“Now what?” Bud asked.
“I’ll attach a transmitter to the underside of
PILLARS OF FIRE 147
each span,” Tom explained. “Of course I won’t be able to use the regular transmitter units. I’ll have to pull the electronic gear from five of them and make some smaller housings that can be bolted to the spans.”
That afternoon, while the new housings were being constructed in the main camp’s machine shop, Tom was summoned to the radio aboard the Flying Lab. Mr. Swift was calling from Shopton.
“I’ve been working all day on that mud you sent from the jungle bog,” he told Tom.
“Were you able to analyze it, Dad?”
“Yes. It’s a most unusual compound, composed of several rare isotopes.” Mr. Swift dictated the chemical formula, adding, “I suspect it may have important applications in aerospace technology-and also in medicine and nutrition.”
“Medicine and nutrition? How so?”
“Because,” Mr. Swift explained, “I discovered that traces of the same compound are present in those soil samples in your lab.”
Tom gave a low whistle. “You mean the compound is what caused the fantastic growth of those earthworms?”
“Right, son. Doc Simpson and I are eager to experiment with it on other living organisms.”
After chatting a few minutes longer, Mr. Swift said that Harlan Ames had some news for Tom.
“Remember that hood, Willie Jarvel, I told you about?” Ames began. “Well, he finally talked.”
148 REPELATRON SKYWAY
Tom felt a surge of excitement. “Then they arrested the right man?”
“They sure did. He not only admits planting the bomb in your basement, but he worked on every move your enemies made here in Shopton.”
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