We've got to combine the velocities
of the orbits, so that when we do spring Junior loose, he'll gain in
speed!"
"But how do we get the orbital speeds to help us, Major?" asked Alfie.
His glasses had slipped to the very end of his nose.
"If you'd give the major a chance, he'd tell you, Big Brain," drawled
Roger. Alfie gave Roger a withering look and turned back to the major.
"Do you remember when you were kids and tied a rock on the end of a rope
and then swung it around your head?" asked Connel.
"Sure, sorta like a slingshot," said Astro.
"That's right, Astro," said Connel, "and if you released the rope, the
rock would fly in the direction it was headed, _when you let go_!"
"I get it," cried Tom excitedly. "The gravity of Tara is the rope
holding Junior--ah"--he fumbled--"making it swing around!"
"And the reactant power of the _Space Devil_ placed in the right spot
would be the trigger to make it let go!" commented Roger.
"It's as simple as that, boys!" said Connel with a smile.
"But how in the blazing beams of the sun are you going to _stop_ that
blasted thing when you get it rolling?" asked Shinny.
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