"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 07 - And His Diving Seacopter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

like a veteran submariner.
Satisfied with the ship's performance, Tom decided to surface and took over
the controls again. For the first time, Bud had a leisurely chance to examine the
compartment and opened door after door. Every item of equipment had been
planned perfectly to fit into the small available space. Besides the electric
generator, air supply, and air-conditioning system, there were also emergency
rations, a tool locker, and a small lab for scientific work.
"Wow! You've got everything here but the kitchen sink!" commented Bud
admiringly.
"We have one of those in Compartment B." Tom grinned. "It's part of the
galley."
In a moment the craft surfaced and soon the boys were back on board the
Sky Queen.
"How'd it go, skipper?" Slim Davis asked.
"Not a hitch. She handled like a dream."
"Any mermaids?" questioned Sandy with a sparkle of mischief in her eyes.
Bud grinned back at her. "A few, but they were all redheads and I prefer
blondes."
The test dive was the chief topic of conversation at dinner that evening in the
Swift home. Tom's mother, an attractive, gentle person, listened attentively. As
she served warm pie for dessert, she
20 DIVING SEACOPTER
looked first at her husband and then at her son.
"I wish you two Toms would invent things that weren't so risky!" she said.
"If my latest invention turns out half as well as this pie, Mother, you haven't a
thing to worry about," Tom said, smiling. He knew that secretly she was very
proud of his achievements as well as those of his father.
After dinner, the family gathered in the big, cheerful living room and talked
about Tom's future expedition with Ham Teller and George Braun in search of
ancient wealth under the sea.
Suddenly a loud buzzing noise interrupted their conversation. "The alarm
system!" exclaimed Sandy. "Wonder who's calling?"
"I'll go see," said Tom, getting up.
The Swift residence was surrounded by a magnetic field which touched off a
signal when broken. The family and their friends avoided this by wearing wrist
watches containing small neutral-izer coils. But the alarm always sounded at the
approach of prowlers or unexpected visitors.
When Tom opened the door, he was surprised to see William Clyde, the
pudgy, middle-aged mayor of Shopton. The man was excited.
"Come in, sir," Tom invited him.
Hardly had the mayor entered when he burst out, "You Swifts have got to
stop that rocket coming here from outer space! Otherwise, the whole town will be
blown up!"
CHAPTER 3
THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE
MAYOR CLYDE'S outburst caught Tom by surprise, but he politely ushered
him into the living room. The man nodded nervously to the rest of the family as
Tom said, "Please sit down, sir."
The caller sank into an easy chair. As he mopped his brow with a
handkerchief, he reiterated why he was there. "You must stop that rocket," he