“Don’t worry, Mom.” Tom gave her a hug as they left the table. “Our space hop tomorrow won’t amount to much more than a flight to Little Luna.” This was a nickname for Nestria, the phantom satellite.
“I know you and Bud will be safe,” Mrs. Swift murmured, “but please get back soon.”
Sandy helped with the dishes, then joined the boys in the living room. “Now that I have you two astronauts well-fed and defenseless,” she said, “how about double dating Phyl and me Saturday night?”
Bud grinned. “Need you ask?”
“Well, not you, maybe, but I’m not sure my genius brother over there is interested.”
Tom, who had been staring out the window, chuckled apologetically. “Sorry, Sis. I was wrestling with a TV circuit problem. Sure, I guess we can make it.
What’s on the program?”
Sandy’s blue eyes sparkled teasingly. “Since you’re so terribly eager, I think I’ll keep it a secret. I will say this much, though-the entertainment 48 3-D TELEJECTOR
we have in mind is practically made to order for a big brain like yours.”
The boys were mystified but Sandy refused to explain.
At nine o’clock Tom and Bud drove back to Enterprises. A Whirling Duck was waiting on the airfield. As they boarded the helijet and fastened their seat belts, Tom looked at his watch.
“We’ll just miss a blast-off on Fearing.”
“Cargo rocket?” Bud asked.
“Yes, to Little Luna.” The Swifts had set up a permanent base on Nestria.
Both it and the space outpost required frequent rocket flights for the transport of supplies and personnel.
The Duck soared off the airstrip. With rotors folded, the sleek craft whined eastward through the moonlight. Soon the coastline loomed ahead, silhouetted against the brightness of the sea.
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