Tom Swift and His Repelatron Skyway by Victor Appleton II Read Free Book Online Page A

to tell you," was Onammi’s reply. "The man is Ulsusu, a known agent of political subversives who work against the new government. His name is R’na Inbimah. He is an expert in technological spying and theft."
    "And what of the real Mr. Kwanu?"
    "We do not know. There was a bit of confusion at the time of his departure from the airport here. He was somewhat delayed—it is no doubt significant that his driver has also disappeared—and the plane was held for him by our request. He was positively identified as the man who entered the plane at the terminal, the last to board. Yet—and how can one believe this?—he was not the man who exited that same plane in Shopton and who rented a car at your airport!"
    "You’re sure?"
    "Absolutely," the man insisted. "The terminal security video tapes in Washington clearly show Kwanu, short and fat, in a business suit. In the Shopton terminal, the video shows this Inbimah scoundrel, very different, in a tribal robe. A robe!—We do not encourage this sort of image, this backwards costumery. Somewhat embarrassing."
    The Ambassador fell silent, and Tom plunged into deep thought for several moments. "You say... Mr. Kwanu was late, perhaps by intention. So he had to hurry to board the plane, after all the other passengers had been seated... "
    "Yes, Tom."
    "I don’t suppose you know anything about the boarding rampway at that terminal—the covered corridor they sometimes call a ‘jetway’?"
    Dr. Onammi expressed surprise at the young inventor’s query. "When I was briefed by our investigative personnel, they provided a diagram of the terminal, which I glanced at. But what might you wish to know?"
    "Do you recall if the corridor was forked at the end—shaped like a ‘y’? Many are, allowing planes to be parked on either side. When boarding to the right, for instance, the left-hand segment is closed off."
    "I understand. The answer is yes. This is indeed such a rampway. Boarding was to the left on this occasion. Might this be significant?"
    "I’m just running over the possibilities in my mind, sir," replied Tom. "I can imagine a scene like this. Mr. Kwanu is checked through, then hustles on up the jetway. Probably no one is watching from the terminal end, and if the plane is at a somewhat acute angle to the connecting segment, and the flight attendant is a couple steps back from the hatch as they usually are, the intersection of the little branched corridor and the main part might be out of view... "
    "Perhaps so."
    "Someone could have been hiding in the other, unused segment, the one branching off to the right."
    "Um, um, um!"
    "So he lures, or forces, Mr. Kwanu off to the right, closes the partition, and takes his papers and briefcase. Then the other man, Inbimah, steps out and takes his place."
    "Remarkable!" Onammi exclaimed. "Yet it does make plausible the impossible, does it not? My word, my word! And so one must ask—where are these two men now?"
    "That’s the question," agreed Tom.
    Tom expected the Ambassador to end the call, but the man raised another matter. "I promised you a copy of the Burlow file, from our office in the capital. But it seems there will be a delay."
    "Oh really?"
    "I am informed we cannot—quite—find it. Rather humbling to admit. I’m afraid the new government, though we are well-educated and efficient Ghidduas, is not yet in an orderly state. Even as I speak, this report may be resting peaceably on a desk somewhere. We will surely have it soon in hand, but― "
    Tom grinned. "I understand, sir. We’ve been known to misplace things here at Enterprises."
    "Yet what a shame, to delay your ability to give answer to our proposal to you."
    "Maybe we can get around the problem. Couldn’t I contact Burlow directly? They must have copies of their findings."
    "Of course," nodded Mr. Onammi. "Though I fear I cannot assist you. Burlow and Ngombia parted ways on a somewhat sour note, I should say. We cannot compel them to provide you with what is, in legal