"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 009 - The Czar of Fear" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

The remarkably high forehead, the muscular and strong mouth, the lean and corded cheeks, denoted a
rare power of character. His bronze hair was a shade darker than his bronze skin, and it lay straight and
smooth as a skullcap of metal.

The thing which really took the wind out of Judborn Tugg, though, was the bronze man's eyes. They were
like pools of fine flake gold, alive with tiny glistenings. They possessed a strange, hypnotic quality. They
made Judborn Tugg want to pull his coat over his head, so that the innermost secrets of his brain would
not be searched out.

"Are -- are -- you Doc Savage?" stuttered Judborn Tugg.

The bronze giant nodded. The simple gesture caused great cables of muscle to writhe about his neck.

Tugg felt an impulse to shiver at the sight. This bronze man must possess incredible strength.

In a quiet, powerful voice, Doc Savage invited Tugg inside. Then he gave him a cigar, explaining quietly:
"I hope you'll excuse me, since I never smoke."

That cigar was the final shock to Judborn Tugg. It was a long, fine custom weed in an individual vacuum
container. Tugg happened to know that cigars such as this could not be obtained for less than ten dollars
each.

Judborn Tugg was a pricked balloon. Instead of overawing Doc Savage, he was himself practically
stunned.

SEVERAL MOMENTS were required before Judborn Tugg recovered sufficient aplomb to get down to
business.

"1 have heard you are an -- er -- a trouble buster," he said, in a small voice, very unlike his usual
overbearing tone.

"You might call it that," Doc Savage agreed politely. "More properly, my five companions and myself
have a purpose in life. That purpose is to go here and there, from one end of the world to the other,
looking for excitement and adventure, striving to help those in need of help, and punishing those who
deserve it."

Judborn Tugg did not know that it was a very rare occasion when Doc Savage gave out even this much
information about himself.
Tugg did not like the speech at all. He mulled it over, and reached a conclusion -- the wrong one. He
decided this was Doc Savage's way of hinting that he and his men hired out their services. The man, of
course, could not come right out and say he was a professional thug.

"My case is right in your line," Tugg said, managing a faint smirk. "There are people who need help, and
some others who need punishing."

Doc Savage nodded politely. "Suppose you tell me the situation."

"It's this way," said Tugg, lighting the costly cigar. "I am one of the leading business men in Prosper City. I
own Tugg Co., the largest cotton-milling concern in the town."