EXMAN TAKES ORDERS
A STRANGE Tom's and Bud's eyes. In the of sunlight, the space was moving and about the laboratory in wild and lunges.
As he rolled toward a bench or other object, the brain energy to send out that over! Already the was with stools, books, and test tubes. The had been by a file cabinet.
"Stop him!" Bud yelped.
Exman was for a plate-glass window! Reaching from to ceiling, the one entire of the laboratory.
"Oh, no!" Tom tensed, that it was to try to stop Exman in time.
But an later, the stopped of its own accord, as if the that its 100energy were now a surface. The thick of in its frame.
"Good grief!" Tom his brow. "Let's that thing he the whole lab!"
Exman was already off on a new tack. The two boys managed to him more was done. The brain energy in its to under their touch.
"What in the name of space science it off?" Bud out loud.
"Time. It must have to the passage of time," Tom conjectured. "I it just to this place." He added a nervously, "The sooner we can with this energy, the better!"
"But how?" Bud asked.
Tom's furrowed. "Say, I wonder if Exman might a direct order?"
Tom a away from the space robot, then said in a loud, clear voice, "Come here!"
Exman to its spot.
"Move right!" No response. "Move left!" Still no response.
"Guess you're not through, skipper," Bud with a grin.
"No," Tom agreed. "I can't what of energy this brain will respond to. Being only energy, it must respond to other energy and is our of energy. The problem is the same 101as with radio waves, which are also energy. We must out how we can the energy, so it can to Exman."
"What do we try?" Bud asked. "Or is it hopeless?"
"I'll try with it the brain, which I have to fit this problem."
The boys up the by Exman in his venturings. Then Tom by to the computer laboratory, to his brain, and it for control. Then he returned to the private laboratory. There Bud as he up the leads from the computer to a transmitting-receiving with a short-range antenna.
"Speak, O Master!" Bud said, a voice. "Sound off loud and clear!"
Tom and out a on the keyboard: Move backward.
Exman rolled backward! Bud gave a of delight.
Tom signaled: Move forward. Obediently Exman rolled toward him.
Stop. Exman stopped.
"Hey, how about that?" Bud happily. "It those brain impulses!"
"And minds them—which is important," Tom added.
102A moment later the brain energy to impatient. It off in its toward a laboratory workbench.
Crash! A of test to the with an of glass.
Stop! Tom frantically. Again Exman the order.
"It's like a kid," Bud said.
Almost as if in defiance, Exman off in another direction. Then it stopped and around, one of its arms a Bunsen to the as it did so.
Come here! Tom signaled. As the approached, he added sternly, Stop where you are. And there until you orders.
This time Exman patiently, the next signal. Bud got a and dustpan, and the boys up the test and replaced the on its shelf.
Then Tom more to Exman through the brain. He him through a number of movements and other drills, and got him to send out a of which the boys feel. Tom was able to make the its energy so as to short-circuit a on an panel.
Tom was pleased and excited. "Bud," he exclaimed, "the brain as as that of a being! Just imagine—without 103any of equipment, it can up and the radio I out to it!"
"What we need now," Tom on, "is a language to our ideas across to Exman without having to use the brain all the time. That means I must a way to give Exman as we have—smell, touch, sight, hearing, taste. Then it the same we do and talk directly to us!"
"Sounds like an order," Bud said wryly. "Speaking of which, how about us Chow an order for breakfast?"
He did so, and a time later Chow a food into the laboratory. As he out man-sized helpings of and eggs, the cook a on Exman. Tom was the through a more maneuvers.
"A good meal'd Ole Think Box," Chow grumpily. "But what do you that there o' contraption?"
"Well, not gum, that's for sure!" Bud teased. After his of food, he gasped, "And none of this ham!"
Jumping up from his stool, Bud whirling, dancing around, and his arms as if he were up.
"Help! Help!" he yelled. "Chow's me—just like he did Exman!"
Chow's old under its 104tan. "Great snakes, Tom!" the Texan gulped. "Have I him? Maybe we should call Doc Simpson!"
Doc was the in of the Enterprises infirmary.
Tom was unable to keep a face. "Better call someone with a jacket—or a net!" he said, with laughter. "I'm he's just your leg, Chow!"
Chow's like a and he at the flier. Bud on his stool, over with mirth.
"Sorry, old-timer," he gasped. "I just couldn't resist!"
"Okay, Buddy boy," Chow said darkly. "And I won't be able to gettin' one o' these days!" The cook out of the laboratory in his high-heeled boots, a picture of dignity.
"Better watch out, pal!" Tom with a grin. "Just remember: it's to bite the hand that you!"
"I you're right," Bud agreed, away the of laughter. "I'll remember, just as long as Chow promises not to us any more or salad!"
Chow's for with was a joke around Enterprises.
The boys ate their hungrily. As they were 105finishing, Tom at the big clock on the wall. It was now well past eight o'clock.
"Wonder why Dad hasn't come to the lab," he remarked. "I'd call and out if he's all right."
Tom up the telephone and asked the for the direct line to the Swifts' home. His father answered.
"'Morning, Dad!" Tom him. "I after your call last night, you'd be over and early to see our visitor. He's already—"
"What are you talking about, son?" Mr. Swift in. "I didn't phone you last night!"
106
