ted,” Randy said finally to his -friend, going from the hall into the living room. -“We’ve just got to find that leak. If we can find it -and plug it, the house pressure will rise to -normal in a couple of minutes. I remember our -own place doing that once before!”</p> -<p>“But we’ve gone over the whole place twice!” -Ted argued. “There’s no hope!”</p> -<p>“Either we’ve passed the leak without seeing -it,” Randy went on, “or the leak is in a spot that -we didn’t look at.”</p> -<p>“But there isn’t any place we didn’t look!” -Ted said. “Of course, there are some places we -couldn’t get to, like....”</p> -<p>They both thought of it at the same time. -Both boys’ eyes shifted to the drainage hole in -the center of the plastic floor. Here was one spot -they had not been able to check. There was a -grillwork molded into the plastic that was not -easily removable.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_176">176</div> -<p>“Suppose it is the drain hole, though,” Randy -said. “How can we find out?”</p> -<div class="img" id="i22"> -<img src="images/i22.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="500" height="387" /> -</div> -<p>“I’ve got it,” Ted answered. “We’ll plug up -the whole thing with a sealer, then check the -room gauge to see if the pressure builds up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>A rubberoid sealing patch was taken out of its -case and applied over the hole. They flattened -it out tightly to assist the adhesive to cling fast -in place. Then all four of them went over to -the wall to watch the pressure gauge.</p> -<p>A minute passed, and the needle failed to -move even the tiniest bit. If this did not work, -they knew they would surely be lost, because -from where they stood, they could see outside -for quite a distance, and still no one was coming.</p> -<p>Over his radio, Ted heard the nervous intake -of breath from the others. He knew his hurried -breathing must sound the same to them. Actually, -fear was hastening their doom because -the more scared they were the more oxygen they -used up.</p> -<p>Ted stole a look at his helmet gauge. Only -three minutes of air remained! His eyes turned -to the wall gauge again. He wished he could put -out his hand and push it along toward normal. -How desperately he wished for it to move!</p> -<p>Ted thought he noticed a flicker of the needle. -He blinked his eyes. Yes, it had moved! The -others had seen it too.</p> -<p>“It moved!” cried Jill, almost hysterically.</p> -<p>“It certainly did!” her mother burst out. “I -saw it!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_178">178</div> -<p>The needle continued to climb toward normal. -Ted had nothing to say. He was so filled -with relief that he was speechless for the moment.</p> -<p>They were all so concerned over the snaillike -movement of that all-important needle that they -paid no attention to the last few dwindling -draughts of air in their suits. Ted was the first -to realize that his tank was empty. He began -feeling that same lightheadedness he had experienced -in his room.</p> -<p>“Our suits,” he cried out. “Pull them off! The -room is just about normal!”</p> -<p>He unclipped his own helmet, then pulled it -off and drank in precious gulps of fresh air. The -others followed suit. Soon the needle was vertical, -indicating that normal pressure and air supply -had been restored.</p> -<p>It was five minutes before a light came swiftly -across the desert, moving in their direction. -They heard the pop of an exhaust a moment -later as a big-wheeled truck pulled up to a roaring -stop outside.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>Ted knew it must be the arrival of the emergency -cartridges. But they had been five minutes -late. A shudder shook him as he realized what a -close call this had been. Had they not found the -leak when they did, none of them in the house -would now be alive to greet the men.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_181">181</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c16">CHAPTER SIXTEEN -<br /><i>Disappointment</i></h2> -<p>The next afternoon, when Ted, Jill, and -Randy arrived home from school, Mrs. Kenton -told them that the repairmen had taken care -of the leak in the drain. It seemed that the hole -had been partially stopped up so that the water -had collected and frozen in it, causing the pipe to -crack.</p> -<p>Jill had been impatient to talk ever since she -had gotten in the house. Now her chance had -come. “Mother, you know what Mr. Garland -wants us to do?” she asked eagerly.</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton smiled. “What does he want you -to do?” she asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_182">182</div> -<p>“He wants us to bring Yank to school for a -demonstration lesson in Martian zoology,” Ted -broke in.</p> -<p>Jill’s face clouded over with disappointment. -“I wanted to tell her,” she muttered.</p> -<p>“Sorry!” Ted said. “I didn’t know it was a -secret.”</p> -<p>Jill slapped at him playfully, but Ted ducked -in time.</p> -<p>“You little clowns stop performing and get -ready for supper,” Mrs. Kenton said. “We’re -eating early because I have a surprise for you.”</p> -<p>“A surprise!” Jill echoed. “What is it?”</p> -<p>Her mother smiled secretly but did not answer. -Jill ran off to her room and the boys went -to theirs. When the children had dressed and -washed, they seated themselves at the dining-room -table. Mrs. Kenton brought in a large -platter of real roast beef.</p> -<p>“This is the surprise!” Jill said.</p> -<p>“If it isn’t, I’ll settle for it!” Ted put in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_183">183</div> -<p>Beef was a rarity on Martian tables. It was -brought in only occasionally on the rocket supply -ships. Most meat was of the dehydrated and -cube variety that took less space.</p> -<p>“No, this is not the surprise I was talking -about,” Mrs. Kenton said, “although it was to -me when the supply boat drove up this morning -with special rations.”</p> -<p>“Do you mean there is still another?” Jill -asked.</p> -<p>Her mother nodded and went on. “The beef -took only a few minutes to roast in the electronic -oven. I remember my grandmother making so -much of a pressure cooker. She probably would -never have believed there would be an oven of -the future that cooked in even less time than the -pressure cooker and without any heat whatsoever.”</p> -<p>When the main course of the meal was over -and apple pie was brought in, the children were -sure this was the surprise Mrs. Kenton had -promised. She said the supply boat had brought -the fresh apples with the meat. But even the -treat of apple pie was not the special surprise.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_184">184</div> -<p>When supper was over Mrs. Kenton conducted -the children into the living room and -had them gather around a recording machine -owned by their father. Mrs. Kenton set a spool -of wire rotating and told them to listen.</p> -<p>“Hello, kids!” came a voice.</p> -<p>“Father!” Jill exclaimed.</p> -<p>They listened to a message addressed especially -to them. When it was over, Mrs. Kenton -explained that their father had called by remote -broadcast from his distant work during the day. -Then he had had her make a special wire recording -for them so that they could hear it later. -Mrs. Kenton told them this was the surprise. -The children admitted that this was an even -greater one than the beef and the apple pie.</p> -<p>“I thought Father sounded sort of sad or disappointed,” -Jill commented.</p> -<p>“You were right, dear,” Mrs. Kenton replied. -“Their work hasn’t gone along as well as they -expected. They had a small landslide that -buried the best of their diggings, which will take -larger machinery than they’ve got to unearth. -On top of that, the tracks they thought would -prove to be a clue to the disappearing Martians -aren’t human at all but belong to a group of -animals they have already classified.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<p>“Gee!” Ted murmured sympathetically, remembering -how enthusiastic his father had -been before he had left. Now the greatest mystery -on Mars—that of the disappearing Martians—was -just as baffling as before.</p> -<p>“Because of this,” Mrs. Kenton said, -“they’re ending the expedition ahead of time -and coming home.”</p> -<p>“That’s why he said he’d be seeing us -shortly,” Randy said.</p> -<p>“I’m glad to hear that, anyway,” Jill murmured.</p> -<p>“When will he be back?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“Within two or three days, he said,” his -mother replied.</p> -<p>“That will be before the class goes on -the ...” Jill burst out, then covered her -mouth with her hand as she caught herself.</p> -<p>“Before the class goes on what?” Mrs. Kenton -asked.</p> -<p>“We’ll have to tell her now,” Jill said lamely -to the boys.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_186">186</div> -<p>“The class is going on a sight-seeing rocket-plane -tour of Mars next week,” Ted explained.</p> -<p>His mother looked at Jill curiously. “But why -such a secret about it?”</p> -<p>“We just thought you wouldn’t be especially -interested,” Jill said, “since we weren’t going.”</p> -<p>“Don’t you want to?” Mrs. Kenton asked.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes!” Jill said. “Only....”</p> -<p>A knowing look came into Mrs. Kenton’s eyes. -“I see! You didn’t tell me about it and show -your interest because you didn’t want to leave -me here alone! That’s it, isn’t it?”</p> -<p>Mrs. Kenton threw an arm around each of her -children. “That was a very unselfish thing for -you to do,” she said. “But now that Father will -be back sooner than he expected, you’ll be able -to go after all.”</p> -<p>“Can we really, Mother?” Jill asked enthusiastically, -her eyes full of stars.</p> -<p>“Will it be dangerous?” Mrs. Kenton asked -cautiously.</p> -<p>“There have been lots of these trips made -already,” Randy volunteered. “There hasn’t -been any trouble yet.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_187">187</div> -<p>“Well, you have my permission,” Mrs. Kenton -said, “but your Father will have to agree too.”</p> -<p>“But tomorrow’s the last day we can make -reservations!” Jill protested. “If we wait until he -comes, we can’t make it!”</p> -<p>“Go ahead and make your reservations then,” -her mother said. “I don’t believe your father will -object if I don’t. But if he does, you can cancel -your seats.”</p> -<p>“We’ll lose our money if we do that,” Ted -said, “but I guess that can’t be helped.” Suddenly -Ted looked fearful. “Dad did leave the check-book, -didn’t he?”</p> -<p>“Yes, he left it,” his mother assured him with -a smile.</p> -<p>“Pops is coming out here tonight for a visit,” -Randy said. “Now that you and Jill are going -on the trip, Ted, I think I’ll ask Pops to let me -go along too!”</p> -<p>“That’ll be great!” Ted said. “All three of us -will go together.”</p> -<p>The next morning the children got Yank up at -an early hour so that he could go off to school -with them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> -<p>“You’d better be on your good behavior today,” -Jill warned the color bear as they climbed -into the boat. “If you cut up like you do in the -house, Mr. Garland may flunk us!”</p> -<p>Yank looked at her solemnly as though he -understood. But then his broad mouth widened -in a grin as if he were telling the girl that he had -no intention of taking her remarks seriously! As -soon as the boat moved down the waterway, Yank -stood up.</p> -<p>“Sit down, Yank,” Randy told him. “You’re -rocking the boat!”</p> -<p>Yank paid no attention to this reproof. He was -enjoying himself.</p> -<p>“Stop him!” Jill squealed. “He’ll turn us -over!”</p> -<p>Randy rose unsteadily to his feet and moved -toward the rear. He made a lurch at him, but -Yank leaned out of his reach and looked back, -grinning merrily.</p> -<p>“You naughty bear!” Jill cried, half in fear -and half in anger.</p> -<p>Randy leaned forward again and pulled Yank -back on top of himself with a fierce jerk. As -Randy went down, the bear rolled off him and up -on the edge of the boat.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_189">189</div> -<div class="img" id="pic10"> -<img src="images/i23.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="711" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Yank went over the side with a splash.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_190">190</div> -<p>Randy lunged at him, but Yank’s fur slipped -from the boy’s fingers. Yank went over the side -with a splash into the frigid water. As soon as -Yank touched the water, Randy made a grab at -him and caught one of his forepaws. Yank -screeched in shock and fear at the sudden freezing -plunge.</p> -<p>Ted slowed the boat down and turned the -wheel over to Jill while he helped Randy pull the -Martian animal aboard again. Yank looked thoroughly -beaten as he flopped, dripping and cold, -into the bottom of the boat. His round little ears -were drooping sadly, and the corners of his -mouth were turned down. He looked more like -a polar bear now, because crystals of frost were -growing all over him.</p> -<p>In spite of themselves, the children had to -laugh at their little pet’s predicament. As the -shiny spikes of frost popped out on his face, Yank -would brush at them furiously with his paws. -Even his eyebrows were growing icy. This further -increased the laughter of the children.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div> -<p>“I guess that’ll teach you to behave, Yank!” -Ted chuckled, and offered to take the wheel -back.</p> -<p>“Let me drive the rest of the way,” Jill said.</p> -<p>Ted yielded to her, and he was pleased at the -skill with which she drove and docked at the -science building.</p> -<p>The children were a little ahead of time, and -this gave them a chance before class to tell Mr. -Garland about their wish to make the trip with -the others. Randy had gotten his father’s permission -the night before.</p> -<p>Mr. Garland frowned as he looked over his list, -and Ted had a sinking feeling.</p> -<p>The teacher looked up. “Two of you can go, -but not all three, I’m afraid. Yesterday I thought -that quite a few more could go, but I found out -last night I had omitted several names from my -list. Which one of you wants to drop out?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_192">192</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c17">CHAPTER SEVENTEEN -<br /><i>Yank in School</i></h2> -<p>At this surprising remark from their teacher, -the young folks’ faces drooped with disappointment. -For several seconds none of the three -had anything to say. Mr. Garland idly fingered -the two checks they had handed him.</p> -<p>Finally Randy spoke up. “I’ll drop out,” he -said. “I’ve been on a trip like this before with -my father, but Ted and Jill haven’t.”</p> -<p>“That’s a fine decision, Randy,” Mr. Garland -said. He handed one of the checks back and -added the Kenton children’s names to his list.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_193">193</div> -<p>For the moment, all interest in the trip was -gone for Ted. He knew Randy must be keenly -disappointed. Although until late yesterday none -of them had expected to go, they had talked a -long time last night with Mr. Matthews over the -exciting things they would see. Randy had been -quite as interested as Ted and Jill about the coming -adventure.</p> -<p>Suddenly Ted said: “Take Jill’s and my name -off the list too, Mr. Garland. I don’t think two -of us should go if the third one can’t.”</p> -<p>“That’s right,” Jill agreed.</p> -<p>“That doesn’t make sense, you two,” Randy -protested.</p> -<p>Mr. Garland looked up. “There’s no sense -both of you missing the trip for the sake of one. -It’s the educational opportunity of a lifetime.”</p> -<p>Ted then gave in, although he knew it was -not going to be nearly so much fun without -Randy along.</p> -<p>The discussion ended abruptly when Ted -heard a shriek from one of the incoming pupils. -He turned and was shocked to see Yank chasing -one of the girls toward the back of the room.</p> -<p>“Yank, come back here!” Jill called, when she -saw what was going on.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_194">194</div> -<p>But Yank was once more enjoying himself. -He was grunting happily as he pursued the girl -around the back of the room, and along the -side toward the front. The bear’s three owners -caught the little fellow as he was coming around -again.</p> -<p>“I just patted him and he took out after me!” -gasped the girl who had been chased.</p> -<p>“He was just playing,” Ted told her. “He -couldn’t hurt you if he tried. His teeth are only -made for chewing soft flowers.”</p> -<p>Mr. Garland restored order and announced -that zoology would be the first subject of the -day so that the active Yank could then be taken -outside. First Mr. Garland stood Yank on the -platform at the head of the class with Ted to help -keep him still.</p> -<p>The teacher pointed out the physical characteristics -of the Martian animal, touching Yank’s -paws, head, jaws, and other parts with a pointer. -Yank followed the movement of the stick with -his eyes. Then the whole class started giggling. -The bear was looking at the stick cross-eyed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_195">195</div> -<p>Ted had to force down a grin. He could see -that Mr. Garland was having the same trouble. -When Yank got tired of following the stick with -his eyes, he seized it in his mouth and began -gnawing on it. This brought a burst of laughter -from the pupils.</p> -<p>Ted took the stick from Yank, and the bear -thought this was a signal for them to wrestle. At -home, this was the way Ted usually got him to -play.</p> -<p>“Get off me, Yank,” Ted muttered in a low, -angry voice. “We’re at school, not home! I -thought we warned you to behave yourself here! -You’re just trying to show off!”</p> -<p>Yank seemed to get the tone of Ted’s outburst, -even if he could not understand the words. He -stopped his foolishness and actually kept as still -as a little gentleman for the next few minutes -as Mr. Garland continued to demonstrate.</p> -<p>But then he could hold off no longer. As the -instructor was leaning over close to him to point -out the peculiar upsweep of his blue-tipped eyebrows, -Yank’s big red tongue came out of his -mouth and scraped along Mr. Garland’s cheek.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_196">196</div> -<p>The teacher blushed at the renewed laughter -as he wiped his face with his handkerchief. Ted -was worried lest Mr. Garland hold Yank’s behavior -against him. But the teacher was a good -sport and said, with a grin, “You win, Yank. -Better take him outside, Ted. This will have to -conclude our study of Martian color bears for -a while!”</p> -<p>Ted took Yank outside and tied him beneath -the classroom window so that he could watch him -every now and then. Ted knew what the animal -must be thinking: “Please let me in! I’ll behave -myself.”</p> -<p>When Ted returned, the class was quiet again. -Mr. Garland set up the projector for a color -movie on American history. But this was not -merely a history lesson. The children were told -to study the costumes and architecture. It was -actually several studies in one.</p> -<p>When the picture was over an hour later, Ted -was blinking his eyes to accommodate them to -the harsh daylight again when one of the children -cried out, “Look!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_197">197</div> -<p>Every eye in the room did look. Following the -pointing finger, they turned their gaze to one of -the transparent side walls. There was Yank standing -with his button nose pressed flat against the -plastic, just like a small child looking out a glass -window. This brought another round of laughter -from the class. On this note, Mr. Garland -dismissed the class for lunch.</p> -<p>That afternoon, as Ted, Jill, and Randy were -about to leave for the day, Mr. Garland called -them back just as they reached the door.</p> -<p>“Oh-oh,” Ted murmured with dread. “He’s -going to give it to us now for bringing that little -cutup to school!”</p> -<p>Meekly the three of them stood in front of -the teacher’s desk. He looked up at them and -smiled. “I don’t think that little bit of fun hurt -us this morning. But please don’t bring Yank -back again! I’m afraid one day of him is all I can -stand.” He looked outside where they could see -Yank seated on the ground.</p> -<p>He smiled again, and the relieved children -grinned back. They had started toward the door, -when Ted, who was looking back, pulled Randy -and Jill to a stop.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_198">198</div> -<p>“Listen,” he said. He turned them around and -they heard part of a conversation Mr. Garland -was having with one of the other pupils that -might very well work to their benefit.</p> -<p>“Did I hear that boy say he couldn’t make the -trip?” Jill whispered excitedly.</p> -<p>“I thought he did,” Ted replied.</p> -<p>They waited expectantly, hoping that the -teacher would look up and call them back. Ted -felt a new surge of hope rise in him when Mr. -Garland finally motioned to them. The boy, -meanwhile, had left.</p> -<p>“I’ve just had a cancellation,” Mr. Garland -told them. “Randy, you can make that trip after -all, if you want to.”</p> -<p>“Do I?” Randy burst out, his face beaming. -He fumbled around in his pocket for the check -his father had given him. Then he pulled out -the rumpled slip of paper.</p> -<p>The instructor smoothed it out and wrote -Randy’s name on the list. The children left the -room and walked happily down the hall.</p> -<p>“That was a swell thing you did, Randy,” Jill -said, “giving up your place to one of us. I’m so -glad that you really can go!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_199">199</div> -<div class="img" id="pic11"> -<img src="images/i24.jpg" alt="" width="499" height="800" /> -<p class="caption">“<i>Please don’t bring Yank back.</i>”</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_200">200</div> -<p>“I’m glad too,” Randy admitted. “After all -we talked about last night, I sure wanted to go -badly!”</p> -<p>Yank hopped around excitedly as he saw his -friends coming up to release him.</p> -<p>“You’ll never see this place again, Yank,” Ted -said to him sternly, as he untied him. “I guess -you’re just not cut out to be a school pupil.”</p> -<p>For this remark, Ted got a juicy lick on the -side of his helmet.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_201">201</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c18">CHAPTER EIGHTEEN -<br /><i>Trouble in the Air</i></h2> -<p>Dr. Kenton arrived home the following afternoon. -Ted could see that he was a very -different person from the one who had set out. -His father looked tired and beaten. Even the -special meal of fresh fruits and vegetables from -their garden failed to interest him very much.</p> -<p>As they were eating supper, his wife asked -him, “Why was this expedition so important to -you, John?”</p> -<p>“I suppose I had counted too much on its -being a huge success,” the scientist replied. -“Then too, I thought it would solve that all-important -question of the disappearing ancient -Martians that’s been puzzling us ever since the -first landing was made here ten years ago.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_202">202</div> -<p>“There’ll be other expeditions,” Mrs. Kenton -said encouragingly. “Some day you’ll find the -answer, I’m sure.”</p> -<p>“Yes, I suppose so,” Dr. Kenton said. But Ted -could see that his father was very downcast because -of the expedition’s failure.</p> -<p>“I wish I had known you were coming when -you did,” Mrs. Kenton said to her husband. “I -would have invited Mr. Matthews to eat with -us. You knew that Randy had found his father, -didn’t you?”</p> -<p>Ted was glad to see his father smile as he -turned to Randy. “Yes, we got the news,” Dr. -Kenton said. “I’m sure glad for you, Randy. You -see, it never pays to give up hope. I’ll be pleased -to meet your father.”</p> -<p>Just then Yank came bounding in from the -living room. The bear had taken to the taste of -lettuce leaves, and Ted would occasionally slip -him a leaf from the table. Yank sidled up to Ted, -where he sat next to his father, eyeing the crisp -leaves on the boy’s plate. Yank’s other eye was -cast warily at Dr. Kenton, whom he still appeared -not to regard as a close friend.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_203">203</div> -<p>“When are you and I going to be friends, -Yank?” the scientist said as Ted handed the bear -a green leaf. He reached out to pet the little -Martian animal, but Yank drew back. “I can’t -understand your attitude, young fellow.”</p> -<p>Ted thought this the proper moment to bring -up a very important matter. “Dad,” he began, -“Jill and Randy and I have signed up for a -sight-seeing plane tour of Mars with our school -class. Mom says it’s all right for us to go if you -agree.”</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton thought a moment, and Ted felt -doubtful. Then his father said, “I think it would -be a grand thing for you. You can get a lot better -picture of this planet from the air than you ever -can from the ground.”</p> -<p>“Goody, we can go!” Jill cried out.</p> -<p>Ted felt like shouting himself, for now the -last barrier had been removed and they were -going for sure.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_204">204</div> -<p>The next week found twenty-five eager students -stepping into a sleek jet craft from the roll-away -ladder at Lowell Harbor. Randy and Ted -found a double seat together, and Jill sat with a -girl friend. When all the passengers were in, Mr. -Garland said that they could remove their space -helmets.</p> -<p>When all were seated, they waved to their -parents and relatives who stood on the ground.</p> -<p>“I’m as excited as if I’d never made a trip like -this!” Randy said.</p> -<p>“I’m excited too!” Ted admitted. He didn’t -add that he had scarcely slept the night before -because he was in such a dither of anticipation.</p> -<p>Mr. Garland told the children to fasten their -safety belts, as they were almost ready to take -off. In a few minutes they felt the ship moving -beneath them. Ted waved a final farewell to -his parents and Mr. Matthews, for he had a seat -beside the window. When they waved back, Ted -felt a little uneasy. It was the first time he had -ever been away from his folks. He wondered -fearfully if something would happen on the -flight so that he would never see them again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_205">205</div> -<p>Swiftly the rocket plane picked up speed. -Then, with a whoosh of jets, it launched itself -into the air.</p> -<p>“We’re off!” one of the boys shouted gaily.</p> -<p>Soon Lowell Harbor was only a small circle -in the red desert behind them, and the vast -stretches of wilderness began to come into view. -Mr. Garland pointed out the important natural -formations as they cruised along. By now almost -all of Mars had been accurately mapped. There -were miles and miles of wind-ribbed sand dunes -with rows of furrows like a farmer’s carefully -seeded fields.</p> -<p>Ted had never before realized the wonder of -the canals until he saw them from this height. -They were straight as arrows, and some were -tremendous in size, even dwarfing the majesty of -the Grand Canyon of Arizona. It caused him to -wonder again about those very accomplished engineers -of the ancient past who had built them -and had since so mysteriously disappeared.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_206">206</div> -<p>Ted recognized much of the landscape from -their geography study. Some of the ocher-red -deserts and forests had been named far back in -the past before the twenty-first century. They -passed over the great oasis of Solis Lacus and the -dense woodland of Mare Sirenum. But always -there were canals, and more canals, draining the -great icecaps and supplying the entire planet.</p> -<p>“Isn’t the sky pretty?” Jill said to Ted and -Randy who were sitting behind her. “It seems -we’re closer to the stars when we’re off the -ground.”</p> -<p>Ted had to agree with her. The heavens were a -deep gorgeous violet, with the starlight pulsing -softly through. They traced the slow movement -of Phobos, the timeteller, and they could also -pick out the distant tiny moon, Deimos, that -resembled a white arc light.</p> -<p>The hours passed all too quickly for the eager -sight-seers.</p> -<p>“We’re over the Great Martian Forest,” Mr. -Garland told them late that afternoon. “It’s the -end of the line. After we’ve covered this, we’ll -start back.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_207">207</div> -<p>Ted looked groundward, seeing what resembled -a colossal, sprawling beast spread out in -all directions. Ted shuddered at the sight. Many -explorers had been trapped in this terrible wilderness -and had never come out alive. Wild animals, -blind trails, and carnivorous whip plants -were thought to have destroyed them.</p> -<p>Suddenly someone called out as he pointed -down, “Look, what’s that moving?”</p> -<p>All stared where he pointed. In an open space -inside the forest, numerous creatures were rolling -along like a tide.</p> -<p>“They’re blue rovers,” Mr. Garland said. -“They’re something like the old American bison -that roamed the plains of the United States.”</p> -<p>More strange animals were seen, and still the -plane was not out of the huge forest. If anything, -the jungle grew even more densely, and now -rocky cliffs and shallow gorges could be seen -among the thick vegetation. Mars had no extremely -deep or high natural formations such as -the Earth had.</p> -<p>“Most of the forest turns brown in the winter,” -Mr. Garland addressed his students, “but -when the polar cap melts in the spring, everything -pops out green again.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_208">208</div> -<p>Ted knew that the seasons were twice as long -on Mars as they were on Earth, even though the -days and nights were just about the same. How -frightfully cold must be the winters, he thought. -But on the other hand, what a long, nice summer -to enjoy!</p> -<p>Finally the dense growth began thinning out -again as the outer fringe of the forest was reached. -Suddenly, without warning, the plane careened -sharply on its side. Some of the students were -flung out of their seats, and they screamed in -terror. Mr. Garland, who had been standing by -a window, was thrown backward onto the floor. -When the ship had righted itself, Mr. Garland -climbed slowly to his feet.</p> -<p>“Anybody hurt?” the teacher asked.</p> -<p>No one else appeared to be, but Ted saw Mr. -Garland grimace in pain. He seemed to have -injured his ankle.</p> -<p>“Mr. Garland, <i>you’re</i> hurt!” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Never mind me!” the instructor said. “Put -your safety belts on—quickly!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_209">209</div> -<p>His students did so, and then the plane started -bucking again. Poor Mr. Garland was flung -against the wall this time, but he recovered himself -and hobbled into the pilot’s cabin to see what -was wrong. Ted heard his classmates babbling -in fright all around him. He and Randy tried to -quiet Jill’s mounting terror.</p> -<p>“Take it easy,” Ted said to her. “It may not be -anything serious.”</p> -<p>Mr. Garland was back in a few minutes, and -Ted could see that his face was grave.</p> -<p>“We’ve got to bail out, kids,” he told the class -grimly.</p> -<p>“Into that?” cried one of the boys, pointing -to the forest below.</p> -<p>“We’ve no other choice, the pilot tells me,” -Mr. Garland replied, his voice shaky. “There’s -a fire in the jets, and we can’t crash-land without -wrecking the plane.”</p> -<p>Terrified, the students stared at him, as -though they still could not believe what he was -saying.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_210">210</div> -<p>“He says there’s an open space ahead of us -where we can parachute down,” Mr. Garland -went on. “He’s sending a message for help now. -We’ve got enough supplies and air to last us until -a search party comes from Lowell Harbor. -There’s no cause for alarm.”</p> -<p>There was no more time for talk. Despite his -obviously painful injury, the teacher quickly distributed -chutes and showed the children how to -put them on. The chutes were specially designed -for use in Mars’s rare atmosphere. Next, space -helmets were donned. Then Mr. Garland lined -the children up with their rip cords fastened to -an overhead cord for automatic opening of the -chutes when they jumped. Ted, his sister, and -Randy had stayed together, and they found themselves -the first three in line to jump.</p> -<p>Chutes with supplies had been shoved out -first by hand, and then Mr. Garland signaled to -Ted for the first jump. Things had moved so -swiftly that Ted hardly had time to become -scared. Randy and Jill seemed to feel the same -way. The ship was still jerking erratically and -plumes of smoke swirled about. The oval door -was open, and Ted saw yawning space beneath -him. At Mr. Garland’s word, he took a deep -breath and sprang out. He felt the straps on his -back yank him sharply as the chute popped open.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_211">211</div> -<div class="img" id="pic12"> -<img src="images/i25.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="754" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Down, down he went.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_212">212</div> -<p>Down, down he went. Finally he glanced upward -and saw two other parachutes above him. -They would be Jill and Randy, he thought. He -looked groundward again to see where he was -heading. Just as Mr. Garland had said, a flat open -space lay beneath.</p> -<p>Once more he glanced upward. There were -still only two other chutes above. Where were -the others? Hadn’t they jumped too? Then he -spied the ship at a considerable distance away. -It was careening downward as though heading -for a crash!</p> -<p>Ted felt a sick tug in his stomach. It looked as -though the three of them were the only ones who -were going to escape alive. The ship must have -gone out of control before the others could -jump!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_213">213</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c19">CHAPTER NINETEEN -<br /><i>Terror in the Night</i></h2> -<p>As soon as Ted reached the ground, he made -for the spot where he had seen the supply -chutes land. If these were lost, especially the one -with the spare air cartridges, Randy and Jill and -he could never survive until help came.</p> -<p>Ted ran down a dusty ravine. His eyes -searched clumps of bushes and spiky cactus, and -a momentary panic came over him. The chutes -were not in sight. Just then he was aware that -a strong wind was blowing. The chutes had -probably carried farther than he had thought. -He searched some more, and his heart quickened -with joy when he found the two parachutes -within yards of each other, half buried in the -sand beyond a big boulder.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_214">214</div> -<p>As soon as he had found these, he thought immediately -of Randy and Jill. He should have -seen them by now. He returned to the spot where -he had come down, but they were nowhere -around. A new terror crept into his breast. Could -the wind have carried them farther up into the -forest, possibly into the dangerous part where -the brush grew dense as jungle and deadly whip -plants thrived? The wind was stronger than ever -now, but he ducked into it and renewed his -search.</p> -<p>He made a thorough examination of the territory -all around, but after a half hour’s time he -still had not located Jill and Randy. For the sixth -time he returned to his original spot where he -had left the parachutes of supplies. By now the -blood red of approaching sunset was filling the -sky, and grotesque shadows were creeping over -the ground.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_215">215</div> -<p>Ted could not remember when he had felt any -more depressed and lonely than he did at this -moment. He could imagine all sorts of terrible -things happening to his sister and friend. By -now, the wind had died down. Thank goodness -the blow had not brought on one of those violent -dust storms, he thought.</p> -<p>Suddenly he heard a noise overhead that -quickened hope in him. It had sounded like the -drone of a plane! He leaped to his feet from -where he had been slumped on the ground and -searched the darkening starry sky. Yes, there was -a plane! He could hardly believe it when he saw -that the number on the wedge-shaped wing was -the same as that of the ship from which he had -bailed out. That meant that the plane had not -crashed after all!</p> -<p>As the plane roared overhead, he ran back and -forth and waved his hands frantically to get the -attention of someone in it. To his dismay the -plane kept on going and presently was lost in -the approaching twilight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_216">216</div> -<p>He thought the world had ended for him now. -Jill and Randy were gone, and hopes of rescue -too. But then he heard a crashing of bushes near -by. His heart thudded against his ribs in fear. -He was remembering that wild animals inhabited -this district, and he was totally unarmed.</p> -<p>Then he heard his name called. A moment -later Randy and Jill came running up! He was -never so glad to see two people in his life as he -was then.</p> -<p>“What happened to you?” he asked them.</p> -<p>“The wind carried us down into the forest a -little way,” Jill answered. “Oh, Ted, I was scared -to death! Those whip plants throw out arms like -an octopus at anything that comes near them! -I almost got caught by one!”</p> -<p>Ted showed them the chutes that held spare -air cartridges and food. Unfortunately, Mr. Garland -had thrown out only a few supply chutes, -not all of them.</p> -<p>They had never eaten with space helmets on, -but they had learned about the tiny air-lock -opening in the facepiece of the helmet that made -this possible.</p> -<p>“These will last us through the night,” Ted -said. “I don’t know what we’ll do after that. A -search party probably won’t get here that quick.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_217">217</div> -<p>Just then Jill heard the plane returning. Ted -hurriedly explained that this was the one they -had been on and that it had not crashed after all. -He said that all three of them should run back -and forth and wave like everything to try to attract -their attention this time.</p> -<p>Ted thought that the plane had missed them -again, but then he saw it bank and head back -toward them. The ship circled overhead for several -minutes, and the children saw a parachute -drop out. They followed the chute to the ground -with their eyes and ran over to it.</p> -<p>“Here’s a note,” Ted said, untying an envelope -from the chute. He opened it. “It says: -‘Open the long case and you will find a walkie-talkie -radio in it. Turn it on, and we’ll speak -with you.’”</p> -<p>They did this. Then Ted spoke into the mike, -“Can you hear me?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_218">218</div> -<p>“Yes,” came Mr. Garland’s voice. “We had -just about given up hope of sighting you. The -ship went out of control just after you three -jumped. But the fire in the engine burned out -soon after, and the pilot regained control. We -should be able to get back to Lowell Harbor all -right, even though we’re crippled. Are you three -hurt?”</p> -<p>“No, sir, just scared,” Ted answered.</p> -<p>“We’ll send you down all the rest of our air -cartridges and more food and water,” the teacher -went on. “They’ll last you through tomorrow, -and by that time a search party should be back -in a helicopter. We can’t possibly land, ourselves, -because of the terrain and our damaged engine. -I’d come down myself to stay with you, but my -ankle is broken and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be -much help. However, if you want me to....”</p> -<p>“I think we’ll be all right,” Ted said bravely, -yet feeling an encroaching dread even as he said -it.</p> -<p>“There’s an electron rifle and flashlights in -with the other stuff,” Mr. Garland said. “I don’t -think anything will bother you, though; otherwise -I wouldn’t leave you alone. Most of the animals -stay back in the thickest part of the forest.”</p> -<p>“Will you be going now?” Ted asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_219">219</div> -<p>“Yes, there’s no way else we can help you except -send rescuers as quickly as possible,” Mr. -Garland declared. “Whatever you do, don’t leave -that spot.”</p> -<p>That ended their conversation. Presently the -other supply chutes filled the air, and Randy and -the two young Kentons retrieved them. Then, -lonesomely, the three watched the plane disappear -into the sunset.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid,” Jill murmured, casting an -anxious glance around her at the forbidding -woodland.</p> -<p>“I am too, Sis,” Ted confessed. He looked at -Randy, and his eyes were enough to tell that he -was frightened too.</p> -<p>They looked around for some place of protection -overnight. As the sun disappeared behind a -distant ridge, they found a shallow opening under -a clump of rocks that would shield them -on three sides at least. Then they ate from a -food packet, and after this they admitted that -they felt better.</p> -<p>“If we get through this night safely,” Ted -said, “we’ll probably make it all right.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_220">220</div> -<p>At last darkness set in. Phobos was making -one of his frequent trips across the heavens, -but his light was weaker than moonglow on -Earth. However, it seemed to Ted that it -wasn’t quite so lonely now, with the sky burning -with its millions of cold lights. Yet it was -still frightening to know that the three of them -were off by themselves in probably the most -perilous region of Mars.</p> -<p>They decided it was best not to use their -flashlights unnecessarily, lest they attract wild -beasts. They kept the atomic rifle handy in -case it was needed in a hurry. Ted suggested -that two of them sleep while one stood watch. -Jill said she’d like to take the first watch because -she was too nervous to sleep anyhow.</p> -<p>Ted was just about to doze off some minutes -later when Jill’s scream blasted into his radio -and brought him springing to his feet.</p> -<p>“There!” Jill said, pointing.</p> -<p>Randy too was wide awake now, and the three -of them stared, fear-stricken, across the dark -drifts at a giant creature which stood at a distance -looking at them. The light of Phobos -and the stars was bright enough to show his -awesome outline.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_221">221</div> -<p>“What is it?” Ted whispered to Randy.</p> -<p>“It’s an elephant ant,” Randy whispered -softly. “See that trunklike sucker on its head? -Get the gun, Ted. These things are mean.”</p> -<p>Ted caught up the atomic rifle and set it for -fire, thinking all the while how Mr. Garland -had missed his guess about their not being -troubled by animals. Slowly the enormous insect -approached the opening in the rocks. It -was indeed the height of an elephant. Ted could -hear the rustle of its hard-shelled body as it -walked nearer.</p> -<p>The Martian animal’s slowness up until now -deceived Ted, for, without warning, the insect -broke into a rapid run. Bravely Ted tried to -take careful aim and protect the two unarmed -ones with him. But even as he fired the gun, -Jill bumped him in her mad dash to escape -the oncoming horror.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_222">222</div> -<p>Ted saw a blinding glare that lit up the -scene for a moment as brightly as noonday. In -that shocking instant Ted got a vivid view of -the elephant ant, its brown spindly legs and -antenna shining glossily, its curling trunk out-thrust -at them menacingly. But as the blast of -the rifle died out and the ant continued to -charge, Ted knew he had missed his mark.</p> -<div class="img" id="i26"> -<img src="images/i26.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="700" height="325" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_223">223</div> -<p>There was no time to fire again. Ted couldn’t -carry much, but he dropped his useless weapon -and gathered up the spare air cartridges. Then -swiftly he darted after Jill and Randy, who -seemed to have found a way of escape. He saw -them disappearing through a narrow passage -beside the rock. He was glad to see that Randy -had managed to hang onto one of the flashlights -and was leading the way with it.</p> -<p>Ted didn’t know how long they ran up and -down rocky inclines and gullies. But they seemed -to be leaving their enemy behind. They ducked -in and out of clutching vines and creepers. -More than once, Ted dropped one of the bulky -air tanks, but he retrieved them, for they were -the most precious things they possessed. Finally -he caught up with Randy.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_224">224</div> -<p>“Help me take these!” he urged Randy.</p> -<p>The boy took some and they hurried on after -Jill, whose fear seemed to have given her unusual -speed. At last they reached the point where they -could punish themselves no longer. Jill had fallen -exhausted to the ground, and Ted felt as if he -were ready to drop too. If the ant reached them -now, it simply couldn’t be helped. Ted had -sacrificed the rifle for the precious air cartridges, -but he was not sorry he had done so.</p> -<p>They sprawled breathlessly on the ground, -their chests heaving, their eyes staring fearfully -in the direction they had come. Any instant -they expected to see the horrible creature bearing -down on them again. But after several -minutes, during which time the animal had not -appeared, Ted felt they had eluded it. For the -first time since the terrifying adventure, he felt -that he could relax.</p> -<p>And yet he could not relax, really, even now. -For the balance of the night still lay before them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_225">225</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c20">CHAPTER TWENTY -<br /><i>Lost Underground</i></h2> -<p>The three of them decided it was not safe -to go back to the open area tonight. After -waiting a while longer still in the dark to see that -their attacker was not coming, they searched -the gloom around for a place to spend the rest -of the night.</p> -<p>Randy found an opening in the dense underbrush -ahead of them. Jill and Ted followed -him and his flashlight beam along the trail. -Suddenly they saw him stop dead in his tracks. -Ted walked abreast of him.</p> -<p>“What do you see?” Ted asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_226">226</div> -<p>Randy did not reply but instead shot his light -ahead into the darkness. Ted saw before them -a huge cave entrance.</p> -<p>“Gosh, do you suppose that’s the den of some -wild animal?” Ted asked.</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” Randy answered in a quivery -voice. “It seems like a good place to stay if it -isn’t.”</p> -<p>Jill had joined them by now. She too had -taken some of the load of the spare oxygen -cartridges.</p> -<p>“Are we going into that spooky place?” Jill -asked.</p> -<p>“We can go up to it carefully and shine our -light in,” Ted said. “But we’d better be ready to -run if something comes charging out! I wish I -had that gun now!”</p> -<p>Jill hung back as Randy and Ted moved -stealthily forward toward the black cavern entrance. -Randy had his light shining directly into -it all the time they were moving. When they -were at the threshold of the cave, they got a -good view of the interior.</p> -<p>“It’s not deep at all!” Ted said. “It just goes -back a little way.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_227">227</div> -<p>“It looks deserted too,” Randy added. “Seems -safe to me. What do you think, Ted?”</p> -<p>“Let’s go inside and see if there’s anything -lying around,” Ted suggested. “If it’s a den, -there ought to be bones and things.”</p> -<p>Cautiously they entered the cavern. Its ceiling -reached high over their heads and the opening -was festooned with trailing vines and creepers. -Even the jungle growth seemed to have taken -over, weeds and thick grass choking the floor. -Boulders of all sizes were scattered around.</p> -<p>“It looks like it hasn’t been used for years and -years,” Ted commented.</p> -<p>They flashed the light over the whole interior, -but there was no sign of recent use. There was -one other exit—a narrow passage at the rear.</p> -<p>“If we close up that rear opening with a big -stone, it ought to be safe for us to stay here,” -Randy said.</p> -<p>Ted agreed with him. They called Jill, and -the three shoved a large red boulder in front of -the narrow passage. They divided watches again, -but before relaxing for the night, they replaced -their air cartridges with new ones.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_228">228</div> -<p>Randy took first watch this time. Ted was very -tired from their exhausting race and had trouble -falling asleep, but the next thing he knew, Randy -was shaking him to change watch.</p> -<p>The rest of the night passed without further -disturbance. The boys got softhearted about -calling on Jill for her turn, and rather than wake -her, they stood her duty. Another change of air -cylinders had to be made before morning. Ted -was able to change Jill’s while she slept.</p> -<p>The orange glow of dawn was a welcome sight -to the children. Things did not seem half so -grim in the dawn as they had the night before. -The sun’s feeble rays shone directly into the -cave mouth. The boulder covering the rear -opening was still in place.</p> -<p>Ted caught Randy’s eyes staring thoughtfully -at the boulder. He wondered if Randy was -thinking the same thing that he was: <i>What was -on the other side of that mysterious opening?</i></p> -<p>“Hadn’t we better be getting back to the open -place?” Jill asked, as they were putting on fresh -air tanks again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_229">229</div> -<p>“The search party won’t be coming until a few -hours yet,” Randy said. “Besides, it’s not very -far.”</p> -<p>Ted knew then that Randy, too, was curious -about the opening. He was stalling their return.</p> -<p>Ted then came right out with it. “I’d sure like -to know what’s on the other side of that rock.”</p> -<p>“Why don’t we go and see?” Randy said -eagerly.</p> -<p>“We could go just a little way,” Ted added, -glancing at Jill, whose face showed doubt. “Just -a few feet even.”</p> -<p>Jill gave in grudgingly, but she got the boys -to promise that they wouldn’t go far. “Don’t forget, -we’ve got some food back there,” she reminded -them, “and I’m getting hungry.”</p> -<p>They left the air cartridges in the cave and -walked through the enticing opening, Ted in -the lead. He flicked on his flashlight, for it was -pitch dark. Ahead of him he saw a narrow -passageway. Slowly he moved along it, Randy -and Jill right behind him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_230">230</div> -<div class="img" id="pic13"> -<img src="images/i27.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="734" /> -<p class="caption"><i>They felt themselves tumbling downward.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_231">231</div> -<p>They were completely unprepared for the -shock that next came to them. Suddenly the -ground dropped away under their feet, and -they felt themselves tumbling downward!</p> -<p>All three of them cried out in terror as they -fell. Finally Ted felt his body striking a -cushioned surface. Then he was rolling down -an incline of the same soft material. Down, -down, head over heels he went—deeper and -deeper into the core of the red planet, it seemed.</p> -<p>At last his body stopped turning. Something -crashed into him from behind. Then he heard -heavy breathing and gasping and he knew that -it was either Randy or Jill who had collided with -him.</p> -<p>“Jill? Randy?” he asked in a shuddery voice, -still dazed by their rough experience.</p> -<p>“Yes,” Randy’s voice came weakly.</p> -<p>“Jill!” Ted cried. “Where are you?”</p> -<p>“Here I am,” she answered, from a few feet -away. “What happened to us?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” her brother answered dully. -He felt around for broken bones, but he appeared -to be uninjured.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_232">232</div> -<p>“Are you two all right?” he asked Jill and -Randy.</p> -<p>They said they thought so. By now Ted could -see their forms very faintly. There was light -coming from somewhere. Their next task was -to try to find a way out of this dismal place.</p> -<p>“I knew we should have gone back!” Jill -complained bitterly. “Now we probably never -will!”</p> -<p>“I’m sorry, Sis,” Ted said lamely. “You were -right. I’m sure glad we changed our air tanks -before we left!”</p> -<p>“Let’s start looking for a way to the top,” -Randy said. “The search party will never find -us down here.”</p> -<p>They discovered that the flashlight had been -smashed in the fall. They would have to depend -now on catlike vision to show them the way. As -nearly as Ted could make out, they were still -in a corridor. It stretched mysteriously ahead of -them, turning a bend about fifty feet away.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_233">233</div> -<p>“That seems to be the only way we can go,” -Ted said, looking forward. “We certainly can’t -climb back up the way we came down.” He -looked behind at the steep, rugged incline they -had so unexpectedly tumbled down. The slope -was covered with a matting of lichens or moss -that had broken their fall.</p> -<p>They walked along the corridor. Finally the -light at the far end began to get brighter.</p> -<p>“It looks like daylight ahead!” Jill said hopefully.</p> -<p>They increased their pace in the hope of -finding a way leading back to the surface of -the ground. They made a final turn in the -winding underground aisle. Then the corridor -abruptly blossomed into a mammoth open area, -still underground.</p> -<p>The sight that faced them quickened their -heartbeats and made their mouths sag open -in amazement. Before them stood a towering -iron gate, through which they could see evidence -of one-time human habitation!</p> -<p>“What in the world have we found?” Ted -exclaimed.</p> -<p>“It must be a city!” Randy burst out. “It is! -We’ve found an underground Martian city!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_234">234</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c21">CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE -<br /><i>A Struggle Against Time</i></h2> -<p>“A Martian city!” Ted echoed. “Wouldn’t -Dad like to be in on this!”</p> -<p>“I don’t care about an old city!” Jill complained. -“I just want to get out of here!”</p> -<p>“Maybe we can find a way to the top from in -there,” Ted proposed. “There’s no other place -we can go.”</p> -<p>The three walked up to the towering gates -and began tugging on them. At first the gates -would not budge, but after much struggling, -the children got one open wide enough on its -creaking hinges so that they could squeeze -through. Once inside, they began walking along -a rocky avenue lined with small buildings and -statues. The high dome of the city gleamed with -a light of its own, illuminating the entire grand -underground area like brilliant moonlight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_235">235</div> -<p>“The glow has probably been burning for -thousands of years,” Randy remarked, “ever -since the first Martians built the city.”</p> -<p>“It’ll probably be thousands of years more -before it’ll go out,” Ted added. “It seems to have -the natural light that Mr. Garland said some of -the Martian caves have.”</p> -<p>They paused before a statue, and all three of -them felt chills race up their backs as they -realized they were the first Earth humans ever -to gaze on the true likeness of a Martian. The -man was not very different from Earthmen. He -had the usual number of arms and legs, but -he was short and spindly and his head was bald. -If the color of the statue was correct, the extinct -Martians had light-green skins.</p> -<p>“Dad and the other scientists will sure have -the time of their lives with this place!” Ted said. -“It may even hold the answer to the biggest -riddle about what caused the Martians to disappear.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_236">236</div> -<p>“Father won’t find out anything about it if we -don’t get out of here!” Jill said anxiously.</p> -<p>“There must be a way to the top of the ground -somewhere,” Randy answered. “I don’t see how -the Martians could have walked up that steep -incline we slid down.”</p> -<p>“Maybe the dirt has covered it over during the -years,” Ted said. “Maybe there are steps underneath. -But I don’t see how we could expect to -uncover them. Let’s go on.”</p> -<div class="img" id="i28"> -<img src="images/i28.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="700" height="255" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_237">237</div> -<p>They moved along, searching the uneven -rocky streets. It was not a large city, and the -three had no trouble keeping their bearings. -A check on their air supply showed only an hour -and a half of oxygen left in each of their suits. -There would be even less were they to hurry and -so breathe faster. This time they had no spare -cartridges. If they did not find their way topside -by that time, they were surely doomed.</p> -<p>After covering part of the city, the children -found that the end of it fanned out into five -separate narrow streets.</p> -<p>“One of these streets may lead to ground -level,” Ted said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_238">238</div> -<p>“The only thing to do is try them,” Randy -came back.</p> -<p>“We’ll save time if each of us takes a different -way,” Ted suggested.</p> -<p>But Jill would have none of this plan. She -had no desire to follow a lonely underground -avenue by herself. They finally decided that -Ted and Jill would go together and Randy -agreed to go alone.</p> -<p>“We’ve got to watch out that we don’t get -lost,” Ted cautioned. “Don’t go off down any -alleyways, Randy. We won’t either.”</p> -<p>“We ought to set a time when we both meet -back here,” Randy said.</p> -<p>“I’ve got it,” Ted said. “We’ll count off ten -minutes and then start heading back whether -we’ve found anything or not. If neither of us -has found anything, we’ll try the other streets -the same way.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_239">239</div> -<p>Ted and Jill took their leave of Randy and set -off down the thorofare. They had to hurry because -of their dwindling time, and yet they dared -not go so fast that they were breathing heavily. -The way they followed carried them quite a -distance down the deserted street, on both sides -of which were crumbling buildings of plaster -set close together. By the time the ten minutes -was up, Ted and Jill had come to a dead end -against a stone wall.</p> -<p>“This way certainly can’t help us,” Ted -muttered. “Let’s go back to Randy.”</p> -<p>When they got back and Randy had not returned, -Ted became worried. Time was fleeting -steadily, and they still were no better off than -they had been before. Finally Ted heard a -scuffling along the street and saw Randy hurrying -his way.</p> -<p>“No luck!” he gasped. “I got sidetracked -on the way back. Then I had to run to get here in -time.”</p> -<p>“You shouldn’t have done that,” Ted told -him. “Now you’ve got less air than we have. -What does your gauge show?”</p> -<p>“Fifty-six minutes,” Randy answered, after -checking.</p> -<p>Ted examined his own and asked Jill about -hers. “We’ve got an hour and five,” Ted said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_240">240</div> -<p>“We’ll have to hurry if we’re going to search -the other three streets,” Randy pointed out.</p> -<p>This time Jill agreed to help by going alone -so as to save time. They agreed to cut the search -period to five minutes, at which time they would -come back to their meeting place. Ted had been -gone about a minute when he heard someone -calling. His heart stirred with hope, and he -hustled back at moderate speed to the place -from where they had started.</p> -<p>“I think I’ve found a way out!” Jill was crying -excitedly.</p> -<p>Fortunately they were able to catch Randy -before he got very far, and the two boys followed -Jill down the street where she had made her -discovery. After a hundred feet or so they came -into a big open area and at one side of it there -rose a huge stone staircase leading upward.</p> -<p>“There!” Jill cried happily.</p> -<p>“Let’s go up!” Ted urged.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_241">241</div> -<p>They started up the steps that slowly turned -in a half spiral as they ascended. After a long -climb, the children found themselves in a large -gallery. In spite of their hurry, the three became -as hypnotized by the sight of many stone -tables or altars arranged in orderly fashion -throughout the place. Lying on top of the altars -were long oblong cases, fancily decorated.</p> -<p>“These must be coffins!” Randy burst out.</p> -<p>“Let’s get out of here!” Jill pleaded.</p> -<p>Ted’s gaze had turned from the altars to the -smooth, rounded walls of the room that were -covered with paintings from one end to the -other.</p> -<p>“Look!” he exclaimed, running over to the -wall. “The Martians had a Michelangelo too! -Those pictures seem to tell a story! Say, do you -suppose this mural shows the history of the -Martian race and what happened to them?”</p> -<p>“I don’t care what they show, Ted!” Jill retorted. -“All I want to do is get out of here before -our air is gone!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_242">242</div> -<p>Ted saw the wisdom of her remark and gave -up an impulse to look over the exciting story in -pictures. Another flight of stairs was the only -way out of the shrine, and without delay the -three hurried up. They made a final turn on the -stairs and then the subdued glare of Martian -sunlight struck their faces. They were finally -above ground.</p> -<p>They appeared to have walked into a sporting -arena which was surrounded by tiers of stone -seats, much in the manner of the ancient Roman -Coliseum. As the three of them crossed it -through deep powdery dust, they found bones -of strange animals scattered over the whole area. -There were also the remains of curved swords -and scarred shields.</p> -<p>“Ugh!” Jill shuddered. “There’s no telling -what terrible things took place on this very spot -we’re walking over!”</p> -<p>“There’s an opening over there on the other -side,” Randy indicated.</p> -<p>“Let’s go to it,” Ted suggested. “I can’t wait -to get off this gruesome field either!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_243">243</div> -<p>They moved across the arena briskly, yet not -too fast. They headed directly for the opening -in the high stone wall that encircled the ancient -field of contest. When they reached the entranceway, -they passed through and found themselves -at the fringe of a forest. A few dozen paces carried -them through green corkscrew trees to an open -plain.</p> -<p>“I guess the trees around here kept this place -from being discovered before now,” Ted said.</p> -<p>“Which way do we go now?” Jill moaned. -“We’ve got to find that cave where our air tanks -are!”</p> -<p>Ted made a quick orientation of their position -in relation to the arena and underground -city. “My guess is the cave ought to be in that -direction,” he said, pointing southward around -the bend of the arena. “What do you think, -Randy?”</p> -<p>“It sounds right,” Randy agreed. “Let’s get -started.”</p> -<p>They had no more than set out again when -Ted suddenly pulled up sharply in his tracks, -nearly toppling over backward in the motion.</p> -<p>“Gee! Look what I almost stepped on!” he -shouted, pointing in the dust ahead of him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_244">244</div> -<p>It was a matlike object, lying flat in the red -dust, with rows and rows of fine hairs vibrating -over its surface. Ted remembered the deadly -carpet plant from his study of Martian botany -in school.</p> -<p>“Ted!” Jill screamed, as she saw the danger.</p> -<p>To study the action of the plant for himself, -Ted picked up a broken shard of pottery and -tossed it onto the plant. Instantly the voracious -plant rolled up tightly, enveloping the shard -in its sucking folds.</p> -<p>“That’s what would have happened to your -foot if you’d stepped on it, Ted,” Randy said -in a shivery voice.</p> -<p>They carefully skirted the carpet plant and -hurried on, bearing southward in the direction -they hoped would bring them to the mouth of -the cave that had been the original cause of -their trouble.</p> -<p>“How much air time, Randy?” Ted asked, -beginning to pant a little.</p> -<p>“Eighteen minutes,” Randy answered, and -Ted could hear a nervous whimper from Jill.</p> -<p>“You sure this is right, Ted?” Randy asked -worriedly, a few minutes later. “If you’re wrong -we’ll die. I’ve only got seven minutes of air left -now. It’s really going fast with us hurrying so!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_245">245</div> -<p>Ted sighed heavily and felt a clutch of dread -in his heart as he studied Jill’s pinched, anxious -expression. They <i>had</i> to be headed right! They -just couldn’t lose the battle after being so close -to salvation.</p> -<p>At last they rounded a huge face of rock that -Ted thought he remembered. The cave should -be only a few feet away beyond that clump -of vegetation, he told himself. They pushed -through the curling, tubelike leaves. To their -left lay the cave entrance!</p> -<p>Randy gave a cry of relief and dashed into -the cave. Ted and his sister entered more -slowly; they had a little more time to waste -than Randy. When they entered, they found -Randy hastily discarding his old oxygen cartridge -and replacing it with a new one. When -he was through, he helped Jill with hers while -Ted attended to his own.</p> -<p>When they were done, they sat down on the -floor of the cave and drank in deep, refreshing -draughts of the precious gas they had feared -they would never breathe again.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_246">246</div> -<p>“Isn’t this great?” Ted remarked. “Just like -a cold drink on a hot day!”</p> -<p>“Speaking of food, I could use some,” Jill -said. “I’m starved after all that!”</p> -<p>“Let’s go back and get it,” Randy proposed. -“We dropped the food case when the elephant -ant was chasing us.”</p> -<p>“Do you think it’s safe?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“If it’s the ant you’re afraid of, they do most -of their hunting at night,” Randy reassured -her. “I don’t think there’s much chance of -meeting it.”</p> -<p>They started out over the trail they had followed -in such haste the night before. After -a while they found their food case where they -had dropped it. All made a run for it at the same -time. The sight of food settled their nerves, and -they ate nearly all of the supply in the case. When -they were through, Randy happened to look up -into the distance and jabbed Ted in the ribs.</p> -<p>“Look!” he exclaimed. “Somebody’s coming!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_247">247</div> -<p>Ted and Jill leaped to their feet. They shaded -their eyes with their gloved hands in order to see -better.</p> -<p>“It’s the search party!” Ted burst out.</p> -<p>“Father’s with them!” Jill said joyfully.</p> -<p>“I can see Pops too!” came from Randy.</p> -<p>Ted uttered a deep, long sigh. Their frightening -adventure was over at last.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_248">248</div> -<div class="img"><img src="images/chapter.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="34" /></div><h2 id="c22">CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO -<br /><i>Of Days to Come</i></h2> -<p>The Kentons had just risen from the supper -table after a wonderful meal that had featured -fresh fruits and vegetables from their own -garden. Two days had passed since the adventure -in the Great Martian Forest. This was a night of -celebration, and Mr. Matthews was present.</p> -<p>“Now tell us the surprise you had for us, Father,” -Jill begged, as they all sat in the living -room together. Mrs. Kenton had left cleaning up -until later in order to be in on the exciting talk -of the evening.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_249">249</div> -<p>“Not until I know for sure,” Dr. Kenton replied. -“I’ll get a phone call in a few minutes -about it.”</p> -<p>“Can’t you even tell us what it’s <i>about</i>?” Jill -went on.</p> -<p>“I wouldn’t want to build up false hopes for -nothing, Jill,” her father said. “You can wait a -little while.”</p> -<p>“It was a privilege to eat in such celebrated -company tonight,” Mr. Matthews said, with a -wink at the children. “You kids will even get -your name in the schoolbooks for finding that -fabulous city.”</p> -<p>“It’s the pilot and Mr. Garland who got us -to bail out that should get the credit,” Ted said, -with a grin. “If it weren’t for them, we’d never -have found the underground city.”</p> -<p>“The mural showing the great events in the -lives of the ancient Martians was the most important -thing of all,” Dr. Kenton remarked. “I -was beginning to believe that the greatest riddle -of Mars was never going to be solved.” Dr. Kenton -had gone to the underground city as soon as -he met the young explorers and had heard about -their outstanding discovery.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_250">250</div> -<p>Ted, Jill, and Randy knew the answer now, as -did every other colonist on the red planet. The -paintings on the wall of the shrine had revealed -the baffling riddle. It was simply and clearly portrayed -in pictures, just as though the Martians -had expected someone someday to know their -story. The revelation was that hundreds of years -ago all Martians had left their world in large -space ships because of Mars’s disappearing oxygen. -Apparently there still existed somewhere -the remains of a supercivilization which had -built these space craft.</p> -<p>“Do you think the animals on Mars will finally -die out, Dad?” Ted asked, “as the rest of the oxygen -combines with the rocks?”</p> -<p>“Eventually, I would think,” Dr. Kenton replied.</p> -<p>“Where do you suppose the Martians went to -find a new home?” Mr. Matthews asked.</p> -<p>“They may still be looking,” the scientist replied. -“It’s a long way to the stars, remember, -and we’re sure they didn’t land any place in our -solar system.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_251">251</div> -<p>Just then, Yank came bounding into the room. -He too had been permitted inside for the celebration. -He had been eating his supper in the -kitchen. Ted was amazed to see the color bear -run up to his father and stand beside him while -the scientist scratched his head.</p> -<p>“You and Yank are friends!” Ted exclaimed.</p> -<p>“We sure are,” Dr. Kenton said. “After you -kids left, poor Yank was so lonely he even turned -to me. I guess he decided to bury the hatchet -when he found out I meant him no harm.”</p> -<p>“I wonder why he was so long making -friends,” Jill remarked.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton took one of Yank’s forepaws and -rubbed back the fur, revealing a scar. “Yank is -the fellow I hurt accidentally a few years ago,” -the scientist said. “I just thought of checking his -paw the day you kids left on your trip.”</p> -<p>“He never forgot, did he?” Jill asked.</p> -<p>“Not until I’d convinced him I was sorry,” her -father replied, rumpling the soft hair of the -bear’s head. “His injury was the reason he was -alone in the world. He couldn’t keep up with -the pace of his friends.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_252">252</div> -<p>“Our family is so safe and cozy here,” Mrs. -Kenton said, “I hate to think of you going out -into that cold wilderness again on a new expedition, -John.”</p> -<p>“Maybe I won’t be going,” Dr. Kenton said, -with a mysterious smile.</p> -<p>“What do you mean?” his wife asked in surprise.</p> -<p>Just then the phone buzzed. Dr. Kenton went -into the hall to answer it. In a few moments he -was back again, and he was smiling happily.</p> -<p>“Kids, how would you like to go back to Earth -at the end of the school term?” he asked the children.</p> -<p>“Gee, do you mean that?” Ted exclaimed.</p> -<p>“Oh, Father!” Jill cried out joyously.</p> -<p>“It’s true enough,” their father said. “That’s -what the call was about and the surprise I was -hoping to have for you.”</p> -<p>“That’s the grandest surprise you could have -had,” Mrs. Kenton murmured, unspeakably -happy herself.</p> -<p>“The Science Union has offered this trip to -you, Jill, you, Randy, and you, Ted, as a reward -for your important discovery,” Dr. Kenton went -on. “They also want me to go back and give -lectures all over the country on our latest findings -about Mars. It may keep me there a long -time.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_253">253</div> -<div class="img" id="pic14"> -<img src="images/i29.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="703" /> -<p class="caption"><i>They grabbed Yank’s paws and began dancing.</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_254">254</div> -<p>“That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Kenton said. “I was -afraid you’d have to stay behind here.”</p> -<p>Ted and Jill were so enthusiastic over the proposed -trip that they grabbed Yank’s paws and -began dancing around with him. Randy stood -watching them, not quite sharing their high -spirits. When Ted saw him, he grabbed Randy’s -hand and made him join in the celebration. A -moment later Randy was enjoying himself as -much as the rest.</p> -<p>Dr. Kenton said to Randy’s father: “They are -in need of some space-port engineers back on -Earth. If Randy would like to go with Ted and -Jill, would you consider a job like that?”</p> -<p>“You may not know it, John, but I’ve had my -application in for such a job for years,” Mr. Matthews -answered, highly pleased. “I’ll say I’ll take -it!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_255">255</div> -<p>“If you kids will stop jumping around a minute,” -Dr. Kenton said, “I’ve got something else -to say.”</p> -<p>They stopped and listened intently.</p> -<p>“If we go Earthward it may be a long time before -we come back to Mars,” he said. “We—or at -least you—may never get back.”</p> -<p>“That’s all right with me,” Ted said. “I’ve -seen enough of Mars to last me a lifetime! It’s -interesting here, but it’s nothing compared to -good old Earth.”</p> -<p>“That’s what I say!” Jill chimed in.</p> -<p>“There’s more here that I should like to look -into,” the scientist said, with a brooding look on -his face. “There are still many unsolved mysteries, -such as how these great canals were built, and -I’d like to be in on the discovery—if and when -it’s ever made.”</p> -<p>“We can take Yank home with us to Virginia, -can’t we?” Jill asked anxiously.</p> -<p>“I don’t see why not,” Dr. Kenton answered. -“He seemed to adapt himself to our breathing -mixture all right.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_256">256</div> -<p>Jill hugged the little Martian animal and got -a grateful lick in return. Then the Kenton children -took Randy aside and began telling him of -the wonders of Earth that he would soon be able -to see for himself.</p> -<p>“Wait until you enjoy the fun of a swim on -a hot day!” Ted said.</p> -<p>“—And the cold air turning your nose red in -the winter and the crunch of snow under your -feet!” Jill put in.</p> -<p>“It sounds great,” Randy said, his eyes sparkling -with anticipation. “I think I’m going to -like Earth.”</p> -<p>“I know you will,” Ted said earnestly. -“There’s nothing as wonderful as Earth in all -the universe!”</p> -<p>It looked as though Ted’s trip to Mars would -turn out to be nothing more than a long visit. A -few weeks from now he would be a traveler returning -home to his beloved land. What wondrous -stories he’d tell the kids back there of adventure -on the mysterious red planet which hung -in the deeps of everlasting night!</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="small">THE END</span></p> -<hr class="dwide" /> -<h3 id="c23"><span class="ss">YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS</span></h3> -<p class="center"><span class="ss">By RICHARD M. ELAM, JR.</span></p> -<p class="center"><span class="ss"><span class="small">Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER</span></span></p> -<p>Ted and Jill Kenton and their parents -are en route by space ship to Mars where -Dr. Kenton is to pursue scientific research. -As they are guided around the flying space -ship, a crisis develops. Another space ship -is bearing down on their own craft. The -ships just manage to scrape by each other, -but the Kenton ship is slightly damaged -and must make an emergency landing on -the moon for repairs.</p> -<p>Here they meet Randy Matthews, -whose father is missing on another Martian -expedition, and arrangements are -made for Randy to join the Kentons. The -ship is repaired and takes off to continue -the flight to Mars.</p> -<p>There new and exciting adventures befall -Jill, Ted, and Randy. They rescue a -color bear who becomes their pet; they discover -an air leak in their space suits and -barely escape with their lives; and eventually -after encountering hitherto unknown -dangers, they find the lost caves of the -early Martians and open the way to research -of the earlier civilization.</p> -<p>This book of continuous thrills and excitement -will hold the reader spellbound -while inspiring real thought of the scientific -possibilities of space travel.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="ss"><i>This is a Young Heroes Library Volume.</i></span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_258">258</div> -<h3 id="c24"><span class="ss">YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR</span></h3> -<p class="center"><span class="ss">By FRANCIS LYNDE KROLL</span></p> -<p class="center"><span class="small"><span class="ss">Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER</span></span></p> -<p>It was in the days when the Pawnees and -the Sioux roamed the plains in search of -buffalo herds. In the camp of the Sioux, -Chief Great Bear sat at the council fire -with his braves who planned to drive the -Pawnees from the Sioux hunting grounds.</p> -<p>But Great Bear had other problems. -His grandson, Little Bear, was beginning -to grow up. He had to be taught how to -use a bow and arrow, how to shoot -straight, how to saddle a horse, how to -ride, and the many things a young Indian -needed to learn.</p> -<p>How Great Bear trained his little grandson -and how together they tracked a horse -thief who stole their horses; how the courage, -determination, and ability of Little -Bear saved the entire tribe, make absorbing, -exciting reading, and when at length -Little Bear is finally called “warrior,” the -reader has an authentic, historically accurate -picture of the real life of a boy in -an Indian tribe.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="ss"><i>This is a Young Heroes Library Volume.</i></span></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_259">259</div> -<h3 id="c25"><span class="ss"><i>Adventures For Young People—About Young People</i></span></h3> -<div class="img" id="i30"> -<img src="images/i30.jpg" alt="(uncaptioned)" width="350" height="236" /> -</div> -<p>All the books in the Young -Heroes Library are exciting, -wholesome books for active youngsters who want to -read about heroes in their own age group.</p> -<p>They are written by authors who understand -the interests of children, and who are capable of -writing in the clear, concise language necessary to be -easily understood.</p> -<p>The quality of these books ... the paper, large -size type, beautiful illustrations, and colorful dust -wrappers, are seldom found in this price range. The -contents have already earned the approval of librarians, -educators, and youths themselves.</p> -<p><b>YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR</b> by Francis Lynde Kroll</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Story of Little Bear’s education in the ways of his Indian tribe. -(Selected by Junior Literary Guild)</p> -</blockquote> -<p><b>YOUNG BUCKSKIN SPY</b> by Selden Loring</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Two American boys in the Revolutionary War help General George -Washington beat the British Army.</p> -</blockquote> -<p><b>YOUNG INFIELD ROOKIE</b> by Charles Coombs</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A Little League baseball team scores twice; it wins the championship -and renews an ex-major leaguer’s faith in himself.</p> -</blockquote> -<p><b>YOUNG SAND HILLS COWBOY</b> by Francis Lynde Kroll</p> -<blockquote> -<p>A city boy visits a ranch and finds “the big race” a lot -tougher than he had expected.</p> -</blockquote> -<p><b>YOUNG PONY EXPRESS RIDER</b> by Charles Coombs</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Danger puts 14-year-old Tod Gilmer in the pony express saddle as -he roars across Indian territory.</p> -</blockquote> -<p><b>YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS</b> by Richard M. Elam, Jr.</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Fascinating adventures await Jill and Ted Kenton in the world of -tomorrow.</p> -</blockquote> -<p class="center small">All illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER</p> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="ss">GROSSET & DUNLAP -<br /><span class="small">Publishers of WORDS: <i>The New Dictionary</i> -<br /><span class="sc">New York</span> 10, N. Y.</span></span></p> -<hr class="dwide" /> -<h2 id="tn">Transcriber’s Notes</h2><ul> -<li>Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and dialect unchanged.</li> -<li>In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)</li> -</ul> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 60133-h.htm or 60133-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/1/3/60133/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson 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 print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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a/old/60133-h/images/i30.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60133-h/images/spine.jpg b/old/60133-h/images/spine.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c9093e0..0000000 --- a/old/60133-h/images/spine.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60133.txt b/old/60133.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7f7a7c6..0000000 --- a/old/60133.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5309 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Young Visitor to Mars - -Author: Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -Release Date: August 18, 2019 [EBook #60133] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - _A Young Heroes Library Volume_ - - - - - YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS - - - By - RICHARD M. ELAM, Jr. - -[Illustration] - - ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES H. GEER - - _GROSSET & DUNLAP_ - NEW YORK - - Copyright 1953 - By Lantern Press, Inc. - _Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 53-10375_ - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - _Contents_ - - - _Beyond the Earth_ 9 - _Hurtling Danger_ 17 - _First Stop--Luna_ 25 - _The Curious Boy_ 37 - _Pelting Stones_ 47 - _Into Space Again_ 59 - _Invisible Menace_ 73 - _The New World_ 83 - _A Cry in the Night_ 99 - _School on Mars_ 111 - _Yank_ 123 - _Illness Strikes_ 135 - _News for Randy_ 147 - _Peril in the Night_ 159 - _The Peril Continued_ 169 - _Disappointment_ 181 - _Yank in School_ 193 - _Trouble in the Air_ 203 - _Terror in the Night_ 215 - _Lost Underground_ 227 - _A Struggle Against Time_ 237 - _Of Days to Come_ 251 - - - - - _List of Illustrations_ - - - _"The Earth!" She spoke in awe._ 12 - _"Hi, folks," he greeted._ 21 - _"That's the headquarters building."_ 43 - _He was going to Mars._ 65 - _Figures in weird metallic suits._ 78 - _The birds soared away._ 118 - _The whole landscape was blotted out._ 142 - _The picture flashed on._ 156 - _"Pops!" Randy cried._ 164 - _Yank went over the side with a splash._ 189 - _"Please don't bring Yank back."_ 200 - _Down, down he went._ 213 - _They felt themselves tumbling downward._ 232 - _They grabbed Yank's paws and began dancing._ 256 - - - - - CHAPTER ONE - _Beyond the Earth_ - - -The rocket ship _Shooting Star_ powered through the black deeps of space -like a silver bullet. Inside a room of their parents' suite aboard the -vessel, Ted Kenton and his sister Jill sat before a large window looking -out at the wonders of space in the year A.D. 2003. - -"It doesn't seem as if we're moving at all, does it, Sis?" Ted asked. - -Jill shook her auburn head. "No, but it scares me to know how fast we're -going!" she replied. - -Ted straightened his sturdy young shoulders and shook strands of brown -hair out of his eyes. It was natural that girls should be scared of -things connected with space travel, he thought. "Thousands of miles an -hour isn't much," he said lightly. - -"But what if we should hit something!" Jill complained. "It would be an -awful crash!" - -"The only things we have to worry about hitting are meteors," Ted told -her. "The _Shooting Star_ has radar instruments that tell us when -they're headed straight at us." - -"Father says that sometimes meteors come so fast that space ships can't -get out of the way of them," Jill returned, with solemn eyes. - -In brotherly fashion Ted pressed the shoulder of his -eleven-and-a-half-year-old sister, younger than he by a year. "Don't -start worrying about everything that can happen to us, Jill. We've got a -lot ahead of us on Mars," he advised. - -"I--I'm not so sure I want to go to Mars," Jill blurted. "It's so cold -and bare and lonely there, Ted. Why did Father have to sign up with the -Martian Archeology Society?" - -Ted looked at her with some surprise. "Dad talked this over with us. You -said you wanted to go." - -"It didn't seem so scary then, although I didn't really _want_ to go, -but out here in the dark where there's never a sunrise and everything is -so still and quiet, I--I feel afraid!" - -"Does Dad or Mom know you feel this way?" Ted asked. - -She shook her head. "Father's counted so much on us going to Mars. He -was so lonely there before without us. If he knew I didn't want to go, -he'd feel he had to get a job on Earth. But you know his first love is -excavation on Mars." - -"You'll be all right, Sis, when we get settled in our new home. They've -got it all ready for us. Think of the fun it'll be!" Ted said -encouragingly. - -Jill seemed to feel better and smiled. Both turned their attention to -the wondrous misty veil of the Milky Way outside. It reminded Ted of a -great caravan of countless tiny sheep trooping through the endless black -of space night. Each one of those millions of light points he knew to be -individual giant suns. How frighteningly huge and marvelous was God's -universe! - -[Illustration: _"The Earth!" She spoke in awe._] - -Directly in front of them hung the wrinkled gray face of Luna, the Moon, -which they would pass before long. Ted shuddered at its forbidding deep -pits and miles of barren, dead plains. - -Jill leaned forward eagerly on the window seat on which they were -perched, her nose almost touching the clear plastic window. "Ted!" she -exclaimed. "What's that green ball below us?" - -Ted looked, then grinned. "Don't you even know your own planet when you -see it?" - -"The Earth!" She spoke in awe. "Of course!" - -Ted was not surprised that his sister had not recognized the globe, in -so far as neither of them had seen it before from this dramatic -position. Ever since their fire-off from the Arizona space harbor, the -Earth had been out of their view, beneath them. - -"Look!" Jill cried. "I can make out the outline of Africa! It looks like -it's buried under fog. I didn't know before that you could actually -_see_ the atmosphere!" - -"I knew it," Ted said, with mock superiority. "I bet you don't know it's -hundreds of miles deep." - -"You're not the only one who knows the answers, Ted Kenton, even if you -are pretty smart," she returned. "I know that it's the lack of -atmosphere out here in space that makes everything so crystal clear. -That's why we can see so many thousands more stars out here than we can -from Earth under a layer of air." - -"That's not bad for a girl," Ted replied, with a tolerant grin. - -She shoved him in playful displeasure. Although the push was not hard, -it upset Ted's balance, and he slipped off the window seat and rolled -onto the metal floor. Jill gasped in alarm and darted to his side. As -she tried to help him up, she too lost her equilibrium and fell beside -him. Ted looked at her and laughed. - -Their awkwardness was caused by the fact that they wore magnetized shoes -that were attracted to the metal floor of the space ship. Even when -sitting down, they had kept the soles of their shoes on the metal of the -seat. Ted got to his feet and helped Jill up. - -"Will we ever get used to these funny shoes?" Jill complained. - -"We'll have to," Ted said. "If we didn't wear them we'd go floating -around in the air like a feather. That's another disadvantage of leaving -Earth. We don't have any weight at all in space. If we wanted to, we -could take off our shoes and stretch out in the air just like on a soft -couch." - -"It might be fun to swim around in here just like a fish," Jill mused. -"I think I'll try it." - -Ted knew he should stop her, but his curiosity to see such an experiment -prevented him from giving in to the tug of his conscience. - -"Be careful!" Ted warned. "Any motion you make will be hard to stop." - -When her shoes were off, Jill pressed gently upward from her toes. She -shrieked in pleasure as she rose gracefully into the air. Reaching the -ceiling of the room, she pushed against it and floated downward again. - -"That's lots of fun!" she said. "Why don't you try it, Ted?" - -"Uh-uh. Another time. One of us had better keep his feet." - -Jill tried other movements, whirling and doing flip-overs. Then she grew -bolder, moving more swiftly. She teased Ted into trying to catch her, -and he finally got into the game. He lunged at her but missed her fleet -form every time. The game grew more active. Presently both of them were -scampering about in the space-ship compartment, laughing and having -great fun. - -Jill paused in one corner beneath an air-vent box. "Try and catch me!" -she taunted, her eyes shiny with merriment. "I'll let you get real -close." - -Ted glided catlike across the floor, his metal-soled shoes clicking at -every step. Only when he was nearly upon her did she move. She flexed -her knees and soared off above him, laughing. His hands raked the air -but missed her agile form. - -Suddenly Ted's heart seemed to stop dead. "Jill! Look out! You'll hit -that air vent!" - -She saw the danger too late. She screamed and crashed heavily into the -metal vent, head on. Her head lolled in unconsciousness, and her body -hung limp as a broken toy against the ceiling of the space-ship room. - - - - - CHAPTER TWO - _Hurtling Danger_ - - -His heart pounding in anxiety at Jill's plight, Ted opened a door and -dashed into the next room of the suite. - -"Jill!" he cried. "She's hurt!" - -Dr. Kenton looked up, startled, from the desk where he had been -studying. "Let's go, Son!" the scientist said, jumping to his feet. - -"Where's Mom?" Ted asked. - -"She's down in the magazine shop," his father answered, and added, "It's -probably for the better." - -They hurried into the observation room where Ted and Jill had been so -happy together only a short time before. The boy pointed overhead at the -air vent, where Jill's limp form hung, lighter than a thistle in her -weightlessness. - -Even Dr. Kenton's tall, stalwart form could not reach high enough to -bring her down. "We've got to have something to stand on," he said. - -Ted thought of the long window seat. He rushed over and knelt down to -examine it. "The window seat is in sections, Dad, and has some clamps -holding it down," he said. "We ought to be able to get it loose." - -Dr. Kenton's strong fingers released the catches that held the seat in -place. Then he lifted it out and carried it across to the spot beneath -the air vent. He stood on the seat and grasped Jill's slim body, -bringing it down. - -The girl was stretched out waist high in the air, in which position her -father could best see her injury. Ted held her so that a sudden movement -would not send her floating off. The scientist found a cut on Jill's -temple where she had struck the air vent. She began stirring. In a few -seconds she had recovered consciousness. She was pale and smiled feebly. - -"What happened to me?" she asked in a weak voice. - -Only then did Dr. Kenton seem concerned about the cause of the accident. -He looked inquiringly at Ted. "Well, Ted," he said, "what did happen?" - -"She wanted to go without her shoes to see what it felt like," Ted -replied. "I should have stopped her." - -"You both should be tanned for a trick like that," his father said -gravely. "Jill could have been seriously injured." - -They helped Jill to the window seat, then put on her magnetic shoes for -her. She said she felt all right, but her father insisted that she have -the cut treated. A brief visit to the first-aid cabinet, built into the -wall of the room, had Jill's hurt taken care of in a few moments. - -"What prompted you two to try such a stunt as this?" Dr. Kenton asked as -he closed the door of the first-aid cabinet. "I thought you had been -well grounded on the facts of weightless bodies in space." - -Ted, embarrassed, kicked the seat section they had removed, forgetting -that it was not fastened down. It scooted off in the air, but Dr. Kenton -alertly grabbed it before it got far. "I guess we were just fidgety for -something to do," Ted said. - -"I suppose the scenery _is_ getting a little monotonous for you," their -father replied. "Maybe I can arrange for you to stretch your legs a -bit." - -"You mean we can tour the ship now?" Jill asked excitedly. - -"I think so," Dr. Kenton said, "I believe the confusion that always -follows the fire-off is pretty well under control now. I'll ask -Commander Grissom about it." - -Their father left and was back in a short while. "We can go," he told -them. "We'll leave a note for Mom to let her know where we've gone." - -He scribbled it off, after getting a slip of paper from a drawer in the -wall desk. Then he asked them, "What would you like to see first?" - -[Illustration: _"Hi, folks," he greeted._] - -"The pilots' roost!" Ted said, and Jill nodded in agreement. The three -of them clicked along the corridor in their magnetic shoes. Reaching the -pilots' roost in the nose of the space ship, Dr. Kenton knocked on the -door and was told to enter. Inside, the children found two men in the -light green with gold trim of the Space Transport Command, sitting in -big roomy seats in front of a large bank of dials and levers. Above the -panel was a broad port looking out into space. - -One of the pilots appeared to be busy. The unoccupied one spun on his -swivel seat and smiled at the Kentons. "Hi, folks," he greeted. "Come on -in!" - -He introduced himself as Lieutenant Foran and his copilot as Lieutenant -Starky, who took a moment from his work to smile a greeting. - -"On every trip we make we usually let the passengers come in a few at a -time," Lieutenant Foran said, "to look around." - -The pilot showed them what each dial on the panel meant. Jill was soon -bewildered by it all, but Ted was interested in every gadget and meter. -He decided at that moment that he would like nothing better than one day -to be a pilot on an interplanetary space liner. - -Ted had noticed a huge circular screen built into the middle of the -panel, with circles radiating out from the center of it. Suddenly it -lighted up, and white spots, or "blips," began popping out on the -glass's phosphor coating. Ted saw that the pilots' eyes had flashed -swiftly toward the screen. - -Lieutenant Starky leaned forward and twisted a dial. - -"What's he doing?" Ted asked. - -"That's the radarscope," Lieutenant Foran said. "The screen -automatically lights up when anything comes directly into our path, even -if it's many thousands of miles away. Those blips are echoes we're -receiving from our approaching neighbors out there." - -Lieutenant Foran went over to the panel, looking up at the screen. "What -is it?" he asked his companion. - -"Seems to be a ship," replied Lieutenant Starky. "Probably the mail -rocket _Moonstone_ on its way back from Luna. The navigator said we'd -pass it." - -Lieutenant Foran slid into his seat and pressed a button on the panel. A -voice from a speaker said, "Navigation." - -The young Kentons heard the two crewmen speak in low tones for several -moments. Then Lieutenant Foran switched off and turned to the copilot -with an apprehensive look on his face. "He says the _Moonstone_ should -have turned off course before now! It's heading straight toward us!" - -"We'll call the Commander!" Lieutenant Starky said, jabbing a button. - -Jill squeezed her father's arm. "Are we going to crash?" she whispered. - -"Don't be scared, honey," her father said soothingly. "I'm sure we'll be -all right." - -But Ted saw the fear in his dad's eyes, and his own heart seemed to -squirm with terror in his body. Was their very first journey into space -going to end tragically scarcely before it had started? - - - - - CHAPTER THREE - _First Stop--Luna_ - - -"I can't understand why they don't turn off course!" Lieutenant Starky -exclaimed. "Their radar _must_ have contacted us!" - -Ted watched the blips from the _Moonstone_ slowly nearing the center of -the screen. By the time they did reach that center, the _Moonstone_ and -the _Shooting Star_ would be occupying the same area in space. - -Lieutenant Foran came over to the Kentons. "I think you folks had better -get back to your suite. We're going to be awfully busy in here for the -next few minutes," he said. - -Ted could see that the officer was trying to keep the fear out of his -voice. They must really be in a bad spot. - -As they left, they met stout, red-faced Commander Grissom coming in. His -face was redder than usual, and he was so concerned with the _Shooting -Star's_ danger that he barely nodded to Dr. Kenton. - -As the Kentons returned to their quarters, golden-haired Mrs. Kenton -faced her family with stricken eyes. - -"What's happening, John?" she asked her husband. "All the crewmen are -running around like mad." - -"It's just a little trouble outside," the scientist said gently. "I'm -sure Commander Grissom and his men can handle it." - -Mrs. Kenton began pacing restlessly. "This waiting! I wish we knew -what's going on." - -"We can," the scientist said, crossing the room and pressing a button on -a wall panel. "I thought it might upset us more to listen in, but I -guess it would be better to know what they're doing." - -They heard first the voice of Lieutenant Starky coming over the -compartment's loud-speaker. "_The Moonstone_ has just answered, sir!" - -"What do they say?" the commander asked urgently. - -After a few moments' pause, the Kentons heard the pilot speak again: -"They say that they had some electronic trouble and that it's just now -been repaired. Their radio and radar were off because of it." - -Ted listened tensely as orders flew back and forth. Both space ships set -their rocket jets to carry each away from the other, but at the speeds -they were traveling, only time would tell if they could avoid a crash. - -The Kentons heard the final miles being slowly called off by Commander -Grissom as the two ships hurtled toward one another: - -"Four hundred--three hundred--two--a hundred and fifty...." - -Ted's eyes were on the side port. He knew that at the last moment either -he would see a large silver shape hurtle past the window or he would -feel the might of tons crashing head on. In the final seconds, Dr. -Kenton had an arm around his wife and daughter, and Ted's heart was -thumping wildly. - -The light of thousands of stars out there seemed to burn into the boy's -brain. Would the decisive moment never come? - -Presently Ted saw the blackness of space blurred for only the briefest -instant as the _Moonstone_ drove past, its rockets streaming tongues of -flame! The side jets spurted against the hull of the _Shooting Star_, -causing it to rock. Ted felt the floor tilting beneath him, and he had -to grab a wall rail for support. A glimpse he caught of his parents and -Jill showed that they were having the same trouble. - -[Illustration] - -As the ship steadied itself and drove on an even keel again, Ted grinned -weakly. "We--we made it," he managed to say. - -The faces of Jill and her mother were still chalky with fright, but Dr. -Kenton's was as calm as if he had known the _Shooting Star_ would come -through the peril all right. - -They heard the voice of Commander Grissom over the speaker informing the -passengers that the danger was past. Dr. Kenton then cut off the -speaker. - -"I never want to go through an experience like that again!" cried Mrs. -Kenton, taking a seat. - -"I don't think we need ever fear this happening again," Dr. Kenton said. -"It's quite a rare occurrence." - -"What about meteors?" Jill asked. - -"They're rare too, fortunately," he answered. "I don't see why we can't -expect an uneventful trip from now until we reach our home on Mars." - -Hearing this confident remark, the children were interested in the space -ship again. "We didn't finish our tour!" Jill burst out. - -"Would you like to see the garden?" Dr. Kenton asked. - -"The garden?" Ted asked, puzzled. "What good is a garden on a space -ship?" - -"Come along and you'll see," Dr. Kenton said and started for the door. -Mrs. Kenton said she preferred to stay in the suite and collect her -shattered nerves, but the children, of course, were eager to go. - -"Haven't you two wondered how you're able to breathe in the ship?" their -father asked as they walked down the corridor. - -"I know how," Ted said. "The air is pumped through the ship from -compressed-air chambers." - -"What is air?" his father asked. - -"Mostly oxygen and nitrogen," Ted answered. - -"The _Shooting Star_ uses oxygen, with helium instead of nitrogen to -dilute it," Dr. Kenton said. "That's so that, in case a meteor -penetrates the ship, the rapid decompression won't cause us to get -bubbles in our blood, which is a dangerous condition called 'the -Bends.'" - -"But what's that to do with a garden?" Jill asked. - -"You'll see in a minute," came the reply. - -An attendant showed them through the "garden." There was not much to -see. There were merely rows and rows of broad-leaved plants covered with -plastic and a network of tubes. - -"Some garden," Ted murmured, when the attendant had walked off to answer -a call. "The plants aren't pretty and they don't seem to have fruit or -vegetables either." - -"They yield something even more precious, though," his father said. -"Oxygen." - -"Huh?" Ted asked in surprise. - -Dr. Kenton smiled at the puzzled looks on their faces. "Plants and -people are well suited to one another," he said. "Plants breathe out -oxygen into our Earth's atmosphere, and in gratitude we give them back -carbon dioxide which, as you know, we breathe out." - -"So that's it!" Jill said. - -"It's really quite simple," the scientist went on. "These plants keep -our oxygen tanks filled, and the air exhaled by us is pumped back to -them so that they can keep alive." - -"Will our home on Mars have a garden producing air?" Ted asked. - -"No, we'll use air cartridges there because they're more efficient in -small places." - -Just then the attendant returned. "The commander has ordered all -passengers back to their suites to prepare for emergency landing," he -told them. "Jet fire from the _Moonstone_ damaged our hull, and we've -got to lay over on Luna for repairs." - -"Goody!" Jill exclaimed. "We'll get to land on the Moon!" - -They returned to the main compartment of their suite, and Dr. Kenton -switched on the wall speaker so that he could hear the order from the -commander to "strap down." - -As they waited, they stood before the big window looking out on the -rugged globe of Luna. Dr. Kenton pressed a button on the sill that slid -a darkening filter over the window. In this way, the blinding glare of -the full moon was cut down considerably. - -"Those big craters look just like eyes!" Ted exclaimed. - -"It's all so terribly rough-looking down there, I don't see where we can -land!" Mrs. Kenton said. - -The scientist pointed. "See that large gray plain down there?" he said. -"It's the Sea of Serenity, and the Moon colony is located on one edge of -it. We're too far away yet to see it." - -"Hey, we're turning around!" Ted exclaimed, as he saw the stars -beginning to blur before his eyes. - -"That's so that we can use our rear jets to brake our landing," the -scientist said. - -The order to pull down couches and "strap down" came over the speaker a -few minutes later. Each of the Kentons opened a door in the wall and -pulled down his foam-rubber cot. The couches were fastened securely to -the floor with catches. The family stretched out on the soft mattresses. -They pulled up the plastic straps from the sides and tightened them -across their bodies. - -Presently a crewman stuck his head in the door to make sure they were -ready for the strain of landing. - -Some time later, when he had the sensation of going down in a suddenly -dropping elevator, Ted knew the moment of deceleration had begun. - -In his mind's eye he could picture what was going on. He imagined the -long sleekness of the _Shooting Star_ plunging toward the moon's rough -surface. From the ship's rocket tubes, streams of fire were pouring out -to slow the terrific speed of the ship. If those fire streams should -fail, or not hold back the craft enough, the rocket would be dashed to -bits on Luna. - -As the ship slackened its speed, Ted felt steadily worse. It was as if -his chest were being crushed. He knew that he and the others could stand -any top speed the rocket would go; that it was only a change in speed -that was so grueling. - -He twisted his head and saw the other members of his family buried -deeply in their couches. He knew they were suffering as badly as he. He -remembered the danger of the _Shooting Star_ and _Moonstone_ approaching -one another in the heavens. Then he thought what a frightful crash it -would have been had they met. - -It made him wonder, now, if the _Shooting Star_ could check its downward -plunge in time, or if it would be dashed to atoms on the hard gray soil -of Luna. - - - - - CHAPTER FOUR - _The Curious Boy_ - - -Just as Ted was expecting the worst, he felt a gentle bump beneath him. -He looked around and saw that the rest of his family were no longer deep -in their couches. That meant the heavy pressure of their descent was off -them. They must have already landed! - -But he could not get up yet, for he was in a vertical position and -hanging by his straps. This was because the rocket had landed upright on -its tail fins. - -Ted heard a rumbling sound. He felt the side of the room to which the -couches were fastened slide down into normal position. Ted unbuckled his -straps and rose to his feet. - -"Hey, it's time to get up!" he said to the others. - -Dr. Kenton unstrapped himself and then assisted Mrs. Kenton. Ted helped -get Jill loose. - -"Whew! That was awful!" Mrs. Kenton complained. - -"I--I think I left my stomach up in the sky!" Jill said. - -Ted started toward the side window. "I feel so heavy!" he said. "I can -hardly lift my feet!" - -His father plodded with him to the window. "That's because the gravity -of Luna is added to the ship's artificial gravity. They'll cut off the -rocket gravity any moment." - -Looking out the window, Ted thought that this was like a scene from a -fairy tale. Any moment he expected to see a group of gnomes come -frolicking past! But nothing appeared to be alive in that craggy, lonely -wilderness, except within the man-made structure of lunar rock. - -Jill and her mother, having taken longer to get their bearings, finally -joined the other two at the window. - -"What makes it so awfully bright out there?" asked Jill, squinting her -eyes. - -"Don't forget that we have a blanket of atmosphere to protect us from -the sun on earth, but here on Luna the sun strikes with full force," her -father explained. - -"Talk about a sunburn!" Ted said, with a whistle. - -"You couldn't stand it long," Dr. Kenton said, chuckling grimly. "It's -hot enough to boil water out there right now!" - -"Then when the sun is down, it must be nice," put in Mrs. Kenton -innocently. - -Her husband grinned. "If you call over two hundred degrees below zero -centigrade nice!" - -A crisp voice came over the speaker: "All passengers to the dressing -room to don space gear!" - -"You mean we have to go out in that?" Mrs. Kenton asked, shocked. - -"I don't know any other way of getting to the settlement across the -way," was Dr. Kenton's gentle reply. - -As the Kentons were walking along the corridor to the dressing room, -they suddenly felt light on their feet. The unexpectedness of it sent -them colliding with one another. A voice from a wall speaker said: -"Watch your step. The artificial gravity of the ship has been cut off." - -"I feel like a feather!" Jill said, dancing along. - -"You should--you weigh only one sixth of your Earth weight," her father -said. "But you be careful or you'll have another accident like you did -earlier!" - -The passengers lined up to receive their space gear. It was bulky -equipment, but not very heavy in the light gravity. In the dressing -room, several crewmen demonstrated how to put on the space suits. - -Dr. Kenton, who had put on much space gear in his time, helped his -family into theirs. - -"Climb into the flexible suit first," he said, as he demonstrated. "Then -all you have to do is to zip it up--so!" - -"What are these tubes on our backs?" Jill asked, after the -asbestos-covered suits were donned. - -"That's your oxygen source," her father said. "Those smaller boxes are -refrigerator units that cool the air so that you won't burn up in the -terrible heat out there." - -Weighted shoes were pulled on next. These were heavy, in order to bring -the wearer more nearly to his Earth weight. Dr. Kenton helped them on -next with their plastic fish-bowl helmets, fastening them in place with -catches. - -They found that they could talk to one another, even from the air-tight -helmets, because of a compact radio attachment on the top. Last to be -put on were protective gloves. - -When everyone in the dressing room was fully attired, the strange -company left the ship through an air lock--a pair of doors which kept -the air pressure from escaping. The _Shooting Star's_ gangplank, which -was actually a long escalator, slid out of the side of the ship on gears -until the bottom touched ground. Then the passengers stepped out of the -air lock onto it and were carried slowly downward. The rocket, in -landing on her tail fins, was now in position for the fire-off later -into space. - -"What a strange feeling it is," thought Ted, setting foot on a world -outside of his own beloved Earth! The ground they walked on was soft and -powdery, and his father said it was called pumice. - -The party was heading for a ring of stone buildings ahead, which were -connected to one another by long tunnels. It reminded Ted of a giant -wheel turned over on the ground. At the center was the largest building -of all. Ted asked his father what it was. - -"That's the headquarters building," the scientist answered. "It's called -the Hub, and it acts as a central control for all the other buildings -around the circle." - -"Why are the buildings connected with one another?" Jill wanted to know. - -"That's so the people inside can go from one to the other without having -to put on space suits. You see, all the buildings and connecting -corridors are filled with compressed air. The Moon has no air of its -own, so it has to be manufactured just as it is on the _Shooting Star_." - -Ted thought his father's voice sounded queer coming over his helmet -receiver, but he guessed he would get used to it in time. - -[Illustration: "_That's the headquarters building._"] - -The party from the _Shooting Star_ entered a building where they removed -their space suits. They were told that they were free to do whatever -they liked until the ship was repaired for the journey to Mars. - -Some of the passengers said that they would like to make a tour of the -Wheel, and when others also expressed a wish to do so, a guide took the -entire party around. The Kenton children found that most of the -departments had to do with scientific research, while the rest were -devoted to the running of the colony. - -"Did they haul all these stones from Earth to build this place?" Ted -asked, as they went down one of the long rock passageways. - -"Goodness no!" his father replied with a laugh. "The whole colony is -built of lunar rock, quarried near by." - -When the Wheel had been circled by the sightseers and it was learned -that the _Shooting Star_ would not be ready for hours for the fire-off, -Dr. Kenton made a suggestion to his family as they sat idly with the -other passengers in the lounge. - -"I have an astronomer friend who runs an observatory not far from here," -he said. "Would you kids like to visit it?" - -Their eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and they both nodded as one. Mrs. -Kenton, however, was not so ambitious. - -"Not I," she sighed. "That long walk around this building will last me -for a good while." - -Ted noticed a sandy-haired boy of his own age watching them closely. -Even as they made the tour around the Wheel, the boy had listened -intently to everything Dr. Kenton had said. And when the scientist had -mentioned going to Mars, Ted saw that his eyes had lighted up as though -with longing. - -"We won't be able to take the other passengers with us," Dr. Kenton told -his son and daughter, "because there aren't enough cars available." - -After Dr. Kenton had chartered a car from the motor pool, he and his son -and daughter went to the dressing room to climb into their space gear. -As they were zipping up their suits, Ted looked toward the open doorway -and saw the same curious boy watching them again! What could be his -interest in them? - - - - - CHAPTER FIVE - _Pelting Stones_ - - -Ted decided he would find out just why the boy was watching them. -"Hello," Ted greeted. - -"Hi," the boy answered. - -"What's your name?" Ted asked. - -"Randy Matthews," the boy returned. - -Before Ted could go on with his questioning, Dr. Kenton spoke up. -"Randy, would you like to go with us to visit the observatory?" - -"Yes, sir, I would," was the ready reply. - -"You'd better check with your folks first," Dr. Kenton advised. - -"I don't have any folks here," Randy said. "Mr. Collins is taking care -of me. He's an engineer." - -"Then check with him and come on back if you can," Dr. Kenton said. - -When Randy had left, Ted said, "He's been watching us a long time, Dad, -just as if he couldn't wait to make friends with us." - -"I've noticed it, too," his father said. "I wonder what he meant when he -said he has no folks _here_?" - -Randy got back shortly and said he could go with them. The Kentons had -to wait for him to dress, but they were surprised at his speed. He -seemed to know all the fasteners and fittings perfectly. - -The four of them left the building and went outside where an odd vehicle -awaited them. - -"What a funny-looking car!" Jill exclaimed, and Ted could hear her merry -laugh ring in his helmet receiver. - -"A fresh-air taxi!" Ted put in. - -The car had enormous tires and an open top. It looked more like a -tractor than anything else. - -"Let's climb in," Dr. Kenton said. He helped the children in, then took -the driver's seat. He turned a switch, and they were off. - -When they had gotten up speed, Ted thought this the most exciting ride -he had ever taken! They bounced along over the rough ground without -feeling any of the bumps. Dr. Kenton explained that the tires were -low-pressured and shock-absorbent. - -The young folks were so impressed by their ride that it was much later -before they took time to notice the breath-taking beauty of the sky. The -stars were so numerous, they looked like swaths of white dust against -the absolute blackness. Randy was the first to notice the big green -globe of Earth behind them, and pointed it out. - -"It makes me homesick seeing it," Jill said, and Ted detected a tremor -in her voice. - -Ted couldn't help admiring Jill for her courage in agreeing to come -along against her wishes, just to keep the family together. - -When the Moon car reached the observatory, Ted did not find exactly what -he had expected. Instead of a white tower, like the observatories at -home, what he saw was a natural, tall column of jagged rock, on the top -of which was a man-made shiny dome with a slit in it where the telescope -eye peeped out. - -The four got out of the car and walked through a doorway that had been -blasted through the rock in some time past. Beyond this was an air lock -that kept the compressed air of the observatory from escaping. - -When they had gone through the door, the four found facing them a crude -elevator. Dr. Kenton motioned the young people inside and then followed. -He threw a switch, and the elevator cage began rising slowly. - -"This column of rock has always been hollow," he explained, "so it was -easy to run an elevator up through it." - -He unfastened his helmet and took it off. "You can take off your hats -now," he told the children. "There's air in here." - -The elevator stopped at the top of the shaft. The four got out and -entered a big room with a rounded ceiling. Ted knew this to be the dome -that housed the telescope. The reflector was like a huge cylinder -resting in its horseshoe yoke across the room. - -"Hello!" Dr. Kenton called. "Is anyone home?" - -[Illustration] - -Suddenly a round face appeared at the side of the telescope. The face -reminded Ted of a circus clown's, with its wild, wispy hair and broad -grin. - -"John Kenton!" cried the little man, as he ran out and embraced Ted's -dad. The elderly scientist asked, "What in the world are you doing on -Luna? And who are these young folks with you?" - -Dr. Kenton explained that he was on a stop-over to Mars, and he -introduced the children to the funny little scientist, whose name was -Dr. Beeler. - -"We had some time to kill so we decided to visit the observatory," Dr. -Kenton finished. "Will you show the children some of the sights?" - -Dr. Beeler's eyes brightened with pleasure. Ted was sure that the little -man was truly enjoying their visit. Ted thought he must get awfully -lonesome up here by himself. - -Dr. Beeler set the position of the telescope by turning two cranks. Then -he conducted the children up a catwalk to a platform about twelve feet -from the floor. Jill took the first peek through the eyepiece at the top -of the tube. - -"Oooh--it's beautiful!" Jill cried with a gasp. - -Ted let Randy have the next turn, and then he himself looked. The view -was breath-taking. What he saw was the flattened, white globe of Saturn -with its graceful rings and many satellites. - -"The Moon is much better than the Earth for using a telescope," Dr. -Beeler said, "because here there is no atmosphere or haze to get in the -way." - -The children saw other captivating sights. There was the shimmering -pearl of Venus, Earth's twin, then Jupiter, the king of planets, with -its four orderly larger moons. The children also saw smoky-looking -nebulae and star clusters that resembled bees in a hive. Then Dr. Beeler -showed them what he seemed to think was the greatest treat of all--the -Earth under high magnification. When Jill placed her eye to the -eyepiece, she suddenly turned away, sobbing. - -Dr. Beeler and her father came running to her. - -"What's the matter, honey?" Dr. Kenton asked. - -"I--I guess I'm homesick!" Jill said. "I miss the green grass and the -blue sky terribly! Oh, why did we ever have to leave home?" - -Ted saw his father's face grow grave. Now his dad knew that Jill had -never wanted to come along. Her father placed his arm around her -shoulders. "I didn't know you felt this way," he said softly. - -Dr. Beeler stood by, fidgeting as though he wanted to say something but -didn't know just what. - -Presently Dr. Kenton looked at his wrist watch which he could read -through the plastic cuff of his space suit. "We'd better get back to the -colony," he said. "The _Shooting Star_ may be nearly ready to take off." - -They came down off the catwalk to the floor level where they took their -leave of Dr. Beeler. Ted saw a sad look in the old astronomer's eyes as -though he would have liked them to stay longer. - -"Good luck to all of you," Dr. Beeler said. Then to Jill he added, -"Don't worry, young lady. You won't find Mars such a bad place. And -you'll be seeing the good old Earth again, some day, too." - -As the four went down in the elevator, Jill said, "I'm sorry I was such -a baby." - -"Nonsense," her father returned. "I must confess I've been a little -homesick myself since leaving Earth. How about you, Ted, and you, -Randy?" - -Ted had to admit to a certain amount himself, but the Kentons were -surprised to hear Randy's opinion. - -"No sir," Randy said, "I'm not homesick for Earth." - -Ted could not understand why a person should prefer the other planets to -their own home world. Ted could see that his father felt the same, for -he gave their new young friend an odd look. - -Ted thought it would be a good time to learn something more about the -mysterious Randy, and he was about to ask some questions when the cage -touched the ground floor. - -"Everybody out," Dr. Kenton said. "Put on your helmets and turn on your -air valves." - -There was no time for questioning now. The three younger folks did as -instructed. Ted liked the caressing feeling he got as the air pumped up -his suit. It was like a soft summer breeze against his skin. It made him -want to giggle. - -The explorers climbed into their car outside, and Dr. Kenton started it. -Then they went flying across the bleak gray moonscape, back toward the -Wheel. Jill had gotten over her gloom, and the excitement of the -carefree ride prompted her to start singing. It was a well-known song -that all the school children at home knew, and Ted and her father both -joined in. Dr. Kenton invited Randy to chime in, but the boy surprised -them once more when he said that he did not even know the song! This -only added to the mystery of Randy. - -Suddenly the scientist jammed the brakes on so suddenly that the -children were pitched forward. - -"What's wrong?" Ted asked, when he had regained his wits. - -He was surprised to see his father leap from his seat and vault to the -ground. "Out of here--all of you--quickly!" he urged. - -His insistent voice brought them tumbling out of the car to the ground. - -"What is it?" Jill cried frantically. - -"See those spurts of dust just up ahead?" her father said, pointing. -"They're meteorites striking the ground. We almost blundered right into -a meteor shower!" - -He looked around. "We've got to find some shelter," he told them. "A -cave--a clump of rocks--anything." - -"There's a bunch of rocks!" Randy said, indicating a clump off to their -left. - -[Illustration] - -"That seems to be the closest place!" Dr. Kenton said. "Let's go!" - -They broke into a run across the ground, slipping and sliding in the -powdery pumice. Ted saw bursts of Moon dust closer now, and they were -coming with greater frequency. One huge geyser several feet away threw a -shower of sand over all of them, blinding them momentarily. - -When the "air" cleared, Ted was shocked to find Randy missing. - -"Where's Randy?" he cried. - -"There he is--on the ground," Jill shrieked, pointing behind them. - -Ted turned, and his heart seemed to stop beating for a moment. Randy was -stretched out flat. He was unmoving, still as death! - - - - - CHAPTER SIX - _Into Space Again_ - - -The Kentons dashed out into the open to the spot where their young -friend lay. They bent over him. He was struggling feebly, and his mouth -was open and gasping as though he could not get his breath. His suit was -almost deflated. The meteorites had stopped falling, and there was no -further danger from them. - -Ted saw that his father seemed to know just what to do. He swiftly -zipped open a pocket in the side of Randy's suit and took out a small -strip of sticky fabric. There was a tiny slit in the boy's suit where a -stone had grazed it. Dr. Kenton stuck the strip over the tear and -pressed it firmly. Then he opened wider the air valve on Randy's helmet, -and the suit puffed out again. - -Presently Randy's eyes opened, and he pushed himself up into a sitting -position. - -"What happened?" he asked, almost in a whisper. - -"A meteorite grazed your suit, deflating it," the scientist replied. -"For a few seconds you were like a fish out of water. We'll have the -doctor check you over when we get back, but I think we brought you -around in time." - -They helped him to his feet. At first, he was wobbly, but he soon -regained his full strength and was able to walk alone by the time they -reached the car. - -They climbed into the Moon vehicle and went whirling off in another -swift-paced ride back toward the Wheel. When they arrived at the Moon -colony, Dr. Kenton had a physician examine Randy to make sure he was all -right, which proved to be the case. - -Soon the broadcasting loud-speakers announced that the _Shooting Star_ -had been repaired and would fire off within the next hour. In the -waiting room the Kentons held what they believed was their last meeting -with their new friend Randy. - -There was still much about the boy which puzzled Ted--there were loads -of questions he would have liked to ask him. Although he did not talk -much, Randy seemed to like to be with the Kentons. And now that the -parting was nearly at hand, Ted thought he appeared very downcast. - -"We'll sure miss you, Randy," Jill was saying. - -"Yes, we will," Mrs. Kenton said kindly. "Too bad you can't go along -with us." - -At this last remark, Randy looked up wistfully. Ted had an idea that -Randy would like nothing better than to go with them. - -"Have you ever been to Mars, Randy?" Ted asked. - -"Of course," he replied gently. "I was born there." - -All the Kentons straightened in surprise. No wonder Randy had said he -was not homesick for Earth, Ted thought. He knew the boy did not mean -that he was a native Martian, but that his father was an Earthman who -had been on Mars when Randy had been born. - -Ted knew that his father had decided to evade the mystery of Randy no -longer when he asked the direct question: "Randy, do you mind telling us -where your parents are?" - -Randy's eyes dropped, and his slender fingers began twisting. - -"My mother is dead. My father is somewhere on Mars with an engineering -expedition. That's why Mr. Collins is taking care of me. He's a close -friend of Father's." - -"Son, do you know which expedition your father is with?" Dr. Kenton -asked. - -"Yes, sir," Randy answered. "It's the Number Five Syrtis Major -Expedition." - -Ted was watching his father as he asked the question. A cold, -unexplainable feeling coursed through him. When Randy replied, Dr. -Kenton's face suddenly paled, and he turned away. Ted felt a stab of -dread. Had something happened to the No. 5 Expedition? What a terrible -tragedy for Randy if this were so. - -"I sure miss Pops," Randy said softly, a dreamy look on his face. "I -haven't seen him for two years. We had lots of fun together. He was -teaching me to play baseball--helping me develop a curve." - -This was the most Randy had ever said at one time, and the Kentons -listened raptly. Ted could see that his father was disturbed over -Randy's case. He took out his handkerchief and blew his nose hard. - -"Randy, how would you like to go to Mars with us?" Dr. Kenton asked -presently. - -Ted saw the sunshine of joy flare up in the boy's face. "C--could I?" he -asked. "Really?" - -"Of course," the scientist said. "We'd be glad to have you, wouldn't we, -Mom?" - -Mrs. Kenton smiled softly at the boy. "We certainly would, Randy." - -Randy needed no further urging. First he checked with his guardian, Mr. -Collins, who came to see Dr. Kenton. Mr. Collins was a husky, friendly -person. Randy was off packing as the men talked in the presence of the -other Kentons. - -"I think it would be the best thing in the world for the boy," Mr. -Collins said thoughtfully. "The Fifth Expedition was given up for lost -about a week ago. I've kept it from Randy all this time, hoping that the -lost explorers would turn up. But they never have." - -"I knew about the expedition," Ted's father said. "That's why I want to -take him. I thought we'd accept him into our family, so that when the -news came to him, he might not take it so hard. I guess I've got a soft -spot in my heart for the pioneers on Mars, being a scientist myself." - -"It's a grand thing you're doing," Mr. Collins said. - -When Mr. Collins left, Mrs. Kenton said to her husband, "We'll have to -tell Randy about his father ourselves, won't we?" - -"In due time," Dr. Kenton replied, "after he comes to know us better. -It'll be easier that way." - -"Randy will be able to tell us all about Mars, since he's from there," -Jill said excitedly. - -Ted agreed with his sister and decided then that Randy was going to make -a very welcome addition to the Kenton household. - -Less than an hour later, the _Shooting Star_ was in the heavens again, -powering toward the distant red beacon of Mars and leaving behind the -rugged wastelands of the Moon. - -[Illustration: _He was going to Mars._] - -Randy became a much more chipper person than the silent boy the Kentons -had first met. New life seemed to have flowed into him. He was going to -Mars, the land of his birth and the place where he believed his beloved -father to be--alive. Ted felt sorry for the boy in the days that -followed, whenever he talked about the good times he and his father had -had together. When the time came to tell him about his father, it was -not going to be an easy job for Ted's dad. - -In the eternal night of interplanetary space, time seemed to stand -still. Ted knew that days and days, even weeks, had passed since leaving -the Moon, but without the rising and setting of a sun to go by, it -hardly seemed that any time had passed at all. - -By now the Moon had lost its roundness and had become just another star -in the sky. The red spark of Mars, however, was growing day after day, -week after week. However, it could not yet be recognized as a disk. - -One day Ted noticed what looked like a smudge across the blackness of -the sky. It blotted out the stars behind it and appeared to be close. -But its movement was scarcely noticeable. Ted called his father's -attention to the blur of light. - -"It looks like a comet!" Dr. Kenton said. "I'll check with the -commander." - -The scientist tuned in a two-way speaker system and asked about Ted's -find. - -"That's Brooking's Comet, discovered back in 1970," Commander Grissom -replied. "It circles the sun every eight years. You're in for a treat. -We'll pass through some of its vapor. It'll be a spectacular sight a few -days from now." - -Watching the comet took up nearly all of the idle time of Ted, Jill, and -Randy in the hours that followed. Under Dr. Kenton's guidance they drew -a chart of that part of the sky in which it was located, and plotted its -motion in relation to that of the space ship. - -"You don't suppose it'll crash into us, do you?" Mrs. Kenton asked -worriedly, as the comet loomed menacingly outside their compartment -window some time later. - -Dr. Kenton soothed her with a smile. "Don't worry," he said. "If the -skipper says we'll graze it, that's exactly what will happen. He knows -every inch of this comet's orbit and our own too!" - -Dr. Kenton explained that the comet appeared to move slowly because it -was coming practically head on. Steadily it blossomed wider, like an -opening flower bud. In the center was a brilliant light, which was the -head, or nucleus. - -"Why won't the gravitation of the comet pull us into it?" Ted asked. - -"That's because a comet has very little mass, or what we'd call real -body, to it. It's mostly a big lump of widely scattered gas particles." - -"How big is it?" Jill asked. - -"The head is almost as big as Luna, and it has a tail many thousands of -miles long," her father answered. "It'll pass us at hundreds of miles a -second, but it will take a long time to get by and will hardly seem to -be moving." - -When the day of the arrival of the comet's nucleus came, every eye on -the _Shooting Star_ was peering intently out the windows of the rocket -ship. The commander had ordered all windows covered with filter screens -to cut out the blinding glare of the nucleus. - -The comet arrived with the shocking brilliance of a gigantic fireball. -All Ted could see was an over-all blinding whiteness that made the -blackness of space like bright noonday. The stars were blotted out -completely in the glare. For hours the brilliance continued without -letup, and then it began to dim. - -"The head is past," Dr. Kenton said. "From now on, the light will grow -weaker and weaker as the tail goes by." - -Ted still could make out no detail of any kind, and this was -disappointing. As he and Jill and Randy kept their eyes glued to the -window, all they could see was a slow dimming of the comet's original -brilliance. They grew weary of the sight and turned away from it. When -they returned to it many hours later, the heavens had a strange bluish -cast, and the stars began to burn through it weakly. - -Still later, only the barest evidence of the celestial body remained. -The heavens were only slightly grayed, showing that the tip of the tail -alone had not passed. - -"Will we see the comet after it swings around the sun, and heads out -into space again?" Ted asked. - -"Yes, from a greater distance," his father answered. "Then it will look -more like a comet to you." - -Several days later, Jill came running into their compartment, looking -concerned. "Father, I saw some of the passengers going forward into the -pilots' roost. They stayed there a few minutes, then came out, and some -more people went in. What do you suppose it's all about?" - -"I have an idea the commander has a treat for us," her father replied -with a knowing grin. "We'll get our turn. Just wait." - -Their chance came shortly later. The Kentons and Randy were summoned -forward, and they entered the pilots' roost. - -"Want to see something?" the commander asked. "Look out the forward -window." - -They spoke first to the pilots they had met before, then peered out the -window. Ted's breath came fast. Poised regally against the backdrop of -stars was a gleaming red-orange globe. It was the planet Mars, their new -home. - - - - - CHAPTER SEVEN - _Invisible Menace_ - - -The Kentons studied the red planet in silent awe. Beneath the thin -cotton of atmosphere, they saw the crisscross markings of the canals -that had baffled Earthmen for many years. Two small globes hovered in -the deeps beyond. They were the two moons, Phobos and Deimos. - -Randy unconsciously shoved forward ahead of the Kentons. "Isn't it -beautiful!" he murmured. - -"I wonder when we'll be landing," Jill said. - -The commander, who had heard her, answered, "In fifty hours, young -lady." - -"I guess we'd better get back to our suite so that some of the other -passengers can come in," Dr. Kenton said. - -They thanked the commander and left the pilots' roost. When they had -returned to their compartment, Ted asked Randy, "Have you ever been to -Earth?" - -Randy shook his head. "It sounds like a terrific place, though. I've -studied a lot about it in our Earth Geography course in school, and Pops -has told me a lot about it. Imagine playing baseball outdoors without a -space suit on!" - -Ted realized he had always taken the wonders of Earth for granted. It -was hard to understand that a boy such as Randy existed--a boy who had -never experienced such a free life. He tried to imagine how it would be -if he had lived all of his life on a world where all the breaths you -took were from tanks of artificial air, and where you could never feel -the cooling breezes of summer or the spicy winter winds in your lungs. -Thinking about these things made Ted thankful that he was not in Randy's -shoes. - -Suddenly an urgent voice came over the speaker in the Kentons' suite: -"Attention, everyone. Act quickly but do not be frightened. A leak has -developed in our antiradiation shield. Everyone retire immediately to -the rear store compartment at the extreme end of the ship." - -"My goodness!" exclaimed Mrs. Kenton. "What does that mean?" - -"There'll be time for explanations later," replied Dr. Kenton. "The -first thing is to do as he says." - -They hurried out of the compartment and down the corridor aft. There -were crewmen stationed along the aisle at intervals to calm the people's -fears and keep them orderly. A warning bell signifying trouble was -pealing throughout the ship. - -The Kentons and Randy crowded into the farthest rear room of the -_Shooting Star_ with the other passengers, all of whom were chattering -excitedly. When the last passenger was in, the transparent door was -fastened shut. - -"Why did we have to come way back here, Father?" Jill asked. - -"Because rays are loose in the ship," her father replied. "The farther -we are from the atomic engines up front, the safer we are." - -"Are they dangerous?" his wife asked. - -"They could be, in sufficient intensity. Right now, they're closing all -the doors along the corridors. The doors have built-in screens to resist -the rays, if they are not too strong. Keep your eyes on the light bulb -out in the corridor. If it turns red, it means the rays have penetrated -that far!" - -"Oh, dear!" groaned Mrs. Kenton. "I knew we shouldn't have left Earth. -Now it looks like we'll never reach our new home, after getting so -close, too!" - -"Don't worry," Dr. Kenton said. "The ship's crew knows how to handle -this. They have electronic instruments they turn on that attract the -rays like a magnet. They can clean out the entire ship in about half an -hour. That bulb in the corridor will light if even the slightest bit of -radiation is present. There's another bulb in the corner of this room, -but let's certainly hope this one doesn't light up." - -Ted heard a groan from one of the passengers. The light in the corridor -was beginning to glow. That meant the radiation had penetrated all the -way to the rear of the ship. The next thing to watch was the bulb inside -the room, Ted thought. His father had not said so, but Ted guessed that -they would probably be in serious trouble if this last one should light. - -Presently figures clothed in weird metallic suits and carrying shiny -instruments were seen in the corridor. - -"The crew is protected by those suits," Dr. Kenton explained. "The -things they are carrying are the magnetic ray catchers I was telling you -about." - -"Look!" Jill said suddenly. "The red light has gone out!" - -"We've nothing to worry about, then." The scientist spoke with relief. -"I would say those men got to us just in time." - -One of the curiously garbed men unfastened the door of the storeroom and -beckoned for the passengers to come out. Then he opened the front piece -of his helmet to speak to them: "Don't go through the next door until -you hear the all-clear whistle," he said. "It'll be just a few minutes." - -[Illustration: _Figures in weird metallic suits._] - -When the whistle blew, the corridor doors were opened and the passengers -returned to their sections. After the Kentons were back in their suite, -Mrs. Kenton sighed deeply and slumped in an air-cushioned chair. - -"My goodness!" she said. "I'm still quivery. If it's not one thing it's -another on these space voyages! I'm surprised we're still alive after -all that's happened!" - -"At least you can't say the trip is boring, Mother," Jill piped up, and -this brought a relaxing laugh from the others. - - * * * * * * * * - -Nearly two days later Mars was a giant world dead ahead. Ted looked out -the window with Jill and Randy and saw a close-up view of the strange -land that was to be their new home. A great network of deep, straight -gorges split the boundless stretches of red desert. These were the -fabulous canals built by the ancient Martians, now long dead. - -"There's the Prime Canal," Randy said, pointing to the largest chasm of -all. "It feeds all the little canals in this section." - -"Aren't those trees growing along the canals?" Jill asked. - -Randy nodded. "Evergreens," he said. - -"What's that white stuff in the bottom of the canals and near the roots -of the trees?" Ted wanted to know. - -"That's frost," Randy answered. "The sun never melts it completely. It -never even gets up to zero in this latitude." - -Dr. Kenton, whose interest was beyond Mars at the moment, said, "Look, -kids, there's our comet again!" - -He pointed it out to them in the heavens. It was a long streak across -the sky. The nucleus burned brightly, like a heavenly torch. - -"Now it really looks like a comet!" Ted declared. - -"It's beautiful!" Jill murmured. - -"We'll be able to see it from Mars for several days," Dr. Kenton told -them. "Then it'll gradually disappear from view." - -At this point the _Shooting Star_ began its turnabout for rearward -landing. Then, still later, the order that all those aboard the -_Shooting Star_ had been waiting a long time to hear came over the -loud-speakers. "Strap down on couches, everyone! Next stop--Lowell -Harbor!" - -The end of their journey was at hand. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHT - _The New World_ - - -The Kentons had experienced their last landing for a while. After a -final gentle bump, Ted shook his head to clear it and waited for the -side wall to move into proper position. Then he began unfastening the -straps of his couch. He was the first to his feet. As the rest of his -family were unbuckling, he did what everyone always did after a -space-ship landing. He went over to the window and looked out. - -Mars--their new home. At last they were here. From his height of several -hundred feet above the ground, Ted had the best view he would ever have -of Lowell Harbor, center of Earthmen's activity on the ruddy planet. It -had been named in honor of Percival Lowell, the great astronomer of the -past century who had been so strongly interested in Martian geography. - -Ted felt a breath on his cheek. He turned, and there was Randy right -behind him. There were tears of joy in his eyes, and Ted knew that this -must be one of the happiest days of Randy's life. - -"What a beautiful spaceport!" said Mrs. Kenton, who had come over to the -window with the other members of the family. - -A huge waterway cut the landscape in two at the edge of the spaceport. -Beyond this stood two large square buildings of transparent plastic -substance. Still farther out was a sprinkling of houses, one of which -the Kentons would occupy. As far as Ted could see, the ground was -rust-red. - -"What makes Mars so red?" Jill asked her father. - -"It's believed that Mars once contained much more oxygen than it does -now," the scientist replied, "and the ground was nearer the color we're -used to seeing it at home. But over the centuries the oxygen was -absorbed by the soil, forming iron oxide, which is the redness we see -now." - -"Is there any oxygen left?" Ted asked. - -"Very little," replied Dr. Kenton. "That may be what caused the Martian -races to disappear. This is the greatest mystery about Mars and is one -of the main reasons I'm here--to discover why there are no Martians here -now." - -"But there're birds and animals and insects," Ted said. "Why didn't they -suffocate too?" - -Dr. Kenton shrugged helplessly. "Another mystery. Maybe they were able -to adapt themselves to the change over the thousands of years by growing -larger breathing apparatuses or something like that. Apparently, man was -the one who lost out in the battle of survival." - -The command to disembark came over the speaker, and the Kentons gathered -up what small luggage they had kept with them and retired to the -dressing room. When they had suited up with the other passengers, they -entered the air lock and waited for the escalator to roll into position. - -As soon as Randy's feet touched the soil moments later, Ted saw him -stoop down and seize a handful of red dust and let it trickle slowly -through his gloved fingers. - -[Illustration] - -The commander addressed the group that was gathered around him. "It's -been a pleasure to have you people with us. This is where we part. A -steward will take you over the bridge across the canal to one of the -large buildings on the other side where you will register. A truck will -bring your luggage over later." - -As the party walked buoyantly over the ground toward the bridge, Jill -said, "I sure feel light-footed." - -"You should be," her father said. "You weigh less than half of your -Earth weight here. Wait until you go back to Earth after this -low-gravity life. You'll be tired for about six months." - -"I won't mind that," Jill answered earnestly. "I'll be so glad to get -back." Ted could see that despite the excitement of their new -surroundings, Jill's thoughts were still on her distant home in the Blue -Ridge Mountains of Virginia. - -Crossing the bridge, Ted looked over the side at the calm waters of the -canal. - -"This bridge is five hundred feet across and took quite a bit of -engineering work," Dr. Kenton said, "but it still wasn't as big a job as -the Martians did on this canal and the others all over the planet. How -they built these giant waterways is another great mystery we may never -know." - -"Look! Aren't those the little boats you were telling us about?" Jill -asked, pointing. - -There were a number of tributaries extending out from the canal. It was -along these that the individual houses were located. - -"That's right," her father said. "We'll have a boat of our own, too." - -Before leaving Earth, Dr. Kenton had explained to his family about the -transportation system that connected the people with the main -headquarters building of Lowell Harbor. When the colony had first been -built, it was figured that the cost of fuel and cars for each individual -family could be saved by making use of the natural waterways. A simple -aluminum boat could run on cheaper fuel. - -The new arrivals entered the nearer of the two largest buildings in the -colony, and because of the compressed air inside, dared remove their -helmets. In here were housed all facilities that had to do with the -running of the settlement. - -As they walked down the corridor to the registration room, Dr. Kenton -said, "You see, the building is made entirely of panes of heavy plastic -so that a hundred per cent sunlight gets in." - -After registering, the Kentons were assigned their new home. - -"I'm afraid you've got the house farthest out, Dr. Kenton," the clerk -said. "You're the last family to arrive, and they're not building any -more until more materials are sent from Earth." - -"That's all right," Dr. Kenton replied. "I knew about that." - -"Your boat is waiting for you outside the building at Air Lock -Forty-seven," the clerk went on. "One of our men will show you how it -operates and take you home. Your baggage and certain equipment for your -home will be sent out later." - -The Kentons walked down a long corridor to the air lock. On their way -they had time to see just how many kinds of service were carried on in -this most important center on Mars. If anything should happen to the -functions of this building, none of the homes could survive for very -long. - -Outside the air lock, the Kentons found their boat awaiting them beyond -a narrow strip of ground. The space-suited man inside the boat -introduced himself as Martin Cooper. The Kentons climbed in and took -their seats in the bottom of the boat, which was long and deep. - -Ted was anxious to see how the boat was operated. He saw Mr. Cooper take -a marble-sized tablet out of a box and drop it into a small tube at the -rear of the boat. Then the man turned some switches. In a moment a -steady popping was heard underwater, and the boat glided off. - -"Is that all there is to it?" Ted asked in amazement. - -"That's all," Mr. Cooper answered. - -"But how does it work?" Ted wanted to know. - -"The pill dissolves in the tank of water, generating a lot of pressure," -Mr. Cooper replied. "It's the jet pressure that moves us along." - -There was a steering wheel to guide the boat and a "gas pedal" to -control the release of pressure and their speed. Mr. Cooper turned the -boat into Main Canal, which was filled with other craft like their own -coming and going. Presently the pilot turned out of Main Canal into a -narrow waterway scarcely wider than the boat. - -"This is like the 'Old Mill' run at the carnival!" Jill said, as the -craft wound in and out along the irregular course. - -"This boat is great fun!" Ted said. "May Jill and I run it some time, -Dad?" - -"I guess you'll have to when I've gone off on my expedition," Dr. Kenton -answered. - -"Why doesn't this water freeze?" Ted asked. - -"It contains a kind of antifreeze mineral supplied by nature herself," -his father said. "It never freezes, no matter how cold it gets. It's -another one of the marvels of this planet." - -[Illustration] - -As they rode along, Ted was intrigued by the strange glow of the Martian -sky. The thin, purplish atmosphere permitted the more brilliant stars to -burn through even in the bright daylight. But then, Ted decided, it -wasn't such bright daylight after all, because the faraway sun looked -incredibly tiny to him, and there was a sort of twilight glow to the -whole scene. - -Mr. Cooper guided the boat the last few feet of its journey into a -little dock beside the sprawling bungalow which was to be their new -home. - -"End of the line!" Mr. Cooper sang out gaily. "Everyone out!" - -As Mrs. Kenton was helped out by her husband, she exclaimed in a shocked -tone, "Goodness! The house is made of glass! We won't have any privacy!" - -"It's not glass--it's strong plastic like that in the main buildings," -Dr. Kenton explained. - -"And as for privacy, Mrs. Kenton, you'll have that," Mr. Cooper said. -"There's a diffusing light inside the walls that makes them -solid-looking when you turn on certain lights." - -"I'm glad to hear that!" Mrs. Kenton said with relief. - -As Mr. Cooper led them over a few feet of ground from the waterway to -the house, Ted, who had been noticing the queer fixtures atop the -building, asked, "What are those things up there, Mr. Cooper?" - -"The network of rods and wires are the television antenna," was the -reply. "That shiny disk on a pole that looks like an oversized dinner -plate is your solar mirror." - -Jill wanted to know what the solar mirror was. - -"It collects the energy from the sun," Mr. Cooper answered patiently. -"That energy in turn is what runs the generator in your home and gives -you electric power." - -While these explanations were going on, Randy stood fidgeting. All this -was old stuff to him, and the explanations seemed to bore him. - -Mr. Cooper led the party over the few feet of ground that separated the -watercourse from the house. They entered a small alcove at the front of -the house; this was an air lock. Mr. Cooper closed the outer door and -threw a switch on the wall. Ted heard air hissing into the cramped -quarters. - -When this was done, the inner door was opened and the Kentons looked -around the front room of their new home. The house was already -oxygen-pressurized for immediate occupancy. All the furniture was of -beautiful colored plastic, and waterproof, much like the styles that -were popular back on Earth. The floor likewise was of poured plastic, so -that the whole interior could be cleaned with a hose. - -Mr. Cooper prepared to take his leave. "The things you brought from -Earth and your months' food supply will be sent out in a little while. -New oxygen drums are brought around once a week. If you ever need to -call the headquarters building, just use the radiophone over there on -the wall. Every home has its own broadcast band." - -The Kentons said good-by to their guide and turned with interest to the -wonders of their home. Mr. Cooper had offered to show them over the -entire house, but Dr. Kenton said he had seen the plans and knew what -the rest of the house was like. - -There were three bedrooms in the one-floor building. Since Randy had -come to live with them, Jill gave up her bedroom to the boys and agreed -to take the smaller guest room. - -When all had gotten acquainted with their bedrooms, Dr. Kenton took them -into the basement, which was just as large as the main floor. - -"Down here are all the things that have to do with the running of our -home," the scientist said. "Over there is the water tank that draws from -the canal outside. The tank has a purifier in it so that the water is -good to drink." - -In the next room Ted found a mass of whirring dynamos and turbines. His -father told them that this provided their electricity by drawing on the -energy from the solar mirror. They passed down a narrow corridor. Inside -one of the walls was a niche containing a large gray tank with dials on -it. - -"What's this?" Jill asked. - -"The most precious article in the house," her father answered. "It's our -oxygen drum. The air from it enters a blower that carries it evenly -through the building." - -The last room was the most surprising of all. Dr. Kenton opened a heavy -door, and Ted, standing in front of it, gasped as a blast of frigid air -hit him. He saw his father grinning. "That gives you an idea of how cold -the ground is," Dr. Kenton said. "This is a natural deepfreeze. It never -varies more than a few degrees all year 'round." - -His shivering companions took a moment to look inside. Ted saw a room as -large as the upstairs living room. It was empty. - -"When they bring our food, this place will be a third full," Dr. Kenton -said. - -"Do you mean to say I have to come downstairs and go into that cold -place every time I want a stick of butter?" Mrs. Kenton asked unhappily. - -Dr. Kenton merely grinned at her. He led them back upstairs and into the -kitchen. He opened one of several doors built right into the wall. -Frigid air seeped out of the compartment just as it had downstairs. - -"This is our regular refrigerator," Dr. Kenton said. "It connects by -pipe to the basement freezer." - -"I'm glad to know that," Mrs. Kenton returned, with a smile of relief. -"I thought I'd have to trot myself to death going up and down those -basement steps." - -Ted thought what fun it was going to be living in their very own home on -this distant planet. Wouldn't he have exciting things to tell the kids -back on Earth when he returned? - - - - - CHAPTER NINE - _A Cry in the Night_ - - -Hours later, Ted lay awake in the upper bunk of the double-deck bed he -shared with Randy. The foam-rubber mattress under him was soft as a -cloud, and the cool artificial air of the house inflated his lungs -satisfyingly. - -But though he was comfortable, Ted could not sleep. He had lain awake -for an hour. He guessed it was because of the excitement of the past few -days and the fact that this was his first night on solid ground after -months of life in space. - -He climbed down the ladder to the floor, quietly so as not to disturb -Randy. He stared through the clear plastic walls of his room at the -hushed Martian night. The sky was a glittering canopy of starlight. -Phobos, the fleet closer moon, cast a weak light over the landscape. -Beyond their desert back yard, Ted saw the dark spreading mass of the -sand bog which he had been warned about. It was like quicksand and would -draw anything that touched it down to destruction. Ringing the bog Ted -saw thick clusters of white flowers, which his father had said was a -favorite food of the little Martian color bears. - -Ted had also learned that the animals fed at night. He wondered if any -of the creatures were in these parts, and if there were any chance he -would see one of them. He kept his eyes on the bog for what seemed an -hour, but he caught no sign of movement down there. At last his eyes -grew blurry and he thought he could sleep. He turned away and climbed -the ladder. - -Just as his lids closed, something startled him, and he jerked up in -bed. He wasn't sure what had aroused him. He sat there in the -semidarkness, his heart bumping rapidly, his ears alerted. - -Then he heard a sound. It seemed far off. It was like a wail, a cry. He -came down the ladder again. In his haste, he tripped on the bottom rung -and went sprawling. He turned anxiously toward the bed and saw Randy sit -up. - -"I'm sorry, Randy," Ted said. "I thought I heard something outdoors." - -[Illustration] - -"I heard it, too," Randy said. - -The two looked outside, straining their eyes to pierce the shadowy -night. Suddenly Randy Whispered tensely, "There!" - -Ted stared where he pointed. There was a figure at the edge of the bog. -They heard the sound repeated. It seemed to be coming from the moving -figure. Ted suddenly remembered his father's field glasses lying on a -table in his parents' room. Before going to bed, all of them had used -them to study the stars. - -Ted tiptoed down the hall into his parents' room. Carefully he lifted -the glasses from the table and returned to his own room. He could hardly -wait to train the glasses on the mysterious thing beside the bog. - -"Did you hear it again?" Ted asked as he swept his glasses over the -landscape. - -Randy nodded. "It sounded like a color bear. He must be in trouble." - -Finally Ted found what he was looking for. He was able to make out a -little furry body struggling at the bog's edge. The animal appeared to -be trapped in the marsh. One stubby paw was grasping a root growing out -of the bank. Ted handed the glasses to Randy. - -"It's a color bear," Randy whispered. "He's stuck in the bog. He'll -never get out by himself." - -Ted saw a wistful look on Randy's face. "I sure hate to see anything -happen to those little fellows. They're so friendly." - -"You mean they make good pets?" Ted wanted to know. - -"They sure do," Randy answered. "I owned one once, until he fell into a -bog. It seems they always end up in one sooner or later." - -"I wonder if we could help him," Ted suggested. - -"It may be dangerous," Randy warned. "If we should slip...." - -"You've been around them before, haven't you?" - -"Yes." - -"I'm willing to try it if you are," Ted said. - -"Let's go then." - -"We'll have to be careful not to wake the others," Ted said. - -Softly they crept down the hall to the space-suit closet. Silently they -dressed and inflated their suits with oxygen. Then they went through the -air lock and on outdoors. - -Ted had brought a flashlight. The cone of whiteness fanned out ahead of -them, leading the way for them over the red sands. As they drew near the -sand bog, the wails of the trapped animal became louder and more -frantic. - -"We'd better hurry," Randy said. "He may go down any moment." - -They broke into a run and finally reached the side of the little fellow. -The only part of him visible now was his round head, from which -projected big cup-handle ears. His short forepaws still clung to the -root, but even now the boys could see his grip loosening. - -As they knelt beside him, they saw his violet button eyes turned -pleadingly up to them. - -"The bank seems firm," Randy said. "Let's brace ourselves and each take -one of his paws." - -The black mud pulled strongly against them. After a few moments the -boys' arms ached from the tug of war, but they appeared to be winning -the battle. Slowly the bear rose out of his trap. Just as Ted thought -his own arms would be pulled off from the strain, the animal sucked free -of the clutching slime and came tumbling up over Ted and Randy. - -As the boys climbed to their feet, the color bear ran up first to one -and then to the other, and licked their helmets gratefully with his long -red tongue! - -[Illustration] - -The little creature stood about two and a half feet tall and was so -roly-poly, he must have been nearly that wide. The mud caked his body, -some of it crawling like thick molasses down into a black puddle around -his flat feet. He walked upright just as they did. - -"What'll we do with him?" Randy asked. - -"Let him go, I guess," Ted replied. "I wish we could keep him, but I'm -afraid Dad wouldn't agree. For some reason, he doesn't like color bears. -Besides, there's no place to keep him." - -They walked back toward the house. Presently Ted turned and saw what he -had feared. The bear was trudging along behind. They tried to shoo him -off. This only made him hesitate momentarily and then start following -again. Finally they gave up, permitting him to trail along at a -distance. - -When they reached the air lock, they opened the door. As they waited for -the pressure to come up, the color bear stood outside looking in at -them. Ted thought he had the most plaintive expression he had ever seen. -It was almost human. - -"We can't let him stand out there like that all night," Ted said. "He -might wake up the whole house with his cries. They do cry, don't they?" - -"Just like babies," Randy said. - -"I forgot, though," Ted said. "They can't breathe our air mixture, can -they?" - -"Yes, they can." Randy told him. "They have a valve in their bodies that -takes care of that." - -"I believe we can wash that goo off him and leave him in the kitchen -until morning," Ted said. "Maybe he'll be quiet if he's clean." - -They let the bear in, and in appreciation he licked their helmets again. - -"If you want to stay in here, you'll have to be quiet," Randy warned, -just as though the animal could understand. - -"Hey!" Ted cried. "What's wrong with him?" The little animal was reeling -around as though he could hardly keep his feet, and his eyes were -glazed. - -"They always do that the first few times they enter our atmosphere," -Randy answered. - -The color bear adjusted himself quickly to the change and then seemed -all right again. Quietly the boys led him down the hall toward the -shower. In the bathroom they shut the door, removed their helmets and -turned on the shower in a gentle spray. The bear did not take to water -willingly, and the boys had to force him under. When he began squealing -and kicking, Ted put his hand over his mouth. As the little animal felt -the warm water, however, his broad mouth turned upward in a grin, and he -sat down in the middle of the plastic basin to enjoy his bath. - -While the mud was washing down the drain Ted began to see what a -beautiful creature the color bear really was. His soft fur was white -next to the body, then merged into reddish brown at the tip. To make him -even more colorful, his paws, legs, and head had a bluish tinge. "What a -patriotic creature he would be on Earth," Ted thought. He had all the -colors of the American flag. - -When the animal was clean, Ted got out a blotting towel that dried the -bear in a matter of seconds. The little fellow looked happy after his -bath and grinned at them. When he tried to lick their bare faces, they -had to cover up. He seemed hurt by their gesture and pouted for a -moment, with his lower lip quivering. - -"See what I mean?" Randy said, grinning. "They're almost human." - -"I wish we could keep him," Ted said longingly. "He seems like lots of -fun. I think I'll ask Dad about it." - -As they were cleaning up the bathroom, Ted, who was leaning over the -shower basin, felt Randy's hand press sharply on his shoulder. Ted spun -around. Standing in the doorway was his father, a stern look on his -face. - - - - - CHAPTER TEN - _School on Mars_ - - -"What in the world are you two doing?" Dr. Kenton asked. - -Ted told him the whole story of the rescue, ending up with a request -that they keep the Martian animal for a pet. - -Ted's father shook his head. "That's impossible. There's no place to -keep him." His face grew stern again. "You two did a very foolish thing -going out alone near that bog. You might have fallen in. I want you to -promise that you won't go near that place again." - -They promised. Ted knew it was no use arguing about keeping the color -bear. When his father made up his mind, he rarely changed it. - -As the three walked along the hallway with the bear, Dr. Kenton said, -"You kids woke me up with all that splashing in the bathroom, but, -fortunately, Mom is still asleep. We must be quiet so that we won't -waken her and Jill." - -The bear was reluctant to be forced out of the house through the air -lock. Ted knew the animal felt no worse than he did. He had become quite -attached to the little fellow in even this short time. - -When the bear was outside in the dark, he looked mournfully through the -transparent doors at his former friends who had rejected him. Then he -began wailing softly. Ted looked hopefully at his father, wishing that -he would have a change of heart. But Dr. Kenton's expression was set, -and Ted knew there was no chance of the color bear coming back inside. - -The three of them retired to bed, but Ted was a long time getting to -sleep. For almost an hour the Martian creature kept up a soft wail. Ted -covered up his ears with his air-filled pillow, and he was finally able -to drop off to sleep. - -The next morning Ted and Randy went to the front door the first thing -after they rose. There was no sign of the color bear. - -"I guess he finally gave up," said Ted unhappily. - -"I can't understand his being alone like he was," Randy said. "Usually -the little bears travel around in families of about ten. I guess this -one was an orphan." - -Hearing this, Ted felt even worse. "Maybe a wild animal got him," he -murmured. "If it hasn't already, it probably will sooner or later. By -the way, what kind of wild animals do they have here?" - -"None of them ever come close to the colony," Randy answered. "Hundreds -of miles away, there's the Great Martian Forest where all kinds of them -live. One of the fiercest kinds are the elephant ants. Big herds of blue -rovers run across the desert closer by. There are different kinds of -birds here, too." - -"I've heard of a dangerous plant in the Great Forest," Ted said. "What's -it called?" - -"The whip tree," Randy answered. "It throws tentacles around anything -that's near and draws it into its center mouth." - -Realizing the dangers to the lonely little bear, Ted had not much -appetite for breakfast. Neither of the boys nor Dr. Kenton had mentioned -the adventure of the night before, but Mrs. Kenton had heard some -noises, although they had thought she was asleep. She began asking -questions and finally got the whole story. - -"I wish we could have kept that little animal!" Jill sighed. "He sounds -wonderful!" - -"We can't adopt every stray animal that comes along," Dr. Kenton said. -"I'm sure the color bear will get back to his family all right. He -probably just strayed temporarily." - -Dr. Kenton next said that he was going to report to the science -organization this morning. He asked the children if they wanted to go -along and register in school. They'd have to within the next few days -anyhow. - -"Are the schools like they are back home?" Jill asked. - -"They sure are," her father said. "Just as modern as you'll find -anywhere." - -Hearing this, the children were eager to go. Schools in the twenty-first -century were a combination of wholesome entertainment and instruction. -No dry textbooks or cramped wooden desks with hard seats. Ted and Jill -had heard about the poor children of the mid-1900's who had to plod -through school with such handicaps as these, and they felt sorry for -them. - -Ted noticed that Dad seemed reluctant to leave Mom by herself, but she -did not seem to mind. - -"Don't worry about me," Mrs. Kenton said merrily. "I'll have plenty to -do unpacking our clothes and things that they dumped in the living room -yesterday. I won't even miss you _four_ children!" - -When the young folks and Dr. Kenton went outside in their space suits, -Ted saw that the sun was just a little above the horizon. He had learned -that men rose early on Mars to take advantage of the warmth and -illumination of daylight. - -Dr. Kenton looked into the purple sky through which the stars gleamed. -"It's exactly six-fifteen now," he said. - -"How did you know that?" Ted asked in surprise. "You didn't look at your -watch." - -"I didn't have to," his father answered. "That little disk in the sky -gives it to me." - -"That's Phobos," Ted supplied. - -"Right," his father answered. "It takes only six hours for the moon to -go from one horizon to the other, so you can actually see its movement -in a few minutes' time. By judging its distance from the star around it, -I can get the time." - -"That sure must take a lot of knowledge of the stars to know just where -each one should be at any one time!" Ted said. - -"It does," the scientist replied, "but you'll learn it in school. I'll -bet Randy knows how to do it now. How about it, Randy?" - -"Yes sir," Randy replied with a grin, "but I guess I'm a little off -after being away so long. I thought the time was six-thirty." - -Dr. Kenton took another look, and Ted could see his face redden inside -his helmet. "I'm the one who's a little bit off, Randy!" he admitted. -"It _is_ six-thirty." - -Suddenly Jill cried, "Ooo--look!" - -A half dozen large birds were swooping down on the boat. Dr. Kenton did -not appear alarmed--only amused. "They won't hurt us," he said. "They're -whee birds and very friendly." - -The beautiful birds folded their scarlet wings, tipped in yellow, and -perched on the sides of the boat. Then they began giving out a peculiar, -"Whee-whee," as though they were enjoying the boat ride. - -"Don't they sound funny!" Ted said. - -The birds soared away as the boat turned into Main Canal. A few minutes -later, Dr. Kenton drove up to the building they had registered in the -day before. But instead of docking at the building, Dr. Kenton continued -along the canal beside the building in the direction of the other large -building next to it. - -"We're going to the science building today," the scientist explained. - -"Why is that as big as the administration building?" Jill asked. - -[Illustration: _The birds soared away._] - -"Don't forget, Jill, that science and research is our main business on -Mars," Dr. Kenton told her. "Every imaginable research project is -carried on there. Your schoolroom is there, too." - -Dr. Kenton docked the boat at the science building, and the four got out -and entered. When they had removed their space suits, Dr. Kenton took -the children to the school superintendent's office, where he left them. -The superintendent had them fill out cards, and then he took them down a -hall. - -"We have only a hundred and fifty students enrolled, so we don't need -many classrooms," he said, and stopped before one of the rooms, knocking -on the door. - -A dark-haired young man opened it, and the superintendent introduced him -to the children as their teacher, Mr. Garland. He assigned the newcomers -seats, and since school had already begun for the day, he went on with -his lesson. - -The room darkened, and a regular three-dimensional color movie flashed -on the screen. It was a picture about the wonders of the Earth. Ted felt -a lump rise in his throat as he watched. What he was looking at was the -Natural Bridge in Virginia, not far from their old home. Ted looked at -Jill. A stray pencil of light from the camera showed tears glistening in -her eyes. Ted was feeling a wave of homesickness himself. The wonders of -Mars were exciting, but there was no substitute in all the universe for -their own little plot of ground on Earth where they had been born. - -Ted was glad when the movie was over and another subject was taken up. -With slides, Mr. Garland demonstrated the geography of Mars. Ted learned -that the red planet was mostly a vast stretch of desert through which -ran the marvelous network of canals. Mr. Garland likened the climate of -Mars to that atop a high mountain on earth--the air thin and cold. - -Ted was glad when the recreation period came and he could exercise. - -It was his first such opportunity since leaving Earth. In the boys' gym -the athletic instructor was teaching the game of basketball. Some of the -students like Randy had been born on Mars and knew nothing at all about -the game. Ted said that he had played a lot of it in school back on -Earth and volunteered to help the instructor, who was glad of the -assistance. - -When school was out, the young Kentons and Randy reported to the -science-building office, where Dr. Kenton was waiting for them. - -"Did you get your assignment?" Jill asked. - -"Yes," he replied. "I'll be leaving you in a few days. We're going on an -expedition to Hellespontus, where some mysterious fossils have been -discovered. They may be bones of the ancient Martians. If so, they could -solve the baffling riddle of what happened to those remarkable canal -builders." - -After getting into space clothes, they went to their boat and started -homeward. As they approached their isolated house at the end of the -winding watercourse, Ted rose in his seat and pointed. - -"Look!" he exclaimed. "There's the color bear again!" - -Sure enough, seated on the front doorstep, as though waiting for them to -return, was the little Martian animal they had rescued the night before. - - - - - CHAPTER ELEVEN - _Yank_ - - -"Isn't he the cutest thing!" exclaimed Jill, as she saw the -red-white-and-blue creature. - -"I thought we were rid of him," Dr. Kenton groaned. - -He brought the boat to the end of the waterway and tied it up. The -children leaped out and ran to the bear, who climbed to his chubby feet -to greet them. He licked the suits of Ted and Randy but merely stared at -Jill and Dr. Kenton. - -"It looks like we just can't get rid of him," Ted said, renewing his -hope for possession of the animal. - -"Oh, Father, can't we keep him?" Jill pleaded, stroking the color bear. - -Randy patted the little round head, and the bear made a sort of purring, -contented sound as the children fondled him. - -Dr. Kenton threw up his hands helplessly. "I guess I know when I'm -licked!" he burst out. "If Mother agrees, we'll try and keep him. But -you kids will have to attend to him yourselves, and mind you keep him -out of the sand bog, or you won't have him long." - -"We will!" Jill said. Now that she had made friends with the bear, he -seemed ready to accept her and licked her suit as a sign of friendship. - -Randy stayed outside with the bear while the other children went inside -to talk persuasively with their mother. She objected at first, but -finally yielded to their persistence. - -"We'll have to make out a requisition for plastic material for his -outdoor house," Dr. Kenton said. "Are you children willing to chip in -part of your allowance to pay for it?" - -They nodded. - -"We'll order it the same time as we do supplies for the garden," the -scientist said. - -"We're going to have a garden?" Jill burst out. - -"I thought we'd try it," her father said. "That's the only way we can -get fresh vegetables." - -When Dr. Kenton went to the study to make out the requisition slip, Ted -asked his mother, "Why didn't Dad want to keep the bear? It seems to me -that he doesn't like those little guys, or is afraid of them, or -something." - -"As a matter of fact, he is a little shy of them, I believe," she -answered. "He accidentally hurt a baby one badly in one of his -explorations a few years ago, when he crushed its forepaw under his boot -and it ran off crying. Your father's so tender-hearted he's probably -reminded of that painful incident every time he sees one of the -animals." - -"Maybe he'll change after the bear has been around for a while," Jill -put in. - -The air-lock door opened, and Randy stuck his head in. - -"We'd forgotten all about you, Randy!" Jill exclaimed. - -"Are we going to keep him?" Randy asked anxiously. - -"We sure are!" Jill piped. "Bring him in and let's introduce him to -Mother." - -Randy let the color bear inside. When he began staggering about, Mrs. -Kenton exclaimed with horror: "He's dying, the poor little fellow." - -Randy assured her he wasn't really--that he behaved like this because of -the extra oxygen in the air. Randy said that before long the bear would -be able to go in and out without any bad effects at all. - -Ted brought the animal over to his mother. She gingerly patted his blue -furry head. In response he licked her dress. "Now we're friends," Mrs. -Kenton said. - -"We've got to give him a name," Jill said. "What'll we call him?" - -"How about Fuzzy?" suggested Mrs. Kenton. - -"No. Teddy!" Jill said. - -Ted wrinkled his nose. "Then you'd get him mixed up with me. I think he -ought to have a patriotic name because of his colors." - -"How about Yank, then?" Mrs. Kenton said. - -"That's a good one!" Jill agreed. - -"Yeah, that's swell!" Ted said. "What do you think, Randy?" - -He shrugged and grinned. "It sounds all right to me, but I don't know -what it means." - -Ted explained the word as being sort of a nickname for America and -Americans. Randy had learned quite a bit about the United States flag, -but the word Yankee was a new one to him. After he learned its meaning, -he agreed that Yank was a perfect name for the color bear. When Dr. -Kenton returned, Ted felt that the final introduction to the newest -member of their family should be made. - -"Yank, meet Dr. Kenton," Ted said formally. - -Ted's father smiled and approached the little animal. "Hi, Yank," he -said. - -His hand went out to pat the round head, but to everyone's surprise, -Yank drew back with a cry of fright. Dr. Kenton's face went red as if he -had been snubbed by a human being. Ted felt sorry for his father. Did -the bear unconsciously know what the scientist had done to another -member of his kind? - -"Don't worry, John," Mrs. Kenton said soothingly. "He'll come around to -you before long." - -Her husband quickly changed the subject. "I've made out the -requisitions. I'll send them over to headquarters now on the -video-sender." - -[Illustration] - -The children watched interestedly as he went to the video-sender, which -was connected to the radiophone. He fastened the slips face down on a -glass plate and held open a switch for several seconds. About a minute -later, a buzz came over the radiophone. - -"That means it's been received," Dr. Kenton said. "I asked to have it -sent to us tomorrow." - -"Why couldn't you just phone it in?" Ted asked. - -"This way there doesn't have to be anyone on the other end," his father -explained. "The requisition was handled by an automatic machine." - -Yank was given temporary quarters in the basement. Dr. Kenton said he -could not live indefinitely inside like this--that an outside shelter -was absolutely necessary. - -The next afternoon after school, Dr. Kenton brought the children home. -Sitting outside the house on the ground were two pieces of specially -formed plastic. - -"Here are the things we ordered," Dr. Kenton said. "The manufacturers -shaped them on molds they already have on hand." - -The color bear's house was a rounded dome resembling an Eskimo igloo. -The garden shelter was oval and about twenty-five feet long. - -"How are we going to lift those things?" Ted asked. "They must be -awfully heavy!" - -"On the contrary, they're quite light," Dr. Kenton said. "Each of you -grab a handle on the side of the garden top and I'll show you." - -They discovered they could lift the large object with ease. They carried -it around the house, and Dr. Kenton showed how it would fit close to the -wall. The entrance would be by way of the back door. - -"The dome is double-walled!" Ted said. - -"Of course, it is," Dr. Kenton answered. "So is our house--and all the -buildings on Mars." - -"Why?" Ted asked. - -"For insulation against the cold," was the reply. "The outer wall gets -almost as cold as the temperature outside, but the vacuum between it and -the inner wall keeps the inside nice and warm." - -"The walls are so clear in the house, I never noticed they were double," -Ted said. - -"Shall we get started on the garden?" Dr. Kenton asked. "The sooner we -get it in shape, the sooner we can grow tomatoes and beans and dwarf -fruit trees." - -They first went into the house, where Mrs. Kenton showed them a large -pile of supplies that had been sent along with the shelter tops. - -"Here's a foam-rubber mattress for Yank," the scientist said, pulling -out two bundles, "and a supply of food for him. Everything else is for -the garden." - -The first thing the four of them did outside was set up Yank's house, -close to the front door, and lay out his sleeping mat. When this was -done, the little animal walked cautiously inside and sniffed all around. -Then he curled up on the soft cushion and closed his eyes. - -"He seems satisfied with it," said Jill. - -First work on the garden was to air-seal it to the rear of the house. -This was done with a strange-looking gun that shot a thick gluey liquid -out along the seams between the plastic cover and the house. The rest of -the work had to be done under the dome itself. The workers went back -indoors and hauled all the equipment under the garden shelter. - -"First we bring the warm house atmosphere into here, so that we can -remove our space gear," Dr. Kenton said. - -When this was done, and with their space suits off, the workers could -move about more efficiently. - -"After supper we'll prepare the ground, and tomorrow we can plant -seeds," Dr. Kenton said. - -Ted thumped the hard, cold ground with his shoe. "How can we work this?" -he asked. "It's hard as stone, and it must be awfully cold." - -His father pulled some long steel spikes out of the mass of equipment. -Then he took out a sledge hammer. He hammered the spikes at intervals in -the ground along the sides of the dome. Then he attached an electrical -circuit to each of them and the whole to a generator. - -As the generator purred in operation, he said, "Infrared heat rays are -being sent out by the spikes into the ground, warming it. After supper -the ground will be thawed out so that we can till it." - -When they returned to the garden area after their last meal of the day, -they found that the ground could be worked easily. Electric tools made -the job quick and efficient. Fertilizer and soil conditioner were worked -into the ground after the surface had been loosened up for several feet -down. - -"Did you say we could plant seeds tomorrow?" Jill asked, when they were -through. - -"That's right," her father replied. "The chemicals we have put in the -ground are almost miraculous in the speed with which they work in the -soil. They can literally do the job overnight." - -Jill and Ted went to bed tired and untroubled that night. But not Randy. -Before Ted dropped off, he heard Randy tossing restlessly in the bunk -below. Ted caught some of the words muttered by the boy: "Father ... -miss you ... ever come back to me?" - -They had been kept so busy during those first days in their new home -that Ted had almost forgotten that Randy wasn't his brother. Randy -seemed to have taken to the family very well, Ted thought, but he -realized no foster parents could take the place of his real father. As -Ted fell asleep, he was thinking what an unhappy day it was going to be -for all of them when Randy found out that his father was never going to -return. - - - - - CHAPTER TWELVE - _Illness Strikes_ - - -The young folks planted seeds the next afternoon when they came home -from school. Then in the next few days, they could scarcely wait to see -the first seedlings break through the soil. The little green crooks -popped up the morning that Dr. Kenton was to leave on his expedition. - -The scientist said that the plants would grow rapidly and produce edible -food within the next ten days. He gave the children instructions for -tending the crops, and they memorized his directions. - -He had showed Jill, Ted, and Randy how to attend to the mechanical -functions of the home and also how to run the boat. The three helped him -to load his gear into the boat, and then stood by as Dr. Kenton bade -farewell to his wife. There were tears in Mrs. Kenton's eyes as she -waved good-by from inside the house. - -Yank watched the strange goings-on from in front of his own dwelling. He -seemed to understand that Dr. Kenton was leaving, but he still had not -made friends with him. - -When they were all in the boat, Jill dropped a fuel pill into the tank, -and Ted took the steering wheel. He skillfully guided the boat along the -winding watercourse to Main Canal and along its length to the science -building. They all helped unload the gear on the dock, and Dr. Kenton -said that this was where they must part. - -"You three will have to run things while I'm away," the scientist told -them. "You shouldn't have any trouble, but if anything does happen, call -headquarters for help. There's one thing I want you to be sure to attend -to. Bring the empty spare air cartridges in the closet down here and -have them filled. You never know when you'll need them." - -"We'll bring them tomorrow on our way to school," Ted promised. - -Jill hugged her father hard and long. Like her mother, she was tearful -at his leaving. Ted, himself, felt a tug of dread. He wondered if the -trip into the Martian wilds would be a successful one or whether, as in -the case of Randy's father, it would end in disaster. - -The children went on to school. Ted was glad to be going because it -would take his and Jill's minds off the melancholy of their father's -departure. - -Ted found the opening lesson particularly interesting. In it he learned -facts about the extinct native Martians. Mr. Garland showed slides on -some diggings that had unearthed bones of these early people. The bones -had been organized to the best of Earth scientists' ability, but many -were missing, and the reconstructed figures were largely guesswork. Ted -wondered if his father's expedition would uncover more information on -these mysterious ancient people. - -As the young Kentons and Randy started for home in the boat that -afternoon, Jill complained of having a headache. Ted told her it was -probably due to eyestrain from looking at the slides, and this seemed to -satisfy her. But when Ted docked the boat at the house, Jill said she -felt worse. - -Yank came running out to greet them, but the boys were so concerned over -Jill that they paid little attention to him. He stood off sulking and -watched Ted help his sister out of the boat and through the air lock of -their house. - -"Mother, Jill is sick!" Ted called when they were inside. - -Mrs. Kenton had been spraying the hose on the plastic floor and -furniture. She turned it off and allowed the spring on the hose to pull -it back into the wall opening. The water swirled through the drain in -the center of the floor and disappeared in a matter of seconds. - -"What's wrong with her?" Mrs. Kenton asked in alarm. - -Ted helped Jill off with her helmet. He was shocked to see that her face -was feverish and her eyes strangely bright. She wandered away from the -others and slumped tiredly on the divan. - -"Don't lie on that rubber cushion, dear!" Mrs. Kenton cried. "It's still -wet. What on earth has she got?" Mrs. Kenton asked the boys. - -"It looks to me like she's got bog fever," Randy offered. - -"How could she catch fever?" Mrs. Kenton asked. - -"There's a virus that comes from the sand bogs and sometimes gets -through the air valve of space suits," Randy said. - -"I'd better call a doctor at headquarters right away!" Mrs. Kenton -declared. - -She went to the radiophone and put through the call. She was told that -all the doctors were out on calls and that it might be an hour before -one could come. However, when a nurse on duty in the Medical Center -learned about Jill's symptoms, she gave instructions for caring for the -girl until the doctor could come. - -As Mrs. Kenton switched off the phone, she said, "The nurse said that -Jill should be put to bed and kept warm. Come on, Honey," she added, -helping Jill to her feet and leading her toward the guest room. - -"Is the disease serious?" Ted asked Randy worriedly. - -"It can be," Randy answered soberly. "We'll probably have to be -quarantined," he added. - -"How long does bog fever last?" Ted asked. - -"The crisis comes pretty quickly after the first attack," Randy -answered. "I remember, because a friend of mine had it. If they pass the -crisis, they're usually well in a few days." - -Ted was reluctant to ask the next question, but he felt he must know. - -"Did your friend recover, Randy?" - -Randy shook his head, and Ted felt a cold chill of dread run down his -spine. He didn't know what he'd do if something happened to Jill. She -_had_ to get well. - -About twenty minutes later, Mrs. Kenton came back to the living room. -Her face was drawn and worried. - -"She's sleeping fitfully and her head is burning up!" she told the boys. -"Oh, why doesn't that doctor come?" - -With nothing else to do, the boys stared through the clear plastic of -the side wall at the deepening afternoon. The purple sky was growing -darker, and the stars were gleaming steadily brighter. On the horizon, -where the miniature sun was setting, the sky was painted in gorgeous -shades of red. Ted thought he had never seen a more beautiful sunset, -but he could not appreciate it at this time. - -Suddenly Ted spotted a strange yellow mass gliding close to the ground -and apparently coming in the direction of the settlement. - -"What's that, Randy?" Ted asked. "Do you know?" - -"We're in for trouble!" Randy answered. - -"What do you mean?" Ted asked, alarmed. - -"It's a dust storm blowing this way," Randy said. - -"I'm glad the house is well anchored to the ground," Ted muttered. He -had already learned in school that such storms were often fierce. - -"It may be an awful blow," Randy said. "It may keep the doctor from -getting through to us." - -[Illustration: _The whole landscape was blotted out._] - -Once more Ted had that sinking feeling. He wished desperately that there -were something he could do. But, against the powers of nature, he knew -he was absolutely helpless. All he and Randy could do was wait and hope. - -A few minutes later the dust storm struck with howling fury. The boys -watched the sand spatter noisily against the house. The whole landscape -was blotted out in a blinding, yellowish-red haze. Mrs. Kenton came -running into the room, looking terrified. She had not been prepared for -this latest trouble. - -"How long will this terrible storm last?" she asked, when Randy -explained what it was. - -"Sometimes as long as an hour," Randy replied. - -Mrs. Kenton's hands twisted in frenzy. "We can't wait that long. We must -have that doctor. Poor Jill is twisting and turning so much, I can't -even keep damp cloths on her forehead." - -"Why don't we call headquarters again," Ted suggested, "and see if the -doctor will be able to come out in the storm." - -As Mrs. Kenton went into the hall to radiophone again, the boys heard -the storm striking with renewed power. Fine, cutting sand whipped -against the plastic walls with the sound of sleet, accompanied by an -eerie roar. - -Mrs. Kenton came back quickly. "There's no sound at all over the phone!" -she cried. - -Ted instantly thought of the aerial on top of the house. He went to the -center room and looked through the clear ceiling. His heart sank. The -aerial was swinging loose by the single center pole. - -"The storm has blown the antenna loose!" Ted told his mother. "We can't -even phone headquarters now, and they can't reach us either." - -Mrs. Kenton left the room, moaning. They heard her go down the hall to -Jill's room. The only sound was the furious clatter of sand against the -house and the groaning of the terrible wind. Ted's eyes strained to -detect some kind of break in that awful cloud of yellow dust that -surrounded the house, hoping that the storm was nearing its end. - -Suddenly Ted heard a weak sound outside, above the roar of the wind. -"Yank!" he cried. "We forgot all about Yank! We've got to let him in!" - -They ran to the front-door air lock. There they found the color bear -clawing at the outer door. The dust covered him so thickly that he -nearly blended completely with the yellowish background. - -Ted flipped a switch opening the outer door. Yank scrambled quickly -inside. Then, when the air pressure in the little outer compartment was -equal to that in the house, Ted opened the inner door. Yank tumbled in -in a flurry of scattering sand. - -Ted thought the Martian animal was the most forlorn sight he had ever -seen. His fur was dirty and matted, his eyes were bloodshot, and every -step he took brought a cascade of sand down around his feet. - -"He looks like he needs another shower," Randy said. - -"There's nothing else we can do now," Ted agreed. Besides, he figured -the activity would take his mind off their troubles. - -Mrs. Kenton was still with Jill. The boys marched Yank down the hallway -to the bathroom. When Yank saw what was in store for him, he eagerly -jumped into the shower basin. Ted turned on the water, and streams of -dark-red liquid poured down Yank into the drain. - -"He must have half the sand of Mars on him," Ted commented. - -Suddenly his mother came up to the door and looked in. "Jill's getting -worse!" she said. "Ted, you and Randy must go out after the doctor." - - - - - CHAPTER THIRTEEN - _News for Randy_ - - -Ted was not keen to venture out into the dust storm, but thoughts of his -sister lying desperately ill quickly drove all hesitation from his mind. -He and Randy climbed into their space suits, and as they approached the -front-door air lock, Ted was relieved to find that he could begin to see -through the thinning dust. - -"It'll be over in a few minutes now," Randy said. - -But if Ted expected any easy time of it outdoors, he was mistaken. The -storm still had a lot of fight left in it. The wind struck them -relentlessly, turning them around and blinding their gaze with whirling -dust. They could not even thrust through it to the boat. Ted signaled to -Randy that they would have to stand close to the house until the storm -had subsided even more. - -At last the wind died to gusts. The air was clearer now, and the stars -were once again visible overhead. - -"I think we can make it now," Ted said. - -They ran over to the boat and climbed in. As Ted dropped a pellet into -the tank, Randy said, "Look at these scratches on the boat! That sand -must cut like a file!" - -They jetted off down the waterway, Ted pressing the accelerator pedal -down to shove the boat along as fast as it could safely go. They whirled -into the Main Canal and sped toward the science building where the -doctors had their offices. Along the way, the boys could see that theirs -wasn't the only aerial that had been blown down. They could see -space-suited figures on the individual houses working on the webs of -wires and poles. - -Some whee birds appeared out of nowhere and flew down to perch on the -boat and serenade Ted and Randy with their strange chants. However, the -boys were in no mood for them now, and presently the friendly birds -flapped off as though they realized they were not wanted. - -Before reaching the building, the boys saw a boat speeding right at -them. - -"Look out!" Randy warned. "He's coming straight at us." - -But the boat pulled up just beside the craft occupied by Ted and Randy. - -"Are you the Kenton family?" the single occupant asked over his radio. - -"Yes, sir!" Ted answered quickly. "Are you the doctor?" - -"Yes," the man answered. "The storm has held me up. How's your sister, -Son?" - -"She's bad off, sir," Ted answered. "That's why I had to come for you." - -"Turn your boat around and don't spare the horses, as they used to say," -the doctor said. "I'll be right behind you." - -Ted made the fastest trip yet along the waterway back home. True to his -word, the doctor arrived right at his heels. The doctor jumped out of -his boat at the house, grabbed up a large case, and hurried toward the -air lock. The boys went ahead and opened the door for him. - -When the doctor had met Mrs. Kenton inside, he asked to see the sick -girl alone. The boys and Mrs. Kenton paced restlessly in the front room -as they waited for the doctor to come out of Jill's room. Finally, when -Ted thought he could not stand the waiting any longer, the doctor came -out. He was briskly shaking down a thermometer, and his face was bland. - -"She'll be a sick girl for a few days," he said, "but she'll be all -right. I gave her a shot of some special serum we developed to combat -bog fever. It was none too soon, either." - -There were tears of joy on Mrs. Kenton's face, and Ted felt as though he -could turn handsprings. Randy, too, looked vastly relieved. Although he -was not a true member of the family, it seemed as though Ted and Jill -were brother and sister to him, especially since he had no brother or -sister of his own. - -"I'm afraid all of you will have to be quarantined for a week," the -doctor went on. - -"What'll we ever find to do with ourselves staying in the house for a -whole week?" Ted thought. Then he remembered the garden that had to be -tended, that antenna that had to be repaired, and other mechanical -duties that had to do with the running of the house. If they kept busy, -the time would pass swiftly, he reasoned. The boys went up on the roof -to try to repair the antenna, but there was such a tangle of wires they -did not know where to start. The doctor said he would leave word at -headquarters for a repairman to come out. - -"It may be a day or so before he can get out here, though," the doctor -warned. "It looks as though half the aerials in the settlement were -blown down." - -It was actually two days before a repairman came. By that time, Jill had -passed her worst time, and she was able to sit up a little and see the -boys. - -Ted and Randy were amazed at the rapid growth of the plants in the -garden. Already they were eighteen inches high. Ted thought he could -almost see them growing before his eyes. - -As soon as the radiomen had repaired the antenna, the boys sat down to -watch the television program in progress. It was a newscast that showed -in color the events going on all the way back on Earth and within the -settlement as well. The huge five-by-four-foot screen was sharp and -clear. - -Suddenly the regular telecast was interrupted. A local announcer was -switched in. He held a paper in his hand, and by the expression on his -face, Ted knew he had something very important to say. - -"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer said, "we have just received word -that several members of the long-lost expedition to Syrtis Major have -been spotted and contacted by a routine surveying plane. That is all the -information we can give you now, but stand by and we'll keep you posted -on developments." - -Randy had sprung to his feet, and Ted could see his body was tense as a -coil of wire. - -"Pops!" Randy burst out. - -"Your father's expedition!" Ted exclaimed at the same moment. Then -before his hopes got too high, he recalled that the announcer had said -that only some of the men had been found. - -But Randy did not appear to be bothered by this. His face glowed with -happiness. He was convinced his father was one of those who had been -located. - -An hour later, another bulletin was given: "It has been established that -only six of the original thirty-five members of the ill-fated expedition -are alive. Identity of the men has not yet been given us. Stand by for -further news." - -Randy bit his lip in disappointment as the message was cut off. He and -Ted remained by the set for another hour without moving, hoping any -moment that more news would be given out. At last it came: - -"Our remote TV facilities will carry you to the spot where the lost men -were found," the announcer said. There was a gray screen for several -moments, and then the scene switched to the interior of a rocket plane. - -"It'll be just like our going along with them to the place!" Randy -exclaimed happily. - -Ted kept his fingers crossed for Randy. It would be a terrible shock to -him if his father were not one of the survivors. The unhappy moment he -had dreaded for so long might now be at hand. Their screen showed the -swift trip from Lowell Harbor over red sands and lichen forests. At last -the plane came in for landing in a wild, rocky region. - -The man who met the TV men in the plane was the pilot who had first -sighted the missing engineers. "Come with me," the pilot said, "and I'll -show you who the survivors are and we'll hear their story." - -Ted saw Randy get up and move close to the screen. He saw Randy's toe -beat a nervous tattoo against the floor as he waited. Mrs. Kenton had -come into the room in the meantime, when she found what was going on. -Even Jill could hardly be restrained from leaving her bed to come in and -take part in the great discovery that meant so much to young Randy -Matthews. - -"The men survived by holing up in an underground cave, and they signaled -the scouting plane," the pilot explained, as he led the TV men over the -rocky ground. "It was a landslide that broke up the expedition, -destroying all means of transportation and communication. The six who -lived through it gathered up all the spare oxygen tanks and food -supplies. They had plenty along because the expedition was to have -lasted three months. They carried the tanks underground where a hot -spring kept them warm." - -When the entrance to the cave was reached, the pilot called inside, and -six space-suited figures walked tiredly out. They were not recognizable -in their space dress, for even their helmets were too dark to show their -faces. - -"Gentlemen," the TV announcer said to the survivors, "I'm sure every -television set, at the colony and on faraway Earth too, is tuned to this -spot. Of course, the big question in all the people's minds is which of -the men who were lost are among you alive. Will each of you pass before -our camera and give your name?" - -Ted felt his nerves tighten as the men, one by one, faced the screen. -Two, three, then four bearded men passed and gave their names. Randy's -father was not one of them. Two more to go. Just then the worst possible -thing happened. The screen suddenly went gray. - -[Illustration: _The picture flashed on._] - -Ted heard Randy groan. The seconds ticked by. Still no picture. Finally, -after five minutes, the announcer said that picture service would be -restored in a few more minutes. Ted could see the perspiration gleaming -on Randy's face, and his fingers were clenching and unclenching -continuously. - -"What a frightful thing for him to be going through!" Mrs. Kenton -whispered to Ted. "I certainly hope and pray his father is one of those -remaining two." - -The picture flashed on. The announcer spent a moment or two explaining -the difficulty that had thrown the picture off; then he called the two -remaining men. The fifth showed himself. In the close-up his smiling, -grimy face was visible through his helmet. - -"Is--that him?" Ted asked tremulously. - -Randy's head wagged slowly in the negative. Finally the last man walked -up, and Randy gave a scream of joy and sprang over to the screen. - -"My name is Robert Matthews," spoke the bearded man. He smiled and waved -into the screen. "Are you listening, Randy boy?" - -Ted looked at Randy. His shoulders were hunched over and were shaking -with quiet sobs. Ted could see tears of joy in his mother's eyes. Then -he realized there was a lump in his own throat. - -Randy's father was alive. To Ted, it was almost as though it were his -own father who had been found. - - - - - CHAPTER FOURTEEN - _Peril in the Night_ - - -Randy would have liked nothing better than to have been at Lowell Harbor -to welcome his father, but the quarantine made that impossible. However, -Randy left word for his father to phone him on arrival. - -Hours after the sensational telecast, the radiophone finally buzzed. -Randy ran to it, flipped a switch, and listened on the two-way -microphone. - -"Pops!" Randy exclaimed. "Yes, it's me! How are you?" On and on the -excited conversation went. - -"Isn't it wonderful, Mom?" Ted said to his mother. - -"It certainly is!" she answered. "Your dad and I really believed Randy -would never see his father alive again." - -Yank had been allowed into the house. He seemed to realize that this was -a moment of good times, for he capered about like an animated ball of -fur. He even tried to make noises into the mike himself, but Randy -playfully pushed him off. - -Feeling pretty good himself now, Ted thought that if Yank wanted action -he'd give it to him. He cuffed the little animal gently along his head. -Yank tore after him, catching him near the air lock. Down went the boy -and color bear together. Yank growled menacingly but did not impress Ted -with his mock ferocity. Yank got on top of Ted, and Ted called for help. - -Just then Randy's long conversation with his father ended, and he came -over to join the fun. Then the three of them were scrambling and yelling -together. Ted halted his play for a moment to look up and see Jill -standing in the doorway, her face beaming as though she would like to -join the fun. Mrs. Kenton looked around, and her face darkened. - -"You'd better get back in that bed, young lady!" her mother threatened. - -Jill squealed and ran off to bed. Ted saw that his mother was not really -angry. She was smiling, and Ted knew she was glad to find that Jill was -feeling so much better. - -The rest of the day passed on the same high note of joy. Where several -days ago, everything had been fear and gloom, now everything was rosy. -The next day, after Randy had talked with his father again, he was -impatient to get out and meet him. Ted, too, was beginning to feel the -pinch of the quarantine. - -The boys went out to take a look at the garden. The stems were high and -full of broad leaves. It looked like a miniature jungle here. And in -such a short time! Ted checked the atmosphere gauge that showed the -percentage of oxygen to carbon dioxide in the greenhouse. The gas from -the carbon dioxide tank had to be just so, or the plants would suffocate -from an overabundance of oxygen. - -When the boys returned to the living room, Mrs. Kenton said to them, "I -have a surprise for you two. Turn your heads." - -They did so, and when she told them to look around they saw a fully -dressed Jill standing there, her cheeks pink and healthy again. Ted -hugged his sister as though she had been away a long time and was just -getting back. - -At last, the day that, it had seemed, would never arrive finally did -come. Randy was up especially early that morning, saying that he wanted -to visit his father before he went to school. - -The children were in the living room awaiting breakfast. - -"I'm sure they'll let you off from school one more day to be with your -father, Randy," Mrs. Kenton called from the kitchen. - -"Even if they do, I don't want to lose any time seeing him," Randy said. - -Suddenly Jill pointed a shaky finger toward the front door. "L-look, -there's a man at the door?" - -Ted turned around, startled. "I wonder who..." he began. - -But Randy was not puzzled. He ran across the room and flipped the switch -that controlled the air lock. A few minutes later a robust man in a -space suit entered and pulled off his helmet. He had a rugged, kindly -face which showed the effects of the terrible strain he had been under -so long. But he was smiling. - -"Pops!" Randy cried and threw his arms around him. - -"Boy, what a squeeze you have!" Mr. Matthews grunted. "You've grown, -Randy." - -When their prolonged greeting was over, Randy introduced his father to -the Kentons. Ted's hand was almost lost in the large, powerful grip of -Mr. Matthews. - -"You're just in time for breakfast, Mr. Matthews," Mrs. Kenton said. - -"It's been a long time since I've had a home-cooked meal," the man -answered wistfully. "I'd like to join you." - -As they were eating, Dr. Matthews heard the story of his son's adoption -by the Kentons. Then he said, "I can't thank you folks enough for taking -care of my boy just as if he were one of your own." - -[Illustration: _"Pops!" Randy cried._] - -"Randy _has_ been one of us," Mrs. Kenton said warmly. - -"What do you say about that?" his father asked. "Do you want to leave -these nice people?" - -Randy looked uncertain. It was a situation he had given little thought -to before. "I don't really like leaving them," Randy said hesitantly. -Then he seemed to have an idea. "I've got it, Dad! Why can't you come -and live here?" - -Mr. Matthews laughed. "I'm afraid that's carrying hospitality too far. -No, we'll build us a house of our own, as close by as we can. Until we -get an allotment of housing material, we'll get a room in headquarters." - -"There's no use both of you living there," Mrs. Kenton said. "Why not -led Randy stay on here until your house is ready to move into?" - -"Sure," Ted put in. "Why can't Randy do that?" He had been saddened at -the thought of Randy leaving the household. It had seemed as though -Randy was going to be with them always, for he had not believed that -Randy's father was ever coming back. - -Randy thought this was a fine idea. Ted could see that he did not like -parting with the Kentons any more than they did with him. Mr. Matthews -was reluctant to take further advantage of the Kenton hospitality, but -at last was talked into the proposition. - -The children went along with Randy's father back toward town, following -along in the Kenton boat. Mr. Matthews said he'd arrange for Randy to -have the day off from school so that the two of them could have a good -visit. - -The young Kentons were glad to be back in the thick of things. They -found school particularly interesting that day, because a field trip was -announced by Mr. Garland. - -"Every year this class is given an exploring field trip over certain -areas of the planet so that you can get a firsthand knowledge of Mars's -geography," the instructor declared. "The trip is by plane and will last -two days. You must have your parents' consent, of course." - -That afternoon, as Ted and Jill left school, Ted said, "What do you -think of that trip, Sis?" - -"It sounds like fun!" she said. "I hope we can go." - -"I'd like to, too, but don't forget Mom would be by herself." - -"I'd forgotten about that," Jill said disappointedly. "Mother would tell -us to go on, if we asked her, I know, but I still wouldn't want to leave -her. There are so many things that could happen." - -"We'll just have to forget it then," Ted said. "Maybe we can make it -another time." - -The two kept a brooding silence, and Ted wondered if Jill was as -disappointed as he was. When Randy found out that they had decided not -to go, he said he did not care to go either. - -That night Ted had a dream. In it he was exploring on the great barren -desert with Jill and Randy but they wore no helmets and it seemed as -though they could hardly get their breath. They gasped and choked, and -the dream grew into a nightmare of terror. Suddenly, Ted woke. He sat up -in bed in a cold sweat, feeling a strange lightheadedness. His breath -was coming hard into his lungs. - -It had not only been a dream. Something had happened to the atmosphere -in the house. - - - - - CHAPTER FIFTEEN - _The Peril Continued_ - - -"Randy, wake up!" - -Ted was jostling his bedmate. Randy opened sleepy eyes. He seemed to be -unaffected by the reduced air pressure in the room. Ted remembered that -people vary in their reaction to this. - -But when Ted told him of the danger, Randy bounced out of bed with no -further prompting. Ted switched on a light, and just as he was reading -the air-pressure gauge on the wall, he heard a shrill whistle in the -house. It was the air alarm that had gone off automatically. Ted could -see that the gauge read dangerously low. - -If he and Randy and the others did not get into space suits in a hurry -they would suffer serious consequences, one of which could be an attack -of the "bends." At worst, they would lose consciousness and die of -anoxia--oxygen starvation. - -Even before Ted could leave the room to rouse his mother and sister, -both were standing at the boys' door. - -"We've got to get on space suits right away!" Ted told them. "It looks -like all the air pressure in the house is leaking out!" - -They went immediately to the closet and began dragging out space dress -in a mad flurry of fear. They pulled on the suits and helmets with haste -and inflated the airtight outfits with fresh, pressurized oxygen from -the small tanks on their backs. - -"What do you think has happened to the air drum in the basement?" Mrs. -Kenton asked her son over her helmet radio. - -"I don't know, but Randy and I can go down there and see," Ted answered. - -The boys went downstairs, made a light, and walked over to the giant -metal tank recessed in one of the walls. Checking the gauges on the -tank, Ted turned to Randy with a frown. - -"There's nothing wrong with this," Ted said. - -"Then where is the trouble?" Randy asked. - -[Illustration] - -"There must be a leak somewhere in the house," Ted said. "We've got to -find out." - -The boys went upstairs, and Ted told his mother and sister that all of -them should spread out and search the entire house for a leak. There -were emergency sealers on hand to plug such a leak when it was found. -The sealers were only temporary, but they would last until a full repair -could be made by a repairman. - -Each of them took a room and worked toward the middle of the house in -their search, all lights having been turned on to give maximum -illumination. The job was no easy one. Even the slightest crack anywhere -would be sufficient to cause the loss of pressure; it was just like a -tire tube with a tiny puncture. Ted was the first to finish his assigned -area. He had found nothing. Presently Randy was through, then Mrs. -Kenton, then Jill. No one had found a leak anywhere, and the entire -house had been covered. - -"We must have missed it somewhere!" Ted said. "We've wasted a whole -hour!" - -"The spare cartridges your father told us to have filled!" Randy -suddenly exclaimed. "We didn't do it!" - -"We forgot to in all the excitement after he left!" Ted groaned. - -"What'll we do?" Mrs. Kenton asked, horrified. "In another hour or so, -we'll have used up the air in our suits!" - -"Can't we refill our suit cartridges from the air drum downstairs?" Jill -asked. - -Ted shook his head. "It's not built that way." - -"Then we must phone for help right away," Mrs. Kenton said and rushed -off to the radiophone. - -In a few moments she was back. "They'll send someone from town with -spare cartridges right away," she said, "but the man said we couldn't -get a repairman until morning to fix the leak. We'll have to stay in our -space suits if we don't find the leak." - -"Then let's look for it again," Ted suggested. - -Once more they spread out all over the house, but this time they changed -areas, so that if a mistake had been made before there was less chance -of repeating it this time. They renewed their search, and it was not -until all were through, again without having found the leak, that they -realized that another hour had passed and the man with the spare -cartridges had not shown up. - -"The gauge in my helmet shows I've got only ten minutes of air left!" -Jill said. - -The others checked their gauges. All showed about ten minutes' supply -remaining. And there was no guarantee that the spare cartridges would -arrive in that time. - -Just as Mrs. Kenton was going to the radiophone to call the air-supply -center again, the phone buzzed and she answered it. After listening a -moment, she turned to the children with a white face. "The man's boat -developed some trouble on the way. He says he can't get here for fifteen -minutes." - -"That'll be too late!" Jill cried. - -Mrs. Kenton relayed this information and then said, "He wants to know if -we have any neighbors close by we can borrow from." - -"I know it'll take us more than ten minutes to get there and back!" Ted -answered, recalling the goodly distance to their closest neighbor. - -Mrs. Kenton reported this and then, after listening for several seconds, -she finally hung up. "He says that he'll call back to headquarters and -get an emergency truck here as quickly as possible. But he can't be -certain that it will get here in time either." - -Jill began sobbing. Ted could see his mother's lips trembling, but she -was trying to be brave. Mrs. Kenton hugged Jill to her, trying to calm -her. Ted saw Randy fidgeting nervously. His own stomach felt queasy, and -waves of terror went through him as he thought of the consequences of -running out of air. - -"Come on, Ted," Randy said finally to his friend, going from the hall -into the living room. "We've just got to find that leak. If we can find -it and plug it, the house pressure will rise to normal in a couple of -minutes. I remember our own place doing that once before!" - -"But we've gone over the whole place twice!" Ted argued. "There's no -hope!" - -"Either we've passed the leak without seeing it," Randy went on, "or the -leak is in a spot that we didn't look at." - -"But there isn't any place we didn't look!" Ted said. "Of course, there -are some places we couldn't get to, like...." - -They both thought of it at the same time. Both boys' eyes shifted to the -drainage hole in the center of the plastic floor. Here was one spot they -had not been able to check. There was a grillwork molded into the -plastic that was not easily removable. - -"Suppose it is the drain hole, though," Randy said. "How can we find -out?" - -[Illustration] - -"I've got it," Ted answered. "We'll plug up the whole thing with a -sealer, then check the room gauge to see if the pressure builds up." - -A rubberoid sealing patch was taken out of its case and applied over the -hole. They flattened it out tightly to assist the adhesive to cling fast -in place. Then all four of them went over to the wall to watch the -pressure gauge. - -A minute passed, and the needle failed to move even the tiniest bit. If -this did not work, they knew they would surely be lost, because from -where they stood, they could see outside for quite a distance, and still -no one was coming. - -Over his radio, Ted heard the nervous intake of breath from the others. -He knew his hurried breathing must sound the same to them. Actually, -fear was hastening their doom because the more scared they were the more -oxygen they used up. - -Ted stole a look at his helmet gauge. Only three minutes of air -remained! His eyes turned to the wall gauge again. He wished he could -put out his hand and push it along toward normal. How desperately he -wished for it to move! - -Ted thought he noticed a flicker of the needle. He blinked his eyes. -Yes, it had moved! The others had seen it too. - -"It moved!" cried Jill, almost hysterically. - -"It certainly did!" her mother burst out. "I saw it!" - -The needle continued to climb toward normal. Ted had nothing to say. He -was so filled with relief that he was speechless for the moment. - -They were all so concerned over the snaillike movement of that -all-important needle that they paid no attention to the last few -dwindling draughts of air in their suits. Ted was the first to realize -that his tank was empty. He began feeling that same lightheadedness he -had experienced in his room. - -"Our suits," he cried out. "Pull them off! The room is just about -normal!" - -He unclipped his own helmet, then pulled it off and drank in precious -gulps of fresh air. The others followed suit. Soon the needle was -vertical, indicating that normal pressure and air supply had been -restored. - -It was five minutes before a light came swiftly across the desert, -moving in their direction. They heard the pop of an exhaust a moment -later as a big-wheeled truck pulled up to a roaring stop outside. - -Ted knew it must be the arrival of the emergency cartridges. But they -had been five minutes late. A shudder shook him as he realized what a -close call this had been. Had they not found the leak when they did, -none of them in the house would now be alive to greet the men. - - - - - CHAPTER SIXTEEN - _Disappointment_ - - -The next afternoon, when Ted, Jill, and Randy arrived home from school, -Mrs. Kenton told them that the repairmen had taken care of the leak in -the drain. It seemed that the hole had been partially stopped up so that -the water had collected and frozen in it, causing the pipe to crack. - -Jill had been impatient to talk ever since she had gotten in the house. -Now her chance had come. "Mother, you know what Mr. Garland wants us to -do?" she asked eagerly. - -Mrs. Kenton smiled. "What does he want you to do?" she asked. - -"He wants us to bring Yank to school for a demonstration lesson in -Martian zoology," Ted broke in. - -Jill's face clouded over with disappointment. "I wanted to tell her," -she muttered. - -"Sorry!" Ted said. "I didn't know it was a secret." - -Jill slapped at him playfully, but Ted ducked in time. - -"You little clowns stop performing and get ready for supper," Mrs. -Kenton said. "We're eating early because I have a surprise for you." - -"A surprise!" Jill echoed. "What is it?" - -Her mother smiled secretly but did not answer. Jill ran off to her room -and the boys went to theirs. When the children had dressed and washed, -they seated themselves at the dining-room table. Mrs. Kenton brought in -a large platter of real roast beef. - -"This is the surprise!" Jill said. - -"If it isn't, I'll settle for it!" Ted put in. - -Beef was a rarity on Martian tables. It was brought in only occasionally -on the rocket supply ships. Most meat was of the dehydrated and cube -variety that took less space. - -"No, this is not the surprise I was talking about," Mrs. Kenton said, -"although it was to me when the supply boat drove up this morning with -special rations." - -"Do you mean there is still another?" Jill asked. - -Her mother nodded and went on. "The beef took only a few minutes to -roast in the electronic oven. I remember my grandmother making so much -of a pressure cooker. She probably would never have believed there would -be an oven of the future that cooked in even less time than the pressure -cooker and without any heat whatsoever." - -When the main course of the meal was over and apple pie was brought in, -the children were sure this was the surprise Mrs. Kenton had promised. -She said the supply boat had brought the fresh apples with the meat. But -even the treat of apple pie was not the special surprise. - -When supper was over Mrs. Kenton conducted the children into the living -room and had them gather around a recording machine owned by their -father. Mrs. Kenton set a spool of wire rotating and told them to -listen. - -"Hello, kids!" came a voice. - -"Father!" Jill exclaimed. - -They listened to a message addressed especially to them. When it was -over, Mrs. Kenton explained that their father had called by remote -broadcast from his distant work during the day. Then he had had her make -a special wire recording for them so that they could hear it later. Mrs. -Kenton told them this was the surprise. The children admitted that this -was an even greater one than the beef and the apple pie. - -"I thought Father sounded sort of sad or disappointed," Jill commented. - -"You were right, dear," Mrs. Kenton replied. "Their work hasn't gone -along as well as they expected. They had a small landslide that buried -the best of their diggings, which will take larger machinery than -they've got to unearth. On top of that, the tracks they thought would -prove to be a clue to the disappearing Martians aren't human at all but -belong to a group of animals they have already classified." - -"Gee!" Ted murmured sympathetically, remembering how enthusiastic his -father had been before he had left. Now the greatest mystery on -Mars--that of the disappearing Martians--was just as baffling as before. - -"Because of this," Mrs. Kenton said, "they're ending the expedition -ahead of time and coming home." - -"That's why he said he'd be seeing us shortly," Randy said. - -"I'm glad to hear that, anyway," Jill murmured. - -"When will he be back?" Ted asked. - -"Within two or three days, he said," his mother replied. - -"That will be before the class goes on the ..." Jill burst out, then -covered her mouth with her hand as she caught herself. - -"Before the class goes on what?" Mrs. Kenton asked. - -"We'll have to tell her now," Jill said lamely to the boys. - -"The class is going on a sight-seeing rocket-plane tour of Mars next -week," Ted explained. - -His mother looked at Jill curiously. "But why such a secret about it?" - -"We just thought you wouldn't be especially interested," Jill said, -"since we weren't going." - -"Don't you want to?" Mrs. Kenton asked. - -"Oh, yes!" Jill said. "Only...." - -A knowing look came into Mrs. Kenton's eyes. "I see! You didn't tell me -about it and show your interest because you didn't want to leave me here -alone! That's it, isn't it?" - -Mrs. Kenton threw an arm around each of her children. "That was a very -unselfish thing for you to do," she said. "But now that Father will be -back sooner than he expected, you'll be able to go after all." - -"Can we really, Mother?" Jill asked enthusiastically, her eyes full of -stars. - -"Will it be dangerous?" Mrs. Kenton asked cautiously. - -"There have been lots of these trips made already," Randy volunteered. -"There hasn't been any trouble yet." - -"Well, you have my permission," Mrs. Kenton said, "but your Father will -have to agree too." - -"But tomorrow's the last day we can make reservations!" Jill protested. -"If we wait until he comes, we can't make it!" - -"Go ahead and make your reservations then," her mother said. "I don't -believe your father will object if I don't. But if he does, you can -cancel your seats." - -"We'll lose our money if we do that," Ted said, "but I guess that can't -be helped." Suddenly Ted looked fearful. "Dad did leave the check-book, -didn't he?" - -"Yes, he left it," his mother assured him with a smile. - -"Pops is coming out here tonight for a visit," Randy said. "Now that you -and Jill are going on the trip, Ted, I think I'll ask Pops to let me go -along too!" - -"That'll be great!" Ted said. "All three of us will go together." - -The next morning the children got Yank up at an early hour so that he -could go off to school with them. - -"You'd better be on your good behavior today," Jill warned the color -bear as they climbed into the boat. "If you cut up like you do in the -house, Mr. Garland may flunk us!" - -Yank looked at her solemnly as though he understood. But then his broad -mouth widened in a grin as if he were telling the girl that he had no -intention of taking her remarks seriously! As soon as the boat moved -down the waterway, Yank stood up. - -"Sit down, Yank," Randy told him. "You're rocking the boat!" - -Yank paid no attention to this reproof. He was enjoying himself. - -"Stop him!" Jill squealed. "He'll turn us over!" - -Randy rose unsteadily to his feet and moved toward the rear. He made a -lurch at him, but Yank leaned out of his reach and looked back, grinning -merrily. - -"You naughty bear!" Jill cried, half in fear and half in anger. - -Randy leaned forward again and pulled Yank back on top of himself with a -fierce jerk. As Randy went down, the bear rolled off him and up on the -edge of the boat. - -[Illustration: _Yank went over the side with a splash._] - -Randy lunged at him, but Yank's fur slipped from the boy's fingers. Yank -went over the side with a splash into the frigid water. As soon as Yank -touched the water, Randy made a grab at him and caught one of his -forepaws. Yank screeched in shock and fear at the sudden freezing -plunge. - -Ted slowed the boat down and turned the wheel over to Jill while he -helped Randy pull the Martian animal aboard again. Yank looked -thoroughly beaten as he flopped, dripping and cold, into the bottom of -the boat. His round little ears were drooping sadly, and the corners of -his mouth were turned down. He looked more like a polar bear now, -because crystals of frost were growing all over him. - -In spite of themselves, the children had to laugh at their little pet's -predicament. As the shiny spikes of frost popped out on his face, Yank -would brush at them furiously with his paws. Even his eyebrows were -growing icy. This further increased the laughter of the children. - -"I guess that'll teach you to behave, Yank!" Ted chuckled, and offered -to take the wheel back. - -"Let me drive the rest of the way," Jill said. - -Ted yielded to her, and he was pleased at the skill with which she drove -and docked at the science building. - -The children were a little ahead of time, and this gave them a chance -before class to tell Mr. Garland about their wish to make the trip with -the others. Randy had gotten his father's permission the night before. - -Mr. Garland frowned as he looked over his list, and Ted had a sinking -feeling. - -The teacher looked up. "Two of you can go, but not all three, I'm -afraid. Yesterday I thought that quite a few more could go, but I found -out last night I had omitted several names from my list. Which one of -you wants to drop out?" - - - - - CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - _Yank in School_ - - -At this surprising remark from their teacher, the young folks' faces -drooped with disappointment. For several seconds none of the three had -anything to say. Mr. Garland idly fingered the two checks they had -handed him. - -Finally Randy spoke up. "I'll drop out," he said. "I've been on a trip -like this before with my father, but Ted and Jill haven't." - -"That's a fine decision, Randy," Mr. Garland said. He handed one of the -checks back and added the Kenton children's names to his list. - -For the moment, all interest in the trip was gone for Ted. He knew Randy -must be keenly disappointed. Although until late yesterday none of them -had expected to go, they had talked a long time last night with Mr. -Matthews over the exciting things they would see. Randy had been quite -as interested as Ted and Jill about the coming adventure. - -Suddenly Ted said: "Take Jill's and my name off the list too, Mr. -Garland. I don't think two of us should go if the third one can't." - -"That's right," Jill agreed. - -"That doesn't make sense, you two," Randy protested. - -Mr. Garland looked up. "There's no sense both of you missing the trip -for the sake of one. It's the educational opportunity of a lifetime." - -Ted then gave in, although he knew it was not going to be nearly so much -fun without Randy along. - -The discussion ended abruptly when Ted heard a shriek from one of the -incoming pupils. He turned and was shocked to see Yank chasing one of -the girls toward the back of the room. - -"Yank, come back here!" Jill called, when she saw what was going on. - -But Yank was once more enjoying himself. He was grunting happily as he -pursued the girl around the back of the room, and along the side toward -the front. The bear's three owners caught the little fellow as he was -coming around again. - -"I just patted him and he took out after me!" gasped the girl who had -been chased. - -"He was just playing," Ted told her. "He couldn't hurt you if he tried. -His teeth are only made for chewing soft flowers." - -Mr. Garland restored order and announced that zoology would be the first -subject of the day so that the active Yank could then be taken outside. -First Mr. Garland stood Yank on the platform at the head of the class -with Ted to help keep him still. - -The teacher pointed out the physical characteristics of the Martian -animal, touching Yank's paws, head, jaws, and other parts with a -pointer. Yank followed the movement of the stick with his eyes. Then the -whole class started giggling. The bear was looking at the stick -cross-eyed. - -Ted had to force down a grin. He could see that Mr. Garland was having -the same trouble. When Yank got tired of following the stick with his -eyes, he seized it in his mouth and began gnawing on it. This brought a -burst of laughter from the pupils. - -Ted took the stick from Yank, and the bear thought this was a signal for -them to wrestle. At home, this was the way Ted usually got him to play. - -"Get off me, Yank," Ted muttered in a low, angry voice. "We're at -school, not home! I thought we warned you to behave yourself here! -You're just trying to show off!" - -Yank seemed to get the tone of Ted's outburst, even if he could not -understand the words. He stopped his foolishness and actually kept as -still as a little gentleman for the next few minutes as Mr. Garland -continued to demonstrate. - -But then he could hold off no longer. As the instructor was leaning over -close to him to point out the peculiar upsweep of his blue-tipped -eyebrows, Yank's big red tongue came out of his mouth and scraped along -Mr. Garland's cheek. - -The teacher blushed at the renewed laughter as he wiped his face with -his handkerchief. Ted was worried lest Mr. Garland hold Yank's behavior -against him. But the teacher was a good sport and said, with a grin, -"You win, Yank. Better take him outside, Ted. This will have to conclude -our study of Martian color bears for a while!" - -Ted took Yank outside and tied him beneath the classroom window so that -he could watch him every now and then. Ted knew what the animal must be -thinking: "Please let me in! I'll behave myself." - -When Ted returned, the class was quiet again. Mr. Garland set up the -projector for a color movie on American history. But this was not merely -a history lesson. The children were told to study the costumes and -architecture. It was actually several studies in one. - -When the picture was over an hour later, Ted was blinking his eyes to -accommodate them to the harsh daylight again when one of the children -cried out, "Look!" - -Every eye in the room did look. Following the pointing finger, they -turned their gaze to one of the transparent side walls. There was Yank -standing with his button nose pressed flat against the plastic, just -like a small child looking out a glass window. This brought another -round of laughter from the class. On this note, Mr. Garland dismissed -the class for lunch. - -That afternoon, as Ted, Jill, and Randy were about to leave for the day, -Mr. Garland called them back just as they reached the door. - -"Oh-oh," Ted murmured with dread. "He's going to give it to us now for -bringing that little cutup to school!" - -Meekly the three of them stood in front of the teacher's desk. He looked -up at them and smiled. "I don't think that little bit of fun hurt us -this morning. But please don't bring Yank back again! I'm afraid one day -of him is all I can stand." He looked outside where they could see Yank -seated on the ground. - -He smiled again, and the relieved children grinned back. They had -started toward the door, when Ted, who was looking back, pulled Randy -and Jill to a stop. - -"Listen," he said. He turned them around and they heard part of a -conversation Mr. Garland was having with one of the other pupils that -might very well work to their benefit. - -"Did I hear that boy say he couldn't make the trip?" Jill whispered -excitedly. - -"I thought he did," Ted replied. - -They waited expectantly, hoping that the teacher would look up and call -them back. Ted felt a new surge of hope rise in him when Mr. Garland -finally motioned to them. The boy, meanwhile, had left. - -"I've just had a cancellation," Mr. Garland told them. "Randy, you can -make that trip after all, if you want to." - -"Do I?" Randy burst out, his face beaming. He fumbled around in his -pocket for the check his father had given him. Then he pulled out the -rumpled slip of paper. - -The instructor smoothed it out and wrote Randy's name on the list. The -children left the room and walked happily down the hall. - -"That was a swell thing you did, Randy," Jill said, "giving up your -place to one of us. I'm so glad that you really can go!" - -[Illustration: "_Please don't bring Yank back._"] - -"I'm glad too," Randy admitted. "After all we talked about last night, I -sure wanted to go badly!" - -Yank hopped around excitedly as he saw his friends coming up to release -him. - -"You'll never see this place again, Yank," Ted said to him sternly, as -he untied him. "I guess you're just not cut out to be a school pupil." - -For this remark, Ted got a juicy lick on the side of his helmet. - - - - - CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - _Trouble in the Air_ - - -Dr. Kenton arrived home the following afternoon. Ted could see that he -was a very different person from the one who had set out. His father -looked tired and beaten. Even the special meal of fresh fruits and -vegetables from their garden failed to interest him very much. - -As they were eating supper, his wife asked him, "Why was this expedition -so important to you, John?" - -"I suppose I had counted too much on its being a huge success," the -scientist replied. "Then too, I thought it would solve that -all-important question of the disappearing ancient Martians that's been -puzzling us ever since the first landing was made here ten years ago." - -"There'll be other expeditions," Mrs. Kenton said encouragingly. "Some -day you'll find the answer, I'm sure." - -"Yes, I suppose so," Dr. Kenton said. But Ted could see that his father -was very downcast because of the expedition's failure. - -"I wish I had known you were coming when you did," Mrs. Kenton said to -her husband. "I would have invited Mr. Matthews to eat with us. You knew -that Randy had found his father, didn't you?" - -Ted was glad to see his father smile as he turned to Randy. "Yes, we got -the news," Dr. Kenton said. "I'm sure glad for you, Randy. You see, it -never pays to give up hope. I'll be pleased to meet your father." - -Just then Yank came bounding in from the living room. The bear had taken -to the taste of lettuce leaves, and Ted would occasionally slip him a -leaf from the table. Yank sidled up to Ted, where he sat next to his -father, eyeing the crisp leaves on the boy's plate. Yank's other eye was -cast warily at Dr. Kenton, whom he still appeared not to regard as a -close friend. - -"When are you and I going to be friends, Yank?" the scientist said as -Ted handed the bear a green leaf. He reached out to pet the little -Martian animal, but Yank drew back. "I can't understand your attitude, -young fellow." - -Ted thought this the proper moment to bring up a very important matter. -"Dad," he began, "Jill and Randy and I have signed up for a sight-seeing -plane tour of Mars with our school class. Mom says it's all right for us -to go if you agree." - -Dr. Kenton thought a moment, and Ted felt doubtful. Then his father -said, "I think it would be a grand thing for you. You can get a lot -better picture of this planet from the air than you ever can from the -ground." - -"Goody, we can go!" Jill cried out. - -Ted felt like shouting himself, for now the last barrier had been -removed and they were going for sure. - -The next week found twenty-five eager students stepping into a sleek jet -craft from the roll-away ladder at Lowell Harbor. Randy and Ted found a -double seat together, and Jill sat with a girl friend. When all the -passengers were in, Mr. Garland said that they could remove their space -helmets. - -When all were seated, they waved to their parents and relatives who -stood on the ground. - -"I'm as excited as if I'd never made a trip like this!" Randy said. - -"I'm excited too!" Ted admitted. He didn't add that he had scarcely -slept the night before because he was in such a dither of anticipation. - -Mr. Garland told the children to fasten their safety belts, as they were -almost ready to take off. In a few minutes they felt the ship moving -beneath them. Ted waved a final farewell to his parents and Mr. -Matthews, for he had a seat beside the window. When they waved back, Ted -felt a little uneasy. It was the first time he had ever been away from -his folks. He wondered fearfully if something would happen on the flight -so that he would never see them again. - -Swiftly the rocket plane picked up speed. Then, with a whoosh of jets, -it launched itself into the air. - -"We're off!" one of the boys shouted gaily. - -Soon Lowell Harbor was only a small circle in the red desert behind -them, and the vast stretches of wilderness began to come into view. Mr. -Garland pointed out the important natural formations as they cruised -along. By now almost all of Mars had been accurately mapped. There were -miles and miles of wind-ribbed sand dunes with rows of furrows like a -farmer's carefully seeded fields. - -Ted had never before realized the wonder of the canals until he saw them -from this height. They were straight as arrows, and some were tremendous -in size, even dwarfing the majesty of the Grand Canyon of Arizona. It -caused him to wonder again about those very accomplished engineers of -the ancient past who had built them and had since so mysteriously -disappeared. - -Ted recognized much of the landscape from their geography study. Some of -the ocher-red deserts and forests had been named far back in the past -before the twenty-first century. They passed over the great oasis of -Solis Lacus and the dense woodland of Mare Sirenum. But always there -were canals, and more canals, draining the great icecaps and supplying -the entire planet. - -"Isn't the sky pretty?" Jill said to Ted and Randy who were sitting -behind her. "It seems we're closer to the stars when we're off the -ground." - -Ted had to agree with her. The heavens were a deep gorgeous violet, with -the starlight pulsing softly through. They traced the slow movement of -Phobos, the timeteller, and they could also pick out the distant tiny -moon, Deimos, that resembled a white arc light. - -The hours passed all too quickly for the eager sight-seers. - -"We're over the Great Martian Forest," Mr. Garland told them late that -afternoon. "It's the end of the line. After we've covered this, we'll -start back." - -Ted looked groundward, seeing what resembled a colossal, sprawling beast -spread out in all directions. Ted shuddered at the sight. Many explorers -had been trapped in this terrible wilderness and had never come out -alive. Wild animals, blind trails, and carnivorous whip plants were -thought to have destroyed them. - -Suddenly someone called out as he pointed down, "Look, what's that -moving?" - -All stared where he pointed. In an open space inside the forest, -numerous creatures were rolling along like a tide. - -"They're blue rovers," Mr. Garland said. "They're something like the old -American bison that roamed the plains of the United States." - -More strange animals were seen, and still the plane was not out of the -huge forest. If anything, the jungle grew even more densely, and now -rocky cliffs and shallow gorges could be seen among the thick -vegetation. Mars had no extremely deep or high natural formations such -as the Earth had. - -"Most of the forest turns brown in the winter," Mr. Garland addressed -his students, "but when the polar cap melts in the spring, everything -pops out green again." - -Ted knew that the seasons were twice as long on Mars as they were on -Earth, even though the days and nights were just about the same. How -frightfully cold must be the winters, he thought. But on the other hand, -what a long, nice summer to enjoy! - -Finally the dense growth began thinning out again as the outer fringe of -the forest was reached. Suddenly, without warning, the plane careened -sharply on its side. Some of the students were flung out of their seats, -and they screamed in terror. Mr. Garland, who had been standing by a -window, was thrown backward onto the floor. When the ship had righted -itself, Mr. Garland climbed slowly to his feet. - -"Anybody hurt?" the teacher asked. - -No one else appeared to be, but Ted saw Mr. Garland grimace in pain. He -seemed to have injured his ankle. - -"Mr. Garland, _you're_ hurt!" Ted said. - -"Never mind me!" the instructor said. "Put your safety belts -on--quickly!" - -His students did so, and then the plane started bucking again. Poor Mr. -Garland was flung against the wall this time, but he recovered himself -and hobbled into the pilot's cabin to see what was wrong. Ted heard his -classmates babbling in fright all around him. He and Randy tried to -quiet Jill's mounting terror. - -"Take it easy," Ted said to her. "It may not be anything serious." - -Mr. Garland was back in a few minutes, and Ted could see that his face -was grave. - -"We've got to bail out, kids," he told the class grimly. - -"Into that?" cried one of the boys, pointing to the forest below. - -"We've no other choice, the pilot tells me," Mr. Garland replied, his -voice shaky. "There's a fire in the jets, and we can't crash-land -without wrecking the plane." - -Terrified, the students stared at him, as though they still could not -believe what he was saying. - -"He says there's an open space ahead of us where we can parachute down," -Mr. Garland went on. "He's sending a message for help now. We've got -enough supplies and air to last us until a search party comes from -Lowell Harbor. There's no cause for alarm." - -There was no more time for talk. Despite his obviously painful injury, -the teacher quickly distributed chutes and showed the children how to -put them on. The chutes were specially designed for use in Mars's rare -atmosphere. Next, space helmets were donned. Then Mr. Garland lined the -children up with their rip cords fastened to an overhead cord for -automatic opening of the chutes when they jumped. Ted, his sister, and -Randy had stayed together, and they found themselves the first three in -line to jump. - -Chutes with supplies had been shoved out first by hand, and then Mr. -Garland signaled to Ted for the first jump. Things had moved so swiftly -that Ted hardly had time to become scared. Randy and Jill seemed to feel -the same way. The ship was still jerking erratically and plumes of smoke -swirled about. The oval door was open, and Ted saw yawning space beneath -him. At Mr. Garland's word, he took a deep breath and sprang out. He -felt the straps on his back yank him sharply as the chute popped open. - -[Illustration: _Down, down he went._] - -Down, down he went. Finally he glanced upward and saw two other -parachutes above him. They would be Jill and Randy, he thought. He -looked groundward again to see where he was heading. Just as Mr. Garland -had said, a flat open space lay beneath. - -Once more he glanced upward. There were still only two other chutes -above. Where were the others? Hadn't they jumped too? Then he spied the -ship at a considerable distance away. It was careening downward as -though heading for a crash! - -Ted felt a sick tug in his stomach. It looked as though the three of -them were the only ones who were going to escape alive. The ship must -have gone out of control before the others could jump! - - - - - CHAPTER NINETEEN - _Terror in the Night_ - - -As soon as Ted reached the ground, he made for the spot where he had -seen the supply chutes land. If these were lost, especially the one with -the spare air cartridges, Randy and Jill and he could never survive -until help came. - -Ted ran down a dusty ravine. His eyes searched clumps of bushes and -spiky cactus, and a momentary panic came over him. The chutes were not -in sight. Just then he was aware that a strong wind was blowing. The -chutes had probably carried farther than he had thought. He searched -some more, and his heart quickened with joy when he found the two -parachutes within yards of each other, half buried in the sand beyond a -big boulder. - -As soon as he had found these, he thought immediately of Randy and Jill. -He should have seen them by now. He returned to the spot where he had -come down, but they were nowhere around. A new terror crept into his -breast. Could the wind have carried them farther up into the forest, -possibly into the dangerous part where the brush grew dense as jungle -and deadly whip plants thrived? The wind was stronger than ever now, but -he ducked into it and renewed his search. - -He made a thorough examination of the territory all around, but after a -half hour's time he still had not located Jill and Randy. For the sixth -time he returned to his original spot where he had left the parachutes -of supplies. By now the blood red of approaching sunset was filling the -sky, and grotesque shadows were creeping over the ground. - -Ted could not remember when he had felt any more depressed and lonely -than he did at this moment. He could imagine all sorts of terrible -things happening to his sister and friend. By now, the wind had died -down. Thank goodness the blow had not brought on one of those violent -dust storms, he thought. - -Suddenly he heard a noise overhead that quickened hope in him. It had -sounded like the drone of a plane! He leaped to his feet from where he -had been slumped on the ground and searched the darkening starry sky. -Yes, there was a plane! He could hardly believe it when he saw that the -number on the wedge-shaped wing was the same as that of the ship from -which he had bailed out. That meant that the plane had not crashed after -all! - -As the plane roared overhead, he ran back and forth and waved his hands -frantically to get the attention of someone in it. To his dismay the -plane kept on going and presently was lost in the approaching twilight. - -He thought the world had ended for him now. Jill and Randy were gone, -and hopes of rescue too. But then he heard a crashing of bushes near by. -His heart thudded against his ribs in fear. He was remembering that wild -animals inhabited this district, and he was totally unarmed. - -Then he heard his name called. A moment later Randy and Jill came -running up! He was never so glad to see two people in his life as he was -then. - -"What happened to you?" he asked them. - -"The wind carried us down into the forest a little way," Jill answered. -"Oh, Ted, I was scared to death! Those whip plants throw out arms like -an octopus at anything that comes near them! I almost got caught by -one!" - -Ted showed them the chutes that held spare air cartridges and food. -Unfortunately, Mr. Garland had thrown out only a few supply chutes, not -all of them. - -They had never eaten with space helmets on, but they had learned about -the tiny air-lock opening in the facepiece of the helmet that made this -possible. - -"These will last us through the night," Ted said. "I don't know what -we'll do after that. A search party probably won't get here that quick." - -Just then Jill heard the plane returning. Ted hurriedly explained that -this was the one they had been on and that it had not crashed after all. -He said that all three of them should run back and forth and wave like -everything to try to attract their attention this time. - -Ted thought that the plane had missed them again, but then he saw it -bank and head back toward them. The ship circled overhead for several -minutes, and the children saw a parachute drop out. They followed the -chute to the ground with their eyes and ran over to it. - -"Here's a note," Ted said, untying an envelope from the chute. He opened -it. "It says: 'Open the long case and you will find a walkie-talkie -radio in it. Turn it on, and we'll speak with you.'" - -They did this. Then Ted spoke into the mike, "Can you hear me?" - -"Yes," came Mr. Garland's voice. "We had just about given up hope of -sighting you. The ship went out of control just after you three jumped. -But the fire in the engine burned out soon after, and the pilot regained -control. We should be able to get back to Lowell Harbor all right, even -though we're crippled. Are you three hurt?" - -"No, sir, just scared," Ted answered. - -"We'll send you down all the rest of our air cartridges and more food -and water," the teacher went on. "They'll last you through tomorrow, and -by that time a search party should be back in a helicopter. We can't -possibly land, ourselves, because of the terrain and our damaged engine. -I'd come down myself to stay with you, but my ankle is broken and I'm -afraid I wouldn't be much help. However, if you want me to...." - -"I think we'll be all right," Ted said bravely, yet feeling an -encroaching dread even as he said it. - -"There's an electron rifle and flashlights in with the other stuff," Mr. -Garland said. "I don't think anything will bother you, though; otherwise -I wouldn't leave you alone. Most of the animals stay back in the -thickest part of the forest." - -"Will you be going now?" Ted asked. - -"Yes, there's no way else we can help you except send rescuers as -quickly as possible," Mr. Garland declared. "Whatever you do, don't -leave that spot." - -That ended their conversation. Presently the other supply chutes filled -the air, and Randy and the two young Kentons retrieved them. Then, -lonesomely, the three watched the plane disappear into the sunset. - -"I'm afraid," Jill murmured, casting an anxious glance around her at the -forbidding woodland. - -"I am too, Sis," Ted confessed. He looked at Randy, and his eyes were -enough to tell that he was frightened too. - -They looked around for some place of protection overnight. As the sun -disappeared behind a distant ridge, they found a shallow opening under a -clump of rocks that would shield them on three sides at least. Then they -ate from a food packet, and after this they admitted that they felt -better. - -"If we get through this night safely," Ted said, "we'll probably make it -all right." - -At last darkness set in. Phobos was making one of his frequent trips -across the heavens, but his light was weaker than moonglow on Earth. -However, it seemed to Ted that it wasn't quite so lonely now, with the -sky burning with its millions of cold lights. Yet it was still -frightening to know that the three of them were off by themselves in -probably the most perilous region of Mars. - -They decided it was best not to use their flashlights unnecessarily, -lest they attract wild beasts. They kept the atomic rifle handy in case -it was needed in a hurry. Ted suggested that two of them sleep while one -stood watch. Jill said she'd like to take the first watch because she -was too nervous to sleep anyhow. - -Ted was just about to doze off some minutes later when Jill's scream -blasted into his radio and brought him springing to his feet. - -"There!" Jill said, pointing. - -Randy too was wide awake now, and the three of them stared, -fear-stricken, across the dark drifts at a giant creature which stood at -a distance looking at them. The light of Phobos and the stars was bright -enough to show his awesome outline. - -"What is it?" Ted whispered to Randy. - -"It's an elephant ant," Randy whispered softly. "See that trunklike -sucker on its head? Get the gun, Ted. These things are mean." - -Ted caught up the atomic rifle and set it for fire, thinking all the -while how Mr. Garland had missed his guess about their not being -troubled by animals. Slowly the enormous insect approached the opening -in the rocks. It was indeed the height of an elephant. Ted could hear -the rustle of its hard-shelled body as it walked nearer. - -The Martian animal's slowness up until now deceived Ted, for, without -warning, the insect broke into a rapid run. Bravely Ted tried to take -careful aim and protect the two unarmed ones with him. But even as he -fired the gun, Jill bumped him in her mad dash to escape the oncoming -horror. - -Ted saw a blinding glare that lit up the scene for a moment as brightly -as noonday. In that shocking instant Ted got a vivid view of the -elephant ant, its brown spindly legs and antenna shining glossily, its -curling trunk out-thrust at them menacingly. But as the blast of the -rifle died out and the ant continued to charge, Ted knew he had missed -his mark. - -[Illustration] - -There was no time to fire again. Ted couldn't carry much, but he dropped -his useless weapon and gathered up the spare air cartridges. Then -swiftly he darted after Jill and Randy, who seemed to have found a way -of escape. He saw them disappearing through a narrow passage beside the -rock. He was glad to see that Randy had managed to hang onto one of the -flashlights and was leading the way with it. - -Ted didn't know how long they ran up and down rocky inclines and -gullies. But they seemed to be leaving their enemy behind. They ducked -in and out of clutching vines and creepers. More than once, Ted dropped -one of the bulky air tanks, but he retrieved them, for they were the -most precious things they possessed. Finally he caught up with Randy. - -"Help me take these!" he urged Randy. - -The boy took some and they hurried on after Jill, whose fear seemed to -have given her unusual speed. At last they reached the point where they -could punish themselves no longer. Jill had fallen exhausted to the -ground, and Ted felt as if he were ready to drop too. If the ant reached -them now, it simply couldn't be helped. Ted had sacrificed the rifle for -the precious air cartridges, but he was not sorry he had done so. - -They sprawled breathlessly on the ground, their chests heaving, their -eyes staring fearfully in the direction they had come. Any instant they -expected to see the horrible creature bearing down on them again. But -after several minutes, during which time the animal had not appeared, -Ted felt they had eluded it. For the first time since the terrifying -adventure, he felt that he could relax. - -And yet he could not relax, really, even now. For the balance of the -night still lay before them. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY - _Lost Underground_ - - -The three of them decided it was not safe to go back to the open area -tonight. After waiting a while longer still in the dark to see that -their attacker was not coming, they searched the gloom around for a -place to spend the rest of the night. - -Randy found an opening in the dense underbrush ahead of them. Jill and -Ted followed him and his flashlight beam along the trail. Suddenly they -saw him stop dead in his tracks. Ted walked abreast of him. - -"What do you see?" Ted asked. - -Randy did not reply but instead shot his light ahead into the darkness. -Ted saw before them a huge cave entrance. - -"Gosh, do you suppose that's the den of some wild animal?" Ted asked. - -"I don't know," Randy answered in a quivery voice. "It seems like a good -place to stay if it isn't." - -Jill had joined them by now. She too had taken some of the load of the -spare oxygen cartridges. - -"Are we going into that spooky place?" Jill asked. - -"We can go up to it carefully and shine our light in," Ted said. "But -we'd better be ready to run if something comes charging out! I wish I -had that gun now!" - -Jill hung back as Randy and Ted moved stealthily forward toward the -black cavern entrance. Randy had his light shining directly into it all -the time they were moving. When they were at the threshold of the cave, -they got a good view of the interior. - -"It's not deep at all!" Ted said. "It just goes back a little way." - -"It looks deserted too," Randy added. "Seems safe to me. What do you -think, Ted?" - -"Let's go inside and see if there's anything lying around," Ted -suggested. "If it's a den, there ought to be bones and things." - -Cautiously they entered the cavern. Its ceiling reached high over their -heads and the opening was festooned with trailing vines and creepers. -Even the jungle growth seemed to have taken over, weeds and thick grass -choking the floor. Boulders of all sizes were scattered around. - -"It looks like it hasn't been used for years and years," Ted commented. - -They flashed the light over the whole interior, but there was no sign of -recent use. There was one other exit--a narrow passage at the rear. - -"If we close up that rear opening with a big stone, it ought to be safe -for us to stay here," Randy said. - -Ted agreed with him. They called Jill, and the three shoved a large red -boulder in front of the narrow passage. They divided watches again, but -before relaxing for the night, they replaced their air cartridges with -new ones. - -Randy took first watch this time. Ted was very tired from their -exhausting race and had trouble falling asleep, but the next thing he -knew, Randy was shaking him to change watch. - -The rest of the night passed without further disturbance. The boys got -softhearted about calling on Jill for her turn, and rather than wake -her, they stood her duty. Another change of air cylinders had to be made -before morning. Ted was able to change Jill's while she slept. - -The orange glow of dawn was a welcome sight to the children. Things did -not seem half so grim in the dawn as they had the night before. The -sun's feeble rays shone directly into the cave mouth. The boulder -covering the rear opening was still in place. - -Ted caught Randy's eyes staring thoughtfully at the boulder. He wondered -if Randy was thinking the same thing that he was: _What was on the other -side of that mysterious opening?_ - -"Hadn't we better be getting back to the open place?" Jill asked, as -they were putting on fresh air tanks again. - -"The search party won't be coming until a few hours yet," Randy said. -"Besides, it's not very far." - -Ted knew then that Randy, too, was curious about the opening. He was -stalling their return. - -Ted then came right out with it. "I'd sure like to know what's on the -other side of that rock." - -"Why don't we go and see?" Randy said eagerly. - -"We could go just a little way," Ted added, glancing at Jill, whose face -showed doubt. "Just a few feet even." - -Jill gave in grudgingly, but she got the boys to promise that they -wouldn't go far. "Don't forget, we've got some food back there," she -reminded them, "and I'm getting hungry." - -They left the air cartridges in the cave and walked through the enticing -opening, Ted in the lead. He flicked on his flashlight, for it was pitch -dark. Ahead of him he saw a narrow passageway. Slowly he moved along it, -Randy and Jill right behind him. - -[Illustration: _They felt themselves tumbling downward._] - -They were completely unprepared for the shock that next came to them. -Suddenly the ground dropped away under their feet, and they felt -themselves tumbling downward! - -All three of them cried out in terror as they fell. Finally Ted felt his -body striking a cushioned surface. Then he was rolling down an incline -of the same soft material. Down, down, head over heels he went--deeper -and deeper into the core of the red planet, it seemed. - -At last his body stopped turning. Something crashed into him from -behind. Then he heard heavy breathing and gasping and he knew that it -was either Randy or Jill who had collided with him. - -"Jill? Randy?" he asked in a shuddery voice, still dazed by their rough -experience. - -"Yes," Randy's voice came weakly. - -"Jill!" Ted cried. "Where are you?" - -"Here I am," she answered, from a few feet away. "What happened to us?" - -"I don't know," her brother answered dully. He felt around for broken -bones, but he appeared to be uninjured. - -"Are you two all right?" he asked Jill and Randy. - -They said they thought so. By now Ted could see their forms very -faintly. There was light coming from somewhere. Their next task was to -try to find a way out of this dismal place. - -"I knew we should have gone back!" Jill complained bitterly. "Now we -probably never will!" - -"I'm sorry, Sis," Ted said lamely. "You were right. I'm sure glad we -changed our air tanks before we left!" - -"Let's start looking for a way to the top," Randy said. "The search -party will never find us down here." - -They discovered that the flashlight had been smashed in the fall. They -would have to depend now on catlike vision to show them the way. As -nearly as Ted could make out, they were still in a corridor. It -stretched mysteriously ahead of them, turning a bend about fifty feet -away. - -"That seems to be the only way we can go," Ted said, looking forward. -"We certainly can't climb back up the way we came down." He looked -behind at the steep, rugged incline they had so unexpectedly tumbled -down. The slope was covered with a matting of lichens or moss that had -broken their fall. - -They walked along the corridor. Finally the light at the far end began -to get brighter. - -"It looks like daylight ahead!" Jill said hopefully. - -They increased their pace in the hope of finding a way leading back to -the surface of the ground. They made a final turn in the winding -underground aisle. Then the corridor abruptly blossomed into a mammoth -open area, still underground. - -The sight that faced them quickened their heartbeats and made their -mouths sag open in amazement. Before them stood a towering iron gate, -through which they could see evidence of one-time human habitation! - -"What in the world have we found?" Ted exclaimed. - -"It must be a city!" Randy burst out. "It is! We've found an underground -Martian city!" - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - _A Struggle Against Time_ - - -"A Martian city!" Ted echoed. "Wouldn't Dad like to be in on this!" - -"I don't care about an old city!" Jill complained. "I just want to get -out of here!" - -"Maybe we can find a way to the top from in there," Ted proposed. -"There's no other place we can go." - -The three walked up to the towering gates and began tugging on them. At -first the gates would not budge, but after much struggling, the children -got one open wide enough on its creaking hinges so that they could -squeeze through. Once inside, they began walking along a rocky avenue -lined with small buildings and statues. The high dome of the city -gleamed with a light of its own, illuminating the entire grand -underground area like brilliant moonlight. - -"The glow has probably been burning for thousands of years," Randy -remarked, "ever since the first Martians built the city." - -"It'll probably be thousands of years more before it'll go out," Ted -added. "It seems to have the natural light that Mr. Garland said some of -the Martian caves have." - -They paused before a statue, and all three of them felt chills race up -their backs as they realized they were the first Earth humans ever to -gaze on the true likeness of a Martian. The man was not very different -from Earthmen. He had the usual number of arms and legs, but he was -short and spindly and his head was bald. If the color of the statue was -correct, the extinct Martians had light-green skins. - -"Dad and the other scientists will sure have the time of their lives -with this place!" Ted said. "It may even hold the answer to the biggest -riddle about what caused the Martians to disappear." - -"Father won't find out anything about it if we don't get out of here!" -Jill said anxiously. - -"There must be a way to the top of the ground somewhere," Randy -answered. "I don't see how the Martians could have walked up that steep -incline we slid down." - -"Maybe the dirt has covered it over during the years," Ted said. "Maybe -there are steps underneath. But I don't see how we could expect to -uncover them. Let's go on." - -[Illustration] - -They moved along, searching the uneven rocky streets. It was not a large -city, and the three had no trouble keeping their bearings. A check on -their air supply showed only an hour and a half of oxygen left in each -of their suits. There would be even less were they to hurry and so -breathe faster. This time they had no spare cartridges. If they did not -find their way topside by that time, they were surely doomed. - -After covering part of the city, the children found that the end of it -fanned out into five separate narrow streets. - -"One of these streets may lead to ground level," Ted said. - -"The only thing to do is try them," Randy came back. - -"We'll save time if each of us takes a different way," Ted suggested. - -But Jill would have none of this plan. She had no desire to follow a -lonely underground avenue by herself. They finally decided that Ted and -Jill would go together and Randy agreed to go alone. - -"We've got to watch out that we don't get lost," Ted cautioned. "Don't -go off down any alleyways, Randy. We won't either." - -"We ought to set a time when we both meet back here," Randy said. - -"I've got it," Ted said. "We'll count off ten minutes and then start -heading back whether we've found anything or not. If neither of us has -found anything, we'll try the other streets the same way." - -Ted and Jill took their leave of Randy and set off down the thorofare. -They had to hurry because of their dwindling time, and yet they dared -not go so fast that they were breathing heavily. The way they followed -carried them quite a distance down the deserted street, on both sides of -which were crumbling buildings of plaster set close together. By the -time the ten minutes was up, Ted and Jill had come to a dead end against -a stone wall. - -"This way certainly can't help us," Ted muttered. "Let's go back to -Randy." - -When they got back and Randy had not returned, Ted became worried. Time -was fleeting steadily, and they still were no better off than they had -been before. Finally Ted heard a scuffling along the street and saw -Randy hurrying his way. - -"No luck!" he gasped. "I got sidetracked on the way back. Then I had to -run to get here in time." - -"You shouldn't have done that," Ted told him. "Now you've got less air -than we have. What does your gauge show?" - -"Fifty-six minutes," Randy answered, after checking. - -Ted examined his own and asked Jill about hers. "We've got an hour and -five," Ted said. - -"We'll have to hurry if we're going to search the other three streets," -Randy pointed out. - -This time Jill agreed to help by going alone so as to save time. They -agreed to cut the search period to five minutes, at which time they -would come back to their meeting place. Ted had been gone about a minute -when he heard someone calling. His heart stirred with hope, and he -hustled back at moderate speed to the place from where they had started. - -"I think I've found a way out!" Jill was crying excitedly. - -Fortunately they were able to catch Randy before he got very far, and -the two boys followed Jill down the street where she had made her -discovery. After a hundred feet or so they came into a big open area and -at one side of it there rose a huge stone staircase leading upward. - -"There!" Jill cried happily. - -"Let's go up!" Ted urged. - -They started up the steps that slowly turned in a half spiral as they -ascended. After a long climb, the children found themselves in a large -gallery. In spite of their hurry, the three became as hypnotized by the -sight of many stone tables or altars arranged in orderly fashion -throughout the place. Lying on top of the altars were long oblong cases, -fancily decorated. - -"These must be coffins!" Randy burst out. - -"Let's get out of here!" Jill pleaded. - -Ted's gaze had turned from the altars to the smooth, rounded walls of -the room that were covered with paintings from one end to the other. - -"Look!" he exclaimed, running over to the wall. "The Martians had a -Michelangelo too! Those pictures seem to tell a story! Say, do you -suppose this mural shows the history of the Martian race and what -happened to them?" - -"I don't care what they show, Ted!" Jill retorted. "All I want to do is -get out of here before our air is gone!" - -Ted saw the wisdom of her remark and gave up an impulse to look over the -exciting story in pictures. Another flight of stairs was the only way -out of the shrine, and without delay the three hurried up. They made a -final turn on the stairs and then the subdued glare of Martian sunlight -struck their faces. They were finally above ground. - -They appeared to have walked into a sporting arena which was surrounded -by tiers of stone seats, much in the manner of the ancient Roman -Coliseum. As the three of them crossed it through deep powdery dust, -they found bones of strange animals scattered over the whole area. There -were also the remains of curved swords and scarred shields. - -"Ugh!" Jill shuddered. "There's no telling what terrible things took -place on this very spot we're walking over!" - -"There's an opening over there on the other side," Randy indicated. - -"Let's go to it," Ted suggested. "I can't wait to get off this gruesome -field either!" - -They moved across the arena briskly, yet not too fast. They headed -directly for the opening in the high stone wall that encircled the -ancient field of contest. When they reached the entranceway, they passed -through and found themselves at the fringe of a forest. A few dozen -paces carried them through green corkscrew trees to an open plain. - -"I guess the trees around here kept this place from being discovered -before now," Ted said. - -"Which way do we go now?" Jill moaned. "We've got to find that cave -where our air tanks are!" - -Ted made a quick orientation of their position in relation to the arena -and underground city. "My guess is the cave ought to be in that -direction," he said, pointing southward around the bend of the arena. -"What do you think, Randy?" - -"It sounds right," Randy agreed. "Let's get started." - -They had no more than set out again when Ted suddenly pulled up sharply -in his tracks, nearly toppling over backward in the motion. - -"Gee! Look what I almost stepped on!" he shouted, pointing in the dust -ahead of him. - -It was a matlike object, lying flat in the red dust, with rows and rows -of fine hairs vibrating over its surface. Ted remembered the deadly -carpet plant from his study of Martian botany in school. - -"Ted!" Jill screamed, as she saw the danger. - -To study the action of the plant for himself, Ted picked up a broken -shard of pottery and tossed it onto the plant. Instantly the voracious -plant rolled up tightly, enveloping the shard in its sucking folds. - -"That's what would have happened to your foot if you'd stepped on it, -Ted," Randy said in a shivery voice. - -They carefully skirted the carpet plant and hurried on, bearing -southward in the direction they hoped would bring them to the mouth of -the cave that had been the original cause of their trouble. - -"How much air time, Randy?" Ted asked, beginning to pant a little. - -"Eighteen minutes," Randy answered, and Ted could hear a nervous whimper -from Jill. - -"You sure this is right, Ted?" Randy asked worriedly, a few minutes -later. "If you're wrong we'll die. I've only got seven minutes of air -left now. It's really going fast with us hurrying so!" - -Ted sighed heavily and felt a clutch of dread in his heart as he studied -Jill's pinched, anxious expression. They _had_ to be headed right! They -just couldn't lose the battle after being so close to salvation. - -At last they rounded a huge face of rock that Ted thought he remembered. -The cave should be only a few feet away beyond that clump of vegetation, -he told himself. They pushed through the curling, tubelike leaves. To -their left lay the cave entrance! - -Randy gave a cry of relief and dashed into the cave. Ted and his sister -entered more slowly; they had a little more time to waste than Randy. -When they entered, they found Randy hastily discarding his old oxygen -cartridge and replacing it with a new one. When he was through, he -helped Jill with hers while Ted attended to his own. - -When they were done, they sat down on the floor of the cave and drank in -deep, refreshing draughts of the precious gas they had feared they would -never breathe again. - -"Isn't this great?" Ted remarked. "Just like a cold drink on a hot day!" - -"Speaking of food, I could use some," Jill said. "I'm starved after all -that!" - -"Let's go back and get it," Randy proposed. "We dropped the food case -when the elephant ant was chasing us." - -"Do you think it's safe?" Jill asked. - -"If it's the ant you're afraid of, they do most of their hunting at -night," Randy reassured her. "I don't think there's much chance of -meeting it." - -They started out over the trail they had followed in such haste the -night before. After a while they found their food case where they had -dropped it. All made a run for it at the same time. The sight of food -settled their nerves, and they ate nearly all of the supply in the case. -When they were through, Randy happened to look up into the distance and -jabbed Ted in the ribs. - -"Look!" he exclaimed. "Somebody's coming!" - -Ted and Jill leaped to their feet. They shaded their eyes with their -gloved hands in order to see better. - -"It's the search party!" Ted burst out. - -"Father's with them!" Jill said joyfully. - -"I can see Pops too!" came from Randy. - -Ted uttered a deep, long sigh. Their frightening adventure was over at -last. - - - - - CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - _Of Days to Come_ - - -The Kentons had just risen from the supper table after a wonderful meal -that had featured fresh fruits and vegetables from their own garden. Two -days had passed since the adventure in the Great Martian Forest. This -was a night of celebration, and Mr. Matthews was present. - -"Now tell us the surprise you had for us, Father," Jill begged, as they -all sat in the living room together. Mrs. Kenton had left cleaning up -until later in order to be in on the exciting talk of the evening. - -"Not until I know for sure," Dr. Kenton replied. "I'll get a phone call -in a few minutes about it." - -"Can't you even tell us what it's _about_?" Jill went on. - -"I wouldn't want to build up false hopes for nothing, Jill," her father -said. "You can wait a little while." - -"It was a privilege to eat in such celebrated company tonight," Mr. -Matthews said, with a wink at the children. "You kids will even get your -name in the schoolbooks for finding that fabulous city." - -"It's the pilot and Mr. Garland who got us to bail out that should get -the credit," Ted said, with a grin. "If it weren't for them, we'd never -have found the underground city." - -"The mural showing the great events in the lives of the ancient Martians -was the most important thing of all," Dr. Kenton remarked. "I was -beginning to believe that the greatest riddle of Mars was never going to -be solved." Dr. Kenton had gone to the underground city as soon as he -met the young explorers and had heard about their outstanding discovery. - -Ted, Jill, and Randy knew the answer now, as did every other colonist on -the red planet. The paintings on the wall of the shrine had revealed the -baffling riddle. It was simply and clearly portrayed in pictures, just -as though the Martians had expected someone someday to know their story. -The revelation was that hundreds of years ago all Martians had left -their world in large space ships because of Mars's disappearing oxygen. -Apparently there still existed somewhere the remains of a -supercivilization which had built these space craft. - -"Do you think the animals on Mars will finally die out, Dad?" Ted asked, -"as the rest of the oxygen combines with the rocks?" - -"Eventually, I would think," Dr. Kenton replied. - -"Where do you suppose the Martians went to find a new home?" Mr. -Matthews asked. - -"They may still be looking," the scientist replied. "It's a long way to -the stars, remember, and we're sure they didn't land any place in our -solar system." - -Just then, Yank came bounding into the room. He too had been permitted -inside for the celebration. He had been eating his supper in the -kitchen. Ted was amazed to see the color bear run up to his father and -stand beside him while the scientist scratched his head. - -"You and Yank are friends!" Ted exclaimed. - -"We sure are," Dr. Kenton said. "After you kids left, poor Yank was so -lonely he even turned to me. I guess he decided to bury the hatchet when -he found out I meant him no harm." - -"I wonder why he was so long making friends," Jill remarked. - -Dr. Kenton took one of Yank's forepaws and rubbed back the fur, -revealing a scar. "Yank is the fellow I hurt accidentally a few years -ago," the scientist said. "I just thought of checking his paw the day -you kids left on your trip." - -"He never forgot, did he?" Jill asked. - -"Not until I'd convinced him I was sorry," her father replied, rumpling -the soft hair of the bear's head. "His injury was the reason he was -alone in the world. He couldn't keep up with the pace of his friends." - -"Our family is so safe and cozy here," Mrs. Kenton said, "I hate to -think of you going out into that cold wilderness again on a new -expedition, John." - -"Maybe I won't be going," Dr. Kenton said, with a mysterious smile. - -"What do you mean?" his wife asked in surprise. - -Just then the phone buzzed. Dr. Kenton went into the hall to answer it. -In a few moments he was back again, and he was smiling happily. - -"Kids, how would you like to go back to Earth at the end of the school -term?" he asked the children. - -"Gee, do you mean that?" Ted exclaimed. - -"Oh, Father!" Jill cried out joyously. - -"It's true enough," their father said. "That's what the call was about -and the surprise I was hoping to have for you." - -"That's the grandest surprise you could have had," Mrs. Kenton murmured, -unspeakably happy herself. - -"The Science Union has offered this trip to you, Jill, you, Randy, and -you, Ted, as a reward for your important discovery," Dr. Kenton went on. -"They also want me to go back and give lectures all over the country on -our latest findings about Mars. It may keep me there a long time." - -[Illustration: _They grabbed Yank's paws and began dancing._] - -"That's wonderful!" Mrs. Kenton said. "I was afraid you'd have to stay -behind here." - -Ted and Jill were so enthusiastic over the proposed trip that they -grabbed Yank's paws and began dancing around with him. Randy stood -watching them, not quite sharing their high spirits. When Ted saw him, -he grabbed Randy's hand and made him join in the celebration. A moment -later Randy was enjoying himself as much as the rest. - -Dr. Kenton said to Randy's father: "They are in need of some space-port -engineers back on Earth. If Randy would like to go with Ted and Jill, -would you consider a job like that?" - -"You may not know it, John, but I've had my application in for such a -job for years," Mr. Matthews answered, highly pleased. "I'll say I'll -take it!" - -"If you kids will stop jumping around a minute," Dr. Kenton said, "I've -got something else to say." - -They stopped and listened intently. - -"If we go Earthward it may be a long time before we come back to Mars," -he said. "We--or at least you--may never get back." - -"That's all right with me," Ted said. "I've seen enough of Mars to last -me a lifetime! It's interesting here, but it's nothing compared to good -old Earth." - -"That's what I say!" Jill chimed in. - -"There's more here that I should like to look into," the scientist said, -with a brooding look on his face. "There are still many unsolved -mysteries, such as how these great canals were built, and I'd like to be -in on the discovery--if and when it's ever made." - -"We can take Yank home with us to Virginia, can't we?" Jill asked -anxiously. - -"I don't see why not," Dr. Kenton answered. "He seemed to adapt himself -to our breathing mixture all right." - -Jill hugged the little Martian animal and got a grateful lick in return. -Then the Kenton children took Randy aside and began telling him of the -wonders of Earth that he would soon be able to see for himself. - -"Wait until you enjoy the fun of a swim on a hot day!" Ted said. - -"--And the cold air turning your nose red in the winter and the crunch -of snow under your feet!" Jill put in. - -"It sounds great," Randy said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I -think I'm going to like Earth." - -"I know you will," Ted said earnestly. "There's nothing as wonderful as -Earth in all the universe!" - -It looked as though Ted's trip to Mars would turn out to be nothing more -than a long visit. A few weeks from now he would be a traveler returning -home to his beloved land. What wondrous stories he'd tell the kids back -there of adventure on the mysterious red planet which hung in the deeps -of everlasting night! - - - THE END - - - YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS - - By RICHARD M. ELAM, JR. - - Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - -Ted and Jill Kenton and their parents are en route by space ship to Mars -where Dr. Kenton is to pursue scientific research. As they are guided -around the flying space ship, a crisis develops. Another space ship is -bearing down on their own craft. The ships just manage to scrape by each -other, but the Kenton ship is slightly damaged and must make an -emergency landing on the moon for repairs. - -Here they meet Randy Matthews, whose father is missing on another -Martian expedition, and arrangements are made for Randy to join the -Kentons. The ship is repaired and takes off to continue the flight to -Mars. - -There new and exciting adventures befall Jill, Ted, and Randy. They -rescue a color bear who becomes their pet; they discover an air leak in -their space suits and barely escape with their lives; and eventually -after encountering hitherto unknown dangers, they find the lost caves of -the early Martians and open the way to research of the earlier -civilization. - -This book of continuous thrills and excitement will hold the reader -spellbound while inspiring real thought of the scientific possibilities -of space travel. - - _This is a Young Heroes Library Volume._ - - - YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR - - By FRANCIS LYNDE KROLL - - Illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - -It was in the days when the Pawnees and the Sioux roamed the plains in -search of buffalo herds. In the camp of the Sioux, Chief Great Bear sat -at the council fire with his braves who planned to drive the Pawnees -from the Sioux hunting grounds. - -But Great Bear had other problems. His grandson, Little Bear, was -beginning to grow up. He had to be taught how to use a bow and arrow, -how to shoot straight, how to saddle a horse, how to ride, and the many -things a young Indian needed to learn. - -How Great Bear trained his little grandson and how together they tracked -a horse thief who stole their horses; how the courage, determination, -and ability of Little Bear saved the entire tribe, make absorbing, -exciting reading, and when at length Little Bear is finally called -"warrior," the reader has an authentic, historically accurate picture of -the real life of a boy in an Indian tribe. - - _This is a Young Heroes Library Volume._ - - - _Adventures For Young People--About Young People_ - -[Illustration] - -All the books in the Young Heroes Library are exciting, wholesome books -for active youngsters who want to read about heroes in their own age -group. - -They are written by authors who understand the interests of children, -and who are capable of writing in the clear, concise language necessary -to be easily understood. - -The quality of these books ... the paper, large size type, beautiful -illustrations, and colorful dust wrappers, are seldom found in this -price range. The contents have already earned the approval of -librarians, educators, and youths themselves. - -YOUNG SIOUX WARRIOR by Francis Lynde Kroll - - Story of Little Bear's education in the ways of his Indian tribe. - (Selected by Junior Literary Guild) - -YOUNG BUCKSKIN SPY by Selden Loring - - Two American boys in the Revolutionary War help General George - Washington beat the British Army. - -YOUNG INFIELD ROOKIE by Charles Coombs - - A Little League baseball team scores twice; it wins the championship - and renews an ex-major leaguer's faith in himself. - -YOUNG SAND HILLS COWBOY by Francis Lynde Kroll - - A city boy visits a ranch and finds "the big race" a lot tougher than - he had expected. - -YOUNG PONY EXPRESS RIDER by Charles Coombs - - Danger puts 14-year-old Tod Gilmer in the pony express saddle as he - roars across Indian territory. - -YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS by Richard M. Elam, Jr. - - Fascinating adventures await Jill and Ted Kenton in the world of - tomorrow. - - All illustrated by CHARLES H. GEER - - - GROSSET & DUNLAP - Publishers of WORDS: _The New Dictionary_ - New York 10, N. Y. - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Young Visitor to Mars, by Richard Mace Elam, Jr. - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG VISITOR TO MARS *** - -***** This file should be named 60133.txt or 60133.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/1/3/60133/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson 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 print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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