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Updated: May 4, 2025
You'll have to stand off until I can go down and make a complete investigation." "Well, what do you think it is?" asked Hardy. "It might be one of a hundred things," replied the professor. "But I wouldn't attempt to land down there until we know what's causing the interference and can counteract it." "Space gas!" exploded Vidac. "Is this another of your tricks, Corbett?"
When I asked him one day if he had found anything, he told me to mind my own business." "And now you're accused of abducting and murdering the professor," mused Strong. "That's it, sir," said Tom. "As I said, we didn't want to give you anything but the facts as we know them. There are a lot of incidents that would show Vidac is trying to pull something funny, but nothing that could be proved."
When the farmer had finished, Strong asked only one question. "Why didn't Governor Hardy do something?" "I can't explain that," said Logan. "When we were forced to pay for our food on the way out, we signed a petition and sent it to the governor. But we never heard anything about it. Of course Vidac could have intercepted it." "Well, thank you, Mr. Logan," said Strong, getting up.
One false move and I'll blast you!" Astro turned and stumbled down the hill in front of the paralo-ray gun. A smile tugged at his lips. Vidac and Bush were waiting for them on the highway at the bottom of the hill. "Where are Corbett and Manning?" Vidac demanded, looking at Astro. Astro repeated the story about Tom and Roger having deserted him. Vidac eyed him speculatively.
The two men left hurriedly and Vidac began to pace the floor. He was acutely aware that his scheme was out in the open. All of the careful planning to keep the cadets off balance and unsure of him until he could make his move was lost. He regretted not having gotten rid of them before, out in space, where unexplained accidents would be accepted.
"Professor Sykes has disappeared and Vidac wants to talk to you!" The burly spaceman stood in the open door of the cadets' quarters, legs spread apart, hands on the paralo-ray guns strapped to his side. Tom, Roger, and Astro eyed the man sleepily. "Say that again," said Tom. "I said Vidac wants to talk to you!" Winters shouted. "Now pile out of those bunks before I pull you out!"
"Couldn't we log some sack time before we start another assignment?" Vidac stood up and faced them. "You might as well learn right now," he said sharply, "that when I give an order I expect it to be carried out without suggestions, complaints, or whining excuses!" "But !" stammered Roger. Tom quickly stepped forward. His back ramrod straight, he saluted the lieutenant governor.
"I didn't ask you for your opinion!" snapped Vidac. "All right, you've given me your information. Now get out!" Sykes abruptly turned and left the lieutenant governor's compartment. Alone, Vidac paced the floor. After a moment of deep thought he snapped his fingers in decision and turned on the ship's intercom. "Corbett! Manning! Astro!" he bellowed. "Report to the control deck on the double."
Astro sat up and looked at Winters. His voice rumbled menacingly. "I'll give you five seconds to get out of here," he said quietly. "And if you don't, I'll ram those ray guns down your throat! One two three " Winters tried to match Astro's withering gaze and finally backed out the doorway. "Vidac wants to see you on the double, and that means, double!" He disappeared from view.
Tom lay on the deck, wincing in pain. The wild shot had caught him in the right leg and he was unable to move it. He crawled across the deck, reaching for the gun as Bush came charging up the ramp. Meanwhile, Vidac, seeing the commotion in the hatch of the spaceship, pulled his gun and leveled it at Tom.
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