"I know that," hissed Tom. "But maybe Miles doesn't. I'll challenge Miles, hold the stuff right in front of me, and warn him that if he fires he'll set off the explosive and blow the four of us up." "Oh, brother. That's a bluff to end all bluffs! Suppose he doesn't bite?" "Then get set to take another paralo-ray charge." "O.K.," sighed Astro. "When do you want to try it?" "I'll give you the word," replied Tom. "Just be ready." The cadet turned away quickly. "Watch it," he hissed. "He's suspicious." The two boys plodded along across the field as Miles moved up closer. He stared at them for a long moment and then continued to walk along directly behind them. When they reached the ship, Miles allowed them to rest and catch their breath before making the long climb up the ladder to the air-lock portal. Brett suddenly appeared in the open portal above them. "Hey, Miles," he called, "is that the last of it?" "Yes," Miles called back. "You get in touch with our pal?" "Uh-huh. He's going to meet us out in space." "In space?" Miles stared up at Brett with a strange gleam in his eye. "Why not the hide-out?" "I don't know," Brett replied from above. "Let's not waste time talking now. Get those other two cases up here. I want to blast off." Miles turned to the two cadets and waved his paralo-ray gun menacingly. "All right, you two. Get going!" "Give us a few more minutes, Miles," said Tom. "We're so tired we can hardly move." "Get up, I said," snarled the black-suited spaceman. "I can't," whined Tom. "You'll have to give me a hand." Miles pointed his gun straight at the young cadet. "All right. That means the big fella makes two trips and I freeze you right now." "No, no!" cried Tom, jumping to his feet. "I can make it. Please don't freeze me again." Astro turned away to hide his smile. Sneering his disgust at Tom's apparent fear, Miles prodded the cadets up the ladder. Tom went first, the heavy box digging into his shoulder. Astro followed, cursing the fog that prevented him from seeing where Miles stood below him so he could drop the heavy box on him. Above them, Charles Brett watched them emerge out of the ammonia mist, ray gun held tightly in his hand. Tom climbed into the air lock safely and dropped the box on the edge of the platform, slumping to the deck beside it. Astro followed seconds later, and then Miles. "Don't stop now," barked Miles. "Put those boxes below with the rest of them." Tom got up slowly, leaning heavily on the outer edge of the precariously placed box. The box suddenly tilted and then slipped out of the air lock to disappear in the mist. "Why, you clumsy--" Brett roared, raising his gun menacingly. Astro stepped in front of Tom. "I'll get it," he cried. "Don't shoot!" "Go on then," snarled Brett. "Go down with him, Miles. I'll stay here with Corbett." "You go down with him," sneered Miles. "I've been up and down that ladder fifty times while you sat up here doing nothing."