Below them and centered in the nose position, Tom had mounted the forward transmitting antenna. For a mouth, the giant had a rectangular-hinged panel, which, when opened, showed several knurled k.n.o.bs for making adjustments in the electrical circuits within the robot's body.

"An' look at those lil ole ears!" Chow marveled. "Kin he hear with 'em, Tom?"

"He sure can." The inventor laughed. "They're microphones."

A CLEVER FOIL 185.

These sensitive, multidirectional installations bulged from baffle enclosures on both sides of the head.

"There's just one thing missing, Tom." said Chow. "Hair. The giant's balder'n I am. Not a hair on his head."

Tom grinned. "That's right. And he won't miss them any more than you do."

"When are you takin' this fella out West?"

"After I give him one more test-the test of fire. Chow, you're invited to a little ceremony tomorrow afternoon to watch it."

"I'll be there. I sure wouldn't miss it. Not for all the longhorns in Texas!"

Tom spent the rest of the day preparing for the test. A special gla.s.s furnace, in which the giant would perform his inventor's every command, had been constructed in one of the sheds. It stood at the end of a ramp up which the robot would walk. Set some distance back from the furnace and behind a gla.s.s part.i.tion was a low, portable control board. Banked on each side of it were seats for the audience.

Following a luncheon at the plant, with Chow in charge, Mrs. Swift, Sandy, Phyl, the cook, and Tom's engineering staff filed into the shed and took seats.

"This is like going to the theater," said Phyl. 'Tom, when do the actors come on?"

"Right now. Mother, are you ready?"

"Mother?" Sandy echoed, puzzled.

Mrs. Swift and her son merely smiled. As Tom 186 .

threw a switch, the relay panels lighted up. Next, the young inventor set the circuit switches to start the action tapes.

A thunderous rapping was heard on the corrugated steel door that formed one side of the platform. A moment later the door rolled into the roof and the giant robot clumped in.

"Tom, he's marvelous!" Sandy exclaimed, as the giant took the center of the stage and stood facing his audience.

Mrs. Swift left her seat and ascended the three steps at one end of the platform. Walking over to the giant, she reached up and touched his chest. In a clear voice she said: "Since you stand for both atom and robot, I name you Ator!"

The audience applauded as she descended the steps.

"My second giant," Tom announced, "will be called Sermek in honor of the field of servo-mechanics."

Mrs. Swift now walked to the relay panel and pushed the b.u.t.ton that would open the door to the furnace.

As the fierce heat waves began to billow over the platform, Ator marched forward into the roaring inferno. Every person in the shed leaned forward tensely.

Would Ator "live" or "die"? Would Tom's invention be a success?

CHAPTER 23.

TRIAL BY FIRE.

ATOR STRODE back and forth inside the furnace, looking like a giant knight in armor. Jeis of chemical fire deluged his Tomasite-protected body, but not once did he waver or display a defect.

"I can hardly believe what I'm looking at," said Mrs. Swift, smiling proudly at her son.

As he directed Ator, Tom began addressing his audience through a small microphone hanging on his chest. "One task the robot will be called upon to do inside the atomic energy plant will be to replace neutron-soaking rods. I'll have him show you an example by using two ordinary metal batons-one used, one new."

The used rod lay in a groove on a steel shelf in the furnace. The other was on the floor.

Ator stooped over and the fingers of one hand came up with the new rod. In a deft movement with his other hand he lifted the old one out of place, 187.

188 .

dropped it into a basket, and carefully fitted the new rod into the groove.

"Well, brand my lariat!" Chow called out. "That sure was a neat trick."

Tom, his eyes twinkling, directed the robot to pick up both batons and twirl them in the manner of a drum major. The intricate juggling was climaxed by a series of tossing spins through the flames. The audience was in an uproar of praise and laughter. Tom himself was pleased at the degree of speed and accuracy with which the robot performed.

"Ator will now demonstrate his artistic ability," he announced, smiling. "As big chief of the atomic pile, he will be called upon to coat some of the equipment from time to time with rustproof paint."

Pretending to address his remarks to the robot, Tom instructed him to pick up a bucket of paint and a brush that stood near him.

"Start painting," the young inventor commanded, at the same time manipulating the controls for vertical arm strokes.

With total disregard for the fire, Ator began to cover the gla.s.s-brick wall that faced his audience.

"That's enough," said Tom. But Ator continued to paint. "Hey," the boy chided, "you're painting out the window! We can't see you."

The onlookers laughed as Tom allowed his giant robot to paint himself out of view as a climax to the performance. Then Ator opened the door and stalked onto the platform.

TRIAL BY FIRE 189.

The plant engineers were enthusiastic in their praise and asked Tom how soon the giant would be shipped to the Citadel. In a hushed voice Tom replied: "For security reasons I'm letting it be known that Ator and Sermek will leave next week. Actually they're going tonight. The moving will be done secretly and without lights."

Fortunately, the evening sky was brilliant with stars, and when the workers'

eyes became accustomed to the dim light, they were able to load the Sky Queen quickly. Besides the two giant robots, they lifted aboard a huge square box fitted with metal straps.

Chow chortled. "So those mee-chanical guys travel with a trunk, eh? What kind o' gear's in it, Tom?"

"Actually it is gear," the young inventor replied. "The trunk contains Sermek's control panel. Ator's is already out at the Citadel."

"I see," said Chow, but shook his head uncompre-hendingly.

When everything was in place, Tom summoned Bud, Radnor, Hank, and Arvid for the take-off. It was accomplished without fanfare and hours later they were circling over the Citadel, awaiting landing instructions.

"I see all the drone planes are at work," Bud remarked, watching the six automatic planes circling, ready to capture and guide in any unwanted visiting ship. They could also intercept any bomb that might 190 .

be dropped, so that it would explode in the air, not on the ground.

"I'll feel a lot safer here now," Tom said quietly, recalling his narrow escape from the tunnel during his first visit.

"Me too," Bud said. "The drones will keep crows away, I suppose."

"Let's hope so, pal."

A hard-surfaced area had been marked out in red lights within the huge reserve as a landing mat for the Sky Queen. Tom guided the ship down, using the jet lifters cautiously to avoid jarring his valuable cargo.

Mr. Swift was waiting for the group as they climbed down from the plane.

"Thank goodness you made it safely, Tom. After Jones' and Davis' experience, I was worried."

"Any more crows around?" his son asked.

"No, and I hope the capture of Flash Ludens has ended that trouble."

Tom inquired about Raymond Turnbull. Mr. Swift shook his head, saying, "His brother has become moody over the situation. Robert has been keeping irregular hours, coming in at odd times and staying away from here for long stretches on and off."

"Has it affected his work?" Tom questioned.

"I think not. But then everything is about ready for putting the pile into action.

Opening ceremonies will take place two days from now, providing your robot and the relotrol are in working order."

TRIAL BY FIRE 191.

"They are, Dad. Come and meet Ator and Ser-mek."

He escorted his father into the Flying Lab's hangar where the two giants stood, trussed with guy ropes to keep them from falling.

The sight of Ator and Sermek amazed even the seasoned inventor.

"It's an achievement to be proud of, son," he beamed. "I can hardly wait to see them in action. We'll have a test early tomorrow."

When the young inventor awoke the next morning in his bunk in the Sky Queen, the first rays of the desert sun were glinting into the cabin. Tom jumped up and went to make sure that Ator and Sermek were all right. Finding them still in position, he went to put on work clothes.

Directly after breakfast, the Citadel became a scene of excited antic.i.p.ation.

Crews had moved the two giant robots to a position between the control house and the outdoor shaft that led to the pile's tunnel entrance. A crowd of engineers had gathered to see them.

Meanwhile, Tom had made a final inspection of the relay panel in the double- walled pa.s.sage surrounding the pile and the panel in the control house.

Everything seemed to be in perfect working order.

Tom now gave instructions for the outdoor demonstration area to be cleared.

The engineers spread out around the section, eagerly awaiting the test.

"Where's Robert Turnbull?" Tom asked his fa- 192 .

ther, who was standing near the tunnel entrance. "I thought he'd want to watch the demonstration."

Mr. Swift looked about and shrugged. "Robert was around earlier. I know he wants to be on hand. He'll probably show up in a few minutes."

But the scientist did not put in an appearance. Finally Mr. Swift told Tom to proceed without him.

Tom walked to the control house, announcing that he would put Ator through a series of maneuvers such as he would perform in servicing the pile. The simplest movements would come first.

He had Ator stride up and down, bend, and stretch. Next, the giant picked up a steel bar and bent it easily in his great metallic fingers.

"What power!" exclaimed one of the technicians.

"I'd hate to have Ator get mad at me!" another said. "He'd crush you in nothing flat!"

Mr. Swift, who was still standing near the tunnel entrance, was pleased with the demonstration. He was about to walk to the control house and ask Tom to speed up Ator's actions when he noticed that the door to the tunnel's cargo elevator was open but the elevator was not at ground level.

"Ator may walk in there and tumble," the scientist said to himself, hurrying to close it. "What careless person left that door open?"

Tom and Bud in the control house saw him move toward the door, but the next instant were diverted by an unexpected sight. Ator had collapsed!

"What happened?" cried Bud.

TRIAL BY FIRE 193.

"I don't know. The power's still on. The trouble must be in the tapes."

Disheartened, Tom was about to click off the controls when Ator revived.

Getting up, the giain weaved clumsily for an instant, then started to run toward Mr. Swift.

The technicians shouted cries of warning to Mr. Swift as Tom fought frantically with the controls.

But the giant robot seemed to have developed a mind of his own!

In a moment his great legs had carried him to Mr. Swift's side. Ator pounced upon the inventor and seized him between his ma.s.sive hands.

"Stop him! Stop him!" the onlookers screamed, rushing forward to help.

Desperately Tom tried to cut the power supply, but to no avail. Ator continued his devilish work. Holding his captive high overhead, he waved him back and forth.