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Now, with their backs to the wall, Connel and Strong knew that if Tom and Roger were captured, they might be used as hostages to ensure safe passage for some of the rebels. "Let's go," said Connel finally. "Tom and Roger will be expecting us." He forced himself to grin at Astro, but the giant cadet turned and faced the building grimly.
"All right, you blasted Earthworms! Stand to!" Three frightened cadet candidates for Space Academy stiffened their backs and stood at rigid attention as Astro faced them, a furious scowl on his rugged features. Behind him, Tom Corbett and Roger Manning lounged on the dormitory bunks, watching their unit mate blast the freshman cadets and trying to keep from laughing.
A crude tent was the result and both boys crawled in under, sprawling on the sand. Astro finished eating, lay down beside his two unit-mates, and in a moment the three cadets were sound asleep. The sun climbed steadily over the desert while the Polaris unit slept.
"Looks like he's afraid to mix it up!" "You fight your way, Roger, and I'll fight mine," replied Tom, his voice cold and impersonal. "Time!" suddenly yelled Astro and stepped back off the mat. The two cadets jumped to their feet and met in the center of the ring again.
But they were more surprised than Astro and Connel, and the big cadet took advantage of it by charging right into them. It was a short but vicious fight. There was no time to aim or fire a paralo-ray gun. It was a matter of bare knuckles and feet and knees and shoulders. One by one, the green-clad men were laid low, and finally, Connel, out of breath, turned to grin at Astro.
He was afraid he was going to get caught." Tom's voice was cold and bitter. "And we can't blame anyone but " "But Manning!" barked a voice behind them. Astro jumped up and snapped to attention. Tom turned to see Major Connel stride into the room. It was at Connel's insistence that Tom had been ordered to broadcast the alert for Roger.
"I'm very glad you said that, Astro," he said, "because I feel exactly the same way!" He turned and walked back to Major Connel. "What was the idea of telling him that?" hissed Roger at Astro. "What are you trying to do? Get the little guy space happy, or something?" "Look at him!" said Astro. "I'm twice his size. He figures if a big guy like me is scared, then he's got a right to be scared too!"
The crowd sprang to its feet again and roared his name. "That was terrific!" said Astro, slapping Tom on the back as they lined up again. "It looked as though you hardly kicked that ball at all." "Yeah," muttered Roger, "you really made yourself the grandstand's delight!" "What's that supposed to mean, Manning?" asked Astro. "Superman Corbett probably burned himself out!
Astro saw Connel and ducked behind an overturned jet car, yelling, "I'm unarmed! Nail them, Major!" In a flash Connel dropped to the pavement, and firing from a kneeling position, cut the Nationalists down expertly. When the last of the enemy was frozen, Connel rushed to Astro's side. "What about Roger?" he asked. "I couldn't reach him," replied Astro.
Roger stood to one side, watching Major Connel. Both boys sensed what was coming. "Well, this is the last day we can spend searching for him," said Connel. "We've already lost two days." Roger glanced at Tom and said casually, "It wouldn't hurt to keep our eyes open for signs of him, would it, sir?" "Now listen, boys," said Connel firmly, "I know how you feel about Astro.
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