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THE FLAMING MOUNTAIN A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY, No. 17 BY JOHN BLAINE Grosset & Dunlap ASIN: B000OKD8G4 Rock, melting like butter on a hot stove! It is hard to “believe, but that is what happens on San Luz, a small island off the coast ofSouth America. When Rick Brant and his pal Dan Scott fly to the famous resort island to join Rick’s father, head of the Spindrift Scientific Foundation, a seemingly inactive volcano is about to explode in an eruption which could easily blow San Luz off the map. The immediate threat is to a small town at the foot of the volcano, where the air reeks with the fumes of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, and it is here that Rick and Scotty help Dr. Brant and his scientist associates set up headquarters, in the hope of finding a way of controlling an eruption that is growing into a certainty with fantastic speed. But their efforts to save the island town are hindered by the superior forces of nature, the superstitious fatalism of the people - and sabotage! With the earth opening up all around them, Rick, Scotty, and the scientists have little hope of preventing a catastrophe, until a decision is made to unleash the awesome power of atomic energy in a desperate last attempt to fight the volcanic eruption. Jam-packed with excitement and swift, tense action, TheFlamingMountainhas all the elements that have made the Rick Brant Science Adventure series a favorite with boys all over the world. CHAPTER I Vulcan’s Hammer The entire staff of the world-famed Spindrift Scientific Foundation gathered in the conference room of the big gray laboratory building on the southeast corner ofSpindriftIsland . It was unusual for the whole staff to be called to a meeting. Even more unusual- not a single member knew what the meeting was about. Rick Brant, son of the Spindrift Foundation’s director, Dr. Hartson Brant, was perhaps even more mystified than the professional scientists. His father had phoned fromFlorida with brief instructions. “Rick, I want you and Scotty to make a scale model ofSanLuzIsland . It’s off the coast ofVenezuela . You’ll find it on the sailing chart of the area, and there are references in the library. Be as complete and detailed as possible, and have the model ready by Saturday. Pick me up atNewarkAirport Saturdaynoon . I’ll have a guest. Ask Hobart Zircon to call a full staff meeting fortwo o’clock Saturday.” Rick and his pal Don Scott had completed the model, which was now resting on a table at the front of the lab conference room. One hour ago he had flown with Scotty in his plane, the Sky Wagon, toNewarkAirport where he had picked up his father and a short, white-haired elderly man by the name of Dr. Esteben Balgos. Rick, a teen-aged version of his long-legged, athletic father, was consumed with curiosity. He could tell that the scientist was deeply concerned over something. It seemed likely Dr. Balgos was at least involved in that concern, if not the actual cause. But Rick still knew of nothing that would relateSpindriftIsland off the coast ofNew Jersey to San Luz, an island off the coast of northernSouth America . The Spindrift scientists were gathering, pausing to examine the model on the table before they took their seats. Hobart Zircon, the huge, bearded senior physicist and associate director of the Foundation, looked at the model in company with Tony Briotti, the youthful staff archaeologist. Dr. Howard Shannon, chief biologist, came in with Julius Weiss, the famous mathematical physicist. A slender, attractive dark-haired girl, Rick’s own age, moved through the crowd to his side. He gave her a smile of welcome. Jan Miller was the daughter of one of the staff physicists, Dr. Walter Miller. “What’s all this about, Rick?” Jan asked. “And where are Barby and Scotty?” “I wish I knew what it’s all about,” Rick replied. “Barby and Scotty are at the house with Dad’s guest, aDr. Esteben Balgos. We p