They Died Twice 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 Hidalgo Trading Co. was a homely blimp of a warehouse on the Hudson River water front, not far from the spot where the Normandie had capsized. The warehouse had no connection with Hidalgo, the Central American republic, other than that it had occurred to someone as a name for the warehouse. There was actually no Hidalgo Trading Co., except in name.

Contents of the warehouse were a little startling unless one knew what to suspect. The submarine, for instance, was a surprising craft; it would have astonished a submarine expert, for it was an experimental craft only. Some of the boats in the place were experimental and others weren't. It was the same with the planes.

Monk Mayfair stowed his pet pig, Habeas Corpus, in the cabin of the largest plane in the place, a huge amphibian. He told Ham, “You keep that what-is-it of yours away from my hog.”

“Away from your hog!” Ham was indignant. “You got a crust! Your hog started it.”

“Don't try to argue with me!” Monk yelled indignantly. The two climbed into the plane, to all appearances about to come to blows.

Annice looked anxious and Long Tom chuckled. “You'll have to get used to that,” he told her. “They even fight in their sleep.”

Albert Jones was looking uncomfortable. “You aren't planning on leaving me behind, are you?” he demanded.

“Holy cow!” Renny said. “You don't want to go along, do you?”

Space put in, “Of course he does. We all want to go along and help.”

“Why?” Renny demanded.

Space looked at them grimly. “We got you in this.”

Renny glanced at Monk and Long Tom and the others. They seemed undecided. “We'd better talk this over,” Renny said. They drew aside, and discussed the matter. Monk was heartily in favor of letting Space, Jones and Annice-particularly Annice-come along. Ham said, “Sure, a pretty girl always sucks you in!”

Monk told him, “You better hope that music you play with your mouth qualifies you for playing a harp in the next world, you overdressed shyster. Because one of these days I'm gonna close up business on you.”

It was Johnny Littlejohn, using small words, who made the suggestion that appealed to them.

“Take them along, so we can keep an eye on them,” Johnny advised. “After all there is something faintly fishy about this. The girl first told Doc her name was Annice Rogers. She didn't say anything about being related to this Secret Stevens. There may be something to this we don't see.”

So it was agreed.

They loaded equipment into the big plane-their fighting regalia. The array of gadgets they took along was remarkable, but loading them rapidly was no trick. The stuff was in light metal cases, marked for identification. It was always kept ready for trips such as this.

They began climbing in the plane.

Monk caught Ham's arm and held him back.

“We'll take another plane,” Monk said. “That way, if something happens to this ship we'll have another one.”

Renny, Long Tom and Johnny were surprised. But they decided it was a good idea. Monk and Ham, with their pets, stood in the big hangar and watched the great doors open.

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