"Robeson, Kenneth - Doc Savage 1938 01 - Living Fire Menace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

relief in his voice. "The two they call Johnny and Long Tom are the only ones at
his office, although I understand the other three aids are around."
"Get them," the thin man said. "TheyТll do to start with."
"Here are your instructions," Clement Hoskins rasped. The barrel-shaped man
spoke rapidly.
Stinger nodded, the color gradually returning to his face. Then he lifted the
telephone receiver again, barked quick orders when he was connected with his
number.
"Johnny and Long Tom first," he concluded.

JOHNNY and Long Tom were unaware of their danger, but they were worried.
Long Tom turned away from the compact, short-wave set in one room of DocТs suite
of offices, a frown smearing his forehead.
"CanТt raise him," he said shortly.
The tall geologist nodded, glanced at his watch. "I know he implicitly
instructed us to make no effort to interfere with his meditations until after
eight oТclock at night, but I agree with you, I wish he would reply."
Long Tom rose to his feet, shrugged. Outside it was becoming dark.
"LetТs go," he said shortly. "WeТre due to meet Monk and Ham for dinner. Perhaps
they can help us dope out what this is all about."
A high-speed elevator dropped the two aids abruptly to the basement of the big
building.
In the basement they moved without words to a big, closed car. A few moments
later and they were out in traffic, heading rapidly downtown.
Both of DocТs men were thinking of Z-2Тs queer death, of the strange warning he
had imparted. Long Tom drove automatically. Johnny sat hunched in the seat, eyes
half closed behind his glasses.
Even had they been alert, it is doubtful that they would have known they were
being followed. Traffic was heavy, and those trailing them knew their jobs.
The shadowers were in two cars. There were five in each automobile. Each of the
men had a significant bulge under the left armpit. The drivers weaved in and out
of traffic with the skill of cabmen.
DocТs big car was always kept in sight.
Near Brooklyn Bridge, Long Tom swung toward the East River, angling back to
strike South Street.
A little while later Long Tom swung off the smooth pavement of South Street,
onto the cobblestone street that led to a sea-food tavern called ReeferТs. He
noticed several cars parked near by, but that meant nothing at the time.
ReeferТs was a popular place.
As Long Tom swung the big machine to the curb, he noticed several men alight
from a car near by. One glance was all the electrical expert needed to recognize
the type.
For just a moment Long Tom hesitated, his unhealthy-appearing face doubtful.
Johnny was already getting out of the machine. Then Long Tom shut off the motor
and opened the car door.
In that moment, the attackers struck.

MEN seemed to erupt from dark doorways, from behind cars. A surging mass crashed
into Long Tom and Johnny in the same instant, arms swinging, deadly blackjacks
in hand.