"012 (B043) - The Man Who Shook The Earth (1934-02) - Lester Dent (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Monk and Ham crouched behind the windshield, avoiding snowflakes that stung like
shot.
"My golly," Monk said in a tiny, shivery voice, "winter has sure come with a
bang."
Ham gave Monk a black scowl.
"Any one could tell, you would be more at home in a tropical jungle!" he
snapped.
Monk glared at him. He knew the statement was HamТs subtle way of saying he
looked like a jungle monkey. But it was too cold for an argument.
They crossed one of the many bridges which connect Manhattan Island with the New
York mainland. The roadster swooped on to the northward.
With cold-blued fingers, Ham took frequent radio bearings. Doc changed the
course of the roadster as the bearings altered. Eventually they rolled upon a
country road.
Cold snow had heaped into the roadster seat and was inches deep on the floor
boards. Their breaths became wind-torn plumes of steam.
Much to the discomfort of Ham, Monk bounced violently up and down in the seat at
frequent intervals, claiming he had to do so to keep from freezing to death.
"The sedan is right around here somewhere," Ham reported. "The signal is very
loud."
They passed a large yard. In it stood evergreen trees and a ramshackle house.
Doc seemed to pay the place no particular attention. But driving on no more than
a hundred yards, he skidded the roadster to a stop at the side of the
thoroughfare.
His sharp eyes had noticed the sedan standing among the evergreens in the yard.

THE house was extremely old. It must have been constructed long before Civil War
days. Not only were shingles off the roof and paint weathered from the sides,
but great cracks gaped in it. Through these the blizzard whistled like steam
calliopes.
Inside, there was ruin. Plaster had fallen from the walls. Pilferers had torn
boards from the floor, no doubt to use as firewood. The wind, coming in through
the cracks, scooped up gray plaster dust and mingled it with the white of the
snow.
The cold was biting.
RennyТs big fists were tied cruelly together with many turns of wire. To shake
one he had to shake them both. He did this now.
"YouТre lettinТ us freeze!" he thundered angrily.
"TТ hell with you!" growled the man. "And if you donТt stop squawking, IТm going
to warm you up with some lead!"
Long Tom sat in the opposite corner. The unhealthy-looking electrical wizard
seemed to be a man who would suffer greatly from the cold. The chill was not
bothering him, however. Long Tom was keeping warm with his own rage. His usually
pale face was ruddy.
"WhatТs the idea of holding us?" he demanded.
"Have we got to go over that again?" growled one of the captors. "WeТre keeping
you here in case Doc Savage tries to get funny. If he makes a pass at us we
might cut off your ears and mail Сem to him. That should make him stop and
think."
Long Tom and Renny traded sober looks. Their captor was not joking with them.