The Firebird Rocket Read Online Free Page A

stuff.”
    Young became solemn. “That’s the whole point of the investigation you’re undertaking.”
    They arrived at a room where a youth was working at a modified atomic reactor. Young introduced him as Smoky Rinaldo, a senior at Princeton University.
    â€œSmoky can show you around from here on,” the professor said. “When you’ve seen enough of the lab, meet me back at my office and we’ll discuss your assignment.”
    He walked off and Smoky informed the visitors that he was doing research for a term paper.
    â€œI’m into rockets, myself,” Chet spoke up. “Fact is, I’ve got my own missile.”
    Frank chuckled. “You almost didn’t. It flew straight—straight to earth.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” Smoky asked.
    â€œOh, nothing,” Chet said hastily. “Why don’t you show us the rest of the lab? I can’t wait to see it.”
    The young people wandered through the last row of rooms, which were assigned to scientists experimenting with the shape of nose cones and tail fins for partly developed rockets.
    Suddenly a movement caught Frank’s attention. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man behind them. He was tall and lanky and wore a black beard and tinted glasses.
    Frank paused before a blow-up of a Saturn rocket. Joe and Chet joined him. The man stopped at a workbench and furtively glanced at them.
    â€œI think we’ve got a shadow,” the older Hardy informed Joe and Chet in an undertone.
    Joe traced the curved line of a nose cone with his finger, pretending to be interested in it. “Are you sure?” he asked.
    â€œNo. It could be a coincidence. Let’s go on and keep an eye on him.”
    Joe turned as they walked farther, catching a glimpse of the man. “Beard with glasses?” he asked.
    â€œRight.”
    Smoky was slightly ahead of the group, explaining the interesting features of the lab. When they left the last room and walked back to where they had started, Chet asked, “Who’s that guy with the beard over there?”
    Smoky turned around to look. “I’ve no idea. Matter of fact, I’ve never seen him before.”
    The man obviously realized that the boys had noticed him, and instead of following them farther, he entered a door with the sign OFFICIAL PERSONNEL ONLY.
    â€œHe must be on the staff here,” Smoky went on. “Would you like to see the reactor I’m working on? The interior is hot enough to handle uranium.”
    They walked over to the instrument. “We can’t see the interior,” Joe pointed out.
    â€œThat’s because it’s running,” Smoky said. “Just follow me, and you’ll find out what’s in there.” He led the way to a diagram on the wall representing a slice through the reactor from top to bottom.
    â€œThis is how the machine is put together,” the student explained. “The core in the center marked A is where the uranium goes. The letter B stands for the pressure vessel, and C is the casing. These tubes extending from the core to the top are the fuel—”
    A loud sputtering noise broke out. Red sparks fiashed through the air around them. Chet turned pale and shouted, “The reactor’s going to explode!”

CHAPTER IV
    A Strange Disappearance
    CHET dived to the floor, crawled under a workbench, turned around on his hands and knees, and stared at the other three. Frank, Joe, and Smoky remained standing.
    â€œYou guys want to get blown up?” Chet quavered.
    â€œFalse alarm, Chet,” Smoky said.
    â€œHow do you know?” Chet demanded.
    â€œBecause that wasn’t the atomic reactor,” Smoky explained. “It has a failsafe protection. If anything goes wrong, the motor shuts off automatically. And besides, this is a modified reactor. It doesn’t have enough power for an atomic explosion.”
    A man in overalls came over.