Tom Swift and His Repelatron Skyway by Victor Appleton II Page B

deserves a raise!"
    Nkoru nodded gravely. "I once-when was small-boy, to learn your English in Imbolu. Teacher had book for us— Tom Swift Big Tunnel. "
    "That was a story about my great-grandfather," explained the young inventor with a smile. "Those things happened many years ago, Nkoru."
    "Wa, so-is. Paper yellow, all fall apart."
    Nkoru asked Tom and his companions to stay in the village, which was called Do Yimbi, and join the Wanguru for a sunset feast in their honor. Seeing Tom hesitate, Yuta answered Nkoru on Tom’s behalf, and the chief nodded. Yuta explained to Tom: "What I tell him, your others wait us, can not stay now." Yuta grinned massively. "Rain check!"
    The three made ready to leave, one of the warriors accompanying them as a guide. But as they skirted a lengthy cleared field at one side of the village, Bud drew his chum’s attention to what seemed to be a game or competition going on. A number of youthful Wangurus were clustered together, brandishing spears and talking excitedly—banter often interrupted by laughter and bouts of good-humored shoving. After a moment one of the youths stepped forward and raised his spear, looking intently toward the far-off end of the clearing.
    "Stay and see," urged Nkoru, who had approached silently behind them. "This, the m’dago —game for boy-sons, show who is best with spear. They fun, also learn better to do. So-see?"
    "I understand," Tom said.
    "What’s he throwing at?" inquired Bud. "Is there a target, or is it just for distance?"
    "Wa! Target already is distance." The chief pointed. "You see-no?" Realizing at last that the man was indicating a scarred, scratched trunk that seemed nearly a half-block away, Bud was amazed!
    "You mean these guys can throw those big spears that far?"
    "Watch see."
    The first young warrior-in-training reared back like a supple tree in a hurricane, and his spear arm suddenly blurred with motion like a fan blade. A shadow flicked down the field and a loud thunk! announced that the spearpoint had found its way to the target. They could see the spear protruding from the trunk at a straight angle, as if deeply buried. " Good night! " Bud burbled disbelievingly. "A winner first time up!"
    But the chief waggled a hand dismissively. "Winner not yet made. Others try."
    The game became ever more astonishing. Each successive participant not only hit the distant target—but sliced right into the tail of the spear ahead of it, lodging there firmly. The composite spear shaft was growing like a branch! Finally, contestant eight split the target shaft, and the pieces whirled aside.
    "Winner," announced the chief laconically.
    "I don’t think anyone in our country could even come close to doing that," Tom declared. "Your young men must make you very proud, Nkoru."
    He shrugged. "They are learning. More better when they get older."
    "How old are they?"
    "Most twelve year. Some younger."
    Bud was reduced to a sputter.
    Guided by the Wanguru, Tom, Bud, and Yuta returned to the village trail, then the jungle beyond. At last their guide pointed. " Toh! "
    "He says, there it is," translated Yuta. Through a gap in the trees they could make out tiny figures still quite a distance away —including the less-tiny figure of Chow.
    "Please tell him thank-you, and that― " Tom stopped in mid-sentence. The Wanguru had already disappeared, noiselessly.
    They trekked forward toward the safari camp. Though the sun was still high in the sky, the thick leafy canopy made some swaths of ground almost as dark as a cave.
    It was Bud, rushing ahead jauntily, who first saw the Thing. He froze in his tracks, unable to make a sound. Tom started to join his pal, then felt Yuta’s hand clamp down on his shoulder, pulling him back.
    Some instinct warned the young inventor to remain dead silent. Electrified with sudden fear, he shifted his gaze sideways, to where Bud and Yuta were staring.
    Deep in the black shadows was a blacker shadow, a rounded hump as big as a garage