Before Bud could pull him off, the tiny creature squirmed free and leaped to the top of the space-position-finder screen. When Uncle Ned tried to coax him down, he gave another jump, scrambled across several heads and shoulders, and shinned up a stanchion!
A few moments later the cabin was a scene of wild confusion. Darting from spot to spot, the
102 THE RACE TO THE MOON
monkey finally landed on Mr. Swift’s lap. The scientist let go the controls to capture him, only to have Nicky clamber up the control panel, throwing levers and jerking switches right and left!
The ship veered and plunged, with the passengers grabbing for any support they could reach. As Mr. Swift brought the ship under control, everyone lunged desperately for the monkey.
But Nicky seemed determined not to be captured! He darted toward the radiation-control room. Hank Sterling went after him, lost his balance, and almost slammed head-on into a bank of gauge dials.
Finally, at the risk of being bitten, Tom managed to capture his new pet. As he tried to soothe him, Tom could feel the little animal’s heart beating wildly.
“Good night! What’s wrong with him?” gasped Sandy, breathless from all the excitement.
“I got him from a laboratory,” Tom explained. “They were using him for some experiments. I imagine he must be feeling the aftereffects of some drug they tried out on him.”
“Poor little thing,” Phyl said sympathetically. She tried to pet him, but the monkey huddled down in Tom’s arms as though he did not want to be touched.