On the Trail of the Space Pirates_ A Tom Corbett Space Cadet Adventure - Carey Rockwell [398]
"It's a big order, sir," said Strong. "I'll do the best I can."
"That's good enough for me," replied the commander, nodding his satisfaction.
* * * * *
"Any word, sir?" asked Astro eagerly as the white-clad medical officer emerged from the room.
The man smiled. "Thanks to you, Cadet Astro," he replied, "your friend will be able to leave as soon as he gets his pants on."
"Yeow!" bawled Astro in his famous bull-like bellow. "Thanks, sir. Thanks a million!" He turned and wrenched open the sick-bay door, almost splintering it in his enthusiasm. Tom was just sitting up on the side of the bed.
"Hiya, Astro!" called Tom with a weak grin. "The sawbones tells me I owe you a brand-new shiny credit piece for saving my life."
His enthusiasm at high pitch, Astro was nevertheless unable to do more than smile broadly at his unit mate. "Only reason I did it," he said.
"All right, here you are." Tom handed over a coin. "That's all I thought my chances were worth."
At that moment the Solar Guard major in command of the Deimos spaceport entered, followed by Kit Barnard and Sid. After greeting Tom with enthusiasm that matched Astro's, Kit and Sid stood to one side quietly and listened while Tom gave his preliminary report to the major who held a recorder microphone in front of him.
"Yeow!" bawled Astro. "Thanks, sir. Thanks a million!"
"I heard a terrific noise on the power deck as soon as we blasted off," Tom began. "And Captain Sticoon ordered me to go below and check on it. I saw the trouble right away. The lead baffles around the reactant chambers had become loose and the reactant was spilling out, starting to wildcat. I called Bill over the intercom right away and he ordered me to get into a space suit and wait for him in the air lock. I heard him shut off the generators—but that's all. The reactant blew and I must've been knocked cold, because the next thing I remember was this big ugly face bending over me ordering me to wake up." Tom grinned at Astro.
"I see," mused the major aloud. "Now about the baffles. How could they have worked loose? Do you think the lock bolts gave way in the excessive heat due to the intense blast-off speed?"
"No, sir," said Tom firmly. "Those bolts were loosened. I distinctly remember seeing one of them fall to the deck as I walked in."
"Then you suspect that the ship was sabotaged?"
"That's not for me to say, sir," said Tom after a moment's hesitation. "In all my experience, I have never seen one of those bolts work loose of its own accord or because of heat or vibration on the power deck." He glanced at Astro, who was hunched forward, listening intently. "Have you, Astro?"
The big Venusian shook his head slowly. "Never," he said.
"Well, thank you, Corbett, that will be all for now," said the major and then turned to Kit. "I want to congratulate you, sir, on your sacrifice in going to the aid of the Space Lance."
"Wild Bill would have done the same thing for me," said Kit without emotion. "Do I have permission to continue the race now?"
The major was startled. "You mean you still want to go on?"
"Every cent I have is tied up in my ship and in this race, sir," said Kit. "I have my new reactor unit working properly now, and I believe that I still have a chance."
"But you've lost hours, man," protested the major.
"I can make them up, sir," said Kit. "Am I permitted to carry on?"
The major was flustered, but nodded his head. "By all means. Yes, indeed! And spaceman's luck to you."
"I'd like to make the trip with him if he'll have me, sir," said Tom, getting off the bed. "I'm all right. The doctor said so."
"But—but—but you need rest, Cadet Corbett," said the major. "No, I can't permit it."
Just at that moment the medical