Were Manning and Astro squaring off to fight?"
"Yes, sir," replied Tom slowly.
"All right. At ease all of you," said Strong. The three boys relaxed and
faced the officer.
"Manning, do you want to be a successful cadet here at Space Academy?"
"Yes, sir," answered Roger.
"Then why don't you act like it?" asked Strong.
"Is there something wrong with my work, sir?" Tom recognized the smooth
Manning confidence begin to appear, and he wondered if Captain Strong
would be taken in.
"Everything's wrong with your work," barked Strong. "You're too smart!
Know too much!" He stopped short and then added softly with biting
sarcasm, "Why do you know so much, Cadet Manning?"
Roger hesitated. "I've studied very hard. Studied for years to become a
Space Cadet," he replied.
"Just to be a cadet or a successful cadet _and_ a Solar Guard officer?"
"To be successful at both, sir."
"Tell me, Manning, do you have any ideas on life?"
"That's a pretty general question, sir. Do you mean life as a whole or a
specific part of life?" They're fencing with each other, thought Tom. He
held his breath as Strong eyed the relaxed, confident cadet.
"A spaceman is supposed to have but one idea in life, Manning. And that
idea is _space_!"
"I see, sir," replied Roger, as a faraway look came into his eyes.
"Yes, sir, I have some ideas about life in space.
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