“Just a little ray of energy to keep him company,” Tom explained with a chuckle.
AN ELECTRICAL CHRISTENING 97
Minutes later, the two boys were sound asleep. For a while, all was silent.
Then the apartment’s telephone rang, shattering the stillness. Tom struggled out of the depths of sleep, got up, and groped his way over to the wall phone.
“Tom Swift Jr. speaking.”
A familiar voice asked, “Did it come?”
“Oh, hi, Dad!” Tom replied, yawning. “Yes, Exman arrived in fine shape.
We’ve put him to bed. Tell you all about it tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, Tom.”
As Tom hung up, Bud roused and switched on a lamp. He had awakened in time to catch only part of Tom’s words. “Your father?” he inquired.
Tom nodded sleepily and was about to go back to bed. But Bud, still fascinated by the space visitor, decided to have a peek at Exman. He got up and opened the door to the laboratory. A yell from him brought Tom rushing to his side.
“Hey! It’s gone!”
The spot by the night light where they had left Exman was now deserted!
Tom found a wall switch and pressed it. As light from the overhead fluorescent tubes flooded the room, the boys gave laughing cries of relief, Ole Think Box had merely moved himself to another corner of the room!
“Guess he didn’t like that little chum we left on for him,” Bud said with a chuckle.
“Let’s leave him where he is,” Tom agreed.
98 THE VISITOR FROM PLANET X
The two boys went back to the adjoining apartment and were soon asleep again. Several hours later they were rudely awakened by a loud crash of glass and a heavy thud.