Tom Swift and the Mystery Comet by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II [Appleton, Victor II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

THE STUDENT PRINCE OF HEIDELBERG

STARTLED, Tom held back—but only for a split second. Then he shoved Feng behind him and jumped in front of Dr. Sarcophagus. "Good night!—stop!" he shouted. "What in space is wrong with you!—?"

"I fear—this man—is quite out of his mind!" gasped Karl Feng. "He stalks me everywhere!—even here!"

Sarcophagus seemed to be struggling to bring his anger under control. Standing with clenched fists, the color slowly returned to his face. "I—I apologize, Tom," he rasped. "This man―"

"Is my guest!" snapped Tom. "Don’t think I won’t set aside your ‘challenge’ and have you thrown off the grounds if you try to harass Dr. Feng!"

The skeptic appeared abashed. "In this case, it appears I’m not a very good example of my principles," he admitted quietly. "I was taken by surprise."

"Should I apologize for the fact that my face enrages you, Sarcophagus?—if that is what we are to call you," Feng demanded.

Tom permitted a time-out of a few moments duration, for inarticulate heavy breathing. Then he said: "Maybe I’m the one who should apologize. I should have alerted you both." He explained to each why the other was present at Swift Enterprises. "You’re both here by invitation," he concluded. "As your host I don’t wish to be rude, but I have to insist that you two guys act more grown-up than I look! Is that reasonable?"

"Eminently," nodded Dr. Feng with great dignity.

"I won’t cause a problem," Sarkiewski promised with a hint of snarl. "But it would be in everyone’s best interest if this high priest of the paranormal were kept clear of me."

The man known to the airwaves as Dr. Sarcophagus turned and stalked away. "Holy Mope!" gulped Lett Monica. "Off what wall did that come from? What exactly does Sarc have against you, Doctor? Did you steal his girlfriend?"

"I fear my wife would not approve such adventures," replied Feng dryly. Tom knew his family lived in Heidelberg, pursuing their lives as the academic pursued his theories around the world.

"This has to do with philosophy," was Tom’s terse comment. "And I’m afraid the war of the philosophers will be heating up again very soon."

"Oh really?" Feng reacted in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Tom explained that he had decided to spend a few days in Germany prior to the start of the comet probe. "I’m not delaying the departure of the Challenger," he said. "But my personal involvement isn’t necessary at this point—Enterprises has a lot of experience planning space missions. Dad and I agree that we need to try to find out more about your Brothers of Hermes and its secret school. Our instruments may help uncover the Sanctum, and getting more of the warning given by the Messengers of Light may be absolutely critical to our safe completion of the Tarski probe." His mind added: And keeping the Swift repelatrons up and running! He felt certain of a connection.

He gave Lett a concise account of Feng’s findings and conjectures. The astronaut whistled in astonishment. "Good night! And all the while I’m just floating around in the zero-G chamber.

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