Tom Swift and His Spectromarine Selector by Victor Appleton II Page B
Authors: Victor Appleton II
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microphone for a moment as he thought the matter over. "The Hydra-Gaea can’t move with anything like the speed and agility of our Enterprises craft—the jetmarines, seacopters, or the mantas. But compared to conventional subs, it’s pretty advanced."
"But you’re not telling me it can launch torpedos?"
"Well—I’ve never read that it can, Harlan," Tom replied. "But who knows? I’ll talk it over with Centas. In any event, it’s clear that the Kranjovians stole her in order to be able to launch deep-water attacks."
"And not just on our sub fleet, Tom."
"I know. The Aurum City project could be in real danger."
"Not just the project. Your lives!" Ames pronounced grimly. "I’d advise you to wrap up the operation for now. You can head back when the governments have negotiated this thing away."
Tom gave a groan of skepticism. "What they’d ‘negotiate away’ is our right to explore this site independently, without officials from a dozen governments looking over our shoulders! We don’t need any more Miss Gabardines. But I’ll do it, if it’s the only way to protect us."
Feeling that everyone had a right to know the situation, Tom called a meeting of the entire operations team and explained the options and his tentative conclusions.
"Now lissen, Tom Swift, it’s not like us t’ jest turn tail because someb’dy wants to blow us up!" insisted Chow Winkler. "We been through a lot worse."
"Yes, I know," Tom responded coolly. "A lot of you are Swift employees and—I guess that means you’re professional risk takers, and you know it. But Professor Centas, Mordo, Miss Gabardine, Ham and George—"
George Braun rose to his feet. "Hey, cut out that kind of talk! Ham and I live for danger—don’t we, Ham!"
For once Ham Teller did not disagree with his friend.
"I’m compelled to point something else out," said Lieutenant Fraser. "I hate to put it this way, and it sounds pretty blunt, but—this isn’t just a private operation of Swift Enterprises. The government of the United States has a stake in it, and they themselves have to at least try to accommodate their treaty obligations—the same ones the Kranjovians object to. To close down the project and pull out would cause some real headaches at this point."
"And so, Lieutenant, I believe you are ordering us to remain here," observed Miss Gabardine. "Heedless of our safety."
Brian half-smiled and shook his head. "No, ma’am. Tom Swift is in charge of this gig. I’m not ordering anyone to do anything—just providing a little information."
After further discussion, Tom stood and announced his decision, his voice thoughtful but firm. "It seems the best thing to do right now is continue with the operation, but keep on alert for anything further. The State Department is in touch with Maurig’s government—maybe they can work something out. But for now, folks, Aurum City awaits!" Amid cheers and applause, Tom glanced at Bud. His pal, beaming with pride, grinned and saluted. "Roger!" Bud quickly added: "Aye-aye, I mean," as the crowd broke into laughter.
After a hearty luncheon of Chow’s griddle-cakes, Tom threw himself into the job of cleaning up Aurum City with renewed energy. He made his adjustments to the moleculetron unit and tested the result carefully, oxygen mask handy. The problem was solved!
All afternoon the cannon continued to work like a charm. As it stripped away the slime and muck, without removing any of the gold beneath, Bud slapped Tom on the back.
"Genius boy, that’s one of the most marvelous precision instruments I’ve ever seen."
Tom grinned. "It’s working pretty well so far," he admitted. "But too slow, pal. Don’t forget, I want to get beyond our little airspace and at least sample some of the other parts of the city—I promised George and Ham. I must get along faster with this job. You take over at the controls while I see what I can dream up."
The young inventor stood lost in thought for nearly ten minutes, then trudged
"But you’re not telling me it can launch torpedos?"
"Well—I’ve never read that it can, Harlan," Tom replied. "But who knows? I’ll talk it over with Centas. In any event, it’s clear that the Kranjovians stole her in order to be able to launch deep-water attacks."
"And not just on our sub fleet, Tom."
"I know. The Aurum City project could be in real danger."
"Not just the project. Your lives!" Ames pronounced grimly. "I’d advise you to wrap up the operation for now. You can head back when the governments have negotiated this thing away."
Tom gave a groan of skepticism. "What they’d ‘negotiate away’ is our right to explore this site independently, without officials from a dozen governments looking over our shoulders! We don’t need any more Miss Gabardines. But I’ll do it, if it’s the only way to protect us."
Feeling that everyone had a right to know the situation, Tom called a meeting of the entire operations team and explained the options and his tentative conclusions.
"Now lissen, Tom Swift, it’s not like us t’ jest turn tail because someb’dy wants to blow us up!" insisted Chow Winkler. "We been through a lot worse."
"Yes, I know," Tom responded coolly. "A lot of you are Swift employees and—I guess that means you’re professional risk takers, and you know it. But Professor Centas, Mordo, Miss Gabardine, Ham and George—"
George Braun rose to his feet. "Hey, cut out that kind of talk! Ham and I live for danger—don’t we, Ham!"
For once Ham Teller did not disagree with his friend.
"I’m compelled to point something else out," said Lieutenant Fraser. "I hate to put it this way, and it sounds pretty blunt, but—this isn’t just a private operation of Swift Enterprises. The government of the United States has a stake in it, and they themselves have to at least try to accommodate their treaty obligations—the same ones the Kranjovians object to. To close down the project and pull out would cause some real headaches at this point."
"And so, Lieutenant, I believe you are ordering us to remain here," observed Miss Gabardine. "Heedless of our safety."
Brian half-smiled and shook his head. "No, ma’am. Tom Swift is in charge of this gig. I’m not ordering anyone to do anything—just providing a little information."
After further discussion, Tom stood and announced his decision, his voice thoughtful but firm. "It seems the best thing to do right now is continue with the operation, but keep on alert for anything further. The State Department is in touch with Maurig’s government—maybe they can work something out. But for now, folks, Aurum City awaits!" Amid cheers and applause, Tom glanced at Bud. His pal, beaming with pride, grinned and saluted. "Roger!" Bud quickly added: "Aye-aye, I mean," as the crowd broke into laughter.
After a hearty luncheon of Chow’s griddle-cakes, Tom threw himself into the job of cleaning up Aurum City with renewed energy. He made his adjustments to the moleculetron unit and tested the result carefully, oxygen mask handy. The problem was solved!
All afternoon the cannon continued to work like a charm. As it stripped away the slime and muck, without removing any of the gold beneath, Bud slapped Tom on the back.
"Genius boy, that’s one of the most marvelous precision instruments I’ve ever seen."
Tom grinned. "It’s working pretty well so far," he admitted. "But too slow, pal. Don’t forget, I want to get beyond our little airspace and at least sample some of the other parts of the city—I promised George and Ham. I must get along faster with this job. You take over at the controls while I see what I can dream up."
The young inventor stood lost in thought for nearly ten minutes, then trudged
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