"Right here, Astro," replied Tom immediately. "Boy, you certainly are burning up space! What have you got in your fuel tanks? Light speed?"
"Just a little thing we whipped up," said Astro with a grin. "What is your ETA on Deimos, Tom?"
"Less than five minutes. Four minutes and thirty seconds, to be exact. Think you can beat that?"
"If we can't beat it, we can equal it!" said Astro. "See you on the Martian moon, buddy! End transmission!"
Steadily, the Good Company rocketed through space, eating up the miles and gaining on the Space Lance. Both ships now made contact with the control tower on Deimos and received landing instructions.
"Space Lance will touch down on Ramp Three, Good Company on Ramp Six," crackled the voice of the Deimos tower operator, "and don't forget your approach orbits!"
"Have you heard from the Space Knight?" called Tom.
"Sorry, Space Lance," came the reply, "there has been no contact with Space Knight."
Tom began to feel the fingers of fear creeping up and down his spine. Quent Miles had carried out his plan of going on to Ganymede without refueling, threatening not only his own life, but Roger's as well.
Sticoon completed the three circling passes around Deimos and shouted to Tom over his shoulder. "Stand by, Corbett. We're ready to go in!"