THE BLACK, BLACK WITCH by J.R.A

Author:J.R.A. [J.R.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-04-26T23:21:52+00:00

Chapter VIII. THE FRIGHTENING FUTURE

JOHNNY LITTLEJOHN had appeared at the airport in his private automobile, an elderly and extremely dilapidated vehicle which Monk had often called a fugitive from an assembly line. This ancient land ark could actually travel a hundred and fifty miles an hour, if everything kept out of its way, and the occupants were safe from bullets coming from less than an antitank gun providing the windows were closed. A spectator would have said it was an impossibility, but it could be made absolutely airtight, hence safe from gas attack. Along with its other qualities was that of noise. When in motion it made such a racket that conversation was difficult.

Johnny set the course of his vehicle into downtown Manhattan and toward the swank and dignity of residential Park Avenue.

Monk looked at the skyscrapers, at the people on the streets. He grinned, much pleased.

“This,” he said, “obviously isn't Europe.”

Sien was gazing out of the window. “It isn't Holland, either.”

They rode silently, in a state not less than completely pleased.

Monk laughed. “You know, I've knocked around over the world plenty, and I haven't lost the kick that comes of getting back to the States. I wonder if you ever lose it?”

Sien glanced at the city around them, at the people on the streets, and at their dress. “I don't see why one should lose it.”

Johnny had been told the story of what had happened to Doc and Monk so far. He had been thinking it over as he drove his remarkable car. Now he shook his head. “The Germans must know more about it than we do,” he said. “Their excitement indicates they do. I wonder what it is?”

Monk told him, “Whatever it is, it's something that a sorehead named Peterpence, also known as the black, black witch, discovered back in fifteen hundred and something-or-other. The black, black witch hid the secret in that underground room of the chateau. MacChesney got to digging through old documents, and found the hiding place. Whatever he found got him so excited that he sent for Doc. And then it got him even more excited, so that he tried to stop Doc getting there. And when Doc did arrive, MacChesney grabbed the secret—we think—and lit out for New York.”

“You told me all that before.” Johnny was absentmindedly using small words. “What did MacChesney find?”

Monk snorted. “Suppose you let me ask some silly questions.”

“Mutiloquate,” Johnny said.

“Huh?”

“Go ahead and ask.”

“Who,” Monk asked, “is this scared man?”

“Robert Diamat.”

“You told us his name. Who is he?”

“A very close friend of MacChesney.”

“And what else?”

“He is married,” Johnny explained, “to MacChesney's ex-wife.”

“I didn't know MacChesney had been married before.”

“They were divorced some years ago.”

THEY pulled up before an apartment house which made it evident that Robert Diamat was a man who had a lot of money to spend on living. Monk said, “Ham should be impressed. He once had an apartment in this neighborhood.”

Ham nodded, said, “And had to give it up because I couldn't pay the rent. You know what these places rent for? Some of them as high as twenty thousand a year.

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