“I’m a reporter for Consolidated Press,” Corcoran told Tom and Bud. They shook hands.
“What did you want to see me about?” Tom asked.
SENSATIONAL NEWS 89
“Actually, it’s your friend I want to see,” Corcoran said. Turning to Bud, he went on, “I’m empowered to offer you a thousand dollars for an exclusive eyewitness account of the dinosaur you saw in Africa.”
“What!” Bud gaped in surprise.
90 REPELATRON SKYWAY
“You heard me. A thousand bucks. I have a check right here-all made out.”
Bud reddened. “L-look,” he stammered, “I don’t know how you got the word on this, but-”
“Report from West Africa,” Corcoran explained tersely. “All the wire services picked it up. You’re front-page news this morning, fella!”
“Well, my answer is no!” Bud snapped.
Corcoran looked irritated. “If it’s more dough you want, maybe I can up the figure to twelve-fifty. But that’s absolutely the-”
“The answer’s still no!”
The reporter started to argue, but Tom cut him short. He explained that such a story, with no proof to back it up, might be damaging to the scientific prestige of Swift Enterprises.
“But the story’s true, isn’t it?”
“True or not, it could make us a laughingstock,” Tom retorted. “Now, if you’ll please excuse us, we have to get back to Swift Enterprises.”
Angrily, Corcoran left the ship and transferred to his rented helicopter. When the Sky Queen landed at the Enterprises airfield, it became clear why the reporter had been so eager to get a scoop. A swarm of newsmen were on hand, clamoring to interview Tom and his party. The young inventor gave them a brief statement.
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