Tom Swift and His Deep Sea Hydrodome Read Online Free PDF Page A

shaker, Chow. Or even just the salt."
    Just then Tom’s pocket cellphone bleeped, its rhythm indicating an interoffice call from within Enterprises. "This is George Dilling, Tom," came the familiar voice of the plant’s office of communications and public interest. "The airfield tower asked me to contact you. That jet flight you’ve been expecting has just landed."
    Tom replied, "I’ll meet them in the office; Dad’s already there. Have Security check their ID’s and show them the way, won’t you, George?" Apologizing to Chow and promising to investigate further, Tom headed for the nearest ridewalk, Bud following at Tom’s invitation.
    In the Swifts’ shared office in the ultramodern administration building, Tom and his father shook hands with their two visitors, Leo Bronson’s appointed liaisons for the helium operation. One was a rugged, balding man of about fifty with a tanned, weather-beaten face. The other, in his late twenties, was dark-haired and wiry in build. Wary at first, some instinct told Tom he could trust them.
    The older man, Dr. Arthur Clisby, was a well-known Bureau chemist whom Mr. Swift had met before. "And this is my associate, Bob Anchor," Dr. Clisby said crisply, introducing his companion.
    "Glad to know you," said Tom, shaking hands. "And this is Bud Barclay. Would you like to have a look at that helium sample right away?"
    To Tom’s surprise Dr. Clisby shook his head negatively. "That won’t be necessary, Tom. Bob and I have examined the spectroscopic data you transmitted to the Bureau, as well as a fresh sample taken by the Navy sub team."
    He frowned unexpectedly, and a moment of ominous silence followed.
    "Is something wrong with the sample, Arthur?" Mr. Swift asked.
    Bob Anchor answered the inquiry. "I’d say so. Your sample doesn’t match the one the Navy acquired. There’s not a trace of helium coming from that site you marked!"
    "What!" gasped Tom unbelievingly. "That’s not possible!"
    "It’s a fact," said Dr. Clisby. "And I’m sorry to say—but obliged to inform you—that Bob and I are here to investigate the possibility that your company has been a party to a deliberate hoax targeting the government of the United States!"

CHAPTER 4
UNDERSEA ENEMIES
    DAMON SWIFT flushed with anger. "That’s absolutely absurd! To speak bluntly, the reputation of Swift Enterprises for honesty is a good deal higher than the current—"
    "We know, we know," interjected Bob Anchor hastily. "I think Arthur’s tone reflects his, his sheer disbelief at this situation we’re in—all of us."
    Bud had his familiar thundercloud look, but forced himself to say nothing, backing away. Tom took a calming tone. "Let’s review the facts, shall we?"
    "Of course," said Clisby. He had begun to look somewhat abashed. "A Navy cruiser, one of our specialized scientific vessels, arrived at the site roughly twenty hours ago, guided by your floating marker buoy. A small deep-water submersible, a drone, descended to the point where the cable was anchored in the sea floor near the base of the mountain. A stream of bubbles was issuing, just as you had described. The drone took several samples of those bubbles, and returned them to the ship. A preliminary analysis, right on board, was most disturbing; but no firm conclusions were drawn. At the base in Norfolk, we ourselves conducted an independent analysis and the preliminary findings were confirmed."
    "What findings, precisely?" asked Mr. Swift.
    "The samples tested positive for argon, hydrogen, water vapor, methane, and various sulfides. There was not a trace—not a trace!—of helium gas."
    "I can’t understand it," Tom said.
    "Nor I," added his father. "Our own analysis was absolutely indubitable."
    Tom rubbed his chin. "Is there any possibility that your samples were switched somehow?" he asked Clisby and Anchor.
    Bob Anchor shrugged. "If so, we don’t see how it could have been done, or by whom. Everyone involved had a high level of security