At last the sensing equipment was completed and installed. Exman was ready to speak!
His voice came out haltingly, but as the words were selected from a vast taped collection, they were clear and bold:
GREETINGS TO YOU, MY EARTH FRIENDS!
Sandy gave a squeal of delight and the room echoed with applause for Exman’s first effort.
THE ROBOT SPY’S STORY 181
After a few adjustments, he was able to speak more freely and smoothly.
Tom whispered to Phyl, “Confidentially, we had a dummy run before lunchtime. At first, all Exman could do was croak like a frog.”
Phyl, thrilled by the spectacle of a speaking space creature, gave the young inventor’s hand a squeeze. “Tom, he’s just wonderful!”
Tom agreed. “Our country owes him a lot for exposing the Brungarian rebel schemes.”
To Tom’s amazement, Exman’s “ears” picked up his murmured words, even above the babble of the spectators crowding the room.
“Your country owes you much, Tom Swift,” the creature said. “You conceived the idea of an electronic spy and found ways to block the rebels’ destructive earthquake plans.”
As Tom flushed at the crowd’s applause, Exman continued, “Unless I am mistaken, you will soon learn that you have accomplished even more.”
Tom was mystified by this. Meanwhile, the spectators listened spellbound as Exman went on talking, telling what he had learned of the valiant resistance efforts to overthrow the Brungarian rebels.
A short time later the telephone rang. Tom answered, and the operator informed him that John Thurston of Central Intelligence was calling.