"
"Why so close, Tom?" asked Roger.
"It has to be," answered Tom. "We know what the pull of the sun is, and
the power of the jet boat. When the sun's pull becomes greater than the
escape speed of the jet boat, the boat would never clear. It would keep
falling into the sun. I've based this figure on reaching Junior at the
last possible moment."
"It'd take at least five men to set up the five explosions we need,"
mused Connel. "That means one of us will have to stay on the _Polaris_."
There was an immediate and loud chorus of "Not me!" from everyone.
"All right," said Connel, "we'll draw numbers. One, two, three, four,
five, and six. The man who draws number six will stay with the
_Polaris_. All right?"
"Yes, sir," said Tom, glancing around. "We agree to that."
Connel went to his desk and wrote quickly on six slips of paper. He
folded each one, dumped them in his cap, and offered it to Astro.
"All right, Astro," said Connel, "draw!"
Astro licked his lips and stuck in his big paw. The Venusian fingered
several, then pulled out a slip of paper. He opened it and read aloud.
"Number two! I go!" He turned and grinned at the others.
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