Astro nodded. "Venusport."
"Then why are you in Space Academy?"
"I want to be a spaceman."
"Why didn't you go to school on Venus, instead of Earth. We have good space schools here."
"I want a commission in the Solar Guard. You can only get that through the Academy," replied Astro stoutly.
"Solar Guard!" snorted the leader, and then turned to the nearest man, speaking rapidly in a strange tongue.
For a moment the language confused Astro, then he recognized it as the ancient Venusian dialect. He understood it and started to answer, but then, on second thought, he decided not to reveal his knowledge of the language.
The leader turned back to Astro and asked a question.
Astro shook his head and said, "If you're talking to me, you have to speak English. I know that's the Venusian dialect you're speaking, but I never learned it."
The leader's fist shot out and crashed against Astro's jaw. The big cadet rocked back with the punch and then he lunged forward, straining against his bonds.