The young inventor was not willing to accept his imprisonment. “I must find some means of escape!” he said to himself.
A remark once made by his father flashed through Tom’s mind: A true scientist will always find a way to work with whatever tools come to hand.
“Good old Dad!” Tom thought.
His eyes roved about the small compartment. The porthole was open, but Tom realized regretfully that it was not large enough for him to squeeze through.
A chill breeze was blowing in. Tom shivered.
“Instead of closing the porthole and shutting out the fresh sea air,” Tom thought, “I’ll turn up the heat a bit.”
The next instant an idea flashed through his mind. The Sea Charger was atomic-powered and all compartments were radiant-heated in cold weather by nickle-chrome elements running through the bulkhead, close to the deck.
178 COSMIC ASTRONAUTS
“A high-amp current! Just what I need!” But it would be wiser to wait until darkness, Tom decided, before putting his plan into execution.
Some time later, one of the crew brought him supper on a tray. Tom had stretched out on a bunk at the first sound of the key in the lock.
“You eat now,” the man encouraged.
“Just put it down,” Tom muttered listlessly.
The man shrugged and went out, locking the door behind him. An hour later daylight faded. Night fell over the sea.
Tom switched on a small reading lamp and set to work. With one of the tools from his small, pocket-size tool kit, he removed the heat-control switch from the bulkhead, so as to expose the wiring behind it.