The Planet MappersEvans, E. Everett (Edward Everett)
Science
The Planet Mappers
Evans, E. Everett (Edward Everett)
Families -- Juvenile fiction; Science fiction; Space flight -- Juvenile fiction; Space pirates -- Juvenile fiction
Quickly, anxiously, Jon released himself and sprang across to his
brother's side. He rubbed Jak's wrists and temples. Soon the flush of
returning blood showed, and the elder sighed and opened his eyes.
"We made it!" Jon cried again as he pushed Jak's seat into erect.
"Everything went off shark-y."
Jak struggled into full consciousness, then began loosening his straps.
"Mother and Father?" he exclaimed. "Did they come through all right?"
7
At Jak's question, Jon started. "Haven't looked yet. Let's go see."
The two raced into the living room and into their parents' bunkroom.
Mrs. Carver was just opening her eyes, and seeing the boys' anxious
looks, struggled to sit up. They helped her, and Jak turned quickly to
look at his father. To his relief, the latter's pulse was no weaker,
and his breathing was regular.
"We got through all safely," Jon assured his mother, and she threw her
arms about him and broke into tears. "Hey, no need of crying now; it's
all over."
"I know." She reached down for a corner of her apron and wiped her
eyes. "Just relief, I guess. Is Mr. C. all right?" she asked Jak.
"Didn't seem to hurt him a bit."
Indeed, just then there was a mutter from Mr. Carver's lips, and his
eyelids fluttered open.
The three gathered closely beside him, and were tremendously heartened
at the look of sane awareness in his eyes.
"Hullo?" as though surprised to find himself in bed and the others
gathered about him. "Did I oversleep?"
Jak reached out and took his father's hand. "No, Father. You've been a
little ill and unconscious, that's all. But you're almost well now. A
bit more rest and you'll be all OK."
The invalid looked surprised, then doubtfully at his wife, who quickly
stooped and kissed him. "Jak's right, Mr. C. You get some more sleep so
you'll get strong quicker."
Dutifully he closed his eyes and immediately his regular breathing told
the three he was asleep once more.
Quietly Jak drew the others out of the bunkroom and closed the door.
Then his eyes shone and he grabbed his mother and danced her about,
while Jon "tried to get into the act."
"He's almost well; he's almost well!" Jak chanted.
Jon yelled in honest praise. "You did a grand job, Owl." But his voice
broke into a boyish treble with the excitement.
After several minutes of jubilation, Jon went back into the control
room and began figuring their course to Planet Three.
He turned on the receiver and pointed the directional antenna. Soon the
broadcast of their solar signal came in. This one about the sun had
most worried him, but he could read it clearly: "This solar system was
first discovered and charted by Tad Carver of Terra, on fourteenth
January, 2136. It has been named 'Carveria,' and the five planets and
seven satellites are being charted and named. Details will be filed
with the Terran Colonial Board."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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