Hank and the others felt the plan was a good one. “At least they won’t have us right up close to them like sitting ducks if they are planning a blitz attack,”
Hank remarked.
Tom took the controls and focused all the repelatron power he could, squarely on the Brungarian rocket ship. To the delight of everyone aboard the Challenger, the enemy craft was hurled outward by the force of the repulsion beam!
“Yippee! The sneakin’ foxes are beaten!” Chow cheered. “Now this here star-studded sky ranch is ours!”
The others were not so sure of this and kept
178 THE RACE TO THE MOON
a close watch on the enemy ship for any attempt to renew hostilities. But, after a few minutes, the Brungarians suddenly veered their rocket about and sped off earthward.
Bud heaved a great sigh. “Guess you’re right, Chow. Looks as if they’ve finally given up.”
Hank Sterling agreed. “Your repelatron was too much for those guys, Tom!
Maybe they’re even grateful you saved them from crashing into the moon.”
“Humph!” Chow snorted in disbelief. “Grateful? Them underhanded critters?
Nope. They’re givin’ up cause Tom got to that there space ark first.”
Tom smiled. “Which reminds me-you all want to take a look at the space zoo?”
Eagerly, in relays, the crew went to observe the strange menagerie. A test proved that the sliding panel now opened easily by the radio method.
“The Brungarians must have been jamming our signals,” Tom decided.
Chow’s face was a study in horrified amazement when he finally saw the miniature dinosaurs. “Sufferin’ horned toads!” he exclaimed. “You mean your space friends eat them critters?”