the u.s. has no right in this part of the antarctic. abandon your base at once or we will attack!
Angry murmurs arose from the crewmen. Chow exploded with indignation.
“Why, them jet-propelled polecats!” he raged. “Sounds like they’re fixin’ to start a war at the South Pole!”
“If they want trouble, they can have it,” said Tom grimly. “But first we’ll call their bluff.”
The young inventor hastily wrote out a message, then passed it around for the others to read. It said:
to ivor bronich and the kranjovian
invaders:
we are here to stay. i warn you that
if you bother us, or make use of the
invention which you stole from me,
you will answer to the united
states government.
tom swift jr.
156 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER
“And just how do you plan to deliver this message, may I ask?” inquired Voorhees with scorn in his voice.
“The same way they delivered theirs-by plane.”
“Let me take it!” Bud demanded eagerly.
“It’s all yours!” Tom agreed.
Quickly one of the cargo jets was rolled out of its ice-dome hangar, and the young flier took off. Tom and the others gathered in the radio shack to maintain contact with Bud during the flight.
The minutes ticked by slowly as they waited. Finally Bud’s voice came crackling over the loudspeaker.
“Barclay to American base… . Now approaching enemy camp… . They’re scurrying around like crazy down there! … Guess they didn’t expect an answer so soon… . Their bomber in plain sight on the ground… . Looks as if it just landed a few moments ago.”
The listeners heard Bud chuckle to himself. Then he added, “Man, what I wouldn’t give for a hatchful of bombs right now-even one little teeny one!”