For the moment, the problems of Roger
Manning and the unit were far away. He was thinking of the coming
morning when he would dress in the blues of a Space Cadet for the first
time and step into his own ship as command pilot. He was thinking of the
morning when he would be a real spaceman!
[Illustration]
CHAPTER 8
The campus of Space Academy was quiet that evening. Only a few cadets
were still out on the quadrangle, lounging around in the open before
returning to their quarters for bed-check.
On the forty-second floor of the dormitory building, two thirds of the
newly formed _Polaris_ unit, Tom and Astro, were in heated argument.
"All right, all right, so the guy is brilliant," said Astro. "But who
can live with him? Not even himself!"
"Maybe he is a little difficult," replied Tom, "but somehow, we've got
to adjust to him!"
"How about him adjusting to us? It's two against one!" Astro shambled to
the window and looked out moodily. "Besides, he's putting in for a
transfer and there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Maybe he won't now--not after that little speech Captain Strong made
this afternoon."
"If he doesn't, then, blast it, I will!"
"Aw, now take it easy, Astro!"
"Take it easy, nothing!" Astro was building up a big head of steam.
"Where is that space crawler right now?"
"I don't know. He never came back.
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