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 tried to match Astro's withering gaze and finally backed out the
doorway. "Vidac wants to see you on the double, and that means,