"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 12 - In the Race to the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

"Otto Jantree," Tom repeated thoughtfully.
"That name mean anything to you?" Billing inquired.
20 THE RACE TO THE MOON
"Not offhand. But his accent might mean he's a foreigner. He might even be
an enemy agent. Better pass the word along to the security office at Enterprises.
Ask them to see what they can dig up on him."
"Right, skipper!" Billing said, and hung up.
At that moment the alarm bell on the electronic brain signaled an incoming
message.
"Something from outer space!" Tom cried exultantly.
All eyes watched intently as the keys punched out the message on tape:
unknown disease has struck all animal life used for food supply on our
planet. situation desperate. unable to find cure. can swift scientists solve problem
and send help? repeat: situation desperate!
CHAPTER III
A SOLAR EXPERIMENT
TOM gasped with dismay as he read the news. If his space friends depended
on animal food to sustain life, they might be wiped out!
"We'd better fly back to Shopton at once and confer with Dad," he told Bud.
When they landed at Enterprises, the boys hurried to the Swifts' private
office. The spacious, modernistic room, which Tom shared with his father,
contained two huge desks, drawing boards, and comfortable leather chairs. On
display were models, tooled in plastic and metal, of Tom Sr.'s and Tom Jr.'s most
famous inventions.
Mr. Swift was seated at his desk, a worried frown on his face. "This is grim
news," he said as Tom and Bud sat down.
"Perhaps we'd better call in someone who has a thorough knowledge of
animal diseases," Tom suggested.
"I agree, son, and I think Dr. Faber would be a good man to consult."
22 THE RACE TO THE MOON
Dr. Anton Faber was a government zoologist. He had accompanied Tom's
Antarctic expedition when the young inventor went to drill for molten iron at the
South Pole.
"How about Evan Glennon, too?" Tom suggested. "He's professor of animal
husbandry at Grandyke University."
"I'll contact both of them right away," Mr. Swift offered.
Phone calls brought a promise of co-operation from both men.
The next morning the two boys drove to the station in Bud's red convertible
to pick up Professor Glennon on the nine-o'clock train.
"Snt hwyl, Tom! What cheer?" the professor greeted them, seizing Tom's
hand in a crushing grip. He was a short, thick-set, jovial Welshman with a shock
of gray hair and twinkling blue eyes.
Tom, who had picked up a few words in Welsh, grinned back at him. "Da
iawn, diolch! Very good, thanks. This is my friend, Bud Barclay."
Bud stuck out his own hand and promptly winced. "Glad to know you,
Professor."
"Look you, lad! The name's Evan and don't you forget it!"
Soon after they reached the plant, an Air Force jet touched down on one of
the airstrips, bringing Dr. Faber from Washington. The two boys greeted the
elderly zoologist warmly.