The campus of Space Academy was quiet that evening. Only a few cadets
were still out on the quadrangle, lounging around in the open before
returning to their quarters for bed-check.
On the forty-second floor of the dormitory building, two thirds of the
newly formed _Polaris_ unit, Tom and Astro, were in heated argument.
"All right, all right, so the guy is brilliant," said Astro. "But who
can live with him? Not even himself!"
"Maybe he is a little difficult," replied Tom, "but somehow, we've got
to adjust to him!"
"How about him adjusting to us? It's two against one!" Astro shambled to
the window and looked out moodily. "Besides, he's putting in for a
transfer and there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Maybe he won't now--not after that little speech Captain Strong made
this afternoon."
"If he doesn't, then, blast it, I will!"
"Aw, now take it easy, Astro!"
"Take it easy, nothing!" Astro was building up a big head of steam.
"Where is that space crawler right now?"
"I don't know. He never came back. Wasn't even down at mess tonight."
"There, that's just what I mean!" Astro turned to Tom to press his
point. "It's close to bed-check and he isn't in quarters yet. If the
MP's catch him outside after hours, the whole unit will be logged and
there goes our chance of blasting off tomorrow!"
"But there's still time, Astro," replied Tom lamely.
"Not much there isn't. It just shows you what he thinks of the unit! He
just doesn't care!" Astro paced the floor angrily. "There's only one
thing to do! He gets his transfer--or we do! Or--" he paused and looked
at Tom meaningfully, "or I do."
"You're not thinking, Astro," argued Tom. "How will that look on your
record? Every time there's a trip into deep space, they yank out your
file to see how you operate under pressure with other guys. When they
see that you asked for a transfer from your unit, that's it!"
"Yeah--yeah--I know--incompatible--but honest, Tom--"
The curly-haired cadet felt his big friend weaken and he pressed his
advantage.
"It isn't every day that a unit gets a ship right after finishing ground
manuals. Captain Strong said he waited for four months after manuals
before getting his first hop into space."
"Yeah--but what do you think it's going to be like out in space with
Manning making sour cracks all the time?"
Tom hesitated before answering his Venusian friend. He was fully aware
that Roger was going to play a lone hand. And that they would never
really have unity among them until some drastic measure was taken. After
all, Tom thought, some guys don't have good hearts, or eyes, a defect to
prevent them from becoming spacemen. Roger is just mixed up inside. And
the handicap is just as real as if he had a physical flaw.
"Well, what do you want to do?" asked Tom finally.
"Go see Captain Strong. Give it to him straight. Tell him we want a
transfer."
"But tomorrow we blast off. We might not have another chance for months!
Certainly not until we get a new astrogator."
"I'd rather wait and have a guy on the radar bridge I know isn't going
to pull something behind my back," said Astro, "than blast off tomorrow
with Manning aboard."
Again Tom hesitated. He knew what Astro was saying was the truth. Life,
so far, at the Academy had been tough enough, but with mutual dependence
and security even more important out in space, the danger of their
constant friction was obvious.
"O.K.," he relented, "if that's the way you really want it. Come on.
We'll go see Captain Strong now."
"You go," said Astro. "You know how I feel. Whatever you say goes for me
too."
"Are you sure you want to do it?" asked Tom. He knew what such a request
would mean. A black mark against Roger for being rejected by his
unit-mates and a black mark against Astro and himself for not being able
to adjust. Regardless of who was right and who was wrong, there would
always be a mark on their records.
"Look, Tom," said Astro, "if I thought it was only me I'd keep my mouth
shut. But you'd let Manning get away with murder because you wouldn't
want to be the one to get him into trouble."
"No, I wouldn't," said Tom. "I think Roger would make a fine spaceman;
he's certainly smart enough, and a good unit-mate if he'd only snap out
of it. But I can't let him or anyone else stop me from becoming a
spaceman or a member of the Solar Guard."
"Then you'll go see Captain Strong?"
"Yes," said Tom. If he had been in doubt before, now that he had made
the decision, he felt relieved. He slipped on his space boots and stood
up. The two boys looked at each other, each realizing the question in
the other's mind.
"No!" said Tom decisively. "It's better for everyone. Even Roger. He
might find two other guys that will fit him better." He walked from the
room.
The halls were silent as he strode toward the slidestairs that would
take him to the nineteenth floor and Captain Strong's quarters. Passing
one room after another, he glanced in and saw other units studying,
preparing for bed, or just sitting around talking. There weren't many
units left. The tests had taken a toll of the Earthworms. But those that
remained were solidly built. Already friendships had taken deep root.
Tom found himself wishing he had become a member of another unit. Where
the comradeship was taken for granted in other units, he was about to
make a request to dissolve his because of friction.
Completely discouraged, Tom stepped on the slidestairs and started down.
As he left the dormitory floors, the noise of young cadet life was soon
lost and he passed floors containing offices and apartments of the
administration staff of the Solar Guard.
As he drew level with the floor that was Galaxy Hall, he glanced at the
lighted plaque and for the hundredth time reread the inscription--
" ... to the brave men who sacrificed their lives in the conquest of
space, this Galaxy Hall is dedicated...."
Something moved in the darkness of the hall. Tom strained his eyes for a
closer look and just managed to distinguish the figure of a cadet
standing before the wreckage of the _Space Queen_. Funny, thought Tom.
Why should anyone be wandering around the hall at this time of night?
And then, as the floor slipped past, the figure turned slightly and was
illuminated by the dim light that came from the slidestairs. Tom
recognized the sharp features and close-cropped blond hair of Roger
Manning!
[Illustration: _Roger was still standing in front of the_ Space Queen!]
Quickly changing over to the slidestairs going up, Tom slipped back to
the hall floor and stepped off. Roger was still standing in front of the
_Space Queen_!
Tom started to speak, but stopped when he saw Roger take out a
handkerchief and dab at his eyes.
The movements of the other boy were crystal-clear to Tom. Roger was
crying! Standing in front of the _Space Queen_ and crying!
He kept watching as Roger put away the handkerchief, saluted sharply and
turned toward the slidestairs. Ducking behind a glass case that held the
first space suit ever used, Tom held his breath as Roger passed him. He
could hear Roger mumble.
"They got you--but they won't get me with any of that glory stuff!"
Tom waited, heart racing, trying to figure out what Roger meant, and why
he was here alone in Galaxy Hall. Finally the blond cadet disappeared up
the moving stair.
Tom didn't go to see Captain Strong. Instead, he returned to his room.
"So quick?" asked Astro.
Tom shook his head. "Where's Roger?" he asked.
"In the shower." Astro gestured to the bathroom, where Tom could hear
the sound of running water. "What made you change your mind about seeing
Captain Strong?" asked Astro.
"I think we've misjudged Roger, Astro," said Tom slowly. And then
related what he had seen and heard.
"Well, blast my jets!" exclaimed Astro, when Tom had finished. "What's
behind it, do you think?"
"I don't know, Astro. But I'm convinced that any guy that'll visit
Galaxy Hall by himself late at night--and _cry_--well, he couldn't be
entirely off base, regardless of what he does."
Astro studied his work-hardened palms.
"You wanta keep it this way for a while?" he asked. "I mean, forget
about talking to Captain Strong?"
"Roger's the best astrogator and radar man in the Academy, Astro.
There's something bothering him. But I'm willing to bet that whatever it
is, Roger will work it out. And if we're really unit-mates, then we
won't sell him out now, when he may need us most."
"That's it, then," said Astro. "I'll kill him with kindness. Come on.
Let's turn in. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow!"
The two boys began to prepare for bed. Roger came out of the shower
wearing pajamas.
"All excited, spacemen?" he drawled, leaning against the wall, brushing
his short hair.
"About as excited as we can get, Roger," smiled Tom.
"Yeah, you space-blasting jerk!" growled Astro good-naturedly. "Turn
out the lights before I introduce you to my space boot."
Roger eyed the two cadets quizzically, puzzled by the strange good humor
of both boys. He shrugged his shoulders, flipped out the light and
crawled into bed.
But if he could have seen the satisfied smile of Tom Corbett, Roger
would have been even more puzzled.
"We'll just kill him with kindness," thought Tom, and fell fast asleep.
[Illustration]