Tom's face was grave as he listened. The two boys discussed the problem as they drove to the Swifts' office in the main building.
"Boy, I sure wish I could think of some way to cope with it," Tom said wearily, flopping down in his desk chair.
"Your dad said to give it the old college try," Bud reported. "And he also said he'd be back in two days to help you on the problem."
Tom glanced at the calendar. "Which reminds me," he said, "on Monday the brain energy will be due from space!"
The thought sent a thrill of excitement tinged with worry through the young inventor's mind. Would the container he had devised prove suitable?
"Hey! A call on the videophone!" Bud pointed to the red light flashing on the control board. He jumped up and switched on the set.
Blake, the Washington announcer, appeared on the screen.
"Bad news, skipper," he said ominously. "An earthquake tremor was just felt here in Washington. It centered in a shipyard on the Potomac and caused great damage!"