"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Sr 020 - Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

``Do you feel inclined to go?''

``No, Ned, I do not. I've got too many other irons in the fire. I
shall have to give the professor a polite but firm refusal.''

``Well, maybe you're right, Tom; and yet that idol of gold -- gold --
weighing how many pounds did you say?''

``Oh, you're thinking of its money value, Ned, old man!''

``Yes, I'd like to see what a big chunk of gold like that would bring.
It must be quite a nugget. But I'm not likely to get a glimpse of it if you
don't go with the professor.''

``I don't see how I can go, Ned. But come over and meet the delightful
gentleman when he arrives. I expect him day after to-morrow.''

``I'll be here,'' promised Ned; and then he went downtown to attend to
some matters connected

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with his new duties, which were much less irksome than those he had had
when he had been in the bank.

``Well, Tom, have you heard any more about your friend?'' asked Ned,
two days later, as he came to the Swift home with some papers needing the
signature of the young inventor and his father.

``You mean -- -- ?''

``Professor Bumper.''

``No, I haven't heard from him since he telephoned. But I guess he'll
be here all right. He's very punctual. Did you see anything of my giant
Koku as you came in?''

``Yes, he and Eradicate were having an argument about who should move
a heavy casting from one of the shops. Rad wanted to do it all alone, but
Koku said he was like a baby now.''

``Poor Rad is getting old,'' said Tom with a sigh. ``But he has been
very faithful. He and Koku never seem to get along well together.''

Koku was an immense man, a veritable giant, one of two whom Tom had
brought back with him after an exciting trip to a strange land. The giant's
strength was very useful to the young inventor.

``Now Tom, about this business of leasing to the English Government