mg.dictatorofcrime-第26部分

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　　〃Slide　outside；　Nayre；〃　he　said。　〃Get　rid　of　those　mariachis。　We'll　be　along；　and　you　can　show　us　the　way。〃
　　
　　
　　AFTER　he　was　sure　that　Nayre　had　gone　outside；　Murk　turned　to　his　crew。
　　Shrewdly；　Murk　had　guessed　that　his　hold　on　his　outfit　was　slipping。　He　had　a　way　to　tighten　it。
　　〃It　figures　this　way；〃　stated　Murk。　〃We're　going　to　get　ours…double！　We　go　to　the　palace　with　Nayre　and　put　the　heat　on　Big　Chin　Face。　We'll　get　our　dough；　and　so　will　Nayre。　But　when　Nayre　lams　along　with　us；　we'll　rub　him　out　and　keep　his　gravy；　too。
　　〃Don't　worry　about　the　getaway。〃　Murk　was　waving　his　hands　to　silence　questions。　〃Remember　that　proclamation　telling　that　flier；　Allard；　to　get　out　of　Centralba？　If　Castenago　thinks　Allard　is　The　Shadow；　it　fits　right　with　what　Nayre　said。　Castenago　wants　The　Shadow　to　knock　us　off；　and　call　it　quits。
　　〃The　Shadow　isn't　going　to　find　us　here；　because　we'll　be　at　the　palace。
　　Before　he　wises　to　what's　happened；　we'll　get　to　the　airport　and　take　that　plane　ourselves。　All　tuned　up　and　gassed；　that　ship；　just　waiting　for　us　to　take　it。　We　can　buy　up　a　banana　republic　for　ourselves；　with　our　dough　and　Nayre's。〃
　　Murk　Wessel　was　turning　toward　the　sliding　door。　It　had　gone　tight　shut。
　　Outside；　a　swift…gliding　figure　reached　the　courtyard；　where　Nayre　was　waiting　alone。　Briefly；　The　Shadow　told　Nayre　what　he　had　overheard。　It　fitted　even　further　with　The　Shadow's　well…laid　plan。
　　The　counterthrust　was　on　its　way；　directed　by　The　Shadow！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XX　
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　　CASTENAGO'S　palace　was　ablaze　with　light　when　Nayre　and　his　new　panions　circled　it。　The　dictator　had　declared　a　special　fiesta　in　honor　of　Francisco　Peridor；　but；　as　usual；　there　was　a　catch。
　　Citizens；　stationed　around　the　palace　steps；　had　greeted　Peridor's　arrival　rather　coldly；　then　had　turned　themselves　into　a　clique　favoring　Castenago。
　　It　would　spread　all　through　Libertad　that　Castenago　was　honored　and　Peridor　disowned。　Within　a　few　days；　no　one　would　be　shocked　to　learn　that　Peridor　had　died。　If　he　didn't　accept　the　invitation　to　suicide；　Castenago　would　take　a　hand。
　　Very　easily；　in　Peridor's　case。　Probably；　the　system　would　be　another　bomb　blast；　that　no　one　would　ever　attribute　to　Peridor's　protector；　Luis　Castenago。
　　Meanwhile；　Castenago；　with　Peridor　seated　at　his　right；　was　doing　everything　to　honor　his　esteemed　guest。　Having　called　for　the　best　of　wine；　Castenago　sampled　the　bottle　that　arrived。　For　the　first　time；　his　face　registered　disapproval。　He　turned　to　the　shaky　servant　who　had　brought　the　wine。
　　〃This　is　not　the　best！〃　stormed　Castenago。　〃Fool！　Why　didn't　you　bring　what　I　ordered？〃
　　〃He　would　not　let　me。〃　The　servant's　quivering　tone　was　low。　〃He　said　that　he　must　speak　to　you；　alone。　El　capitan；　the　former　one。　He　is　in　the　wine　cellar。〃
　　Castenago　smiled　at　the　reference　to　Colin　Nayre。　He　excused　himself　from　the　table　and　stepped　through　a　curtained　doorway；　where　he　found　two　gatomontes。　He　told　them　to　follow　him；　and　on　the　way　to　the　cellar；　Castenago　beckoned　to　another　pair。　They　would　be　sufficient　to　handle　Nayre。
　　As　for　The　Shadow；　he　wouldn't　even　be　about。　Castenago　had　two　reasons　for　his　supposition。　First；　The　Shadow　wouldn't　have　allowed　so　crude　a　summons　from　the　wine　cellar。　Again；　The　Shadow　was　banking　on　trapping　Castenago　when　Murk　Wessel　was　present。
　　It　didn't　occur　to　the　dictator　that　Nayre　might　have　arranged　that　latter　point。
　　Pacing　the　wine　cellar；　Nayre　was　listening　to　a　growl　that　came　from　behind　a　big　cask　set　beneath　shelves　of　bottles。　Murk　Wessel　was　arguing　that　the　scheme　wouldn't　work；　and　his　panions；　also　hidden；　were　echoing　his　sentiments。
　　Coolly；　Nayre　responded　that　it　would。　He　reminded　them　that　this　cellar　wasn't　a　trap；　for　they　could　go　out　the　way　they　came　in…by　the　loading　entrance。
　　Castenago　had　neglected　that　means　of　entry　to　the　palace；　because　it　led　only　to　the　wine　cellar；　which　was　always　locked。　He'd　overlooked　the　fact　that　the　rule　didn't　apply　on　banquet　nights；　when　he　sent　a　servant　to　the　cellar　with　the　key。
　　Still　arguing　that　Castenago　would　e；　Nayre　suddenly　motioned　for　silence。　A　door　opened　above　a　short　flight　of　steps　and　Castenago　peered　down　into　the　dim　cellar。　He　saw　Nayre；　costumed　as　a　mariachi；　except　for　the　bandanna　headgear。
　　Without　looking　around；　Castenago　gestured　for　his　gatomontes　to　wait；　pair　by　pair；　in　the　passage　behind　him。　Bluffly；　the　dictator　stepped　down　into　the　wine　cellar。
　　Promptly；　Nayre　produced　a　revolver　and　covered　him。　Castenago　merely　smiled。　If　Nayre　assassinated　him；　nothing　could　block　the　double　death　warrant　that　the　dictator　had　already　signed　for　Peridor　and　Mariquita。　He'd　lull　Nayre；　Castenago　would；　and　then　summon　the　gatomontes　to　capture　the　fool。　Castenago　still　believed　that　Nayre　had　e　alone。
　　He　lost　that　idea；　when　five　men　slid　out　from　behind　the　wine　casks。　Murk　Wessel；　as　mander　of　the　squad；　used　proper　tactics。　He　dispatched　two　gunners　to　cover　the　door　that　Castenago　had　entered；　and　kept　the　other　two　in　reserve。
　　Nayre　turned　to　Murk　and　gestured　for　him　to　do　the　talking。
　　
　　
　　〃WE'VE　e　for　the　dough；〃　declared　Murk。　〃Nayre　for　his；　the　same　as　us。
　　He　told　us　how　you　ditched　him　on　the　Durez　proposition。　Let's　see　the　cash　and　get　this　over　with。〃
　　Real　understanding　spread　across　Castenago's　big…jawed　face。　He　saw　how　Nayre　had　talked　Murk　into　an　alliance；　but　he　still　mistakenly　regarded　the　scheme　as　Nayre's　own　invention；　not　The　Shadow's。
　　Farsighted　enough　to　know　that　Murk　would　double…cross　Nayre　later；　Castenago　cagily　pretended　that　he　owed　Nayre　money；　too。　He　turned　and　indicated　the　stairs。
　　〃This　way；〃　he　said。　〃I　shall　take　you　to　my　private　vault。　There；　you　shall　both　be　paid　in　full。〃
　　Prodded　by　guns；　Castenago　started　up　the　steps。　His　gatomontes　hadn't　shown　themselves；　for　which　he　was　glad。　He　still　wanted　them　to　stay　out　of　sight；　so　he　spoke　to　his　captors　as　he　moved　along。　His　words；　however；　were　addressed　ahead。
　　〃No　one　will　block　the　way；　I　assure　you；〃　declared　Castenago。　〃Look　for　followers；　if　you　wish；　for　you　will　see　none。〃
　　He　was　indicating　that　he　wanted　the　gatomontes　to　trail　from　a　distance；　keeping　strictly　out　of　sight。　Turning　into　another　passage；　Castenago　went　down　a　flight　of　stairs。　At　the　bottom；　Murk　told　him　to　wait。
　　Deep　in　another　section　of　the　palace　cellar；　Castenago　paused　in　front　of　a　wall　formed　by　great　stone　blocks。　He　probed　a　crack　so　thin　it　was　scarcely　visible；　and　his　fingernails　found　the　hidden　catch。
　　The　wall　opened；　it　was　a　great；　irregular　door　that　operated　upon　smooth；　noiseless　hinges；　so　perfectly　balanced　that　mere　finger　pressure　could　have　swung　the　barrier。
　　Below；　an　automatic　light　had　turned　on；　revealing　Castenago's　treasure　vault。　Huge　piles　of　American　currency　lined　the　shelves；　gold　coins　were　present　in　dozens　of　high；　glittering　stacks。　There　was　silver　in　the　form　of　bars；　along　with　gold　bullion。
　　Murk's　men　did　exactly　what　Castenago　expected。　They　forgot　their　prisoner　and　plunged　into　the　vault；　to　see　if　the　wealth　could　actually　be　real。
　　Only　Murk　hesitated；　then；　seeing　that　Nayre　was　covering　Castenago；　Murk　succumbed　to　the　lure。　He　started　into　the　vault；　too；　only　to　halt　as　he　heard　Castenago's　cold　tone：
　　〃This　vault　needs　guardians。　Dead　men　are　the　best！　Mere　mention　of　their　presence　will　frighten　away　the　living！〃
　　Murk　caught　the　meaning　too　late。　He　heard　a　clatter　as　he　wheeled；　acpanied　by　a　wild　gunshot。　Castenago　had　swung　upon　Nayre；　driving　his　revolver　wide。
　　Powerful　as　a　bull；　Castenago　was　hurling　Nayre　straight　toward　the　vault　door。　If　the　strugglers　merely　grazed　it；　the　smooth…hinged　barrier　would　clamp　upon　Murk　and　his　panions。
　　They　were　to　be　the　dead　men　who　would　serve　as　guardians　of　Castenago's　wealth！
　　Only　one　thing　could　stop　the　fatal　finish。　It　came：　the　laugh　of　The　Shadow！
　　Involuntarily；　Castenago　wheeled；　and　Nayre　wrenched　from　his　clutch。　At　the　entry　where　the　gatomontes　should　have　appeared；　Castenago　saw　The　Shadow；　dominating　the　square　cellar　room　outside　the　vault　of　doom。
　　From　that　very　vault；　other　men　were　lunging：　Murk　Wessel　and　his　crew。
　　Apparently；　The　Shadow　considered　them　more　dangerous　than　Castenago；　for　he　was　driving　toward　them。　The　entry　cleared；　Castenago　darted　toward　it；　howling　for　his　gatomontes。　He　didn't　stop　to　see　what　happened　behind　him。
　　Nayre　had　hurled　himself　upon　The　Shadow；　taking　the　cloaked　fighter　from　the　flank。　Bowled　backward；　The　Shadow　was　stabbing　wild　shots；　that　only　spurred　Castenago。
　　As　he　ran；　the　dictator　heard　The　Shadow's　laugh　as　well；　trailing　to　an　abrupt　halt。　The　sudden　finish　meant　nothing　to　Castenago；　but　it　did　to　Murk　and　his　crew。
　　The　laugh　stopped　as　Nayre　made　a　hard　swing　with　his　revolver。　Blackness　collapsed　in　Nayre's　clutch。　Half　crouched　above　The　Shadow；　Nayre　turned　and　gestured　with　his　gun；　to　hurry　Murk's　crowd　after　Castenago。
　　〃I've　handled　The　Shadow！〃　voiced　Nayre。　〃Leave　it　to　me　to　fill　him　full　of　bull