CHAPTER 2
"All O.K. here on the relay circuit," yelled Astro through the intercom from the power deck.
"O.K.," answered Tom. "Now try out the automatic blowers for the main tubes!"
"Wanta give me a little juice for the radar antenna, Astro?" called Roger from the radar deck.
"In a minute, Manning, in a minute," growled Astro. "Only got two hands, you know."
"You should learn to use your feet," quipped Roger. "Any normal Venusian can do just as much with his toes as he can with his fingers!"
Back and forth the bantering had gone for twelve hours, while the three members of the Polaris unit tested, checked, adjusted, and rechecked the many different circuits, relays, junction boxes, and terminals in the miles of delicate wiring woven through the ship. Now, as dawn began to creep pink and gray over the eastern horizon, they made their last-minute search through the cavernous spaceship for any doubtful connections. Satisfied there were none, the three weary cadets assembled on the control deck and sipped the hot tea that Manning had thoughtfully prepared.