He switched on the repelatrons. Lights flashed along the element selector panel, and Tom adjusted the element selectors for maximum lift, 136 THE RACE TO THE MOON
watching the needles as he fed power to the radiators. The mighty spaceship zoomed upward.
Later, when the Challenger settled smoothly on its skyward course, the passengers gathered to stare out the view panes at the earth, fast receding below.
“Brand my flyin’ chuck wagon,” Chow gabbled excitedly, “this sure is some buckboard, Tom!”
Jerry Walden whistled in amazement. “I thought my trip to South Africa was unusually interesting, but this-Tom, it’s something I never visualized in my wildest dreams!”
“Even our polar expedition seems pale by comparison,” Dr. Faber added, a trifle breathlessly.
In another hour they neared the space station. Again the passengers gaped in awe, overcome by the spectacle of the silver space wheel orbiting in the void.
“Magnificent!” declared Dr. Faber.
Tom smiled but had no time to respond to their comments. As he guided the ship into orbit and lined up the radiators for a gentle approach, the spaceship gave a sudden surge. Ship and space wheel seemed to rush together!
“Whoa!” Tom gulped, swiveling the radiators frantically. He managed to veer off just as the gap was narrowing to the danger point.
“What’s the problem?” Bud gasped.
“I’m having trouble bringing the big ship up to the space station at a low enough relative velocity to prevent damage. Up here the gravitational pull of our two ships tends to bring us to-RIDE ‘EM, COWBOY! 137
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