mg.dictatorofcrime-第21节

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！


Allard　was　The　Shadow；　sure　that　the　mysterious　crime…hunter　would　check　on　the　movements　of　Wessel's　crew；　Castenago　had　bluffed　regarding　a　meeting　with　the　crooks；　to　place　The　Shadow　in　a　false　light。
　　It　was；　indeed；　a　false　light；　but　with　it；　The　Shadow　recognized　a　true　one。　Murk　Wessel　and　his　cronies　had　certainly　e　to　the　palace；　for　Castenago　knew　that　The　Shadow　might　have　chosen　to　trail　them　all　the　way。　If　so；　where　were　they？　The　smiles　of　Luis　Castenago　told。
　　Three　smiles；　all　painted　ones；　on　the　life…sized　portraits　that　filled　the　walls　behind　the　dictator's　chair。　The　Shadow　noted　narrow　cracks　between　the　portraits　and　the　side　of　the　frames。　There　were　six　such　side　frames；　in　all；　and　one　hadn't　been　pushed　aside。　Castenago　had　probably　wanted　it　that　way；　as　an　index　from　which　The　Shadow　would　refer　to　the　other　frames。
　　Each　of　five　cracks　showed　the　slight　gleam　of　a　gun　muzzle；　signifying　that　Murk　Wessel　and　his　four　target…shooting　friends　were　the　men　on　duty　behind　the　paintings。
　　Remembering　that　Peridor　had　mentioned　an　old　council　room　adjoining　the　new　one；　The　Shadow　understood　the　rest。　Castenago　had　probably　left　the　council　before　the　crooks　arrived；　and　smuggled　the　newers　into　the　old　room。
　　Quick　were　The　Shadow's　mental　flashes。　Murk　and　his　men　weren't　shooting；　therefore；　they　weren't　going　to　start　until　Castenago　gave　the　word；　which　he　wouldn't；　unless　the　pinch　became　absolute。
　　He　might　excuse　the　fact　that　killers　were　hidden　behind　the　portraits；　on　the　pretext　that　they　were　protecting　the　council　meeting。　Good　enough；　if　the　councilors　never　learned　who　the　marksmen　were。
　　There　was　a　stronger　reason　why　Castenago　hadn't　ordered　immediate　gunfire。　Castenago　was　personally　on　the　spot。　He　had　to　be。　Without　Castenago　at　the　council　table；　The　Shadow　would　have　suspected　something　wrong　and　wheeled　back　into　the　shelter　of　the　elevator。　To　really　trap　The　Shadow；　Castenago　had　to　be　present；　and　therefore　was。
　　If　shooting　started；　Murk's　marksman　would　riddle　The　Shadow；　but　never　fast　enough　to　prevent　his　delivery　of　a　few　shots；　too。　The　first　of　those　would　be　for　Castenago。　Ridding　a　nation　of　a　tyrant　would　be　a　triumph　for　The　Shadow；　even　in　death。　It　was　even　possible　that　he　would　voluntarily　make　such　choice；　and　start　the　shooting　first。
　　That　was　why　Castenago　had　another　card　up　his　sleeve；　or；　more　correctly；　a　pair　of　them。　He　looked　toward　a　front　corner　of　the　room；　which　formed　an　alcove　that　couldn't　be　sighted　from　the　elevator　door。
　　〃Please　step　forward；〃　said　Castenago　in　Spanish。　〃You；　Professor　Peridor；　and　your　daughter。〃
　　
　　
　　THEY　came　forward；　Peridor　and　Mariquita；　only　to　halt　when　they　caught　a　quick　glint　from　The　Shadow's　eyes。　Peridor's　own　gaze　was　sad；　Mariquita's　pleading。　They　wanted　The　Shadow　to　know　that　they　had　no　part　in　this。
　　Castenago　had　ordered　them　brought　to　the　palace；　presumably　to　answer　questions　when　the　council　investigated　last　night's　bombing。　There　had　been　no　way　for　them　to　get　word　to　The　Shadow。
　　Fortunately；　they　understood　that　The　Shadow　wanted　them　to　halt　where　they　were。　Thus；　he　prevented　them　from　blocking　his　aim　toward　Castenago；　who　still　held　his　rigid；　hand…lifted　pose。
　　Looking　again　toward　Castenago；　The　Shadow　wanted　them　to　halt　dictator's　manner。　Castenago's　own　life　was　safe；　because　The　Shadow　would　desist　from　suicidal　action　that　would　produce　the　deaths　of　Peridor　and　Mariquita；　as　well　as　his　own。　Safe；　at　least；　if　he　dismissed　those　gunners　behind　the　portraits。
　　〃Ah；　Senor　Sombra；〃　spoke　Castenago　smoothly。　〃We　have　heard　that　you；　too；　were　witness　to　events　last　night。　You　have　e　here　armed；　perhaps　because　you　do　not　trust　us。　It　would　be　better　if　we　could　talk　as　friends。〃
　　He　was　making　slight　backward　gestures　with　his　hands。　One　by　one；　the　gun　muzzles　were　retiring；　the　portrait　frames　sliding　back　in　place。　The　Shadow　was　lowering　the　automatic　that　covered　Castenago；　so　the　dictator　continued　his　motions。
　　When　the　last　of　Murk's　guns　had　disappeared；　The　Shadow　placed　both　automatics　on　the　table　and　turned　to　the　council　members。
　　〃You　have　the　words　of　El　Piojo。〃　Speaking　in　fluent　Spanish；　The　Shadow　was　referring　to　Castenago　by　the　official　title　which　the　dictator　had　assumed　as　supreme　ruler　of　Centralba。　〃I　now　call　upon　you　to　bear　witness　that　I　have　accepted　his　terms。　Disarmed；　I　surrender　to　this　council；　not　to　El　Piojo。　I　am　ready　to　abide　by　your　decision　in　my　case。〃
　　A　strong　stroke　on　The　Shadow's　part。　He　had　definitely　curbed　the　menace　of　hidden　guns。　Castenago　couldn't　recall　Murk　and　the　other　crooks　if　he　wanted。　Even　in　Centralba　there　were　distinctions　between　law　and　murder。
　　It　was　through　the　nicety　of　those　distinctions　that　Castenago　held　the　support　of　this　council。　Though　he　could　have　eliminated　them　individually；　by　mere　snaps　of　his　fingers；　taken　altogether；　they　were　too　strong　a　bundle　to　break。
　　Professor　Peridor；　himself；　had　assured　The　Shadow　on　that　point；　therefore；　The　Shadow　was　acting　on　a　friend's　advice。　But　Peridor　had　added　a　strong　warning；　one　that　The　Shadow　had　evidently　forgotten；　much　to　the　old　professor's　horror。
　　Very　definitely；　Peridor　had　stated　that　Castenago；　so　long　as　he　operated　by　stated　regulations；　could　sway　the　council　to　any　decision　that　he　desired。
　　Thus；　The　Shadow；　in　removing　a　menace　that　Peridor　hadn't　seen；　had　placed　himself　in　the　pathway　of　another　that　Peridor　recognized　only　too　well。
　　Watching　Castenago；　Peridor　saw　the　big…jawed　dictator　take　The　Shadow's　guns　and　toss　them　carelessly　into　a　table　drawer；　as　a　symbol　of　good　faith　that　wasn't　in　Castenago's　mind。　The　broad　smile　on　Castenago's　lips　gave　real　evidence　as　to　his　sentiments。
　　It　was　no　longer　a　duel　between　Castenago　and　The　Shadow。　The　game　had　reached　another；　inner　stage。　This　game　was　fixed　the　way　Castenago　liked　it。
　　Stepping　from　behind　the　table；　Castenago　spoke　in　cunning　style；　first　gesturing　to　Peridor　and　Mariquita　as　he　addressed　the　council。
　　
　　
　　〃THESE　worthy　friends　of　ours；〃　he　said；　〃are　still　with　us　only　because　they　escaped　a　bomb　planted　in　the　patio　of　their　home。　That　bomb　caused　the　death　of　two　gatomontes。　I；　your　leader；　El　Piojo；　have　sworn　that　I　shall　find　the　man　responsible；　and　bring　him　to　trial　for　his　crime　before　this　council。〃
　　The　approval　of　the　council　was　unanimous。　They　rose　to　their　feet　to　express　it。　Peridor　and　Mariquita　knew　what　was　ing　next。　Their　words　drowned　out　by　the　council's　chorus；　they　sprang　to　The　Shadow's　side　to　clutch　his　folded　arms；　hoping　to　turn　him　toward　the　elevator。
　　It　was　then　too　late。　The　door　was　sliding　open。　Castenago　had　pressed　a　button　before　leaving　his　chair。　Four　palace　guards　strode　into　the　council　room；　at　Castenago's　mand；　two　of　them　drew　Peridor　and　his　daughter　away；　while　the　other　pair　gripped　The　Shadow。
　　〃I　have　kept　my　promise！〃　boomed　Castenago　to　the　councilors。　〃Every　witness　who　saw　the　bombing　at　Peridor's　has　borne　testimony　to　the　presence　of　a　single　stranger；　monly　regarded　as　the　culprit。　I　refer　to　this　prisoner；　who　calls　himself　'La　Sombra。'　It　is　right　that　he　should　be　the　first　man　to　e　to　trial！〃
　　Peridor　and　Mariquita　heard　the　final　words　as　two　guards　led　them　into　the　elevator。　As　the　silent　door　slid　shut；　they　heard　an　answer　to　Castenago's　accusation。
　　It　was　a　strangely　whispered　laugh；　that　mocked　the　pretense　that　was　known　as　justice　in　this　realm　where　Castenago　stood　supreme。　A　challenge　to　the　dictator　and　his　power；　that　mirth　that　was　The　Shadow's。
　　A　futile　laugh；　it　seemed；　ing　from　a　man　on　trial　for　his　life　before　a　tribunal　governed　by　a　human　fiend　who　could　force　his　dupes　to　echo　the　one　word：　〃Guilty！〃
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XVII　
　　　BEFORE　DAWN　
　　THE　Shadow's　trial　was　worse　than　a　travesty　on　justice。　It　was　so　filled　with　precedent　and　citations　of　existing　laws；　that　the　average　prisoner　would　have　believed　himself　guilty。
　　It　made　The　Shadow　understand　why　so　many　Centralbans　had　accepted　the　yoke　of　Castenago。　For　the　dictator；　in　every　word　and　deed；　declared　himself　an　upholder　of　right。
　　He　was　using　the　old；　time…honored　laws　of　his　country　in　this　trial；　not　recent　regulations　of　his　own　device。　Castenago　knew　those　laws　by　heart；　evidently　he'd　spent　months　going　through　the　statutes；　picking　out　every　legal　oddity　that　would　benefit　his　iron…handed　regime。
　　By　Centralban　law；　a　prisoner　was　considered　guilty　until　he　proved　himself　innocent。　This；　Castenago　argued；　was　much　preferable　to　the　reverse　system　established　by　English　law。　It　meant　that　the　judge；　himself；　became　an　advocate　in　behalf　of　the　prisoner；　which　Castenago　promptly　proceeded　to　do。
　　He　suggested　that　La　Sombra　might　have　an　alibi；　if　not；　that　he　might　be　able　to　accuse　some　other　person　of　the　bombing。　When　The　Shadow　offered　no　help　along　these　lines；　Castenago　obligingly　tried　other　ways　to　help　out　the　prisoner。
　　Always；　Castenago　used　the　title：　〃La　Sombra。〃　He　did　so　for　a　reason　that　he　tactfully　did　not　mention：　namely；　if　The