"Carey Rockwell - Tom Corbett Space Cadet 06 - Treachery in Outer Space" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rockwell Carey)

longer restrain themselves and broke into loud laughter at the antics of the aspirants. Finally,
when they had landed their imaginary ship again, the Earthworms were pounded on the
back heartily.
"Welcome to Space Academy!" said Tom with a grin. "That was as smooth a ride as
I've ever had."
"Yeah," agreed Astro, pumping Coglin's hand. "You handled those reactors and atomic
motors like a regular old space buster!"
"And that was real fine astrogation, Spears," Roger chimed in. "Why, you laid out such a
smooth course, you never left the ground!"
 The three Earthworms relaxed, and while Astro brewed hot cups of tea with synthetic
pellets and water from the shower, Tom and Roger told them about the traditions and
customs of the Academy.
Tom began by telling them how important it was for each crew member to be able to
depend on his unit mate. "You see," he said, "in space there isn't much time for individual
heroics. Too many things can happen too fast for it to be a one-man operation."
"I'll say," piped up Roger. "A couple of times I've been on the radar deck and seen a
hunk of space junk coming down on us fast. So instead of following book procedure,
relaying the dope to Tom on the control deck to pass it on to Astro, I'd just sing out to Astro
direct on the intercom, 'Give me an upshot on the ecliptic! or 'Give me a starboard shot!' and
Astro would come through because he knows I always know what I'm talking about."
"Not always, hot-shot!" growled Astro. "How about the time we went out to Tara and
snatched that hot copper asteroid out of Alpha Centauri's mouth? Yo┬л said the time on that
reactor blast should be set at-"
"Is that so?" snapped Roger. "Listen, you big overgrown hunk of Venusian space gas-"
Roger got no further. Astro grabbed him by the shirt front, held him at arm's length, and
began tickling him in the ribs. The three freshmen cadets backed out of the way, glancing
fearfully at the giant Venusian. Astro's strength was awesome when seen for the first time.
"Lemme go, you blasted space ape!" bellowed Roger, between fits of laughter.
"Say uncle, Manning!" roared Astro. "Promise you won't call me names again, or by the
stars, I'll tickle you until you shake yourself apart!"
"All right-un-un-uncle!" managed Roger.
Astro dropped his unit mate on a bunk like a rag doll and turned back to Tom with a
shrug of his shoulders. "He'll never learn, will he?"
Tom grinned at Duke. "Astro's like a big overgrown puppy."
"Someone ought to put him on a leash," growled Roger, crawling out of the bunk and
rubbing his ribs. "Blast it, Astro, the next time you want to show off, go play with an elephant
and leave me alone."
Astro ignored him, turning to Coglin. "As much as I gas Roger," the giant cadet said
seriously, "I'd rather ride a thrust bucket with him on the radar deck than Commander
Walters. He's the best."
Tom smiled. "That's what I mean, Duke. Astro believes in Roger, and Roger believes in
Astro. I believe in them, and they in me. We've got to, or we wouldn't last long out there in
space."
The three fledgling spacemen were silent, watching and listening with awe and envy as
the Polaris crew continued their indoctrination. They considered themselves lucky to have
been drawn by these famous cadets for their hazing. The names of Corbett, Manning, and
Astro were becoming synonymous with great adventure in space. But, with all their
hairbreadth escapes, the Polaris unit was still just learning its job. The boys were still
working off demerits, arguing with instructors on theory, listening to endless study spools,
learning the latest advanced methods of astrogation, communication, and reactor-unit