“It now appears,” Thurston explained, “that only one segment was quelled.  Other members of the antigovernment movement are active again and are said to be strongly organized.”

The CIA man related even more sinister news.  It was suspected that a larger nation—­by aiding the rebels—­was planning a coup to take over Brungaria.  They had already subverted various government agencies and were sending their own professors to staff the Brungarian technical schools.  It was all part of their insidious fifth-column pattern.

“Many top Brungarian officials have joined the plotters,” Thurston added, “and it’s now becoming very difficult for anyone to enter or leave the country.”

Ames asked for information on any rebel sympathizers known to be in the United States.  Thurston was able to tell him very little.

“We keep strict tabs, of course, on all Brungarians entering this country,” Thurston explained.  “But even though we screen them carefully, a rebel agent like Narko may slip in—­usually on a stolen or faked passport.”

When the telecast ended, Tom, Bud, and Ames discussed the news grimly.

“What if Narko has pals working with him?” Bud conjectured.

“If he does,” Tom said, “they may try carrying through Narko’s mission.”

“I’ll station extra guards around the outer wall on twenty-four-hour alert,” Ames promised.

Tom approved this measure wholeheartedly, but the purpose of Narko’s secret mission remained a mystery.  Why had he tried to force his way into Enterprises?  What was he after?  There was little hope of resolving these questions, since United States Intelligence had learned of the rebel movement itself only within the past few days.  Thurston had asked Tom and his companions to treat the information as confidential.

“I’d better get back to work,” Tom decided after Bud and Ames had left his office.  Tom sat down at his drawing board and began to sketch out some rough ideas for a vehicle to house the “brain energy” from space.

Tom wondered if the brain would be able to perform actions by itself, given the proper mechanical output devices.  Or would he have to help it function via an electronic computer to digest incoming information or stimuli and then to respond through servo controls?

The problem was so baffling and complex that Tom became completely oblivious to the passage of time.  He sketched out plan after plan, only to crumple and discard each one.

Suddenly a disturbing thought jarred the young inventor out of his concentration.  Perhaps the Brungarian rebel scientists had now figured out how to decode the radio messages from the Swifts’ space friends!

If so, when the brain energy was launched toward earth, they might try to divert it to their own receiving setup!

CHAPTER IV

ANOTHER TREMOR!

Tom was appalled at this new danger.  Shoving his drawing board back into its wall slot, the young inventor hurried to his desk and made a number of telephone calls.