On the Trail of the Space Pirates_ A Tom Corbett Space Cadet Adventure - Carey Rockwell [267]
The next morning, still groggy, their heads filled with facts and figures, buzzing with dates and explanations, they returned to their cubicles for more of the same. Sykes met them at the office door.
"Well, Manning!" he snapped. "You still insist you know more, and can teach better than I, eh?" He glowered at the cadet.
"I don't understand, sir," said Roger.
"You don't, eh?" screamed Sykes. "You came back here last night and changed that spool to your liking!"
"I did what?" asked Roger, incredulous. Only a few moments before he could hardly drag himself from his bunk. The idea of returning to the office before the required time was incredible. "I'm sorry, sir," he said, "but I only got out of bed a few minutes ago."
Ed Bush and several colonists suddenly appeared and Sykes whirled around to face them.
"Well! What do you want?" he demanded.
"Governor Vidac said we could pick up some of the spools that were ready," said Bush.
"Well, there isn't anything ready now," growled Sykes. "When I'm finished, I'll let Vidac know." He turned back to Roger.
"Well, Manning? What have you got to say for yourself?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, sir!" answered Roger.
"Cadet Manning," shouted Sykes, "do you remember our conversation last night on the subject of circular motion of captive planets around a sun star?"
"Yes, sir," said Roger.
"And do you recall your childish manner of explaining it?" sneered Sykes.
"Now just a minute, sir," said Roger, "I might be wrong—but—"
"Quiet!" The professor was screaming now. He turned around and inserted a study spool in a soundscriber. Turning it on he waited, glaring at Roger. The blond-haired cadet's voice came over the machine's loud-speaker clearly and precisely.
"… the idea of motion of one satellite around a mother planet, or planet around a sun star, can best be explained by the use of a rock tied to the end of a rope. If you swing the rope around your head, the rock will maintain a steady position, following a measured orbit. The planets, and their captive satellites, work on the same principle, with the gravity of the mother planet substituted for the rope, and the satellite for the rock…"
Sykes stopped the machine, turned, and glared at Roger. "Do you deny that that is your voice?"
Roger shook his head. "It's my voice all right but—"
"And do you deny that last night, before we left, it was decided that my explanation would be used?"
Roger's face reddened. "No, sir," he said tightly.
"Then how do you explain that your voice with your explanation is now on the master spool?" screamed Sykes.
"I—I—can't explain it, sir," said Roger, fighting to control his temper.
"I can!" snapped Sykes. "You sneaked back in here last night and substituted your original recording—the one I threw out!"
"But he couldn't have done that, Professor," interjected Tom. "He was asleep all night!"
"Were you awake all night, Corbett?" asked Sykes coldly.
"No, sir," replied Tom.
"Then you couldn't possibly know if he was sleeping or down here recording, could you?"
"No, sir," said Tom quietly.
"Cadet Manning, this is the most disgusting, disgraceful performance I've ever seen by a Space Cadet!"
"Then you're calling me a liar, sir," said Roger quietly, "when I deny that I did it."
"Can you explain it?" demanded Sykes.
Roger shook his head and remained silent.
"Get out!" screamed Sykes. "Vidac warned me about you! Go on! Get out! I won't work with a liar and a cheat!"
Before anyone could stop him, Roger leaped forward and stood in front of Sykes, grabbing him by the front of his uniform. "I've had enough of your insults and accusations!" he shouted. "If you weren't an old