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Dawn of the second day on Roald saw the vast plain crowded with men at work. The first community objective was the construction of an atmosphere station, and before the woman and children had finished lunch, they were breathing synthetically produced air.
Now, trying to recall simple arithmetic and other elementary studies, the cadets and Marshall worked eighteen hours a day. Speaking directly into soundscribers and filling what seemed to be miles of audio tape, the four spacemen attempted to build a comprehensive library of a hundred carefully selected subjects for the children of Roald.
"If Corbett hadn't ordered emergency space speed, we'd all be smeared across that plain down there." He pointed to the scanner screen where the surface of Roald could be seen receding rapidly. "Umph!" snorted Sykes, "let me take a look at that control board." Quickly and surely, the professor tested every major circuit in the giant panel. Finally he straightened up and turned to face Hardy.
"He tells me you've done a fine job. I think a tour of duty as cadet observers on Roald will just about round out your training." The three boys looked at each other, eyes wide with surprise and pleasure. "We'll actually go with the colonists?" asked Astro. "That's right, Cadet Astro," said Walters. "And I'm sorry that I can't give you more than a twenty-four-hour pass. But time is very short."
"About time for them to send in a second report too. Tell you what, Steve. They might be having a tough time setting up things out there on Roald. Suppose you get things organized to investigate the uranium report. And if no word comes in from the cadets by the end of the week, then you can blast off." "Thank you, sir," said Strong. "Will you excuse me, sir? I'd like to get to work right away."
Each applicant will be lent as much in material as he needs to establish himself on Roald. If he operates an exchange, for instance, selling clothes, equipment, or food, then the size of his exchange will determine the size of the loan. He will repay the Solar Alliance by returning one-fourth of his profits over a period of seven years.
At the controls Vidac gripped the acceleration lever and called into the intercom, "Stand by for touchdown. Power deck, cut all thrust!" "Power deck, aye, sir," reported Astro. As the main rockets were cut out again and the Polaris slipped back through space toward the surface of Roald once more, Tom stood behind Vidac with Hardy and watched the instruments begin their strange gyrations again.
Still unable to see the satellite circling the star, the captain's thoughts were on the past rather than the future. He still couldn't find any reasonable explanation for his suddenly having been taken off the Roald colony project and sent on the minor mission to Pluto. He had often thought about the man who had replaced him, Paul Vidac.
"What kind of a cow?" asked Roger. "There aren't any on Roald, remember? We drink synthetic milk." "I could even eat a synthetic cow!" was Astro's grim rejoinder. "Come on, you two," said Tom. "We might as well try it. You think they're alone?" "They don't act as though there's anyone around but themselves," said Roger. "But I don't know "
In view of my experience, Governor Hardy was delighted to have me join the Roald expedition." The three cadets looked at each other in bewilderment. Finally Tom walked over and stuck out his hand. "We're glad to have you aboard, sir." He managed a smile. Reluctantly Roger and Astro followed suit. "Thank you, boys," said Vidac with a smile.
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