CHAPTER XIV
AIR-BORNE HIJACKERS
Mr. Swift, hearing Tom's dismayed reaction, rushed to the telephone.
"What's wrong, son?"
Tom clamped his hand over the mouthpiece and quickly gave his father thenews of the destroyed range-finder plant. Then he spoke into thetelephone.
"Bernt, we must prevent another disaster! Let me check with ourconstruction company on the Quakelizors and I'll call you right back!"
"Right, Tom," Ahlgren agreed.
Both Tom and Mr. Swift were shocked by this latest blow of theirenemies. Tom called Ned Newton at the Swift Construction Company at onceand told him the news.
"How soon will the Quakelizors be ready, Uncle Ned?"
"They're finished, Tom. We're running a final inspection on them rightnow. We can have them ready to ship out by one o'clock."
Tom relayed word to the Pentagon. Bernt Ahlgren was greatly relieved."By the way," Tom went on, "what about the sites? Have they been chosenyet?"
"Only tentatively," Ahlgren replied. "We wanted to get your opinionfirst."
One of the deflectors, Ahlgren felt, should be based in position toguard the New York and New England area, in view of Intelligencewarnings about a probable attack on New York City. Another, in theCumberland plateau region of Kentucky, could damp out shock wavesthreatening either the heavily industrialized Great Lakes area or anysouthern city.
As to the other three Quakelizors, Ahlgren suggested that one beinstalled on the West Coast, one in the Black Hills of South Dakota, andthe third on the Atlantic island of San Rosario. This would protect bothLatin-American allies and Caribbean defense bases of the United States.
Before deciding, Tom asked that Dr. Miles at the Bureau of Mines becircuited into the telephone conversation. Mr. Swift, too, joined in onanother line. The four scientists discussed the problem and referred togeologic maps. Finally the exact sites were agreed upon.
"Dad, I'm going to deliver and install one of those Quakelizors myself,"Tom declared, after the telephone conference ended. "Judging from thatphone impostor last night, there's no telling what sort of trick ourenemies may try next!"
Mr. Swift approved heartily. "Good idea, son. In the meantime, I'll seewhat I can accomplish with Ole Think Box here."
Tom notified Uncle Ned of the delivery sites. He requested that becauseof the urgency of the situation, Swift planes transport the Quakelizors.Mr. Newton promised to have five cargo jets loaded and prepared fortake-off from the construction company airfield.
Next, Tom turned to the job of rounding up flight crews. He decided thatHank Sterling, Arv Hanson, Art Wiltessa, and a crack Swift test pilot,Slim Davis, would each captain a plane.
Tom was just hanging up the telephone when Chow wheeled in a lunch cart,bearing sizzling servings of steak for the two Swifts.
"How's Ole Think Box comin' along?" Chow inquired.
"All right now, but he went berserk a while back," Tom replied with achuckle.
Chow eyed the robot apprehensively and made a hasty exit. Both Tom Jr.and Tom Sr. were amused.
As they ate, the two scientists continued their discussion on how toequip Exman with senses and the power of speech. Several minutes later,when they were finishing dessert, Bud came into the laboratory.
"Tom, what's this about you hopping off somewhere to install aQuakelizor?" he asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, pal. I'll need my usual copilot," Tom said with a grin."Just didn't have time to call you before lunch. We'll be flying down toa place called San Rosario in the Caribbean."
At one o'clock Tom briefed the flight crews and technicians. Slim wasprovided with three men who had worked on the original model of thequake deflector. After making sure that every man knew his job, Tom hadthe groups flown by helicopter over to the Swift Construction Companyairfield.
Tom and Bud's cargo jet was the second to take off. On signal from thetower, the big workhorse thundered down the runway and soared off intothe blue. Soon it was spearing southward above the waters of theAtlantic.
Presently Bud drew Tom's attention to some blurry specks of light on theradarscope. "Looks like a formation of planes, skipper."
Tom studied the blips for a while. "Guess you're right. It's sure not aflock of sea gulls!" The young inventor frowned.
"Worried, Tom?" Bud asked quietly.
Tom shrugged. "It could be a routine military flight."
He increased speed and climbed for altitude. But the blips on theradarscope showed that the planes were coming steadily closer. It wasclear that they were targeting on the Swift cargo jet.
Tom switched on the radio. Presently a voice crackled over theirheadphones:
"Calling Swift jet!" The voice was heavily accented.
"Brungarians!" Bud muttered.
Tom made no reply to the radio challenge. Again came the voice:
"Calling Swift jet! Make emergency landing on the water!"
Tom's only response was a fresh burst of speed. Gunning the jet motors,he sent the big cargo ship arrowing forward at supersonic velocity.
"There they are!" Bud cried suddenly. He pointed to a cluster of silveryglints in the sky at seven o'clock.
Tom zoomed downward into a billowing cloud bank. It was a feeble hopeand Tom knew it. His only real chance now was to outrun or outmaneuverthe marauders.
The slim hope faded as they emerged from the cloud cover moments later.The enemy planes were not only still dogging them, but closing inrapidly. Sleek, needle-nosed attack ships, they appeared to haveseaplane hulls.
"Wow! Those are new ones!" Bud gasped.
"Our last warning to Swift jet! Hit the water or be shot down!" came theenemy voice.
Tom raced along, his mind searching frantically for a method of escape.
Bud switched off radio power momentarily. "If we're going to behijacked, skipper, let's ditch your invention before it's too late!"
Tom shook his head stubbornly. "Why should I let those pirates bulldozeus? Actually, I think they're after Exman!"
This last thought was a hunch that had just occurred to Tom. It wasclear that their foe had learned about the arrival of the energy fromspace. "But so far," Tom reasoned, "there's no cause to suppose theyknow anything about the quake deflectors."
Stalling for time, Tom switched on the radio again and spoke into themike. "Swift jet to attack planes. Our home base is picking up everyword of your threats. Shoot us down and America will consider it an actof war!... Care to risk it?"
There was a moment's silence, then a reply. "War, you say? How can therebe a question of war? War against whom? You do not even know ournational identity!"
"Don't kid yourselves, mister!" Bud put in with a snarl. "We know, allright, and so does United States Intelligence!"
Tom decided to risk a blunt query, without actually giving away anyfacts, in case his hunch about the Brungarian's knowledge was wrong.
"There was a phone call to Swift Enterprises last night," he radioed."We know it was a fake. We also know your agents are aware of ourvisitor.... Right?"
After a pause, the enemy spokesman replied, "Perhaps. If so, what then?"
"Just this," Tom radioed back. "If you're hoping to meet our visitor,you're out of luck. I'll give you my word for it. Do you think we'd risksuch a valuable character in an unguarded crate like this?"
Tom and Bud looked at each other. Somehow, both boys felt instinctivelythat Tom's words had struck home. The enemy had certainly risen to thebait.
Finally came the reply. "You Swifts have a reputation for scrupuloushonesty." There was a slight sneer in the speaker's voice as if heconsidered this a foolish weakness. "You give me your word of honor thatthis--er--character is not aboard?"
"I do!" Tom snapped. "And if you don't trust me, go ahead and risk awar!"
The boys waited breathlessly for the outcome of Tom's bold gamble. Soonthey saw the result. The pursuing planes suddenly peeled off and spedaway in the direction from which they had first appeared.
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nbsp; "Whew!" Bud wiped his hand across his face and drew it away moist withperspiration. "How do you like that?"
Tom chuckled with relief. "I like it fine, fly boy. But I was sureworried there for a while!"
Less than an hour later, the big cargo jet touched down at the SanRosario airport. An armed guard was on hand to greet the boys, undercommand of an officer named Captain Sanchez. He had brought along a workcrew of soldiers and also a geology expert, Professor Leone, from theisland's small technical school.
"I have selected a spot on the eastern shore of the island," theprofessor told Tom. He unrolled a map and explained the site.
"Excellent," Tom agreed.
The Quakelizor parts, communications equipment, and small atomic earthblaster were quickly unloaded and transported to the site by trucks. Inthree hours the installation was finished.
Tom, who spoke Spanish fairly well, explained to a small group of SanRosario military technicians how the quake deflector worked. He alsodetailed one of his own men to stay on as trouble shooter for the setup.
"And now," said Captain Sanchez, beaming, "we must relax and celebratethe friendship of our two countries."
Tom and Bud, though eager to get home, hesitated to hurt the friendlyofficer's feelings. They sat through a delicious meal, followed bynumerous speeches. When his own turn to speak came, Tom used it to warnagainst possible sabotage attempts by the Brungarians. At last the boyswere allowed to take off with their crew.
"Swell guys," Bud said, when the boys were airborne, "but a bit hard tobreak away from!"
Tom grinned, then became serious. "You know, Bud," he said thoughtfully,"those aerial hijackers gave me an idea."
"Let's have it, skipper."
"If only I could get Exman perfected so he would report back to me," Tomexplained, "I could _let_ him be kidnaped. Think what a wonderful'inside man' he'd make in the enemy setup! He could tip us off toeverything the Brungarians were doing!"
"Hey, that's neat!" Bud exclaimed, wide-eyed. "But how could you be surethose Brungarian rebel scientists wouldn't change him somehow? I meanthey might brainwash him or something."
"It's a risk," Tom agreed. "But that's my problem--how to make a perfectspy out of him."
It was midnight when the cargo jet touched down on the Enterprisesairfield. The boys slept soundly.
The next morning Tom reported to Mr. Swift and Harlan Ames the outcomeof his trip to San Rosario, including the attack en route by unmarkedsky raiders. He also privately told his father about his plan to useExman as an electronic spy. Mr. Swift was enthusiastic.
The two scientists promptly set to work. Mr. Swift built two powerfulbut miniature radio sets; one for receiving, one for transmitting. Tom,meanwhile, was busy on another device, also highly miniaturized,combining features of both the electronic decoder and Tom's famousmidget computers, known as Little Idiots.
With this equipment, Tom hoped, Exman would be able to monitor allcommunications at Brungarian rebel headquarters, then radio theinformation to Enterprises.
Chow brought lunch to the laboratory at noon, and Bud came in later.Both stayed to watch the outcome of the experiment. Hank Sterling andArv Hanson joined the group.
By midafternoon the equipment was ready for a tryout. Tom opened Exman'sstar head, inserted the gear, and made the delicate wiring connections.
"So far, so good," the young inventor murmured, stepping back. "Now forthe real test! Will Exman answer our questions?"
Tom walked over to the electronic decoder brain and began to tap out amessage on the keyboard. The others waited in breathless suspense.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X Page 16