Tom Swift and His Cosmotron Express by Victor Appleton II Read Free Book Online Page B

because of the tremendous heat output from its propulsion."
    "We had nothing to do with the propulsion component of the project," Langley declared. "In fact, we couldn’t figure out how any engine could actually fly the thing according to the specs we were given. They wanted it small—tiny! Our design was beautiful. Give it a beautiful engine and she’d do beautiful things..." His voice became dreamy. "Oh man, almost no radar profile, nimble as a bee at Mach 6... the shape is self-stabilizing for high-velocity water landings; no airstrip could handle her, and water’d dissipate some very sobering friction heat."
    "But your design wound up in the hands of the dissident Brungarian faction," Tom concluded. "Then they developed—or stole—the necessary engine."
    "And flew it. Answerman says the design breach was at Wickliffe, not upstairs. They haven’t been able to backtrack it."
    Tom understood the unspoken issue. "You’re the prime suspect, aren’t you, Pete."
    "Let’s say I’m up in the Top Ten. More likely the Fab Four. I’m the CEO, and I have a rep as bein’ a little—let’s say I’ve got my quirks. Us genius boys do, right?"
    Tom had to grin. "We sure do!"
    "Does writing make you nervous too? All those little bitty hand motions—"
    "Pete, how can I help? Enterprises can’t track down the Bad Brungarians for you. We’re heading into the outer solar system."
    "Yeah, I know, that new spaceship of yours." Langley tried and failed to kill a sigh. "Buddy, your security guys are the best—the best . You’ve had a lot of experience dealing with spies in the workforce, foreign agents—"
    "The fictionalizations—"
    "Sure, gotta sell the books. Still, what I say is true. Tom, my friend... I’m asking you to lend me Harlan Ames."
    Tom’s disbelief brought a grin. "Wh- what ?"
    "Or the other one, the little guy, Radnor, if you’re drivin’ a hard bargain. I’ll pay, they’ll be covered completely, full benefits, no liability to them or you—Amy worked up a contract—and I’m not worried about ‘proprietary secrets’ and all that. I’ll sign off on it." Langley looked sober and pleading. "We—I mean, I —can’t sleep. If I’m gonna have to face down the Feds, I need facts, evidence on my side. Let’s base Ames over at Wickliffe for a while, maybe just a few weeks. He can nose around, follow leads, whatever he does. A gun!—he can carry a gun."
    The Swiftian inventor was silent for a long moment. "If Harlan’s willing, I’m sure Dad and I can accommodate you. I’ve been in a situation like yours myself. I know it’s absolute heck ." He half-smiled. "The fictionalization will have to substitute something softer for that last word."
    "Can I count on you to get something going right away?"
    "Yes."
    "Like by this afternoon?"
    "I... sure, Pete."
    "We’ll get the paperwork going. I’ll put you in touch with Amy directly. Mm, that wouldn’t bother you, would it, Tom?"
    "Why would it bother me?"
    "Yeah, that’s the ol’ Swift spirit. The past is dead!"
    Ames was reluctant but willing. With the approval of Tom’s father and the plant’s legal department, the matter moved forward. By sunset Ames was touring his new office at Wickliffe Laboratories—and noting how small it was.
    "Is there a men’s room?" asked Tom jokingly over the phone.
    "No, but there’s a gas station just across the street."
    He promised the Swifts to maintain close contact with Phil Radnor on the matter of the threat by Ikyoris. "I guess I’ll regard it as an afterhours hobby," he told Tom with grim irony. "But Rad’s fully capable. We’ll maintain armed security around your family property until this is resolved."
    "I’m glad Mom and Sandy agreed to having some of your guys as bodyguards," replied the youth. "They appreciate that they’ll stay a distance back and keep themselves unnoticeable."
    "I’m just glad they finally gave in. A load off my mind."
    "Mine too." But then, as he clicked off, Tom thought about