The next thing Tom knew, he was sailing through the air, high above Swift Enterprises. Lake Carlopa was a tiny blue puddle below, and the town of Shopton a mere cluster of toy buildings in the distance.
“Good grief!” Tom exclaimed with a gulp. “What’s keeping me up?”
MOUNTAIN HIKE 143
He was floating freely, without the support of any aircraft-or even one of his amazing force-ray repelatronsl
The discovery triggered off disaster. Like a character in a movie cartoon, now that he knew he had nothing to support him, Tom instantly went plunging downward-down, down, straight into the lake!
Splash!
Tom gasped and shuddered and shook his head like a drenched terrier.
Another splash! As Tom brought his eyes into focus, he realized he was back at his workbench in the laboratory. Chow was standing in front of him, holding a half-empty pail of water, ready to splash him again 1
“Hey! Cut it out!” Tom cried out, jerking bolt upright. Then, as he saw the disturbed look on Chow’s face, Tom burst out laughing. “Okay. Relax, old-timer!
Guess I was dreaming.”
“Brand my snake oil!” Chow said. “You looked so pale an’ pasty, you had me plumb scared, Tom! I couldn’t wake you nohow!” Worriedly the cook added, “What you need is a good beefsteak and some sunshine. You been under water too long.”
“In more ways than one!” Tom chuckled as he grabbed a towel and dried himself off.
The beefsteak, with crisp golden-brown French fried potatoes, was already at hand on Chow’s lunch cart. Tom ate with a hearty appe-144 THE ELECTRONIC HYDROLUNG
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