88 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP
arm had not been badly injured, thanks to Tom’s quick thinking. Tom relayed the good news to Ames, then hung up.
An hour later, while seated in a lounge waiting for Bud, Tom was amazed to see the boy walk in, a doctor behind him. Bud’s right arm was in a sling.
“Golly, it’s good to see you!” Tom exclaimed. “I thought we weren’t going to be able to take that rocket trip after all.”
“I’m going on that trip if I have to be carried into the rocket!” Bud rejoined, laughing. “Only let’s make sure the doors are shut next time.”
But Tom noticed a grimace of pain cross his friend’s face as his sore arm brushed against the wall.
“You’re lucky not to have lost it,” the doctor said. “See your own physician when you get home.”
“We weren’t going home,” Tom spoke up, “but if- “
“What’s the matter with Doc Carman on the island?” Bud said. “Let’s go!”
The boys were driven to the airport where they saw one of their fast jets just coming in. Arvid Hanson was piloting it. As soon as he learned that Bud’s arm would be all right in a few days, Hanson remarked wryly: “I believe you fellows would be as safe up in space as you are on this planet.”
Tom laughed. “Maybe safer.”
He and Bud climbed aboard and headed for Fearing Island. When they landed a few hours later, Har-lan Ames hurried over to meet them.
A ROBOT AT WORK 89
“You’re both all right?” he asked quickly.
“Sure,” Bud replied. “Meet the magic-carpet boys. The minute Tom and I are captured, we fly away.”
The others grinned, then walked over to the hangar.