"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 155 - Measures For a Coffin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

тАЬWe'll telephone,тАЭ Benson said, тАЬand see if we can contact one of Doc's friends.тАЭ

They made the telephone call from a drugstore on Sixth Avenue. Doctor Benson did the actual calling.
He found the number in his address book. тАЬDoc's private number,тАЭ he explained, whirling the dial with his
forefinger.

Presently a metallic, businesslike voice said: тАЬThis is Doc Savage's office, but Savage is not immediately
available. Will you state the purpose of your call, please.тАЭ

Benson said, тАЬThis is Doctor Joseph Benson, and I've become convinced there was something sinister
about the accident which befell Savage this afternoon. If you will connect me with Monk or Ham or some
of Doc's aides, I'll be glad to give the details of what I've learned.тАЭ

There was a perceptible pause.

The metallic voice said, тАЬHave you finished?тАЭ

тАЬYes, of course,тАЭ Benson snapped.

Another silence.

Again the metallic voice, saying: тАЬThank you very kindly. Your message has been recorded by a
mechanical device and will be made available to Doc Savage as soon as possible. This voice is
mechanically recorded and so it cannot answer questions or give information. Thank you very much. If
you have anything more to say, please say it immediately, because the circuit will be broken and the
mechanical recorder disconnected after an interval of thirty seconds.тАЭ

тАЬI'll be damned!тАЭ Benson exploded. He hung up. He was angry.

Noting the rage on his face, Miss Clayton asked, тАЬWhat happened?тАЭ

тАЬSome kind of a damned robot,тАЭ said Doctor Benson sourly, тАЬmade a sucker of me!тАЭ

Miss Clayton listened to the details, then burst out laughing.

тАЬWhat the hell are you laughing at?тАЭ Benson demanded.

тАЬThe expression you wear when your dignity is upset,тАЭ Miss Clayton explained. тАЬIt's good for you. It
should happen to you more often.тАЭ

Benson snorted. тАЬI guess I should not be surprised. Doc is always tinkering around with gadgets, and I
should have expected something of the sort. But it makes me feel like a fool, talking to that phonograph
or whatever it was. I probably sounded as important as anything.тАЭ He rubbed his jaw sheepishly.

тАЬThen none of Doc Savage's aides were there?тАЭ

тАЬApparently not.тАЭ

тАЬThen,тАЭ said Miss Clayton, тАЬwe had better disturb Doc Savage after all.тАЭ