Tom gave the injured man a comforting pat. “Take it easy for the rest of the flight, Jess. We’ll have a doctor look at you as soon as we reach the Citadel.”
By noon, they were passing over the rugged badlands and desert country which had been chosen as the site for the great atomic research center. Canyons and mesas slashed in rainbow colors by the forces of erosion marked the approaches to the Citadel. Then the terrain flattened out into barren scrubland which stretched away for miles toward the horizon.
“What a layout!” Ted gasped, as Tom lost altitude. “It’s as big as Enterprises!”
A vast surface had been smoothed for the atomic plant. A cluster of ultramodern laboratory buildings and dormitories were arranged in pin-wheel formation around a massive central structure of white concrete block. The whole installation was ringed with barbed wire and approached by a single desert road.
Except for a few Indian pueblos in the distance, no other human habitations were visible.
“That white building in the center is the reactor,” Tom explained. “This afternoon, Ted, I’ll arrange to have someone show you around.”
SIZZLING METAL 15
Six drone planes were circling above the plant. Tom radioed for clearance and brought the ship down on the runway, where an ambulance was waiting to rush the injured crewman to the infirmary. A short time later X rays confirmed that he had suffered no broken bones or other serious injuries.
“Jess is just plain lucky,” said Bud as he drove from the medical building in a jeep with Tom and Ted. “What now, skipper?”