“Dark Lord” by Mace Draper
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Chapter I “Sky Terror”
Monk was in first
class and enjoying it, flying thirty-five thousand feet without a care in the
world. With a mixed drink of scotch and seven-up in one hand and a spoon of
chocolate pudding in the other, he was watching a movie projected on a screen
in the front of the airliner’s first class section he was sitting in.
Forgetting all about
the earphones he was wearing at the time, anything that struck him as
particularly funny, he would almost roar out loud with laughter causing fellow
passengers’ heads to turn in his direction. If he had stopped to look around he
would have seen concern and anger written on the faces of the other passengers
nearby that were staring at him.
Andrew Bodgett Mayfair
known to his friends and colleges as “Monk” looked more akin to a laughing ape
than a tickled human. Only a few inches over five feet tall, and yet over 260
pounds; his red-haired brutish exterior concealed the mind of a great chemical
scientist. Theodore Marly Brooks, known as “Ham” to most who had the misfortune
of having to sit just a row behind Monk was wishing his partner was a real ape
and swinging in some jungle or alligator’s mouth at that moment.
Slender and waspy even
at his great age; Ham had been known in the state of New York as one of the
greatest lawyers to grace their court rooms, had retired long ago. Yet, still
he had a keen mind. Those close to him knew he was never without his ominous
black sword cane rarely carrying a gun.
This was one of the
most humiliating and embarrassing moments he had ever experienced except for
the time he last rode a sailing vessel with him, on a train with him and so on
and so on. Why did he bother to put himself through this sort of thing was
beyond him, but he knew it had to stop. Finally, Ham whose vocabulary was of
almost scholarly proportions, found just the appropriate words for that
particular situation.
He leaned over close
to Monk from behind, punched him none too gently in the shoulder with the end
of his black sword cane and yelled directly into his earphones,” Can it ape, or
by Jove I’ll hang you outside to dry.”
Monk yelled out loud,” Ouch” on purpose, then he jerked off his
headset, stuck out his jaw and glared at his waspish built friend.
“ If you don’t stop punching me I’m gonna show these fine people
here how you can do a sword swallowing act, while hanging by one hand outside
this window.”
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Ham knew better not
to push it yet keeping from delivering a retort made him grind his teeth in
frustration. At least he had accomplished one thing, and that was his friend
had left his earphones off and was only quietly eating his vulgar pudding while
starring at the movie screen.
After a few moments
of silence, Monk turned to Ham and muttered,” Sorry, it’s just you need to
chill out; relax. We’ve got a long flight ahead of us and we should enjoy it
the best we can.”
Ham perched his lips,”
You’re right Monk, and I’m sorry for punching your shoulder like that.”
To himself Ham wished
he had punched the man’s thick skull instead. Yet Ham had to admit his friend
was right about making the best of it.
Then Monk asked Ham,”
Why do you suppose Doc wanted us to take a flight to Ireland instead of going
directly to England? I mean, once we get there we’re suppose to take a private
plane to England. Now does that make a lot of sense to you?”
“It would if Doc knew
we would be expected to arrive in England on a commercial flight or we were
being followed by someone on this airliner.”
Monk commented,” Who can figure,” and then he calmly placed the
earphones upon his ears most to aggravate Ham than to listen to the movie. Discussed, Ham stopped a
passing stewardess and asked a question. She smiled and looked around the seats
until she spotted what she was looking for. She pointed toward the back and
gave directions, which Monk didn’t hear nor care to and then Ham rose and
followed her to another seat three rows behind. Monk ignored Ham’s departure
and entrance of another seat.
The movie was beginning to
get interesting.
No one noticed the
three Middle Eastern men in their late twenties leave their seats from the
lower level of the airliner one by one, and gather at the foot of the stairs.
Each reached under a stair and pulled a weapon taped to the bottom. They
checked their weapons quickly as they ascended the stairway leading to the
upper level where Monk and Ham sat.
When the trio of
gunmen reached the upper level, one of the men announced out loud in a heavy
accent in English that they were hijacking the plane and that no one would be
hurt unless they gave any kind of trouble. Ham kept his cool deciding to wait
to make his move when an opportunity presented itself. He had completely
forgotten about Monk and his movie trance.
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It was a tense couple of moments for all as the gunmen pointing
their weapons this way and that nervously made their way toward the front with
the intentions of entering the cockpit. Soon, they noticed Monk sitting there
humming to himself as if they didn’t exist. They looked at each other in
disbelief. Either he was a fool or crazy.
One terrorist
approached the apish looking fellow and yelled for him to remove his earphones.
When there was no response he thumped his ears a couple of times while Ham was
trying to explain to them to simply take some good advice and just lift the
earphones off his ears; but he was rudely interrupted when one of the other
terrorists shoved him rudely back into his seat. Then the terrorist behind Monk
hit him once across the ear with his pistol.
To the man’s dismay
and disbelief that the passenger acted as if he hadn’t even felt the blow; Monk
calmly removed his earphones and explains to the terrorist eye to eye,” Mister,
you shouldn’t have done that.”
Before the man knew what was happening, Monk picked him up like
a toy and threw him bodily into the other one behind him knocking them head
over heels over empty seats. The remaining terrorist aimed his Uzi pistol from
further down the aisle and was about to pull the trigger; when he suddenly let
the gun drop to a seat and with a silly grin growing across his face. His eyes
closed and he slumped to the floor fast asleep.
Ham rose from his seat
from behind the unconscious terrorist and waved his sword cane at Monk who
laughed,” You fashion plate show off, I ….ahh, I guess I ought to thank ya for
saving my neck,”
As Monk brought his heel down on one of the terrorist throats
and retrieved an automatic pistol from the choking man’s hand; many of the
passengers in their section cheered and gave the two aides a standing ovation.
Ham always the man for the attention of an audience, took a
theatrical bow while monk could only grin from ear to ear.
“Ahh, ain’t nothing really.”
A flight attendant
informed Ham that they had notified Air Marshals and airport security in Dublin
Airport to take the would be hijackers off their hands. Ham thanked her and in
turn informed the rest of the passengers in his best Lawyer voice of address
that all was under control. Smiling he sat back down in the seat by Monk. The
moment he did there was an awful sound like someone letting out gas, which
emitted from under him. A second
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Passed in silence and then the whole level of passengers began
to laugh, some from nervous relief, others from the shock of the sudden sound.
With his face beat red in embarrassment, he slumped in his seat completely
mortified.
“ Oh, I give up.” Ham mumbled.
In between the
laughter, Monk could be heard to say,” My whoopee cushion gets ya every time!”
Ham could only fume, completely speechless. How he wished that
jet flight was over already and they were at their destination.
Soon things did settle
down enough that Monk and Ham were able to get several hours of sleep before
the airliner touched down at Collinstown airport on the outskirts of Dublin
Ireland. The first person they saw as they departed their flight down a ramp
onto the tarmac below; was their mutual friend John Renwick who they called
“Renny”. This very tall and stocky man was a brilliant and gifted engineer who
also worked for the same person they had called Doc. His favorite sport besides
model airplane building and flying; was pounding his massive fists through
heavy, paneled doors. Lately arthritis had bothered him enough that he had
refrained from that habit unless absolutely necessary. Still he about crushed
their hands in his as he pumped their arms in greeting.
“ Holy cow! Am I glad you guys made it in one piece. I heard
about the scrap you two got into on the way here.”
Monk looked around and sniffed the air
curiously,” Ah, just a couple of dander heads trying to hijack the wrong plane
that’s all.”
Ham added,” I just wish they’d tied, gagged and shoved this ape
in the cargo hold before they were subdued.”
Renny laughed knowingly,” Monk getting to ya again? Don’t you
worry any. You two will be too busy hitting the country-side to get in each
other’s hair..much.”
“ Hey, let’s go get our baggage. I see the cart headin’ for the
main building now.” Monk suggested. Then he raced up ahead and was in the
building in a flash.
“ I really think it was a bad move on Doc’s part to let Monk
take another dose of that regeneration drug.” Ham stated. “ He’s like a big
overgrown kid.”
Renny nudged Ham as
they entered the double doors to the main building.
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“ Yeah, don’t you just love em’?”
Ham never replied, but Renny already knew the answer. Those two
might be at each other’s throat a lot of the time, but either one of them would
lay down their life for the other without a moment’s hesitation.
They passed their
gate, the main ticket room and lobby before they finally reached the baggage
room. It was smaller than Ham had imagined. He also noticed that two men
dressed in British army fatigues and armed with submachine guns were eyeing
Monk suspiciously as he pulled off a large trunk and several large suitcases
from a baggage cart parked along a hallway.
Monk yelled out to
Renny and Ham,” Here they are.”
Ham intercepted the two British army men flashing an I.D. card
with a bronze star at the top,” It’s ok gentlemen. That’s merely my loud mouth
associate over there. We’re with the Clark Savage Jr. organization. Perhaps
you’ve heard of us?”
One of the officers, a
large bone, curly headed man had heard of them. He could have passed for a
seventeen year old. His voice was every bit as high as Monk’s.
“ Blimey! I’ve heard of you blokes. Welcome to Ireland. It’s a
great place to visit, but if I were you, I wouldn’t want to live here. Is there
anything we can do for you Mr. um… Mr. Brooks?”
Ham cut his eyes Monk’s direction,” As a matter of fact… yes
there is! Confiscate that trunk.”
Monk’s mouth fell open in shock and he actually dropped one of
his suit cases. Renny started to protest, but the other officer beat him to it.
“ Oh no we don’t. We’re not mixing into the middle of one of
your fights.”
Ham was crestfallen as Renny patted his back,” Hey, it can’t be
that bad. So he brought his flashy clothes.”
Ham turned on Renny in a slow building anger,” I won’t stand for
this. We’ll be the laughing stock of all Ireland and England too!”
The large officer was
already chuckling to himself,” I’ve heard of his bloody attire too. Is it true
green goes with red and yellow checks? Both officers roared with laughter.
Ham shook with rage and
stamped over to Monk. Monk tried to hand one of Ham’s briefcases to him
innocence written all over his flat nosed face. Ham jerked it out of monk’s
hand and said in a chilly tone.” Thanks. When
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we find our hotel, kindly find yourself another room, preferably
on the other side of the building.”
Monk shrugged his
shoulders,” Chill out shyster dude. We’ll have a blast tonight.” He clapped his
hands together,” I can hardly wait to dress up in style, chomp down on some
lamb and guzzle down some of that black Irish beer. Maybe find some female
companionship too!”
“ Lamb? Black beer? The only way you’ll find female
companionship is in a jungle somewhere or perhaps their local police station
jail.” Ham fumed and then turned around and left Monk to pick up the rest of
the luggage.
As Monk was trying to catch up with Ham, Renny asked the two
officers to watch to see if anyone followed them and if so to detain them as
long as they could. The two hardily agreed since the whole afternoon had been
rather boring as far as they were concerned. Boring until those Yanks had shown
up. Crazy Yanks!
When they finally
caught up with their friend, he was trying to hail a taxi. Renny told Monk loud
enough for ham to overhear,” Monk, I really think to blend in you should wear
as much green as you can.” Renny smiled with satisfaction as he watched Ham
visibly wince. Minutes later, a yellow and brown battered taxi stopped in front
of the trio. At the same time a tall, pretty red headed stewardess strolled by
heading for the front entrance to the main airport building. Monk stopped her
in her tracks when he addressed her out loud.
“ Mamam, I’m a yank from America and I’m already lost in your
fair city. I was wondering perhaps you would be so kind as to show me the sights…”
Monk’s last couples of words were said in a hurry for Renny and Ham quickly
pulled him into the waiting taxi.
As the battered cab
and its occupants sped off downtown, the pretty red-head did a very unexpected
thing. There was an actual look of shock on her face as she reached down and
pulled out a small piece of yellow paper from her right pocket of her black
jumpsuit which had a bateau neckline and tapered legs. It had a raspberry waist
and the airline emblem in red on the top. She held the piece up so that a
street light shown a telephone number. No names, just a number.
The red head mumbled to herself as she made her way to the phone
booth inside.
“ It has to be them. Can’t believe my luck. I better let em’
know.”
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Ham, Monk and Renny
all sat in the back seat of the speeding taxi. Monk glanced at Renny and then
he looked out the side window of the taxi asking Renny,” Where’s Doc, Renny? Is
he already in England?”
Renny glanced at cab driver and replied,” That’s just it. I
don’t know where he is. I haven’t heard from him all day. I set up an answering
machine to my phone in my room, but so far there’s been no word.”
“ Well, he’s probably too busy to bother. You know Doc. You can
ask him a question till you’re blue in the face; but until he is absolutely
sure of the facts he won’t answer. He may be undercover.” Ham explained.
“ He may even be under
surveillance and couldn’t risk contacting us.” Monk ventured.
Ham changed the subject,” The address you gave the cabby would
that by chance be the Woldorf Hotel?”
Renny’s face brightened,” Why yes it is. And we’ll also be
stain’ in a Woldorf in London if I have anything to do with it.”
“ Now we’re staying in style. Excellent room service dining with
martinis. I could use one of those right now by Jove.”
Ham was delighted at the news until Monk asked the next
question,” They got a pool and some VCR’s?”
Ham remarked,” Oh how droll. Of course not, you dolt. They do
have a gym. Perhaps you might feel more at home swinging on their suspended rings
and ropes.”
Renny chuckled,” Putting you two together is like mixing water
and dirt. The results is always a muddy mess.”
The taxi driver got a kick out of that one.
At that very moment
hundreds of miles away, a giant of a man who looked as if he was a life-size
statue chiseled from bronze that had somehow come to exist in the life of the
living; was up to his waist in muddy water. Countless days exposure to tropical
suns had actually tanned his skin to a deep bronze. Only his close-cropped hair
was a slightly lighter hue. Though he wore a dark blue crew neck pull over
sweater and a bronze safari jacket; they couldn’t hide the fact that his
muscles bulged all over from years of weight training. He also did
scientifically perfected calisthenics, which he had practiced since early
childhood.
To his close friends
he was called Clark or “Doc”. To the world he was the famous crime fighter and
detective Doctor Clark Savage Jr. or Doc Savage.
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As he carefully
approached solid ground, which was thick with cattail type plants and tall
grass; he checked a pair of unusual looking binoculars hanging from a strap
from around his neck. Slowly so not to make any slashing noises; he crawled out
to the shore among the weeds, which reached to a man’s waist in height.
He parted the weeds
and as he did, he could see across a moon lit prairie, rocks dotting the
landscape as far as the eye could see. Beyond he could see the famous ruins of
Stonehenge. He took one more glance behind him at the river Avon that he had
just crossed, to make sure there was no one following him.
Even with his keen
eyesight, he could barely make out a small fire glowing in the middle of those
large stone block ruins. As he brought those strange looking glasses to his
eye; digital readings magically appeared at the top of the scene he was
observing. He adjusted the glasses’ range and the digital readings disappeared.
The cluster of stones
of Salisbury plain under the moonlight appeared eerie. Some of the stones were
standing alone; some were capped by lintels, which made of them great archways.
Some were leaning and some had fallen. Fallen long ago. Doc Savage recalled how
at least 82 bluestones weighing five tons each were set up in 2 concentric
circles around the center of a large enclosure. Stonehenge had a small entrance
on the Northeast side formed by a gap in the ring. He remembered the blue alter
stone in the middle of a pit was located in the middle of the inner circle of
stones.
What the man of bronze
saw in the pit caused him to emit a trilling sound very similar to a wild bird
of some far away jungle, but only for a moment. He was able to stifle the
sound, but not the feeling of excitement and uneasiness he felt upon witnessing
that strange scene.
It was like an ancient
scene of a strange past when blood and sacrifice ruled these lands. At least a
dozen dark robed figures stood in a perfect circle around the blue altar stone.
A small fire issued from the middle. Doc Savage decided to get a closer look.
Like a silent ghost he raised and seem to glide across the surface of the
prairie. Soon, he took a path that leads him across two banks and a ditch,
through a raised mound and past some marks indicating the existence of filed in
holes, which had been previous, smaller pits of long ago. He then traveled
running low through a great circular ditch with it’s earth piled up its banks
on either side which encircled the two
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circles of blue stones. Finally he was close enough that he
could hear chanting in an ancient tongue drift to where Savage crouched
momentarily.
After a few moments he
said, “Druids” under his breath, confirming his suspicions. Druids or Dryidoe
in Greek means oke-prists were priests whose sect originated in Persia about
1000 B.C.; who later were known as the priests of the Kelts of England believed
in souls never die, but after death pass from one to another. They believed
that oak trees because they could take lightning strikes that they could
through human sacrifice to their dark lord or god Dis the common father; draw
fantastic mystical powers and control all those around them. Julius Caesar
practically wiped them out overnight, but apparently, they were back.
After an hour of
patiently watching their ritual, Doc Savage almost too late noticed a shift in
the airflow around him. Few humans would have noticed such a small thing.
Savage was no ordinary human. He suddenly left and rolled over the outer bank
of the ditch and back among the reeds and thick growth; as a large battle-ax cleft
the very ground where he had knelt.
A huge figure grunted
as it bent over to pull the weapon from the muddy surface where it was buried
to its handle. The man of bronze didn’t hesitate upon seeing how truly large
his assailant was. Instead, he quickly took action and threw his body into his
assailant’s body blocking him head over heels into the murky waters of a large
puddle. Doc Savage landed in the water feet first and pulled his assailant to
his wobbly feet. His sputtering prey was a man several inches taller than
himself. He had long stringy black hair and thick eyebrows with a low forehead
looking more Neanderthal man than his friend Monk Mayfair.
“ You Strong,” the giant assailant managed to say between
coughing and breathing hard,” But I take you now.”
The brute suddenly tried to throw a punch, which would have
fallen a tree, but his swing met only empty air. The man of bronze ducked and
connected an uppercut to the brute’s large jaw. That short rapid punch knocked
him flat on his back into the water once more.
When he had come to a
moment later, Doc Savage had drug him onto the shore and had his hands and feet
tied up with some kind of strong colored wire.
First thing the brute asked was,” What happened?”
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Doc Savage with his hypnotically
swirling golden flaked eyes, stared into his assailant’s eyes for several
seconds before he answered,” Stop fighting me, answer some questions and I’ll
let you go, ok?”
The brute thought a moment then he reluctantly agreed,” Ok. What
ya want to know? I don’t know much. Just ask anybody around this bloody plain
and they’ll say, Andy’s too slow. Give him an easy job. Shovel some crap or
here Andy, wash my car. Or Andy, guard the area so that no one finds out.”
“ Finds out what Andy?” Savage asked in a calm voice.
The big man looked over Savage’s shoulder and whispered,” I’m
not suppose to tell just any ole bloke that asks, but Andy don’t want to sit
here all night; so I tell you what.”
Savage leaned closer,” Yes?”
“Andy let friends explain it to you.”
The man of bronze
sensed there was something wrong by what the big brute said and the chanting
had stopped. He eased a hand in one of his pockets to his safari jacket as he
began to hear sounds of movements all around him in the darkened countryside.
Suddenly, while still wearing a big grin on his broad face; Andy slammed his
head into Doc Savage’s forehead.
As the man of bronze lay sprawled on the muddy ground, Andy
pulled himself up and ran into the night yelling.
“ Hey, Guys. Wait up. Andy got away. Andy got away!”
The man of bronze was
never knocked out; he only faked it to follow the brute named Andy. He knew
that Andy had little knowledge of the affair, but there was the possibility
that he might lead him to the others that hired Andy and they could possibly be
the druid cult people.
As Doc Savage picked
himself off the slippery ground, all insects and bird sounds suddenly stopped.
And in the silence, more than a dozen robed hooded figures descended upon the
bronze giant from every direction. Not a word was spoken in that fantastic
struggle that followed. Two of their number groaned in pain as they suddenly
found their jaws knocked out of place. Another screamed in agony when he found
his right forearm bone was snapped in two. Five hooded figures lay sprawled on
the ground either in pain or unconscious from the rain of flying fists that a
bronze whirlwind was delivering amongst their number.
Finally, sheer numbers
of bodies forced the man of bronze back to the ground. After a few moments of
struggling and cursing; the hooded figures
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had finally subdued their intended victim. Six pair of arms held
him spread-eagled upon the muddy shore.
A lone figure in a red
hooded robe that hid his features very well on a dark night such as this;
descended upon Doc Savage and beat him repeatedly over the head with a
blackjack until he was sure that his captive was unconscious.
The red hooded assailant stood up and commented out loud with
unmistakable satisfaction in his voice,” That is bloody well over.”
“ The Escape”
Handy Andy as a lot of
the folk called him around that area, slowly strolled down the muddy road head
hung down in thought; talking to himself clearly a very troubled young man.
“ Now Andy’s sorry to help those ruddy blokes. He seemed like a
fair man.”
Andy slowed his pace until he finally came to a halt all the
while talking to himself. Trying to make since of it.
“ They never let me wear robes, and they pay me a little change
for all their dirty work that Andy does.”
The big man thought a moment and seemed to reach a conclusion,
for he snapped his fingers and then he turned off the road back into the tall
grass soon to disappear in the ever thickening fog.
It took four husky men
in robes to carry the man of bronze’s frame. He hung suspended from the ground
between them with his face facing the soggy earth. He regained consciousness
within ten minutes after he was brutally beaten, but he never stirred or gave
any indication he was awake.
They traveled through
the brush quickly in a northwesterly direction toward the famous Stonehenge
ruins. A sickening feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as Doc Savage
realized that he might be the next human sacrifice. But at the last several
yards from the ruins; they veered off directly north toward two new army
carrier trucks. Several hooded figures awaited their arrival.
The four carrying Doc
savage by passed the first truck and stopped behind the second, whereupon
several un-hooded shady characters peeled back the back flap from inside. They
helped the others pull and shove his body none too gently through the entrance.
As they closed the flap the last thing Doc
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Savage saw, was two red hooded figures apparently having some
kind of heated argument.
The man of bronze was
roughed up; pushed down onto a bench running along the side of the truck. Two
hooded figures sat on either side of Doc Savage and a third sat across from
him. This individual wore regular work hand clothes. The man was in his
mid-twenties, but was already missing some teeth in front. He was several days
unshaven and his breath smelled of chewing tobacco. Surprisingly, his accent was more eastern United States.
“ Damn, you know who this guy is boys? He’s the famous Doc
Savage back from the dead.”
One of the hooded
robed figures who’s features were hidden retorted,” Yes, we know that ole boy,
so why don’t you shut up for now. Or do you want to try raising from the dead?”
The other hooded figure chuckled as the crude easterner muttered
a “no” in answer. Two more hooded figures entered from the flaps. As soon as
they had, the truck lurched forward to follow the lead one. One of the hooded
men pulled back his hood enough to reveal some of his facial features; as he
approached the easterner. He was a middle-aged man use to leading men and he
walked with an air of authority and deadly grace. Every hair on him was silver,
even his skin was a light gray hue from exhaustion, fatigue and something more
that Doc Savage couldn’t quiet read. Yet, something was driving him on, keeping
him going. Only his coal black eyes shown life in them, and a promise of death.
One look from those
coal black orbs and the easterner hastily made room for him and another hooded
man to take a seat.
Doc Savage spoke first,” What you are trying to accomplish will
not succeed.”
One of the hooded figures backhanded the man of bronze across
the mouth and even though the man of bronze seemed unaffected, the cold-eyed
one signaled him to stop and he replied rather tiredly almost as if he was
bored to death.
“ Ah, Mr. Savage, you couldn’t be more wrong. Besides, I really
don’t think you know what is happening around here now do you? I thought not.
Ah, but forget my manners. Let me introduce myself. I am Sir John Rickards the
Fourth, professor of physics and astronomy formerly at the University of
Cambridge. If all goes well, my experiment when completed will set this
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world on its preposterous ear. It will be my finest hour and
greatest trumpet.
Just think. Imagine if you will, to be the first to open a
doorway to another universe!” Professor Rickards’ eyes were ablaze with
excitement.
“ Holding me,” Doc
Savage coldly explained,” Will accomplish nothing. Someone will simply take my
place to stop you. What you plan could wreak horrible destruction to this
world, to this universe. Your taking the wrong path in your quest and it will
be your downfall.”
The easterner blurted,” Sheeze, how corny can you get?”
The professor ignored his remark, but not Savage’s,” Again you
are wrong ole chap. Holding you will keep your friends and the authorities at
bay. And there is another more important reason I have uh…acquired you.”
The others chuckled
before he continued, “ You see, in the black art rites there is always a price
for summoning something or performing any…task. Sometimes it is a small
sacrifice like gold or perhaps a small creature. Other times it requires a
significantly larger gift.”
“ Let me guess. A human sacrifice.”
“It was the first step
and required a less significant subject for sacrifice…”
Suddenly, there was
the screech of brakes and both trucks came to a quick halt. The professor
seemed to have been listening, waiting for something.
After a moment, he commented in a satisfied tone,” Ah, that
should be him now.”
Out in front of the first truck only a yard from the grill and
wheels; stood the big kid Andy his arms waving and he was yelling.
“ Stop. You stop for Andy and give him his friend now, or I will
get mad and tell. I’ll get mad and tell.”
Before another word could escape his lips, the driver muttered,”
You’re dead meat, kid. Some people never learn.”
He threw the large two
and a half ton truck in gear and it jumped forward. Andy only had time to
scream once and then the front of the truck slammed him to the ground. With a
sickening crunch the wheels on the left ran over the entire length of the poor
kid’s body, squishing guts and brains across the old dirt road and across the bottom
of the heavy truck.
Everyone in the back
of the second truck heard the scream and felt the slight bump, as it too ran
over Andy’s remains.
“ Right on time I must say. Andy was handy to the very end.”
Professor Rickards commented seemly satisfied with the results.
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The others were laughing one, because of the professor’s
statement and two, because they loved the sadistic way Andy had been killed.
That is probably why
when Doc Savage though bound head to foot, suddenly thrust his body violently
forward and up that he caught everyone by surprise. His bindings snapped as if
they were string while the two hooded men were bowled head over heels onto the
carrier truck’s flooring.
The young toothless
gangster drew a forty-four revolver, but squawked in pain as the man of bronze
swiftly brought down his hand with the edge of his. Doc Savage grabbed the
professor around the waist and bodily picked him up. Tucked under one arm, in
two steps, he had reached the back flaps. A third step and Savage with his
quarry leapt out and away from the truck. In those passing seconds, the
professor was only mildly surprised. He laughed as they cleared the second
truck.
It seemed forever to
the man of bronze before his feet touched the road. As he did, both the
professor’s body and laughter faded into a blue glowing mist and scattered into
nothingness.
Doc Savage had known
the best magicians and illusionists, but that still did not prepare him
completely for the shock he received by the professor’s sudden disappearance
from his grip. Doc Savage was stunned and a faint trilling sound not unlike a
bird of a South American jungle would make; briefly pierced the chilly air. It
died away as the two trucks screeched to a halt.
Doc Savage wasted no
time in leaving the scene even though he had an overwhelming urge to
investigate that strange and puzzling occurrence. He quickly faded into a
forest nearby of Oak and Scots Pine. The dew was falling heavily off the
branches and flowers all around him, as he made his way like a silent shadow;
further and further into the woods.
There was shouting not
far behind him and he recognized the voice of the thug from the east coast.
Yet, as he quickly as he was traveling; their voices were soon lost by the
distance he had put between him and his pursuers.
He paused for a moment to catch his breath under a thick clump
of bushes. The life expansion drug he and his associates had taken years ago
was beginning to wear off. Soon, he would age at a rate as any normal man, as
would his friends.
Soon he heard his
pursuer’s voices once again closing the distance between them with each passing
second. Just as he was about to leap up into
Page 15
the trees above him and head in a different direction to lose
them; he heard the unmistakable sound of someone or something crashing through
the trees and forest growth at an incredible rate. As the sound quickly grew
closer, the man of bronze concluded two disturbing facts. One, no human could
have been that large or fast and two, it was headed straight for him from a
different direction than his pursuers were.
Doc Savage knew he
only had seconds now to decide a course of action or he would be in a lot of
trouble, double time. It only took him seconds fortunately, to decide that it
was better to risk being seen by the unknown, then being caught by those who by
now were heavily armed. All of his weapons and secret devices of defense and
escape had been removed even before he had been placed into the truck.
In one leap he caught
a large tree branch fully six feet above him, and swing his large frame onto
the top of it. Just as he reached the top of the branch, he heard a faint sound
of something crunching under someone’s feet below him. He glanced down into the
wide black pupils of the eyes of one of the strangest creatures Savage had ever
encountered.
Standing almost seven
and a half feet tall on its two legs stood a creature very similar to an
orangutan in stature and in all its body hair. There the similarity ended. Its
hair was a bluish gray and its claws were ever bit as long as an adult grisly
bear.
The face of the apish
creature looked almost human and rage was written all over its face. Roaring
not unlike a lion, it leapt up and grabbed the man of bronze by the legs before
he could make a move. Fortune was with Doc Savage, for he had not been relieved
of his tear gas pellets in his belt buckle. As Savage was being pulled down out
of the tree, he dropped the two red pellets on the creature’s head. Their
impact was never felt, but the resulting gas cloud that issued forth was.
Coughing and sputtering the blue furred fellow released the man of bronze from
his awful grip. He then stumbled to the ground rubbing his eyes and groaning
all the while.
Doc Savage leapt clear
of the cloud and the strange creature landing perfectly flat-footed several
yards away. Because of the pursuing party, he didn’t stay to examine the
temporarily helpless creature; but instead he started on a dead run through the
forest on an animal trail that he had noticed a short time before. At least it
lead in the opposite direction from trouble he thought.
Page 16
A few minutes after Doc Savage disappeared into the surrounding
forest; the strange blue-gray creature had recovered from the tear gas enough
that he leapt to his feet and howled an unearthly howl very much like a large
wolf
toward the ever lightening heavens. Soon it would be dawn.
The eastern thug was
the first to spot the blue-gray creature and guessed his identity right away.
“ Boo! Ha Ha! Did I scare ya professor?”
He had no more than spoke those words when the creature whirled
around and grabbed him by the throat. Just as the others arrived many hoodless
but heavily armed, the easterner was lifted bodily into the air by one arm of
the creature who incredibly spoke.
“ You fool! You are the one who was responsible in searching the
doctor. So you will be the one who shall pay for this disaster.”
The creature tightened his grip on his wide-eyed squawking
victim. In an instant, the thug’s neck was crushed before he could say a word.
His body was flung away into an old stump nearby as if he were a little rag
doll. Fully a dozen heavily armed men and women had gathered there speechless,
stunned by what they had just witnessed.
Eyes ablaze with fury,
the professor/creature noticed the others and asked,” Are there any others here
that want the same? Then I better not hear of such failure again. Do I make
myself clear?”
Most nodded their heads in agreement right away.
“ Well?” the strange being asked,” Why are you staring so?
Oh…yes, I had forgotten.” He closed his eyes tightly and chanted words too
quietly for anyone to possibly overhear and in moments before their startled
eyes the crowd watched as the creature’s size and shape began to melt and
shrink changing form constantly until at last, professor Rickards stood once
more before them calmly watching their reactions to the amazing transformation.
One of the larger
taller hooded men finally got up the courage to ask,” What do we do now?”
The professor seemed paler and more drawn than before as he
replied to the whole assemblage,” I will contact our people in New York, I have
a contingency plan for just such a situation as this.”
“ And what is that sir?”
Professor Rickards
laughed hardily and explained cold as ice,” Why we shall have to make do with
the next best thing or in this case person. Yes,
Page 17
Nancy Mayfair shall do nicely.”
Everyone followed the professor in the direction of the carrier
trucks except for one lone individual; the tall hooded one that had asked the
professor the questions. Somehow, no one had noticed or missed his presence. He
was soon out of hearing and sight. He crawled behind a large tree and listened
intently. When he was satisfied that they were gone, only then did he pull the
hood back away from his face. The hooded robe had been only a disguise, for Doc
Savage to infiltrate their ranks and try to piece together this case. Yet, what
he learned alarmed him greatly. Monk’s daughter Nancy was in great danger and
was either to take his place in whatever ritual sacrifice they had planned, or
she was the bait for much bigger fish, namely himself. He knew he had to find a
house, village somewhere where there was a phone very soon and warn Nancy and
the others or it would be too late to do much else; but surrender.
As he ran through the
forest toward the general direction he had come before he ran into the druid
people, he noticed the eastern sky was becoming lighter all the time. A new
dawn was breaking. Professor Rickards and his Druid cult was getting too much
of lead start. If only he had done more to their trucks besides giving them
several flat tires…
Professor Rickards was
personally driving the first truck toward a local airport. He was angry to say
the least. His new right hand man Pierre, was sitting beside him had one hand
on the door handle and one in his pocket around a gun inside; for he thought
the professor could do anything he looked and acted so mad.
Suddenly, the
professor turned to Pierre and glared with eyes that felt as though they were
actually looking through him. Then he commented with as much control as he
could muster.
“ You know Pierre, the sooner we are rid of this meddlesome
Savage yank the better off we’ll be.”
“ Wee professor”, Pierre replied immediately trying desperately
to humor him,” When we got him where we want him, we can give him a big Au
Revoir, no?”
The professor laughed
menacingly,” Yes, that we shall do.”
Then he gripped the steering
wheel with both hands until his knuckles turned
Page 18
Several hours before Doc Savage made his remarkable escape, just
outside of Dublin Ireland in a cozy little drinking place called Kitty Mac
Dermott’s Pub; sat Monk Mayfair and the ever sharply dressed Ham Brooks. The
flashy dressed Monk’s suggestion of taking a table in the very center of this
busy place was becoming less and less appealing to Ham by the minute. It was
wall-to-wall people in that pub. Monk’s attire of green and brown shirt and
slacks was becoming very annoying to Ham.
“ I must say, you look
fine for a Scottish gentleman,” Ham remarked sarcastically.
In a high voice of aggravation
Monk replied,” For the last time, I ain’t Scottish!”
A youthful buxom-built lady who happen to be passing by at the
time, overheard monk’s reply. She promptly leaned over very near to Monk’s face,
so that he would sure to be able to get a good look at her cleavage that bulged
out of her low cut white dress; and asked him in a loud, but sweet voice,” That
I can see straight away. Tell me handsome, do you have Irish blood in your
veins?’
Monk who had not only
a large dinner of Lamb and Colcannon, which is potatoes fried and covered with
a thick cream; but also a few strong Irish black beers in him already; blurted
out loud,” Hell no. I’m not pantywaist
Irishman.”
Unknown to monk, the
loud Irish music had stopped temporarily and every soul in the pub had heard
his comment as plain as day. The Irish woman stood back, hands on hips glaring
down at the apish Monk; and tapping her foot all the while in a growing anger.
Several stools scrapped along the floor as many men began to
rise from their seats.
Ham in a small nervous voice asked monk,” Now why did you say
that for?”
Monk smiled silly, shrugged his shoulders and fell out of his
chair right into
Page 19
the arms of the waiting Irish women. He looked up at her and
asked,” Do you people have doggy bags?”
Several men headed Ham’s direction and he just had time to
yell,” I don’t know the man, really!”
An older man yelled,” Hey, we’ve got an English bastard in here
too.”
Next thing Ham and Monk
knew they felt themselves thrown through the front door into the cobbled
street. The wet cobbled street. Ham was trying to get to his feet with the help
of a broken half of his sword cane; when he heard lightning and looked up just
in time to feel a stinging downpour on his face and torn clothing.
“ Christ! I’m going to murder that ape yet.” He rubbed his jaw
and glanced over at Monk’s form as he managed to get to one knee. Monk could
only lay there in the rain and mumble about more ale. As suddenly as the rain
appeared, it left. Then Ham noticed shadows looming over Monk and himself. He
ventured a peek to see what caused the shadows and found that they were almost
surrounded by a half-a-dozen men and a single tall redhead woman in her
twenties; who asked him a question in a cautious tone.
“ Ham Brooks and Monk Mayfair?”
Ham noticed most of those that surrounded Monk and himself;
glanced around nervously, despite his rather bothersome headache.
“ Yes mamam, we are. You haven’t caught us at one of our best moments.”
“ Can you two walk?”
“ I can but Monk…” Ham gazed upon Monk’s snoring form. The
pretty redhead followed his gaze. She smiled at Ham,” That’s all right. I
happen to have brought along a wee bit of help. We’ll drag him if we have to.”
Ham delighted, smiled.
“ Oh please, feel free to do just that.”
The redhead’s eyes danced with humor and still smiling,” After
what he put you through, I don’t blame you.” She extended a hand to help him to
his feet.
“ Name’s Belinda O’Casey, friends call me Lin.”
She seemed to be at ease around the retired lawyer and this did
not escape Ham’s notice. He continued to smile. He couldn’t help it. She was
very pleasing to the eye.
“ Lin..Lin, that is a pretty name by Jove. What do you want with
us, Lin?”
Miss O’Casey only replied,” Come along quickly. There is someone
I know
Page 20
that would like to talk to you two.”
For reasons unknown
even to himself, he accompanied the woman and her associates willingly. Four
men tried to carry the unconscious Monk for a while; but eventually huffing and
puffing; they gave up and decided to drag him instead. And Ham loved every
minute of it not comprehending somehow, the amount of danger they were in.
At a fast walk they passed several cottages before reaching one
that an old touring car parked and running waiting around the side of it. One
man the driver anxiously waited inside. He had a pistol drawn, but quietly
placed it back in his shoulder holster when he recognized the party that
approached his car.
Monk was propped up between
Ham and one of Belinda’s men in the back seat. Still another man squeezed into
the seat with them. Belinda and a large mean looking gentleman with straight
dark hair and a small beard sat in front with the driver. Before the car could
start anywhere, Belinda leaned halfway out the window on her left since the
driver and steering wheel to this type of vehicle was located on the right. She
gave instructions to the three remaining men who stood just outside the
vehicle. Ham couldn’t quite make out what she was saying to them. Then with a
squawk of grinding gears, the old car lurched forward.
They traveled a very
old pot whole filled road for several miles before anything was said between
the passengers.
“ Miss O’Casey?” Ham addressed the redhead in the seat ahead,”
Could you tell me what this is about?”
Belinda O’Casey leaned over the seat,” Call me Lin please and no
I can’t and shan’t. At least for now.”
“ I don’t suppose you could tell me where either.”
“ Nope. Sorrrrry.”
“ Nope she says.” Ham muttered and Belinda could only smile big
enough to show she had perfect teeth. He couldn’t read a thing in those blue
eyes, but the teeth reminded him of something. He just couldn’t remember what.
The way they carried
on with secrecy, they could only be one thing. The I.R.A. The thought wasn’t
comforting especially since Ham was mostly of English blood. Yet, they had not
once mentioned that fact; at least not in front of him.
Ireland was mostly
shrouded in fog that night, but soon would burn off
Page 21
from the sun that was beginning to peak over the horizon as they
entered a small village. After the village, which was still quiet because of
the early hour they traveled, there was a deserted farmhouse and large barn up
a hill away from the road. They entered without hesitation the drive leading up
the hill, and drove until they had passed the farmhouse stopping in the front
part of the dilapidated barn; who’s doors lay on the uncut grass. The farm
looked recently abandoned.
Whoever had been
waiting in the old rundown barn must had been very watchful too; for as soon as
the old touring car rumbled to a stop in front, two husky masked guards
appeared from inside. They stepped aside to let the vehicle to continue into
the barn. As soon as the engine was killed, everyone piled out of the
automobile except the driver, who leaned back in his seat as if he was going to
take a nap.
Belinda led the way
toward the middle of the barn and even though the morning sun was out; Ham
could barely make out the outline of three shi-masked individuals standing
behind a long old cutting table in the middle of the musky smelling place. Monk
had to be drug all the way by two of Belinda’s men.
As Belinda stepped
aside to let Ham and Monk through, she cleared her voice. Belinda and four men,
two guards that were already occupying the building, Monk and Ham and the three
masked individuals were all that was inside the barn.
After a moment of
silence, the one masked man in the middle of the three was almost a head taller
than the other two or anyone in that room spoke first.
“ Top of the morning to you Mr. Brooks and to your sleeping
friend. I had you brought here to answer some questions and if all goes well,
you’ll be released in a few hours. You might as well know now that you are
temporarily in the custody of the Irish Republican Army.”
“ Sirs?” Ham addressed the apparent leader,” If you know who we
are, then you must realize for whom we work for. And going with that
information; you should know of our friend’s deeds spanning the entire globe
for many years.”
The three ski-masked
figures looked at each other and once more the taller one spoke this time with
a hint of awe to his voice.
“ Then the rumors are true? He is as old as they say?”
Page 22
Ham sighed,” Yes, yes.”
“ Then that means you and all the aides of Clark Savage are at
least Seventy years old?”
Ham ignored the question,” Is this all you plan to ask about?
For if it is then I suggest you let us go now and quit interfering with our
business.”
The large masked man slammed his fist down on the table in
aggravation.
“ Silence you knavish swine! I could have you two killed on the
spot. That is what I want to know, just exactly what are you three doing here?
Have someone perhaps the English government, hired Doc Savage to wipe us out?”
Ham couldn’t help but
laugh,” That is a ridiculous accusation. First of all, Doc Savage does not wipe
anybody. He stops them from carrying out whatever evil plans that they may have
had against humanity.”
The red head, arms folded across her chest, smirked,” Oh
Brother! Nobody works that way.”
Ham ignored her interruption,” Also, my employer has always
respected people who fought for a cause even though we do disagree with your
methods sharply. So, we are here for reasons that have nothing to do with you
at all.”
“ Then what in the
name of all the saints are you here for?” The larger masked man asked as he
pounded the table once hard with his fist again.
“ I don’t really know. Even my friends, Monk and Renny are
stumped.”
“ Then how do you know you aren’t here to do us in?”
Ham couldn’t hide all the worry he was feeling,” It’s not like
Doc to leave us somewhere without instruction or information. He may have felt
he was being carefully watched so much so that he couldn’t risk contact at this
time or…”
The redheaded Belinda moved to stand before the retired lawyer
with the faint English accent, staring intently into his face as she asked, “Or
what Mr. Brooks?”
“ Or he is in grave danger and couldn’t contact us if he wanted
to.”
Ham replied voicing a fear that had been eating at him silence
day one upon arriving in this crazy country.
Monk stirred and
mumbled something in an ancient unknown dialect and then went limp between the
two men that held his hulking form. They sat him heavily down on an old rocking
chair with one armrest missing. After
Page 23
all, he was a heavy load to keep upright for very long even for
two grown men.
Only Ham was able to understand what Monk had mumbled and his
words made him smile briefly in amusement.
Belinda was the only
other person in the room that caught the significance of that brief incident,
but she never gave a hint of it when she said out loud.
“ I believe this man is telling the truth council.”
One of the other masked men turned his head toward the spokesman
and commented, “ Oh, let us be done with this nonsense. We shouldn’t have taken
a chance such as this in the first place. Besides, they can identify Belinda
now, and this place.”
The larger man placed
his hand on the others’ shoulder,” My friend, there is sense to your words. We
can always move but Belinda and some of the others will never be safe now as
long as Mr. brooks and his friends remain alive in our beloved Ireland. Give
the word Mike.”
Mike, the other masked
man of the council of the IRA gave a nod to the guard that were still masked.
Ham could distinctly hear the bolts draw back on their commando type machine
guns, and he actually began to pray when several things happened so fast that
Ham almost didn’t react in time. Belinda stepped in between Ham and the guards.
She half turned to the council mainly to address the big man in the middle.
“I implore you to reconsider your decision. I think it maybe a
hasty and senseless killing.”
No expression shown through masks so it was impossible for Ham
to tell what those three were thinking. It certainly didn’t feel good for they
didn’t respond at first. After a moment of silence in which the guards edged
closer to their captives, the red-haired woman spoke sounding desperate,”
Please father, let them live; I feel it would be a grave mistake to kill them,
now.”
“ Now she says” Ham wondered pessimistically to himself.
Suddenly, a very familiar voice from above somewhere yelled,”
Duck you suckers.”
That caught Monk’s captors’ attention. The second they peered
upward to find the source of this new voice, Monk came to life and with
blinding speed, he sprang to his feet. Grabbing both guards by the necks, he
violently slammed their heads together. They fell senseless to the floor. At
the same instant, a small gray object the size and shape of a walnut dropped
just in
Page 24
front of the council’s table. It discharged into a blinding
flash of light and loud blast very similar to a concussion grenade. As it did,
Ham threw himself against Belinda knocking her flat onto the floor.
The blast had knocked
everyone off their feet except Monk who roared like an ape and punched the
other guards senseless as they tried to recover and regain their footing. Ham
quickly pulled Belinda who was dazed to hre feet and grabbed a large revolver
out of her holster she had attached to her waist. He had the revolver pressed
against Belinda’s temple as the three masked councilmen untangled themselves
from beneath the shattered remains of the table and regained their footing. The
big one pointed a finger at Ham, You have our attention Mr. Brooks. The ball as
you American’s say, is in your corner.”
Ham grabbed Belinda by
the waist and began to back his way in the direction of the main doorway,” Yes,
I think we even made the go ahead touchdown. Ok Dad, your daughter shall escort
us for a while, so I suggest you stay clear of our business and not to
interfere with our flight out of here.”
The big man strained
to control himself, as he threw out his hands in an innocent gesture,” That
sounds reasonable. We shall not give chase, but Mr. Brooks; it you harm her,
there will be no place on this Earth that will be safe for you from my wrath,
do you understand?”
Monk recovering a submachine gun from one of the senseless
guards, answered for him,” Yeah, yeah. Don’t you worry ole chum. We’re not that
type of guys. She’ll be alright as long as we’re not pressed.” Monk grinned at
the struggling Belinda.
The big man ignored
monk’s answer,” Mr. Brooks, somewhere, somehow we will meet again, that I swear
by all that is holy.”
Ham smiled,” Top of the morning to you fellas.”
As they turned and
headed for the main doorway, Ham out the side of his mouth remarked,” That was
a good show of ventriloquism monk, but tell me how did you ever pull the flash
bomb trick?”
“ I didn’t do it.”
“ What?”
That is when they
noticed at the doorway in their path, stood Renny Renwick big as life, with the
sourest expression on his long sunlit face. That usually meant he was enjoying
the moment. In a voice just as big as life
Page 25
Renny asked,” Well, are you guys gonna drag your butts along all
day? Holy Cow Monk! Who’s the hostage?”
“ Head of the local IRA’s daughter that’s all.” Monk replied,”
Now you best lead the way cause I don’t know where you are parked, but I bet
these guys behind us know where theirs are.”
It took Renny and Ham to drag Belinda to an old van still idling
not forty feet to the right of the barn. Monk brought up the rear with a
submachine gun trained on the barn’s doorway until they reached the old
vehicle. After they had piled into the van and cranked the standard drive into
gear, he remarked,” You won’t have to worry about those guys following us.”
Ham who was sitting in the front next to Renny asked,” Because
we have that man’s daughter right?”
“ Nah, because of that.” Renny indicating at a glance the
touring car that was left parked near he front of the dilapidated barn. As
everyone followed Renny’s gaze toward the car, they heard four distinct bangs like
a firecracker would make. First Monk, then the others started laughing as they
witnessed all four tires on the touring car sink down into the muddy earth
until they were as flat as Frisbees. Even Belinda quit struggling and chuckled
at the sight.
“ And I thought we were the only people that pulled such
chicanery.” She smiled at Renny,” I must say you men are a delightful breath of
fresh air.”
Her eyes very nearly twinkled as she turned to Ham,” But I must
warn you the first chance I get I’ll try to escape.”
Ham blushed clearing
his voice. Monk elbowed Ham in the ribs as he addressed him and the red head,”
Then I guess someone will have to keep you tied up. Right Ham?”
Ham didn’t know what to say. In all his years he had known monk;
he had never known him to give up on a beautiful girl such as this without so
much as a fight. Maybe he was seeing something that Ham could not. Anyway he
was getting too old for this.
“ You’ll have to
excuse this buffoon, Miss O’Casy. He must think I’m a dirty old man.” Ham was
almost apologetic.
Belinda amused at the whole deal pressed her face close to
ham’s.” Well, aren’t you?”
Monk laughed so hard he almost set off his machinegun. Ham
turned as red as a beet.
Page 26
Chapter IV
“ An Insurance Policy”
Doc Savage had
discarded the hooded robe discize because it was too cumbersome to be able to
move as fast through the forest as he needed.
It was a sure bet that the professor’s men would be watching his
rental car that he had parked just off the road leading by the old Stonehenge
ruins. His best chance he reasoned was to reach a phone somewhere soon and
contact first his people in New York; then his three aides that were waiting
patiently in Ireland. Monk had only limited patience and could even be making a
move to find the man of bronze at that very moment. He hoped not, for monk and
the others had no idea yet what they would be getting into.
It would have been
simple to contact Scotland Yard police and inform of what he knew and where the
Druids were. He could even tell them exactly who lead them. Charges of murder
could be made on several of the Druids for the brutal killing of Andy, but that
wouldn’t stop the professor and whatever plans he had in mind to carry out. It
would be only a small set back, nothing more.
The sun was well above
the trees as Savage left the forest and was trotting up a narrow country road
toward a small town he could see in the distance. In twenty minutes he reached
the outskirts of an ancient town which consisted mainly of old single story
structures of stone and wood shingles for roofs. In twenty seconds he was
inside a phone booth or Telly booth as the locals would often call them.
Fortunately for the
man of bronze, he still had enough change to call operator and make the
necessary calls. He first tried the overseas calls since it was the most urgent
and also the charge would be a collect call, and not one that he would have to
fork up the money right away. The New York city operator forward his call to a
specious new skyscraper building owned under the name of Ham’s son Nick Brooks,
a now famous lawyer of the big apple and one of the newest additions to
Savage’s organization of crime fighting.
A gruff voice
answered,” Fifth Avenue Skyline Tower, may I help you?’
Doc Savage explained
whom he was and whom he wanted to talk to. He mentioned it was an emergency.
That wasn’t necessary for no sooner did he reveal his identity, the male
receptionist recognized his voice then his
Page 27
whole attitude changed in a flash.
“Right away Mr. Savage. I knew that there is at least Nick
Brooks at the apartment now entertaining a lady friend I believe, but I guess
this is important enough to interrupt them ain’t it?
“ Yes Phil, it certainly is.” Doc Savage said as little as
possible for he wasn’t sure that their phone may already be tapped by the
professor’s hired crones.
Phil the receptionist
rang the phone four rings before someone answered. Whoever answered wasn’t in a
good mood,” Hello, Nick Brooks is not in now, but if you leave a message at the
sound of the beep; I shall try to answer it within two days.”
“ Nick, you can drop the act. This is Phil downstairs.”
“ Phil, I thought I give strict instructions to you that I was
not to be…”
“ Nick! This is urgent! Mr. Bronze himself is on the other line.
He really needs to talk to you.”
“ Well, by all means, put him on. I have to talk to him too.”
“ Are you gonna accept the call collect?”
“ Yes, yes, now put him on.”
The line was already open so Savage heard the whole conversation
before he addressed Nick.
“ Hello Nick. You sound upset. Did I interrupt something?”
“ Yes, you did. But that situation is repairable. What is not is
what Monk’s daughter did to me.”
Doc Savage sighed,” What is it now Nick?”
“ Ah not much…She just stole my last bottle of 1962
“ That’s ok, my day’s been shot from the first. Now, why do they
want you? Wait a minute. I’ll take an extra precaution …” After a couple of
seconds of silence, Nick said,” There, I turned on our scrambler. Should take
care of all bugs.”
“ Good thinking Nick. I believe they want me for some important
sacrifice.”
“ I suppose because you signify purity and a true fighter of
evil. But couldn’t a priest do as well?”
Doc Savage didn’t answer either because he didn’t really know
why, or that he was ignoring Nick’s question. It was then out of the corner of
his eye; he saw movement down the street leading further into town.
“ Clark? Clark? Are you still there?”
Savage’s attention was drawn back temporarily to the phone.
“ Nick, find Nancy at all costs and head for your basement
garage. Lock it off and arm yourselves. You should be safest down there.”
“ Ok, but…”
“ I must contact Renny and the others immediately. I’ll see you
two later.”
Doc Savage hung up the receiver before Nick could get in a word.
He ventured a glance down the street. There were several people exiting from
the doorways of shops and houses headed clearly his direction. Some were
heavily armed, while others carried clubs or whatever they could find.
He crouched down low
in the booth after he dialed another number. Calling Ireland turned out to be
harder than over seas from there, but finally Renny’s hotel room was patched
through. By the eighth ring, the man of bronze was about to give up; when
finally a familiar voice answered it almost out of breath,” Hello.”
“ Hi Renny. It is good to hear your voice. How are the boys?”
Renny instantly recognized Doc Savage’s voice and that he was
using code,” Hi there Doc. We’re alright considering the rough ride we’ve
experienced. I mean not knowing what is going on nearly made the boys targets
for a little
Page 29
rock throwing by some nasty Irish lads. We’ve made a truce with
their sister.”
Doc savage could hear
some scuffling going on in the background,” Well, almost a truce.” Renny added.
Then he could hear the unmistakable high voice of monk yelling,” Ouch! She bit
me!”
“ If I didn’t know better, I would mistakably conclude that
Nancy was with you people.”
Renny laughed,” I think by the time this is over, the boys will
wish she had been instead of this hellcat.”
“ She really must be something…Do you remember back during the
Black Cobra affair?”
“ Yeah, what about it?”
“ Meet me there tomorrow morning, that’s four a.m.”
“ But Doc, that’s been almost 45 years since any of us have been
there. Holy Cow! You may not be able to recognize the place by now.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just be sure to be there at the appointed
time, Renny. Oh, and it’s your business about the girl, but if I were you I’d
ditch her before you leave.”
Renny seemed doubtful and confused,” Oh, alright. We’ll make it
somehow. It is going to spoil the law boy’s birthday, but I think he’ll pull through,
especially the way this ole girl acts. See ya later.”
“ Right, good luck.”
Savage quickly
replaced the receiver to its cradle and peered outside. The small gathering
ahead had grown into a large mob. Surely all of them weren’t looking for him.
As soon as he stepped out of the telly booth, one of the men in the crowd
shouted pointing Savage’s way,” Hey! There he is. The murderer has made it easy
on us/ Let’s get him lads!”
Doc savage knew that a
mob like that he wouldn’t have time to explain the brute’s death or anything
before he was lunched or worse. The den that the angry mob was making was
deafening, as they converged toward the man of bronze. He only stayed a second
to analyze their numbers and behavior, and then like a silent ghost, he faded
into the shrubbery surrounding a closed pub and several abandoned two story
structures, with the crowd right on his heels. Fearing he would get away in
such an obstacle course of trees, bushed and other structures such as this,
several people fired shotguns and rifles wildly into the area ahead of
them.
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Doc savage once felt a bullet graze his heel as he ran around a
corner of one of the abandoned houses. He knew he had to put as much distance
as he could between them and himself especially in the daylight if he were to
have a chance of escaping at all.
All he really needed to
do was make his way through one last building and then he could slip back into
the forest nearby. Upon entering the two story dilapidated structure; he
noticed strong odor of smoke throughout the first floor. As his eyes became
more accustom to the dark he relaxed the source of this smoky fragrance. The
entire interior had been burned to a crisp, yet there had been no warning signs
posted around the outside or in.
What he failed to
notice perhaps because of all that was on his mind at the moment; was the
opening in the floor in front of him. He couldn’t see the opening because there
was a trap door covering that opening. Next thing he knew, he was stepping off
into nothingness with nothing nearby to grab to stop his fall.
As he plummeted into
further darkness he sensed the edge of the flooring as his body fell by. At the
last instant, he reached over and grabbed the flooring ledge with both hands
checking his fall. Unfortunately, the edges of the flooring were wood weakened
by the fire also. So after a few seconds in which he was trying to pull himself
out of that trap; the edges of the wood he held by his fingertips gave way and
he continued his fall. There was no ladder to descend or grab to help stop him.
The man of bronze could only helplessly on to whatever fate awaited him below.
Chapter V
“A Night to Remember”
As Renny was off the
phone he said without thinking, “ Well, guess we’re to meet Doc in London right
away. He said it wasn’t any of his business; but he thought we ought to get rid
of the girl.”
Ham started to protest where he sat at their hotel room lone
table reading the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal, but he never got
out a word. Suddenly, like a shot; Belinda threw a vase at Renny’s head, which
missed him by inches and then bolted for the front door.
If Monk hadn’t jumped
a couch and left at the Irish lady’s legs, she might have escaped. She looked
healthy enough to outrun all of them. Even then
Page 31
she had managed to open the door before monk tackled her. The
results of
the tackle caused them both to spill face first into the
hallway; just as a black cleaning woman strolled by with a toilet brush in one
hand and a roll of toilet tissue in the other. She stopped and stared as Monk
helped Belinda up none too gently.
“ Try that again sister and I’ll have to hog tie ya.” Belinda
could only glare at his homely face. The cleaning woman cleared her throat
which of course got their attention,” I tell ya child, if I had a man that
looked that ugly; I’d be runnin’ too.”
Ham further inside the room got a kick out of that statement.
The laughter burned Monk’s ears.
The cleaning woman
clucked at them and shook her head back and forth as she continued down the
brightly lit hallway. Monk helped the pretty redhead to her feet and then
forcefully escorted her back into their room. As he did so he explained,” Renny
didn’t mean what you thought he meant Miss O’Casey; when he mentioned getting
rid of you.”
“ Oh. Am I to believe that just because you say it?”
Ham stepped in front
of the two and pulled Belinda away from monk,” You have no choice Belinda.
Renny only meant that we would let you out somewhere before we departed for…
wherever we are going to.”
Renny had to have his say to the still skeptical young woman,”
What you didn’t realize is that it is our policy, code if you will not to harm
anyone intentionally.”
“ No matter how villainous or honoree they may be.” Monk added
as a hint. This was a big surprise to the redhead for she could only respond.
” Really?”
Then Ham guided Belinda
by her arm toward a couple of chairs on the other side of the room as he
continued to converse with her. Renny with little else to say or do, told Monk
as he rubbed his large oversized hands together,” Well, I suppose we better get
packing.”
Monk glanced over at the couple across the room,” Yeah, let’s do
that and maybe we can take an evening flight outta here. I’m so fed up with
Ireland. Besides, the love birds need to be alone so’s they can say their
goodbyes.”
Ham sat facing the fiery Irish woman. They were close so it was
easy to talk to one another in whispers.
“ I’m going to lay it on the line girl. You shouldn’t go with us
no matter
Page 32
what I feel for you.”
Belinda’s eyes were watery and almost bloodshot, but her voice
didn’t falter,” I know we’ve only just met, but I feel I have known you all my
life and that is why I want to go with you. I’ve lived all my days in Ireland
waiting, waiting for something and I think that something is you.”
“ You can’t feel that. You know nothing of me or why we do these
crazy things.”
Belinda looked out the
window nearby for a moment,” Oh, I think I know you alright. You have been
surrounded by your friends practically all your life, yet alone at the same
time. I can understand your commitment to this man Doc Savage. It is like a
cause, a cause against evil very much the same that my father’s father and his
father before that. We may lose some battles, but like you we know in the end
we shall win the war and our freedom. Erin go braugh, meaning long live
Ireland.”
“ My age, I have English blood…”
The red head waved
them off and she gently touched his cheek with her lips.” It only means you are
more mature and I accept challenges bigger than that everyday.”
Ham finally sighed,” Then you really want to go with us to
England?”
“ With you, yes I do.”
While they had this conversation, Monk slipped up on them,
“ You forget about the excitement, we do it for that too.”
Belinda turned to Monk,” That goes without saying. I’m sorry I
thought the worse of you people. I should have known better than that.”
Monk grinned,” Well, I’m sorry I tackled ya… friends?”
Monk held out a thick hairy hand to the Irish lady.
“ Friends.” She returned Monk with a look of respect and shook
his hand.
“ You know you’ll be considered our ticket out of here,” Monk
commented.
Ham protested,” You buffoon, she’ll be our guest and nothing..”
Belinda interrupted,”
No, he’s right Ham. You embarrassed my father in front of his friend and I
believe that won’t be the last time we will hear from them. They don’t forget a
slight, and it is best that they believe I’m your hostage. They’ll never
believe anything you tell them now. At least they’ll keep their distance until
they feel they have the advantage.”
As they pondered this problem, Renny asked,” So is she going or
what?”
Ham laughed,” I guess she is.”
Page 33
Renny glanced out the
front doorway to their room out into the hallway and informed everyone,” That’s
good. I think we better leave now and get some rest on the plane; cause I just
noticed there’s three suspicious looking characters hanging around the hall. I don’t
know how long they have been there.”
“ Not long, it was only 15 minutes ago that we took that spill.”
Monk ventured.
“ Renny’s right, if it’s my people they’ll make their move soon.
Belinda explained.
Renny already had most of the luggage packed, so in a matter of
minutes to avoid the possible confrontation in the hallway; they climbed out
the back window and down the fire escape to a side street below.
Renny instructed Monk, as they reached the last steps,” Monk,
while we carry the luggage to the rental car, you go inside and throw the keys
to em’ at the desk.”
“ Sure, but do we owe anything?” Monk asked.
“ Nah, shouldn’t be any problem. We’ll meet ya in front.”
Monk waved the three
on and strolled around to the front glass doors and into the lobby of the hotel
whistling rather badly an Irish melody. The lobby and front desk was very busy,
what with it being late morning and many people were checking in and out at
about that time.
Two men who were not
guests or residents of the hotel, stood with their backs to a wall watching
anyone that traveled to and fro whether they took the elevators or the spiral
staircase nearby. Neither had thought to watch the front doors, until Monk had
already checked out and left the keys to their room.
Just as he turned to
leave the front desk and head for the front glass doors, he heard some woman
behind him shout,” Lookout! He’s got a gun!”
Another woman screamed
as he whirled around with a gun drawn in his hand. That gun was no ordinary
gun, but a machine pistol of a special make that Doc Savage had developed some
fifty years ago. Some improvement had been made to prevent jamming and
overheating, but basically it was of the same breed and performance; as
everyone in the lobby was to find out.
As he whirled around
he noticed two things right away. First, everyone was use to sudden and deadly
attacks before; for they were all dropping to
the floor or running for cover. The next instant he saw two men
that could
Page 34
have filled National Football League uniforms nicely rushing
toward him, determination in their eyes with guns drawn.
“ Where’s the fire fellas?” Monk roared.
They brought up their
guns to fire without a word, but Monk had already a bead on them and he
promptly opened fire in several short bursts from his pistol. There were more
screams of terror for only the man of bronze’s aides knew that his pistol only
contained sleeping bullets at the time. The first assailant dropped while
running, while the other man dived to the side to avoid the oncoming fire. He
returned fire as he started to slide behind a large couch.
Monk helped the
frightened porter to his feet. They looked at each other and monk commented to
him,” Exciting ain’t it?”
Monk grinned from ear to ear, which made him resemble even more
Orangutan than before. One bullet nicked the shoulder of Monk and that only
seemed to infuriate the apish looking fellow, for he let out a bellow of rage
and charged toward the last assailant bringing his machine pistol on full
automatic all the way. In a moment, the other gunman lay sleeping sprawled
across the pale frightened porter that Monk had just helped to his feet before.
He helped him up again
and the shaken porter promptly fainted falling onto another couch, out like a
light. Monk shrugged his shoulders and made for the front doors in a hurry.
When he burst through the glass doors to the hotel; Renny’s car was nowhere to
be found. At first.
Monk muttered to himself,” You guys, so help me. If you chicken
out… I’ll tear this town apart to find you.”
He was about to hail a taxi, when out of the corner of his eye,
he noticed Renny’s old rental car making its way almost on two wheels around
the corner from the left. It advanced down the street and with a long screech
of old brakes; it came to a stop right in front of him.
Ham stuck his head out
the rear side window of the old four door laughing,” What a sight. What’s the
matter? You look like a fellow who’s just swallowed an entire pig, by Jove!”
Monk growled at ham,” If you don’t let me in that car, I’m gonna
feed you to the pigs piece by piece.”
Ham only laughed louder.
Renny said as he unlocked the front passenger door for Monk, “
Holy cow! What happened in there? We took off to get some gas around the corner
as
Page 35
Ham suggested making sure we had enough to reach the airport. As
soon as we heard the shots, we hurried back…”
Monk slid into the seat and Renny got the old car in gear.
“ Ham suggested it huh?”
“ Yeap.” Renny replied.
Monk growled again,” I was almost ambushed you danged fools!”
Ham was immediately apologetic,” I’m sorry ole boy. Was it Irish
republican men?”
“ It most likely was,” Belinda interceded,” Renny, we must leave
the country now. They must be trying to close in on us already.”
Renny made the old
wreck of a rental car practically fly all the way to the airport. A half a
block to the destination, Belinda suddenly spoke,” Stop by that store’s parking
lot over there.”
Renny had a questioning look on his face, but must have realized
that Belinda knew what she was talking about, so he followed her order without
so much as a single word. As their car screeched to a halt once more, Belinda
said,” Ham, you and I have got to check the airport out first.”
Ham looked her up and
down,” She’s right you guys. They may have all modes of public transportation
watched around the clock.”
Ham opened his door which faced the sidewalk leading to the
airport,” We’ll check it out.”
Belinda left out the
same door as Ham. Monk watched Ham and Belinda make their way from one parked
car to the next through the entire parking lot until they were out of sight
entering the airport.
“ Luck”. Monk whispered.
Both Professional
football fans themselves, Renny and Monk were soon in a heavy discussion of
what teams would be in the Super Bowl that year. At least they tried to.
“ I think Buffalo has a better chance this year than any team
they’ve had in a long time.” Renny commented.
Monk continued to watch carefully out his window as he asked,”
You really think so? I’m counting on the Forty-Niners myself. They really have
it together this year.”
“ They always do.”
“ Huh?”
“ Have it together.”
Page 36
“ I’m sorry, my heart and mind is not in it.”
“ I know Monk. I’m worried about him too!”
Monk looked at Renny who was halfway turned in the driver’s
seat,
“ There must be more to this than what doc is letting on.”
Renny turned back in his seat to face the wheel,: You’re right
Monk. I wish I knew more about this whole deal so I could tell you more, but I
don’t. Wish we could be of more help than we are.”
After a few moments of
silence, Monk broke it,” Hey, here they come. The pair watched Belinda and Ham
quickly zig zag among the rows of parked cars and soon they were piling into
Renny’s rental car.
“ What did you find?” Monk asked.
“ What do you think?” Ham sourly replied.
“ The place is crawling with father’s lads and I believe the
police have your people pegged as terrorists or some kind of criminal ring.
Begorrah, but are they stupid.” Belinda shook her head in dismay of their
mutually desperate situation, as Renny threw the car in gear.
“ Holy scapegoats!” Renny concluded grimly,” I guess we better
find another way there.”
“ And I believe there is.” Belinda slapped Ham on the back,
which almost cause him to lose his breath.
Monk tried to keep a straight face as he asked her,” Well, where
to little lady?” He asked it in the best impersonation of John Wayne the
western T.V. and movie star that he could muster.
“ There is a little used airport made only for several small
aircraft that we use occasionally. It would be the last place my father would
look for us because remember, he doesn’t really know yet that I am helping you
guys. He still thinks of me in terms of a hostage.”
Renny asked,” Where is it?”
Belinda pointed straight ahead,” Keep on this road and soon we
shall reach a fork where one way leads to a highway and the other is an old
stone road left over from a by gone era of ancient Ireland.”
“ Which do we take?” Renny asked.
“ The old stone one. We stay on it two, two and a half miles and
then it simply ends into a field with several small buildings scattered about
that area.”
“ That’s the airport, I mean field?”
Page 37
“ That’s it. There’s always an aircraft of some kind out there.”
“ Oh Yeah, no problem.” Monk commented sarcastically,” We’ll
pile into that old single-engine bi-plane and away we go.”
Belinda grinned at Monk,” That’s a chance we’ll have to take.”
“ Alright alright, we’ll take it. We haven’t much time. Renny
informed.
“ Or choice.” Ham added.
Chapter VI
“
It rained on the parade”
A thin dapper
middle-aged man dressed in the latest of fashionable three piece suits all
white with a Bengal stripe broadcloth shirt striped gray and white. The tie was
paisley design gray and Burgundy. His shoes were a polished white. He stood
waiting patiently in a lobby to the club and café, The Rainbow Room club is
located atop the 65-story RCA Building in Rockefeller Center. The club recently
restored; was a place where Manhattan reality inspired Hollywood fantasy; where
the high life flourished in the midst of the nation’s deepest depression. It
attracted a clientele that included Noel Coward, Joan Crawford and assorted
Vanderbilts, Paynes and Whitneys.
The rainbow Room was a
great space two stories high, with mirrored columns, a circular dance floor
that slowly turn when needed, and three tiers of tables that step back to
wall-length windows that look out on the Manhattan skyline. The lighted organ
that gave the room its name was gone, but the 300 color lights in the dome on
the ceiling have been synchronized with the sound system to create the
“rainbow” effect.
This dapper fellow
who watched slightly aggravated as several formally dressed couples exited
elevators nearby and entered the establishment with not so much as a slight bit
of trouble; was a famous lawyer in his own right, Nick Brooks. He was the son
to another even more famous or infamous as the case may be, retired lawyer
known also the world over as one of the original aides to Clark Savage Jr..
Sometimes it did
seem to bother Nick that he was known more as another aide to the famous Doc
Savage; than he was a famous defense attorney. He
often wondered if it ever had bothered his father Ham Brooks.
While in his abstract
thought somewhere, a matrade stuck his long nosed
Page 38
face out the main entrance announcing to Nick,” The party is here, will you be joining them sir?”
Nick dropped his cigarette he had been smoking and missed an
ashtray purposely. The matrdee winced as it hit the floor in a small geyser of
sparks.
“ Yes, but…don’t mention anything to them about me. I wish it to
be a surprise.”
He winked and tipped
the snobbish little fellow a large bill, which made the tipped blink obviously
impressed.
“ Right this way Mr. Brooks. They requested a table near the
dance floor and stage. I hope you don’t mind, I could have everyone moved to a
place…”
“ No, no, Vincent.” Nick chuckled,” That will be perfect.”
He followed the thin
little host who zig zagged through the many elegantly clothed tables of gold
and red. Nick glanced around the club realizing that this was the first time he
had been in the Rainbow room ever.
Nick, for the first
time noticed the two crystal chandeliers up above and the bronze railings
running along some stairs leading to the balcony located to the side on each
side overlooking the wall-length windows. The buzz of conversation and echo of
band music filled the air around him.
Soon as described,
Vincent stopped and pointed out a table to Nick where the party sat that he was
sent to track down. Sure enough, the table was right by the live stage area
where a show had just begun with a big fanfare of music from the club’s band
and even bigger welcoming applause, which filled the house to capacity.
The party Nick wanted
consisted of a large man of Spanish decent maybe sixty years of age’ who sat
across from and was accompanying a beautiful woman (in a rough sort of way) in
her late thirties. She wore a beautiful full-length evening dress made of white
sparkle material, which reflected the lighting twinkling like a thousand stars.
Though she had a
beautiful face, her most striking feature was her long blonde hair cascading
down her back almost to the middle of it. The front of her hair was pulled back
and held in place by a very expensive headband decorated white with tiny white
diamonds, which added to the twinkling effect. Around her shapely neck was a
pearl necklace worth a fortune on its on.
She was facing more
Nick’s direction than her partner and was the first to
spot him approaching her table. Her face shown concern and she
shook her
Page 39
head slightly as if to say no or stay away. But Nick kept right
on course smiling mischievously all the way.
Just as he was about
to reach them, the blonde calmly pushed her chair back and announced to her
male companion,” Excuse me Fredrick. That was a delicious meal, but I find I
must freshen up at the lady’s room before we continue this, what promises to be
a wonderful evening.”
She said those words loud enough that Nick could hear and then
she stood up. The Spanish gentleman stood also like the gentleman he was; to
excuse his lady companion from the table.
And like a shot, the
disturbed blonde made her way quickly for the lady’s room located near the
furtherest wall from her. A comedian on stage said half seriously,” Hey lady,
I’m not that bad.”
She ignored his comment not flinching one bit. Instead, she
doubled her speed toward the lady’s room.
Still, Nick had the angle
on her and was soon walking fast beside this now desperate blonde hellcat. She
turned her head slightly and out of the corner of her mouth she asked,” Can’t a
woman have some privacy in this town?”
Nick through up his hands,” With ten million inhabitants around.
Hey, get serious, Nancy.”
“ I am serious. Scat. Find a hole in and cover yourself up.”
“ Ooooh, hostility now.”
“ Brother, you haven’t seen nothing yet. You ruin this date and
it’ll be lights out for you.” Nancy’s face was slowly turning red with anger.
Nick kept pace with
the mad blonde he called Nancy even though she was almost trotting her way
across the club’s plush carpeted floor.
“ Slow down will you. I haven’t been to the gym yet.” Nick
exclaimed.
“ If I had my way, I’d run you into the ground. This is
embarrassing.”
“ Hey, I don’t mean to butt into your private life. I mean, what
you do on your own is your business; but when your father calls and says he
worried about your safety because Doc let him know he’s worried about your
safety; then….”
Suddenly, Nancy
stopped and almost tripped Nick in the process. She faced him asking,” What did
you say? Why my safety?”
“ Now you’re all ears eh?”
Nancy just stared at him and so Nick explained as calmly as he
could,” Uh well, you see; Doc has good reason to believe that a hit team is on
its way to
Page 40
kidnap you to trap him into doing something, but he didn’t
explain what that was. Some mad man’s scheme maybe…”
“ What? Somethin’s going down?” Nancy asked with a sudden
twinkle in her green eyes.
“ Uh oh.” Nick almost turned to leave realizing too late, he had
told too much to the wrong party; because if there is anything Nancy likes in
life most, it’s the excitement of danger. And that could prove fatal for them
both.
Nancy grabbed his
arm,” Oh no you don’t you jerk. You are not going to leave me dangling like
this or I swear I’ll scream for Fredrick’s help to stop a certain cad from
bothering me.”
Nick looked up at the
ceiling silently quoting some obscenities to himself, before he gave in and
turned back to face this blonde wildcat from hell,” We don’t have time for me
to explain anything else here. We must find a place of safety like the basement
garage before they find us whoever they may be.”
Nancy pushed Nick a
step back saying,” Well don’t stand there, lead on big man. I just hope for
your sake this is all worth it.”
As they made for the main exit from the club, Nick asked over
his shoulder,” Don’t you want to say something to your Fredrick about it.”
“ Why? Oh him. Yeah, just a second.”
Nick felt sorry for
Nancy’s date as he watched her approach him and explained her way out of what
might have been an interesting evening. He watched Fredrick who had stood up
like a gentleman as Nancy approached the table; drop back down to his chair in
bewilderment when Nancy finished explaining her situation. He could only wave
slightly with one hand as he watched her leave.
When Nancy was within earshot, Nick asked,” Took it pretty hard
didn’t he?”
Nancy sadly answered,” Yeah, what do you expect? This probably
would’ve made his year. Oh, come on before I change my mind danger or no.”
Nick escorted her into the lobby and toward the elevators after
Nancy had left a number of large bills with Vincent who grinned from ear to ear
and bid them both a very good night.
“ At least Fredrick will be taken care of for the evening.”
Nancy sighed as they both reached the elevator who’s doors just
happen to open at that very instant. As they entered their elevator, the next
one several
Page 41
yards further down the lobby arrived. The doors opened and three
men in casual sports suits popped out in a hurry. Two drew 44 magnums from
under their suits and quickly advanced toward the front entrance to the rainbow
room. The third a man small in stature than the others, sporting an old pencil
thin mustache remained in the lobby.
Somehow the little man
sensed something and turned to survey Nick and Nancy’s elevator whose doors
were slowly beginning to close. Nancy’s eyes met the little man’s at the same
time and she could see recognition in his face. Everything seemed to move too
slowly, like in a slow motion sequence of an action movie.
She watched in horror
as the little mustached man shouted a warning to his colleges as he drew his
own pistol from beneath his suit and rushed toward her elevator. Nick yelled
and pounding on the elevator’s control panel, but the doors would only close so
fast.
The little man reached
the elevator just in time to force his pistol between the closing doors. One
shot then two rang out, but both missed their targets by inches only because
Nick pulled Nancy’s frozen form toward him. Seconds later the little man had to
pull his gun away for the doors, which were also smashing against his hand.
He yelled after them,”
you’re not getting away Bitch. You have nowhere to go. Hear me? Nowhere to go!”
He let out a stream of obscenities, but was cut short by one of
the men tugging at his sleeve.
“ Come on Mitch. Let’s take the other elevator.”
The little man named Mitch commented,” Yeah, lets. And there’s
no hurry boys. They’re not going anywhere now are they?”
The other men chuckled knowingly as all three piled into the
other awaiting elevator.
Nick held Nancy close
until she pulled away suddenly,” Thanks nick, that was close…”
Nick winced in pain,” Yeah, closer than you think. Looks like
one ricocheted and found me.”
Terrified, Nancy’s face drained of color as she gazed upon the
back of Nick’s suit. It was drenched with blood on one side, which was dripping
to
the floor tiles below.
“ Oh my God! Nancy exclaimed as she grabbed and helped hold Nick
Page 42
upright for he was beginning to feel numb on one side getting
more difficult to breath with each passing moment. And slowly those moments
passed as they descended sixty-five stories in their elevator toward the ground
floor. Nick leaned against the elevator wall for further support.
“ I’ll make it.” He told Nancy between his shallow breaths.
Just as their elevator
reached 3rd floor, Nick suddenly reached over and pressed the button
for the 2nd floor.
“ What are you doing Nick?” Nancy worried, asked.
“ They’ve probably (cough) have a reception committee waiting
for us down there, so I (cough) thought it wise that we get off 2nd
floor, take the back stairwell to the alley.” Nick winced once more with
greater pain and his face was beginning to lose its color.
“ Then what?” Nancy close to panic noticed Nick looked so bad.
The elevator doors opened onto 2nd floor, an office
floor for several brokerage and law firms. Nick explained briefly as they
stepped out of the elevator and into the 2nd floor hallway.
“ A diversion. To the left in the alley is a shorter way (cough)
to the front. I’ll take that way and divert their attention if there is anyone
onto me. You will take the right and…”
“ And get away to leave you to die? No way! We’ll go together
and I’ll get your butt to a hospital is what I’ll do. How much further?”
“ Just around the corner and to the end. You dope! If we go
together, we’ll both get caught. Pretty soon I’m going to be dead weight…”
Suddenly Nick stumbled and Nancy had to help him to his feet.
“ See what I mean? I’m getting as weak as a kitten.” Nick
described.
“ Alright, alright. Just make it down this stairwell, then we’ll
see.”
The stairs seemed to
take forever to descend to the ground floor for Nancy as she helped her wounded
friend down them. She couldn’t bear to look at her supporting arm for it was
covered with Nick’s blood.
Finally, they reached the exit door and shoved it open. By then,
she didn’t care who was on the other side. Time might be running out for Nick
for all she knew. The bullet might be lodged into a lung or a vertebra. As they
ran down the alley to the right, they saw a large black limo screech to a stop
at the entrance, sufficiently blocking their escape that direction.
As several heavily
armed men climbed out of the limo, Nick and Nancy did an about-face and started
up up the alley in the other direction.
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Unfortunately for the lawyer/lady duo, the little man with the
mustache and his buddies had reached ground floor. Finding no one in front,
they had just rounded the corner leading into the alley on a head on course
with the would-be escapees.
Upon sighting the
three thugs, Nick drew a blue steel automatic pistol and shot the biggest
assailant in the face. He screamed and the remaining two ducked behind stacked
pallets and garbage cans for cover.
“ Nancy, head for the exit door. Get back inside. At least you
will have a chance!” Nick ordered, as the assailants began returning his
gunfire.
Nancy ignored Nick’s plea and tried desperately to help him
accompany her in the direction of the said exit door, but he pulled away.
“ Nick, we’ve got to
get out of here.” Nancy tried to pull on his arm,” Come on babe, we’ve got places
to go; people to meet. But not here!”
A bullet hit Nick in
the left leg and he lost his balance falling once more. Nancy watched as Nick’s
form hit the pavement landing on his side, his pistol skidding across the alley
to a pile of rubbish.
“ Nick!” she yelled and jumped down on her hands and knees
beside him.
She sobbed great sobs
of grief as all of the thugs reached them. The little mustached thug stooped
down and checked Nick’s pulse. He looked up at his men from the limo and shook
his head. They lowered their guns and one started back to the limo as the
little man remarked.
“ Sorry doll, but your friend’s had it. He’s lost a lot of
blood. Looks like I’m getting better with the gun.”
Nancy still continued
to gaze at Nick’s form through tear filled eyes and she coldly stated,” You
killed Nick. If I’d had a gun that probably wouldn’t have happened.” She looked
up to stare into the haughty eyes of the little thug.
“ You really cared for
this fellow huh? Get real lady, I’m the better man.” The little thug’s words
were insult to injury and the chuckles escaping from the lips of several of the
on looking thugs, were the final straw for Nancy Mayfair.
“ Doc Savage has always stressed never to take another person’s
life under any circumstances especially for personal reasons.” Nancy stated
flatly.
The little thug gave her a puzzled look and started to rise to
his feet, when Nancy suddenly reached out and grabbed the front section of his
hair,” But friend, in my eyes that rule is now null and void.”
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The little thug was about to say ouch; when suddenly with almost
blinding speed, the mourning lady before him hit his neck in the Adam’s apple a
powerful blow with her other hand. The chop sufficiently crushed his larynx and
he choked to death almost instantly. Shock and surprise was written across his
blue face as he lay where he had fallen backwards from Nancy’s deadly attack.
One of the larger
thugs who had little feelings for the little guy felt little shock at her
action compared to the others. So he was able to react immediately. With a
blackjack he tapped Nancy across the back of the head just enough to knock her
senseless. As she fell over Nick’s still form, he commented with unmistakable
relief in his voice.
“ That will be quite enough.”
Chapter VII
“
The Hunter and the Hunted”
How long the man of
bronze lay at the bottom of that hole, he couldn’t fathom at first. Several
broken two by fours from the burnt edges of the floor above and bits of mortar
and earth lay on top of his body. It took some time to free himself from the
debris. By then his eyes had become somewhat use to the darkness around him.
Enough that he realized for the first time, he had fallen by chance into an old
tunnel system; probably dating back at least several hundred years. His body
was sore all over from the abrasions and bruises he had received from the fall.
It was painful to pull himself to his feet. He glanced up and around the hole
he had fallen, searching for a ladder or anything to climb up out of there, but
found nothing. The ladder, which had led from the trap door, might have decayed
to dust long ago or someone might have pulled it out. In any case, he realized
that since the trapdoor was at least a dozen feet straight up; there would be
no chance of escape that way.
The only other
possibility was to try the tunnel. Behind him the tunnel ran in the direction
of the village while the way ahead he reasoned must lead toward the forest
nearby. He knew that he had a better chance that way.
Though the tunnel was made of some kind of smooth ancient
chiseled stone, and was plenty tall enough that he could walk erect; it was
still hard going. Mainly because as he traveled further from the trap door area,
the darker it
Page 45
became. Also, in the pitch-black conditions he found that the
tunnel turned
directions several times. It was possible that he might happen
upon some ancient catacomb tunnels; which would branch off in a maze that he
would never find his way out of.
It suddenly occurred
to him that among his person he had perhaps the solution to his immediate
problem. He stopped and sat down with his back to the wall. He pulled off his
explorer boots and temporarily removed the heel off of each one. Inside each
heel was a small thin tube made of a special type of rubber-plastic, which by
feel alone he brought the correct end of each together, to become a longer
tube. After a moment, a bluish glow grew from within the unusual tube until it
was bright enough to at least give him some idea of his surroundings.
It was no surprise to
him to see that the walls of his tunnel were of Roman construction predating
the great kings of England, but had been known to have been used as recently as
the turn of the century during that country’s many wars with its neighbors.
Tunnels of this sort could either lead to a castle or the forest nearby. There
was no telling where for sure.
Before he could put on
his boots, he had to shake a rat out from within one of them that had thought
it was warm enough to stay in. it squealed and hurriedly scurried out of the
glowing range of Doc Savage’s light tube. Several times as he made his way
through the ancient tunnel, he had to climb over large tree roots that had busted
through the carefully fitted wall stones. The further he progressed, the wetter
the tunnel became. After a while, he could hear water dripping from several
places in the ceiling and walls.
Savage knew that there
wasn’t a lake within twenty miles of where he stood; nor could he remember any
coastline nearby. The tunnels at that point must run by a pond and river. And
the only pond and river he knew of in that area was the ones he had past by on
his way to Stonehenge. Fifty yards down, the tunnel split into two. Now he had
to choose a course and it had to be the right one, for his glowing tube had a
limited amount of light power left; perhaps twenty minutes at best.
Something told him to
take the one to the right. Ninety percent of the time his intuition had paid
off in the past. So there was no hesitation on Savage’s part as he took the
tunnel to the right. Only a few steps into the tunnel and Doc Savage heard a
sound that would have turned lesser men to jelly.
In the distance
apparently from the tunnel at the left, something emitted a
Page 46
high pitched shriek of a sound; not unlike a chimpanzee only
louder. Then he could hear the thud of soft padded footsteps like a very heavy
animal would make. It got louder with each passing second. Whatever it was, it
wasn’t human and soon after he caught its awful scent that confirmed his
thoughts.
In the shape he was in
and with almost pitch-black conditions against a night vision animal; he knew
he would not be properly prepared to defend himself successfully. An animal
that was probably as heavy as himself, perhaps heavier. He had no concealed
weapons left to even the odds.
The vision of the
attack of the weird blue haired ape monster the night before, gave him
incentive to increase his speed along the tunnel. Several times he caught
himself glancing back even though there was of yet nothing to see.
Already the creature
that was following him had exited the left tunnel and was entering his. He
could even hear the heavy breathing and low growling it uttered with every step
it took. Twenty more yards and he almost fell head over heels over a large root
that was almost chest level, that had broken through the wall and had crashed
through the other on the opposite side blocking the way.
He then noticed by
feeling along the wall that to his left there was a pipe hole entrance exiting
the old wall just before the large root. It was smaller than the tunnel he was
in, but still large enough for him to crawl into. Though his first thoughts had
told him he didn’t have concealed weapons to fight with; he did have one trick
left and that was what he carried on his skullcap he wore that looked so much
like his hair, that even his own aides couldn’t tell the difference. The only
thing left that wasn’t taken from him when he was searched.
Even in the dark, it
was a simple matter to remove his cap, pull out the paper-thin cellophane
wrapped package and unwrap it. Inside was a flat paper thin slice 3x3 inch of
special plastic explosive he had developed along with a single roll of thin
wire and a thin blasting cap. It also had a coin shaped metal wafer. Quickly,
he laid the plastics on the roots side where it easily stuck to it and then
inserting the wire on the cap, he pushed the other end of the cap into the
plastics.
Unraveling the wire as
he back stepped toward the pipe entrance, he
crawled just inside it. While squatting inside he broke the
metal wafer in two
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and positions both pieces above and below the end of the wire in
his left hand. Just as he did that, the beast arrived at his hide out. Savage
could hear its heavy breathing for a few seconds, and then it stopped! It could
mean only one thing. He was discovered by whatever it might be. He could still
smell its body order and a bell went off in his head.
The familiarity of its
scent meant it could only be the blue beast. He tensed his body for the action
he must make, but held back until he was sure it was close enough. After what
seemed forever, a large head slowly eased its way across the opening of his
hideaway. It was a large blue haired part apish, part human head whose face was
expressionless until it spotted the man of bronze. Then its expression changed
to rage. It let out a terrible roar and that was when Doc Savage brought the
two wafers together sandwiched on the wire. As he did he leapt backward with
all his might. The deafening explosion that took place where the root had been
still threw him in mid-flight; even further back then he had planned.
Immediately after the explosion, Doc savage could have sworn he heard a scream
of rage and pain, then nothing because things became fuzzy and dark.
After a while, Doc
savage woke with a start and groaned. He felt of the back of his head and knew
he had been bleeding from a wound. It wasn’t serious for it had already clotted
some. The main thing he worried about was the ringing in his right ear, but
after he slowly removed himself from the pipe; the ringing subsided.
Everywhere he looked
in all directions there was pieces of root. The blast had completely destroyed
the root, but nowhere could he see any evidence of the blue creature’s body. He
must have blacked out for only a few minutes for his phlorescence tube still
gave off a glow where it lay a few feet away, to see enough to satisfy him of
his handiwork. The ape-man must have survived the blast well enough to travel
on his own. After a moments search among the debris, he found footprints of his
blue friend.
He followed them
until he suddenly stopped and unconiously emitted his eerie tropical bird-like
noise. For what he discovered next was so startling that it defied reason.
There before him, were two bloody footprints of the ape-man, which looked like
he had been limping along as if from a wound. Then the next two footprints were
human. What he had witnessed earlier must have been true. The professor could
change his form at will. He was forced to come to the conclusion that it was
not a trick, but rather a freak of
Page 48
nature or something even worse that he didn’t want to think
about at that moment.
The man of bronze then
decided not to follow the ape/professor any longer and reversed his course. His
intuition told him that an exit from this place was not far away and the faster
he removed himself from that location, the better. The professor might come
back and this time with plenty of help.
After several dozen
yards, just as his tube was fading out, Savage found a rusted ladder leading
upward to another trap door. As slowly and soundlessly as he could; he raised
the wood door at the top of the ladder. To his amazement he found himself only
a hundred feet from the Stonehenge ruins. It was late afternoon and still a
sprinkle of rain fell here and there upon his form. He searched around the area
briefly, and found all was quiet and abandoned. The professor and his men must
have vacated the area soon after he had contacted with his men again, for they
hadn’t even bothered with his rental car. It was still intact with no booby
traps attached.
Doc savage stayed
clear of the main roads all the way to London; just in case there were other
undesirables searching for him. He knew that he had to keep his appointment
with his men or they wouldn’t have a chance to stop what was sure to be a
disaster.
Chapter VIII
“ London at last”
Billy the youngest
operator at the Old Stone airport had his feet prompt upon his desk humming
away some popular tune he had heard that morning on the radio. One of those
that you couldn’t understand the words or remember the title. It was a catchy
tune nevertheless. Everybody was off work, but him and it seemed totally unfair
even if he was the new help. He began to wonder about a strange transmission
coming in over the radio; when he noticed movement out of the corner of his
eye.
Turning his head
toward the large picture window facing the runways; he immediately noticed a
group of people running together through the main gate outside and onto the
runway #3 where an old cargo plane and two single engine planes sat.
It wasn’t unusual to
see people come through unannounced to take one of
Page 49
their craft up, but to see a group of people running to one
seemed a might
strange. He ran his hands across his burr haircut and slid the
headphones off his head.
Billy remarked to
himself with a sigh,” I suppose I better check this out.”
Jumping up from his chair and headed for the door.
After a rather bumpy
ride on the old stone road, monk was ever so glad to pile out of the old rental
and get his legs moving again. He would have preferred some kind of scrap, but
he’d settle for a run across an airport as Miss O’Casey suggested. Belinda
reached the side door of the cargo plane first and with a quick yank, she had
it opened.
She yelled out to her
party,” Hop in. We’ve got to get going before their security lads try to stop
us.”
Renny laughed,” You mean that lad running our way?”
Everyone froze and
Belinda grabbed Ham’s machine pistol and tried to aim it toward the approaching
clerk. Just before she pulled the trigger, Ham knock her arm down and the short
burst that erupted from the pistol hit harmlessly in front of the clerk on the
runway.
Terrified, Billy
threw up his hands and yelled at the strangers,” O-Ok, I’ve got the message
straight, I’m no trouble.”
Ham glared at Belinda,” Mine was loaded with regular ammo. Did
you know that or did you care?”
Belinda clearly shone shock in her face as she replied,” I
didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
Ham paused then coldly advised,” From now on don’t fire a weapon
you don’t know about.”
Belinda could barely be heard as she whispered,” Ok.”
Monk asked,” Are you guys gonna hold a conference out here now?”
Belinda and then Ham entered the plane without a reply. Renny
tied up the clerk and left him to lie in the runway. He turned to Monk,” Hey,
tell them to wait a minute, we’ve forgot somethin’.”
Monk smiled while
standing at the doorway of the cargo plane.
“ Sure. Doesn’t look like there’s anyone here, but that guy. So
we’ve got a minute or two I imagine.”
Renny took off at a
dead run for the gate and their car beyond.
While ham followed Belinda to the front of the plane, he made a
mental note to keep a closer eye on her, for Miss O’Casey had a dark side to
her that
Page 50
made him feel uneasy. He had seen it in men, but this was the
first he’d seen such in a woman. It made him have doubts about their
relationship, and he decided when there was a chance; he would sit this fiery
lady down and have a nice long chat with her.
They reached the cockpit, which actually had four seats in it,
two for the pilot and co-pilot. And two to seat directly behind them as
passengers. The rest of the plane was for cargo and at the moment it was empty
space. Belinda took a seat and the steering wheel on the left and Ham sat on
the right.
Belinda smiled
apparently more at ease since entering the plane and said to Ham,” You know,
I’ve got where I can fly these blindfolded.”
Before ham could say a word, Monk sat down behind him and
replied,
“Then little lady, you’re the pilot on this trip.” With those
words, Miss O’Casey started to prepare the old plane for take-off; starting the
engines and checking off all gauges. Monk flicked Ham’s ear and remarked,” Hey
Shyster, Renny had to go back and get something, but he said it’d take only a
minute.”
While ham tried his
best to ignore monk’s ear flicking, Belinda stared out her side window and
remarked,” I see him now. Saints, but he sure seems to be in a hurry.”
Soon, Renny was entering the cockpit and his seat. Almost out of
breath, he remarked,” We don’t have a minute anymore. I spotted one car and one
van headed our way at a high rate of speed.”
“ Then by all that’s holy, lets make this a quick take off.”
Saying that, Belinda gave more throttle to the engines.
At first, they hesitated then the old cargo plane leapt forward,
taxied down to the end of the runway and turned around. The car and van entered
the gate entrance just in time to watch the plane travel down the runway and
after an amazingly short distance; lift into the air at a steep climb upward.
It climbed high into the night sky faster then some would have thought
possible. Men poured out of the car and van, but could only witness helplessly
as the plane quickly disappeared into the southwestern sky.
Inside the old cargo
plane, ham asked Belinda,” Did you recognize those vehicles?”
“ No, they are none of mine.”
Renny remarked,” That my friends, were probably some of the
people
Page 51
connected to whatever doc is involved in.”
Monk whistled,” Talkin’ about good timing.”
Ham glanced Belinda’s way and commented,” Yes, isn’t it though…”
“
Rendezvous On 75 Jermyn Street”
At the outskirts of
London, the man of bronze decided to leave his old rental car at a rental
dealership and take a less conspicuous mode of travel. One of the many buses
that travel from the area he was in, into the heart of the city. As he arrived
at the dealer and started to vacate the vehicle; it struck him that he never
checked the car pocket. Slowly he inched the car pocket’s door open, but found
it was safe. He also found a plain white envelope inside with writing on the
front, which read:
“ To the one who got
away.” He caught himself in time from emitting the strange noise he made when
surprised or startled. So the professor had been in his vehicle after all,
Savage thought to himself as he quickly opened the envelope and pulled out a
single folded piece of paper.
Inside, was a short
but effective note, which read: You haven’t got away; you have only earned a
small reprieve. If you do not surrender to me on the Iceland continent by
midnight two days from today; Nancy Mayfair shall take your place.
It was signed Dark
Lord and the back was a small map of a particular area of Iceland. Though he
did not know it well, he wasn’t entirely without knowledge of that area of the
world.
Did he really have
Nancy Mayfair? There was only one way to find out. Upon entering the rental
establishment, he asked the clerk as he handed him several large bills in
English currency,” Is it possible for me to use one of your public phones in
back to make a quick overseas call?”
The heavy set middle-aged man with a small mustache stared at
his hand with the bills in it and looked into Savage’s face, Blimey guv'nor,
you can rent this whole bloody office for this.”
The man of bronze
smiled and laying his key upon the front desk, followed the clerk to the back
office. As the door shut behind him in the
small room, he sat down at an old wooden desk with a very
scratched
Page 52
surface and picked up the phone receiver to the lone black dial
phone that sat before him. After he dialed the required numbers and listened
the call finally patched through. After several rings the answer machine in his
penthouse in New York City turned on to receive messages. There was no break in
the call as Savage left a message to call a certain number in London as soon as
possible.
Apparently, Nick and
Nancy were still held up in the basement or the worst had actually happened. He
would have to assume the worse. They must have been successful in snatching
Nancy. He let the receiver drop slowly to the phone and quickly vacated the
office. Before he left the rental place, he thanked the clerk and then headed
for the nearest bus stop.
Belinda who was
quickly proving to be somewhat of a flying ace to Savage’s aides; had to land
the old twin engine cargo plane in the middle of a rainstorm. In the driving
rain and with very little lighting on the small airport’s runway; she
successfully set down for an almost perfect landing.
Renny commented,” Boy was that fun.”
Ham remarked,” Belinda my girl, Doc savage would have been
proud.”
Belinda smiled, leaned
over his seat and gave him a blistering kiss right on the lips. Ham was
dumbfounded while monk was confounded,” Well, what do ya know!”
With Ham driving the
car they rented not far from the airport; they made their way through the
crowed streets of London toward what was called the West end. Some of the best
little shops in the country are in that area of London. They had been famous
for over a century. There were shops for your hats, your boots, your shirts,
your jewelry and so on. Because the shopkeepers had no need of window shoppers’
display, the windows of the shops in that area do not have the opulent splendor
of those of New York’s Fifth Avenue.
Yet, Ham’s blood
pressure increased significantly as they finally entered the West end. As they
turned a corner to enter Jermyn street, Ham almost swerved his car into a taxi
who’s driver promptly yelled after them,” I think it would be easier for us all
if you use your plates of meat to git around, mate!”
Monk sarcastically
asked,” Want us to let you out here to shop while we try to find Doc?”
Ham ignored Monk and explained to Belinda,” Oh, I wish we had
time.”
Page 53
“ Begorah, I could care less of this place that smells of stuffy
hats and raw fish. You forget, here I’m an outlaw. The sooner we leave
this…place, the better.” She let it sink into everyone’s head then asked,” Is
this the street we are suppose to meet your friend?”
Ham replied,” Yes, just a half block further. Renny, are you
sure the shop is still there?”
Renny shrugged his shoulders,” We’ll just have to trust doc
folks. The Drury shop was what it was called. I know he meant the same address,
75 Jermyn St…, but whether it’s the same name or not…”
He stopped in the middle of his sentence and exclaimed as he
pointed,” look, that’s the address and the shop with the same name! I don’t
believe it.”
Ham smiled as he pulled over to the left to park being it was a
one way street; in front of their destination,” Some things never change.”
Belinda remarked,” Yeah, it looks like it never has. It looks
like a hundred years old. What’s the story with it anyway?”
While everyone poured
out of the rental car, Ham explained,” Well, as a matter of fact, its a hundred
and fifty years young. Sixty years ago, Doc Savage with my legal help acquired
this shop and several other properties throughout England.”
Everyone was on the sidewalk in front of the Drury shop as it
was called when Belinda asked ham,” The he still owns it?”
“ Yes, he does. A different person runs it now for the former
manager was killed long ago. He had taken a bullet meant for Doc.”
“ James Fox wasn’t it? Renny asked Ham.
“ Correct. Now good ole John Leighton must still be running it
by Jove.”
The doorway with the
half rose type window at the top was wide open to the little shop. Its wares
everything from bowler hats to dress suits could be seen mostly through the
large single grimy window facing the street. The sign above in red with gold
trimmed lettering was large and clear enough that it seemed in sharp contrast
to the rest of the unassuming clothing shop.
Monk shouldered his
way through Ham and Belinda on purpose and was the first to enter. Just as the
others followed him in, Monk remarked,” Oh how quaint Ham. I can just see you
in these duds now, strollin’ down Piccadilly Circus.”
Before ham could reply a short silver haired old man complete
with spectacles and silver beard asked in a very polite manner from behind a
Page 54
worn wooden counter,” What may I do for you gents?”
Ham cleared his throat and said,” I am Ham Brooks and these are
my associates Monk, Renny and a close friend Belinda…”
The old silver haired man tilted his head to the side and
asked,” What did you say?”
Ham patiently repeated his introduction a little louder adding,”
Are you John Leighton?”
The old man picked up
an old smoking pipe and tapped it against the edge of the counter knocking
burnt tobacco off into a trash can below,” Why yes I am, uh …Mr. Brooks.”
Mr. Leighton hesitated and peered at first Ham’s face then
monk’s for a moment then his face brightened,” Great Scott! I know you people
now. You work for that Clark Savage Junior chap don’t you?”
“ You get the prize ole boy.” Monk smiled.
Suddenly, there was a
roll of thunder and rain started pouring down in torrents upon the street and
parked car outside.
Renny exclaimed,” Wow, I’ll get the door.”
“ Thank you Mr. Renwick. Now, any of you need raincoats? Or
perhaps a pair of new shoes?” As he suggested that he casually pointed to a
corner of the store to their right where rows of shelves held shoes of all
kinds. Then out of the corner of his eye, Monk saw movement and glanced toward
the old clerk in time to see the beginning of a strange transformation. Monk
froze to the spot speechless as the old clerk’s form began to grow in height
and width right before his startled eyes. In seconds he grew to be six foot
eight inches tall and then the old clerk spoke in a voice very familiar to him
that made everyone’s head turn toward the front desk.
“ Of course there are more important things in life.”
Belinda gasped and muttered about the saints save her. Ham swore
and Renny said his usual “ Holy Cow.” under his breath.
Monk grinned his usual ear to ear grin,” Doc, is that you? Of
course it is. I’ll be damned.”
The large transformed
man pulled off an old man’s mask and a clever hairpiece to reveal the familiar
features of the man of bronze, Doc Savage.
He smiled at the astonished group of faces,” Apparently my
descises are improving. I fooled even you Renny.”
Renny blushed,” Ah shoot, you caught me off guard.”
Page 55
Doc’s expression changed when he noticed Belinda the red headed
woman with her arms folded staring at him, tapping her foot upon the floor.
“ Miss O’Casy, we finally meet.”
She drew closer to Ham,” So we have. I must admit your act was
most impressive.”
“ So was yours.”
Belinda was taken aback, but quickly recovered,” What do you
mean?”
“ Yes, what do you mean?” Ham added in shock.
Doc Savage made his
way around the desk and approached Ham,” Your friend is none other than a
double agent working for the English government to keep an eye on the Irish
Republican Army, Ham.”
“What?” Ham exclaimed,” That’s preposterous!”
“ I had her checked out.” The bronze giant folded his arms,” She
is not Belinda O’Casey Ham. I found out that a month before, the real O’Casey
was killed in an arranged accident by the British Intelligence and a look alike
was inserted into the I.R.A.’s organization.”
Monk muttered,” Jeez, what a world.”
Doc Savage continued,”
She even fooled Belinda’s father. Why did you decided to leave with ham, Miss
whoever you are? Did it get too hot for you there?”
The Belinda look alike
turned to look at Ham who looked away, “ My name’s Belinda alright but, Belinda
Sutton. Ham…I.. Mr. Savage, you’ve got to understand.” Belinda’s accent changed
from Irish to English in an instant,” I couldn’t keep it up much longer. I mean
the act. I knew from other sources that they would find out about her death any
day. I…I seized the opportunity when ham and the others fell into our laps.”
The a tear trickled down her cheek as she continued,” I didn’t plan to fall for
Ham, it just happened along the way.”
Renny’s mouth hung
open in astonishment through the whole conversation. The man of bronze was
carefully observing Belinda the whole time. Belinda touched Ham’s shoulder
gently and he pulled away and started walking toward the shoe shelves.
“ Oh Ham, I’m so sorry. But I do love you. That is the truth.”
Monk growled,” Leave the guy along lady. You have lied to him
all this time, so how is he suppose to believe you now?”
“ That’s enough monk,” Doc Savage interrupted,” Belinda, for
whatever its
Page 56
worth, I do believe you care for him, but for now, let’s give it
a rest.”
Belinda reluctantly
stopped herself from running after Ham and replied,” Ok. She let out a sigh.
That’s when the man of bronze heard the phone ring upstairs
toward the back,” If you will excuse me, I’m expecting a phone call; so Renny,
put the closed sign up and lock the door. Then meet me upstairs….you too Ham.”
Monk watched savage
head for the stairs in back of the building and was about to approach ham, when
he felt a tug at his arm. It was Belinda with tear filled eyes.
“ What?”
“ Monk, will he ever forgive me?” Belinda asked.
Monk replied,” Well,
as far as I’m concerned you did what you had to, to survive. I’ll give you
that. But I doubt that I’ll ever forgive you for hurting my friend.” With those
words, monk left to follow Doc Savage. As he passed him, he pat him on the
shoulder and whispered something to him that Belinda couldn’t hear.”
Belinda rose from her seat and made her way slowly toward ham.
She turned him around and brushed a lock of his hair back from his tear stained
face. Their eyes locked and Belinda whispered,” I won’t blame you if you never
want to see me again; but I feel that the most important thing to me in my life
right now is that you know how I feel about you. I want to be part of your
life.”
Then Belinda and Ham
held onto each other for a long time. As he climbed the old wooden stairs, monk
never looked back, but he knew what was happening with those two,” Well, there
goes the neighborhood.”
On the fifth ring, Doc
Savage answered the worn and battered phone in the living area upstairs. It was
another aide to Doc Savage, Johnny Littlejohn whose voice that he recognized
instantly when he heard him say,” Hello Doc?” He was excited or a whole string
of long words would have made up every sentence. “ Johnny” to his friends was
known to the world as William Harper Littlejohn. He was known as the world’s
greatest living expert on geology and archaeology. Also he was one of the
greatest authority on linguistics; at least as well as the man of bronze.
Though he was getting
old, he still remembered and lived for long words. He was always thin and fully
six feet tall, which made him look even thinner. Johnny had a high forehead and
brown eyes, one of which was
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injured in World War I. Doc Savage eventually replaced his eye;
but he still wore his monocle over that eye. He thought it made him look
distinguished, a royalty type. Monk thought it made him look just plain Looney.
Doc savage replied over the phone,” Yes Johnny it’s me.”
“ Thank God you are still at the Drury shop. One more ring and
I’d have given up.”
“ What’s wrong Johnny? You sound upset.”
As Doc Savage spoke he
motioned for monk and Renny to take a seat on an antique looking couch nearby.
He could hear Johnny take a deep breath.
“Everything is wrong. Nancy’s been kidnapped right out of a busy
club. And that’s not all…” Johnny hesitated and his voice trembled as he
continued,” Nick’s been shot.”
The man of bronze face
shown no emotion, but he sat down on the end of a chair behind him, “ What is
his condition Johnny?” Savage could hear Monk in the background asking,” What?
What?”
Johnny answered,” He’s in critical condition at the Veteran’s
hospital. They think he has a good chance. Doc, he was shot while trying to
keep Nancy from being kidnapped. Witnesses said she distracted the kidnappers
or they would have shot him dead where he lay. If only I’d been there…”
“ No, you would’ve been shot too. These people are fanatics
Johnny. Was there any trail?”
“ Nothing…Not a clue, not even where the cars came from or where
they are now that had been used in the kidnapping. I heard the police are
looking and I still have people in our organization searching, but there’s been
zip for evidence.”
“ I’m not surprised.”
“ Doc, what should I do?”
“ Sit tight and run things there. Call Patricia and Marlyn and…”
“ Oh, I’ve already did that and Patricia is probably at the
Hospital now. As for Marlyn…that’s our other problem.”
Savage sighed,” What is with her?” Now Monk was asking,” Who?
Who?”
Johnny answered,” I really don’t know. She made it to the
Penthouse ok, but as soon as she opened the door she fainted. I got her on the
couch now and…she seems to have gone into a trance or something of that
temperament. It’s weird, but I can’t get her to wake up. I mean her eyes are
open, but she’s in the same said circumstance.”
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“Ok, settle down Johnny,” Doc savage said in a very soothing
almost hypnotic voice,” it is her psychic ability. She has somehow sensed the
great danger everyone faces and whatever power is behind it has overwhelmed
her.”
Johnny exclaimed,” I’ll be superamalgamated!”
“Listen carefully Johnny. In a drawer in our lad are four gold
pyramid shaped metal boxes with a small antenna on top of each. With it is
another smaller control box very similar in appearance to a remote for a
television.”
“ Oh yes, that’s the force field set you were working on last
month. A limited force field projector kit I believe you called it.”
“ Yes. It does work and in this case may save her sanity. Place
those boxes around her, head, feet and her sides and of course switch it on.
Don’t switch it off until it looks like she is coming out of it, ok?”
“ Right, but why can’t I be with you guys?”
Doc savage didn’t
answer his question, but replied,” We’ll be back in three days if all goes
well. If not…then nothing will matter to anyone anymore. By the way, did marlin
say anything in her trance so far?”
“ You bet. It’s very strange too. She keeps repeating in a
whisper every once and a while,” Heart of the fire. Heart of the fire.”
This time Doc savage
couldn’t help but give a trilling sound that he sometimes emitted during
surprise or great stress. Monk jumped up off the couch and exclaimed,” What the
hell?!”
Savage ignored his reaction and told Johnny,” Johnny, remember
the force field and don’t leave her side whatever happens.”
“ Yes sir.”
“ I would like to perform the operation on Nick, but I’m sure
he’ll be in capable hands. If I come back now, all will be lost for Nancy and
perhaps the entire world.”
“ Well…since you put it that way…”
“ Tell Patricia she missed a good one.”
Johnny laughed,” Ho boy, will she ever be steamed. See you later
Doc, I hope. ‘
“ Goodbye.”
After Doc savage hung
up the phone he noticed monk was still standing,” Nancy was kidnapped and nick
was shot. Now does that answer your questions?”
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Monk said grimly,” I
tell ya now when I get my hands on these people I’m gonna tear them limb from
limb.” He used his thick hands to demonstrate in more a throttling action.”
Before Savage could react, they were startled by a sighing sound
at the door. All turned to look and found Belinda leaning over ham’s crumpled
form in the doorway; shaking and trying to revive him.
Belinda looked up,” It was too much for Ham.”
Monk exclaimed,”Doc, he heard.”
“ So he has.” Doc Savage was quickly at Belinda and Ham’s side.
He checked his pulse, his forehead and his breathing.
“ He’ll be alright.”
Belinda was upset,”
Alright? You’re lucky he didn’t have a heart attack. That was his son that was
shot right?”
The man of bronze stared at her face a moment and replied,”
Yes.”
“ You people have as much sensitivity as machines. With all he’s
gone through, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had nothing to do with you
bastards.”
Monk growled,” Now wait a minute sister. You should talk…”
Doc savage interrupted
him,” Everyone settle down, we have much to discuss and plans to make. We can’t
fight amongst ourselves or all is lost.”
Monk, Renny and even Belinda reluctantly agreed and soon Ham was
placed in an easy chair to revive on his own. Belinda found some tea ready to
warm up in the kitchen area toward the back part of the old living quarters.
Soon after Ham revived
enough to be able to listen to what Doc Savage was about to explain. The man of
bronze sat in a chair to face everyone. The silence was a real thing amongst
this group of adventurers, each temporarily lost in their own thoughts. Then he
explained the whole dialogue between Johnny and himself and all that had
befallen him in the English countryside.
When he was through he asked Renny,” How many men were in those
two vehicles that missed you at the Old Road airport?”
Renny cast his eyes up in thought,” Hmmm, maybe seven or eight.”
“ Ok then, there was probably at least that many in New York,”
Doc Savage stated,” And at least a dozen and a half in England. So what we are
up against is a small army.”
Monk in deep thought asked,” Do you think this professor turning
into a weird blue beast and the sacrifice that’s suppose to take place in
Iceland are all for real?”
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Doc savage hesitated then said,” Until I met Marlyn and got
involved directly with her powers of the mind and her close connection
telepathically with Nancy; I didn’t take much stock in the supernatural or
forces beyond. But now I’m inclined to believe that all this professor believes
he can do is true. As to whether he can summon up the power to destroy the
earth remains to be seen.”
Monk shivered,” I hope
we don’t have to see if its true. You know me Doc, I’m afraid of no man, but
this supernatural power stuff irks me.”
Doc Savage glanced at all the faces before him. The fear was
there. Then he told them,” Look, if you have doubts or fears about this mission
I’m about to lay out for you, then stay here. I won’t blame you at all for
doing so.”
Ham was the first to
speak. Though weakly it was with conviction,” I wouldn’t miss this for the
world.”
Belinda smacked her fist into her other hand,” Where he goes I
go. Besides, its pay back time.”
Renny slammed his over-sized fist down so hard onto the top of
the coffee table in front of him, that it nearly broke the whole thing in
half,” Let’s kick butt.”
Monk grinned,” I think I’m beginning to feel sorry for that
professor.”
Doc savage rose and said,” Good.”
Renny announced,” By the way, I brought those two suit cases in
one with clothing and the other with some heavier weapons and ammo.”
“ And I had earlier sent for a number of suit cases I wanted
from New York and they have recently arrived at this address.” Doc savage
didn’t have to say anymore. His aides understood what were in these special
suitcases.
Belinda did not,” So? What’s in them?”
Doc savage ignored her question and Belinda looked questionably
at ham who whispered in her ear,” He meant well really. It’s a habit of his
because he has a lot on his mind right now.”
“ Of which I would like to get off my chest if you don’t mind,
Ham.” Doc dryly commented.
Ham said,” Whoops, I keep forgetting about that incredible
hearing of yours.”
Doc savage laid out
the plans and preparations for the next day and then he closed with,” Ok, now
let’s find something to eat, and get some well
deserved rest.”
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One hour after they
had finished eating, Belinda wondered off down the stairs and into the man of
bronze, stripped down to a swim trunk like shorts covered with sweat. He was in
the middle of a vigorous two-hour workout he ritually did at least five days
out of the week. It consisted of the usual push-ups, calastinics, and also
involved aerobics with some special exercises that he had designed and
perfected having to do with breathing. He did the slow motion physical exercise
and concentration having to do with the martial arts.
He was like a machine.
Belinda watched him for a while in the shadows and then left with much on her
mind. As she climbed the stairs she realized that it took faith upon Doc
savage’s part to get where he was. Perhaps with that faith and a little luck;
they may get through this yet. Belinda began to feel a little better about the
future and herself. If she had known what was to happen the next morning, she
had realized they needed a whole lot more than luck.
Chapter X
“ Out With A Bang”
Five hours of sleep
and it was still very early in the morning for monk when Savage shook him
awake,” Rise and shine Monk. Go below and behind the counter is where you’ll find
all the suitcases. Start taking them out to the car. I’ll be down to help you
in a moment.’
Monk said in a tiny voice,” Oh me aching back. Ok, ok, I’m
rising like from the dead that is. A floor is not a bed.”
Doc savage helped Monk to his feet,” Well then, moving those
cases will limber you up.”
Monk only said,” Ugh.”
Renny arose laughing,” I’ll help him.”
Ham must have heard the whole thing because he immediately
added,” Yes, he does need a lot of help.”
As Monk walked by Ham, he tried to step on his foot and tripped
instead falling upon several stacks of books. Everyone broke up except monk who
rose, growling at Ham, and stomped down upon the stairs on purpose.
While Monk started
carrying the first two cases toward the front door, Doc Savage hurried down the
stairs and was at his apish friend’s side in a flash.
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Monk was about to set the suitcases down to open the front door,
when Doc Savage said to him,” Wait Monk. Something’s wrong.”
Monk said as he let the cases drop to the floor,” For the love
of…now what?”
Renny who had started around the front counter with two more
cases dropped his asking,” Hey. What gives?”
The man of bronze
didn’t answer right away. Instead, he peered out the grimy display window to
the left and then to the right before he answered,” I wondered why I didn’t
hear any traffic on this street. I first thought it was my imagination.”
Then he glanced
across the side of their rental car that was facing toward the front door
before he continued,” But it isn’t. There are detour signs now several shops
down across the street on the left and on the right.”
Renny was in the
middle of a “ Holy cow” when Doc savage spied Monk in apparent impatience
reaching for the doorknob and turning it. He managed to say,” So?”
Then suddenly, a
bronze freight train bowled him head over heels to the floor. A split second
was all it took for the concussion of the blast to reach them. It had been so
close that the explosive sound and the sound of falling debris had been as one.
There was a scream somewhere Doc Savage groggily acknowledged then more debris
falling, falling, and falling…
A minute later,
Belinda and Ham were picking their way through splintered boards and ceiling
debris that had fallen upon the stairs and across most of the bottom floor. At
the bottom of the stairs Belinda gasped in dismay. The front door, frame and
all were gone. The display window was destroyed as well as the wall around it.
In fact, the rest of
the wall had several hundred holes through it. The light fixtures and part of
the ceiling had collapsed upon the front counter and upon many racks of
expensive suits. In that vicinity is where they heard Renny’s groans.
Ham yelled,” I’m coming Renny!”
But Belinda reached Renny’s side first. By some miracle Renny’s
two cases had landed on top of his head and shoulders protecting him from major
harm. Belinda helped him up and he spat out dust and ceiling pieces where he
sat. He was dazed and experienced some temporary hearing loss, but that seemed
to be the extent of his injuries.
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Ham asked,” Are you alright ole boy?”
Renny replied,” Well I can’t exactly say, I’m bubbling with
joy…”
Ham said,” No, ah forget it. You’ll make it.”
Ham and Belinda then worked their way toward the front and to
their mutual despair; a bronze tattered form lay under several large boards and
burnt pieces of the door. Ham was so shocked that at first, he didn’t hear the
cries for help until Belinda said,” Shh, I hear something.”
Sure enough in the silence they heard a cry for help.
“ That’s gotta be Monk.” Ham exclaimed excitedly as he joined in
helping Belinda remove debris as quickly as they could. Soon, an extra pair of
hands weaker than they’re own, but bigger; joined in the effort.
They uncovered Doc
Savage who was laying face down his shirt ripped to shreds. It took all three
people to turn his form over. Underneath lay Monk whose eyes were already open
and upon seeing who was uncovering him coughed and said,” Boy, are you a sight
for sore eyes! I could have croaked what with all the junk and Doc laying on
top of me.”
Ham laughed,” You idiot, he just saved your life risking his
own.”
“ Help me up.” Monk requested,” How’s Doc anyway?”
Renny was checking the man of bronze’s pulse as they helped monk
to his feet,” He’s unconscious, but pulse’s steady. Bet he’ll be comin’ around
soon.”
Belinda remarked,” That wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
Ham stood up and peered out into the street,” What a mess, but
at least its quiet.”
“ Bet it won’t be long. That was probably heard from one end of
this damn town to the other. Guess that must have been a car bomb that almost
got us eh? Renny commented as he rubbed his head.
“ Quite a simple device really. They strung a line from the
explosive device on the side of the car to the door knob.” It was the voice of
doc savage who spoke. He had awakened and was already trying to sit up.
“ Take it easy Mr. Savage, you took several nasty blows from
that explosion,” Belinda tried to warn the man of bronze.
Doc savage waved her off as he regained his feet,” I’ll be
alright. That blast wasn’t made to kill me. It was meant to eliminate my aides.
Otherwise, they would have used a much more powerful explosive. Best we clear
out of here now. I’ve arranged transportation to Iceland. Time is short.”
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Monk observed the remains of their car and
asked,” How are we gonna get there Doc. Our car’s kaput, toast you know; like
real gone.
Doc savage paused to find a suitcase, reached in and pulled out
a smaller case. When opened Monk saw Doc savage pull out a small black box with
several buttons on top. Doc Savage then explained,” Since we can’t go to the
mountain we might as well have the mountain come to us.”
He pressed several
buttons and adjusted two dials and turned to the other people in the room.
“ I ‘ve set the approximate coordinates for here and by remote
I’ve called a special ship of mine to hover above this building. It will be
here in ten minutes.”
Belinda asked bewildered,” You mean you had a remote controlled
ship on standby, near London just in case? You certainly covered all bases Mr.
Savage.”
“ Not all. I didn’t foresee these fanatics finding us so soon.”
Belinda shook her head in agreement,” Yes, but I doubt anyone
would have guessed that bold of move on their part.”
Renny exclaimed,” Well,
what are we waiting for? Let’s get crackin’.”
By the time they were dressed, armed and had carried the cases
upstairs, sirens could be heard in the distance. They were converging upon
their location from all directions.
Ham remarked,’ Hang on kids, this is going to be close.”
When everyone was
upstairs, Doc Savage stopped in the middle of the room, and reached up to grab
a short cord hanging down, We’ll make it.” He yanked it and a door opened
downward that the others had never noticed before. A ladder unfolded down
automatically from above to the floor.
Ham said, In the words of Johnny, I’ll be superamalgamated!”
In single file, they
followed Doc Savage up the ladder and as he flipped on a light he also opened a
trap door leading to the flat roof outside and above.
Belinda, with her
flaming red hair flying in a steady wind, was the last to climb her way through
the trap door and close it. As she regained her feet to look around her
surroundings; a hissing sound above made her glance upward. Looming before her
larger and larger with each passing second, a strange triangle shaped craft was
descending toward their roof. Its dark hull
reflected no light. There was only one blue glowing light that
switched on as
it reached within one hundred feet above them. The man of bronze
pushed
Page 65
another button and it stopped descending within twenty feet of
them and hovered as though it was a gigantic bird waiting for its prey to make
the first move.
“ Wow”, Belinda was astonished,” Is this stealth fighter yours?”
Doc savage smiled briefly,” Yes, but it is really a craft of my
own design. I took a good idea and made some improvements.”
Ham queried,” I didn’t know you had this. When do you have
time?”
The man of bronze didn’t answer, instead he pointed upward and
instructed,” Grab the ladder Ham. Best we hurry.”
Ham looked above him
and there was indeed a ladder descending from a open door in the bottom of the
hovering craft. As it was swinging by he caught it and climbed with one hand
and carried a suitcase with the other. Doc savage was the last to ascend the
ladder and when inside the craft, he pushed a button on his remote box to close
the door.
Everyone made way for
Savage to reach the cockpit part of the hover craft and as he took a seat up front;
he asked,” Renny, I need you up front to watch radar and to help me check out
all readings before we leave, will you?”
“ You don’t have to ask twice Doc.” Renny replied happily.
He had been an aircraft buff about all of his life and knew more
than a lot of pilots and mechanics. There were two sets of seats located
directly behind the two up front. There was so much equipment directly around
the seating area that it was very difficult to move around without bumping into
something. The suitcases were for the most part, stored in drawers that slid
out all around the area in the back half.
The only windows to
look out at all Belinda noticed, were two narrow 10 foot by 3-foot slit in
front just above the main flight control panels. The interior was unlit except
for several small red lights above and those on the instruments. As Savage
checked the various readings, Monk asked,” Doc, what I would like to know is
why did you send us to Ireland first?”
“ One reason was I had a suspicion that you would be followed
and that it would throw them off guard.”
“ And the other reason?”
“Well, I thought there was a chance that Patricia might follow
you guys and that would lead her astray of the real trail.”
Monk asked,” I guess it didn’t work completely did it?”
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“ No, it didn’t, but there is still a chance we may stop this.”
Doc Savage replied.
Renny exclaimed,” Holy Cow! Are we going or not?”
Doc Savage answer was pushing several buttons with one hand and
he gently pulled back on a control stick in front of him with the other hand.
Everyone immediately felt the effect of the silent craft ascending straight up
at a tremendous rate.
Belinda exclaimed,” Hold on to your hat love.”
Chapter XI
The sun was just appearing over the horizon in London. Many
Londoners were just rising for breakfast before heading for work. Very few
noticed the strange silent unidentifiable object that glided over Piccadilly Circus,
Berkeley Square and the U.S. embassy. By the time it was flying over the
western edge of Hyde Park, it had reached such an altitude that no one could
have seen them unless with a good pair of binoculars or a radar. They were
going at such a high rate of speed that, whoever picked them up on radar,
wouldn’t have time to react.
Ham sighed deeply as
Renny announced that they were clear of London,” Ah, I shall miss England, but
London most of all.”
Belinda pat his hand as Renny turned a moment and announced,” I
almost forgot Ham. Look in the compartment attached to the back of Doc’s seat
in front of you. That might cheer you up.”
Monk had already guessed what was coming and a thin smile played
across his face. Ham gasped with joy as he reached in and pulled out solid
silver handled sword cane from within the compartment.
Ham laughed,” Thanks you guys. I missed this too.”
Monk sneered as convincedly as possible,” Sheez, and you thought
he was spoiled.”
Doc Savage’s craft
built along the same design as the F-114A or Stealth fighter bomber flew over
Northern England with no trouble from the royal air force. The same thing
happened over Scotland as they flew over Glasgow and the Hebriges Islands. They
were not even noticed at all. Finally, curiosity got the best of Ham,” Doc, why
weren’t we challenged flying over
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those air spaces with such a plane as this?”
Doc Savage placed the
controls in Renny’s hands and rose from his seat. He turned as if to head for
the back of the ship; but hesitated even with Ham’s seat to finally answer his
inquiry.
“I simply left a message with the authorities earlier that we
were on a top secret mission for America and were also represented by British
intelligence.”
Belinda was astonished,” And they believed you?”
Savage didn’t answer, but continued upon his way toward the
compartments in back. Monk answered for the man of bronze with a question for
Belinda.
“ What do you think of him now? I mean just when you think
you’ve got him figured out…”
“ I am impressed. Now that’s a name that carries weight.”
Belinda reflected,
“ I can think of only one in the past in our intelligence that
was maybe his equal. That was a man by the name of James Bond, code name: 007.
Of course he worked alone…”
Monk laughed,” That’s a bunch of bull.”
Belinda glared at him,” No it is not! There really was an agent
by that name!”
“ Whoa lady. Don’t get all ruffled, ok? Just messin’ with ya.”
Soon they were over
the Atlantic Ocean. Water as far as the eye could see. Halfway into the trip to
Iceland, Renny reminded Doc Savage,” Doc, they’re not going to take too kindly
to an unidentified aircraft flying over their airspace. They are not really an
informed party to all this you know.”
Doc Savage placed several more objects into recesses in his vest
he had recently donned. Then making his way toward the front he answered,” That
is why I have set flight plan into the ship’s computer to fly into the
Norwegian Sea and come in at a low altitude from the north part of Iceland
where we shall land at the outskirts of the town of Akureyri.”
“ Ok ok, good its August or we’d have some rough sea storms to
fly through.” Renny stated.
“ There’re still be some rain storms around so keep an eye out
on the radar monitor just in case,” Doc instructed Renny.
“ This sure is a nice and smooth baby to fly Doc.” Renny
commented.
“ Thanks.” It’s holding up well for its first test.”
Renny smiled nervously,” Uh, are you kiddin me?”
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Monk said to no one in particular,” Akureyri, such a catchy
name. Won’t know a word their speakin’, but I ought to do alright.”
“ That’s why we will land out of the town limits and Only
Belinda, Ham and I shall go there to get supplies and scout for information.
You and Renny will stay with the ship and camouflage it the best you can. Be
sure you stay out of sight. The less we expose ourselves around here the better
off we’ll be.” Doc Savage informed Monk.
Monk mumbled a reluctant,” Yes sir.”
Renny said,” Holy Cow! We get all the breaks.”
Later, as they passed
Akureyri Iceland and started their decent for landing, Renny reminded his
bronze friend,” Nine more hours left.”
Doc Savage did not flinch when he replied,” We are running it
close.”
The dark ship landed
without incident and they exited through the same lower hatch. Before anyone
left the ship for Akureyri, Doc Savage had each member of the party don a fully
supplied backpack. Doc Savage’s backpack was of a special design that could
hold a tremendous amount of weight. Indeed, it looked as though he was carrying
an extra load. Belinda, Ham and the man of bronze bid their farewells to Renny
and Monk. Then they began their hike into town.
Iceland is anything
but icy. Though glacier cover about 10% of the country, summers in Iceland are
relatively warm, and much of the landscape is extremely green. There are meadows
lush with dandelions stretching from farm to crag; upland passes coated smooth
in grass, sedges and dwarf willows sprawling everywhere.
It was such a meadow of dandelions that Doc savage and his two
companions were trekking through; when he began to think about something that
had been bothering him in the back of his mind. June and July was the time of
perpetual daylight around Iceland, but by August they begin to experience four
hours of night. That period of darkness usually began at the stroke of midnight.
The electromagnetic forces and the gravitational pull of the sun would sharply
drop at the moment as the sun disappeared.
Facts were building
that were proving more and more given the right conditions; a natural disaster
of worldwide proportions could be instigated unnaturally. What he had seen in
the last few days had made him a believer. A believer that unnatural things as
far as known physics in our
world, could cross over from another universe and exist in other
universes.
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He was so deep in his thoughts, he hardly noticed his
surroundings until ham announced,” Well, there’s the town.”
Belinda exclaimed,” What a wonderful sense of history with those
late nineteen century wood houses. Almost reminds me of Switzerland in the
summer.”
Ham was in better spirits because of the beautiful natural
surroundings. He laughed,” What are you trying to be? A tour guide?”
Belinda thumped him on the ear.
“ Ouch!”
“ You’re such a smart ass!”
The man of bronze interrupted,” Let’s check out the hotels here
to see if anyone suspicious has stayed in the last couple of days. Then perhaps
with luck, we may find out where Nancy’s kidnappers headed.”
Ham asked as they approached a hotel named Hotel Kea,” Maybe we
could rent a four wheel drive vehicle, eh?”
First thing they
realized about Iceland that was a bit of a surprise. Many people that lived
there spoke English, some very little; but others spoke it very fluently. It
wasn’t until they asked the front desk clerk, a bespeckled woman in her fifties
with graying hair of the third hotel they visited, Hotel Nes that they found
out what they were looking for. The desk clerk described several men matching
the descriptions of the kidnappers.
She added,” Then I
observed on the afternoon before they were to check out, one of the men shoved
a beautiful blond girl through the open doorway to their room and slammed the
door hard. It was later I discovered, they had somehow sneaked out the back.”
Doc savage concerned,
but curious,” Was she gagged or her hands bound?”
The woman thought a moment,” No, but she looked mad, scuffed up
a bit and bruised.”
Doc savage asked her
about rental for four-wheel vehicles and she offered to rent her business
Bronco truck for a cut rate. He agreed, paid her for two days rental and she
handed him the keys asking,” Should I have called the police? I don’t like to
get involved in uh, what you say…domestic matter.”
Savage assured her much to her relief, that she did the right
thing, and that it was a government matter that would be handled by the
government. It wasn’t exactly a lie, he had just left out most of the facts.
Page 70
Then he asked the clerk about which direction they might have
headed and she told him that she had rented them a large jeep which they said
they needed for four days in the area called Hofsjokull.
“ I let them have the jeep, but warned them of the dangers of
that area.”
“ What do you mean dangers? The steep incline of the mountain
pass?” Doc Savage asked.
“No, haven’t you heard about the recent increase of volcanic
activity out there? Worst I have ever heard of. Then there are ghosts that have
scared the locals as well as the tourists away for years. I tell you that place
is cursed by Odin himself. I do wish you luck. Personally, I think that woman is
in a world of trouble.”
He thanked her and
left for the carport where the vehicle was parked. On their way Doc Savage gave
advice to his companions.
“Let’s not tell Monk the details of Nancy’s condition.”
Ham agreed,” Yes, you can’t tell what Monk may do. He may run
off half-cocked.”
Belinda observed as they spotted the Bronco,” My, it is in jolly
good shape.”
At least mechanically it was. Now cosmetically it was an
eyesore.
Ham exclaimed,” I hope it holds together long enough to get us
there.”
Belinda insisted upon
driving and the man of bronze was impressed with her driving skills and the way
she was willing to help out with whatever she could.
Before leaving
Akureyri, they picked up some food. Soon they had collected herring and lamb
and even whale meat stakes. Also they bought some locally grown vegetables and
loaves of a dark very soft, but very heavy bread.
On the way, Belinda asked,” Ghosts and volcanic activity? What
the bloody hell have we stumbled into Doc?”
Doc savage had a far
off look as he recounted what he knew.
“I’m not surprised of the activity. I’ve read Johnny
Littlejohn’s geological papers on Iceland and in particular of this one
volcanic activity which are very numerous in this country. There are spots
there where the thin crust of earth has been known to collapse and drop hikers
into the molten magma underneath.”
Belinda shivered,” How dreadful.”
Savage continued,” Nearby there are sandy cinder cones and
labyrinths of
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black lava towers. In fact, one third of all the lava that has
reached the
Earth’s surface in the last 500 years has done so here. As for
the ghosts that could be people disguised to look the part or…”
“ Or what?” asked Belinda.
Doc savage never
answered so the rest of the trip back to the ship was done so in silence. It
was six pm before everything was packed and Monk and Renny were seated within
the rental Bronco. Since the food especially the meats were already cooked they
ate as they began their journey across the heart of this strange landscape.
Once monk scratched
his red hair and asked,” Now far do we have to go?”
“ About thirty-eight miles of rough roads, then we’ll hike from
there the rest of the way.” Doc Savage explained.
“ What a cry baby!” Ham remarked,” Monk’s like a little kid on
vacation impatiently asking how far, how far!”
Monk, who sat a seat
ahead of Ham threw a piece of bread out the open window and it flew back inside
Ham’s window hitting his face.
Monk chuckled as Ham wiped his face saying,” Very funny you
missing link.”
The ride was a rough one, but they made good
time. Along the way they saw hundreds of Icelandic horses which were
thin-legged, full-maned blond and kicking creatures at loose in the meadows. A
few swam the Skagaffordur River nearby, running weirdly in their “tolt” gait.
There are many farms
in Iceland, nearly 4,600. it almost seemed as though they saw at least half of
them along the way dotting the landscape. Nearly every farmhouse has
cream-white walls and a roof of a dull salmon color. Their uniformity of design
anchors the countryside. But as they traveled closer to the Hofsjokull area,
the farmhouses dropped off in their numbers drastically until there were no
more to see. For a long time they had been observing smoke in the distance and
as they reached Hofsjokull, it was all around them like a thin fog. It had a
presence of its own. Soon after the going became rough for the four wheeler and
they were forced to go by foot from then on.
Before abandoning
their Bronco, they donned their backpacks and taking the lead, Doc Savage
instructed,” Ok, keep your eyes and ears alert for anything suspicious.” Then
he began searching the ground.
He had traveled but
twenty yards when Doc Savage came to an abrupt halt.
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Everyone crowded around him to see what he had found obviously
upon the ground in front of him.
“ See those tread marks? They’re the very same I had found
earlier leading from where the kidnappers jeep had been parked by the Hotel.”
Doc Savage announced.
Monk asked,” Then we’re on the right trail?”
“ Yes, I believe so.” Doc Savage thoughtfully answered.
Monk peered around him in all directions,” Sure seems too easy
for my liking.”
From then on, everyone traveled with their weapons drawn.
Belinda noticed that the man of bronze wasn’t holding a gun and
finally the curiosity got the best of her,” Ham, why isn’t Doc savage packing a
weapon?”
Ham replied
matter-of-factly,” It’s his personal policy, code if you will; not to carry one
on his person. He believes that if he did, he would become dependent on them.”
“ Oh, that makes sense, at least for him.”
The landscape changed
with almost every hundred yards of travel. Former explosions of lava to the
surface bubbled and hissed toward quiescence: Gray mud pots plop contently to
themselves all around them. Once and a while steam vents shrill from orange
hillsides. Geysers shoot sky-high at irregular intervals, and scalding rivulets
trickle through chard moss growing on some of the shattered lava stones lying
here and there.
Except for the volcanic
activity, everything was silent; no animal or bird sounds around. Once the
ground trembled ever so slightly and then they heard a low rumble, coming from
the direction they were headed, to the northwest. The incline became steeper
with every step.
Renny commented,” It’s
pretty obvious we’re headed up an old volcanic mountain. With all the activity
it doesn’t look good.”
Again Doc savage
halted, this time because someone from behind a large lava rock a dozen yards
ahead yelled,” That’s far enough. Throw down your arms and you can continue.”
Ham observed lava rocks at least as large as he all around to
take cover behind. He motioned to Belinda who casually stepped closer to him,”
What now?”
“ When Doc makes his move, jump for cover.” Ham whispered out of
the
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side of his mouth.
Belinda grinned,” You got it.”
Doc Savage said a
sentence in the ancient language of the long dead civilization of the Mayans
and in one leap to the left; he was safely behind a hillside. Everyone followed
suit at the same time diving for cover.
Three different guns opened up on them from ahead, of which at
least one was an assault weapon. Bullets zipped by Doc Savage’s group all
around them like angry bees. One bullet nicked Renny in the leg; but he hardly
felt it he was so wrapped up in the excitement.
As soon as Monk had a
chance, he raised his machine pistol in the general direction of the gunfire
and opened up with a long burst of gunfire of at least 30 rounds. In answer,
bullets ricocheted all around them. Renny, Ham and Belinda took turns sending
short bursts of gunfire from their machine pistols hitting one of the gunmen
who fell heavily upon the ground away from the rock he had been hiding.
Otherwise, it was fast becoming evident to them that they were pinned down.
Suddenly, monk heard
Doc Savage’s voice instruct him in Mayan to load and fire some smoke their way.
He smiled knowing full well that was about to unfold. When he next fired his
weapon, he took the time to aim before pulling the trigger. As soon as he had,
a bullet hit his pistol wrecking it.
Puffs of smoke burst
in a series of small explosions among the rocks ahead. As the smoke grew and
grew, Monk yelled out at his bronze friend,” Doc, that cost me my gun!”
But he discovered that he was talking to air, for the man of
bronze in the smoking confusion, had disappeared.
The two gunmen had maneuvered beside one another to take turns
peering through a pair of binoculars to see if they could see through the dense
smoke. They were very concerned, but that was nothing compared to what they
felt when a voice spoke behind.
“ Drop your weapons boys.”
Both gunmen whirled around, but were too slow and too late.
Sinewy bronze fingers applied pressure to nerve points on the
side of their necks and they both dropped instantly unconscious to the crumbly
ground.
Then Doc savage heard
the unmistakable roar Monk did when in a big
fight. He heard Belinda swear and several shots were fired; but
before he could head for their sounds, he heard a slight crumbing sound behind
him.
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He spun around just in time to catch a body diving upon him from
a large stone. In one motion, he caught the body and threw it over his head.
It’s momentum sent it crashing into the rock behind Doc Savage.
The impact had broken
the neck of his assailant who turned out to be one of the robed and hooded
Druids of Professor Sir John Rickards. The fight was still going on beyond the
smoke as another robed assailant dived head long for the man of bronze from
above. He was stopped in mid-air and his jaw rearranged by a bronze fist.
Doc Savage tried to go
to his friends help beyond the two lava boulders and smoke. But he met a wall
of robed thugs running out of the smoke right for him. He turned and headed the
opposite way toward what he thought was where Nancy was being held. He had gone
ten yards, when he saw at least six heavily armed robed figures coming out of
the volcanic haze right for him. Before
the closest one could spot him, the man of bronze did a perfect spin flying
kick sending his body end over end into a boiling mud pot instantly boiling him
to death. The body folded and sunk like a lead weight.
The others watched in
open-mouthed shock as a bronze blur leapt into them, bowling four of their
number over. The sixth thug hit a glancing blow with a rifle butt upon his
side. Doc Savage didn’t even grimace as he punched the man between the eyes.
The blow sent him flying backwards; his rifle flew high into the air and landed
hard upon the head of a thug who was struggling to get on his feet. He grunted
and slumped over in a heap. The scene would have caused Monk to go into a fit
of laughter, but for the circumstances involved.
Doc savage disappeared
into the long shadows that were forming across the almost surreal landscape of
hot and cold magma by the lowering sun. Several dozen hooded men arrived soon
after and spread out to look for the bronze ghost. They had little luck though
and finally had to give up when a single gunshot rang out as the signal to
return.
Soon after, another larger force joined them
from behind escorting four prisoners amongst their number. The three men were
stripped of their shirts and weapons. The woman prisoner had her pockets ripped
out and then her shirt was also torn off. A number of the thugs laughed as
Belinda stood there with only a bra and sweat pants covering her body. A large
brute threw off his robe and with a smirk and then he approached her.
Belinda, with red hair
flying, eyes ablaze with hatred and breathing hard
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from her ordeal; faced this latest threat. She kicked out at
him, but he knock her leg away as if it was balsa wood. She fought hard against
him, but soon he had her arms pinned and was trying to put his mouth on her
body. That was when Ham broke free amongst the laughter of his capturers, and
rushed headlong into Belinda’s antagonist. Ham’s head hit him on his left
knocking him over. Then Ham tried to kick the brute, but he caught his foot and
twisted it causing Doc Savage’s aide to twist around and fall flat on his face,
breaking his nose. The big fellow growled, stood up and kicked Ham senseless.
He was so angry that he had lost interest in the red head woman who was still
on her knees trying to recover.
He grabbed her and
slapped her several times. When he let her go she fall senseless to the ashy
surface beside Ham. The brute spat on them and then Monk bellowed angrily.
But the laughter
really quit when it took several minutes and most of their numbers to hold monk
and Renny fast. They beat them with rifles and a special type of portable
extending blackjacks until it almost wore them out. Finally, the two
troublemakers were subdued. All prisoners had their hands and feet tied behind
them and they were carried bodily.
When Ham came to, he
looked around as best he could being carried as he was. The smoke was even
thicker in the air and he noticed more steam vents and more geysers shooting a
fine orange red spray of magma into the sky. The sun was almost down for it was
getting dark very quickly and he could see stars beginning to show in the
heavens. That meant it would be midnight soon. Time was running out. He spotted
Belinda who despite some bruises didn’t look worse for wear. Someone had
covered her body with a black robe.
The ashy ground shook
and almost at the same moment there was a rumbling sound much closer this time.
He peered through the smoke and labyrinths of small black lave towers and large
shredded magma pieces spotted a yellowish-orange glow in the distance. As they
got closer the glow loomed bigger until it shown details of where the glow was
coming from. It was emitting from a very wide volcanic crater. It looked very
old at the foot of it, yet newly formed at the top. At the foot was a clearing
with a large platform of stone, which by the look of it, had been dragged there
hundreds of years ago. Incredibly a large leafless tree had grown right through
the middle of the platform of grayish stone. As they approached closer, he
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noticed that the tree was all twisted and curiously the fine ash
and occasional red hot missiles that shot out of the crater never collected or
even hit the strange tree.
Soon, his captors set
him upon his feet and untied them and his hands. Monk, Renny, and Belinda were
treated likewise. Then they were shoved roughly forward without a word or sound
until they stood about thirty feet in front of the platform. Monk noticed the
platform and at least thirty more robed people standing around it and swore,”
Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. What kind of…”
Someone in a red robe
and hood who now stood on the platform near the strange gray-blue stone
interrupted him,” Silence dog. Mr. Bridge, why are these people here. I thought
you understood my instructions to eliminate them.”
The large brute named
Bridge stepped forward still minus the robe answered.” I’m sorry. I thought
they might be useful to flush out the Savage fella.”
The red robed one stepped closer to the end of the stone
platform and pointed at bridge who shrunk back as if he had been hit,” You
thought!? You are not to think. You’re to take orders. And where is Doc Savage?
I don’t see him among you!”
“ I don’t know mate,” Bridge was wringing his hands in dismay.
He was genuinely terrified of this threatening robed figure.” This Savage bloke
is like a bloody ghost. He slipped through dozens of us so damn slick.”
The red robed one’s
hood fell back to reveal the face and head of professor John Rickards. But the
face was that of a madman with little resemblance to pictures of him. He was
possessed by evil and fanaticism as he retorted with fury,” A ghost eh? Then
for your failure you can be one.”
From his robe he
magically produced an old double-bladed battleaxe; which he threw at Bridge
before the poor brute could react. I sunk between his eyes. The blow sent him
backwards into several other thugs who promptly tossed him away from themselves
in disgust.
Belinda battered, but alert; turned away in horror. She blurted
out straining to break free from the grasp of a thug holding her on each arm,”
You psychotic maniac. You’ll pay for your crimes, you bloody pig.”
Professor John Rickards
ignored her threats and insults until he finished looking over an
identification card a robed person had handed him earlier.
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Then, he finally had an answer to Belinda,” Much of what I
expected from a British government agent Miss O’Casey or whoever you really
are.”
“ It is Belinda Sutton you swine!”
Rickards acted as if their conversation was over. He paused and
stared at the faces of each captive and then briefly behind him at the fading
light where the sun already sunk behind the broken horizon,” Yes, perhaps I
shall use you people after all. You will be my bait, and if that doesn’t
convince your friend to give himself up, then perhaps this will…”
He nodded to two robed thugs who left at a
run to the right and behind the platform. Seconds later they returned with a
larger group of thugs that were wearing ordinary street clothes. They were
escorting Nancy Mayfair with her hands tied behind her back. As they reached
even with the platform, a large seven foot tall muscle bound man with a shaved
head shoved Nancy forward so hard she stumbled and fell to the ash covered
surface; rolling over and over until she came to a stop in front of Savage’s
aide monk.
Nancy looked bruised
and beaten all over. Her eyes were swollen almost shut, and her clothes were
torn all over yet, she rose on her elbows and cried out,” Dad! Why are you
here?”
The sight gave new
strength to Monk and he broke free from his captors. Till then he had acted as
if he hadn’t been worried so much about his daughter, but it had only been an
act. Inside he had been churning within with worry and anger. He ran to her and
knelt down to wrap his arms around her shoulders. Professor Rickards put up a
hand signaling his men not to pursue him as Monk held his daughter. Her
shoulders shook as she cried. He had never seen Nancy so beaten physically or
mentally, and she looked as though she had been tortured too.
As Monk looked up at
the red robed leader, he heard Ham yell,” You monster! There’ll be no place on
earth that will be safe for you. We’ll track you down…”
Professor Rickards calmly ignored his threat and loudly
commented,” It’s so nice to see an emotional reunion between daughter and
father don’t you agree?”
Many robed figures
laughed and the sound burned Monk’s ears as he heard his daughter weakly say,”
Dad, you shouldn’t have come. I gave em’ hell, but there were so many…(cough).
I-I feel like dying.”
Monk eyes welled with tears as he patted Nancy,” There, there
babe.
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Everything’s gonna be fine. I’ll set things straight. I’ll make
em’ pay.”
Nancy weakly grinned despite her horribly split and swollen lips
and several broken teeth,” I believe you Daddy.”
Monk looked up toward
the professor, but then his gaze fell upon the thugs that weren’t in robes.
Many had bruises, lacerations and black eyes from what could only have been the
results of subduing his daughter.
He on one knee laughed heartedly quite suddenly and remarked to
the red robed leader,” Looks like your men’s had a rough time of it too.”
The thug with the shaven head took a step forward growling,” I
would’ve had my way with and killed the bloody bitch but…”
Professor Rickards
interrupted yelling,” Enough! This is an important time in history. This shall
be a turning point for the Druids, the living trees of life and for our world.”
He began walking back
and forth across the platform, a knife appeared in his right hand as if from
thin air as he yelled,” Mr. Savage. I know you’re out there. I know your kind
and I know you shant abandon Nancy or your aides. You know I have them and most
importantly, that in a half an hour, Nancy shall die under the sacrificial
knife unless you surrender to me. To take her place of course.”
Suddenly, just beyond
the boulders behind the many robed figures that face the platform, Doc Savage’s
controlled voice rang out,” I am well aware of what is going on professor
Rickards. I shall give myself up with the promise you will let your prisoners
go. All of them.”
Many of the professor’s men looked around uneasy for no one
could tell where the voice was coming from.
Professor Rickards
chuckled, Ah, a little magic of your own I see…”
The voice seemed to be
coming from everywhere. Suddenly the air shimmered around the professor and
before everyone he metamorphosed into the large blue ape beast. As soon as it
had, the beast jumped off the platform,
pushed Monk away as if he weighed nothing and grabbed Nancy. She kicked and hit
at his shaggy form weakly, but the beast carried her under one arm back quickly
to the platform. Monk noticed as he picked himself up, that the beast wasn’t
using one arm, which had a terrible wound from hand to shoulder. It began to
bleed profusely.
As soon as the blue
beast jumped upon the platform, it spun around with a long stone knife at the
throat of Nancy who was held in front of him. It
Page 79
yelled in a low guttural voice,” No tricks. The time is here
now. You come out now or she dies with throat cut. I can throw her dead body in
volcano with same results as alive.”
Indeed Doc Savage was
roaming as silent as a jungle cat among the labyrinth of volcanic missile
boulders only a mere thirty feet away from the majority of the professor’s men.
He was making his way at a trot in a half circle among the boulders, dropping
small hollow glass balls no bigger then marbles every fifteen feet. Bt the time
the beast/professor had yelled his ultimatum, Doc Savage was ready and calmly
stepped out from the cover of the boulders almost dead center of the larger
group of robed thugs. He was still behind them, but was noticed almost
immediately. The crowd made way for him all the way to his aides. Instead of
grabbing him, they were in too much of awe of the man of bronze. What no one
noticed was the small globes he dropped along the way toward the platform. Some
rolled around away from the robed crowd.
Ham was the first Doc
Savage spoke to,” Are all of you alright?”
Ham had a black eye and a swollen lip, but it didn’t prevent him
answering,” Doc! Glad you are alright and don’t worry we’ve seen worse…Well,
almost.”
“ What of Nancy?”
“ It is bad Doc. She’s been through too much.”
Doc Savage checked his watch,” I know, just hold on, one way or
another it’ll all be over soon.”
Then like a tol of doom, professor’s voice mutated by his
transformation, commented,” It’s the midnight hour Mr. Savage, glad you saw
reason and accepted my invitation. In moments it will be time for the ultimate
sacrifice to insure immortality for the tree of life, the forests of the earth
and the doom of civilization as we know it.”
Suddenly Monk rushed
toward the professor saying,” What are you trying to be the ultimate
conservationist?”
Before he could ascend the platform, the shaved head giant
intercepted Monk and backhanded him to the ground.
The man of bronze began
walking toward the platform as he yelled,” Stop it. There’s been enough
violence. I shall give up my life if you shall let
Nancy and the others go.”
The blue beast looked
as though it had smiled through its ugly razor sharp
Page 80
teeth filled mouth.” Savage, I think we have a deal. Once you
step up here, I’ll let her go and my men will make a path to freedom for your
aides.”
It was so quiet that you could have heard a pebble drop.
As Savage strolled toward the awaiting giant and blue beast, he
thought to himself,” Just a few more feet.” His heart was racing. The shaven
head giant sneered evilly as the man of bronze walked past him. Renny and Ham
gathered their strength because they had a gut feeling something was about to
come down. Then a sound was heard by the blue beast not unlike a small pop by a
small balloon bursting. He was about to ask what that sound was when all hell
broke loose.
Dozens of small
explosions set off not only among the labyrinth of boulders, but also among the
main crowd. Every other one was different. One was a brilliant blinding flash,
another would be a smoke bomb. In the confusion, many robed people ran off in
all directions into the night thinking it was some kind of bombardment.
At the same time of
the explosions, Doc Savage in one leap was upon the platform and diving into
the big form of the beast. Doc savage’s body block knocked the mutant form of
professor Rickards against the old twisted tree of life. The protective force
around the old tree had apparently vanished. The force of the blow of the body
block also sent Nancy falling over the blue stone. She stumbled across the
platform and jumped for the ground below.
As she jumped the shaven headed giant thug caught her body and
threw her hard to the surface. Somehow he had gotten his hands on the
professor’s battle axe and with a laugh, rose it up high above Nancy’s moaning
form with the intent to end her life right there, when Monk dived in head first
into his midriff.
The blow stunned Monk,
but sent the thug flying to the ground. The battleaxe flew up at an arch and
landed blade first deep into the giant’s chest. He tried to get up, but fell
back choking on his own blood, dying. Monk giggled at the sight that was all he
could do. All his strength had left him what with all he had gone through
lately.
At the same moment of
the explosions, ham and Renny had broken free. Ham discovered that Doc Savage
had also halfway untied his bounds while he had briefly conversed with him. So,
it was a simple matter to untie the rest and Renny’s bonds also. They hit every
robed person that confronted them which wasn’t many in the confusion, and soon
they had confiscated
Page 81
one machine pistol and an assault rifle. They picked off several
who aimed their guns at them, but they were mainly concerned with finding some
cover to fight off a worse threat. The kidnappers of Nancy, the thugs from New
York were not panicking and many were trying as a group to pick their way
through the confusion to try to get to them and perhaps help the professor
against Doc Savage. Renny turned his attention to the platform and said,” Holy
Druids! Will ya look at that!”
After the beast had
fallen against the tree it picked itself up and chanted some words from an
ancient language dating back even before the druids time. His form blurred and
transformed several inches taller and bigger. Incredibly his fur changed to a
dark red.
Doc Savage apparently
unaffected by the sight, picked up a large lava stone weighing well over 200
pounds, raised it over his head and threw it at the red beast. He dodged it and
the beast watched in horror as the stone struck the tree behind him. A gapping
wound appeared on the tree. Ugly blackish sap poured from the wounded trunk and
a similar wound appeared across the chest of the growling beast.
With a terrible roar
of pain and hatred it charged the man of bronze. Doc Savage was a whirling
tornado of fists and kicks upon the monstrous beast.
The beast knocked him down despite all the lethal blows that Doc
Savage delivered upon his body. Fortunately, Doc Savage rolled as he hit the
stone floor and avoided a crushing blow by the beast stamping foot. In one
motion, Doc Savage was up in the air delivering a powerful kick to the chin of
professor Rickards. He fell end over end.
Two seconds later, it
stood up again, stone knife in its hand once more. But something out of the
corner of its eye caught its attention. The red beast breathing heavily ran
across the platform instead of fighting with the determined man of bronze. Too
late, Doc Savage realized what the beast’s intentions were. It had spotted
Nancy’s crumpled form at the foot of his platform and chose to take the easy
prey. Doc savage started to give chase, but five of the thugs from New York
climbed the stairs on the side of the platform and began firing at him.
Unfortunately for them, they hadn’t realized he was wearing a bulletproof vest
under his shirt. The several bullets that hit bounced harmlessly off his vest
and before they could aim
for his head, he was among their number.
Instead of trading
punches with them, he dived upon two of them knocking
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them to the floor. The others started to laugh and aimed their
guns down upon Doc Savage’s body, when suddenly their laughter stopped. They
closed their eyes and fell to the floor around him fast asleep. Unknown to
them, Doc Savage fell among them on purpose with the intent of smashing a
sleeping gas filled sphere on him. All he had to do was hold his breath. They
had hardly hit the surface, before he was up and running after the beast who
had already scooped up Nancy’s unconscious body and took off running around and
behind the platform to the left of a rather wide pathway. That pathway clearly
lead to the large volcanic cone. Two things hampered the reddish ape-like
creature. The burden of carrying Nancy’s body over his shoulder, and the wounds
he had received. Still, he had a head start and Doc savage knew he had to catch
up with him soon or it would be too late, and Nancy would be thrown into the
volcano.
The larger mass of
robed followers and some of the thugs from New York had finally organized
themselves enough that they began to counterattack advancing slowly firing with
everything they had. Ham, Renny and monk had little cover to take and knew that
they were probably done for, but they noticed Doc Savage chasing after
professor Rickards and were determined to hold them off as long as they could.
They needed a miracle.
At that moment, a
single bright yellowish flare burst in the soot filled sky above the platform
clearing. It was as though a still picture had been snapped of that scene.
Every one of the robed people froze and glared up at the darkened sky. Then
there was a shrill cry almost inhuman in its content and people yelling and
screaming came pouring out from the maze of boulders and lava fragments.
They were farmers and
villagers armed with anything from old guns, automatic pistols, axes and homemade
bows. To professor Rickard’s men it seemed as though there were hundreds of
them, but really the figure was close to sixty. They closed in on the robed thugs immediately with hand-to-hand
combat. Some threw bombs that were so brutal in how they shot jagged shrapnel
all around that it mowed down three or four people at a time. They hacked and
cleaved people almost in half. Some of the attackers were women who emptied
their guns into anyone that got in their way. The cursing, screaming of the
dying, gun fire and the den of hand to hand combat was horrific. One half of
the robed people were cut down before they grasped the situation and tried to
make a run for it through Doc Savage’s
Page 83
aides. Renny and Ham aimed low and fired at the legs of those
that tried to charge them while Monk punched the lights out of several thugs
before he collapsed again in exhaustion.
Ham’s gun ran out of
ammo. Throwing it away, he drew his sword cane and revealed the blade. As he
fought close quarters with one man armed with a large knife, he called out for
Belinda, but she was nowhere to be seen. Of course, with the ash falling and
battle ensuing everywhere, it would have be a stroke of luck to see anyone in
particular. He put his opponent to sleep with his sword tip and happened to
glance upward. There, before his eyes, Doc Savage’s flying stealth fighter ship
appeared out of the soot filled sky and silently hovered a dozen feet above his
head. At that moment professor Rickard’s men stopped fighting, threw down their
weapons and threw up their hands.
Fortunately, the
hatch door on the bottom of the hovering ship slid open and Johnny’s head
appeared upside down out of the entrance. He yelled several times in Icelandic
language not to kill the rest; that they should be held for the authorities on
the way to the area. Then he turned to Ham and the others smiling asked.
“ How are my distinguished and exhausted cohorts doing?”
Ham yelled back to him,” Beat but nothing that a hot bath and
Rand R won’t correct.”
Renny in an excited booming voice asked,”
How in the Sam hill did you know where to find us and who the hell are these
folks?”
Johnny laughed,” Whoa Renny, I’ll answer those questions in
time, but right now the question is; how much time do we have?”
Ham looked around and answered,” Not much Johnny. I have a bad
feeling that this whole area one way or another is about to blow.”
“ Then I’ll explain to the locals to herd everyone down as fast
as possible. Meanwhile, you guys better climb aboard and maybe we can catch Doc
in time too.” Johnny lowered the metal wire ladder down to his friends,” By the
way, where is Doc?”
Ham answered as he
pointed the way,” Up that path somewhere. Listen, you go on ahead. I’ve got to
find Belinda. Just get there fast. Professor Rickards has got Nancy.”
Johnny exclaimed,” Oh Lord! I hope its not too late to extradite
the lady from harm’s way.”
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Renny helped Monk up the ladder as Johnny yelled one more thing
to Ham,” Oh yes, Nick is ok. He was seriously wounded; but surgery was
successful. With therapy he’ll be good as new.”
Ham yelled a relieved,” Thanks”, as he ran. The ship hissing
flew over and beyond as Ham noticed a bracelet on a lava rock at the foot of
the pathway. Belinda must have followed the beast before Doc Savage.
Chapter XII
Fifty yards up the
pathway and the man of bronze heard the sounds of battle behind him take on a
different tone. The first thing he thought of was Johnny. He must have figured
out where they were, and brought help.
Wounds he had were having their effect on him and he stumbled
several times on a pathway whose very air was heating up every yard he made.
The ground trembled hard this time and the rumbling from the volcano was
constant.
Just as he was about
to drop, he got strength from the sight he saw before him, through the haze.
Thirty yards away, stood Professor Rickards holding Nancy’s form exhausted, but
awake by her bruised arm. Professor Rickards had changed back to his human
form. He had his back to the man of bronze. Beyond professor Rickards, Belinda
stood in the pathway blocking his way. In her hand she held the sacrificial
stone knife. When Doc Savage halved the distance he was able to hear their conversation.
Professor Rickards was
saying,” It is true I cannot turn back to my alter demon form, but your little
knife play shant stop me from bringing your civilization to a close.”
Belinda’s eyes widened and doc savage knew that she had spotted
him and was going to strike soon.
“ Professor, it is all
over. Drop whatever weapon you may have, and drop Nancy.” Doc Savage warned.
Professor Rickards whirled halfway around and aimed a cunningly
concealed four barrel derringer at Doc Savage,” At this range I shant miss your
head or this government bitch.” He cackled insanely,” I have won! I have won!
The Druids will live in a world without the corruption of man. The nature
demons will be set loose and…”
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At that moment, Belinda
made her move. She raised the knife high in the air and rushed in for the kill.
Doc Savage yelled,” No Belinda!”
But it was too late for professor Rickards. The government agent
drove the knife so hard into his chest that he flew sideways off the pathway
and upon the crumbling lava rock surface. Nancy rolled toward Savage dazed and
stunned.
Surprisingly, Belinda
fell upon the professor with the idea to strike him again, but he struggled
with her and withdrew his knife from the ghastly wound. Doc Savage jumped over
Nancy’s body in an attempt to break up the struggle. Professor Rickards
screamed in anger like an animal and pushed Belinda off him. On his knees he
swung the knife up at a high arch to stab Belinda brutally. Everything was as
if in slow motion for the man of bronze as he rushed to help. Before the
smiling insane professor could strike, the crust of lava rock underneath them
four feet in diameter collapsed and both dropped out of sight.
Doc savage dived and
reached the edge in one jump, but it was too late; both had dropped to an
instant death into the molten magma a dozen feet below. He dropped his face to
the ground in grief and shock.
When he finally dared
to look again, for a crazy second he could have sworn he saw a shape form out
of the magma in the shape of a giant demon creature with long horns and
dripping fangs. And in its mouth was the professor’s screaming body still
alive, but quickly wilting into a burnt cider vaguely shaped like a human. Then
the form was gone in a flash.
When he rose, Doc
savage heard Ham cry,” No” and when he turned he found his old lawyer friend on
his knees with his face buried in his hands, crying. He had witnessed most of
the horrible accident. As the man of bronze tried to comfort Ham, a roaring
sound began deep in the earth, growing in intensity with each passing moment.
Then he spotted his flying ship hovering above. The hatch slid open and Renny
stuck his long face out asking in a shout,” What gives?”
“ It’s over Renny, but it’ll be all over if you don’t get us out
of here pronto.”
As Doc savage helped
Ham up the swinging ladder that had been lowered in a hurry from the hatch of
the ship; they felt the concussion of an explosion and caught a brief glimpse
of the so called tree of life burst into flames and
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the whole thing, platform and al dropped into oblivion. Rivers
of bright orange and red-hot magma streamed down the sides of the cone.
Just as they closed the
hatch, Johnny who sat at the pilot seat yelled,” Hang on, this is going to be a
fast take off.”
With those words the
craft lurched upward at a tremendous speed. A massive explosion from the
volcano blew debris and magma out and upward. Doc savage and crew felt the
concussion at the same time and it rattled the whole ship. For a minute, shrapnel
and flame followed it until Johnny sent the craft forward at break neck speed
across Iceland’s darkened landscape.
Ham leaned on his side
in the seat beside Johnny and glanced down at the erupting volcano a thousand
feet below. After that his gaze drifted to the moon rising over the horizon,
its glow a peaceful reminder of life that goes on elsewhere. After a time, his
eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep. Johnny looked over with concern. Doc
savage had slipped in the seat behind ham after making sure Nancy and Monk were
strapped in special stretcher beds upon the floor in the back. He saw the look
of concern and assured Johnny,” In time he will heal. Physically, it will take
a little time, mentally it will take longer.”
Renny sitting in the seat
behind Johnny, added,” Yeah, he’s suffered a lot and so has monk and his
family.”
Johnny asked, “ Doc, should we pick up the Bronco and return it?
I’ve already retrieved the equipment…”
Doc savage glanced at
his watch,” No, the authorities will handle things from now on. Our job around
here is done. We can refuel in England and head straight for New York from
there. By the way, thanks for taking the rains; flying here by way of a regular
overseas airlines and coming to our aid.”
Then Monk’s tiny voice
behind them asked,” Can’t we stop over in London a bit? I’d like to pick up
some smoked eel from one of those wonderful vendors.”
Renny laughed,” The ape’s awake and he’s hungry. I’d say he’s
feeling better already.”
Everyone on board awake broke up in laughter because of monk’s
usual antics and also with relief. Monk was back. The rest of the trip to
London was accomplished in silence. Each person wrapped up in his or hers
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thoughts. Doc Savage checked Nancy’s condition and as he did he
realized there were tough days ahead for his friends, his family.
Both Nancy and Nick
would go through week’s maybe months of intense therapy. Ham could never be the
same that he knew. Losing a loved one like that was hard, but Ham would go on.
In the coming months
he had a decision to make affecting his life as well as all those he knew. Was
the price worth it? Did he have the right to drag them into his battle, to rid
evil from the earth? Or should he give it up and live out his life as anyone
else would? Perhaps soon, he would know the answer. Perhaps he never would.
London was beginning to sound better all the time.
The End