tammered,
"I--uh--I just remembered--got to see a feller about a hot rocket!" And
Roger jumped off the slidewalk to disappear into the Tower building.

Laughing out loud now, Tom and Astro said good-by to Jane and her father
and followed Roger.

Inside the gleaming Tower of Galileo, the two boys raced up the
slidestairs and caught up with Roger.

"Well, Romeo," said Astro, slapping him on the back, "that was what I
call a strategic retreat in the face of overwhelming odds."

"Ah, go blast your jets!" snarled Roger.

"Never mind, Roger," said Tom, "we probably won't get the pass, anyway."

Suppressing smiles, Astro and Tom followed Roger down the long corridor
toward the office of Commander Walters. In the anteroom they waited
while an aide announced them to the commander. Standing before the
aide's desk, they could see the commander's face come into focus on the
small teleceiver screen, and they were alarmed to see Governor Hardy
seated beside him.

"What is it, Sergeant?" asked Commander Walters.

"Cadets Corbett, Manning, and Astro of the _Polaris_ unit to see you,
sir," said the enlisted guardsman.

"Send them right in," said Walters.

The aide flipped off the teleceiver and smiled up at the cadets. "Go
ahead, fellows. He's in a good mood today, so you don't have to worry
about demerits."

Tom thanked the guardsman and started for the door to the inner office,
but Roger grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

"We can't go in there now, Tom," he whispered. "Not with Governor Hardy
sitting there!"

"I know," replied Tom. "But we can't back out now. He's been told we're
here. We'll just go in and ask him for the week-end pass."

"Good idea," agreed Astro.

"Say, are you guys going in or not?" called the sergeant.

The three cadets nodded quickly and stepped inside the room. Governor
Hardy and the commander were studying a blueprint which was spread out
on the desk. The three cadets came to attention in front of the desk as
Walters looked up inquiringly.

"_Polaris_ unit reporting on a special privilege request, sir,"
announced Tom.

Walters smiled. "Yes, I know why you're here, boys. Warrant Officer
McKenny spoke to me a little while ago. Here's your pass. After the job
you've done, you deserve it." He held out the slip of paper.

Governor Hardy stood up and snapped his fingers. "You know, Commander, I
owe these boys an apology. When we left Luna City, I promised them that
I would speak to