mg.dictatorofcrime-第26章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 Shadow received the gourd； the laughter of the guards increased。
Not to be outdone； The Shadow decided to plant the gourd。 He set it in the useless hole that he had dug。 Then； to the continued amusement of the onlookers； he pushed the loose stones back in place； wedging them more tightly than he had found them。
The guards admired The Shadow's sang…froid； and declared that Castenago would have appreciated it。 They promised to relate the incident to the dictator。 So they had another round of champagne； while the marimba player banged out more music； unhampered by the missing key。
Faint streaks of dawn were showing through the window。 The Shadow drew a slip of paper from beneath his cloak and wrote a brief message。 With a headshake； he tore it up and let fragments fall to the floor。
From his pocket； he produced some gold coins and reached through the bars； pressing them into the marimba player's hand as payment for the music。
The clank of a saber announced the captain of the guard。 The soldiers came to attention while the door of the cell was being unlocked。 The time for The Shadow's execution had arrived。 There was only a few minutes more of the final half hour。
Marching toward the courtyard； between the ranks of riflemen； The Shadow glanced behind him and saw the marimba player following； with his bulky instrument。 As they reached the door； they turned toward the courtyard； where the firing squad awaited。
Dawn and death。 Odd that the bination should have brought a whispered laugh from The Shadow's lips！
CHAPTER XVIII
DEATH BY DAYLIGHT
CEREMONY was brief when they reached the courtyard。 Guards were everywhere； with gatomontes in reserve。 Faces showed at windows of the palace …
those of Castenago and his council…but neither Peridor nor Mariquita were witnesses of the ing scene。
The Shadow's only approach to a friend was the marimba player； who stopped beneath an archway and set down the marimba while he rested。
It might be that he was only curious about the execution。 Many enemies of Castenago had met death in this courtyard； but seldom were members of the outside public allowed to witness such events。
The captain of the guard was very polite。 He marched The Shadow to a wall； and offered him a blindfold。 The Shadow shook his head； he didn't want it。
Looking toward Castenago's window； he saw the dictator acknowledge his glance with a bow。 Castenago was always pleased when men were brave enough to face a death squad without their eyes being covered。
All the while； The Shadow was mentally counting the minutes。 He still had nearly two to go before the half hour was plete。 He could see the edge of the sun above the low wall； and it fitted perfectly with the next phase of his plan。
Turning to the guard captain； The Shadow transcended all tradition。 He had refused the blindfold； which helped the show； but he wanted to add an unprecedented touch。
〃The sun is shining in the eyes of the firing squad；〃 he declared。 〃They should not be inconvenienced by it。 I would prefer to take the burden。 A favor； perhaps； but it is very slight； considering that I shall not be with you long。〃
With his gestures； The Shadow explained the words to those who could not hear them； Castenago and the council members。
Catching the inference first； Castenago passed it along to the others。 The scene delighted the dictator。 Never before had any of his victims accepted the firing squad with such magnificent grace。 Castenago waved from the window； and The Shadow returned it with a bow。
The captain therewith gave The Shadow the privilege of choosing his spot along the wall。 The Shadow deliberated； counting down to the last dozen seconds。 Then； beckoning to the captain； he started for the spot he wanted。 It happened to be against the wall outside the very cell where The Shadow had been confined。
Fifteen seconds to cross the courtyard。 That was why The Shadow allowed only ten。 He and the acpanying captain had slightly more than twenty feet to go； when they were hurled back on their tracks。
The thing that stopped them was an explosion quite as terrific as the one at Peridor's。 The blast not only staggered The Shadow and his panion； it caused the firing squad to flatten on their faces； for it sounded like a sudden eruption of Mount Lotomoro。
Castenago and his councilors ducked； for the window from which they gazed came crashing back into their faces。
That damage was trivial pared with the real wreckage that the bomb produced。 The blast ripped a huge hole in the center of the cell block； at the very spot where The Shadow had been a prisoner。
First to recover； The Shadow was on his feet； dashing for the jagged opening in the wall。 Again； he was performing the unexpected。 The Shadow hadn't managed to break out of that cell； but he had found a way of breaking into it！
Castenago was bellowing from the window； and the members of the firing squad were grabbing up their rifles。 By then； The Shadow was gone through the grayish smoke that clouded the gaping wall。
They fired； and the crack of the rifles was answered by a trailing laugh：
the farewell of The Shadow。 A mocking tone that always came when bullets missed their cloaked target！
For The Shadow was in the cell before the guns were fired； and once in it； he was on the way out。
NO one had thought of locking the huge door again； because it was unnecessary and too much trouble。 In one way； through； and out the other； The Shadow was dashing along the cell block； to the door where a surprised guard stared as though viewing a black…clad ghost。
As he went； a great clang sounded behind him。 In leaving the cell； The Shadow had done the work that ordinarily took two men。 He had swung the heavy door of the death cell。 One of its locks worked automatically； a point that The Shadow had remembered。
Piling through the smoke…cleared hole in the wall； the members of the firing squad were stopped short by the cell door； where they gabbled like monkeys in a cage while the captain was trying to find the key that would open it！
At that moment； The Shadow was reappearing in the courtyard。 Two gatomontes saw him； but hadn't time to draw their revolvers。 The Shadow settled them with the rifle that he plucked when the astonished guard dropped it。 He drove the butt end of the rifle against one man's chest； made a cross…swing that brought the barrel against the other's head。
Turning toward Castenago's window； The Shadow was ready to aim the rifle； but the big…jawed dictator had taken another dive。
So The Shadow sped out through the archway。 He saw gatomontes running one direction； so he took the other； to a corner of the wall。 There； The Shadow turned to see what was happening。
Castenago's green…clad storm troopers were chasing the marimba player； who was packing his musical instrument on a cart。
A girl screamed from a window of the palace。 The voice was Mariquita's。
She and her father had been awaiting the announcement of the verdict； not knowing that Castenago intended it to be the shots of a firing squad。
Instead； a huge blast had told of Castenago's treachery； but in looking for the cause； Mariquita saw only the fleeing marimba player。
She recognized him； which wasn't at all surprising； for she loved him。 The fleeing man was Colin Nayre！
Before pursuers could overtake the fugitive； The Shadow's rifle crackled。
Its shots spilled gatomontes as fast as they grabbed for Nayre； but the others dived for shelter where The Shadow couldn't reach them。
By then； more shots were unnecessary。 Nayre was on the cart； which was starting away。 He was plucking gourds from his marimba； like grapes off a bunch； and tossing them behind him。
Each gourd exploded as it struck； taking a vast chunk from the street。
Nayre was quite close to the gatomontes when he chucked the first few gourds。
After that； he didn't have to worry。 The disguised bombs had
