sack in."

"Yeah," agreed Astro, tossing some credits on the counter and following
Tom and Roger out into the street. They walked past the shops, their
blue cadet uniforms reflecting the garish colors of the nuanium signs in
the shop windows. At the first corner they hailed a jet cab and were
soon speeding out of the city toward the municipal spaceport.

The boys didn't talk much on the way out, each wondering why Captain
Strong was recalled on such short notice, and why he had left without
saying good-by to them. They knew they would see him in a few days when
the processing of the Luna City applicants was over and they would
return to Space Academy, but the relationship between the cadets and the
Solar Guard captain had developed into a deeper association than just a
cadet crew and officer supervisor. They were friends--spacemates! And
the boys sensed trouble ahead when they arrived at the Luna City
spaceport. They stood in the shadow of the _Polaris_ and stared into the
sky to watch the globe that was Earth revolve in the depths of space.
The outline of the Western Hemisphere, flanked by the shimmering
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, could be seen clearly. It was a
breath-taking view of a world that had given birth to all the men who
now took the travel from one world to another for granted.

"Gosh," said Tom, staring at the magnificent sight. "I see the Earth
like that every time we blast off from Luna. I should be used to it by
now, but--" he stopped suddenly and sighed.

"I know what you mean, Tom," said Astro. "It's the same with me. Gets me
right here," and he put his hand to his heart.