Half an hour later, the radarman reported to Tom from the communications room, “Something on the screen, skipper! A fast-moving object, elevation twelve degrees, port forward quadrant. Can’t make it out!”
Tom swiveled the repelatrons and swung the ship upward in a speedy turn. A streak of pips flashed across their radar screen.
“Only an extra large meteor!” Tom groaned, after chasing it for several moments.
Three hours went by as they circled the space station in wide-ranging sweeps. But in spite of constant vigilance, they picked up no clues to the fate of Mr. Swift and Ted.
Weary and discouraged, but unwilling to admit defeat, Tom steered for the phantom satellite, Nestria. This tiny asteroid had been moved into orbit around the earth by some unknown creatures in outer space, with whom the Swifts had established friendly communication. The space beings had intended this as a first step toward visiting earth, but so far had been unable to master all the problems involved.
“Gonna take a look-see on Little Luna, boss?”
A STARTLING DISAPPEARANCE 103
Chow asked as the rocky moonlet loomed into view.
Tom nodded grimly. “It’s a faint hope, Chow, but we have nothing to lose.”
Months before, Tom had led a space expedition to explore the satellite. He had christened it Nestria in honor of his mother, Mary Nestor Swift, but Bud’s original nickname of “Little Luna” still clung.
Soon the asteroid filled their view panes. Rugged and barren, except for the installations planted by Tom’s group, the moonlet’s surface was shadowed by yellow craters and upthrusting crags of pink, gray, and blue.