“You guessed it, skipper,” one reported by walkie-talkie. “These reflectors are dish antennas-there’s a separate wiring system for the signal pickup.”
Ames gaped. “You mean those dishes have been tracking our rockets right under our nose, Tom?”
“Yes-probably eavesdropping on all the space
50 3-D TELEJECTOR
data being telemetered back to Fearing. The revolving sign made a perfect camouflage.”
The legs of the tower were anchored in concrete. The Swift crew traced the antenna wires and found that they passed through the concrete, concealed inside the structural steel members.
“Think there’s a relay transmitter?” Bud said.
“That’s one possibility,” Tom replied. “Or they may have installed underground devices to record the telemetered data on tape.”
The concrete foundation appeared solid. Both helicraft soared aloft to illuminate the area. But a careful search revealed no entrance to an underground compartment.
“What’ll we do, skip?” the crew chief asked. “Get some jackhammers and tear up the concrete?”
Tom thought for a moment, then shook his head. “If there are underground recording devices, someone must come to collect the tapes. Harlan, let’s post a twenty-four-hour lookout.”
“Good idea.” With a frown Ames added, “We’ve been assuming Sturko and his partner just heard Gus Miller needed a sign and asked for the job of erecting it. Now I’m not so sure.”
“This setup’s too elaborate to have happened that way,” Tom agreed. “I’ll bet this sign was planned from the very first for space snooping.”