"_Bump-ty--bump-ty--bump-ty--_"
Tom Corbett's heart beat with such rapid, heavy drumming that the young
cadet felt as though it was going to tear itself right out of his chest.
For nearly six hours Tom had lain in wait in Galaxy Hall, the museum of
Space Academy, on the second floor of the Tower building. He was hiding
in the tail section of the _Space Queen_, the first rocket ship to
breach space safely, blasting from Earth to Luna and back again. He had
kept watch through a crack in the hull of the old ship, waiting for the
lights to go out, a signal that the Academy had bedded down for the
night.
Now, in the silence of the museum, surrounded by the ancient objects
that traced man's progress to the stars, Tom felt like crying. For as
long as he had been at the Academy, he had revered these crude, frail
objects and wondered if he would ever match the bravery of the men who
used them. Now, unless his plan was successful, he would be finished as
a cadet and the dream of being an officer in the Solar Guard would
vanish forever.
The Tower building had been quiet for over an hour. Tom had not heard
any voices or movement other than the evenly paced steps of the guards
patrolling their lonely beats outside.
[Illustration]
He slipped out of the antiquated ship, and staying well in the shadows,
moved out into the corridor to the head of the slidestairs. He peered
over the railing to the main floor below and saw Warrant Officer Mike
McKenny through the open door of a small office, seated at his desk,
watching an evening stereo program. The young cadet jumped on the stairs
quickly and rode the moving belt of plastic to the upper floors where
the officers' quarters were located.
Tom was in great danger of discovery. No civilian was allowed on Academy
grounds after taps. And he was still wearing the civilian clothes he had
taken from the suitcase on the passenger ship from Mars. Silently but
swiftly, he made his way from level to level toward the seventy-fifth
floor.
He knew that there would be a guard stationed in the halls outside the
officers' apartments and it would be impossible to elude him. He would
simply have to brazen it out.
At the seventy-fifth floor the young cadet stepped off the slidestairs
noisily, his heels clicking on the dark crystal floor, and strode down
the hall. He was immediately seen by the guard who advanced to meet him,
his ray gun at the ready. Tom was prepared.
"Guard!" he yelled.
The guard stopped in front of him, a puzzled look on his face. "Yes?" he
replied.
"Sir!" snapped Tom. "Show me where Captain Strong's quarters are and be
quick about it!"
"But who are--?" The guard started to protest, but Tom did not give him
the chance to finish.
"Don't stand there like an idiot, man! _Move!_"
"Uhh--yes, sir," stammered the guard, obviously taken aback.
"Lead the way," continued Tom loudly. "I haven't much time."
"Yes, sir, but would you mind lowering your voice, sir? Some of the
officers are asleep, sir."
"Well, get on then and stop jabbering!"
The guard turned quickly and started down the hall. Tom followed,
hardly able to keep from smiling at the man's frustration and confusion.
They stopped at the door to Captain Strong's quarters and the guard
rapped softly.
"Yes?" came a muffled voice from inside.
"Someone to see you, sir," called the guard.
"Just a moment."
The guard stepped to one side and stood at rigid attention. When the
door opened and Captain Strong was revealed, Tom brushed past the guard
and stepped into the room, talking quickly.
"My name is Hinkleworth, Captain," he announced. "I am here at the
request of Commissioner Jessup to discuss the installation of new radar
equipment on all Solar Guard rocket cruisers!"
Tom slammed the door closed behind him and turned to face the astonished
Solar Guard officer.
"What in the star-blazing--?" Strong began angrily.
"It's me, Captain Strong!" Tom said quickly, pulling his hat off and
lowering his collar.
"Corbett!" gasped Strong, taking an involuntary step back, his face
mirroring his disbelief.
"Sh!" whispered the boy, motioning to the door. Recovering his
composure, Strong swept past him, opened the door, and found the guard
still standing there at attention.
"All right, Corporal," said Strong. "Resume your station."
"Yes, sir," replied the guard and walked down the hall. Strong watched
him for a moment, then turned back into his room, closing and locking
the door behind him. He faced the young cadet, who grinned back at him
weakly.
"All right, spaceboy," said Strong, flopping in the nearest chair.
"Start at the beginning and give it to me. _All of it!_"
Tom began his story with the incident of the runaway truck at Marsport,
told of his abduction and escape from the two truckers, Cag and Monty,
his efforts to reach Space Academy, and finally revealed the identity of
the man he thought was responsible for the whole effort to stop the
projectile operation.
At this, Strong jumped to his feet. "That's the most fantastic thing
I've ever heard, Corbett!" he snapped. "What kind of proof do you have?"
"None, sir," replied Tom. "The only reason I came here tonight is to ask
you to help me get that proof."
When Strong was silent, shaking his head, Tom tried again.
"Sir, you do believe me, don't you?" asked the boy with a sinking
feeling in his heart. "What about all the things that have happened to
me and to Roger and Astro?"
"I can explain them away just as easily as you can explain your theory,"
replied Strong. He walked over and patted the cadet on the shoulder
sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Tom," he said gently. "Your story is just
too fantastic and you haven't even the slightest shred of evidence. Just
a few words an unreliable witness said under duress."
"I realize that, sir," replied the cadet. "But don't you see? This is
the only way to clear my name."
Strong turned to the window, looked out thoughtfully for a moment, and
then turned back to the boy. "How do you think I can help you?" he said,
a more sympathetic note in his voice.
His eyes bright with hope again, Tom spoke quickly and eagerly. The
Solar Guard captain calmly packed his pipe and lighted it, stopping the
boy now and then to ask a question. Finally, when Tom was finished,
Strong nodded and silently puffed at his pipe.
"Well, sir?" asked Tom eagerly.
"I don't know, Tom," replied Strong. "It's a pretty wild idea. And it
leaves me way out on a limb."
"Only if we fail, sir," said Tom.
"Which is more than likely," Strong commented dryly.
"Captain Strong," said Tom, "if you really don't think it can work, then
I suggest that you call the guard and turn me in. I've put you in enough
trouble already." Tom moved to the door.
"Stop playing the hero, Corbett," said Strong. "I didn't say I wouldn't
help you. But we have to think this thing out."
Tom sat down, eying Strong hopefully.
"Now, let me get this straight," said Strong. "First you want me to help
Astro and Roger escape from the work gang. All right, that may work
easily enough. But why?"
"So we can get aboard the projectile ship and go through her tests with
her."
"I suppose you've heard that Connel, Professor Hemmingwell, and Dave
Barret are going to take her up."
"Yes, sir," Tom replied, grinning. "That's why I want to go along. To
make sure no more accidents happen."
"I could send a squad of Space Marines for that kind of job," mused
Strong.
"But that would alert Barret," protested Tom. "He might not try
anything. If he doesn't suspect he's being watched, we may be able to
catch him in the act. And he certainly wouldn't think the three of us
are aboard."
"Hum. Maybe you're right," nodded Strong. "Then after I get you three on
the ship, I'm supposed to spend my time trailing your prize suspect,
right?"
"Yes, sir," nodded the young cadet.
"I'll have to give it consideration, Tom," said Strong after a momentary
pause. "As much as I admire your plan and as much as I want to help you,
this places me in a highly untenable position. Have you stopped to think
what would happen to me if it were ever known that I had sheltered you
here in my quarters and aided in the escape of two convicted cadets from
the work gang?"
"Yes, sir," replied Tom soberly. "And--all I can say is I'll do whatever
you think is best."
"Well, get some sleep now," sighed Strong. "I've got to make a tour of
the guard."
Without another word, Tom went into Captain Strong's bedroom and fell
asleep thirty seconds after his head hit the pillow. His last waking
thought was that if his plan had any merit Captain Strong would help
him.
Steve Strong did not leave his quarters immediately. He sat in the easy
chair and puffed thoughtfully on his pipe until there was nothing left
in the burnt and charred bowl. Then he rose and left the room to make
his rounds. He walked slowly through the hollow, empty hallways of the
Tower building, riding up and down the slidestairs, speaking curtly to
the guards, and finally walked out on the wide steps facing the grassy
quadrangle.
Strong glanced up at the sky. He counted the stars he could see and he
remembered that as a boy of eight he knew the names and positions of
every one. He recalled his entrance to the Academy as a cadet and how
his unit instructor had guided him and taught him the many things a
spaceman must know. He thought of his long tour as a line officer in the
Solar Guard fleet under Commander Walters, then a major, and he
remembered his brother officers, many of whom were now dead. There was
one thing they all had in common, one thing that overshadowed all
personal differences. One thing that was almost like a religion.
Comradeship. A feeling of belonging, a knowledge that there was _always_
someone who would believe in you and your ideas.
One thing. Friendship.
Captain Strong spun on his heel, walked back into the Tower, and rode
the slidestairs back to his quarters. He had made up his mind.