"Don't be silly," replied Tom. "But with all the other things to do
here, why should we--"

"Oh," said Astro, nudging Tom, "now I get it!"

"You get what?" asked Roger innocently.

"Those girls," said Astro. "They're just climbing aboard."

Glancing at the air lock, Tom saw three young and pretty girls file into
the ship. "Oh, so that's it, huh?" he said, looking quizzically at his
unit-mate.

[Illustration: _Tom saw three pretty girls board the ship_]

The blond cadet's eyes were wide with mock surprise.

"Girls? Well, what do you know about that? I never noticed!"

"Yeah, I'll bet you didn't!" said Tom.

"Well, they _are_ trim little space dolls. And there are three of them!"

"Come on, Astro," sighed Tom. "We have to give the little boy his fun."

They walked toward the stand where Simms was still making his pitch to
the crowd.

"Just five more seats left, ladies and gentlemen, only five chances to
blast into space ..."

Tom stepped up and put three credits on the counter. "Three, please," he
said.

Simms looked down and suddenly stopped his harangue. His eyes narrowed
with suspicion as he saw the three cadets standing before him.
Hesitating, he glanced around, seemingly looking for help. Then,
shrugging his shoulders, he handed over the tickets and turned to the
crowd. "Three tickets for the Space Cadets, who live out there in space.
Just can't stay away from it, eh, boys?"

"I only hope that tub of yours holds together," said Tom.

Simms snarled out of the side of his mouth, "Shut up, wise guy!" And
then continued aloud, "Yes, Space Cadet, I agree with you. Everyone
should take a trip into space."

Tom started to protest, but then shrugged his shoulders and followed
Roger and Astro into the ship. On the stand, Simms continued his appeal
to the crowd.

"Just two more tickets left, ladies and gentlemen! Who'll be the lucky
two?"

Suddenly Gus Wallace appeared from behind the ship and approached the
stand, calling, "Hey, Simms!"

Simms stopped speaking and turned to his partner. "Yeah?"

"Everything's all set. Let's blast off!"

"I'll be with you as soon as I sell the last two tickets," said Simms.
"Here you are, ladies and gents, the last two--"

Wallace grabbed him by the arm and yanked him from the stand. "I said we
blast off, you idiot! You want to risk everything for two lousy
credits?"

"O.K., O.K. Don't blow a fuse!"

Simms quickly closed the stand, turned out the lighted sig