"You use your muscles to
win for dear old 42-D in free-fall wrestling. Corbett here can pound
down the grassy field for a goal in mercuryball, and I'll do the
brainwork of space chess."
The three visiting cadets exchanged sharp glances.
"Everybody plays together, Manning," said Dixon. "You three take part in
each sport as a unit."
"Of course," nodded Roger. "Of course--as a unit."
The three cadets stood up, shook hands all around and left. Tom
immediately turned to Manning.
"What was the idea of that crack about brains?"
Manning slouched over to the window port and said over his shoulder, "I
don't know how you and your king-sized friend here passed the
classifications test, Corbett, and I don't care. But, as you say, we're
a unit. So we might as well make adjustments."
He turned to face them with a cold stare.
"I know this Academy like the palm of my hand," he went on. "Never mind
how, just take it for granted. _I know it._ I'm here for the ride. For a
special reason I wouldn't care to have you know. I'll get my training
and then pull out."
He took a step forward, his face a mask of bitterness.
"So from now on, you two guys leave me alone. You bore me to death with
your emotional childish allegiance to this--this"--he paused and spit
the last out cynically--"space kindergarten!"
CHAPTER 3
"I just can't understand it, Joan," said Captain Steve Strong, tossing
the paper on his circular desk.
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