Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 21 – And the Asteroid Pirates

Finally the heroes were reluctantly yielded to their families and friends. Mrs.

Swift, Sandy, Phyl, and Mrs. Newton each greeted the boys with a kiss, while Mr.

Swift and “Uncle Ned” Newton shook

A FIERY VICTORY 177

their hands warmly. Harlan Ames added his congratulations.

On the flight back to Shopton, Ames reported that the Cobra’s stronghold in Patagonia had been seized and disarmed by the Argentine government. Among his captured staff were the renegade scientists, Fernand Zerbski and Achmet Rahj. Information gleaned from the fortress had been passed on to the United States. As a result, the Cobra’s agents here had been rounded up.

“Including the man who sabotaged your plane in Washington,” Ames said, “and those two phony hospital guards.”

“By the way, son,” Tom Sr. said, “you’ll be glad to learn that John Tsu is recovering.”

Ames added, “The CIA has checked him out pretty thoroughly. They won’t tell us much, but apparently Tsu belongs to a refugee resistance group working against one of the dictatorships. He infiltrated the Black Cobra’s setup because the Cobra was one of the people who helped bring his own country’s dictator to power. Tsu’s group is prodemocratic and realized that the Cobra was a threat to the whole free world.”

“He sure was-until genius boy pulled his fangs I” said Bud.

Tom stopped off with Bud at the Shopton Hospital. Tsu, who was sitting up in bed and smiling, greeted the boys with hearty handshakes.

“So happy to hear of your success on Nestrial”

“And we’re happy that you’re getting well,” Tom said simply. “Thanks for risking your life to warn me. I hope,” he added with a smile, “that you’ll also pass on our thanks to your friend at the Trans-Pacific Import Company.”