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

"You forget, sir,тАЭ flashed John Thorn, тАЬthat we are the Three Planeteers!"

"Yes,тАЭ rumbled Gunner Welk, cold blue eyes gleaming. тАЬWe have a reputation of our own among the
outlaws of the system, sir."

Sual Av grinned.

"I always did have a hidden longing to be a pirate."

"Thorn, you give me new hope!тАЭ declared the Chairman. тАЬIf you can do this, in the little time left usтАФ"

"Listen!тАЭ commanded Gunner Welk suddenly.

Through the locked door and metal-shuttered window of the study penetrated a rising tumult, the roar of
rocket-cars racing up to the mansion. Then came a rush of running feet through it, and a loud knock on
the door.

"Mr. Hoskins!тАЭ called a secretary anxiously to the Chairman through the door. тАЬThe police are here!
They say the Three Planeteers are in the city tonight, and were glimpsed by spy-plates heading toward
this mansion. They want to make sure you're safe."

"The cursed Earth Police!тАЭ flared Gunner Welk in a hoarse whisper. тАЬWe overlooked some of their
spy-plates."

Thom's eyes were black pinpoints, his brown face taut. He knew the Mercurian was right, that they had
been glimpsed by some of the hidden visiplates planted cunningly throughout the metropolis for the
benefit of the police.

"I'm all right, Ames!тАЭ called the Chairman to his secretary. тАЬTell the police not to bother me."

But in the next moment came a loud cry from a police officer outside the shuttered windows.

"The Planeteers are in there with the Chairman!" the man shouted. тАЬTheir tracks lead to the
window-they must be making him say he's all right!"

"Break down the door!тАЭ roared another officer's voice. тАЬQuick, before they kill the Chairman!"

A resounding battering began against the locked door and another banging at the metal shutter that
closed the window.

The Chairman looked helplessly at Thorn. тАЬI'll have to tell them the truth, that you Planeteers are really
my agents, or they'll haul you off to prison,"

"No!тАЭ said John Thorn fiercely. тАЬOnce the secret that we're Alliance agents gets out, it would spread
swiftly over the whole system. Our chance of getting the secret of Erebus from that pirate girl would be
wreckedтАФour whole plan ruined."
"But you can't escape from here the Chairman exclaimed. тАЬThey're at both window and door!"

"We can escape,тАЭ Thorn said swiftly. тАЬBut we've got to make it look as though we came here for a
criminal purpose. Otherwise, people will ask why the Planeteers came to the Chairman's mansion, and it