Tom sat bolt upright. “Dad, this is terrific news!” he exclaimed. “If we’re able to make this energy or ‘brain’ communicate, it may be able to tell us what the space people are like!”
Mr. Swift nodded, his own eyes blazing with as much excitement as Tom’s were.
THE MYSTERIOUS HITCHHIKER 15
Bud, too, was deeply impressed but could not resist quipping, “What sort of body will you give it? How about a beautiful, superintelligent space girl for me to date?”
“Nothing doing!” Sandy retorted mischievously. “I insist on a handsome young man who’d have time to take two nice earth girls out on dates!”
“Ouch!” Bud pretended to wince. “I really left myself wide open for that one!”
Mrs. Swift put in, “Goodness, mightn’t it get out of control and be rather overpowering? Suppose it went berserk!”
“Rather an unpleasant possibility,” Mr. Swift agreed, smiling wryly. “But I trust our space friends wouldn’t let that happen.”
Both he and Tom became thoughtful as they discussed the problem.
“The energy will arrive in two weeks,” Mr. Swift added. “Unfortunately that phone call was a request that I go to Washington on urgent government business. So you may have to take over and work out a solution on your own, Tom.”
It was a sobering thought to the young inventor. “You were right, Mother.
This is a terrific challenge.”
Soon afterward, the little gathering broke up. Bud, who had left his own convertible at the Swifts’ that morning, offered to drop Phyl at her home.
16 THE VISITOR FROM PLANET X
Tom awoke the next morning, refreshed by a good night’s sleep. After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, he drove off to Enterprises in his low-slung silver sports car.