Part 14 (1/2)

At exactly 0800 hours the three cadets and Captain Strong appeared at the Academy s.p.a.ceport dressed in the severe black tight-fitting trousers and jacket of merchant s.p.a.cemen. Quietly eluding all friends and acquaintances, they entered the confiscated freighter that had been prepared for s.p.a.ce flight during the night and began acquainting themselves with the s.h.i.+p's equipment.

When Astro reported the power deck ready and Roger cleared their course, Tom called the traffic-control tower for blast-off clearance.

”Take it easy on the first hop,” said Strong. ”There's no hurry and I want to be sure we get this crate off in one piece.” Smiling confidently at the control-deck cadet, he turned away to his quarters. He was aware of the effect that being left alone had on the cadets. He had learned early in his a.s.sociations with Tom, Roger, and Astro that they bore responsibility well, and a challenge to do a good job would a.s.sure him the job would be done efficiently.

”Stand by to raise s.h.i.+p!” Tom's voice crackled confidently over the s.h.i.+p's intercom.

Strong sat on an acceleration cus.h.i.+on and strapped himself in. He heard Tom's voice counting off the seconds for blast-off.

”... Five--four--three--two--one--_zero_.”

As the rockets burst into a loud roar, the freighter lurched from the ground and thundered up into the atmosphere, pus.h.i.+ng Strong deep into his acceleration cus.h.i.+on. Minutes later, he felt the freedom of free-fall s.p.a.ce. In a strange s.h.i.+p, the _Polaris_ crew had begun a strange mission.

During the flight to Luna City, their first stop on the tour of the hangouts of outlawed s.p.a.cemen across the solar system, Strong briefed his cadets on a plan of action.

”I think it'll be better if we split up into two teams. You work with me, Corbett, and Astro will team up with Manning. We'll operate like simple tramp s.p.a.cers. Our s.p.a.ce papers have new last names, but the same first names, so there won't be any slip-ups when we speak to each other.

From now on, if we happen to meet, you'll all call me Steve and I'll call you by your first names. Is that clear?”

The cadets nodded.

”All right,” continued Strong. ”Now, when we arrive in a city, Tom and I will go to one section, while you two go to another. Visit the toughest-looking places you can find. Talk, talk to anyone that wants to talk. Buy people drinks. Let it slip that you're not exactly on the right side of the s.p.a.ce code. Then, if you feel you have a sympathetic listener, mention Wallace and Simms. Say you have heard of the trouble they're in. Say you know them, that you're old friends, and hint that you have something that they need very badly. Just keep talking and pulling for information. Got that?”

Again the three cadets nodded silently.

”Wear your paralo-ray guns at all times and keep your belt communicators hidden beneath your jackets,” Strong warned. ”If one team gets into a tight spot, call the other right away. But don't call unless it's absolutely necessary!” Strong paused and glanced at the tele-scanner.

”We're getting close to Luna City. We'll touch down at the munic.i.p.al s.p.a.ceport and go through the regular routine of customs search just to establish ourselves as tramp s.p.a.cemen.”

”How long will we stay in each city, sir?” asked Tom.

”Watch that 'sir,' Tom,” snapped Strong. ”Might as well begin to forget it now.”

”O.K., Steve,” replied Tom sheepishly.

”To answer your question, we'll stay in each city only as long as there might be something to be gained by staying. We'll live aboard the _Dog Star_. But stay away from the s.h.i.+p as much as possible. If anyone questions you, tell them you're looking for cargo. But in case they take you up on it and offer you a cargo haul, you always want more money for the job.”

Roger grinned. ”That could be fun.”

”Be clever, but be tough. Some of the people you'll run into are the most ruthless men in the universe. They are just the ones that might know something about Wallace and Simms.”

Strong cautioned them against drinking rocket juice, suggesting they drink Martian water instead. The briefing was interrupted by the automatic warning beep from the tele-scanner informing them that they had pa.s.sed the outer beacon on the approach to the munic.i.p.al s.p.a.ceport on the Moon. The four s.p.a.cemen immediately began the routine task of landing their s.h.i.+p safely on the satellite colony.

An hour later, as gray-clad customs men finished searching the empty s.h.i.+p, Roger waited for final clearance at the air lock of the freighter.

When the last of the men were leaving the s.h.i.+p, Roger stopped two of them.

”Say, ground hogs,” drawled Roger, ”where's the best place to get something to eat?”

The two men stopped and turned to face the cadet, their eyes cold and unfriendly. ”Why don't you s.p.a.ce drift blast out of here?” asked one of them.