Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 03 – And His Rocket Ship

“Sounds reasonable,” Tom said. “What’s next?”

Billing reported that a guard had been set up at the abandoned base and a study of the layout would be made.

Tom’s disappointment was deep. The criminals had escaped again!

In a sober mood he lay down once more and for an hour turned the problem over in his mind. He dozed off finally, but was awakened by a buzzing sound in the next room. A signal! Jumping up, he rushed out.

“Maybe it’s news of those rocket men,” he thought excitedly.

But the summons was for a completely different reason.

“Sterling is calling,” Hanson said. “He’s in trouble. A strange jet is trying to force him down! They’re in a dogfight right now!”

A ROBOT AT WORK 91

“Did you get his position?” Tom cried.

“Yes-only two hundred miles west of here!”

“I’ll go to help him!” Tom announced. “And I’ll need the fastest thing on the island. That’s the Sky Queen. Anyway, I want to tow in Hank’s attacker.”

Without explaining further, Tom flipped on the loudspeaker and began to bark orders to the crew of the Flying Lab to warm up the mammoth ship. Then he requested that they roll one of the interceptor robots into the Sky Queen. Finally he called Hanson to accompany him.

“Be ready in a minute!” Hanson replied. “Roger!‘r The two met at the airfield and immediately climbed into the Sky Queen. As the needle-nosed drone was being fitted into the hangar of the Flying Lab, Tom gave Hanson instructions on what he was to do with the robot. Then Hanson took up a position at the remote-control unit near the small plane. This beeper had been made stationary in the hangar.