"By the craters of Luna," said Tom, "that must be Astro now!"
"But if it is," said Roger, "how did he get out there?"
From behind them, the hatch to the inner air lock opened and Al James stepped through.
"Captain Strong," he said excitedly, "you've got to come quickly. Some of the crewmen have broken into your arms locker and taken paralo-ray guns. They threaten to leave you here if you don't return to the ship within five minutes. They're afraid the Venus might blow up and damage the Polaris at this close range." The young skipper, his red-brown uniform torn and dirty, looked at the Solar Guard captain with wild-eyed desperation.
"They can't leave us here," whimpered Zewbriski. "We'll all be blown to bits!"
"Shut up!" barked Strong. He turned to Tom and Roger. "I can do one of two things," he said. "I can order you to return to the Polaris now, with James and myself, or you can volunteer to stay behind and search for Astro."
Without looking at Roger, Tom answered, "We'll stay, sir. And we won't have to search for him. I think I know where he is."
"Now that I think about it," replied Strong, "I guess there is only one place he could be."
"Yes, sir," said Tom, "down on the power deck trying to save this wagon! Come on, Roger! Let's get him!"