SUNGLASESS AND ROCKETS Part 2: The Machine

THE PTERODACTYL

What are we going to do?" Darwin inquired.

"Rush to enclave LHC."

We got out of the hall and once again, the doctor slowed down as he explored the gigantic structure.

"There!" he exclaimed.

We headed swiftly toward one of the vast platforms of the colossal hangar, it was the one from which we had entered the base and now showed severe damage. The walls were cracked, twined joists were hanging from the ceiling, entire rows of reflectors had burnt up...

You had to be careful when walking; several rails of the platforms were completely twisted and were coming out of the ground.

In spite all that, we managed to get close to the only platform that still had a Bat. A group of mechanics was checking the engines.

The ship seemed to be in a lift off position already.

That was our spaceship. We speeded up.

"Hurry!" the doctor called out. "Let's go!"

Above the echo of our footsteps, all of a sudden we heard:

"Professor Masterton! Professor!"

It was Mr. Wright's voice.

"Ignore him!" the doctor barked.

Darwin and I turned around at once. The particular character was showing his head, cap and dark glasses, through the front window of some sort of bright silver jet...

He was following us slowly about 50 feet behind.

"Professor!" he insisted sticking up half of his body. "I'll take you anywhere!"

I caught a glimpse of the doctor who was going up the stairs next to the huge tractor bands of the pad. The magnate just got in his ship, which came near silently, almost sliding.

He parked beside the platform. Its wings showed a slight upward concavity. The side windows were black.

"Darwin! Gordo!" the doctor scolded. "What are you doing standing there?"

We turned around and looked up. The doctor was heading to the small elevator in the tower.

We began climbing up the steps of the platform.

"My spaceship is much faster!" the magnate yelled.

Paying no mind to the offer, our boss was pressing the button of the small elevator in the launching tower. We ran up to him just as the hatches were opening. A guy who looked like a mechanic showed up.

"It's still in no condition of flying!" he apologized. "There are flaws in—"

"Didn't you get the Major's notice?" the doctor broke in irritated. "I need the ship now!"

The guy vacillated.

"It will take some...some ..."

The magnate was following the scene from the window of his spaceship, on a side of the platform.

"Forty-five minutes," the technician completed after the pause. "It's the soonest we are able to hand over the ship."

A big satisfactory smile was drawn on the magnate's face.

"Get in!" he said like a real engine driver. "The Pterodactyl is ready to leave!"

I turned my attention to the doctor. He was checking his watch eagerly.

Below, at the foot of the platform, the Pterodactyl's hatches opened from bottom to top, like a fancy sports car. My eyes consulted the doctor again: he made a submissive grimace.