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Updated: June 7, 2025
"Probably wishing he had stopped for fuel!" interjected Astro with a sour look on his face. "See if you can pick up Sticoon on the audioceiver, Astro," said Kit. "Ask him for an estimated time of arrival on Deimos. One of us will have to come in first." Astro flipped the switch on the panel and began his call "Good Company to Space Lance, come in!" "Right here, Astro," replied Tom immediately.
"Traveling at emergency space speed, he'll eat up his fuel before he gets one third of the way to Jupiter!" Tom looked at Sticoon. "And Roger's with him." Sticoon nodded grimly. "They'll wind up drifting around in space halfway between Mars and Jupiter. Finding them will be about as easy as looking for a pebble in the Martian desert."
"Uh-huh!" was all the acknowledgment Strong received from the Martian. Famed for his daring, Sticoon was also known for his taciturn personality. "Clear ramp! Clear ramp!" Strong boomed over the public-address system. When he received the all-clear from the enlisted spaceman on the ramp, Strong flipped both the public-address system and the intercom on. "Stand by to raise ship!"
Quent Miles ignored Sticoon and swaggered over to Kit Barnard. "You were lucky, Barnard," he sneered. "Too bad it won't last for the race." "We'll see, Quent," said Kit coolly. Sticoon said nothing, just watched them quietly. Quent Miles laughed and walked off the stand. Kit Barnard looked at Sticoon. "What's the matter with him?" he asked. The Martian shrugged.
Following Sid's pointing finger, Astro and Kit turned toward an exhaust tube that had been ripped in half by the explosion. The Martian spaceman's body floated next to it, limp and broken. Astro shuddered. If Sticoon was dead, then there was little hope for Tom. The big Venusian fought back tears.
He introduced himself as an official monitor of the race, appointed by Commander Walters, and asked them for a report. "Captain Sticoon has followed all regulations, sir," said Tom. "And Captain Barnard, Cadet Astro?" asked the officer. "Same thing, sir," replied Astro. "Captain Barnard has followed the rules of the race exactly." "Thank you," replied the officer and started to turn away.
"Who is it?" asked Strong, turning to the intercom connecting him with the control tower that co-ordinated all the landings and departures at the spaceport. The spaceman referred to a clipboard. "It's the Space Lance, sir. Piloted by Captain Sticoon. He's representing an independent company from Marsopolis." "Right, thanks."
As a transfer point for the great passenger liners that rocketed between Venusport, Atom City, and Marsopolis, the refueling station at Deimos was well staffed and expertly manned. Standing at the air lock, Tom and Sticoon heard the blasting roar of the Good Company coming down in a fast, expert touchdown, and they hurried across the spaceport to greet their rivals.
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