by Ruthven Todd
When the rains stopped they went out of the ship only as far as the tlora trees and, after asking politely, they were given a large quantity of juice, which poured in a yellow stream from little holes in the bark.
It was as pyxyx had told them. The juice, which did not hurt paws or hands when dipped in it, cut through the harder-than-diamond crystal like a stream of hot water on butter. They collected a large quantity of the red chunks for Fred was certain that men, back on Earth, would find them of the greatest value, and they also filled a box with the bright blue pebbles, which did not melt in tlora juice.
They placed the large glass jar of ammonia and a small jar of tlora juice in a foam-rubber lined closet, where they packed them tight with more foam-rubber, to make sure they were not knocked about and broken.
Then they prepared for the take-off. They got into their suits and put on their goldfish-bowl helmets. They were delighted to find that the pyxyx still allowed them to exchange thoughts through the heavy plastic.
Flyball, it must be admitted, grumbled like anything at having to put on his space-suit, even though he knew that it was necessary. This was the first time, however, that his friend had had his opinions on the matter.
“It’s all right, I agree with you,” Fred was sympathetic, “but if we’re to go bounding around in space we’ve got to wear them till we know that everything’s going right. I don’t like my suit any more than you do, but, if anything goes wrong, they’ll give us a chance. Come on, Space Cat!”
Flyball was ashamed of himself for grumbling, and let Fred tighten the wing-nuts that held his helmet in place.
Once dressed and with everything checked, they fixed themselves in their hammocks. Fred pressed the buttons and the pulsing roar of the rockets grew louder and louder and the Halley shuddered violently. Then, with a sudden whoosh, they rose from the surface of Venus, climbing steeply in the air toward the clouds, getting faster all the time.
Flyball, who had nothing to do, snoozed quietly, dreaming of the wonderful things that could happen to a spacecat.
Scottish poet, novelist, and artist Ruthven Todd (1914–78) is best known as an editor of William Blake’s works and an author of children’s stories, including four Space Cat adventures. He also wrote detective fiction under the pseudonym R. T. Campbell.
Illustrator and writer Paul Galdone (1907–86) specialized in children’s books. His illustrations for Eve Titus’s books include the Basil of Baker Street series. Galdone and Titus were nominated for Caldecott Medals for Anatole (1957) and Anatole and the Cat (1958), titles that were named Caldecott Honor books in 1971. Galdone was posthumously awarded the 1996 Kerlan Award for his contributions to children’s literature.
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