075-Trapped at Sea by Franklin W. Dixon

Author:Franklin W. Dixon [Dixon, Franklin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-07T15:12:10+00:00

Chapter 11

Atomic Scare

Beads of sweat collected on Chet's forehead. "He-he's talking about atomic bombs!" the boy whispered. "That's what he needed the uranium for!"

Frank grabbed his arm. "Shh!"

"What do you mean by 'we,' doctor?" Lanky asked in a cold voice.

"Well, won't we?" Minkovitch asked.

"The other directors and I will, not you. You're just a paid employee."

"But you can't do anything without me," the scientist said petulantly.

"True, and you will be rewarded with both wealth and prestige. Perhaps you will be given a position in the world cabinet, but get it out of your head that you will help rule." Lanky's voice rose and his eyes flashed with a look of insanity. "Rule will be divided among the three directors who furnished all the money for your experiments."

"I've worked hard, Mr. Lanky," Dr. Minkovitch complained. "I deserve more than a cabinet post."

Lanky said harshly, "You speak of hard work, doctor? We could have lived like kings on our hijacking profits, but instead we slaved in menial jobs in order to pour all the money into this project. By the way, where is the uranium?"

Dr. Minkovitch led him to a door at the rear of the lab, and the two went into the storage room into which the crates had been unloaded through a chute. That took them beyond the range of the bug.

"These guys are mad!" Joe said under his breath. "We must stop them!"

Frank nodded. "But let's not leave yet. Perhaps we'll learn more."

A few moments later, the pair came back into the laboratory and Lanky asked how soon the bombs would be ready.

"They're complete except for the uranium," the doctor said.

"I see only one assembled," Lanky remarked, indicating the device suspended in the cradle.

"I do only the experimental work here, Mr. Lanky.

The dangerous assembly is done underground in what I call my factory."

"Is it nearby, doctor?"

"Near enough so that it will take only a short time to move the uranium there. I may as well take care of that right now."

The doctor switched on an intercom and said into it, "Hagar and Quark, come to the laboratory, please."

The two big, muscular men who had unloaded the truck appeared presently. Minkovitch instructed them to move the uranium to the factory. One walked into the room where the material was stored, and the other went back up the stairs.

"There is a chute with a conveyor belt from the storage room to the underground factory," Minkovitch explained to Lanky. "Hagar will go down to lift the crates off the belt as Quark sends them along."

A few moments later, the doctor and Lanky went upstairs. The boys removed the listening devices from their ears and hid in the underbrush. Soon they saw Hagar come from the house and walk toward the cliff. They were about to follow when Dr. Minkovitch and Lanky stepped out on the porch.

"I didn't know you had neighbors," Lanky said to Minkovitch.

"Neighbors? What do you mean?"

"Doesn't someone live up that lane about fifty yards beyond the gate?"

"No, of course not.

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