Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 04 – And His Giant Robot

Mrs. Swift left her seat and ascended the three steps at one end of the platform. Walking over to the giant, she reached up and touched his chest. In a clear voice she said:

“Since you stand for both atom and robot, I name you Ator!”

The audience applauded as she descended the steps.

“My second giant,” Tom announced, “will be called Sermek in honor of the field of servo-mechanics.”

Mrs. Swift now walked to the relay panel and pushed the button that would open the door to the furnace.

As the fierce heat waves began to billow over the platform, Ator marched forward into the roaring inferno. Every person in the shed leaned forward tensely.

Would Ator “live” or “die”? Would Tom’s invention be a success?

CHAPTER 23

TRIAL BY FIRE

ATOR STRODE back and forth inside the furnace, looking like a giant knight in armor. Jeis of chemical fire deluged his Tomasite-protected body, but not once did he waver or display a defect.

“I can hardly believe what I’m looking at,” said Mrs. Swift, smiling proudly at her son.

As he directed Ator, Tom began addressing his audience through a small microphone hanging on his chest. “One task the robot will be called upon to do inside the atomic energy plant will be to replace neutron-soaking rods. I’ll have him show you an example by using two ordinary metal batons-one used, one new.”

The used rod lay in a groove on a steel shelf in the furnace. The other was on the floor.

Ator stooped over and the fingers of one hand came up with the new rod. In a deft movement with his other hand he lifted the old one out of place, 187