FLAG OF TRUCE 165
“Where to, skipper?” Bud asked over his suit radio.
“Bud, when you and Bert looked for a message in that rocket which carried Ted, did you search it thoroughly?” Tom asked.
“Well, sure … at least, I think so,” Bud replied. “Why?”
“Because I have a hunch there must have been a message somewhere aboard,” Tom asserted. “Otherwise, why would the kidnapers bother to send Ted back? I doubt if those guys were just being kind!”
“Not that bunch!” Bud agreed. “Okay. Let’s look again.”
The two boys boarded flying carpets and soared off toward the spot where the missile was still lying.
When they landed beside the rocket, Tom said, “Bud, you check the outer surface. Make sure there’s nothing scratched or stamped on the metal. I’ll look inside.”
Several minutes went by while the boys examined every inch of the missile.
Tom was about ready to give up, then decided to take another look in a crevice in front of the loading hatch. This time he gave a whoop of triumph.
“I’ve found it, Bud!” The young inventor held up a small plastic case containing a rolled-up paper. In the boys’ haste to remove Ted, they must have knocked it from the holder above the door. Tom opened it and read a message printed in English:
166 SPACE SOLARTRON
TOM SWIFT JR. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR FATHER RETURNED
SAFELY, OBEY THESE ORDERS. LEAVE THE COMPLETE PLANS, DRAWINGS, AND CALCULATIONS FOR YOUR MATTER-MAKING MACHINE
INSIDE THIS ROCKET. YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE CREW MUST THEN LEAVE
THE MOON AND RETURN TO YOUR SPACE OUTPOST. YOUR FATHER