"Edmond Hamilton - The Three Planeteers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Edmond)

will be guessed that we're really your agents after all."

Thorn drew a roll of flexible metal cord from his pocket, and sprang toward the Chairman.

"Forgive me for this, sir,тАЭ he cried.

The bewildered Chairman did not resist as Thorn bound his arms and legs tightly. Then the young
Earthman straightened.

"Tell them we tried to kidnap you, sir,тАЭ he said swiftly to the Chairman. тАЬThat we meant to hold you for
ransom."

Gunner Welk stood ready now to open the window shutter. And Sual Av had taken a little metal sphere
from his pocket.

"You're right-the light-bomb is our best chance,тАЭ Thorn clipped. тАЬThrow it when Gunner opens the
window."

Gunner Welk suddenly flung open the shutter. Before the police hammering outside it could enter, the
bald Venusian flung out the tiny sphere. The Planeteers clapped their hands in front of their eyes. The
sphere burst out on the terrace amid the pressing group of police. A terrific glare of blazing white light
exploded from the bomb. A tiny charge of atoms inside it had been suddenly broken down, not into
energy, but into pure radiation in the frequency of light. The awful glare of radiation instantly paralyzed the
optic nerves of the unprepared police, temporarily blinding them.

The glare died swiftly. Thorn and his two comrades were already plunging out through the blinded men.

"This way!тАЭ Thorn cried.

"They're escaping!тАЭ yelled a blinded officer.

The Planeteers plunged around the corner of the huge mansion, toward the long, low rocket-cars parked
in front.

Sual Av jumped into one, whose power-chamber was throbbing. As the others leaped in after him, the
bald Venusian yanked back the throttle. The car rabbited out through the dark grounds with a rising roar
from the rocket-tubes at its rear.

"Straight for the spaceport!тАЭ Thorn yelled.

"Hold tight!тАЭ called Sual Av, with a throaty laugh. тАЬI always did want to let one of these things out!"

A whizz and roar, a spuming flash of fireтАФthat was the stolen rocketcar as it shot through the streets. Its
speed was suicidal, but streets were almost empty at this late hour.

Now the spaceport was close ahead. Thorn could see the soaring tower of the starter, flashing
varicolored landing signals to a huge freighter that was sinking ponderously down out of the stars with all
its blasts braking.

The audio speaker in the car broke into frantic voice. тАЬAll police! The Planeteers have stolen a police