Tom Swift on the Phantom Satellite by Victor Appleton II Read Free Book Online Page B

the entire hull was coated with a transparent layer of Inertite one-thousandth of an inch thick.
    "That layer will protect her from the strongest cosmic rays," he told Bud. "And it’ll protect the crew from any gamma rays that manage to find their way out of the ionizing chamber."
    Reaching the sliding hatch, which could be opened to a width of ten feet, the boys climbed inside the spaceship and passed through one of the larger storage bays, taking a ladder to the main deck above. Though Bud had already been trained in a simulation of the craft’s interior, he couldn’t help a gasp of amazement. "Jetz! What is this—a luxury liner?"
    Tom looked around proudly at the crew’s living quarters. "Quite different from our earlier rockets, eh? We’ve really come up in the world."
    Comfortable fold-down bunks lined the inner wall. There were private lockers for each man, a well-stocked library, and a small recreation lounge with exercise equipment. Built on a continuous curve, the crew module’s dividing walls were open at the outer periphery, next to the viewpane, providing a hallway that encircled the ship.
    Tom went on, "Below deck is the cargo hold, with smaller bins above us for the more compact items. That door over there leads to Chow’s galley."
    As they strolled along, soon joined by some of the other crew members, Tom showed Bud a machine shop for emergency repairs. It was equipped with power tools, workbenches, gauges, and racks of technical gadgets.
    "Now take a peek at the lab setup," Tom said. Bud’s eyes grew wide as Tom slid back a door and pressed a master light switch. The compartment beyond was divided into cubicles, each one equipped for a different type of scientific research. One area contained retorts, test tubes, and shelves crowded with chemicals. Another housed a maze of gleaming electronic test gear. Still another contained optical devices and lens-grinding equipment.
    Finally they arrived at the main flight compartment and control room, which was next to the airlock hatch. Several rows of acceleration seats faced an array of dials, scopes, and control levers.
    "Glad to see they’ve got that extra seat bolted down," noted Tom approvingly. "The lucky thirteenth!"
    "My hands are itching to take a crack at these gadgets in real-time!" Bud said, grinning. "The reality is never the same as the simulation."
    "You’ll catch on to it in no time," Tom assured him.
    Midnight was drawing near, and the remaining space travelers were filtering into the cabin, taking seats one by one. The seats were not specifically assigned, excepting only the those at the control panel, which were reserved for Tom and Bud as pilot and copilot.
    Jason Graves was the last to enter, big and blustery in his pressure suit. "Say, is this seat the only one left? I’d assumed I’d be sitting with the mission leader up front."
    "You were the last to board, Mr. Graves," said Teodor Kutan in the calming voice of a professional diplomat.
    "I’m perfectly well aware of that fact, Kutan!" snapped Graves. "I had some important last-minute calls to make. But for the good of the expedition—"
    "Please take your seat, sir," Tom directed the executive. "We can discuss the seating arrangements en route."
    Eight minutes to go! They talked quietly, each man thinking of the tremendous adventure that lay ahead—some thinking of the dangers that might face them on the strange, small alien world.
    Tom glanced at the time and muttered to Bud, "I’m surprised Dad hasn’t come by yet. He was planning to wish us all luck in person."
    But just then Mr. Swift strode into the room. Looking up, Tom noticed his father’s grim expression. So did everyone else. The hum of voices ceased.
    "What’s wrong, Dad?" Tom anxiously inquired.
    Mr. Swift spoke to the whole group. "A report just came in via State Department back-channels," he told them soberly. "The Brungarian government has announced that their expedition has already taken off and is now in earth