The Shadow - 151 - Voodoo Trail by Maxwell Grant

Author:Maxwell Grant
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1938-05-31T22:58:14+00:00

The

jolt that Mocquino had applied was the give-away.

He had used the same system with the frail man. That pressure numbed the victim’s senses, and enabled Mocquino to follow it with a faked deed of pretended death.

In boasting tone, Mocquino added the insidious promise that proved The Shadow’s belief that Marcia lived.

“Another zombi!” announced Mocquino. “One more statue to adorn this grotto!”

RESUMING his throne, the Voodoo Master had The Shadow’s captors bring their

prisoner to a square-shaped mat that stood between the fire and the throne.

Leboux was crouched behind the group, fumbling on the floor. None of the cult members noticed the overseer’s actions. They were watching Mocquino and The Shadow.

Low-toned, Mocquino addressed The Shadow, as he motioned for the natives to

draw the slouch hat from the prisoner’s head. The flickering torches revealed the face of Lamont Cranston. At the sight, Mocquino smiled.

“We meet again!” gritted Mocquino. Except for The Shadow, only the natives

heard those words; and to them, English was a foreign tongue. “I, Rodil Mocquino, risen from the dead; and you, Lamont Cranston - otherwise The Shadow bound for the tomb!”

The Shadow’s stolid silence made no impression on the Voodoo Master.

Retaining his low purr, Mocquino continued:

“Once I sought mere wealth, through murder. Later, my quest was power, through the same method. At present, I seek both; and I have gotten them. I acquired them without your knowledge, but I foresaw the trouble that you finally brought.

“That was why I used zombis to kill that traitor Hyler, and his scheming attorney, Quinrick. I lost one zombi; Leboux said that the man had perished with you, but I suspected otherwise. You were clever - aiding Sayre and Grulen.

“But tonight, Cranston” - Mocquino’s chuckle was a gloat - “your methods failed! Marcia Cortell was under observation; reports concerning her were incomplete. I prepared for your visit, realizing that you might even penetrate here.”

Mocquino motioned for the darkish men to turn their captive about, so that

he faced the cult members who stood beyond the fire. There, The Shadow saw demoniac expressions. Influenced by Mocquino’s power, those dupes were hoping for The Shadow’s death.

The voodoo doctor leaned forward from his throne. Again his low tone was for The Shadow alone.

“You would accept death, if you knew it would defeat me,” voiced Mocquino.

“Therefore, I know that you have taken precautions. The sudden disappearance of

Lamont Cranston would be noticed. But there would be no suspicion, if he should

temporarily return among his friends.

“My present methods allow for that. You have seen how my zombis recover and forget. You shall become one of them - to taste the living death. Not by a slight shock, which you might withstand, but one more powerful. One strong enough to give any one the semblance of death - even The Shadow!”

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