"029 (B012) - The Quest of Qui (1935-07) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Johnny was archaeologist enough to recognize, even in the news reel shots, the undoubted genuiness of the Viking dragon ship. He left the theater in haste.



He called Doc Savage. Doc was out of town. Johnny took a plane, the next morning, for the harbor where the dragon ship lay.





THE ARRIVAL of Johnny on the scene created a furor among the newspapermen, who needed new angles for their stories, anyway, since absolutely no trace had been found of the yacht Sea Scream. The Sea Scream had vanished as completely as if sunken.



Appearance of Johnny, to the newspapermen, meant Doc Savage was on the job, for every one knew Johnny was associated with Doc. And Doc Savage, man of bronze, mental wizard, physical giant extraordinary, was big news, all the more so because Doc shunned publicity most effectively.



Johnny did not even bother to deny that Doc was interested in the Viking dragon ship. He went ahead and examined the craft. He used his monocle magnifier on the ponderous oars, almost too heavy for one man to lift, and on various hammered copper cooking utensils. He scrutinized the plank fastenings. He studied the stitching which held the skins composing the sail. Those watching him realized he was very interested indeed. A news reel cameraman took pictures of his every move.



Finally, Johnny secured from his plane several ponderous and rare volumes on history which he had brought along. He poured over these intently. He seemed to be learning things.



The news reel men asked him for a statement. They had asked numerous times, but on this occasion, Johnny consented.



"Oracular cognoscence of certain recondite aspects. I will hypothesize," said Johnny, who never used a small word where he could insert a big one.



The news reel man looked stunned by the verbal flow, but hastily got his camera and voice recorder going.



Johnny fingered his monocle and began.



"Disquisitional recapitulation of imperspicuous symptomatology tends to an unequivocal belief," he announced.



Twenty million movie-goers were destined to choke over those words. The news reel concern finally had to run a summary by a commentator at the end, translating the erudite Johnny's remarks for the American hoi polloi.