"David Grinnell- To Venus! To Venus!" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grinnell David)

Chet was about to persist, but the warning buzzer sounded and lights
blinked to life on the panel, indicating lift-off was about to occur.

Without a voice-transmitted message, the bug lifted off and was swept
into contact with the mother ship.




CHAPTER II


Chet crawled gingerly through the air lock, taking care not to strike his
helmet against the narrow bulkhead. He snapped a perfunctory salute as
he stepped aside to permit the entry of Jim, who followed close behind.
Two of the crewmen came to his side and helped him take off his helmet.
He swung his head this way and that, enjoying his new-found freedom.
The crewmen, both officers who equaled him in rank, continued to help
him shed his awkward suit: Phillip Lombardi and Douglas Mailie, both
excellent astronauts.
 Captain Alexander Borg, senior officer in charge of the expedition,
came forward to greet the returning men.

"Good to see you safe aboard, Chet," he said, his face softening as much
as it ever did.

"Thank you, sir."

The softness disappeared from the captain's swarthy countenance.

"Holmes! Where is your suit?"

"In there, sir." Jim pointed toward the air lock which led to the bug.

"There was some emergency? You were injured and had to de-suit in
order to receive first aid? A malfunction in the suit, perhaps?"

Jim looked miserably uncomfortable. "No, sir," he stammered, "it's just
thatтАж well, you seeтАж"

"No, I don't see!" the captain roared. He respected the young geologist's
ability, but he could not stand an infraction of regulationsтАФespecially of
safety procedures. "Go in there and get it. And bring your suit and report
to me."

Jim managed a pleasant grin. "I have the report right here, sir," he
said, offering it to the captain.

"Get that suit!"