102 TOM SWIFT AND HIS JETMARINE
“What will we do now?” Bud asked, as he and Tom saw the massive plant gates click shut.
“First, I’ll phone the police to follow Jeffers,” he said. “Then we’ll wait and see what happens. Jeffers has a radio and will keep us informed.”
After Tom had contacted the Shopton police, the boys hurried to the underground hangar. Tom beamed his electronic key on the hidden lock, and the door swung open silently.
“Hop to it, men,” Tom said, beckoning his ground crew.
Ten minutes later the gleaming Sky Queen rose on the huge elevator from her underground nesting place to ground level. The portable cranes quickly attached themselves to the jetmarine, and as Tom directed the operation, the workers slid the atomic sub into the hangar in the aft section of the great aircraft.
“It’s easy when you know how,” Bud said admiringly.
The words were hardly off his tongue when Tom began to get a signal on his pocket radio.
“T for tomato, T for tomato,” came the call.
“Okay,” Tom answered. “What’s going on?”
“Something fishy,” Jeffers replied. “We’re ten miles out. A car has just pulled up ahead of the trailer and another in back of it. They are forcing the trailer to the side of the road. I’m dropping behind a way. Shall I stop it?”
“Okay,” Tom said. “Guide her to the side of the road and park. Tell me what’s happening.”
A SUB IN THE SKY 103
By this time several of Tom’s trusted workers were crowded around him, listening to Jeffers’ report of the attack on the mock submarine.
“Just as I thought,” Tom said to his companions.