The Mysterious Ambassador by Lee Falk Read Free Book Online Page A

idiot. Where else?" said Bababu. "Are you ringing?"
"Yes sir, ringing, but no answer."
"They should have those heads by now! What's taking them so long?"
"The press corps, sir?"
"Tell them to wait. I want the word first. Keep trying, Mokata!"
The persistent shrill ringing from the field phone on the ground vibrated through the trees. It was an incongruous sound in this place and the birds and monkeys watched it curiously from a safe distance. Several hundred yards away, Lanston and Osborne heard it too.
"A phone here?" said Osborne. "Can't we ever get away from the blasted things?"
"The telephone company, telling you your bill is perdue," said Lanston.
One of the fallen soldiers lifted his head weakly at the sound. He sat up, looking around in a daze. Then his eyes focused on the two men and he stiffened in surprise.
"Sit still, buster," said Lanston.
"Think he understands?" said Osborne.
"He understands this," said Lanston pointing the rifle at him. "Probably his rifle."
The phone continued, persistent and tinny, an alien sound from another world.
"Maybe I should go and take it off the hook. It might attract more of these guys," said Osborne.
"I'm not sure what's best to do," said Lanston.
As they looked at each other uncertainly, a figure suddenly joined them. The masked man. He had come from behind them without a sound. He looked quickly at the scene, the two pilots with rifles, the four soldiers, one sitting up, the other three still unconscious. The sitting soldier half-arose in obvious terror at the sight of the Phantom, then settled back on his heels when the rifle was pointed at him.
"I heard that ringing from a distance. Must be from their headquarters, asking for a report. They'll get it."
He beckoned to the seated soldier to get up. The man sat as though paralyzed, unable to move. The pilots saw that the sight of the masked man had literally stunned him. The masked man spoke sharply to him, then took him by the collar and pulled him to his feet.
"Watch the others. We're answering the phone," he said and marched off holding the soldier's arm.
They reached the ringing phone. The Phantom instructed the frightened soldier briefly, then took the receiver from its cradle and handed it to him. The man was sweating and nervous, licking his dry lips as a voice bellowed out of the receiver. The Phantom bent close to the receiver so he could hear the voice.
"Got him, at last!" said the voice. There were excited exclamations from the background. Then the voice said, "Where have you been, you gukaka schuck!' (the lowest and most vulgar expression in Bangallan.)
"On the mission," said the soldier, his voice quavering as the Phantom pressed his arm.
"Did you get them?" shouted the voice.
The Phantom pressed his arm hard.
"Yes," said the soldier into the phone.
"Are they dead?" asked the voice.
"Yes," said the soldier.
There was a pause on the phone, with excited voices in the background. Then the voice returned.
"Did you get the heads?"
The soldier trembled, staring at the Phantom. The Phantom nodded, grasping his arm so firmly that his biceps ached.
"Yes," said the soldier.
More muttering at the other end. Then the voice.
"You will bring them here, carefully wrapped. Is that clear?"
"Yes," said the soldier.
"You and your squad will receive extra pay and promotions," said the voice. "Now, you have your orders. Proceed quickly." And the receiver at the other end clicked.
The soldier looked at his masked captor and sighed.
"Extra pay, promotions," he said.
The Phantom tore the phone from the box, then marched the soldier back to rejoin the others.
"The deed is done," the Phantom told them. "You are now officially dead."
"Great," said Jim Osborne. "Now what do we do?"
"Get to a safe place so you won't be actually dead," said the Phantom.
"How about Kirk—and Diana Palmer and the others," said Osborne.
"I went to the Oogaan Village to send messages. They will join us at the safe place," said the Phantom. As he spoke, they heard