Part 36 (1/2)

Tom flipped a switch on the board and set the s.h.i.+p on automatic flight.

Then, turning to the teleceiver, he switched the set on.

”_Lady Venus_ to _Polaris_--” said Tom, ”come in, _Polaris_--come in!”

” ... Strong here on the _Polaris_!” the officer's voice crackled over the speaker. ”By the rings of Saturn, I should log you three s.p.a.ce-brained idiots for everything in the book!” Strong's face gradually focused on the teleceiver screen and he stared at Tom coldly.

”That was the most foolish bit of heroics I've ever seen and if I had my way I'd--I'll--well--” The captain's glare melted into a smile. ”I'll spend the rest of my life being known as the skipper of the three heroes! Well done, Corbett, it was foolish and dangerous, but well done!”

Tom, his face changing visibly with each change in Strong's att.i.tude, finally broke out into a grin.

”Thank you, sir,” said Tom, ”but Astro and Roger did as much as I did.”

”I'm sure they did,” replied Strong. ”Tell them I think it was one of the--the--” he thought a moment and then added, ”darndest, most foolish things--most--”

”Yes, sir,” said Tom, trying hard to control his face. He knew the moment for disciplining had pa.s.sed, and that Captain Strong was just overwhelmed with concern for their safety.

”Stand by the air locks, Corbett, we're coming aboard again. We're pretty cramped for s.p.a.ce here on the _Polaris_.”

Just then Astro yelled up from the power deck.

”Hey, Tom!” he called. ”If Captain Strong is thinking about putting those pa.s.sengers back aboard, I think you'd better tell him about the radiation. I haven't been able to flush it all out yet. And since we only have three lead-lined suits....” He left the statement unfinished.

”I get you, Astro,” replied Tom. He turned back to the teleceiver and faced Strong. ”Astro says the s.h.i.+p is still hot from radiation, sir. And that he hasn't been able to flush it out with the blowers.”

”Ummmmh,” mused Strong thoughtfully. ”Well, in that case, stand by, Corbett. I'll get in touch with Commander Walters right away.”

”Very well, sir,” replied Tom. He turned from the teleceiver and climbed up to the radar deck.

”Well, hot-shot,” said Roger, ”looks like you've made yourself a hero this trip.”

”What do you mean by that, Roger?”

”First, you run off with top honors on the s.p.a.ce maneuvers, and now you save the s.h.i.+p and have Strong eating out of your hand!”

”That's not very funny, Roger,” said Tom.

”I think it is,” drawled Roger.

Tom studied the blond cadet for a moment.

”What's eating you, Roger? Since the day you came into the Academy, you've acted like you hated every minute of it. And yet, on the other hand, I've seen you act like it was the most important thing in your life. Why?”

”I told you once, Corbett,” said Roger with the sneering air which Tom knew he used when he was on the defensive, ”that I had my own special reasons for being here. I'm _not_ a hero, Corbett! Never was and never will be. You're strictly the hero type. Tried and true, a thousand just like you all through the Academy and the Solar Guard. Strong is a hero type!”

”Then what about Al James?” asked Tom. ”What about that time in Atom City when you defended the Academy?”

”Uh-uh,” grunted Roger, ”I wasn't defending the Academy. I was just avoiding a fight.” He paused and eyed Tom between half-closed lids.

”You'll never do anything I can't, or won't do, just as well, Tom. The difference between us is simple. I'm in the Academy for a reason, a special reason. You're here, like most of the other cadets, because you believe in it. That's the difference between you, me and Astro. You believe in it. I don't--I don't believe in anything but Roger Manning!”

Tom faced him squarely. ”I'm not going to buy that, Roger! I don't think that's true. And the reasons I don't believe it are many. You have a chip on your shoulder, yes. But I don't think you're selfish or that you only believe in Manning. If you did, you wouldn't be here on the _Lady Venus_. You had your chance to escape back in the rocket tube, but you _came back_, Roger, and you made a liar out of yourself!”