"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 013 - Meteor Menace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"My life," said Rae Stanley.

"What do you want to warn Doc against?"

The girl moistened her lips and glanced upward. There was a nervousness in her manner which indicated
that she would not have been surprised had some menace been lurking above.

"The blue meteor!" she said rapidly. "I came to warn - oh-h-h-there's Shrops!"

Her words changed into a scream which put teeth on edge. She clapped both hands over her mouth, as if
to make a lid that would keep the sound back. Stark horror had come suddenly into her eyes. She spun
and fled.

"She saw some guy named Shrops behind us," Ham barked.

Both he and Monk turned to scrutinize the crowd.
 Chapter 2. THE COCKNEY
WITHIN range of Monk's and Ham's eyes was a heterogeneous collection of humanity. Swart Andean
Indians and Cholag, or mixed bloods, made up the bulk of the crowd, but there were also Chileans as
white-skinned as Swedes. There were scores of Yankees, these for the most part being engineers
connected with Chile's great nitrate industry.

One man caught the attention of Monk and Ham. This fellow did not stand many feet distant, and he was
facing directly toward them.

He was an apple of a man. His body was a plump apple equipped with arms and legs, and his head
another ruddy apple. He wore a fawn-colored lap-over vest, striped trousers, and a gray derby. The
derby was hardly a headgear for tropical wear.

He seemed rotund and amiable, except for his mouth, which was reminiscent of a bear trap.

He saw Monk and Ham centering their attention on him, and promptly spoke. He had a strong Cockney
accent.

"Wot 'appened?"

"That's what we want to know," Monk grunted.

"The girl acted 'arf barmy," said the Cockney. "She must o' seen somethin' behind me to scare 'er bad."

The Cockney turned, lifted on tiptoe, and peered over the heads of the crowd. Then he settled back on
his feet and shook his head.

"Hi bloody well don't see nothin' corkscrewey."

"Is your name Shrops?" Ham asked the Cockney.

"Blimey, no!"