The Mysterious Ambassador by Lee Falk Read Free Book Online

thicket upon them. The force of his leap carried both soldiers to the ground. They scrambled to their feet, clutching their knives but had no chance to use them. A fist moving as fast as a hummingbird landed like a piledriver against both their jaws. The pilots watching from above could hear crunches, and they winced. One soldier dropped to the ground like a stone, the other one wavered, knife raised. Another crunch, and he flew off his feet, landing in a heap ten feet away.
The masked man stood quietly, listening for a moment. Then satisfied, he looked up at the pilots.
"It's safe. You can come down now," he said. In telling about this later, Tom remarked, "I never saw such power in a man. He hit so hard I thought their heads would fly off their necks. And when he called to us, he wasn't even breathing hard."
When the Phantom saw that the men, because of their injuries, were having a hard time descending, he climbed up to help them. Two big hands closed around Tom's waist and he was lightly placed, feet-first, on the ground. Jim followed the same way. "I weigh one hundred ninety pounds," said Tom later. "Jim's about the same. But that guy plucked us out of the tree like we were a couple of apples."
On the ground, they looked at the evidences of the recent mayhem around them. The four soldiers hadn't moved.
"Are they dead?" asked Tom.
"No," said the masked man. "I don't kill. Besides, we need them, for witnesses."
"Witnesses? Who are they?" asked Jim.
"Bababu's men, with orders to shoot you down. I heard them talking. They were coming to get your heads."
"Our heads?" gasped Jim.
The masked man nodded. "Those were their orders."
"Bababu did this? Why the low-down cheating "
said Jim using a few choice expressions.
"But we saw him. He gave us permission to make this flight," said Jim. "Why did he do this?"
"Probably has to do with Luaga," said the Phantom.
"Whatever the reasons, we have to move. These woods are full of deserters, as well as Bababu's men. I believe he sent out a dozen anti-aircraft teams to stop you."
"To get our heads!" said Jim. "He means business."
"Yes he does. So do we," said the Phantom.
"Mind telling us who you are?" said Tom.
"Later," said the Phantom. He picked up two rifles and examined them briefly.
"Loaded," he said. "You two know how to use them?" he added, handing each a rifle.
The men chuckled.
"We both had basic training," they said.
"Wait here. We need some help to move these soldiers. I don't think they'll be moving without help for a few hours."
"Wait here? Where are you going?" said Tom.
"To get help. Keep an eye on these soldiers. Watch out for any others. If anyone in uniform shows up, shoot. This is war. Understand?"
The two men nodded. The masked man whistled, a sharp blast. A few moments later, there was a sound of hooves and a magnificent white stallion raced toward them with a large animal at its side. It looked like a dog; it was a wolf. The masked man swung easily into the saddle.
"I won't be long. Stay alert," he said, and galloped away.
"How about that?" said Jim.
"Wow," said Tom. "He said this is war. He's a one- man army. Did you ever see anything like what he did here?"
"These guys are no creampuffs. Tough, all of them, with guns and knives."
"Those knives were for our necks," said Jim, shuddering.
"Yes. I think that's why he hit them so hard. He got sore."
"He didn't say who he is."
"I'm glad he's on our side," said Tom.
"Yes," said Jim.
General Bababu sat at his table, puffing impatiently on a cigarette. Butts littered the table and the floor around his chair. He paid no attention to ashtrays. Colonel Mokata was holding the field phone nervously.
"Tell the switchboard to ring!" shouted Bababu.
"They are ringing, sir. No answer," said Mokata.
A junior officer was at the door.
"The reporters from the airport are outside with Ambassador Cari," he said. "They wish to interview you, sir, about the missing helicopter."
"They got the news at the airport," said Mokata.
"Obviously,