CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERIOUS HITCHHIKER
Tom and Bud were bursting with curiosity. Although the Swifts had beenin radio contact with creatures from outer space for many months, thiswas the most exciting news yet!
On one occasion, the unknown beings had moved a small asteroid--thephantom satellite Nestria--into orbit about the earth. Later they hadsent strange samples of the animal life of their planet, aboard orbitingmissiles, to be studied by the Swifts. They had also helped Tom, Bud,and Mr. Swift a number of times when their lives were at stake while ondaring voyages beyond the earth. What was their latest intention?
The telephone rang and Sandy went to answer it.
"For Pete's sake, Dad," Tom pleaded, "don't keep us in suspense! Who orwhat is this visitor?"
Mr. Swift smiled at the boys' baffled expressions. "The fact is that amessage came through today that--"
He was interrupted by Sandy who had come to the door. "The phone call'sfor you, Dad. Long distance from Washington."
Bud groaned as Mr. Swift went off to take the call. "It's a conspiracy,"Bud said. "Everyone's ganging up to keep us from finding out about thatmysterious visitor!"
Tom grinned. "We lasted through an earthquake this afternoon, pal," hesaid consolingly. "I guess we can last through a phone call."
Inwardly Tom was as impatient as Bud about the exact nature of themessage.
Several months ago, the space creatures had sent their firstcommunication in the form of mathematical symbols carved on a blackmissile which had landed on the grounds of Swift Enterprises.
Tom and his father had decoded the symbols and beamed out a reply over apowerful radio transmitter. Later messages had been picked up by radiotelescope and converted to appear as symbols on the oscilloscope screen.
"Sandy must know what it's all about," Bud broke in. "She's the one whofirst mentioned the visitor."
"Of course I know," Sandy said mysteriously. "So does Mother and so doesPhyl. But don't think we're going to give it away!" she added teasingly.
Tom and Bud cajoled the two girls and Mrs. Swift for furtherinformation. But Sandy and Phyl only shook their heads, obviouslyenjoying the situation.
"At last we're getting back at them for the way they've neglected us!"Phyl said, her brown eyes sparkling with laughter.
"Come on, Mother!" Tom said. "Be a sport. You tell us!"
But Mrs. Swift too shook her head. "I'm sorry, Tom," she demurredgently, "but I think the girls are right. I'll say this much, though,"she relented, "it will be the biggest challenge that Tom Swift Jr. andSr. have ever faced!"
"Whew!" Bud remarked as the two boys glanced at each other. "That mustmean it's _plenty_ big news! It would have to be, skipper, to top allthe other jobs you and your dad have taken on!"
Conquering outer space, probing the ocean's secrets, drilling to theearth's core--these were only a few of Tom Swift's many excitingexploits.
In his first adventure, Tom, in his Flying Lab, had gone to SouthAmerica to fend off a gang of rebels seeking a valuable radioactive oredeposit. In his most recent challenge, Tom had defied the threats ofOriental killers determined to ferret out the secret of the Swifts'latest space research.
As the two boys silently recalled the exciting events of the pastmonths, Mr. Swift returned to the living room.
Tom and Bud leaned forward in their chairs. "Well, boys," Mr. Swiftsaid, "as I started to tell you, the space receiver picked up a messagetoday from our unknown planetary friends. The message informed us thatthey are sending a visitor to earth--a visitor consisting of _pureenergy!_"
"_Energy?_" Tom was startled. "I don't get it, Dad!"
"Frankly, I don't quite understand it myself," Tom Sr. confessed. "Themessage didn't explain how or in what form the energy would arrive. But,at any rate, they want us to construct some sort of container for it."
The elder scientist paused thoughtfully. "In my opinion, the energywhich they speak of must be a sort of invisible brain. The symbols wererather difficult to decode, but apparently our job will be to constructa device through which the energy will be able to receive impressions ofwhat life is like here on earth, and also to communicate its ownresponses to us."
Tom sat bolt upright. "Dad, this is terrific news!" he exclaimed. "Ifwe're able to make this energy or 'brain' communicate, it may be able totell _us_ what the space people are like!"
Mr. Swift nodded, his own eyes blazing with as much excitement as Tom'swere.
Bud, too, was deeply impressed but could not resist quipping, "What sortof body will you give it? How about a beautiful, superintelligent spacegirl for me to date?"
"Nothing doing!" Sandy retorted mischievously. "I insist on a handsomeyoung man who'd have time to take two nice earth girls out on dates!"
"Ouch!" Bud pretended to wince. "I really left myself wide open for thatone!"
Mrs. Swift put in, "Goodness, mightn't it get out of control and berather overpowering? Suppose it went berserk!"
"Rather an unpleasant possibility," Mr. Swift agreed, smiling wryly."But I trust our space friends wouldn't let that happen."
Both he and Tom became thoughtful as they discussed the problem.
"The energy will arrive in two weeks," Mr. Swift added. "Unfortunatelythat phone call was a request that I go to Washington on urgentgovernment business. So you may have to take over and work out asolution on your own, Tom."
It was a sobering thought to the young inventor. "You were right,Mother. This is a terrific challenge."
Soon afterward, the little gathering broke up. Bud, who had left his ownconvertible at the Swifts' that morning, offered to drop Phyl at herhome.
Tom awoke the next morning, refreshed by a good night's sleep. After ahearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, he drove off to Enterprises in hislow-slung silver sports car.
"Think I'll listen to the news," Tom thought, and switched on hisdashboard radio.
A moment later the announcer's voice came over the loud-speaker."Casualties from yesterday's disastrous earthquake now total thirty-oneinjured," the announcer reported. "Most of these are employees of theFaber Electronics plant and four are in critical condition. There is onenote of cheer, however. At last report, Mark Faber, the brilliantpresident of the company, is now expected to recover." Tom gave athankful sigh of relief.
The announcer continued, "The nearby town of Harkness was only lightlydamaged, but the plant itself was almost totally demolished. No estimateof the losses has been released, but will certainly run into millions ofdollars, including some highly secret defense items which were beingdeveloped at the plant. Scientists are puzzled by the severity of thequake in what had been considered a 'dead' area."
For the first time Tom, too, was struck by this curious aspect of thedisaster. So far as he knew, no serious tremors had ever before beenreported within hundreds of miles of the region.
He was mulling over the matter as he drove along a lonely wooded area,not far from Lake Carlopa. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted as aman stepped out from among the trees ahead and gestured with his thumbfor a ride.
"Sorry, mister," Tom reflected, "but I've had trouble with hitchhikersbefore!" He shook his head to let the man know that he did not intend tostop.
To the young inventor's amazement, the pedestrian deliberately steppedonto the road--squarely in the path of Tom's oncoming car!
Tom jammed on the brakes, and the silver sports car screeched to a stop.Only a quick twist of the wheel had prevented an accident!
Somewhat angrily, Tom exclaimed, "What's the big idea, mister? Don't yourealize you might have been--"
"Shut up!" the stranger snarled. In an instant the man had yanked openthe door and climbed in beside Tom.
"Take me inside the grounds of Swift Enterprises," he commanded in aforeign accent. "And no tricks or you will regret it!"