Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 05 – And His Atomic Earth Blaster

On the basis of this report, Tom decided to plan on launching the blaster in three days. Before going to bed, he strolled over to the radio shack to contact his father and find out if Bronich had permission to operate in the area.

The radioman was now using a code machine to scramble and unscramble messages, as a precaution against the Kranjovians learning their plans.

This time, however, as he beamed a call signal to 170 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER

Shopton, the speaker could pick up nothing but violent, blasting static. After repeated attempts to get through, the radioman finally gave up.

“Must be some violent electrical storms going on between here and the States,” he reported.

“Either that, or Bronich is jamming our signals!” returned Tom grimly. As he made his way back to his snow-cave laboratory, he met Daryl Blake and Dr.

Faber. Blake, excited as a schoolboy, invited Tom to the botany lab on the Sky Queen.

“Now, my friends,” announced the red-haired scientist as Tom and Dr. Faber followed him into his workshop, “feast your eyes on this!”

With the air of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Blake produced two exhibits of lichens-a small clinging plant found at the South Pole. One specimen was frozen solidly in ice, the other was growing luxuriantly under the rays of a sun lamp.

Next, he pointed out a display of ivy and mountain pinks-some quick-frozen and some flourishing in a tray “garden.”

Tom and Faber looked on fascinated as Blake continued: “This will revolutionize horticulture and the study of plant growth! From now on, seedlings and small plants can be frozen and shipped anywhere in the world!”