Tom tuned his suit transmitter for the strongest possible output, then began beaming a call to the lost spaceship.
“Tom to Swift Cargo! … Can you read me?”
Bud Barclay joined in trying for a response. But neither astronaut was able to raise the slightest recognition.
“Now what?” Bud asked tersely when they finally gave up.
“Let’s get our fix first,” Tom rejoined. He finished tuning the star bearings, then read the dial. “Well, we’re on the beam. At least that’s one thing to be thankful for.” He paused, then added, “But we’re now approximately halfway between the space station and the point where we left the rocket ship. Do we go back and try to find it, or should we head for help at the outpost?”
56 COSMIC ASTRONAUTS
The boys’ eyes met in a worried gaze through their transparent bubble helmets. Suddenly Bud chuckled. “Guess there’s only one solution, pal. How do we flip a coin in space?”
Tom grinned too. “I’m afraid I didn’t bring any ‘mad’ money for a ride back home, fly boy. But I guess we might use a tool from our suit kits.”
Tom unzipped a pouch on the right leg of his space suit and pulled out a small lightweight magnesium-vanadium hammer. “Here-catch! ‘Heads’ we keep going to the outpost.”
As Tom tossed the hammer toward his friend, Bud reached out to grab it. But with velocity in space easy to misjudge, the hammer went flying past his outstretched gauntlet!
Tom gave a hoot as his pal started away in pursuit of the flying tool. “Busher!
You’ll never make the big leagues that way!”
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