"Doc Savage Adventure 1934-09 Fear Cay" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doc Savage Collection)

FEAR CAY

A Doc Savage Adventure

by Kenneth Robeson

(Originally published in "Doc Savage" magazine September 1934. Bantam Books reprint May 1966.)




Chapter 1

THE POCKETBOOK GAG


ONE OF two pedestrians walking on a New York street turned, pointed at the big bronze man they had just passed, and said earnestly, "I wouldn't trade places with that bird for a million bucks!"

The pedestrian's companion also looked at the bronze man.

"You said it," he agreed. "I wouldn't last a day in his shoes, if half of what I've heard is true."

If the bronze man was aware of their attention, he gave no sign. Many persons turned to stare at him; newsboys stopped shouting abruptly when they saw him; but the bronze man merely went on with long, elastic strides.

"He's not often seen in public," some one breathed.

"And no wonder!" another exclaimed. "The newspapers say his enemies have made countless attempts to kill him."

The heads of the tallest individuals on the New York street did not top the bronze man's shoulders. He was a giant. Yet it was only the manner in which he towered above the throng that made him seem as huge as he really was, so symmetrically perfect was his great frame developed.

"They say he can take a piece of building brick in one hand and squeeze it to dust," offered a man.

Huge cables of sinew enwrapped the bronze man's neck, and enormous thews stood up as hard as bone on the backs of his hands. There was a liquid smoothness about the way they flowed.

Persons who saw the metallic man's eyes made haste in getting out of his path. Not that the eyes were threatening, but there was something about them that compelled. They were like pools of flake-gold, those eyes, and the gold flakes were very fine and always in movement, as if stirred by diminutive, invisible whirlwinds.

Strange eyes! They held power, and the promise of an ability to do weird things.

Two policemen on a corner saluted the bronze giant enthusiastically.

"Hello, Doc Savage," they chorused.

Tile mighty man who looked as if be were made of metal acknowledged the greeting with a nod and went on. His features were strikingly regular, unusually handsome in an emphatic, muscular way.

More than one attractive young stenographer or clerk felt herself inexplicably moved to attempt a mild flirtation the instant she saw the big bronze fellow. But the amazing giant had a manner of not seeming to see such incidents.

The bronze man came to a section where the sidewalk was almost deserted. He stopped.

On the walk before him lay a small object of leather. Stooping, be picked it up.