mg.dictatorofcrime-第23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 disappe
