"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 10 - And His Ultrasonic Cycloplane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

Antone on my-"
A phone rang shrilly at the rear of the hangar. "It's for you, skipper!" a
mechanic sang out.
Tom hurried back to take the call.
"This is George Hedron," said the voice at the other end of the line. "I just
heard the news from Sandy about your rescue expedition, so I decided to call up
and volunteer."
"Volunteer?" Tom was puzzled for a moment.
"To go with you. You see, I've been down in the New Guinea jungles before,
collecting specimens. I might be able to help you a good bit."
"Oh, I see." Remembering Bud's warning about Hedron, Tom stalled. "It's
kind of you to offer, but I'm not sure that we'll be able to take another person.
May I call you back?"
"Sure, you can reach me here all afternoon," Hedron replied, and gave Tom
his phone number.
After hanging up, Tom frowned for a moment, then dialed Harlan Ames, the
plant security chief at Swift Enterprises. Quickly he told what he knew of
Hedron's background and Bud's uneasiness about him.
"Check up on Hedron, will you, Harlan? Find out if he's on the up-and-up,
and call me back as soon as possible."
RESCUE FLIGHT 33
"Will do, Tom!"
In less than an hour Ames reported back. "Everything looks all right, Tom. I
checked Hedron's university record and he holds a master's degree in zoology.
The medical lab where he's employed claims he's a first-rate scientist, and has
been in Dutch New Guinea. So far as I can find out on short notice, he has no
criminal record."
"Good enough, Harlan. Thanks!"
Tom felt that there was now no reason to turn down Hedron's offer of
assistance, especially in such a life-and-death emergency. So he phoned the
zoologist and told him to prepare for immediate departure.
Soon after five o'clock, the roof of the underground hangar swung open in
two halves, rotated by smooth-working gears. The hangar floor was then raised
to ground level by hydraulic lifts, and a rubber-tired tractor pulled the Sky Queen
out onto the special runway for take-off.
Sandy and Phyl Newton had driven out to the plant to wish Tom a last-minute
farewell. "I'll be worried every minute you're gone," Phyl confessed shyly, "so do
be careful!"
"I promise." Tom smiled, then blushed as Phyl raised herself on tiptoe and
gave him a quick kiss.
Sandy was tearful. "Tom, watch out. And you must find Bud-and Hank, too!"
Tom gave his sister a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, Sis. We'll bring 'em both
back safely."
34 ULTRASONIC CYCLOPLANE
One by one, the members of the rescue party climbed aboard the giant
plane. Besides Chow, Hedron, and Slim Davis, there was Arvid Hanson, the
expert modelmaker of Swift Enterprises who was also a crack pilot, and Doc
Simpson, the young plant physician. Four flight crewmen made up the rest of the
expedition.
In the flight compartment, Tom settled himself in the pilot's seat and ran