Читать книгу The Secret in the Sky: A Doc Savage Adventure - Lester Bernard Dent - Страница 8

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The bronze man lifted the telephone receiver and dialed a number.

“Police headquarters?” he asked.... “Homicide bureau, please.” There was a brief wait. “Homicide? ... This is Doc Savage speaking. I believe it is your custom to secure pictures of murder scenes, and also photographs of the body of the victim. I wonder if you would send me copies of the pictures taken of Willard Spanner.”

“You can have them,” advised the voice at the homicide bureau.

“By messenger, immediately,” Doc requested.

That he had been promised the photographs so readily was not remarkable, since the bronze man held a high commission, no whit less effective because it was honorary, on the New York police force. The commission was a gesture of appreciation for past aid.

Doc Savage’s life work was helping others out of trouble—those who deserved aid. It was a strange career, one with few financial rewards. But the bronze man did not need money, for he had access to a fabulous treasure trove. He followed his career for the return it gave in excitement and adventure. And he had five aides who followed it for the same reason.

Monk and Ham were two of the five. The other three were, at the moment, in upper New York State, where Doc Savage maintained a remarkable institution for making honest men out of such criminals as he caught, a treatment which entailed brain operations and which wiped out past memories. A course of vocational training followed the surgery.

Monk frowned, demanding, “How in the heck are those pictures gonna help us?”

Doc Savage did not answer, seemed not to hear. Monk showed no resentment at not getting an answer. It happened frequently. The homely chemist went out and came back with late editions of the leading newspapers.

“Lookit!” He pointed at headlines.

UNPREDICTED RAIN OF COMETS

SCIENCE CANNOT EXPLAIN

Those residents of New York City, particularly those residing near the marsh section of Long Island, were treated to the sight of a comet to-night. Many reported a loud crack of a sound and a streak of fire in the sky.

Inquiry develops that such phenomena have been reported within the last few days, from various sections of the United States.

Monk said, “And they kindly neglected to state just where the other comets were seen.”

“Telephone the newspapers,” Doc requested.

Monk went to the instrument, made several calls, and hung up, wearing a puzzled expression.

“The comets have appeared within the last two weeks,” he reported. “Several were seen around San Francisco. That kinda hooks in with this Willard Spanner killing. But most of the comets were seen in Oklahoma, around Tulsa.”

Doc Savage was examining the bundle of clothing.

“Come here,” he said, and pointed at the label inside the coat.

THE OIL MAN’S TAILOR