SABOTAGE 163
Tom Swift’s most successful inventions. They were charged by direct, unshielded rays from the sun on an assembly line in the Swifts’ space station, high above the earth’s atmosphere.
Worried and suspecting further sabotage, despite the guards, Tom quickly opened a small compartment just below the paraplane’s control panel. Half a dozen solar batteries stood banked inside. Tom gave a cry of dismay. Every one of the batteries had swelled and cracked its catalium plastic case!
“Good night! What happened?” Jack gasped, crowding forward for a closer look.
“Good question,” Tom replied grimly. On a hunch, he disconnected one of the batteries.
“Maybe the heat or humidity caused a chemical reaction,” Dick suggested.
“Maybe-and then again maybe not.” Tom sniffed the chemical compound that had leaked out of the cracked cylinder. “I intend to check this and make sure. In the meantime, it looks as if we’ll have to use the jeep.”
Urging the natives to keep closer tabs on the paraplane, the trio climbed into the jeep again and started off through the jungle, heading toward the Sky Queen.
Halfway along the trail, they sighted Magnificent Max plodding toward them.
“Do you think he tampered with the plane while the guards were away?” Dick muttered.
“No, he isn’t bright enough,” Tom replied.
164 ELECTRONIC RETROSCOPE
The giant seemed strangely gaunt and haggard. He was staggering under the weight of an enormous, crude knapsack slung over one shoulder.
Tom braked the jeep to a halt. “Hi, Max! What is this-moving day?”