mg.dictatorofcrime-第25章
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end of the cell block； but left none near the cell itself。
Castenago not only feared the guards might be bribed； he knew that The Shadow might play upon their superstitions。 Hence； he had ordered that no one should have contact with the prisoner。
It suited The Shadow。
The cell had a metal cot； which could stand on three legs as well as four； provided no one lay on it。 The Shadow wasn't sleepy； so he removed one of the cot legs and tried it on the barred window。
The bars were too stout； and too deeply embedded in concrete； to be demolished by the lever that The Shadow employed。 Besides； the window opened into the courtyard； where any clatter on the bars would be heard。
Pausing a few moments； The Shadow stared through the bars。 The night was very mild； and sounds carried far。 He could hear the patter of the fountains and the music of the marimba。 The local musicians generally stayed up all night； along with the rest of the inhabitants。 It was all very pleasant and lulling； but The Shadow had no time for it。
Instead； he tried the cot leg on the stone wall beneath the window； and found that results were easy。 The cell was below ground level； and therefore damp。 The stones were moldy； and mortar between them gone。
It was no trick at all to pry out a couple of stones and dig into those beyond。 The Shadow amused himself with the task for a long while until his hope of an escape was suddenly terminated。
Two thirds of the way through the thick wall； The Shadow came upon an outer layer of new； and very solid； masonry。 The cot leg proved about as useful as a can opener against the obstacle in question。
It was like Castenago； to bulwark his cells from the outside。 Probably； dozens of other prisoners before The Shadow had supposed that they could hack their way through； only to meet with disappointment。
The Shadow tossed away the leg of the cot and sat down on the other end。
He still had cigarettes； so he lighted one and considered the Castenago question。 The Shadow's case hadn't yet reached the fatal stage。 He could always bargain with Castenago； and the miserly dictator would certainly listen to terms that involved a million dollars。
Since Murk Wessel was willing to talk about eliminating The Shadow for a price； the thing could work the other way about。
In fact； Castenago would prefer an offer from The Shadow。 Maybe he was even playing for one； another case of a game within a game。
The Shadow's price would simply be that of life； and Castenago would save a cold million cash。 Moreover； he'd go through with the bargain of eliminating Murk； whereas Castenago would doubt that Murk could ever dispose of The Shadow。
A very nice arrangement； since The Shadow had e to Libertad with the rightful idea of hunting down Murk Wessel to begin with。 There was just one thing about it that The Shadow did not like。
He would have to pledge that he would never again disturb Luis Castenago。
To The Shadow； such a promise would be as bad as an actual alliance with the notorious tyrant。 It would be better to find another way。
Deep in thought； The Shadow listened to the sounds from outside。 Softly； he laughed。 His whispered mirth told that he had found the way。
MEANWHILE； within the palace； Castenago had e downstairs； after a long session with his council。 He stopped in the reception room； where Peridor and Mariquita were waiting； under guard。 With a profound bow； Castenago addressed Peridor。
〃The council has heard the evidence；〃 declared the dictator。 〃The witnesses are gone； and the case is under deliberation； with the council； itself； as jury。〃
Indignantly； Peridor arose。 For once； he was ready to defy the wrath of Castenago。
〃With you to be the judge！〃 stormed Peridor。 〃Never； during your regime； has there been justice in Centralba！〃
Frantically； Mariquita was trying to draw her father back into his chair； fearing that Castenago would summarily order the guards to take him to the presidio。 To her amazement； Castenago bowed again and spoke quite mildly：
〃You forget； Senor Peridor； that my policy is to be lenient。 I was forced to show strength only because our government was weak。 Having established my regime； I seek to balance power with justice。 I assure you； I shall remend clemency in the case of La Sombra。〃
Peridor； himself； was surprised； half inclined to believe。 He remembered Castenago's promise with Durez； only to recall that it had meant murder outside of Centralba； according to The Shadow。
Still； there might be facts in Castenago's favor； and Peridor couldn't disregard the point that Durez； in his own underhand style； had given a false promise to Castenago。
〃I swear by the name of Castenago；〃 purred the heavy…browed dictator； 〃that you will hear the final verdict before you leave here； Senor Peridor； also； that you will see justice given。〃
When Castenago backed a pledge with his own name； it counted。 The dictator of Centralba was too egotistical to let himself down。 When Castenago bowed himself from the room； Peridor actually felt at ease； and so did Mariquita。
Neither had caught the full interpretation that Castenago had put into his words。
MORE hours passed。 Dawn was near when Castenago again left the council chamber。 This time； he did not stop to speak to Peridor； but went directly to the presidio。 He entered the cell block and stopped at the door which barred The Shadow's escape。
Castenago smiled when he saw the uprooted stones that told of The Shadow's futile efforts。 Then the dictator's face went solemn。
〃The council found La Sombra guilty；〃 he declared。 〃I asked for clemency； pleading for another trial at least。 Unfortunately； I was outvoted。 You have only one hope： I can still reprieve the sentence。 I might do so； if it would lead to the permanent removal of certain enemies who are a threat to myself and my country。〃
Castenago was fishing for the offer that would save him a million dollars。
The Shadow did not accept the bait。
〃Centralba has only one enemy；〃 spoke The Shadow。 〃His name is Luis Castenago！ If you give me my freedom； I shall allow you one privilege； Castenago…that of suicide for the honor of the country that was never yours。〃
Calmly； The Shadow was banking upon one policy of Castenago's。 The dictator loved to display false friendship to his victims before their executions。 It was almost a certainty that he would follow the rule in The Shadow's case。 With a solemn bow； Castenago proved that he was acting true to form。
〃You shall die at dawn；〃 said Castenago； 〃but； meanwhile； I shall not forget that you are my guest。 I have ordered caviar and champagne to be served here in this cell。〃
〃Thoughtful of you；〃 returned The Shadow。 〃But what are food and drink without music？ I shall miss it。〃
Distant； the tones of a marimba floated through the bars of the cell。
Castenago smiled as he said：
〃La Sombra shall have music。〃
The marimba player arrived with the guards； who were bringing buckets of champagne and a tray of caviar sandwiches。 The Shadow invited them to join him in the feast； which they did； since there were too many to begin an individual chat with The Shadow。
The marimba player plodded through a tune； then took time out for a drink of champagne。
By then； The Shadow was interested in the marimba。
〃Those gourds of yours；〃 he said； in a dialect that the musician would understand。 〃How long do they take to ripen； if planted？〃
The marimba player tilted his head and laughed。 The jest seemed to please him。
〃As long as you wish；〃 he replied。 〃Certain of them。〃 He moved his hand along the lines of hanging ovals and stopped at the larger end。 〃These； for instance。〃
One of the guards guffawed。
〃Give La Sombra one that will grow in half an hour；〃 the guard suggested。
〃It must be one that blossoms in the darkness； if he wishes to see it bloom。 It will be dawn in half an hour； and then La Sombra dies。〃
With another laugh； the marimba player continued the jest by plucking one of the larger gourds from beneath the keyboard。 He fingered it； then passed it through the bars。 As The
