mg.dictatorofcrime-第15章
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for The Shadow's eaglelike scrutiny。
The Shadow recognized those faces。 He had seen them before。 Leader of the murderous roving band was Murk Wessel； the men with him were the sharpshooting lieutenants who had aided in the wiping out of Jose Durez and his panions from Centralba！
There was a whispered laugh when the cab had passed； then The Shadow； too； was gone； sidling uncannily through the darkness。 The tone of The Shadow's mirth did not betoken a discovery。 It merely announced the proof of a well…held theory。
While the New York police were tracking down the planted rumors that Murk Wessel and his band of killers were somewhere in Manhattan； The Shadow had unearthed that notorious crowd in the one refuge where no one else had thought to look for them。
Only The Shadow could have analyzed the truth： that Murk Wessel had not operated on his own； but was secretly in the employ of Luis Castenago！
CHAPTER XI
FRIENDS OF THE SHADOW
NATIVES were dancing in the esplanade of National University when The Shadow arrived there。 There were students among the crowd； and they were amusing themselves in various ways。
Some were tossing pennies to the stolid marimba player； who still kept up his musical beats outside the patio entrance to Professor Peridor's mansion。
Others were engaged in catching fireflies； of the amazing red…and…green variety seen in the tropics。 The insects looked like flying traffic lights； and they stayed at an appropriate altitude； which made them difficult to trap。
Whenever snared； they immediately bee adornments for high bs worn by the promenading senoritas； wherein they shone like decorative jewels。
The briskness of the firefly hunt forced The Shadow to travel close to Peridor's wall in order to avoid the roaming students。 They avoided the wall as if it were charged with electricity； because they knew the ways of the patrolling soldiers。 Castenago's militia was trained to shoot at sight； should anyone violate a taboo。
As The Shadow kept to the wall's sheltering gloom； he heard rifles crackle； at intervals； followed by an immediate scattering of students and a fluttery flight of pigeons from the esplanade。
Fortunately； the soldiers were indifferent marksmen。 Students and pigeons promptly returned to their respective tasks…the students plucking fireflies for the senoritas who； meanwhile； were feeding almonds to the pigeons。
Around the corner of the wall； The Shadow saw a uniformed man approach against the light from the esplanade。 Blended with the tan stucco background； The Shadow awaited the soldier's arrival。 Scouting students dashed close； saw the uniform； and scudded away as the soldier raised his rifle。
With a long stretch； The Shadow reached the top of the wall and lifted himself by his very fingertips。 His soft…toed shoes dug into the stucco； and he was rolling across the wall top when the soldier resumed patrol。
The patio resembled a sunken garden； being several feet deeper than the ground outside。 Clumps of shrubbery might prove the lurking spots of inside guards posted by Castenago； so The Shadow decided to choose the spot where he dropped。
There were trees inside the wall； and one； a coconut palm； sprouted from the midst of flowery tropical bushes。 It looked like a good landing spot； so The Shadow flicked the pencil beam of his tiny flashlight toward it。
Instantly； crouched figures came to life。 They could only be gatomontes； for no other uniforms would have blended so well with the shrubbery。 Their silence told that they were ready to shoot； once sure where the prowler with the flashlight was located。
The Shadow was quite sure that the gatomontes were excellent marksmen with revolvers。 Shifting along the wall； he reached for the thick…sprayed foliage of the palm tree。
Voices hissed below。 The gatomontes were preparing to rake the wall with their fire。 Even if The Shadow beat them to the shots； it wouldn't help。 The sound of any gun within the patio would bring a score of guards； with powerful flashlights。 So The Shadow flicked his own flashlight； instead。
However； its beam was no longer white。 This was the special flashlight which he often used in signaling his agents。 Its glow could be adjusted to red or green； and The Shadow used both。
The well…timed flickers were a perfect representation of the local firefly。 Hovering between palms and wall； the blinks provided actual illumination。 Like tiny beacons from the blackness； they guided the lurkers； giving them opportunity to work along the wall without using their own flashlights。
They were evidently pleased that such a magnificent firefly should have drifted by at such a moment。 But the 〃firefly〃 was skittish。 It suddenly floated toward the wall； gave quick； parting flashes and disappeared。
It was gone beneath The Shadow's cloak； and the men below were suddenly curious regarding the firefly's gyrations。
EASING toward the branches of the palm； The Shadow tilted his head at an angle and counted coconuts against the reflected glare from the esplanade。
The palm was quivering； not from The Shadow's well placed weight； but from the clutch of hands that were using the branches to gain the summit of the wall。
Five coconuts； bobbing and dipping crazily against the dim light。 One went down from sight； but came up again； bringing another with it。 Then one more extra coconut appeared right beside the first newer。 Releasing his grip on the palm boughs； The Shadow lurched out into space； his hands ahead of him。
Crazy business； grabbing hanging coconuts to prevent a fall。 Ordinarily； they'd be slippery； and useless as support； since they would drag down the boughs if grasped。
Not these coconuts。 They weren't the sort that grew on palm trees。 They were interlopers。
Catching the two he wanted； with an insweep of his hands； The Shadow's lurch was halted by supporting bulks attached beneath the coconuts。
Nothing； however； could have stayed the swift motion of his powerful hands； ing； as they did； like unseen creatures of the night。 They bounced the coconuts together as a musician would crash a pair of cymbals。
The Shadow had chosen the right coconuts。 The rest flipped upward； as all weight was released from the palm boughs。 Two figures thudded the ground； and in sprawling； they broke the finish of The Shadow's dive。
Rising among the shrubs； the coconut basher turned his flashlight toward the ground； using its white beam。 A low laugh sounded from the darkness above that penciled glow。 The Shadow was viewing the two gatomontes； both limp and stunned。
Having remembered that these fellows always worked in pairs； The Shadow had simply waited for them to introduce a pair of human coconuts among the fruit variety。 They'd done it in their customary precision； making each head a target for the other； under The Shadow's swift clutch。
The gatomontes wore fancy belts with their otherwise drab uniforms。 The Shadow found those belts quite handy in trussing the unconscious pair。 They carried gaudy handkerchiefs； too； in their inside pockets； for； like most Centralbans； they had a dash of the Indian in them。
The Shadow used the handkerchiefs as gags。 Tossing a pair of revolvers into the shrubbery； he started a foot tour of the patio。
There were other guards about； police and soldiers on patrol。 They were easily spotted by The Shadow and were paratively harmless； since The Shadow had eliminated the mainspring of the works in the persons of the gatomontes。
One soldier； however； was a real obstacle。 He stood on guard at a flight of steps leading up to a balcony that offered the only access to Peridor's mansion。
With the notes of the marimba flitting in from the great gate； The Shadow had an excellent musical score acpanying his next exploit。 He skirted the tropical plants； and suddenly confronted the soldier just as the fellow turned。
The Shadow sped both hands toward the sentry's rifle and seized it with a viselike grip。
Naturally； the guard doubled his own grip on the gun； which was exactly what The Shadow wanted。 Dipping； he drove his knee against the sentry's； and as the man
