Mystery Island by Kenneth Robeson;Lester Dent

Author:Kenneth Robeson;Lester Dent
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Blackmask Online
Published: 2001-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

THE pilot stretched out on the sand, explaining that he had been without sleep for almost two days.

Mr. Lively gestured imperceptibly at Doc Savage. They arose, moved some distance through the undergrowth, and stopped beneath some palms. Mr. Lively picked up one of the fallen coconuts and shook it. "We can pretend to be gathering nuts," he said. "They tell me if a fallen nut gurgles, it is no good. You would think it would be just the other way around."

"What did you want to tell me?" Doc asked.

"Anything you would care to know?"

Doc considered.

"Where does Miss Wilson come into this case?" he asked.

"Miss Wilson," said Mr. Lively, "is a two-faced double-crosser. She was supposed to be a secret agent, assigned to work for me. Miss Wilson has been a faithful secret agent for my government for a number of years—that is, we supposed she was faithful."

"But now you think Miss Wilson is one of them?"

"A green elephant could hardly be more obvious, could it?"

Doc said, "Suppose you give me the logical procession of events up to this point."

"Well, before Ingento Island vanished—"

"You told me about Ingento Island, and its vanishing," Doc said. "Go on from there."

"The crews of the two destroyers saw Ingento Island disappear, and naturally they reported, and just as naturally, the government was flabbergasted. There was a great deal of discussion. It looked like this master mind, this evil genius, could do what he said he could. He set his price—"

"What was his price?"

"Enough millions of dollars that it was ridiculous—until one got to thinking about what might happen if the sum wasn’t paid."

"So it was decided to pay?"

"Not exactly," said Mr. Lively, after hesitating. "I was sent here to carry on negotiations. Actually, I was also to investigate. That was why Miss Wilson was assigned to work with me. She was to help investigate."

"And you think they bought Miss Wilson off?"

"Either that, or she went to them and sold out."

"Just how far did your investigation get?" Doc asked.

"Not far," said Mr. Lively. "First, I learned that they needed a geologist of William Harper Littlejohn’s ability, and that they intended to kidnap Johnny and make him work for them. I think they even"—Mr. Lively smiled grimly—"intended to kidnap me at first, but they discovered that my ability as a geologist was not equal to Johnny’s."

Doc said, "Am I right in supposing you were assigned to this job because of your attainments in geology?"

"Correct."

"And it was your plan at first to take Johnny and hold him in a safe place?"

"Exactly. That would have prevented the successful completion of their scheme." He shrugged. "But they saw through that. They got Johnny."

"You also learned the location of the island where they have their headquarters?" Doc asked.

"I . . . I do not guarantee that," said Mr. Lively. "I believe the island is south of here not many miles. If I am right, that is where they took Johnny Littlejohn. If I am wrong"—the lazy man shrugged, and his beard jerked with his resigned smile—"we are not much worse than we were before.

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