Tom laughed in spite of himself. “We bit, all
106 REPELATRON SKYWAY
right-hook, line, and sinker. Now that you’ve pulled your gag, how about rounding up some dates and joining us at the yacht club?”
Tom’s suggestion was hailed with cheers. After the pranksters had picked up some friends, the group drove to the club where Sandy and Phyl were still waiting.
“We unearthed a live dinosaur out on River Road,” Bud explained to the two girls, “so Tom decided to throw a party to celebrate.”
The evening proved a huge success. When it was over, Rock Harriman unloaded his camera and thrust the roll of film into Tom’s hand.
“Here’s a present,” Rock said. “You fellows were such good sports, I’ll let you decide what to do with those pictures I took.”
Tom grinned with relief. “We’ll frame ‘em.”
On Monday morning Tom called Hank Sterling and Arv Hanson into his laboratory.
Arv was one of the Swifts’ most trusted craftsmen. He often worked on the pilot models of Tom’s inventions.
“Here’s the info on the repelatron transmitters for my aerial highway,” Tom said, showing them some sketches. “The transmitters will be spaced at half-mile intervals. I’ll need half a dozen built for my pilot test.”
The transmitter units would stand about ten feet high. Each one had a bell-shaped base. From this, a column arose which flared into a fan-shaped opening at the top.
“Let’s take it part by part,” Tom said. “Down
CHOW’S SKYWAY MISHAP 107
in this bell-shaped housing at the bottom is one of my midget atomic dynamos. It will generate the power for the transmitter.”