"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 05 - And His Atomic Earth Blaster" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

enemies.
When Uncle Ned was seated in a comfortable chair, he turned to the younger
Swift with a twinkle in his eye. "I hear you had a slight brush with Mr. Greenup."
Tom grimaced. "I just hope it doesn't lead to trouble with the Town Council."
"You let me worry about that," Uncle Ned replied, and added with a chuckle,
"His bark is worse than his bite. I know-I've handled that old curmudgeon before."
"Just the same, this water problem is getting serious," said Mr. Swift. "If the
water company doesn't find an answer pretty soon, we may have to curtail
operations at the plant!"
The two older men and Tom discussed this situation and other production
problems facing the Swift Construction Company.
"In my opinion," remarked Uncle Ned, "the worst problem facing us is a
threatened shortage of good iron ore. Without ore, the mills can't produce
ATOMIC SPY 23
steel. And that could lead to a mighty dangerous situation for the whole free
world!"
"What about the Ungava range up in Labrador?" asked Tom.
"That will help," Uncle Ned admitted. "But it won't supply all the world's needs
and in time it may peter out just like the Mesabi did." He puffed thoughtfully on
his pipe, then said, "Tom, can't you figure out a new source of high-grade iron
ore?"
The young inventor was staring intently off into space. It wasn't the first time
that he had given thought to this particular problem.
"I can do better than that," he said finally. "I can name you a source of pure
iron."
"Where?"
"The center of the earth."
Uncle Ned's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Impossible! No one could tap
that!"
Tom disagreed. An amazing idea had just occurred to him.
"I think I could do it," he said quietly.
CHAPTER 3
DANGER SIGNAL
UNCLE NED and Mr. Swift stared at the young scientist in amazement.
"Are you serious?" Uncle Ned asked.
"Very much so," Tom replied.
"Serious about what?" put in a girl's lively voice.
"Oh, come on in, Sandy. You too, Mother."
Sandra and Mrs. Swift had just finished clearing away Tom's dishes in the
kitchen and had come to join the others. Instantly Tom drew up a chair for his
mother, while Sandy perched on the arm of Mr. Swift's chair.
"Tom was just telling us he has an idea for tapping pure iron from the center
of the earth," Uncle Ned explained. "I must say it seems a little farfetched, even
from Tom."
"If my brother says it's possible, you can bet on it!" Sandra declared.
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DANGER SIGNAL 25
"Thanks, Sandy," Tom said, grinning. "I hope I can convince everyone else
that easily!"
"What is it you have in mind, son?" Mr. Swift inquired.