Tom Swift and His Megascope Space Prober Read Online Free PDF Page A

the offer! Tom, too, was left speechless.
    Mr. Swift smiled and looked understandingly at the young flier. "Bud, it’s up to you."
    Tom quickly mastered his own disappointment and said gamely, "It’s a terrific challenge, pal! And it’s about time you had your chance to stand in the spotlight."
    Bud gulped uncomfortably. "I—I don’t know what to say. I’d like to think it over, sir."
    "Take as long as you need," said Dr. Norstrom.
    "Just as long as you say yes," added Jessup sourly.
    Mr. Swift glanced at his watch. "Suppose we three talk it over at lunch," he suggested. "Bud has the final word, of course."
    The others were agreeable, and the meeting adjourned for a two-hour break. As they ate lunch at a hotel restaurant, Bud and the Swifts discussed the situation. "Frankly, I’d rather not take the job," Bud bluntly declared. "I don’t want this. Sure, it’s exciting, but I consider myself a Swift man—first, last, and always."
    Tom grinned at him. It wasn’t easy to do. "Thanks, pal. I’m glad you feel that way, but you can’t let it stop you. You’ll still be a ‘Swift man’ no matter what, and this would be an honor—a chance for you to be called ‘Skipper’ on the greatest space flight so far."
    "Tom’s right," added Mr. Swift. "You know how much we appreciate your loyalty, but an active space program is in our nation’s interest, and it mustn’t rest entirely on the shoulders of Swift Enterprises."
    "You’re the man of the hour, flyboy," said Tom with a nudge.
    Bud beamed excitedly. "Then—I think I’ll give my folks a call!" By the time lunch was over, he had agreed to accept Astro-Dynamics’ offer. His decision brought smiles and handshakes that afternoon at NASA headquarters.
    "We picked you because you’re a space flight veteran, but you’ll still need a good deal of specialized training for this mission. We’ll expect you in Florida next Thursday, Bud," Clarke told him, "to begin your test work and general indoctrination."
    Added Col. Jessup: "You can expect to sweat a lot, kid."
    "I’ve already started!"
    Back aboard the jet, an uneasy, thoughtful quiet had replaced the momentary surge of enthusiasm. Tom took the controls. The others could see that he was still feeling the sting of Enterprises’ not having been given a chance to compete in the Venus project. After taking off, Tom swung in a large arc until he was ten miles up and a hundred miles from shore.
    "I think I’ll wring this crate out a bit before we land," he announced. "I’m feeling like a little exercise."
    Bud grinned. "I’m always up for that . Let ’er rip, sky-Skipper!" He knew this was Tom’s way of getting the Venus project out of his mind—as well as the prospect of spending many months without his close friend at his side.
    "Aerobatics?" Mr. Swift inquired, as he and Bud pulled their safety belts tighter. "Take it easy though, son—your old man can only handle so many G’s!"
    Looking grimly determined, Tom lowered the nose of the jet to gain speed. As he eased steadily back on the control stick, the horizon gradually dropped below the nose of the aircraft. Only blue sky could be seen as Tom passed over the top of a perfect loop. The occupants felt the acceleration G force mount steadily to almost three times their own weight.
    Tom did a roll, first to the right, then to the left. "Corkscrew maneuver," he remarked.
    Diving for speed again, he pulled the stick back and to the right, causing the plane to roll in a vertical climb. "Not bad," Bud said jokingly. "Not bad."
    Tom half-rolled the jetcraft upside down, arcing to pin the occupants in their seats as sea and sky exchanged places. But as he attempted to recover right-side-up, Tom’s face muscles tensed suddenly.
    "What’s wrong?" Mr. Swift questioned.
    "The control stick! I can’t move it! " The craft continued to zoom along upside down, in a great roller-coaster curve—that ended in the ocean!
     
CHAPTER 5
WELCOME HOME, AND GOODBYE!
    TOM STRAINED