The Tom Corbett Space Cadet Megapack: 10 Classic Young Adult Sci-Fi Novels

by Norton, Andre

  “Let’s see what Vidac makes of that,” he said. “Now, let’s get down to business. There’s only one thing I can do right now.”

  “Yes, sir?” asked Tom, waiting attentively.

  “I’m going to talk with a few of the colonists and see what else I can pick up. Meantime, you just take it easy. And if that space jerk outside gives you any trouble”—Strong paused and smiled—“show him a few of your wrestling tricks, Astro.”

  The big Venusian nodded enthusiastically. “My pleasure, Captain.”

  Strong stood up and shook hands with each of them. “From what you’ve told me,” he said, “I think I should see Hyram Logan first.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Tom. “He’s sort of the spokesman for the rest of the colonists. He can give you a lot of information.”

  “Good!” said Strong. “Where will I find him?”

  Tom gave directions and the captain left the three cadets with a smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll see this through. In a short while you’ll be on duty again.”

  A half-hour later, in one of the converted jet boats, Steve Strong sped along the smooth broad streets and flat level highways of the colony. He was heading for the Logan farm and the long drive through the Roald countryside would ordinarily have been interesting and enjoyable. But the Solar Guard captain was preoccupied with his own thoughts. A name kept repeating itself over and over in his mind. Hardy—Hardy—Hardy. Why hadn’t the governor done something about Vidac? Where was he when the colonists were forced to pay for their food? Why hadn’t he checked on the cadets’ statement that their report hadn’t been sent out? Strong made a mental note to check the logbook of the Polaris when he returned.

  Suddenly, ahead of him, he saw a young boy walking along the highway. He slowed down and stopped beside him.

  “Hello, Sonny,” called Strong with a smile. “Can you tell me where I can find the Logan farm?”

  The boy stared at Strong, eyes wide. “Sure thing, Mister, er—I mean—Captain. I’m Billy Logan.”

  “Well, hop in, Billy!” said Strong. “I’ll give you a lift!”

  “Thanks,” replied the boy and jumped in beside Strong. “It’s about a mile up the road, then we turn off.” He couldn’t keep his eyes off Strong’s black-and-gold uniform. “I’m going to be a Space Cadet when I get old enough,” he gulped breathlessly.

  “You are?” asked Strong. “That’s fine. You have to study very hard.”

  “I know,” said Billy, “I’m starting already! Tom, Roger, and Astro lent me books and study spools to work on. Why, I bet I know every single Academy regulation right now!”

  Strong laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised!”

  “We turn off here,” said Billy, indicating a narrow road branching off the main highway. “We live about three miles down. Out in the wilderness. By the stars, It’s so lonely out here sometimes, I wish I was back on Venus!”

  “If you want to be a spaceman,” said Strong, “you have to learn not to be lonely. Why, I just made a trip out from Atom City all by myself. Didn’t bother me a bit!”

  “You did?” cried Billy. “Gosh!”

  He was so awed by Strong’s solo trip out to the satellite that he remained silent the rest of the trip.

  A few moments later Strong pulled up at a small crystal structure, just off the road. He had no sooner stopped, than Billy was out of the car yelling to his father and sister at the top of his voice that they had a visitor.

  Hyram Logan came from around the back of the house to greet Strong, and Jane, who had been busy in the kitchen preparing supper, came to meet the young officer, wiping her hands on her apron.

  “Mighty glad to see the Solar Guard remembered we’re out here,” said Logan as he led Strong into the house. Seated comfortably in the living room, Strong brought up the purpose of his visit right away.

  “I’ve just finished talking to the cadets, Mr. Logan, and they’ve been telling me some strange stories about Vidac and Governor Hardy. I’d like to hear what you have to say about it.”

  “I can say everything in one sentence, Captain,” snorted Logan. “Those space crawlers are trying to take everything we have away from us!”

  And for three hours Strong listened as the Venusian farmer talked. When the farmer had finished, Strong asked only one question.

  “Why didn’t Governor Hardy do something?”

  “I can’t explain that,” said Logan. “When we were forced to pay for our food on the way out, we signed a petition and sent it to the governor. But we never heard anything about it. Of course Vidac could have intercepted it.”

  “Well, thank you, Mr. Logan,” said Strong, getting up.

  “Won’t you stay for supper, Captain?” asked Jane.

  “Yeah, please stay, sir,” pleaded Billy. “I’d like to hear about your trip out here all by yourself.”

  Strong laughed. “Some other time, Billy.” He ruffled the lad’s hair. “I have to get back and see if the cadets are all right.”

  A few moments later Strong was speeding along the superhighway back toward the city. There was only one thing on his mind—to get the cadets out of the trap they were in. But it would be a hard job. Vidac had witnesses against them. He mentally probed the situation further. Why would Vidac abduct Professor Sykes? Surely not to frame the cadets. He must have wanted to be rid of Sykes too. Sykes must have known something. But what? Strong suddenly thought of the professor’s investigation of the landing disturbance. It could only have been the result of radioactivity in a large mass. So the professor must have discovered a large deposit of uranium. Strong’s mind raced on. Sykes would have taken the report to Vidac or Hardy, or both, and—

  Strong forced himself to stop thinking. He was violating one of the cardinal laws of the Solar Alliance. He was presuming that Vidac or Hardy was guilty—and he didn’t have an atom’s worth of proof. There was only one way to get the proof. The cadets would have to escape to find it.

  * * * *

  Strong sidled around the corner of the corridor. Down at the end of the hall, still standing in front of the cadet’s door, Bush leaned against the wall, idly picking his teeth. Strong realized that he would have to sneak up behind the guard. He couldn’t afford to be seen. He had to wait until Bush turned around.

  He waited and watched while the man shifted from one foot to the other. And after what seemed like hours, Bush shifted his position and turned his back on the Solar Guard officer. Strong quickly darted around the corner and ran lightly down the hall. If Bush turned around now, Strong would be frozen stiff by the paralo-ray. With ten feet to go, the captain lunged at Bush in a diving tackle, sending the man sprawling face forward. In a flash he was on top of him, and with a quick snapping blow on the back of the neck he knocked the man cold.

  Strong snatched up the paralo-ray gun, then unlocked the door and threw it open. The cadets were sprawled on their bunks, listening to a story spool.

  “Captain Strong!” yelled Tom.

  “Quiet!” ordered Strong. “You’ve got three minutes. You’ll find a jet car at the side entrance of the building. I can’t explain now, but get out of here!”

  “But what do you want us to do?” asked Tom. The three cadets were already grabbing their clothes and other items they would need.

  “The only way you’re going to prove that you didn’t abduct or murder the professor is to find him,” said Strong. “And pray to your stars that he’s still alive. If he isn’t, it’ll be up to you to find out who killed him!”

  “But what about you, sir?” asked Roger. “Won’t Vidac know that you helped us?”

  “Undoubtedly,” said Strong. “After what I said to the guard today, Vidac will arrange for a hundred witnesses to prove that I helped you escape. You’ll have to bring back the professor, not only to save your own necks, but my neck as well.”

  The three cadets nodded.

  “All right,” said Strong. “Spaceman’s luck, and remember, you’ll be wanted criminals when you walk out of that d
oor. So act like criminals. Fight them the same way they will fight you. This is not a space maneuver. It’s your lives against theirs!”

  Without another word, the three cadets slipped out of the room and disappeared down the corridor.

  Strong took a last look at Bush lying unconscious on the floor and hurried silently back to the front of the building. His heart was racing with excitement. The ball had begun to roll.

  CHAPTER 17

  “Where do we cut off?” asked Vidac. He sat beside Winters in the converted jet boat, speeding down the smooth highway that Strong had passed over only a few minutes before.

  “It’s right along here, somewhere,” said Winters.

  “Better slow down,” said Vidac. “We don’t want to miss it. We haven’t much time. If Strong starts nosing around he might discover something.”

  “Lucky for us we found out so quickly where the uranium is,” replied Winters.

  “It won’t mean a thing unless we can get Logan to sign over his land holdings.”

  Winters braked the jet car suddenly, throwing Vidac up against the windshield. “What are you doing?” snapped Vidac.

  “Sorry, boss,” replied Winters. “There’s the road leading to the Logan place up ahead.”

  Winters slowed for the turn off the main highway and then accelerated to full power again on the side road.

  “How are you going to get old Logan to sign the release?” asked Winters. “Suppose he knows his land is worth about ten billion credits?”

  “How could he know?” asked Vidac. “The only ones that know are me, you, Bush, and Sykes.”

  Winters nodded. “Then as soon as we get Logan to sign over the land, we take care of Sykes, bring back his body as proof against the cadets, and everything’s set, eh?”

  “Something like that,” said Vidac. “We still have to watch our step with Strong, though,” said Vidac.

  The two men were silent as the jet car raced down the side road. A moment later they could see the lights in the small crystal farmhouse.

  “Cut your lights,” said Vidac. “We don’t want to scare them.”

  “O.K.,” replied Winters. He switched off the powerful beams and slowed the car to a crawl. They rolled past the outer farm buildings and came to a stop in front of the main house.

  “Say, boss,” said Winters suddenly. “Look! Tracks in the road! Car tracks! Somebody’s been out here! Logan doesn’t have a car!”

  “So what?” snarled Vidac. “Get hold of yourself. It could have been anyone.”

  A powerful light from the farmhouse suddenly flooded them and Logan’s voice cracked in the night air.

  “Who’s there?” called the farmer.

  “Good evening, Mr. Logan,” said Vidac, climbing out of the car. “This is the governor.”

  “Vidac!” said Logan, startled. “What do you want?”

  “This is what we want!” snarled Winters, whipping his ray gun into view. “Get back inside!”

  “Wha—?” gasped Logan. “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “You’d better do as the man says, Mr. Logan,” said Vidac.

  Jane suddenly appeared behind Logan, her hands still soapy from washing the supper dishes. “Who is it, Father?” she asked, and then seeing Vidac and Winters she stepped back inside the house.

  “Nothing to get alarmed about,” said Vidac, pushing Logan into the house before him. “We just want to have a little talk.” He smiled. “Business talk.”

  “Isn’t it too bad, Winters,” said Vidac, “that we just missed supper?”

  “What do you want?” demanded Logan belligerently. He stepped in front of Jane protectively.

  “Now don’t get excited Mr. Logan,” said Vidac, his voice smooth. “We just want you to sign a little paper, that’s all.”

  “What kind of paper?” asked Logan.

  “Say,” said Winters suddenly, “ain’t you got a kid?”

  “If you mean my son, Billy,” said Logan, “he’s asleep.”

  “I’d better check,” said Winters, starting forward.

  “Never mind him,” said Vidac. “We haven’t got all night and there’s nothing a kid could do.”

  He pulled out a paper from his pocket and unfolded it, keeping his eyes on Logan. “Mr. Logan, we’re going to foreclose your mortgage.”

  “Foreclose!” gasped Logan. “But—but I haven’t even had time to gather in my first crop!”

  “We’ve taken a look at your fields and we don’t think you’re doing a good job,” said Vidac. “In this mortgage you signed there’s a clause that states I can foreclose any time I want.”

  “But how can you judge a crop by just looking at the fields?” asked Jane.

  “Oh, we have ways, Miss Logan.” Vidac smiled. He walked to a near-by table, and pushing a stack of study spools to the floor, spread the paper in front of him. He looked up at Logan and indicated the paper. “Do you have a pen, or would you like to use mine?”

  “I’m not signing anything until I read it,” snapped Logan.

  Vidac smiled and pushed the paper across the table. Logan came forward and picked it up. He scanned it hurriedly and then glared at Vidac.

  “You can’t do this!” he snapped. “I won’t sign!”

  Winters suddenly leaped across the room and grabbed Jane by the wrist, jamming his gun in her back.

  Vidac leered at the farmer. “Have you ever been frozen by a ray gun, Mr. Logan?”

  Logan shook his head.

  “Let me tell you about it,” said Vidac coolly. “The effects are very simple, but very powerful. You are paralyzed! You can still see, hear, think, and breathe. Your heart continues to beat, but otherwise, you are absolutely powerless. The aftereffects are even worse. The person who has been frozen comes out completely whole, but”—Vidac suddenly shuddered—“believe me, Mr. Logan, you feel like ten thousand bells were vibrating in your brain at one time. It isn’t pleasant!”

  “Why—why—are you telling me this?” asked Logan.

  “You wouldn’t want to see your daughter undergo such an experience, would you?”

  “If—if I sign the paper,” stammered Logan, “will you leave Jane alone?”

  “I give you my word as a spaceman that nothing will happen to her. In fact, when you sign, you will continue to work the farm as before. Only you’ll be working for me. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of your livelihood.”

  Suddenly the door to the bedroom opened and young Billy burst into the room, clad only in his pajamas.

  “Don’t sign, Pa!” he screamed. “Wait and tell Captain Strong first!”

  “Strong!” exclaimed Vidac. “Has he been here?”

  Logan nodded his head, and taking Vidac’s pen, started to sign the paper.

  “No—no, don’t, Pa!” cried Billy. “Don’t—!”

  Logan paid no attention and finished signing. A look of deep hurt filled the boy’s eyes. “A—a spaceman—” he stammered, “a Solar Guardsman would never have given up!” Crying, he turned away and buried his head in his sister’s arms. Logan silently gave Vidac the paper and turned away.

  “Thank you, Mr. Logan,” said Vidac with a smile. “That’s all. Good night!” He turned and motioned for Winters to follow him. “Come on. Let’s get back to the city!”

  Billy, Jane, and their father silently watched the two men leave the house. Even as the roar of the super-charged jet car faded away in the distance, they still stood in silence.

  Finally Logan turned to his son and daughter. “There ain’t but one thing left to do. Go back to Venus as soon as we can get passage. I’m sorry, Billy, but—”

  “That’s all right, Pa,” said Billy. “I guess I would have done the same thing—for Jane.”

  * * * *

  “Can’t you get any more out of this jalopy?” asked Roger.

  Astro shook his head. “I’ve got her wide open now!”

  The big cadet sat hunched over the steering wheel of the small jet car Strong had used a short time before
, racing along the same smooth highway toward the spaceport on the other side of the hills. Tom was wedged in between Astro and Roger, his eyes straight ahead on the road.

  “Where do we start first?” asked Roger.

  “We’ve got to get a ship. The Polaris, if possible. We can’t begin to look for the professor without one. As soon as Vidac learns that we’ve escaped, the whole satellite will be crawling with colonists and his boys, looking for us.”

  “Colonists!” cried Astro. “Why would they want to help him?”

  “Vidac will think of something to convince them that we’re dangerous criminals,” said Roger grimly. “Tom’s right. We’ve got to get the Polaris.”

  They were just leaving the crystal city behind them and winding through the hill section surrounding the flat plain. Astro’s handling of the jet car was perfect as he took the curves in the road at full throttle. They still had a long way to go to reach the spaceport that had been built on the other side of the hills.

  “You sure did a fine job of conversion on these jet boats,” said Tom to Astro. “This baby feels as though she was going to take off.”

  “I wish it was,” said Roger, looking up at the hills on either side of them. “It would be a lot easier to blast over these things than go through them.”

  The car sped up to the last summit that separated them from the spaceport.

  “We’d better take it easy,” said Tom. “Turn off the lights, Astro. We’ll ditch this jet car about a mile from the spaceport and walk the rest of the way.”

  “Right,” said Astro. He gunned the little vehicle for the last burst of speed necessary to take them over the top. The jet car shuddered under the extra power and a moment later the spaceport lay spread before them. Below them, in a five-mile circle, they could see the few remaining ships of the great fleet. The Polaris was easily recognized, and fortunately, was on the nearer side of the giant landing area.

  “There’s home,” said Roger.

  “Yes,” agreed Tom. “And she sure looks good to me—”