"Del.Rey,.Lester.-.Mysterious.Planet" - читать интересную книгу автора (Del Rey Lester)

"You might as well know it now, Bob," he said. "You're looking at the man who's been selected to investigate Planet X! My orders were just confirmed this morning."

Bob blinked, and nearly stumbled. "You haver he gasped, and then felt foolish at the treble note that had crept into his voice. "Here I was just coming to ask if you knew anything about it. Why didn't you tell me last night? You must have known."

"Naturally," Commander Griffith agreed. "But not officially. And we don't spread rumor in the Navy, boy. I was just going to tell the men about it."

He turned again and Bob followed him. He was all confused now. He was glad his father had the assign-

merit; he knew it would be a prize chance for advancement toward the coveted position of Fleet Commander; every man in the Fleet had probably wanted the opportunity, and his father had gotten it! But again a twinge of jealousy hit at him.

If he'd been two years older, and commissioned, he could have been going, maybe. But now he'd have to stay here on Mars, without even the companionship of his father, until the Academy opened again.

It was probably the last chance for exploration he would ever know. The planets had all been covered, years before; and the stars were still out of reach, and wouldn't be touched during his lifetime. Now a brand new planet showed upЧand the best he could do would be to read about it!

Obviously, official word had already been beaten by the rumors, since the men of Wing Nine were clumped into little groups around their twenty ships when Bob and Commander Griffith reached them. They broke up at once, grinning, and began descending on the two.

Griffith halted them with a wave of his hand. "It's official, boys. We're heading out for Outpost by Neptune in three days. We base there, scout Planet X, and land to explore if it looks feasible. If not, we're to determine the orbit of the planet exactly. And it's no secret now that Planet X is heading inward at a speed that makes some of the astronomers think it must be from outer space, and not a real planet at all! So it should be interesting!"

A whoop went up from them, and the younger men began a crazy snake dance in and out among the ships.

Griffith grinned broadly, and turned back to Bob. "There's one little thing I forgot to tell you," he said, too casually. He stopped to light his pipe, then met Bob's eyes suddenly. "I got special permission to take along a junior aideЧsome young fellow from the Academy, for instance. Any suggestions?"

Bob's mouth really fell open then. He stared up at his

father, not quite daring to believe what the other was saying. "You mean . . ."

Griffith nodded. "I mean you, of course! You know the old traditionЧon anything except the most dangerous special mission, the Academy usually places one of its cadets as a reward for good work. It keeps up interest. This tune you were on the list of students recommended, and Fleet Commander Jonas thought it might be a good idea for me to have my own son along."

Bob stood still, unable to make a sound more meaningful than a yell. Then he let out another shout, and leaped forward into the snake dance, adding his cries to those of the other men.

And he'd been jealous of Jakes! This was better than anything that Jakes could hope for. It was even better than graduating from the Academy with top honors and getting command of a ship at once. It was like . . .

He gave up trying to think what it was like, and just went along with the rest of the shouting, happy group from Wing Nine.

CHAPTER 2 /

Attack in Space

JAKES CAME TO SEE BOB the night before the take-off. Bob's mother announced it when Bob came in from his final fitting for his uniform, which would bear the insignia of a Cadet ObserverЧa triangle with a dot inside. Her still pretty face was a mixture of worry over last-minute details and maternal pride, and she nearly forgot it.

Then she caught herself. "You've got a visitor, Bobby. I took him up to your room. Simon Jakes. Wasn't he in the Academy with you?"

Bob grimaced slightly, and nodded. "What did he want?"

"I don't knowЧhe didn't say. I gave him some cookies and soda, and left him looking at your model collection. He seemed like a nice boy."

All Bob's friends seemed like nice boys, to her. And all who had ever come had been stuffed with cookies and soda. Sometimes Bob wondered whether she realized that he and the boys he knew were no longer ten years young. Then he remembered that she'd taken the news of his coming trip without a moment's protest, like a good Navy woman, and he felt ashamed of himself. He caught her around the shoulders in a quick hug, and went up to his room.

Jakes surprised him. He looked up and saw Bob, and jumped to his feet with one hand stretched out. "Hey, Bob, you lucky dog! Congratulations. I just heard.