Tom Swift and His Atomic Earth Blaster by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

THE BIG DIG

HEARTSICK, Tom did everything possible to avoid his father for the next twenty-four hours, insisting that their conversations be limited to matters concerning the polar expedition and the upcoming meeting on the water drilling project. During the intervening night, he was unable to sleep.

But the thing that Tom found most disturbing was the fact that he was also avoiding Bud Barclay.

I just can’t face him right now, he thought, not with him not knowing what’s going on behind the scenes.

But was that the only reason? Or was he worried, in some small corner of his mind, that the accusations against Bud might be true? That was a possibility he recoiled from—yet because it persisted, he was engulfed in shame and a sense of torn loyalties.

When the young pilot did drop by, Tom’s face lit up for a moment—then he begged off awkwardly, using as an excuse that he had to prepare for the evening’s meeting with the City Water Commission.

He knew his pal didn’t buy the explanation.

That evening, not one minute early, Tom joined his father and Jake Aturian in the meeting room, which also served as the meeting room for the Shopton City Council.

"We’re ready to begin," said Miriam DiCorvo, who was a close friend of Tom’s mother and was chairing the meeting.

The representatives from Enterprises made a concise audiovisual presentation of their proposed operation, stressing the safety features built in to the new-model earth blaster.

"Glad to see this," said Herb Greenup wryly. "We don’t want to have any more of those ‘accidents,’ now do we." His voice was a bit sheepish, and Tom followed Mr. Greenup’s gaze into the audience. Liz Greenup was in attendance, and the look she gave her father spoke volumes.

There was no formal opposition to the Swift proposal, and after a few questions and a favorable opinion from the city attorney, the Commission voted its unanimous approval and adjourned.

"Shortest meeting we’ve ever had," beamed Mrs. DiCorvo.

The Commissioners left the room, and the crowd drifted away, Liz giving Tom a wave and Tom returning a smile that expressed his gratitude.

Suddenly a loud, angry voice burst out: "Which one of you is Tom Swift?"

Startled, the three turned to look at the speaker, who had come up behind them. He was a burly, red-faced individual in a rumpled tan suit and a Panama hat. A half-chewed cigar protruded from one corner of his mouth.

"Well, speak up! I asked which one of you is Tom Swift?" He took out his cigar and jabbed it in Tom’s direction. "Guess it must be you—the cub!"

"I’m Tom Swift," the teenage inventor replied coolly. "What can I do for you?"

"Do for me?" roared the stranger. "You’ve done enough as it is, you meddling pipsqueak! Is it true you’ve offered to punch that tunnel through Pine Hill for nothing?"

"That’s right."

The stranger’s eyes narrowed and he shook a ham-like fist in Tom’s face. "By thunder, I oughta whale the tar out of you right here and now!"

Tom Swift’s jaw jutted out in a surge of anger at the man’s hectoring manner and insulting words.

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