Tom Swift and His Outpost in Space by Victor Appleton II

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

CHAPTER 11

BAD COMMUNICATIONS

"OKAY, SO WE have some very large potatoes," said Bud with a laugh. "What’s it all about, Mr. Swift?"

Damon Swift picked up a folded newspaper. "I was reading this morning’s Shopton Courier while we were waiting in the courtroom," he explained. "Bashalli, since you asked the question, why don’t you read this article aloud—starting with the headline."

"It is in the Business and Commerce section," she announced. "The headline reads, New Invention Will Harness Sun’s Energy!"

"Oh no!" Sandy gasped, leaning over to scan the article. "It’s about that awful man’s company!"

Bashi quickly read the article aloud. The story announced that the Quik Battery Corporation had developed a solar battery that would revolutionize industry. Jaston York was quoted in glowing terms in praise of the many future uses for the battery. The story also stated that the batteries were energized in "the airless near-earth environment" but gave no further details.

"Those balloons you saw must be the answer," Mrs. Swift remarked.

"It says that a whole series of such balloons has been sighted lately," Sandy declared. "The reporter think they might have been behind a slew of upstate UFO sightings."

"A little box tells us to turn to the editorial page for more comment," noted Bashalli, turning the pages. She read silently for a moment, then looked up, her eyes flashing fire. "Absolutely disgraceful!"

Bud asked, "What?"

"Listen!" She read a paragraph of the editorial aloud. "‘Local citizens will regret that the Quik Battery Corporation has succeeded in making a solar battery before our own Swift Enterprises. Shopton has always looked forward to the Swifts being first in their field with new scientific achievements. But in this case, Jaston York and his engineers have snatched the laurels from our famous father-and-son team. Science marches on, and we can only say, Well done!’"

"Thats an insult!" Mrs. Swift exclaimed.

"And after all you Swifts have done for this hick town since the days of the Model T!" Bud Barclay exclaimed in disgust. "Mr. Swift, I know you don’t believe in revenge, but if they don’t print a retraction, I think—you should cancel your subscription!"

Sandy rolled her eyes.

Tom’s father chuckled but made no comment. Tom himself shrugged his shoulders as he turned the car into the driveway of the Swift residence. "It’s a free country. If York’s battery is all he claims, more power to him."

"A pun," commented Bashalli. "That is surely a pun." As Tom cut the engine, she added, "But after all this, I still fail to understand. Why did Mr. Toad, to call him by his proper name, insist on this lawsuit?"

"It’s obvious, isn’t it?" was Tom’s reply. "What better way to get publicity for his new product than to sue his prospective rival? It’s not a secret that Enterprises has been doing battery research."

"He probably rigged those balloons to pop by remote control," Bud muttered sourly.

"He couldn’t have known our upcoming flight schedule," Mr. Swift pointed out. "No, Tom’s theory is mine as well—Quik Battery saw an opportunity to get some publicity out of their failed experiments, and took advantage of it.

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