under my belt."

"Yeah," agreed Roger, settling himself into the cushions once more.
"Wonder what the orders will be. Got any ideas, Tom?"

"No idea at all, Roger," answered Tom. "The audiogram just said report
back to the Academy immediately for assignment."

"Hey, Astro!" exclaimed Roger, seeing the Venusian climb back into his
seat. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"I'm not hungry any more," grunted Astro. "Those guys made me lose my
appetite."

Tom looked at Roger and winked. "Maybe we'd better tell Captain Strong
about this, Roger."

"Why?"

"Get Astro mad enough and he won't want to eat. The Academy can cut down
on its food bills."

"Ah, rocket off, you guys," growled Astro sleepily.

Tom and Roger smiled at each other, closed their eyes, and in a moment
the three cadets of the Polaris unit were sound asleep.

* * * * *

Suspended from a single gleaming rail that stretched across the western
plains like an endless silver ribbon, the monorail express hurtled
through the early dawn speeding its passengers to their destination. As
the gleaming line of streamlined cars crossed the newly developed
grazing lands that had once been the great American desert, Tom Corbett
stirred from a deep sleep. The slanting rays of the morning sun were
shining in his eyes. Tom yawned, stretched, and turned to the viewport
to watch the scenery flash past. Looming up over the flat grassy plains
ahead, he could see a huge bluish mountain range, its many peaks covered
with ever-present snow. In a few moments Tom knew the train would rocket
through a tunnel and then on the other side, in the center of a deep,
wide valley, he would see Space Academy, the university of the planets
and headquarters of the great Solar Guard.

He reached over and shook Roger and Astro, calling, "All right,
spacemen, time to hit the deck!"

"Uh? Ah-ummmh!" groaned Roger.

"Ahhhoooohhhhhh!" yawned Astro. Standing up, he stretched and touched
the top of the monorail car.

"Let's get washed before the other passengers wake up," said Tom, and
headed for the morning room. Astro and Roger followed, dragging their
feet and rubbing their eyes.

Five minutes later, as the sleek monorail whistled into the tunnel
beneath the mountain range, the boys of the _Polaris_ unit returned to
their seats.

"Back to the old grind," sighed Roger. "Drills, maneuvers, books,
lectures. The same routine, day in day out."

"Maybe not," said