"Curtis Steele - Operator 5 - 3408 - Cavern of the Damned" - читать интересную книгу автора (Steele Curtis)

of knives flashed as they sprang. Jimmy
Christopher brought up short, finger tightening on
the trigger.
One sharp report rang from his gun. His
bullet clicked ringingly against the steel of the
blade up-thrown by the foremost of the two blackclad
figures. Unseen power tore the knife away
and spun it through the air. A startled, guttural cry
burst from the dark man's lips. He whirled out of
the glare of light, into the thick darkness beyond.
The shouted command stopped short the
second turbaned man. Jimmy Christopher was
springing toward him when the figure twirled the
knife in his hand. The weapon suddenly became
a streak of silent lightning darting at Operator 5.
As he dodged, it hissed past his head, and off into
the blackness. At the same instant the black man
spun; an incredibly long leap carried him out of
sight.
"Away from the light, Tim!" Operator 5
snapped. "Down!"
He crouched at the side of the road, gun
ready, as Tim Donovan leaped into the shadow
on the opposite side. Ahead, in the grit, the girl
still lay motionless. Operator 5 listened, striving
to locate the two black men who had melted into
the darkness. He heard no sound; but, glancing
back, he saw, hovering in the sky, still bright and
staring, the huge pair of all-seeing eyes.
"Jimmy!" a whisper came from the shadows
beyond. "They're gone!" No sound had marked
the flight of the turbaned men; they had vanished
like ghosts. Jimmy Christopher rose slowly, and
advanced into the light. There was no suggestion
of a renewed attack, no hint of any presence in
the gloom. He stooped quickly over the girl as Tim
Donovan scurried to his side.
She was young and pretty, yet her face was
pale as death, her features twisted in an agony of
fear as she lay half unconscious. Her clothing
was tattered, as though she had fought her way
through entangled, thorny bushes. Operator 5
brought her into his arms; he strode to the car,
and lowered her carefully to the seat.
"In, Tim," he ordered quickly. "She's been
frightened out of her senses. Watch her, boy!"
HE TURNED, warily glancing around, and
stooped toward a glitter shining from the road. He
brought into his hand the knife that his bullet had
knocked from the grip of the first turbaned man.