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

fact, their own property."
    "I understand," said Tom. "All I can do is give it a try. Perhaps if I go to them in person they’ll be more inclined to cooperate."
    "As you say—all you can do."
    That settles it , Tom thought as he hung up. Giving life to his quick decision, he took a company jetrocopter and, without further delay, flew to Newark to interview Ben Burlow, president of Burlow Engineering Company, about the Ngombian highway survey.
    The young inventor gave his name to a receptionist in the Company’s second-floor office lobby. She stared at him uncertainly. "Mm. Yes. Just a moment, please, Mr. Swift," she said. She entered the office behind her, closing the door—despite which Tom could hear a muffled verbal explosion.
    A moment later a rugged-looking, gray-haired man burst from the office, his face red with anger. "So you’re Tom Swift, eh!" he shouted in a growl. "Get out of here before I throw you out!"
     
CHAPTER 7
BAD NEWS
    TOM was startled by the man’s furious outburst, but said with forced calm, "If you’re Mr. Burlow, I’ve flown all the way from Shopton to see you. Please hear what I have to say."
    "I’m Burlow, all right!" the man stormed. "As for hearing you, I’d say you’ve talked too much!" He waved a newspaper in front of Tom’s face.
    Tom took the paper and glanced at the article Burlow pointed out. The next moment Tom flushed with annoyance and embarrassment.
    The story was headlined: TSE Wins "Impossible" Job in Africa Jungle . It stated that Tom Swift Enterprises had just announced that it was contracting with the Ngombian government to complete, in a matter of months, a jungle highway which other engineers claimed would take years to build. The story was full of boastful quotes, attributed to Tom and his father. A number of snide, slurring remarks, supposedly made by Tom, were included about the firm which had lost out on the project.
    "So you think you can do a better job than the Burlow boys!" the company president raged. "You young whelp-snipper, you aren’t even― "
    "Look, Mr. Burlow," Tom cut in coldly, "I know nothing about this story. Swift Enterprises has made no such announcement, and I’ve given out no interview. Those alleged remarks of mine are as much of a shock to me as they were to you. Being in this business as long as you have, you must know that we at Enterprises don’t talk about other companies that way."
    Burlow stared at the young inventor in disbelief, the red slowly subsiding. "In that case, where did the story come from?"
    "I don’t know, but I intend to find out," Tom replied. "We haven’t even agreed to take on the job."
    "Very well," the company president said grudgingly. "Come with me."
    Tom followed him into Burlow’s private office, where he was gruffly waved into a chair. Burlow regarded Tom with a scowl of mistrust.
    "All right," he rumbled. "What’s on your mind?"
    "So far, Swift Enterprises has merely been invited to take on the Ngombian highway project," Tom began. "We haven’t even looked over the terrain yet. The job must involve terrific problems if a topflight, experienced firm such as yours would need years to handle it."
    Burlow looked somewhat mollified.
    "Before going any further," Tom went on, "we’d like to know what we’re up against. That’s why I came to see you."
    Tom refrained from intimating that he had an added reason for his visit. He was hoping to glean some hint of whether Burlow Engineering, no friend to Ngombia, might be connected with the sinister events of the past two days.
    Burlow became somewhat paternal, if in a patronizing way. "You came to the right place, son," he said with relish. "I like to do what I can for young men entering the arena. But in this case—well, if any outfit can lay that highway in less than three years, I’ll eat my hat! And it’s a hardhat!"
    Tom shrugged. "You may be right. However, I would like to study the proposal you submitted to the Ngombian government."
    "Why should I let