Tom Swift and His Aquatomic Tracker by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

OUTSIDE THE BOX

FOR a moment, Tom and Bud were too thunderstruck at the official’s words to speak. Then Tom reddened angrily. Although he cared little about dignitaries, speeches, and welcoming ceremonies, the young inventor was concerned about the reputation of the family business, Swift Enterprises.

"I don’t know what you mean by ‘so-called feat’," Tom gritted. "But if you’re implying that we― " He paused the rush of words to calm himself. "Might I ask just who you gentlemen are?"

"Chief-Inspector Bycroft Raeburn, Scotland Yard. No doubt you’ve heard of us?" stated the man in charge, producing his credentials. "At any rate, I’m here at the personal request of the P.M. to ensure that there is no... embarrassing linkage between Her Majesty’s government and what may be― "

One of the other officials spoke up nervously, "Perhaps we should discuss this matter in private—out of the public eye. I suggest we go inside." He gestured at the large building that stood at the edge of the grounds, where more police officers stood waiting.

A comfortable office had been commandeered inside for the use of security personnal. Raeburn invited Tom and Bud to sit down.

"We regret that this interview should be necessary," he said crisply but with a hint of apology, "but you two fellows have been accused of faking your underwater exploit. However, we’re eager to hear your side of the story."

"We’ve heard no ‘story’ as yet," Tom retorted. "Inspector, this sort of thing has happened to us before—false accusations meant to delay or embarrass us. Suppose you tell us who made this charge."

Raeburn harrumphed and fingered his bristling, sandy mustache. "I’m afraid it’s rather against policy to reveal the names of informers," he said. "One mustn’t discourage confidential information these days, wot? Briefly, Mr. Swift—you don’t mind my calling you ‘Mr. Swift,’ I should hope?—we’ve received a little whisper in the ear that while you were supposedly aboard your ship in the North Sea you were in fact present in the town of Shopton, U.S.A. The informer claims that you six later embarked in a Swift submarine from your pier in New York, and in that way were deposited on the floor of the Icelandic Sea just an hour or two before your so-called rescue—an operation which, one might suggest, cost Her Majesty’s Treasury a bit of money and our Royal Navy a bit of time."

Tom and Bud looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Tom’s promise to John Thurston to hold confidential the details of the European plot had certainly put them in an awkward position!

"Inspector, I don’t deny that I was in Shopton for a few days last week. I was asked to return to deal with an emergency, a confidential matter," Tom began.

"And did you so inform your employers, the Swedish people?"

"Er... no, I didn’t. It was—there were reasons why― "

"Wait!" Bud exploded. "You don’t need to go into any of that, Tom! Inspector, we ran into an American sub along the way, in the North Sea. Contact Captain Frost of the U.

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