Part 27 (2/2)

”I know,” Joe said ”Steve calledMike down for trying to land without warning But how come you can cut circuits in and out like this?”

”We never knohen an experiment will call for electric power in some unexpected place,” Rick explained ”Thewe need to We can feed normal current in, or 440 volts, and we can cross-link the circuits any e like”

Scotty checked Rick's work, then took the switch handle He touched the contacts briefly, and there was a quick pulse of light as the roof lighted up and went dark again

”I'll stand by here,” Scotty said ”You stand by at the end of the runway Are we going to use gasoline?”

”We'll have to It would take a while to run power fro units Gasoline will be quicker and easier Let's go”

There was a supply of gasoline for the boats Rick got a five-gallon can while Scotty collected newspapers Two trash cans served as containers The cans were filled with newspapers, then drenched in gasoline and placed at the last possible point of runway that could be used If Mike overshot the containers he would land in the sea

Rick worried about the proble burned, then went to the workshop and selected rags He twisted the rags loosely and tied the fuse The last step was to insert one end of the fuse in each can When the tiht the center of the rag string The fire would travel rapidly, because of the gasoline

In case Mike was delayed for any great period, Rick kept the gasoline handy He otten to ask where Mike would come from, and Steve hadn't volunteered Probably he would co time in the plane Mike would use, a fast little four-place job that Rick had long coveted But Mike wouldn't be ready for take-off instantly Tiet froassed and ready Allow another hour That meant two hours in all

Inside, Rick was still scared How did they know the electronic mind reader wouldn't be activated at any moment? He hurried into the house and went upstairs to where his father was packing He couldn't do anything, and he knew it But it helped, just being near the scientist Apparently Scotty felt the same He had joined Hartson Brant, too But Barby, Jan, and Mrs Brant had preceded hi before”

The sht he knehy He had seen his father face great physical danger without losing a bit of his composure But the insidious weapon that could read all reason out of minds was far more horrible to a er could be Bullets, knives, and clubs may leave bad wounds, or they ed brain?

Scotty looked at his watch and held it up for Rick to see Nearly an hour and three-quarters had passed since the call to Steve Rick gestured to Scotty and urged, ”Hurry, Dad”

”I'ot to it first and lugged it down the stairs, refusing Scotty's offer of help

The boys went to their stations while the others waited on the porch

Rick checked to be sure he hadup Suppose it blew his hter when he heard the far-off drone of a plane There wasn't time now! He held the rew nearer, rising to a high whine The plane was diving!

Suddenly it was overhead and gone with a crash of sound Rick saw its lights head out to sea Mike was

Rick's lips forh he had heard, Scotty threw the switch Lights flared on the lab roof, outlining it clearly Rick struck a asoline ran along the cord in both directions, ran up the sides of the cans There was a loud whoosh of exploding gasoline, and both cans were ablaze Rick ran away from the heat

Mike came in low and fast over the lab roof and slapped the plane down on the turf In a moment he applied the brakes and the wheels whined their protest as they dug up grass Then the plane was rolling to a stop directly in front of the house

The pilot ju! Come on, sir No tiirls, found time to pat Rick's shoulder, and climbed in Rick took the suitcase from Barby and handed it to the scientist The door closed and the plane hirling, catching them in its prop blast Mike taxied back fast to the laboratory, turned the plane and revved up, holding on the brakes

Rick saw Scotty eain as the prop wash caught hi Mike ski trash cans, banked out to sea, and was gone

Rick felt a sob rising in his throat and resolutely squelched it He walked to the burning cans and dropped covers on the

Had they made it? They wouldn't know Not until Steve reported that the scientist was safe

On the porch, Barby asked, ”How soon e know?”

Rick was proud of her Her voice had trehtly ”Probably not until tomorrow, Sis Co”