“All right now, but he went berserk a while back,” Tom replied with a chuckle.
Chow eyed the robot apprehensively and made a hasty exit. Both Tom Jr.
and Tom Sr. were amused.
As they ate, the two scientists continued their 118 THE VISITOR FROM PLANET X
discussion on how to equip Exman with senses and the power of speech.
Several minutes later, when they were finishing dessert, Bud came into the laboratory.
“Tom, what’s this about you hopping off somewhere to install a Quakelizor?”
he asked anxiously.
“Don’t worry, pal. I’ll need my usual copilot,” Tom said with a grin. “Just didn’t have time to call you before lunch. We’ll be flying down to a place called San Rosario in the Caribbean.”
At one o’clock Tom briefed the flight crews and technicians. Slim was provided with three men who had worked on the original model of the quake deflector. After making sure that every man knew his job, Tom had the groups flown by helicopter over to the Swift Construction Company airfield.
Tom and Bud’s cargo jet was the second to take off. On signal from the tower, the big workhorse thundered down the runway and soared off into the blue. Soon it was spearing southward above the waters of the Atlantic.
Presently Bud drew Tom’s attention to some blurry specks of light on the radarscope. “Looks like a formation of planes, skipper.”
Tom studied the blips for a while. “Guess you’re right. It’s sure not a flock of sea gulls!” The young inventor frowned.
“Worried, Tom?” Bud asked quietly.
AIRBORNE HIJACKERS 119
Tom shrugged. “It could be a routine military flight.”