"Carey Rockwell - Tom Corbett Space Cadet 03 - On the Trail of the Space Pirates" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rockwell Carey)

ON THE TRAIL OF THE SPACE PIRATES
 CHAPTER 1

"ALL ABOARD!"
A metallic voice rasped over the loud-speakers and echoed through the lofty marble
and aluminum concourse of the New Chicago Monorail Terminal. "Atom City express on
Track Seven! Space Academy first stop! Passengers for Space Academy will please take
seats in the first six cars!"
As the crowd of people waiting in the concourse surged through the gate leading to
Track Seven, three boys in the royal-blue uniforms of the Space Cadet Corps slowly picked
up their plastic space bags and joined the mass of travelers.
Wearily, they drifted with the crowd and stepped on the slidestairs leading down to the
monorail platform. In the lead, Tom Corbett, the command cadet of the unit, a tall,
curly-haired boy of eighteen, slouched against the handrail and looked back at his two
unit-mates, Roger Manning and Astro. Manning, a slender cadet, with close-cropped blond
hair, was yawning and blinking his eyes sleepily, while Astro, the third member of the unit, a
head taller than either of his unit-mates and fifty pounds heavier, stood flat-footed on the
step, eyes closed, his giant bulk swaying slightly with the motion of the slidestairs.
"Huh! A real snappy unit!" Tom muttered to himself.
"Hmmm? What?" Roger blinked and stared bleary-eyed at Tom.
"Nothing, Roger," Tom replied. "I only hope you guys can stay awake long enough to get
on the monorail."
"It's your own fault, Tom," rumbled Astro in his bull-like voice. "If your family hadn't thrown
so many parties for us while we were on leave, we'd have had more sleep."
"I didn't hear any complaints then," snorted Tom. "Just get into the car before you cork
off, will you? I'm in no shape to carry you."
Seconds later, the slidestairs deposited the three boys on the platform and they slowly
made their way through the crowd toward the forward cars of the monorail. Entering the third
car, they found three seats together and collapsed into their luxurious softness.
"Oh, brother!" Tom groaned as he curled himself into the cushions, "I'm going to sleep
all the way to the Academy."
"I'm asleep already," mumbled Roger, his voice muffled by his cap pulled low over his
face.
Suddenly Astro sat bolt upright. "I'm hungry!" he announced.
"Oh, no!" moaned Tom.
"Why, you overgrown Venusian ape, Mrs. Corbett gave you dinner less than an hour
ago!" Roger complained. "Steak, French fries, beans, corn, pie, ice cream..."
"Two helpings," chimed in Tom.
"And now you're hungry!" Roger was incredulous.
"Can't help it," calmly answered Astro. "I'm a big guy, that's all." He began digging
through his space bag for an apple Mrs. Corbett had thoughtfully provided.
Tom finally stirred and sat up. He had learned a long time ago the futility of trying to deny
Astro's Gargantuan appetite. "There's a dining car on this section of the monorail, Astro," he
said, slapping a crumpled mass of credits into the Venusian's hamlike hand. "Here. Have
yourself a good time." He slumped back in his seat and closed his eyes.
"Yeah," growled Roger, "and when you come back, don't make any noise!"
Astro smiled. He got up carefully and climbed over his two sleeping mates. Standing in
the aisle, he counted the credits Tom had given him and turned to the front of the car.
Suddenly a heavy voice growled behind him.