Part 20 (1/2)

”I propose a toast to the _s.p.a.ce Devil_!”

”To the _s.p.a.ce Devil_,” said the others together.

”And whatever trouble she brings,” added Roger softly.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER 11

”Cadet _Higgins_!” Major Connel's voice roared over the s.h.i.+p's intercom as the giant rocket cruiser _Polaris_ blasted smoothly through s.p.a.ce.

”Yes, sir,” squeaked Alfie in reply.

”Cadet Higgins,” said Connel, ”I thought I had requested a sight on the sun star Regulus at fifteen hundred hours!”

”You did, sir,” replied Alfie.

”_Then why, by the craters of Luna, don't I have that position?_”

”I was--busy, sir,” came the meek reply.

”Cadet Higgins,” sighed Connel patiently, ”would you be so kind as to come down to the control deck?”

In the short s.p.a.ce of time since their departure from the s.p.a.ce station Major Connel had learned that to scold Cadet Higgins was not the way to gain his attention. In fact, Major Connel had not been able to find a way of getting the little cadet's attention in any manner, at any time, on anything.

”I can't right now, sir,” replied Alfie.

”What do you _mean_, you can't?” exploded Connel.

”I mean, sir,” explained Alfie, ”that I've just sighted Tara and I have to get a position check on her before we go any farther, to ensure that we traverse the same trajectory on our return trip and thus avoid the problem of finding a new and safe route back.”

”Cadet Alfie Higgins”--Connel's voice climbed to a frenzied shriek--”if you are not on this control deck in ten seconds, I'll personally see that you are fed to a dinosaur when we touch down on Tara and you'll never return. _Now get down here!_”

Tom and Astro, who could hear the conversation over the intercom, were finding it very difficult to keep from laughing out loud at the innocence of Alfie and the outraged wrath of Major Connel.

Tom, particularly, had discovered that Alfie's innocent refusal to be bullied by Connel had made the time pa.s.s more quickly on the long haul through deep s.p.a.ce. More than once he had seen Major Connel rage against the underweight cadet and become even more frustrated at his childlike resistance. It had helped Tom forget the empty feeling he experienced every time he called the radar deck and heard Alfie's mild voice instead of Roger's usual mocking answer. Astro, too, had managed to forget the loneliness he felt aboard the great cruiser by watching the antics of Alfie and Major Connel. More than once he had instigated situations where Alfie would get caught red-handed in a harmless error, and then he lay flat on the power deck, laughing until his sides ached, as he listened to Alfie and Major Connel over the intercom.

It had helped. Both Tom and Astro admitted it had helped, but it still didn't take away the dull ache each felt when an occasional remark, situation, or thought would bring Roger to mind.

Tom flipped the teleceiver on and waited for the blank screen to show him Tara. Connel stood to one side, also watching for the image of the planet to take form on the gray-black screen. A hatch clanked behind them, and Alfie stepped into the control deck to snap to his version of attention.

”Cadet Higgins reporting, sir,” he said quietly.

Connel stepped in front of him, placed his hands on his hips, and bent slightly, pus.h.i.+ng his face almost into Alfie's.

”Cadet Higgins, I want you to know I have taken all the blasted s.p.a.ce-brained antics I'm going to take from you,” said Connel quietly.

”Yes, sir,” replied Alfie blandly.

”And,” said Connel, shaking a finger in Alfie's face, ”_and_ if there is one more--just _one_ more brazen, flagrant disregard of my _specific_ orders, then, Cadet Higgins, I promise you the most miserable trip back to Earth you will ever know in your entire career! I promise you I'll make you sweat! I'll--I'll--” Connel stopped short and shuddered.