ecided that
my explanation would be used?"

Roger's face reddened. "No, sir," he said tightly.

"Then how do you explain that _your_ voice with _your_ explanation is
now on the master spool?" screamed Sykes.

"I--I--can't explain it, sir," said Roger, fighting to control his
temper.

"I can!" snapped Sykes. "You sneaked back in here last night and
substituted your original recording--the one I threw out!"

"But he couldn't have done that, Professor," interjected Tom. "He was
asleep all night!"

"Were you awake all night, Corbett?" asked Sykes coldly.

"No, sir," replied Tom.

"Then you couldn't possibly know if he was sleeping or down here
recording, could you?"

"No, sir," said Tom quietly.

"Cadet Manning, this is the most disgusting, disgraceful performance
I've ever seen by a Space Cadet!"

"Then you're calling me a liar, sir," said Roger quietly, "when I deny
that I did it."

"Can you explain it?" demanded Sykes.

Roger shook his head and remained silent.

"Get out!" screamed Sykes. "Vidac warned me about you! Go on! Get out! I
won't work with a liar and a cheat!"

Before anyone could stop him, Roger leaped forward and stood in front of
Sykes, grabbing him by the front of his uniform. "I've had enough of
your insults and accusations!" he shouted. "If you weren't an old man,
I'd drag you out of that Solar Guard uniform and beat your ears off!
You're so crazy, you make everyone around you nuts! If you have any
complaints about my work, put them in writing and give them to the
governor!"

He turned and stalked out of the office.

"Roger, wait!" called Tom, rushing after his unit mate with Astro at his
heels.

The colonists began to whisper to each other excitedly, but Ed Bush
merely stood in the doorway and smiled!

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 14

"That's right," sneered Winters. "Professor Sykes has disappeared and
Vidac wants to talk to you!"

The burly spaceman stood in the open door of the cadets' quarters, legs
spread apart, hands on the paralo-ray guns strapped to his side. Tom,
Roger, and Astro eyed the man sleepily.

"Say that again," said Tom.

"I said Vidac wants to talk to you!" Winters shouted. "Now pile out of
those bunks before I pull you out!"

Astro sat up and looked at Winters. His voice rumbled menacingly. "I'll
give you five seconds to get out of here," he said quietly. "And if you
don't, I'll ram those ray guns down your throat! One--two--three--"

Winters