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

THE ANCIENT touring car was laboring along at perhaps forty miles an hour. Jim drove, hunched far
over the wheel, wan face close to a small arc the swiping windshield wiper kept clear of water.

The two women huddled in the rear, raincoats drawn tight against the spray which sheeted through the
broken side curtains.
"I guess -- that belling -- couldn't have been meant for us," the girl, Alice, said jerkily.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that!" Jim called back sharply. Aunt Nora leaned forward, jaw out, arms
akimbo. "Jim Cash, you know something you haven't been telling us women!" she said, almost screaming
to get her voice above the roar of car and rain. "I can see it in your actions! You know more about the
Green Bell than you let on -- what the thing is, or something! You can't fool me! You do know!"

Jim Cash replied nothing.

Aunt Nora snapped: "Answer me, boy!"

"You're a good guesser, Aunt Nora," Jim managed a gray smile.

"What is it?" Aunt Nora bounced forward anxiously. "What do you know?"

"I'm not going to tell you."

"Why?"

"For the good and simple reason that it would mark you for death! Alice, too! The Green Bell would kill
you so you couldn't tell what you know!"

"Rubbish!" Aunt Nora tried to sound as if she meant it. "They would have no way of telling

"Yes, they would, aunty. It looks like they know everything."

Aunt Nora whitened. The tendons stood out on her plump hands.

"Listen, sonny -- is the Green Bell aware that you know what you do?"

Jim Cash squirmed, almost losing control of the car.

"I don't know!" he cried shrilly, wildly. "Maybe he does! I'm not sure! The suspense -- expecting death
any instant, and in the same breath wondering if I'm not safe enough -- has been getting me! It's driving
me crazy!"

Aunt Nora settled back on the wet cushions. "You're silly not to tell us, Jimmy. But that's just like a man,
trying to keep women out of trouble. It don't show good gumption, but I respect you for it. Anyway we'll
soon be talking to Doc Savage and you can get it off your chest."

JIM CASH muttered doubtfully: "You seem to have a lot of faith in this Doc Savage."

"I have!" Aunt Nora sounded vehement.

"But you admit you don't even know him."