"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 016 - The Ghost Makers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

know and understand the dangers that confront a medium. I shall rely upon all my sincere believers"тАФ he
swung his head around the circle, dodging the gaze of the hawk-eyed manтАФ"to see that no one in this
group causes a disturbance.

"I shall try again to commune with Little Flower. But first, I shall seek the manifestation of a friendly spirit
that will protect us all against the evil forces."

HE nodded toward his bonds. The nearest sitters, now calm again, examined the knots to see that the
medium was securely tied. The hawk-faced man did not move from his chair. He sat still, with his bold
eyes directed straight toward the sallow medium.

"Join hands," ordered Professor Jacques. "The circle must be complete while I am within it. Will you, Mr.
Harvey, turn out the lights and then join the circle? Thank you."

The final statement was made while Harvey was on the way to comply with the request. The lights went
out, and the voice of Professor Jacques sounded solemnly in the darkness.

"My strength has returned," he said. "But before I again commune with Little Flower, I shall call upon
Temujin, the powerful, friendly spirit, to stand beside me. Often has he been of aid. Coming from the
spirit plane, he can strike mortals as well as evil spirits.

"Should any one leave this circle, I cannot be responsible for his safety. Hark!"тАФthe medium's voice
became a prolonged moanтАФ"I can hear the whisper of Temujin. He is beside me. I feel his powerful
presence -"

As the medium's voice became indistinguishable, a suppressed gasp went around the circle. Hovering in
front of the medium's form appeared a phosphorescent daggerтАФa sinister weapon wielded by an unseen
hand!

"I feel Temujin's presence," came the medium's intonation. "It is above me тАФbeside meтАФprotecting me!
Let mortals beware. Let them beware! No force of evil can enter this room. Bound spirits of the other
plane beware Temujin!"

The medium's voice became a groan. When that groaning ceased, all knew that the voice of Little Flower
would manifest itself.

The threatening, luminous dagger made hands tremble in the circle. Yet its presence was welcome, for
with it here, that unearthly mockery of before could not return.

The medium's groan was dying. The falsetto babble of Little Flower was wavering through the stillness.
The phosphorescent dagger was almost motionless as it shimmered slightly before the medium's head.

"I am Little Flower -"

The babble ended as the chilling tones of a creeping mockery gathered through the room. It seemed as
though some unseen powers were gathering the vibrations of the air together, to hurl them into one
tremendous taunt!

The rising sound increased above the subdued gasps of the sitters. It grew louder than the babble of Little
Flower's voice. It burst like the crest of a mighty waveтАФa startling, mirthless cry of wild, outlandish