“Plenty hot, too,” Bud replied with a wry chuckle. “But your modest brother over there is the genius who deserves all the credit.”
Tom changed the subject by pointing to a package which Sandy held tucked under her arm. “Don’t tell me you’ve been shopping again, Sis.”
Sandy’s blue eyes twinkled. “Not this time. It’s for you,” she added, handing the package to her brother. “It came today in the mail.”
Tom took the brown-paper-wrapped parcel and noted the return address on the label. “Um-m, this is from the Ngombian Embassy in Washington, D.C.,” he observed in surprise.
“Ngombia? Say, that’s in Africa, isn’t it?” Bud asked with keen interest.
“Yes,” Tom replied. “A new country that gained its independence recently. As a matter of fact,” he added, “it’s sending an official here to Enterprises tomorrow to discuss some new project. But this package-I have no idea what it contains.”
Tom opened the gift as Bud and the two girls watched curiously. Inside was a small, carved African figure with weirdly painted features.
“Ugh!” Phyl gasped. “How scary!”
“That face looks like some kind of devil mask,”
10 REPELATRON SKYWAY
Bud said. “It’d make a great Halloween present.”
Tom grinned. “I guess this devil doll is supposed to be a desk ornament. Look! This spear which the figure’s holding is a ball-point pen.”
To show the others, he pulled out the pen and scribbled a few lines on a sheet of paper.
“Blood-red ink!” Sandy exclaimed. “I wouldn’t want that creepy-looking idol on my desk!”
“But I’d better put it on mine,” said Tom. “The Ngombian representative might be offended if he doesn’t see me using the gift.”
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