“Let’s hope we don’t have to put the suits on,” Tom said to Bud. “I want to win that race in the Star Spear!”
“Right! See you later.” Bud went off to place the space suits in lockers reserved for them.
Tom’s next move was to install another vital safety feature in the Star Spear-a spare kicker. The present one might become poisoned by a trace of impure oxygen. But to make the replacement, Tom decided he would have to substitute improved couplings which would permit him to insert the new kicker in a matter of seconds. While doing this, it would be necessary to by-pass the kicker and use the
T54 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP
main fuel line. This operation would consume huge quantities of the precious fuel and could not be kept up long.
“Repairs will have to be done with split-second timing,” the young inventor said to himself.
Hours later he was satisfied with his work. Accompanied by several engineers, he went up to the payload stage where they installed the new couplings and fastened down the emergency kicker.
It had already grown dark when the job was finished. As the men descended to the ground, Tom saw Chow waiting for him. Good old Chow! He was going to see that the boys did not forget to eat!
The Texan served what Bud termed a lollapa-looza of a meal and Tom declared that he would not have to eat again before going around the world!
When the boys returned to the launching area, trucks were already arriving from the storage tanks with their loads of fuel. Tom and Bud watched the procedure. Presently Tom glanced up and saw the noselights of the circling drones. He thought he detected another sound from high above them. As he listened, another fuel truck moved toward the launching area. Tom was joined by Hank Sterling at the base of the rocket.