"I can't," replied Tom. "Sinclair has smashed the communications and the radar. We'll have to take our information to Venusport in person. I only hope he's left the rockets and atomic motors alone."
"How about using the teleceiver in the house?" asked the foreman, climbing up to the control deck.
"Can't take a chance," said Tom. "This is top secret. They might have the teleceiver tapped."
"Do you know how to handle this ship alone?" asked George, glancing around at the great control board. "I don't know anything about a ship this size."
"I can handle it," said Tom. "Get Mrs. Hill aboard!"
"Here I am, Tommy," said Mrs. Hill, climbing up into the control deck. "I have some bandages and salve for your wrists."
"There's no time, Mrs. Hill," said Tom. "We've got to—"
"Nonsense!" she interrupted firmly. "You just give me your hands. It'll take only a minute!"
Tom reluctantly held out his wrists and Mrs. Hill expertly applied the salve and bandaged the cadet's raw wrists. Admittedly feeling better, Tom turned to the master switch and found it missing. For a second panic seized him, until he remembered that Major Connel had hidden it. He felt under the pilot's chair and breathed easier, pulling out the vital instrument.