The space visitor might also take back impressions of the suffering and warlike threats that some earth countries inflict on one another. Maybe one day, Tom reflected, it would be different.
In the meantime, the young inventor realized he had an awesome responsibility. He must not only make the best use of the brain energy during its stay on earth, but also keep it from falling into the hands of treacherous Brungarian plotters.
Tom’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of girls’ voices.
Sandy and Phyl were standing in the doorway of the space-communications laboratory.
“Talk about deep thinkers I” Sandy said teasingly.
“Goodness, we had no idea we’d be interrupting a session of the brain trust,”
Phyl added with a mischievous sparkle in her brown eyes. “Maybe we should go away again, Sandy!”
“Hey! Hold it, you two!” Bud exclaimed. “What do you think, Tom-are these the visitors we’ve been expecting from outer space?”
“Well! I like that!” Sandy pouted. “Do we look like a couple of little green people?”
Tom chuckled and seized the opportunity to do a little teasing of his own. “I think it’s just your
WALL OF WATERI 57
pointed heads that fooled us, Sis.” Then, as the two girls broke down in laughter, he added, “Why the unexpected visit?”
Sandy and Phyl explained that they had come to invite the boys to a picnic cruise on Lake Carlopa the next day.
“And while we’re here, since it’s practically quitting time anyhow,” Sandy went on, her blue eyes twinkling, “we might even let you drive us some place for dinner.”