On the way, Tom made several soil borings, in order to determine the ground structure of the rain forest. By noon the next day the party had arrived at Imbolu in their long native canoes.
“Welcome back!” Hank Sterling shouted.
He and the other crewmen from the Sky Queen rushed down to the riverbank. “By the way, skipper,” Hank added, “we’re still dying to know what that tom-tom jam session was for.”
Tom chuckled and explained. Then he boarded the Flying Lab and radioed a report to the government ministry at Princetown. The young inventor added that he planned to take off in an hour for an aerial survey of the proposed highway route to East Ngombia, and then leave for the United States.
The Americans were just finishing lunch when Kwanu called back from the capital.
Tom hurried to the flight compartment to take the message.
“Do you plan to land in the eastern province?” Kwanu inquired.
82 REPELATRON SKYWAY
“We can if necessary, sir,” Tom replied.
“Then you are invited to visit the headquarters of Afro-Metals, Limited,” Kwanu went on. “The manager of the firm, Mr. Hans Macklin, would like you and your party to be his guests.”
“Please tell him we’d be delighted.” Tom was glad of a chance to learn more about the company which had been granted the mining concession to Ngombia’s mineral resources. Perhaps he could pick up a clue to the mysterious plotters trying to balk his African venture.
Lunch over, the crew prepared for immediate takeoff. Soon the Sky Queen rose on its jet lifters and winged eastward over the jungle.
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