"Time's up," she announced. "Please put your papers in the tubes and drop them in the slot."
Tom turned to see Astro stuffing his papers in the thin cylinder disgustedly. Phil Morgan came up and stood in back of Tom. His face was flushed.
"Everything O.K., Phil?" inquired Tom.
"Easy as free falling in space," replied the other cadet, his soft Georgian drawl full of confidence. "How about you?"
"I'm just hoping against hope."
The few remaining stragglers hurried up to the line.
"Think Astro'll make it?" asked Phil.
"I don't know," answered Tom, "I saw him sweating over there like a man facing death."
"I guess he is—in a way."
Astro took his place in line and shrugged his shoulders when Tom leaned forward to give him a questioning look.