"I've given you two
minutes to surrender and, by the craters of Luna, you've only got thirty
seconds left!"
"It'll only take ten seconds to tell you that if you don't get outta
here Cadet Manning gets blasted!"
"What?" roared Connel.
"That's right," snarled Loring. "You're the one that's got thirty
seconds to get out of here, or Manning takes a swim in space!"
"Why, you--" Connel's face was twisted with rage. "You can't threaten
me!"
"I ain't threatening you," said Loring, "_I'm telling you!_ If you don't
get started, you'll never see Manning again. Or if you do, you won't
recognize him! Now make up your mind, Connel!"
The Solar Guard officer hesitated. "Give me two minutes," he said, "and
I'll call you back. Two minutes."
"Two minutes," repeated Loring, "and if I don't hear from you by then,
or if you try any funny stuff, Manning gets it!"
Aboard the _Polaris_, the screen darkened, and Connel, his fists
clenched, turned to Tom.
"We're helpless, Tom," he said softly. "Now that we have proof of
Roger's innocence, I have to do everything in my power to save him."
Tom didn't say anything.
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