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Walters pushed past him to the intercom and took the microphone. "This is Commander Walters calling rocket ship Space Knight. Come in, Space Knight." There was a flutter of static and then Quent Miles' voice again. There was a little more respect in his tone but his story was the same. Roger was sleeping. Walters slammed the microphone down.

He's the only one I'm worried about." "Reports are coming in from Luna City. You can worry about Gigi Duarte, too. He's burning up space." "Ross is at the Luna spaceport," replied Brett. "He'll take care of any ship that looks like it's going to be too fast." "Then why not have him take care of Kit Barnard too?" demanded Quent. "There will be less chance of getting caught.

"You think there'll be any cause for suspicion with him on the Moon and me down here?" asked Quent. "When you land at Luna City spaceport, he'll disappear. By that time we should know how the time trials are shaping up." "O.K. Where are you going now?" "Back to the office. I've still got some things to check on before the big race. We're going to use the hide-out for that."

Remember, I've got those three Space Cadets and Strong to worry about." "You can't expect to get what we're after unless you take chances. Now get back to the spaceport and put this stuff in Barnard's feeders. You blast off tomorrow morning before he does and won't have much time." "O.K.," agreed Quent. "When did Ross get to Luna City?" "Yesterday. I had him come in from the hide-out."

Only static filled the control deck of the Space Lance as Tom clutched the microphone and pleaded desperately for Quent Miles to answer him. "Come in, Miles! This is Corbett on the Space Lance to Quent Miles on the Space Knight! Come in, Miles! Come in!" Bill Sticoon shook his head. "Miles must be nuts trying to get to Ganymede without refueling," he muttered.

Tom Corbett sat bound and gagged in the copilot's chair of the black ship, listening to Miles call again and again over the audioceiver. The fact that Miles was identifying himself as Ross puzzled the young cadet and he wondered if it was an alias. Tom was even more puzzled when Miles addressed the person he was calling as Quent. "This is Ross! Acknowledge, Quent! Come in!"

"Gentlemen, I know it is difficult to prepare a ship in twelve hours for a race as important as this one," he said. "But I personally believe that any spaceman who really wants to make it can make it!" "Well, I'm not going to break my back to make a deadline," snarled Quent. "And I don't think any of the other fellows here will either."

"Congratulations, Quent!" said Kit, extending his hand. "That was a great race." "Thanks," replied Miles. "But I never figured it would end any other way. You put up a great fight, Barnard. Yes, sir! A great fight!" He turned to Captain Strong and chortled. "Good race, eh, Strong?" The Solar Guard officer shook hands with the winner and then asked, "Where is Cadet Manning?"

"Just a minute, Quent," replied his brother. He turned and grinned at Tom and Roger. "Surprised, huh? Don't let it bother you. We've been driving people crazy ever since we were born. Does this tell you how we won the race?" "T-t-twin pilots," stuttered Tom in amazement. "And twin ships?" "Exactly." Ross laughed. "Pretty smart, eh?" "Never mind them now," snarled Quent.

Ross stopped beside the door and hesitated a moment. "Hey, Ross!" Quent called, and Ross turned away from the door. "I think I hear something down inside the hold. Slip down the ladder a little way and cover me. I'll go down inside and look around. He must be down here somewhere, and if you guard the door, he can't get out." Ross grinned.