The Death Strain by Nick Carter Read Free Book Online Page A

say they've gone deeper underground?" I asked. "Do you mean you don't know where they are anymore?"
    "Only that they are somewhere in the Kurile Islands," Chung Li answered. "In some ancient Buddhist temple»
    "Then that's our next move," Hawk said. "Carter will go there and try to find them. Everything points to Carlsbad working with this group. Anyway, it's all we've got and so well run with it."
    "We will make you into one of the Japanese fishermen who fish off the Kuriles every day," Nutashi volunteered. "That will ensure your entry without suspicion."
    "And if I do get Carlsbad and need some backup muscle?" I asked.
    Ostrov cleared his throat, and I could see it took some effort for him to say his piece. "We have a… er… number of undersea craft in that area," he admitted. "We could have them standing by for action upon instruction from you."
    Hawk was actually beaming. "That sounds very good, gentlemen." He smiled. "Of course, we agree that everyone shall be given immediate reports of any and all developments. We shall work out procedural operations. Meanwhile, Nick, you'd best get over to Special Effects. Stewart is waiting for you."
    I took them all in with a nod and paused for a moment to meet Chung Li's eyes. Perhaps he was thinking of the number of times I'd wrecked his schemes and destroyed his top men. Perhaps he was thinking of how he'd like to get rid of me right then and there. In any case, his small, dark eyes held an air of deadly amusement, and I knew that to Chung Li, this cooperation was no more than a passing moment. His eyes seemed to say that he was looking forward to a speedy resumption of our running battle. Anytime you're ready, I let my own eyes reply, and turned on my heel.
    I looked back at the stately lines of the White House as I got outside. The venerable structure had seen many history-making meetings since 1800, but none more vital and unusual than the one I'd just left. At AXE offices, Stewart greeted me at the doorway of the cavernous laboratories of Special Effects. "Nothing terribly unusual for you this time, Nick" he said in his usual professorial monotone, "The Chief said that communications would be the problem."
    "One of the problems," I corrected him. "Got anything in the line of germ repellants?"
    Stewart ignored me, which is what he usually did. He was always like a mother hen, protectively fussing over his products of highly specialized destruction, and I knew he thought me irreverent I didn't really deprecate his fantastically clever concoctions. Hell, they'd saved my life more than once. I just thought he ought to be less holy about them, especially since they were as unholy as hell.
    Stewart halted at one of the white-topped tables where a belt and a pair of socks were set neatly side by side.
    "Something new in men's wear?" I asked and he permitted himself a fleeting smile. "I'd like to see a three-button jacket in a quiet check," I joked.
    "Put this belt on " Stewart said. "Press the center of the buckle in the rear first." The buckle was thick silver with a scroll design in the front. As I pressed the rear, the back portion slid sideways and I found myself holding a square panel with a tiny grill in the center.
    "Microelectronics," Stewart said. "It's a tiny sending set. No reception. Transmission only. The Chief said to fit it into something they wouldn't be apt to take away from you."
    As I looked at the little device, he picked up a small package about the size of a pack of king-size cigarettes. "It goes with the belt," he explained. "There isn't enough power in the sending unit to carry any substantial distance. But this little pack carries plenty. Set it down anywhere within a mile of where you're going, flip up the switch at the side, and the unit will receive your signals from the belt sender. It will then relay them up to two hundred miles. It's waterproof, too."
    I'd switched belts after sliding the rear panel of the buckle back in place when he handed me the