Part 15 (1/2)
Two extra s.p.a.ce suits had been brought along from the s.h.i.+p. The boys put these on and followed the crew out of the airdome.
”Before we go back,” Tom suggested, ”I'd like to search a little farther.” He explained his theory about an enemy camp in the vicinity.
”Wai, this time you ain't goin' alone, son,” Chow declared firmly. ”We're all goin'!”
Boarding their flying platforms, the group took off, making a big detour around the chasm, and headed toward the mountains. For over an hour they searched among the crags and canyons without success. Finally, Tom thought it wise to return to the Challenger.
The lunar plain stretched bleak and empty in the harsh sunlight as they headed back to the spot where the s.h.i.+p had been hovering. At first Tom thought they were flying in the wrong direction. Then, after scanning the horizon on all sides, he realized the truth.
”Our s.h.i.+p is gone!” Tom cried out.
CHAPTER XVII.
SURPRISE MISSILE.
THERE was stunned silence as the group stared around helplessly. Had the Challenger, too, been captured by their enemy?
”Tom, those kidnapers may have brought your father here and forced him to fly the s.h.i.+p away under threat of death!” Bud suggested.
”It's possible,” Tom admitted grimly. He reflected that this would fit in with his conjecture about an enemy camp close by.
”You mean we're marooned?” gulped Bert Everett.
”Don't worry. Our situation isn't hopeless.” Tom pointed to the s.h.i.+mmering plastic domes, which were visible from the alt.i.tude of their flying platforms. ”With our airdomes and the solartron, we can hold out as long as we have to.”
”An” me with no cookstove!” Chow groaned. ”Boss, that gelatin stuff you made tasted purty good for dessert, but I sure don't think I'm goin' to like it for a steady diet!”
146.
SURPRISE MISSILE 147.
Bud chuckled at the overweight cook's worried expression. ”A diet's just what you need, Chow! Cheer up, old-timer! Maybe someone'll rescue us before you're down to a shadow!”
”That'll be the day,” Arv said dryly, staring at the bulging contours of Chow's s.p.a.ce suit.
To keep the men occupied, Tom suggested that they move the matter- making machine away from the creva.s.se. Flying to the spot, they swooped down for a landing and entered the dome which housed the machine.
”We'll have to tear down the solartron in order to move it,” Tom pointed out.
”So ditch your s.p.a.ce suits, fellows.”
After they had taken off the suits and helmets, Tom ordered everyone to refill his oxygen tank. Then the men grabbed wrenches and other tools and set to work disa.s.sembling the heavy machine. When the job was finished, they donned their s.p.a.ce suits again and moved the solartron, piece by piece, to another location several hundred yards away.
”May as well leave the extra dome here,” Tom decided. ”We'll need only one.”
The young inventor supervised the job of rea.s.sembling the machine and s.h.i.+fting the dome. Then, with the energy collectors hooked up, Tom switched on power and the machine began pumping nineteen per cent oxygen, eighty per cent nitrogen, and one per cent other ingredients. Soon the airdome was filled with a livable atmosphere.
148 .
”Okay,” Tom said, after glancing at his atmosphere meter to check the pressure. ”Shuck your suits again and take it easy, fellows.”
Two men, however, went outside to recheck the dome. The others lounged in sitting positions, or sprawled comfortably. Bert Everett suggested to Tom that they try contacting the Challenger by high-powered radio. The sets that they had been using in their s.p.a.ce suits were of very low power.
Tom frowned thoughtfully. ”Let's wait a while, Bert. If Doc and the others are safe, we should hear from them soon. On the other hand, if our enemy has captured the Challenger, a call now might give them a chance to trick us or pick up some useful information.”
Arv nodded. ”I agree, skipper. If the kidnapers are aboard, they'd give us a phony reply.”
”I don't know about the rest of you,” Bud put in, ”but I could sure use a drink of water. How about putting your matter maker to work on that, Tom?”
”Sure thing, pal.”
Tom adjusted the element and isotope controls. Soon the machine was pumping out a steady stream of water. The men lined up for a drink.
”Boy, does that taste good!” said Bud, wiping his mouth. ”Now, what's next on the agenda?”
”Another survey outside,” replied Tom, climbing into his suit. ”There might be some clue around that we've missed.”
SURPRISE MISSILE 149.
The boys had just stepped from the dome when Bud yelled: ”Tom! Look!” He pointed at the sky.
A silvery missile was streaking toward them. It appeared to be headed straight toward the dome!
The crewmen, alerted, froze in fear, realizing there was no time to run from the missile. The next moment, it slowed and landed gently nearby.
”Sufferin” horned toads!” Chow quavered. ”What if the thing explodes?”
Another crewman shuddered and made a dash for his s.p.a.ce suit. ”Let's get out of here!” he urged.
The others donned their suits and hurried from the dome. After rus.h.i.+ng to a safe distance, they paused and waited for an explosion.
Minutes went by. When nothing had happened after half an hour, Tom felt it was safe to inspect the missile. ”There may be a message in it for us,” he told his companions.
”Think it's safe?” Arv asked dubiously.
Tom nodded. ”I believe it must be harmless or it would have exploded by now. But you fellows stay back until I make sure.”
The others watched anxiously as Tom walked toward the glittering object. It was a rocket of the same type as the one containing the tape recorders.
Tom opened the rocket's loading hatch and looked in. He turned pale and his companions 150 .
heard him give a gasp of horror over the radio.
”It's Ted Spring!” he called. ”But-”