“What’s that?”
The inventor said that the television cameras, which would be the “eyes” of the robot to report what was happening inside the atomic energy plant, worked well enough under ordinary circumstances.
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But the phosphors on the screens of the camera tubes were sensitive to the invisible but powerful radiation produced by the radioactive materials in the pile.
This intense radiation would fog the picture on the iconoscope face and literally blind the robot.
Throughout the late afternoon and early evening, Tom labored over the problem. The cameras themselves were protected by asbestalon. The problem was how to keep the radiation from entering through the lens. A few experiments with niters proved fruitless.
Finally, the young inventor set up a series of mirror light baffles. These caught the visible light and reflected it into the tube while absorbing and deflecting the harmful radiation. Thus the screen was protected. After several hours of adjustments, the reflection principle was fully perfected!
Tom was now satisfied with the “eyes” of his robot. Excitedly he closed the laboratory with the thought of going home and telling his mother. She must be the first to know of his success!
As he started down the corridor he heard his telephone ring. Unlocking the door, he picked up the receiver.
A strained, faraway voice said, “Tom Swift?”
“Yes.”
“This is Marco. Please,” the man said in a pleading tone, “if you’ll promise not to punish me, I’ll lead you to the person who is back of all your troubles-the man who’s after your robot.”