Doc Savage: Phantom Lagoon (The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage) by Kenneth Robeson, Lester Dent, Will Murray Read Free Book Online Page A

combatants lost the energy and enthusiasm for combat.
    “How did I ever get into this mess?” Hornetta moaned.
    The monkey looked equally pained, but said nothing.
    After a period, the lights came up and a voice said calmly, “We are interested in your story, Miss Hale.”
    Hornetta scrambled to her feet.
    She saw Doc Savage standing nearby. He stood in a vast room, as large as—it seemed at first glance—the concourse of Grand Central Station. White tiles covered the walls, as if she were in a hospital.
    “You!”
    “The tables appear to be turned.”
    “Get me out of this cage!”
    “In due time,” said Doc Savage unhurriedly. “First, I would like to know what was behind these shenanigans of yours.”
    “I told you last week. I want to hire you!”
    “For what purpose?”
    “That’s my business,” snapped Hornetta.
    “You showed interest in my personal submarine. Why was that?”
    Hornetta pulled herself up as if about to launch a verbal pitchforking.
    Abruptly, she subsided.
    “If I tell you, will you let me out?” she pleaded.
    “If you promise no more hijinks.”
    “Deal.”
    “Go ahead, then,” said Doc.
    “You know I am an explorer.”
    “After an unorthodox fashion,” allowed Doc.
    “I earned a living at it for a while. But this time I have a way of amassing a young fortune.”
    “I am listening.”
    “Did you ever hear of a Chinese warlord named Lei Chi?”
    “I have not,” admitted Doc.
    “Lei Chi wanted to smuggle some gold out of China before the Japs came in and looted everything. He came up with a nifty idea. Boats usually have keels formed of lead, to insure stability. This wily old warlord melted down all his gold and poured it into the keel of this ship, the Hussy. ”
    Hornetta paused, apparently for dramatic effect. “The Hussy sank in the Caribbean,” she added breathlessly. “I think I know where it is. If I can find it, then raise it, there’s ten million dollars in pure gold in the keel. We’ll be rich!”
    Doc Savage said nothing.
    “What’s the matter, big boy? Immune to gold?”
    Doc continued to be silent. In fact, the bronze man was already quite wealthy. Moreover, he had access to more gold than anyone could ever want or need. But he said nothing of that.
    Instead, he asked, “What were you doing on that cay?”
    “I was scouting the waters off Bimini. My plane went down. I managed to swim to that isle. I was stuck there for weeks and weeks. Good thing for the conch.”
    “What conch?”
    “The ones I caught and ate,” replied Hornetta off-handedly. “They’re tough, but if you pound them enough with a rock, you can eat them. Even if they are kinda like chewing on a tough snail. After this, it will be a long time before I ever eat anything but cow again.”
    Doc Savage regarded the sunburnt Hornetta Hale in silence for a long time. His eerie flake-gold eyes seemed to be measuring her. Hornetta suddenly felt as if she were some species of wild animal instead of a formerly famous aviatrix and explorer.
    “I have done a little research on your recent activities,” he said quietly.
    “Yeah. What of it?”
    “Two weeks ago, Arthur Bottorff hired you to fly down to South America to do aerial surveys for the Magellan and Amazon Oil Corporation. You flew out of Teterboro Airport and were never heard from again.”
    Hornetta grimaced. “Why, that was just a story I floated so no one would suspect the truth. Any treasure hunter can claim the Hussy, according to the law of the seas.”
    Doc Savage said steadily, “I spoke with Arthur Bottorff by telephone. He confirmed that he hired you, but that you have been missing since that day.”
    Hornetta Hale fell silent. Her eyes narrowed craftily. She seemed to be thinking.
    “I won’t tell you he’s in it with me,” she said at last. “But I won’t tell you he’s not. This is my discovery. And I ain’t sharing. But I’ll cut you in if you’ll let me have your sub for a week or two. I’ll return it