The newcomers stared in awe at the dinosaurs, which were now resting quietly or browsing among the leafy vegetation.
“Don’t worry-they won’t bite.” Tom waved the men forward.
One of them was Darcy Creel. His hands were tied!
“We ran into this bloke a little ways from here,” Auber said. He explained that after rounding up some of Tom’s work crew, he had sighted the arrow in the sky and had come to investigate. His party had heard the gunfire and soon afterward sighted Creel.
“He was in complete panic and babbled out a confession about helping Macklin,” Auber went on. “We found this on him.”
Auber held out a small electronic device. Tom
174 REPELATRON SKYWAY
recognized it at once as his remote-control switch for the protective repelatrons.
“So Creel was the double crosser,” Bud said. “I guess I owe you an apology, Auber.”
The tall hunter grinned. “For that matter, I owe you chaps an apology. I’m a private investigator. Kwanu will vouch for me-I took on this job by arrangement with the Ngombian government.”
Tom and Bud stared at him in amazement.
“In that case, maybe you can tell us what Macklin’s game was,” Tom said.
Auber nodded. “Once your highway is built, it will mean closer government supervision of his mining setup. Macklin has had a free hand till now. He has been treating his native labor ruthlessly and cheating the company for his own gain. Once the two provinces were linked, he would be exposed. He had to block your project.”
“How did you find out all that?” Bud asked.
“It was my job,” Auber replied. “Afro-Metals, Limited, began investigating Macklin soon after Ngombia became independent. The company officials were afraid he might give them a bad name among the new African nations, so we disclosed our suspicions to the Ngombian government and asked permission for an agent to accompany your group to guard against any moves Macklin might make against your project. And now you chaps have caught him dead to rights.”