Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 12 – In the Race to the Moon

MOON. ENEMY SHIP ALSO ON THE WAY. PLEASE INFORM US OF PLANS

FOR ANIMAL ROCKET.

If only they would reply and break the puzzling curtain of silence! Tom waited hopefully, eyes glued to the space oscilloscope. Suddenly his heart leaped as a symbol flashed on the screen. Others followed. Even as the electronic brain was working out the message, Tom translated it.

ROCKET CONTAINING SICK ANIMALS WILL BE LAUNCHED SOON INTO

ORBIT AROUND YOUR MOON.

The answer filled Tom with fresh determination. He must reach the rocket first to save his space friends from possible starvation.

Mulling over the situation, he decided to try communicating with the Brungarian ship. After all, the men aboard were scientists themselves. Maybe they would co-operate if asked in a friendly fashion.

146 THE RACE TO THE MOON

He radioed a call signal across the void. But repeated efforts brought no response. Finally Tom gave up. After telling the others on his ship about the launching of the animal rocket, he returned to the controls.

“We’re gaining on “em!” Bud reported. “The enemy ship has fallen considerably astern.”

“Let’s step up the pace!” Tom fed more power to the repelatrons. Slowly but steadily, the Brungarian ship dwindled in the distance.

“Brand the Bull constellation, we’ll lick them space rustlers yet!” Chow whooped.

Tom flicked on the space position finder. The earth had shrunken now on the screen to a small disk, while the moon was growing rapidly in size. Fifty minutes later it loomed ahead through their view panes, immense and radiant.