human
Roger, Tom demanded,
gpt
I did not! said Roger stoutly.
human
And I don't like your insinuations that I would. He grinned.
gpt
Relax! We have them and we can breeze through them in the morning and have them back where they belong by noon tomorrow.
human
Where they belong! Tom exclaimed.
gpt
Then you have no right to them.
human
Listen, hot-shot! growled Astro.
gpt
I want to know where you got these spools and how.
human
Well, if that isn't gratitude for you! muttered Roger.
gpt
I go out and risk my neck for my dear beloved unit mates and they stand around arguing instead of buckling down to study.
human
This is no joke, Roger, said Tom seriously.
gpt
Now for the last time, will you tell us how you got them?
human
All right, he said finally.
gpt
When I went down to the library to see if it was our turn for them yet, I found that we were still twenty-seventh in line.
human
Twenty-seventh?
gpt
That's right, spaceboy! snorted Roger.
human
So I tried to con that little space doll of a librarian into moving our names up on the list, but just then an Earthworm cadet came in with an order from Tony Richards of the _Capella_ unit, an order for the very spools we needed.
gpt
You mean, you took them from an Earthworm?
human
Well, I didn't take them exactly, replied Roger.
gpt
I waited for him out on the quadrangle and I told him he was wanted in the cadet dispatcher's office right away and that I would take the spools on up to Tony.
human
And you brought them here!
gpt
Yup. Roger grinned.
human
Do you think that squirt will know who I am? Not in a million years. And by the time Tony and the others do find out who has them, we'll be finished. Get it?
gpt
I get it, all right, you crummy little chiseler, growled Astro.
human
Tom, we gotta give these back to Tony.
gpt
You're right,
human
Now wait a minute! said Roger angrily.
gpt
I went to a lot of trouble to get these things for you--
human
Look, Roger, Tom interrupted,
gpt
I would rather have one night with those spools than a two-week leave in Atom City right now. But the _Capella_ unit is having a tough time making the Spring passing lists. They need those spools more than we do.
human
Yeah, said Astro.
gpt
We could probably take the tests now and pass, but they really have to study. I'm for getting them back to the _Capella_ unit right now. How about you, Tom?
human
Roger, said Tom,
gpt
You're right, fellas, he said.
human
It was kind of a dirty trick. Give me the spools. I'll take them back to Tony right now.
gpt
Wait a minute! exclaimed Astro.
human
It's after hours. We're not supposed to be out of the dorm.