Bud fidgeted nervously while they waited for a reply, and finally began a game of tick-tack-toe with one of the radiomen. Mr. Swift paced the room. Tom doodled sketches showing his magnetic deflector mounted to the Challenger.
Everyone jerked to attention as the alarm bell signaled an incoming message. Tom dashed to the machine, with Bud and Mr. Swift close behind. The keys were clattering out a message on the unreeling tape. It read: WE ARE STILL WORKING ON PROBLEM OF DANGER BARRIER. NO
SOLUTION YET.
Bud groaned as he read the message aloud over Tom’s shoulder.
“Wait! There’s more coming!” Tom exclaimed. The tape continued: TELL MEN ON PHANTOM SATELLITE TO SEARCH BASE OF CLIFF
BELOW ENERGIZER CHAMBER. THERE THEY WILL FIND OPENING TO
MATERIAL SOURCE TO SUSTAIN LIFE.
“Opening to material source?” Bud stared at the tape in perplexity. “What does that mean?”
104 THE ASTEROID PIRATES
Tom frowned. “I’m wondering too, Bud. Any ideas, Dad?”
“Hmm. Well, let’s take it bit by bit. ‘Material source’ might refer to a mine-in which case ‘opening’ might mean the mine entrance.” Mr. Swift stroked his jaw.
“But, I must confess, I can’t imagine what sort of material to sustain life one would find in a mine.”
“Neither can I, but I’ll bet you’ve hit it, Dad. A mine entrance at the base of a cliff certainly sounds plausible,” Tom said enthusiastically. “Anyhow, let’s pass the word to the crew on Nestria!”
Tom paused long enough to send back an acknowledgment and thanks to the space creatures while the radioman called the asteroid again.
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