"017 (B002) - The Thousand-Headed Man (1934-07) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Feet pounded the walk; the policemen appeared, nebulous and ghostly figures in the fog. Doc flashed into the front room. His fingers found the door lock and turned it silently.

The door had a frosted-glass insert panel, and against this the helmeted heads of the bobbies appeared, outlined in shadow, like a motion picture badly out of focus.

Knuckles beat a summons on the panel. It was not especially loud. These London bobbies were not the blustering kind. Coming up the walk, not one had even carried a revolver in his hand.

Doc Savage worked through the rear of the house, opened the back door and went out.

"Stand still, gov'nor," directed a voice of authority.

With the words, a flashlight came on. But it was too slow. Doc had snapped back into the house.

"Love!" gasped the man with the flash. "Some chap opened that door."

"Must've blown open," hazarded another voice.

Backgiow from the light glinted on polished buttons and shields of the London police. Inside, Doc considered the situation. Some neighbor might have summoned the officers; but if such were the case, they should have arrived earlier. His being found in the house with three murdered men meant he would have to answer questions. Even the influence of a Doc Savage would not impress these London police.

Doc went to a telephone he had noticed it in his search and called the Piccadilly House. The voice of Monk, surprisingly mild for such an apish giant, answered.

"Want some exercise"' Doc demanded.

"We might stand some," Monk answered.

Doc gave the address of Sen Gat's house in Shoreditch. "A man named Sen Gat and some of his gang are tied up there. Probably they're just recovering from a shot of truth serum. Watch them."

"On our way."

"Wait. Throw some more truth serum into them and see what you can learn."

"0kay."

"Ask them about a thousand-headed man."

"Huh?"

"A thousand-headed man, and three black keys."

"Three black keys!"

"I have two of them," Doc told him. "The keys are black sticks, one of which was thrown to us at Croydon."

Monk snorted. "This is sure a nutty business."

"Bloody, too - three men have been knifed so far," Doc agreed. "Watch out for the followers of this Sen Gat. They may return. They may even beat you to Sen Gat's house."

"They'll have to go some!" Monk barked, and hung up.