"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 089 - The Chinese Tapestry" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"Five days ago" - Doctor Tam raised his right hand; outstretched thumb and fingers indicated the number
- "five days ago, Ku Luan died. I say 'died' because he has shown no sign of life; yet in a sense he lives.
Wearied, he knew that death was coming. Voluntarily, he chose the semblance of death before his hour
had come.

"We know the reason why. Ku Luan has words to speak. He was living in hopes that he could talk to
someone who is not yet here. Who that person is, we cannot guess; nor can Ku Luan's servants tell us.
But of this, I am certain. Ku Luan, knowing that he had but ounces of strength left within him, showed the
amazing power to reserve that last-minute effort until a future time.

"One might say that Ku Luan is in a trance; yet that does not properly describe his true condition. It is
rarely true that a man can assume a trance at will; even more seldom can anyone rally from such a
condition. Yet Ku Luan has taken on a condition that looks like death; and somehow I believe that he
will shed it when he chooses."

When Tam delivered his final statement, The Shadow spoke in return. His whispered tone was one of
analysis.

"You have spoken of Ku Luan," declared The Shadow. "Ku Luan is one who holds a message. He will
resume life only when he is visited by a person to whom he is willing to entrust his secret. He will know
when that person has arrived."

Doctor Tam nodded eagerly. Such were the very thoughts that he was holding.

"Though Ku Luan seems dead," added The Shadow, "you have tried to impress him with your will. You
have hoped that he might speak to you."

"That is true. On my last visit to Ku Luan, I nearly gained success. As I spoke to him, I sensed that his
life force was gathering for its final effort. I lacked the will, however. Ku Luan did not speak."

"You believe that Ku Luan would speak to me?"

"I do. My hope is that you will visit Ku Luan in my stead. He has accepted me as a friend, if not as a
confidant. If he will accept you as he has accepted me"

Doctor Tam broke off, staring. Gloved hands were moving upward from the front of The Shadow's
cloak. Blackclad fingers brushed away the slouch hat, then plucked loose the collar of the cloak.

Falling garments revealed a square-jawed visage. It was sight of that countenance that had caused
Doctor Tam's astonishment.

THE Chinaman was looking at his own face, as clearly as if he had been staring into a mirror. The
Shadow had taken Tam's request literally. A master of make-up, The Shadow had adopted a
countenance that was the exact duplicate of Doctor Tam's.

"I am prepared," announced The Shadow. His voice had become the choppy speech that characterized
Tam's own tone. "At what time shall Doctor Roy Tam visit Ku Luan, to learn a dead man's secret?"

Doctor Tam gasped. Then, managing a smile, he reached for the telephone. He spoke in Chinese, giving
the name of Doctor Doi Yan. For the Chinese in San Francisco use their own exchange, where the