mg.dictatorofcrime-第17章

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　　Once　inside；　he　worked　his　way　through　darkness；　with　the　occasional　use　of　his　tiny　flashlight。　He　took　a　look　from　a　side　window　to　make　sure　that　no　cars　had　yet　arrived；　bringing　the　members　of　Castenago's　so…called　〃council。〃
　　Seeing　no　cars；　The　Shadow　took　his　time。　He　was　quite　sure　that　Castenago　and　Wessel　would　prolong　their　business　meeting　to　the　limit。
　　However　well　Murk's　offer　impressed　Castenago；　the　dictator　would　try　to　chisel　on　the　price；　because　if　he　didn't；　Murk　would　try　to　raise　it。　If　they　did　e　to　terms；　Castenago　would　want　Murk　to　detail　just　how　he　would　go　after　The　Shadow；　and　in　turn；　Wessel　would　have　to　stall　over　that　particular　question。
　　With　fifteen　minutes　still　to　go　before　the　hour　when　the　regular　council　met；　The　Shadow　had　enough　time；　indeed；　too　much。
　　The　Shadow　was　playing　for　the　perfect　moment。　It　would　e　when　Castenago　was　ready　to　end　his　present　conference；　to　make　ready　for　the　next。
　　Bold　though　it　seemed；　The　Shadow　intended　to　hold　one　group　until　the　other　arrived；　thus　placing　Murk　Wessel　&　Co。　on　exhibit　for　the　members　of　the　Centralban　national　council。
　　It　was　something　that　Castenago　would　never　wipe　off；　and　the　stroke　was　possible。　The　Shadow　intended　to　acplish　it　by　a　system　of　swift　surprise。
　　Through　the　almost…deserted　palace；　which　he　knew　quite　well　from　Peridor's　information；　The　Shadow　reached　the　elevator　leading　up　to　the　council　room。　He'd　seen　a　few　secretaries；　like　Estaban；　but　had　easily　glided　from　sight　behind　the　filigreed　pillars　and　fancy　doors　so　prevalent　throughout　the　palace。
　　The　Shadow　made　a　quick　search　with　his　eyes；　to　make　sure　that　no　one　was　near　the　elevator　passage；　then　pressed　the　button　that　brought　the　silent　car。
　　Stepping　into　the　elevator；　The　Shadow　waited　while　the　door　slid　shut。
　　The　car　started　its　upward　trip；　and　during　the　ride；　the　cloaked　invader　produced　his　automatics。　He　was　at　the　very　front　of　the　elevator　when　it　stopped；　and　as　the　door　slid　aside；　he　made　a　quick　twist　through　the　opening　into　the　lighted　council　chamber　As　he　came；　The　Shadow　issued　a　sinister　laugh　that　left　no　doubt　as　to　his　identity。　There　were　figures　about　the　great　table；　but　all　were　turned　away　except　one：　Luis　Castenago。
　　It　was　straight　for　the　thick…necked　dictator　that　The　Shadow　directed　one　bulging　gun；　giving　it　an　upward　gesture。　The　move　brought　Castenago　to　his　feet；　hands　half　raised；　making　it　impossible　for　him　to　use　the　knee　buttons　that　would　summon　aid。
　　Meanwhile；　The　Shadow's　other　gun　was　circling　the　table；　ready　to　explode　if　a　single　person　defied　him。　The　piercing　burn　of　the　eyes　beneath　The　Shadow's　hat　brim　were　meant　for　all　to　see。　Rats　like　Murk　Wessel　couldn't　take　a　chance；　now　that　The　Shadow　had　cowed　Castenago　in　the　tyrant's　own　lair。
　　The　Shadow　knew。　Yet；　with　such　knowledge；　his　next　laugh　faded　on　his　lips　as　frightened　faces　met　his　eyes。
　　The　game　had　gone　one　layer　deeper。
　　These　men　with　Castenago　weren't　Murk　Wessel　and　his　brood　of　murderers。
　　They　were　dignified　Centralbans；　half　a　dozen　of　them；　some　with　dark…bearded　faces；　others　with　sallow　countenances　that　had　taken　a　curious　pallor。
　　They　didn't　exclaim；　〃The　Shadow；〃　as　crooks　would　have。　The　name　they　uttered　was：
　　〃La　Sombra！〃
　　
　　
　　RIVETED；　The　Shadow　understood。　He　had　broken　right　into　the　middle　of　a　bona　fide　council　meeting。　Stooges　or　not；　these　were　the　men　who　represented　the　law　in　Centralba；　and　The　Shadow　had　mistakenly　disclosed　himself　in　a　manner　that　would　cause　them　to　regard　him　as　an　armed　malefactor。
　　These　were　the　very　men　to　whom　The　Shadow　had　intended　to　reveal　Castenago's　masquerade；　by　unmasking　the　dictator　as　the　real　head　of　a　group　of　international　murderers。
　　How　neatly　had　Castenago　called　the　turn！　The　smile　on　his　evil　lips　was　an　answer　to　the　simple　riddle　that　The　Shadow　had　already　solved。
　　Castenago　had　called　the　council　meeting　early。　The　Shadow　hadn't　seen　the　cars；　because　they　had　e　and　gone。　Positive　that　Kent　Allard　was　The　Shadow；　sure　that　the　mysterious　crime…hunter　would　check　on　the　movements　of　Wessel's　crew；　Castenago　had　bluffed　regarding　a　meeting　with　the　crooks；　to　place　The　Shadow　in　a　false　light。
　　It　was；　indeed；　a　false　light；　but　with　it；　The　Shadow　recognized　a　true　one。　Murk　Wessel　and　his　cronies　had　certainly　e　to　the　palace；　for　Castenago　knew　that　The　Shadow　might　have　chosen　to　trail　them　all　the　way。　If　so；　where　were　they？　The　smiles　of　Luis　Castenago　told。
　　Three　smiles；　all　painted　ones；　on　the　life…sized　portraits　that　filled　the　walls　behind　the　dictator's　chair。　The　Shadow　noted　narrow　cracks　between　the　portraits　and　the　side　of　the　frames。　There　were　six　such　side　frames；　in　all；　and　one　hadn't　been　pushed　aside。　Castenago　had　probably　wanted　it　that　way；　as　an　index　from　which　The　Shadow　would　refer　to　the　other　frames。
　　Each　of　five　cracks　showed　the　slight　gleam　of　a　gun　muzzle；　signifying　that　Murk　Wessel　and　his　four　target…shooting　friends　were　the　men　on　duty　behind　the　paintings。
　　Remembering　that　Peridor　had　mentioned　an　old　council　room　adjoining　the　new　one；　The　Shadow　understood　the　rest。　Castenago　had　probably　left　the　council　before　the　crooks　arrived；　and　smuggled　the　newers　into　the　old　room。
　　Quick　were　The　Shadow's　mental　flashes。　Murk　and　his　men　weren't　shooting；　therefore；　they　weren't　going　to　start　until　Castenago　gave　the　word；　which　he　wouldn't；　unless　the　pinch　became　absolute。
　　He　might　excuse　the　fact　that　killers　were　hidden　behind　the　portraits；　on　the　pretext　that　they　were　protecting　the　council　meeting。　Good　enough；　if　the　councilors　never　learned　who　the　marksmen　were。
　　There　was　a　stronger　reason　why　Castenago　hadn't　ordered　immediate　gunfire。　Castenago　was　personally　on　the　spot。　He　had　to　be。　Without　Castenago　at　the　council　table；　The　Shadow　would　have　suspected　something　wrong　and　wheeled　back　into　the　shelter　of　the　elevator。　To　really　trap　The　Shadow；　Castenago　had　to　be　present；　and　therefore　was。
　　If　shooting　started；　Murk's　marksman　would　riddle　The　Shadow；　but　never　fast　enough　to　prevent　his　delivery　of　a　few　shots；　too。　The　first　of　those　would　be　for　Castenago。　Ridding　a　nation　of　a　tyrant　would　be　a　triumph　for　The　Shadow；　even　in　death。　It　was　even　possible　that　he　would　voluntarily　make　such　choice；　and　start　the　shooting　first。
　　That　was　why　Castenago　had　another　card　up　his　sleeve；　or；　more　correctly；　a　pair　of　them。　He　looked　toward　a　front　corner　of　the　room；　which　formed　an　alcove　that　couldn't　be　sighted　from　the　elevator　door。
　　〃Please　step　forward；〃　said　Castenago　in　Spanish。　〃You；　Professor　Peridor；　and　your　daughter。〃
　　
　　
　　THEY　came　forward；　Peridor　and　Mariquita；　only　to　halt　when　they　caught　a　quick　glint　from　The　Shadow's　eyes。　Peridor's　own　gaze　was　sad；　Mariquita's　pleading。　They　wanted　The　Shadow　to　know　that　they　had　no　part　in　this。
　　Castenago　had　ordered　them　brought　to　the　palace；　presumably　to　answer　questions　when　the　council　investigated　last　night's　bombing。　There　had　been　no　way　for　them　to　get　word　to　The　Shadow。
　　Fortunately；　they　understood　that　The　Shadow　wanted　them　to　halt　where　they　were。　Thus；　he　prevented　them　from　blocking　his　aim　toward　Castenago；　who　still　held　his　rigid；　hand…lifted　pose。
　　Looking　again　toward　Castenago；　The　Shadow　wanted　them　to　halt　dictator's　manner。　Castenago's　own　life　was　safe；　because　The　Shadow　would　desist　from　suicidal　action　that　would　produce　the　deaths　of　Peridor　and　Mariquita；　as　well　as　his　own。　Safe；　at　least；　if　he　dismissed　those　gunners　behind　the　portraits。
　　〃Ah；　Senor　Sombra；〃　spoke　Castenago　smoothly。　〃We　have　heard　that　you；　too；　were　witness　to　events　last　night。　You　have　e　here　armed；　perhaps　because　you　do　not　trust　us。　It　would　be　better　if　we　could　talk　as　friends。〃
　　He　was　making　slight　backward　gestures　with　his　hands。　One　by　one；　the　gun　muzzles　were　retiring；　the　portrait　frames　sliding　back　in　place。　The　Shadow　was　lowering　the　automatic　that　covered　Castenago；　so　the　dictator　continued　his　motions。
　　When　the　last　of　Murk's　guns　had　disappeared；　The　Shadow　placed　both　automatics　on　the　table　and　turned　to　the　council　members。
　　〃You　have　the　words　of　El　Piojo。〃　Speaking　in　fluent　Spanish；　The　Shadow　was　referring　to　Castenago　by　the　official　title　which　the　dictator　had　assumed　as　supreme　ruler　of　Centralba。　〃I　now　call　upon　you　to　bear　witness　that　I　have　accepted　his　terms。　Disarmed；　I　surrender　to　this　council；　not　to　El　Piojo。　I　am　ready　to　abide　by　your　decision　in　my　case。〃
　　A　strong　stroke　on　The　Shadow's　part。　He　had　definitely　curbed　the　menace　of　hidden　guns。　Castenago　couldn't　recall　Murk　and　the　other　crooks　if　he　wanted。　Even　in　Centralba　there　were　distinctions　between　law　and　murder。
　　It　was　through　the　nicety　of　those　distinctions　that　Castenago　held　the　support　of　this　council。　Though　he　could　have　eliminated　them　individually；　by　mere　snaps　of　his　fingers；　taken　altogether；　they　were　too　strong　a　bundle　to　break。
　　Professor　Peridor；　himself；　had　assured　The　Shadow　on　that　point；　therefore；　The　Shadow　was　acting　on　a　friend's　advice。　But　Peridor　had　added　a　strong　warning；　one　that　The　Shadow　had　evidently　forgotten；　much　to　the　old　professor's　horror。
　　Very　definitely；　Peridor　had　stated　that　Castenago；　so　long　as　he　operated　by　stated　regulations；　could　sway　the　council　to　any　decision　that　he　desired。
　　Thus；　The　Shadow；　in　removing　a　menace　that　Peridor　hadn't　seen；　had　placed　himself　in　the　pathway　of　another　that　Peridor　recognized　only　too　well。
　　Watching　Castenago；　Peridor　saw　the　big…jawed　dictator　take　The　Shadow's　guns　and　toss　them　carelessly　into　a　table　drawer；　as　a　symbol　of　good　faith　that　wasn't　in　Castenago's　mind。　The　broad　smile　on　Castenago's　lips　gave　real　evidence　as　to　his　sentiments。
　　It　was　no　longer　a　duel　between　Castenago　and　The　Shadow。　The　game　had　reached　another；　inner　stage。　This　game　was　fixed　the　way　Castenago　liked　it。
　　Stepping　from　behind　the　table；　Castenago　spoke　in　cunning　style；　first　gesturing　to　Peridor　and　Mariquita　as　he　addressed　the　council。
　　
　　
　　〃THESE　worthy　friends　of　ours；〃　he　said；　〃are　still　with　us　only　because　they　escaped　a　bomb　planted　in　the　patio　of　their　home。　That　bomb　caused　the　death　of　two　gatomontes。　I；　your　leader；　El　Piojo；　have　sworn　that　I　shall　find　the　man　responsible；　and　bring　him　to　trial　for　his　crime　before　this　council。〃
　　The　approval　of　the　council　was　unanimous。　They　rose　to　their　feet　to　express　it。　Peridor　and　Mariquita　knew　what　was　ing　next。　Their　words　drowned　out　by　the　council's　chorus；　they　sprang　to　The　Shadow's　side　to　clutch　his　folded　arms；　hoping　to　turn　him　toward　the　elevator。
　　It　was　then　too　late。　The　door　was　sliding　open。　Castenago　had　pressed　a　button　before　leaving　his　chair。　Four　palace　guards　strode　into　the　council　room；　at　Castenago's　mand；　two　of　them　drew　Peridor　and　his　daughter　away；　while　the　other　pair　gripped　The　Shadow。
　　〃I　have　kept　my　promise！〃　boomed　Castenago　to　the　councilors。　〃Every　witness　who　saw　the　bombing　at　Peridor's　has　borne　testimony　to　the　presence　of