"012 (B043) - The Man Who Shook The Earth (1934-02) - Lester Dent (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

than two score of famous surgeons watching."
Monk showed no surprise at this. Doc Savage, famous man of bronze, was
considered by those in the profession to be the greatest living surgeon. Doc did
not practice professionally, but frequently performed his surgical magic while
other surgeons looked on. He did this to demonstrate new technique, to teach
others to do what he himself had learned through intensive study and research.
"What kind of an operation is Doc doing this time?" Monk asked the hospital
attendant casually.
"An extremely delicate piece of work to remove a paralytic condition from the
nerve center of a man’s left eye," explained the fellow at the hospital.
Monk started slightly. "What?"
"Doc Savage is operating on a left eye," the hospital attendant reported.
Apparently he felt loquacious. "This will be a remarkable feat, if successful.
Sight has been lost to this eye since an injury was suffered in the Great War."
Varied expressions were convulsing Monk’s homely features. Astonishment,
anxiety, and delight struggled for possession of his pleasantly ugly lineaments.
He seemed too overcome to speak.
"
The successful completion of this eye operation will be one of the greatest
feats of its kind ever performed," continued the man at the hospital. There was
awe in his tone.
Monk found his voice. "Is the guy being operated on tall and bony?"
"Right," the other replied. "He is a remarkable physical specimen, but in
excellent condition. The nerves of his eye, it seems, have been allowed to
strengthen for years since his injury in the War, in order that the operation
might be feasible.
"That the operation was not performed earlier was due to Doc Savage’s
realization that to do so would result in permanent loss of vision in the eye.
He has waited until the time was ripe."
"What’s the name of the man with the bad eye?" Monk demanded thickly, his voice
strained.
"William Harper Littlejohn. He is a famous archaeologist and geologist."
Monk leaned against the booth side. He was perspiring. The hospital attendant’s
words had obviously put him under a great strain.
"Listen," he pleaded. "Go see how that operation is coming along, will you? This
guy Littlejohn is a pal of mine. I didn’t know he was being operated on
tonight."
The man at the hospital left the phone. He was gone a few minutes, then
reported:
"The operation is over. Doc Savage will be here to speak with you as soon as he
removes his working robes."
"Was it successful?" Monk yelled anxiously.
"It was."

MONK emitted a tremendous bawling howl of delight, and did his best to jump up
and down in the cramped confines of the phone booth. The booth was too small to
permit successful dancing, however.
In a blissful silence, following his outburst, Monk waited for Doc Savage to
reach the hospital phone.
Outside the drug store, the newsboy was still howling.