Suddenly Garry stood upright, staring intently straight out the forward port. “Speaking of Good Samaritans, Patch, that might not be so farfetched after all. Look out there, straight ahead. There’s a light moving against the stars. It just might be a space ship!”
“I see it,” Patch said, with a trace of hope returning, “but it’s most likely a Sputnik or Tiros or some other satellite.”
“I don’t think so. Its movement isn’t perfectly straight. I’m sure I just saw it change direction as if heading this way. Patch, if you’ve ever prayed, do it now. The next few minutes may decide whether we live or die out here in space!”
5. A “FLYING TIN CAN”
The boys watched intently as the object neared them. Although it was still pretty far off, they knew that it was not a true celestial object, because they could determine already that it was shaped like nothing usually found in space. In fact, it looked remarkably like a tin can! It was an odd shape for a space ship, but the boys were sure that was what it was.
“That’s not like anything I’ve ever seen!” Garry said. “And I’ve seen all kinds of pictures of space ships in magazines and books.”
“It must be a special kind of ship,” Patch suggested. “But just so it really is a space ship with living people in it, it can be shaped like a barbecue pit for all I care!”
“Patch!” Garry said in a stricken voice. “What if it’s from another planet and carries strange people? Maybe even unfriendly passengers!”
Patch’s eyes shone like bright marbles. “Gee, you don’t really think so, do you? I—I mean, how could it be possible? We’ve already explored Mars and Venus, and those planets aren’t inhabited. How could anything possibly live on those big cold planets farther out?”