"Edmond Hamilton - The Sun Smasher" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

Just before sundown the deputy came in and said, тАЬYou've got a visitor.'

Banning sprang up. Someone must have remembered him, someone who would prove that be was telling
the truth.

But the man who came down the corridor was a stranger, a dark, hard, massive man of middle years,
who wore his clothes with a curious awkwardness. He strode up to the cell door, walking lightly for all
his bulk. He looked at Banning, and his eyes were very dark, very intense.

His bleak, square face did not change expression. Yet a subtle change did come over this massive man
as he stared. He had the look of a man who has waited and endured for ages, a grim and somber man of
stone who at last sees that for which be waited.

"The Valkar,тАЭ he said softly, not to Banning only, but to himself, his voice leaping with a harsh throb.
тАЬKyle Valkar. It's been a long time, but I've found you."
Banning stared. тАЬWhat did you call me? And who are you? I never saw you before."

"Didn't you?тАЭ said the stranger. тАЬBut you did. I'm Rolf. And you're the Valkar. And the bitter years are
over."

Quite unexpectedly, he reached through the bars and took Banning's right hand, and set it against his own
bowed forehead, in a gesture of obeisance.


CHAPTER II
FOR A MOMENT, too shocked even to move, Banning stared at the stranger. Then he caught his hand
away.

"What are you doing?тАЭ he demanded, drawing back. тАЬWhat is this? I don't know you. And I'm
notтАФwhatever name you called me. I'm Neil Banning."

The stranger smiled. In his dark, ruthless face there was something that frightened Banning more than
open enmity would have done. It was affection, such as a man might have for a son, or younger brother.
Deep affection, mingled oddly with respect.

"Neil Banning,тАЭ said the man who called himself Rolf. тАЬYes. It was the story of Neil Banning in the
newspapers that led me here. You are a small sensation now, the man who was robbed of his past. He
laughed softly. тАЬIt's a pity they can't know the truth."

A wild surge of hope went through Banning. тАЬThen you do know it? You can tell meтАФyou can tell them
why this has been done?"

"I can tell you,тАЭ said Rolf, emphasizing the pronoun. тАЬBut not here, not now. Be patient a few more
hours. I'll get you out of here tonight."

"If yon can arrange bail for me, I'll be grateful,тАЭ Banning said. тАЬBut I don't understand why you're doing
this.тАЭ He looked searchingly at Rolf. тАЬPerhaps: I should remember you. Did you know me as a child-?"

"Yes,тАЭ said Rolf. тАЬI knew you as a childтАФand as a man. But you could not remember me.тАЭ A black look