“Why, it’s out of this world!” he exclaimed. “With a setup like this, I’ll be able to do anything in the Antarctic that I can do in my own lab in Washington!”
112 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER
Dr. Faber was equally thrilled by the zoology lab.
“This plane is a scientist’s dream come true!” he declared.
“Since it has these compartments set up for your types of work, I believe you two may as well fly with me on the Sky Queen,” Tom told them. He also decided that Voorhees would ride with Bud Barclay on one of the jet cargo planes.
Bud groaned when Tom informed him of this decision later that afternoon.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake! You mean I’m stuck with that pompous windbag all the way from here to the South Pole?”
“Relax, chum!” The young inventor smiled. “At jet speed, the flight won’t take long. By the way, your plane will be equipped with two sets of landing wheels.”
Bud looked puzzled. “How come?”
“One will be your regular landing gear, and the other will be a special set of wheels armed with metal spikes for landing on ice. The plane will also carry ski runners for landing or taking off on snow.”
“Have you figured out how many planes to take on the expedition?”
“Four altogether, I think. Besides the Sky Queen and the craft you fly, there will be two more jet cargo planes. I’m putting you in charge of those, as well as your own ship.”
A FLIGHT TO ALASKA 113
Tom went on to explain that the cargo jets would carry the extra clothing and food supplies; machines for carving out an ice dome to house the men; other tools of various kinds; an air conditioner for warming and ventilating the ice cave; tractors and snowmobiles; and last but not least, an extra blaster.