But the best part of all was yet to come.
The radioman had rigged up a special shortwave hookup in the mess hall.
Back in America, the friends and relatives of all the crew were standing by to wish them Merry Christmas!
Among the last voices to come on were those of Mr. and Mrs. Swift, who sent their good wishes to the boys and everyone else. “And now the girls have something to say,” added Tom’s mother.
“Good night! I sure hope Sandy remembered to get something nice for Phyl,”
Tom whispered to Bud.
“Oh, Tom!” Phyl’s voice came over the loud—
198 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER
speaker. “The wrist watch you gave me is simply beautiful! I never realized you had such wonderful taste!”
“Well-uh-I thought you might like it,” stammered Tom, as Bud chuckled softly.
By way of thanks, Phyl blew him a kiss into the mike, and Sandy did the same for Bud, after thanking him for the silver bracelet and earrings he had given her.
Then the boys opened their own presents, which Tom’s family had sent along on Bud’s cargo jet.
The following morning everyone rose early for the history-making event-the launching of the atomic earth blaster.
Tom had installed the drill’s controls in one of the listening posts about two hundred yards from the launching platform. Set up in an ice cave, this was also the station to be used by Harold Voorhees for his thermal-measuring devices.
Fifty feet farther away, the other members of the expedition gathered in the snow to watch the proceedings through binoculars.
Equipped with earphones, Tom called for a last-minute report from the technical crew.